Vascular adaptive responses to physical exercise and to stress are affected differently by nandrolone administration

Androgenic anabolic steroid, physical exercise and stress induce cardiovascular adaptations including increased endothelial function. The present study investigated the effects of these conditions alone and in combination on the vascular responses of male Wistar rats. Exercise was started at 8 weeks of life (60-min swimming sessions 5 days per week for 8 weeks, while carrying a 5% body-weight load). One group received nandrolone (5 mg/kg, twice per week for 8 weeks, im). Acute immobilization stress (2 h) was induced immediately before the experimental protocol. Curves for noradrenaline were obtained for thoracic aorta, with and without endothelium from sedentary and trained rats, submitted or not to stress, treated or not with nandrolone. None of the procedures altered the vascular reactivity to noradrenaline in denuded aorta. In intact aorta, stress and exercise produced vascular adaptive responses characterized by endothelium-dependent hyporeactivity to noradrenaline. These conditions in combination did not potentiate the vascular adaptive response. Exercise-induced vascular adaptive response was abolished by nandrolone. In contrast, the aortal reactivity to noradrenaline of sedentary rats and the vascular adaptive response to stress of sedentary and trained rats were not affected by nandrolone. Maximum response for 7-10 rats/group (g): sedentary 3.8 �� 0.2 vs trained 3.0 �� 0.2*; sedentary/stress 2.7 �� 0.2 vs trained/stress 3.1 �� 0.1*; sedentary/nandrolone 3.6 �� 0.1 vs trained/nandrolone 3.8 �� 0.1; sedentary/stress/nandrolone 3.2 �� 0.1 vs trained/stress/nandrolone 2.5 �� 0.1*; *P < 0.05 compared to its respective control. Stress and physical exercise determine similar vascular adaptive response involving distinct mechanisms as indicated by the observation that only the physical exercise-induced adaptive response was abolished by nandrolone.

Time motion analysis of football (soccer) referees during official matches in relation to the type of fluid consumed

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of volume and composition of fluid replacement on the physical performance of male football referees. Ten referees were evaluated during three official matches. In one match the participants were asked to consume mineral water ad libitum, and in the others they consumed a pre-determined volume of mineral water or a carbohydrate electrolyte solution (6.4% carbohydrate and 22 mM Na+) equivalent to 1% of their baseline body mass (half before the match and half during the interval). Total water loss, sweat rate and match physiological performance were measured. When rehydrated ad libitum (pre-match and at half time) participants lost 1.97 �� 0.18% of their pre-match body mass (2.14 �� 0.19 L). This parameter was significantly reduced when they consumed a pre-determined volume of fluid. Sweat rate was significantly reduced when the referees ingested a pre-determined volume of a carbohydrate electrolyte solution, 0.72 �� 0.12 vs 1.16 �� 0.11 L/h ad libitum. The high percentage (74.1%) of movements at low speed (walking, jogging) observed when they ingested fluid ad libitum was significantly reduced to 71% with mineral water and to 69.9% with carbohydrate solution. An increase in percent movement expended in backward running was observed when they consumed a pre-determined volume of carbohydrate solution, 7.7 �� 0.5 vs 5.5 �� 0.5% ad libitum. The improved hydration status achieved with the carbohydrate electrolyte solution reduced the length of time spent in activities at low-speed movements and increased the time spent in activities demanding high-energy expenditure.

Involvement of &#946;3-adrenergic receptors in the control of food intake in rats

This study examined the food intake changes evoked by intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of a selective agonist (BRL37344, 2 and 20 nmol) or antagonist (SR59230A, 10 and 50 nmol) of &#946;3-adrenergic receptors in 24-h fasted rats (adult male Wistar rats, 200-350 g, N = 6/treatment). The animals were also pretreated with saline icv (SAL) or SR59230A (50 nmol) followed by BRL37344 (20 nmol) or SAL in order to determine the selectivity of the effects evoked by BRL37344 on food intake or the selectivity of the effects evoked by SR59230A on risk assessment (RA) behavior. The highest dose of BRL37344 (N = 7) decreased food intake 1 h after the treatment (6.4 �� 0.5 g in SAL-treated vs 4.2 �� 0.8 g in drug-treated rats). While both doses of SR59230A failed to affect food intake (5.1 �� 1.1 g for 10 nmol and 6.0 �� 1.8 g for 50 nmol), this treatment reduced the RA frequency (number/30 min) (4 �� 2 for SAL-treated vs 1 �� 1 for 10 nmol and 0.5 �� 1 for 50 nmol SR59230A-treated rats), an ethological parameter related to anxiety. While pretreatment with SR59230A (7.0 �� 0.5 g) abolished the hypophagia induced by BRL37344 (3.6 �� 0.9 g), BRL37344 suppressed the reduction in RA frequency caused by SR59230A. These results show that the hypophagia caused by BRL37344 is selectively mediated by &#946;3-adrenergic receptors within the central nervous system. Moreover, they suggest the involvement of these receptors in the control of anxiety.

Expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 on lymphocytes of leprosy patients

Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which induces chronic granulomatous infection of the skin and peripheral nerves. The disease ranges from the tuberculoid to the lepromatous forms, depending on the cellular immune response of the host. Chemokines are thought to be involved in the immunopathogenesis of leprosy, but few studies have investigated the expression of chemokine receptors on leukocytes of leprosy patients. In the present study, we evaluated 21 leprosy patients (M/F: 16/5) with a new diagnosis from the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais. The control group was composed of 20 healthy members (M/F: 15/5) of the community recruited by means of announcements. The expression of CCR2, CCR3, CCR5, and CXCR4 was investigated by flow cytometry on the surface of peripheral blood lymphocytes. There was a decrease in percentage of CD3+CXCR4+ and CD4+CXCR4+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of leprosy patients (median [range], 17.6 [2.7-41.9] and 65.3 [3.9-91.9], respectively) compared to the control group (median [range], 43.0 [3.7-61.3] and 77.2 [43.6-93.5], respectively). The percentage of CD4+CXCR4+ was significantly lower in patients with the tuberculoid form (median [range], 45.7 [0.0-83.1]) of the disease, but not in lepromatous patients (median [range], 81.5 [44.9-91.9]). The CXCR4 chemokine receptor may play a role in leprosy immunopathogenesis, probably directing cell migration to tissue lesions in tuberculoid leprosy patients.

Physical training prevents body weight gain but does not modify adipose tissue gene expression

The relationship of body weight (BW) with white adipose tissue (WAT) mass and WAT gene expression pattern was investigated in mice submitted to physical training (PT). Adult male C57BL/6 mice were submitted to two 1.5-h daily swimming sessions (T, N = 18), 5 days/week for 4 weeks or maintained sedentary (S, N = 15). Citrate synthase activity increased significantly in the T group (P < 0.05). S mice had a substantial weight gain compared to T mice (4.06 �� 0.43 vs 0.38 �� 0.28 g, P < 0.01). WAT mass, adipocyte size, and the weights of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, lung, kidney, and adrenal gland were not different. Liver and heart were larger and the spleen was smaller in T compared to S mice (P < 0.05). Food intake was higher in T than S mice (4.7 �� 0.2 vs 4.0 �� 0.3 g/animal, P < 0.05) but oxygen consumption at rest did not differ between groups. T animals showed higher serum leptin concentration compared to S animals (6.37 �� 0.5 vs 3.11 �� 0.12 ng/mL). WAT gene expression pattern obtained by transcription factor adipocyte determination and differentiation-dependent factor 1, fatty acid synthase, malic enzyme, hormone-sensitive lipase, adipocyte lipid binding protein, leptin, and adiponectin did not differ significantly between groups. Collectively, our results showed that PT prevents BW gain and maintains WAT mass due to an increase in food intake and unchanged resting metabolic rate. These responses are closely related to unchanged WAT gene expression patterns.

Evaluation of chromosomal abnormalities by cIg-FISH and association with proliferative and apoptotic indexes in multiple myeloma

Eighty-six newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients from a public hospital of S��o Paulo (Brazil) were evaluated by cIg-FISH for the presence of del(13)(q14), t(4;14)(p16.3;q32) and del(17)(p13). These abnormalities were observed in 46.5, 9.3, and 7.0% of the patients, respectively. In order to identify the possible role of del(13)(q14) in the physiopathology of MM, we investigated the association between this abnormality and the proliferative and apoptotic indexes of plasma cells. When cases demonstrating t(4;14)(p16.3;q32) and del(17)(p13) were excluded from the analysis, we observed a trend towards a positive correlation between the proportion of cells carrying del(13)(q14) and plasma cell proliferation, determined by Ki-67 expression (r = 0.23, P = 0.06). On the other hand, no correlation between the proportion of cells carrying del(13)(q14) and apoptosis, determined by annexin-V staining, was detected (r = 0.05, P = 0.69). In general, patients carrying del(13)(q14) did not have lower survival than patients without del(13)(q14) (P = 0.15), but patients with more than 80% of cells carrying del(13)(q14) showed a lower overall survival (P = 0.033). These results suggest that, when del(13)(q14) is observed in a high proportion of malignant cells, it may have a role in determining MM prognosis. Another finding was a statistically significant lower overall survival of patients with t(4;14)(p16.3;q32) (P = 0.026). In the present study, almost half the patients with t(4;14)(p16.3;q32) died just after diagnosis, before starting treatment. This fact suggests that, in S��o Paulo, there may be even more patients with this chromosomal abnormality, but they probably die before being diagnosed due to unfavorable socioeconomic conditions. This could explain the low prevalence of this chromosomal abnormality observed in the present study.

Phytohemagglutinin improves the development and ultrastructure of in vitro-cultured goat (Capra hircus) preantral follicles

The objective this study was to determine the effect of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) on survival, growth and gene expression in caprine secondary follicles culturedin vitro. Secondary follicles (&#8764;0.2 mm) were isolated from the cortex of caprine ovaries and cultured individually for 6 days in &#945;-MEM+ supplemented with PHA (0, 1, 10, 50, 100, or 200 ��g/mL). After 6 days of culture, follicle diameter and survival, antrum formation, ultrastructure and expression of mRNA for FSH receptors (FSH-R), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase were determined. All treatments maintained follicular survival [&#945;-MEM+ (94.59%); 1 ��g/mL PHA (96.43%); 10 ��g/mL PHA (84.85%); 50 ��g/mL PHA (85.29%); 100 ��g/mL PHA (88.57%), and 200 ��g/mL PHA (87.50)], but the presence of 10 ��g/mL PHA in the culture medium increased the antrum formation rate (21.21%) when compared with control (5.41%, P < 0.05) and ensured the maintenance of oocyte and granulosa cell ultrastructures after 6 days of culture. The expression of mRNA for FSH-R (2.7 �� 0.1) and PCNA (4.4 �� 0.2) was also significantly increased in follicles cultured with 10 ��g/mL PHA in relation to those cultured in &#945;-MEM+ (1.0 �� 0.1). In conclusion, supplementation of culture medium with 10 ��g/mL PHA maintains the follicular viability and ultrastructure, and promotes the formation of antral cavity after 6 days of culture in vitro.

Maternal protein restriction affects gene expression and enzyme activity of intestinal disaccharidases in adult rat offspring

This study investigated the consequences of intrauterine protein restriction on the gastrointestinal tract and particularly on the gene expression and activity of intestinal disaccharidases in the adult offspring. Wistar rat dams were fed isocaloric diets containing 6% protein (restricted, n = 8) or 17% protein (control, n = 8) throughout gestation. Male offspring (n = 5-8 in each group) were evaluated at 3 or 16 weeks of age. Maternal protein restriction during pregnancy produced offspring with growth restriction from birth (5.7 �� 0.1 vs 6.3 �� 0.1 g; mean �� SE) to weaning (42.4 �� 1.3 vs 49.1 �� 1.6 g), although at 16 weeks of age their body weight was similar to control (421.7 �� 8.9 and 428.5 �� 8.5 g). Maternal protein restriction also increased lactase activity in the proximal (0.23 �� 0.02vs 0.15 �� 0.02), medial (0.30 �� 0.06vs 0.14 �� 0.01) and distal (0.43 �� 0.07vs 0.07 �� 0.02 U��g-1��min-1) small intestine, and mRNA lactase abundance in the proximal intestine (7.96 �� 1.11vs 2.38 �� 0.47 relative units) of 3-week-old offspring rats. In addition, maternal protein restriction increased sucrase activity (1.20 �� 0.02 vs 0.91 �� 0.02 U��g-1��min-1) and sucrase mRNA abundance (4.48 �� 0.51 vs 1.95 �� 0.17 relative units) in the duodenum of 16-week-old rats. In conclusion, the present study shows for the first time that intrauterine protein restriction affects gene expression of intestinal enzymes in offspring.

Myosin light chain kinase is necessary for post-shock mesenteric lymph drainage enhancement of vascular reactivity and calcium sensitivity in hemorrhagic-shocked rats

Vascular hyporeactivity is an important factor in irreversible shock, and post-shock mesenteric lymph (PSML) blockade improves vascular reactivity after hemorrhagic shock. This study explored the possible involvement of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in PSML-mediated vascular hyporeactivity and calcium desensitization. Rats were divided into sham (n=12), shock (n=18), and shock+drainage (n=18) groups. A hemorrhagic shock model (40��2 mmHg, 3 h) was established in the shock and shock+drainage groups. PSML drainage was performed from 1 to 3 h from start of hypotension in shock+drainage rats. Levels of phospho-MLCK (p-MLCK) were determined in superior mesenteric artery (SMA) tissue, and the vascular reactivity to norepinephrine (NE) and sensitivity to Ca2+ were observed in SMA rings in an isolated organ perfusion system. p-MLCK was significantly decreased in the shock group compared with the sham group, but increased in the shock+drainage group compared with the shock group. Substance P (1 nM), an agonist of MLCK, significantly elevated the decreased contractile response of SMA rings to both NE and Ca2+ at various concentrations. Maximum contractility (Emax) in the shock group increased with NE (from 0.179��0.038 to 0.440��0.177 g/mg, P<0.05) and Ca2+ (from 0.515��0.043 to 0.646��0.096 g/mg, P<0.05). ML-7 (0.1 nM), an inhibitor of MLCK, reduced the increased vascular response to NE and Ca2+ at various concentrations in the shock+drainage group (from 0.744��0.187 to 0.570��0.143 g/mg in Emax for NE and from 0.729��0.037 to 0.645��0.056 g/mg in Emax for Ca2+, P<0.05). We conclude that MLCK is an important contributor to PSML drainage, enhancing vascular reactivity and calcium sensitivity in rats with hemorrhagic shock.

Serum uric acid and disorders of glucose metabolism: the role of glycosuria

Hyperuricemia has been associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. We studied the association between hyperuricemia and glycemic status in a nonrandomized sample of primary care patients. This was a cross-sectional study of adults &#8805;20 years old who were members of a community-based health care program. Hyperuricemia was defined as a value >7.0 mg/dL for men and >6.0 mg/dL for women. The sample comprised 720 participants including controls (n=257) and patients who were hypertensive and euglycemic (n=118), prediabetic (n=222), or diabetic (n=123). The mean age was 42.4��12.5 years, 45% were male, and 30% were white. The prevalence of hyperuricemia increased from controls (3.9%) to euglycemic hypertension (7.6%) and prediabetic state (14.0%), with values in prediabetic patients being statistically different from controls. Overall, diabetic patients had an 11.4% prevalence of hyperuricemia, which was also statistically different from controls. Of note, diabetic subjects with glycosuria, who represented 24% of the diabetic participants, had a null prevalence of hyperuricemia, and statistically higher values for fractional excretion of uric acid, Na excretion index, and prevalence of microalbuminuria than those without glycosuria. Participants who were prediabetic or diabetic but without glycosuria had a similarly elevated prevalence of hyperuricemia. In contrast, diabetic patients with glycosuria had a null prevalence of hyperuricemia and excreted more uric acid and Na than diabetic subjects without glycosuria. The findings can be explained by enhanced proximal tubule reabsorption early in the course of dysglycemia that decreases with the ensuing glycosuria at the late stage of the disorder.

Enhanced production and organic solvent stability of a protease fromBrevibacillus laterosporus strain PAP04

A bacterial strain (PAP04) isolated from cattle farm soil was shown to produce an extracellular, solvent-stable protease. Sequence analysis using 16S rRNA showed that this strain was highly homologous (99%) to Brevibacillus laterosporus. Growth conditions that optimize protease production in this strain were determined as maltose (carbon source), skim milk (nitrogen source), pH 7.0, 40��C temperature, and 48 h incubation. Overall, conditions were optimized to yield a 5.91-fold higher production of protease compared to standard conditions. Furthermore, the stability of the enzyme in organic solvents was assessed by incubation for 2 weeks in solutions containing 50% concentration of various organic solvents. The enzyme retained activity in all tested solvents except ethanol; however, the protease activity was stimulated in benzene (74%) followed by acetone (63%) and chloroform (54.8%). In addition, the plate assay and zymography results also confirmed the stability of the PAP04 protease in various organic solvents. The organic solvent stability of this protease at high (50%) concentrations of solvents makes it an alternative catalyst for peptide synthesis in non-aqueous media.

PROPRIEDADES EMULSIFICANTES E SOLUBILIDADE DA CASE��NA BOVINA E DE SEUS HIDROLISADOS TR��PTICOS: 1. EFEITO DO PH E DO TEMPO DE HIDR��LISE

Visando a aplica����o industrial da case��na e de seus hidrolisados tr��pticos, foram estudados os efeitos da varia����o do pH e do tempo de hidr��lise sobre suas caracter��sticas de solubilidade e propriedades emulsificantes. Testou-se os valores de pH de 3,0; 4,0; 5,0; 6,0; 7,0 e 8,0 e os tempos de hidr��lise: 5, 10 15, 30 e 60min. Foram medidos a solubilidade, a capacidade emulsificante, o ��ndice de atividade emulsificante, a estabilidade da emuls��o, e calculdado o tamanho dos gl��bulos de gordura. Os resultados obtidos para a case��na nativa indicaram que os melhores valores para estas propriedades funcionais foram encontrados em pH acima de 5,0. A hidr��lise tr��ptica da case��na foi ben��fica para sua solubilidade e capacidade emulsificante e prejudicou sua estabilidade, em todos os valores de pH e tempos de hidr��lise, exceto no pH 5,0 com 5 min de rea����o. Por outro lado, este tratamento enzim��tico contribuiu para melhorar o ��ndice de atividade emulsificante da case��na, entre valores de pH 3,0 e 5,0 e ap��s 10 min de rea����o.

An��lise da aceita����o de aguardentes de cana por testes afetivos e mapa de prefer��ncia interno

A aceita����o de 11 amostras de aguardentes de cana envelhecidas e n��o envelhecidas foi avaliada por testes sensoriais afetivos e an��lises estat��sticas uni e multivariada. As aguardentes estudadas compreenderam seis amostras comerciais de diferentes marcas, (sendo tr��s n��o envelhecidas e tr��s envelhecidas) e ainda outras cinco amostras correspondentes a zero, 12, 24, 36 e 48 meses de envelhecimento em um tonel de carvalho de 200L. As amostras foram avaliadas por 100 provadores consumidores do produto, recrutados por question��rio de avalia����o quanto �� afetividade. Para os testes afetivos foi utilizada escala hed��nica n��o estruturada de 9cm, sendo os dados obtidos avaliados por dois m��todos estat��sticos distintos: o Mapa de Prefer��ncia Interno (MDPREF) e a an��lise de vari��ncia univariada (ANOVA) com compara����o de m��dias pelo teste de Tukey e an��lise de correla����o. As amostras de aguardente envelhecidas por 12, 36 e 48 meses obtiveram maior aceita����o, com m��dias ao redor de 7,0 na escala hed��nica. A amostra com menor aceita����o foi a correspondente ao tempo zero de envelhecimento (controle). As demais amostras obtiveram aceita����o intermedi��ria. A an��lise por MDPREF gerou em espa��o multidimensional (onde as varia����es com rela����o aos dados de prefer��ncia foram extra��das em eixos ortogonais e para cada dimens��o de prefer��ncia), coordenadas relativas aos produtos, que foram geradas em fun����o da resposta dos consumidores. Os dados de aceita����o de cada provador foram utilizados para o desenvolvimento de vetores individuais de prefer��ncia, resultando na constru����o de um mapa mutidimensional das amostras, em fun����o dos dados de aceita����o. No presente estudo o MDPREF foi gerado pelas primeira e segunda dimens��es de prefer��ncia, as quais explicaram em conjunto 89,83% das varia����es observadas entre as amostras com rela����o �� aceita����o. O MDPREF confirmou os resultados da ANOVA, indicando uma maior prefer��ncia dos provadores pelas amostras de aguardentes envelhecidas. Os resultados sugerem tamb��m que aguardentes envelhecidas por mais de 24 meses em tonel de carvalho de 200L s��o preferidas pelos consumidores, em detrimento das comerciais n��o envelhecidas e mesmo das comerciais envelhecidas, que podem ser adicionadas de aguardente n��o envelhecida (processo denominado corte) e tamb��m ter corre����o da cor, conforme permite a Legisla����o Brasileira. O conte��do de polifen��is totais e a intensidade de cor tamb��m foram determinados, e ambos apresentaram correla����o linear positiva significativa (p<=0,05) com o aumento do tempo de envelhecimento das amostras.

Embalagens alternativas para caf�� sol��vel

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a vida ��til de caf�� sol��vel em novas op����es de potes pl��sticos atrav��s de modelo matem��tico, que relaciona o aumento de umidade do produto, com a barreira �� umidade da embalagem. Os potes pl��sticos foram caracterizados quanto ��s dimens��es, �� capacidade volum��trica, �� taxa de permeabilidade ao vapor d'��gua (TPVA) e ao torque de abertura. Caracterizou-se os dois tipos de caf�� sol��vel (aglomerado e em p��) quanto �� umidade inicial e cr��tica e �� isoterma de sor����o de umidade. Os potes pl��sticos de poli��ster (PET) mostraram-se cerca de dez vezes mais perme��veis que os de polipropileno (PP). Observou-se aglomera����o nos produtos com 7,0% b.s. de umidade a 30��C, mas a umidade cr��tica foi considerada como sendo de 5,0% b.s., que �� o teor fixado pela legisla����o. Os resultados indicaram que, nos potes de PP, os per��odos de vida ��til dos caf��s sol��veis aglomerado e em p�� foram superiores a 1,8 anos e 2,5 anos, respectivamente, a 30��C/80%UR. Entretanto, o uso de potes de poli��ster (PET) n��o se mostrou vi��vel devido aos baixos per��odos de vida ��til estimados a 30��C/80%UR (inferiores a 4 meses).

Efeito do pH e da hidr��lise tr��ptica sobre as propriedades emulsionantes da globina bovina

No intuito de estudar o efeito do pH e da a����o da tripsina sobre as propriedades emulsionantes da globina bovina, extra��da pelo m��todo da acetona acidificada, foram determinados neste trabalho, a capacidade emulsionante (EC), o ��ndice de atividade emulsionante (EAI) e a estabilidade da emuls��o (ES). Testaram-se os valores de pH de 3,0 a 8,0 e os tempos de hidr��lise de 5,0 a 60 min. Os dados obtidos indicam que os maiores valores de EC e ES foram obtidos no pH 5,0 e 6,0, respectivamente, correspondente �� faixa de alta solubilidade da prote��na. Por outro lado, o EAI, al��m de apresentar um m��ximo no pH 3,0, foi igualmente elevado nos valores de pH 7,0 e 8,0, situados na zona onde a globina �� praticamente insol��vel. A hidr��lise tr��ptica, nas condi����es empregadas, contribuiu para melhorar a EC, em toda a faixa de pH estudada, enquanto que para o EAI somente foi ben��fico em pH 4,0 e 5,0. No caso da ES, este tratamento enzim��tico n��o foi vantajoso, promovendo melhoras apenas no pH 7,0, onde a prote��na �� insol��vel, e somente ap��s 60 min de hidr��lise.