Zinco plasmático e estado nutricional em idosos

OBJETIVO: Neste estudo foi avaliado o zinco plasmático associado ao estado nutricional de 80 indivíduos idosos saudáveis, atendidos no Centro de Reabilitação da Prefeitura Municipal de Araraquara, SP, entre 1998 e 1999. MÉTODOS: Os participantes foram entrevistados para obtenção dos dados de ingestão de alimentos e, a partir desses dados, foram estimados o consumo de macronutrientes e de zinco dietético. A concentração do zinco plasmático foi dosada por Espectroscopia de Emissão Atômica com Plasma de Argônio Induzido. Para a avaliação nutricional foram tomadas as medidas do peso corporal, altura, circunferência do braço e prega cutânea triciptal. RESULTADOS: A alimentação das mulheres foi adequada em proteínas e lipídios, mas insuficiente em carboidratos e energia. Os homens apresentaram ingestão suficiente de energia, mas com excesso de lípides associado à insuficiência de carboidratos. A ingestão média de zinco, pelas mulheres (10,8±4,1mg/d) e pelos homens (19,7±7,2mg/d), estava de acordo com a recomendação. As concentrações plasmáticas de zinco nas mulheres (7,2±3,5µmol/L) e nos homens (6,5±3,8µmol/L) estavam abaixo das referências para a idade, e não foram correlacionadas com o zinco alimentar. Foi detectada correlação significante e positiva entre o zinco plasmático e a ingestão de proteína; entretanto, essa correlação se apresentou negativa com a idade. CONCLUSÕES: A redução da biodisponibilidade do zinco dietético pode ter sido devida ao consumo elevado de leguminosas e ao consumo reduzido de carnes que, associados à ingestão energética insuficiente das mulheres, tiveram repercussões nas concentrações plasmáticas daquele nutriente. É necessária a atenção nutricional voltada aos idosos, visando melhorar a biodisponibilidade do zinco alimentar, e para prevenir ou corrigir sua deficiência por meio de suplementação.

Experimental infection with Leishmania chagasi in immunosuppressed Balb/c mice: cytokines and parasite burdens

The immune response in leishmaniasis may result in a polarization of the T lymphocyte subpopulation, altering cell phenotype and resulting in immune protection or disease exacerbation. Leishmania may persist in the body either during asymptomatic infections or after treatment, which represents high risk under immunosuppression. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of infection with immunosuppression by dexamethasone associated with pentoxifylline on animal weight, spleen weight, spleen and hepatic parasitic load and immunopathology, as well as the IFN-gamma and IL-10 production in spleen cell culture of Balb/c mice infected with Leishmania chagasi. The infection did not cause body weight gain in animals, but both the weight and size of the spleen were increased. The immunosuppression using dexamethasone associated with pentoxifylline affected body weight gain and spleen weight and size in both infected and non-infected animals. The immunosuppression did not significantly alter the course of the splenic or hepatic parasite burden. Dexamethasone and pentoxifylline significantly affected cytokine production, but did not influence the Th1/Th2 ratio in infected animals.

Impact of maternal mild hyperglycemia on maternal care and offspring development and behavior of Wistar rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação do efeito do exercício físico no metabolismo de ratas diabéticas prenhes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effects of intravenous glucose infusion and nutritional balance on serum concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, insulin, and progesterone in nonlactating dairy cows

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

Weight loss and changes in surface roughness of denture base and reline materials after simulated toothbrushing in vitro

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

Long-term melatonin treatment reduces ovarian mass and enhances tissue antioxidant defenses during ovulation in the rat

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

Chromosome spreading of associated transposable elements and ribosomal DNA in the fish Erythrinus erythrinus. Implications for genome change and karyoevolution in fish

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

Butyl hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced oxidative stress: Effects on serum lipids and cardiac energy metabolism in rats

Recent lines of evidences indicate that several pathological conditions, as cardiovascular diseases, are associated with oxidative stress. In order to validate a butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced experimental model of oxidative stress in the cardiac tissue and serum lipids, 12 Wistar rats were divided into two groups, a control group and the BHT group, Which received BHT i.p. twice a week (1500 mg/kg body Weight) during 30 days. BHT group presented lower body weight gain and heart weight. BHT induced toxic effects on serum through increased triacylglycerols (TG), VLDL and LDL-cholesterol concentrations. The heart of BHT animals showed alteration of antioxidant defenses and increased concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides, indicating elevated lipoperoxidation. TG concentrations and lactate dehydrogenase activities were elevated in the cardiac Muscle of BHT animals. Thus, long-term administration of BHT is capable to induce oxidative and metabolic alterations similarly to some pathological disorders, constituting an efficient experimental model to health scientific research. (c) 2005 Elsevier GrnbH. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of lipid profile and oxidative stress in STZ-induced rats treated with antioxidant vitamin

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Alcoholism and alcohol abstinence: N-acetylcysteine to improve energy expenditure, myocardial oxidative stress, and energy metabolism in alcoholic heart disease

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

Ontogenetic shifts in the digestive tube and diet of Bryconamericus stramineus Eigenmann, 1908 (Osteichthyes, Characidae)

Aim: Studies on feeding of early life stages are very important to the understanding of the biology and trophic ecology of fish species. Therefore, the aim of this work is to describe the development of the digestive tube, and to characterize the diet of larvae and juveniles of Bryconamericus stramineus Eigenmann, 1908 of the upper Parana River floodplain; Methods: Larvae were obtained from, monthly samples during nychthemeral cycles with four-hour interval between samplings from February/91 to February/92, utilizing a conical-cylindrical plankton net; Results: At the preflexion stage, larvae at approximately 4.00 mm SL, showed a morphologically undifferentiated straight tube, with the anterior region more dilated. At the flexion stage a differentiation in the anterior region of the digestive tube occurs, with the intestine wall getting thicker (8.30 mm SL). The formation of pyloric caeca occurs at 9.00 mm SL. At the postflexion stage the first loop is formed at 9.25 mm SL and the second loop at about 10.00 mm SL. Bryconamericus stramineus consumed mainly cladocerans, also ingesting copepods, rotifers, nematodes, algae, insects and inorganic particles. Along the development, there was an increase in the number of food items and a diversification in the number of consumed taxa; Conclusions: Changes in the diet of B. stramineus larvae were not observed, being them zooplanktivores during all the initial development. However, an increase of large preys, such as insects larvae, was observed at the end of the larval period and in juveniles, suggesting a tendency towards invertivory. Larvae and juveniles preferentially fed during the night.