Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its associated risk factors in Brazilian postmenopausal women

Objective To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in postmenopausal women.Methods A cross-sectional study was carried involving 188 women (age >= 45 years and amenorrhea >= 12 months) attending the outpatient unit in south-eastern Brazil. Exclusion criteria were liver disease (hepatitis B and C, cholestatic disease, liver insufficiency), use of drugs that affect liver metabolism; alcoholics; AIDS or cancer history; and morbid obesity. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. Clinical, anthropometric (body mass index, waist circumference) and biochemical variables were measured.Results Of the 188 women, 73 (38.8%) had NAFLD. Blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were significantly higher in NAFLD patients when compared with women without NAFLD (control group) (p < 0.05). HOMA-IR values indicated insulin resistance only in the NAFLD group (6.1 +/- 4.6 vs. 2.4 +/- 1.4 in control group, p < 0.05). Metabolic syndrome was detected in 93.1% of the women affected by NAFLD, and 46.1% of the control group (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, adjusted for age and weight, the variables considered at risk for the development of NAFLD, were: high waist circumference (odds ratio (OR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.13), insulin resistance (OR 3.81, 95% CI 2.01-7.13), and presence of metabolic syndrome (OR 8.68, 95% CI 3.3-24.1).Conclusion NAFLD showed a high prevalence among postmenopausal women. The presence of metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity and IR were indicators of risk for the development of NAFLD.

Bioavailability of plant pigment phytochemicals in Angelica keiskei in older adults: A pilot absorption kinetic study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Angelica keiskei is a green leafy vegetable rich in plant pigment phytochemicals such as flavonoids and carotenoids. This study examined bioavailability of flavonoids and carotenoids in Angelica keiskei and the alteration of the antioxidant performance in vivo.SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS: Absorption kinetics of phytochemicals in Angelica keiskei were determined in healthy older adults (>60 y, n = 5) and subjects with metabolic syndrome (n = 5). Subjects consumed 5 g dry Angelica keiskei powder encapsulated in gelatin capsules with a low flavonoid and carotenoid liquid meal. Plasma samples were collected at baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 h. Samples were analyzed for flavonoids and carotenoids using HPLC systems with electrochemical and UV detection, respectively, and for total antioxidant performance by fluorometry.RESULTS: After ingestion of Angelica keiskei increases in plasma quercetin concentrations were observed at 1-3 and 6-8 hr in the healthy group and at all time points in the metabolic syndrome group compared to baseline (P < 0.05). Plasma lutein concentrations were significantly elevated in both the healthy and metabolic syndrome groups at 8 hr (P < 0.05). Significant increases in total antioxidant performance were also observed in both the healthy and the metabolic syndrome groups compared to baseline (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study clearly demonstrate the bioavailability of phytonutrients of Angelica keiskei and their ability to increase antioxidant status in humans.

Influência da composição corporal e da síndrome metabólica sobre a relação da aptidão cardiorrespiratória com o estresse inflamatório

Physical activity is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk factors, being cardiorespiratory fitness a major component of physical activity health related. Body fatness and sarcopenia are related to sedentary lifestyle leading to proinflammatory stress and lower cadiorespiratory capacity. This study aimed correlates C-reactive protein with cardiorespiratory fitness, analyzing the influences of anthropometrics variables and metabolic syndrome (MS) presence. the cross-sectional retrospective study included baseline data of 194 adults (62 male and 132 female), 53,74 ± 8,77 years, clinically and ethically selected for a lifestyle modification program. Total cholesterol (TC) and cholesterol lipoprotein fractions, triglycerides (TG) and glucose was dosed by dry chemistry (Vitros® system, Johnson & Johnson). Blood leukocytes was quantified by automatic cell counter (Coulter ABX®, Horiba). LDL-cholesterol was obtained by Friedwald formula. Serum ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (US-CRP) was accessed by the immunochemoluminescence method (Immulite 2000®, DPC Medlab). Weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Muscular mass and fat mass were obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis (impedancemeter Quantum BIA-101Q®, Clinton Township). Arterial blood pressure was checked by auscultatory method and cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by ergoespirometric test (Balke protocol). The metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according NCEP – ATP III (2001), following recommendations of American Diabetes Association (2004). Pearson’s correlation crude and adjusted for confounders variables with p<0,05. The prevalence of MS was 30.4%. Crude correlation shows hsCRP was correlated inverse and significantly with VO2max (r= -0.21; p=-0.003) ...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Avaliação preliminar do efeito da Physalis angulata L. sobre a obesidade induzida por dieta hipercalórica

The obesity has been considered one of the most serious public health problem in the worldwide scale, especially for being one of the main risk factors for many chronic diseases that characterize the metabolic syndrome. In addition to these diseases, obesity also causes dermatoses that affect not only the individual emotions but also cause various cutaneous infections. Thus, overweighting can be an agent that causes many types of stress: psychological, physical and social. In order to improve people’s life quality, several ethnopharmacological studies indicate plant species for the treatment of disorders associated with obesity due to the attraction of this regimen is perceived as safer and more health effective when compared to the treatment performed by traditional anorectic substances. If considered both food intake and also oral treatment with different compounds can promote change in the gene expression, besides an appropriate diet has been maintenance mechanism of body's vital functions. The aim of this work was to develop new standard methods for induced obesity and stress, which stress is induced through physical and psychogenic stressors in Swiss male mice. Also to evaluate the effect of supercritical extract of Physalis angulata L. on the food intake and corporeal weight loss

Efeitos da ingestão aguda do suco de laranja na resposta glicêmica e insulínica, níveis séricos de leptina e adiponectina, consumo energético e atividade antioxidante

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Síntese e avaliação biológica de novos derivados anti-inflamatórios esteroides

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Control of respiratory and cardiovascular functions by leptin

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Análise de agrupamentos para a classificação de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica Fobi-Capella

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ação do desregulador endócrino bisfenol A e da dieta hiperlipídica sobre os lobos prostáticos do gerbilo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos do treinamento resistido na síndrome metabólica: uma revisão sistemática com meta-análise e um ensaio clínico randomizado

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Oxidative DNA damage in diabetic and mild gestational hyperglycemic pregnant women

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

IRS-1 gene polymorphism and DNA damage in pregnant women with diabetes or mild gestational hyperglycemia

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The study of cardiovascular risk in adolescents - ERICA: rationale, design and sample characteristics of a national survey examining cardiovascular risk factor profile in Brazilian adolescents

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Standard short-term diet ameliorates the lipid profile altered by a fructose-rich diet in rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Balance and ankle muscle strength predict spatiotemporal gait parameters in individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

The aims of this study were to evaluate aspects of balance, ankle muscle strength and spatiotemporal gait parameters in individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and verify whether deficits in spatiotemporal gait parameters were associated with ankle muscle strength and balance performance. Thirty individuals with DPN and 30 control individuals have participated. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were evaluated by measuring the time to walk a set distance during self-selected and maximal walking speeds. Functional mobility and balance performance were assessed using the Functional Reach and the Time Up and Go tests. Ankle isometric muscle strength was assessed with a handheld digital dynamometer. Analyses of variance were employed to verify possible differences between groups and conditions. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to uncover possible predictors of gait deficits. Gait spatiotemporal, functional mobility, balance performance and ankle muscle strength were affected in individuals with DPN. The Time Up and Go test performance and ankle muscle isometric strength were associated to spatiotemporal gait changes, especially during maximal walking speed condition. Functional mobility and balance performance are damaged in DPN and balance performance and ankle muscle strength can be used to predict spatiotemporal gait parameters in individuals with DPN.