Exposure to Smartphones and Tablets, Physical Activity and Sleep in Children From 5 to 10 Years Old: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to verify the association between smartphone/tablet exposure and physical activity and sleep in children from 5 to 10 years old. Data Source: This study followed the guidelines of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and included studies that met eligibility criteria based on the "PECO" strategy: participants (children from 5 to 10 years old), exposure (smartphone and tablet use), and outcome (physical activity and sleep). STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA: The inclusion criteria were observational studies published in indexed scientific journals and written in Portuguese, English, and Spanish that verified the association of exposure to smartphones/tablets with physical activity and sleep in children aged 5 to 10 years of both sexes. Studies were considered eligible only if they met the previous criteria. Data Extraction: The search was conducted in January 2023 on databases from electronic journals without the restriction of the period. To meta-analyze were extracted and grouped using models of fixed and random effects, the coefficients Odds Ratio (OR), Beta (ß), Standard Error (SE), and Confidence Intervals of 95% (95%CI). Data Synthesis: 2396 potentially relevant papers were identified, and 17 met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: It can be verified that there was an inverse association between smartphones with physical activity and sleep. Studies indicate that for every additional hour of smartphone and tablet use, sleep can be expected to decrease by an average of 11 minutes (ß = - 0.11; 95%CI = -0.13; -0.09). Children using smartphones and tablets were 1.79 times (OR = 1.79; 95%CI = 1.72-1.86) more likely to have shorter sleep duration and 1.53 times (OR = 1.53; 95%CI = 1.41-1.65) more likely to have worse sleep quality. Children with shorter smartphone and tablet usage were 1.19 times more likely to be active (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.03-1.37). CONCLUSION: Children of 5 to 10 years who are more often exposed to smartphones and tablets are prone to have worse quality and quantity of sleep, as well as less practice of physical activity. Health promotion actions can be encouraged based on the results, aiming to reduce the use time of these devices and improve children's health and quality of life.

Smart labels based on polyvinyl alcohol incorporated with chitosan nanoparticles loaded with grape extract: Functionality, stability and food application.

Anthocyanins (ACNs) are natural compounds with potential applications due to their colorimetric response to pH. Due to their sensitivity to various environmental factors, nanoencapsulation with biopolymers is a successful strategy for stabilizing ACNs. In this work ACNs were extracted from grape skins and encapsulated into chitosan (CS) nanoparticles by ionic gelation using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as a cross-linking agent. CS nanoparticles loaded with ACNs had particle sizes between 291 and 324 nm and polydispersity index around 0.3. The encapsulation efficiency of ACNs was approximately 60 %; and encapsulated anthocyanins (ACN-NPs) exhibited color change properties under different pH conditions. pH-sensitive labels based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were prepared by the casting method. The effect of incorporating ACN-NPs on the physical, structural, and pH-sensitive properties of PVA labels was evaluated, and its application as shrimp freshness indicator was studied. The nanoencapsulation protected ACNs against heat and light treatments, preserving the original purple color. When applying the label, visible changes from red to blue until reaching yellow were observed with the change in the quality of the shrimp at the refrigeration temperature. The results suggest that PVA labels containing ACNs encapsulated in C-NPs can be used as smart packaging labels in the food industry.

Reservoir Effect of Textile Substrates on the Delivery of Essential Oils Microencapsulated by Complex Coacervation.

Microcapsules are being used in textile substrates increasingly more frequently, availing a wide spectrum of possibilities that are relevant to future research trends. Biofunctional Textiles is a new field that should be carefully studied, especially when dealing with microencapsulated essential oils. In the final step, when the active principle is delivered, there are some possibilities to quantify and simulate its doses on the skin or in the environment. At that stage, there is a phenomenon that can help to better control the delivery and the reservoir effect of the textile substrate. Depending on the chemical characteristics of the molecule to be delivered, as well as the structure and chemical nature of the fabric where it has been applied, there is physicochemical retention exerted by fibers that strongly controls the final rate of principle active delivery to the external part of the textile substrate. The study of this type of effect in two different substrates (cotton and polyester) will be described here regarding two different essential oils microencapsulated and applied to the substrates using padding technology. The experimental results of the final drug delivery demonstrate this reservoir effect in both essential oils.

Is Greater Social Support from Parents and Friends Related to Higher Physical Activity Levels among Adolescents?

Increasing physical activity levels during adolescence have been put on the agenda by several researchers. This study verified the association between social support from parents and friends and different amounts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescents in public school. The present study had a cross-sectional design and included a representative sample of 1984 adolescents (aged 15-17). The ASAFA (Apoio Social para prática de Atividade Física para Adolescentes) scale and the QAFA (Questionário de Atividade Física para Adolescentes) were used to determine social support and physical activity, respectively. For statistical analysis, a conceptual model for structured equations and weighted least squares mean and variance adjusted were applied. Social support from parents increased the odds of engaging in 180 min/week of MVPA by 46.7%, 47.8% for 300 min/week, and 45.5% for 420 min/week. Social support from friends showed similar relations trends: 23.8% for 180 min/week, 23.6% for 300 min/week, and 21.2% for 420 min/week. Social support from parents and friends increased the probability of adolescents reaching the amounts of physical activity investigated. The results indicate that greater social support (from parents and friends) was associated with a higher level of MVPA in Brazilian adolescents.

Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açai) seed extract improves physical performance in old rats by restoring vascular function and oxidative status and activating mitochondrial muscle biogenesis.

OBJECTIVES: Alterations in cardiovascular and skeletal muscle function are hallmarks of ageing that lead to exercise intolerance. We aimed to examine whether the treatment with Euterpe oleracea Mart. seed extract (ASE) associated with exercise training improves aerobic exercise performance by promoting healthy ageing in the elderly. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Young (3 months), Old (18 months), Old+ASE (ASE 200 mg/kg/day), Old+Training (exercise training 30 min/day; 5 days/week) and Old+Training+ASE, for 4 weeks. KEY FINDINGS: ASE treatment increased the exercise time and the running distance concerning the initial maximal treadmill stress test (MTST) in the Old+Training+ASE group. Exercise training or ASE treatment restored the aorta oxidative damage and antioxidant defence. It reduced the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced vasodilation in the aorta of old animals to the same values as the young and improved hypertension. Only the association of both strategies restored the ACh-induced vasodilation in mesentery arteries. Remarkably, exercise training associated with ASE increased the antioxidant defence, nitrite levels and expression of the mitochondrial SIRT-1, PGC1α in soleus muscle homogenates. CONCLUSIONS: ASE treatment associated with exercise training contributes to better exercise performance and tolerance in ageing by improving vascular function, oxidative stress and activating the muscle SIRT-1/PGC-1α pathway.

Application of Lavender-Oil Microcapsules to Functionalized PET Fibers.

Surface treatments for textile substrates have received significant attention from researchers around the world. Ozone and plasma treatments trigger a series of surface alterations in textile substrates that can improve the anchoring of other molecules or particles on these substrates. This work aims to evaluate the effect of ozone and plasma treatments on the impregnation of polymeric microcapsules containing lavender oil in polyester fabrics (PES). Microcapsules with walls of chitosan and gum arabic were prepared by complex coacervation and impregnated in PES, plasma-treated PES, and ozone-treated PES by padding. The microcapsules were characterized for their size and morphology and the surface-treated PES was evaluated by FTIR, TGA, SEM, and lavender release. The microcapsules were spherical in shape, with smooth surfaces. The FTIR analyses of the textile substrates with microcapsules showed bands referring to the polymers of the microcapsules, but not to the lavender; this was most likely because the smooth surface of the outer wall did not retain the lavender. The mass loss and the degradation temperatures measured by TGA were similar for all the ozone-treated and plasma-treated polyester samples. In the SEM images, spherical microcapsules and the impregnation of the microcapsules of larger sizes were perceived. Through the lavender release, it was observed that the plasma and ozone treatments interfered both with the amount of lavender delivered and with the control of the delivery.

Time Analysis of an Emergent Infection Spread Among Healthcare Workers: Lessons Learned from Early Wave of SARS-CoV-2.

Aim: To find whether an emergent airborne infection is more likely to spread among healthcare workers (HCW) based on data of SARS-CoV-2 and whether the number of new cases of such airborne viral disease can be predicted using a method traditionally used in weather forecasting called Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average (ARFIMA). Methods: We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 spread among HCWs based on outpatient nasopharyngeal swabs for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests and compared it to non-HCW in the first and the second wave of the pandemic. We also generated an ARFIMA model based on weekly case numbers from February 2020 to April 2021 and tested it on data from May to July 2021. Results: Our analysis of 8998 tests in the 15 months period showed a rapid rise in positive RT-PCR tests among HCWs during the first wave of pandemic. In the second wave, however, positive patients were more commonly non-HCWs. The ARFIMA model showed a long-memory pattern for SARS-CoV-2 (seven months) and predicted future new cases with an average error of ±1.9 cases per week. Conclusion: Our data indicate that the virus rapidly spread among HCWs during the first wave of the pandemic. Review of published literature showed that this was the case in multiple other areas as well. We therefore suggest strict policies early in the emergence of a new infection to protect HCWs and prevent spreading to the general public. The ARFIMA model can be a valuable forecasting tool to predict the number of new cases in advance and assist in efficient planning.

Different conformations and packing motifs in the crystal structures of four thio-phene-carbohydrazide-pyridine derivatives.

The crystal structures of four thio-phene-carbohydrazide-pyridine derivatives, viz. N'-[(E)-pyridin-3-yl-methyl-idene]thio-phene-2-carbohydrazide, C11H9N3OS, (I), N'-[(E)-pyridin-2-yl-methyl-idene]thio-phene-2-carbohydrazide, C11H9N3OS, (II), N-methyl-N'-[(E)-pyridin-2-yl-methyl-idene]thio-phene-2-carbohydrazide, C12H11N3OS, (III) and N'-[(E)-pyridin-2-yl-methyl-idene]-2-(thio-phen-2-yl)ethano-hydrazide, C12H11N3OS, (IV) are described. The dihedral angles between the thio-phene ring and the pyridine ring are 21.4 (2), 15.42 (14), 4.97 (8) and 83.52 (13)° for (I)-(IV), respectively. The thio-phene ring in (IV) is disordered over two orientations in a 0.851 (2):0.149 (2) ratio. Key features of the packing include N-H⋯Np (p = pyridine) hydrogen bonds in (I), which generate C(7) chains propagating in the [001] direction; N-H⋯Np links also feature in (II), but in this case they lead to C(6) [001] chains; in (IV), classical amide (C4) N-H⋯O links result in [010] chains; in every case adjacent mol-ecules in the chains are related by 21 screw axes. There are no classical hydrogen bonds in the extended structure of (III). Various weak C-H⋯X (X = O, N, S) inter-actions occur in each structure, but no aromatic π-π stacking is evident. The Hirshfeld surfaces and fingerprint plots for (I)-(IV) are compared.

Effect of BCG on Respiratory Complications Caused by COVID-19: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been shown to have protective effects against respiratory viruses. We conducted a scoping review of the literature to clarify the available evidence regarding the effect of BCG therapy in preventing respiratory complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science for related studies up to October 2022. Results: In total, 35 publications and trials were included. One animal study, two observational studies, and six finalized trials measured the effect of BCG administration on respiratory complications of COVID-19. The remaining publications included eight unfinished trials, 12 ecological studies, and six observational studies that did not directly measure respiratory complications but assessed overall mortality of the disease and were included as an adjunct to our study. All trials involved vaccinating adults to protect them against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and measured respiratory symptoms or the need for intensive respiratory support as the primary or secondary aim of the study. One trial that exclusively included at-risk adults between 18 and 60 years old showed a decreased chance of respiratory complications as the secondary outcome of the study. Another trial that exclusively evaluated this effect on the elderly (60 years and older) as the primary aim of the study reported no protective effect against respiratory complications. The remaining literature provided mostly inconclusive evidence. Conclusion: The majority of the literature on the protective effect of BCG against respiratory complications of COVID-19 is inconclusive.

Tumors and pseudotumors of foot and ankle: Bone lesions.

Bone tumors and tumor-like lesions (pseudotumors) are not uncommonly encountered as asymptomatic findings on imaging, or as symptomatic lesions clinically. Radiographic imaging is the first diagnostic tool for their management strategy, since the symptoms are commonly non-specific, such as pain, swelling, and redness. Image findings must be analyzed with attention to the specific features such as lesion location, margination, zone of transition, mineralization, size and multifocality, soft tissue component and/or loco-regional extent. Cross-sectional imaging including CT and MRI serve as complementary methods, providing additional information with respect to the lesion characterization, mineralization, extent and involvement of the adjoining soft tissues. Clinical and/or key imaging features aid in limiting the differential diagnostic possibilities and serve as a guide in determining the benignity or malignancy of the tumor as well as to exclude pseudotumors. This article reviews the key imaging features of foot and ankle lesions. Benign bone lesions include simple and aneurysmal bone cysts, lipoma, hemangioma, chondroblastoma, enchondroma, osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, and giant cell tumor. Locally aggressive intermediate category lesion includes hemangioendothelioma. Malignant lesions include osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma. Pseudotumors such as fibrous dysplasia, hemophilic pseudotumor, gout and Madura foot are also discussed with illustrative case examples.

Açaí Reverses Adverse Cardiovascular Remodeling in Renovascular Hypertension: A Comparative Effect With Enalapril.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to determine if açai seed extract (ASE) could reverse pre-existing cardiovascular and renal injury in an experimental model of renovascular hypertension (2 kidney, 1 clip, 2K1C). Young male rats (Wistar) were used to obtain 2K1C and sham groups. Animals received the vehicle, ASE (200 mg/kg/d), or enalapril (30 mg/kg/d) in drinking water from the third to sixth week after surgery. We evaluated systolic blood pressure by tail plethysmography, vascular reactivity in the rat isolated mesenteric arterial bed (MAB), serum and urinary parameters, plasma inflammatory cytokines by ELISA, MAB expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and its active form peNOS by Western blot, plasma and MAB oxidative damage and antioxidant activity by spectrophotometry, and vascular and cardiac structural changes by histological analysis. ASE and enalapril reduced the systolic blood pressure, restored the endothelial and renal functions, and decreased the inflammatory cytokines and the oxidative stress in 2K1C rats. Furthermore, both treatments reduced vascular and cardiac remodeling. ASE substantially reduced cardiovascular remodeling and recovered endothelial dysfunction in 2K1C rats probably through its antihypertensive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory actions, supplying a natural resource for the treatment of renovascular hypertension.

Phenolic-rich smoothie consumption ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obesity mice by increasing antioxidant response.

Consumption of foods rich in phenolic compounds can be beneficial for health. This study aimed to examine whether the consumption of a phenolic-rich smoothie, based on juçara, strawberry and banana, ameliorates metabolic status and liver damage of diet-induced obese mice. Forty male C57BL/6J mice were assigned into four groups (n = 10) and fed control diet with free access to water (C) or phenolic-rich smoothie (C-S), or fed high-fat diet with free access to water (HF) or phenolic-rich smoothie (HF-S) for five weeks. HF and HF-S groups had higher body weight gains than the C group, however the HF had a greater adipose index, higher plasma levels of glucose, insulin and leptin, as well as higher plasma and hepatic steatosis than C, C-S and HF-S groups. The liver oxidative stress markers were reduced in C-S and HF-S groups and the activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase were higher compared with their counterparts. The present study suggests that regular consumption of a phenolic-rich smoothie improves the liver antioxidant status, prevents metabolic disorders and ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by high-fat diet consumption.

Prenatal hypoxia predisposes vascular functional and structural changes associated with oxidative stress damage and depressive behavior in adult offspring male rats.

Intrauterine hypoxia-ischemia (HI) provides a strong stimulus for a developmental origin of both the central nervous system and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate vascular functional and structural changes, oxidative stress damage, and behavioral alterations in adult male offspring submitted to HI during pregnancy. The pregnant Wistar rats had a uterine artery clamped for 45 min on the 18th gestational day, submitting the offspring to hypoxic-ischemic conditions. The Sham group passed to the same surgical procedure as the HI rats, without occlusion of the maternal uterine artery, and the controls consisted of non-manipulated healthy animals. After weaning, the male pups were divided into three groups: control, sham, and HI, according to the maternal procedure. At postnatal day 90 (P90), the adult male offspring performed the open field and forced swim tests. In P119, the rats had their blood pressure checked and were euthanized. Prenatal HI induced a depressive behavior in adult male offspring associated with a reduced vasodilator response to acetylcholine in perfused mesenteric arterial bed, and reduced superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the aorta compared to control and sham groups. Prenatal HI also increased the vasoconstrictor response to norepinephrine, the media thickness, collagen deposition, and the oxidative damage in the aorta from adult male offspring compared to control and sham groups. Our results suggest an association among prenatal HI and adult vascular structural and functional changes, oxidative stress damage, and depressive behavior.

Impact of MWCO and Dopamine/Polyethyleneimine Concentrations on Surface Properties and Filtration Performance of Modified Membranes.

The mussel-inspired method has been investigated to modify commercial ultrafiltration membranes to induce antifouling characteristics. Such features are essential to improve the feasibility of using membrane processes in protein recovery from waste streams, wastewater treatment, and reuse. However, some issues still need to be clarified, such as the influence of membrane pore size and the polymer concentration used in modifying the solution. The aim of the present work is to study a one-step deposition of dopamine (DA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) on ultrafiltration membrane surfaces. The effects of different membrane molecular weight cut-offs (MWCO, 20, 30, and 50 kDa) and DA/PEI concentrations on membrane performance were assessed by surface characterization (FTIR, AFM, zeta potential, contact angle, protein adsorption) and permeation of protein solution. Results indicate that larger MWCO membranes (50 kDa) are most benefited by modification using DA and PEI. Moreover, PEI is primarily responsible for improving membrane performance in protein solution filtration. The membrane modified with 0.5:4.0 mg mL-1 (DA: PEI) presented a better performance in protein solution filtration, with only 15% of permeate flux drop after 2 h of filtration. The modified membrane can thus be potentially applied to the recovery of proteins from waste streams.

Therapeutic effects of açaí seed extract on hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet-induced obesity in male mice: a comparative effect with rosuvastatin.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is considered a risk factor for the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The hydroalcoholic extract obtained from the açai seed (ASE), rich in proanthocyanidins, has been shown a potential body weight regulator with antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of ASE in obesity-associated NAFLD and compare it with Rosuvastatin. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice received a high-fat diet or standard diet for 12 weeks. The treatments with ASE (300 mg/kg per day) or rosuvastatin (20 mg/kg per day) began in the eighth week until the 12th week. KEY FINDINGS: Our data show that the treatments with ASE and rosuvastatin reduced body weight and hyperglycaemia, improved lipid profile and attenuated hepatic steatosis in HFD mice. ASE and Rosuvastatin reduced HMGCoA-Reductase and SREBP-1C and increased ABGC8 and pAMPK expressions in the liver. Additionally, ASE, but not Rosuvastatin, reduced NPC1L1 and increased ABCG5 and PPAR-α expressions. ASE and rosuvastatin increased SIRT-1 expression and antioxidant defence, although only ASE was able to decrease the oxidative damage in hepatic tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic effect of ASE was similar to that of rosuvastatin in reducing dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis but was better in reducing oxidative damage and hyperglycaemia.

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) seed extract improves aerobic exercise performance in rats.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the supplementation with an açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) seed extract (ASE) would affect the aerobic exercise performance in rats and correlate with the vascular function, muscle oxidative stress and mitochondrial biogenesis. Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Sedentary, Sedentary with chronic supplementation of ASE, Training, Training with chronic (200 mg/Kg/day intragastric gavage for 5 weeks) or acute (30 min before the maximal treadmill stress test (MST) supplementation with ASE. The exercise training was performed on a treadmill (30 min/day; 5 days/week) for 4 weeks. The chronic supplementation with ASE increased the exercise time (58%) and the running distance (129%) in relation to the MST, while the Training group increased 40% and 78% and the Training with acute ASE group increased 30% and 63%, respectively. The training-induced increase of ACh vasodilation was not changed by ASE, but the norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction was reduced by chronic and acute supplementation with ASE. The increased levels of malondialdehyde in soleus muscle homogenates from the Training group was reduced only by chronic supplementation with ASE. The muscle antioxidant defense, NO2 levels, and expression of the mitochondrial biogenesis-related proteins (PGC1α, SIRT-1, p-AMPK/AMPK, Nrf-2) were not different between Training and Sedentary groups, but all these parameters were increased in the Training with Chronic ASE compared with the Sedentary groups. In conclusion, chronic supplementation with ASE improves aerobic physical performance by increasing the vascular function, reducing the oxidative stress, and up-regulating the mitochondrial biogenesis key proteins.

Açaí seed extract prevents the renin-angiotensin system activation, oxidative stress and inflammation in white adipose tissue of high-fat diet-fed mice.

The role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), oxidative stress, and inflammation on the development of obesity and its comorbidities has been extensively addressed. Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) seed extract (ASE), with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and capable to modulate plasma renin levels, has been evidenced as a potential regulator of body mass. We hypothesized that the supplementation with ASE might exert beneficial effects on obesity-related white adipose tissue changes and metabolic disorders by interfering with the local adipose tissue overexpression of RAS, inflammation, and oxidative stress in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet. The animals were fed a standard diet (10% fat, control), 60% fat (HF), HF + ASE (300 mg/kg per day) and HF + ENA (enalapril, 30 mg/kg per day) for 12 weeks. ASE and ENA prevented weight gain and adiposity, adipocyte hypertrophy, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. In adipose tissue, ASE increased the insulin receptor expression and reduced renin and AT1 receptor expression, which was associated with decreased plasma levels of renin and angiotensin II. Differently, ENA increased the expression of angiotensin-conversing enzyme 2, AT2, B2, and Mas receptors in adipose tissue. Also, ASE but not ENA decreased malondialdehyde and 8-isoprostane levels in adipose tissue. Finally, ASE and ENA reduced the adipose tissue inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6. These results demonstrate that ASE prevented the adipocyte hypertrophy, obesity, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance in HF diet-fed mice. The downregulation of RAS in adipose tissue, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, may contribute to the prevention of obesity-related disorders.

Anxiolytic and antioxidant effects of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) seed extract in adult rat offspring submitted to periodic maternal separation.

Many studies suggest a protective role of phenolic compounds in mood disorders. We aimed to assess the effect of Euterpe oleracea (açaí) seed extract (ASE) on anxiety induced by periodic maternal separation (PMS) in adult male rats. Animals were divided into 6 groups: control, ASE, fluoxetine (FLU), PMS, PMS+ASE, and PMS+FLU. For PMS, pups were separated daily from the dam for 3 h between postnatal day (PN) 2 and PN21. ASE (200 mg·kg-1·day-1) and FLU (10 mg·kg-1·day-1) were administered by gavage for 34 days after stress induction, starting at PN76. At PN106 and PN108, the rats were submitted to open field (OF) and forced swim tests, respectively. At PN110, the rats were sacrificed by decapitation. ASE increased time spent in the center area in the OF test, glucocorticoid receptors in the hypothalamus, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TRKB) levels in the hippocampus, and nitrite levels and antioxidant activity in the brain stem (PMS+ASE group compared with PMS group). ASE also reduced plasma corticotropin-releasing hormone levels, adrenal norepinephrine levels, and oxidative damage in the brain stem in adult male offspring submitted to PMS. In conclusion, ASE treatment has an anti-anxiety effect in rats submitted to PMS by reducing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity and increasing the nitric oxide (NO)-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-TRKB pathway and antioxidant defense in the central nervous system. Novelty ASE has anti-anxiety and antioxidant effects in early-life stress. ASE reduces hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity. The anxiolytic effect of ASE may involve activation of the NO-BDNF-TRKB pathway in the central nervous system.

Vitis vinifera L. Grape Skin Extract Prevents Development of Hypertension and Altered Lipid Profile in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: Role of Oxidative Stress.

This study investigated the protective effect of a Vitis vinifera L. grape skin extract (ACH09) on blood pressure, lipid profile, and oxidative status in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels, as well as oxidative damage and antioxidant activity in the plasma and kidney, were evaluated in four experimental groups: control Wistar rats (W-C) and SHR-C that received water, and Wistar rats and SHR treated with ACH09 (200 mg/kg/d) in drinking water for 12 weeks (W-ACH09 and SHR-ACH09, respectively). SBP increased in the SHR group compared with the W groups and the treatment with ACH09 prevented the development of hypertension. Plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels increased in SHR compared with W-C rats; these changes prevented by treatment with ACH09. Glucose levels did not differ between the groups. The SHR group had increased oxidative damage in plasma, as expressed by 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and this prevented by ACH09. Levels of TBARS in the kidneys were lower in the SHR-ACH09 group than in the SHR-C group. Further, ACH09 increased the superoxide dismutase activity in both the plasma and kidneys of both SHR and Wistar rats. These results suggest that ACH09 is protective against disruption of blood pressures, oxidant status, and lipid profile in SHR, and provide important evidence on the benefits of ACH09 on hypertension and associated cardiovascular complications.

Resistant starch from green banana (Musa sp.) attenuates non-alcoholic fat liver accumulation and increases short-chain fatty acids production in high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of resistant starch from green banana (GB) on steatosis and short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) production in high fat diet-induced obesity in mice. High-fat green banana group (HFB) exhibited lower gains in BM (body mass; -6%; P < 0.01) compared with High-fat diet group (HF). Additionally, HFB mice showed reduction in liver steatosis (-28%, P < 0.01) with reduction of 93% in hepatic triacylglycerol (P < 0.01) compared to HF-diet-fed mice. In addition, the protein abundance of AMPKp/AMPK, HMGCoA-r and FAS were downregulated in livers of HFB mice (P < 0.01), relatively to the HF-diet-fed mice. ABCG8 and ABCG5 were up-regulated in HFB group compared to HF group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the HFB fed-mice produced the highest amount of SCFAs (p < 0.05) compared to its counterpart HFD. In conclusion, we demonstrated that resistant starch from GB improved metabolic parameters by modulating the expression of key proteins involved in liver lipid metabolism.