Stem cells for enhancing recovery after stroke: a review

The potential application for stem cell therapy is vast, and development for use in ischaemic stroke is still in its infancy. Access to stem cells for research is contentious; however, stem cells are obtainable from both animal and human. Despite a limited understanding of their mechanisms of action, clinical trials assessing stem cells in human stroke have been performed. Trials are also underway evaluating haematopoietic precursors mobilised with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, an approach offering an autologous means of administrating stem cells for therapeutic purposes. This review summarises current knowledge in regard to stem cells and their potential for helping improve recovery after stroke.

Rehidratación post-ejercicio con agua de coco: ¿igual o más efectiva que una bebida deportiva?

Objetivo: comparar la efectividad rehidratante del agua de coco fresca, con el agua embotellada y una bebida deportiva.Metodología: once participantes de 22,0 ± 1,9 años y 65,6 ± 13,0 kg de masa corporal (promedio ± D.E), asistieron al laboratorio en tres ocasiones, separadas entre sí por una semana. En cada sesión se deshidrataron por ejercicio en el calor hasta perder 1,84 ± 0,2% de la masa corporal. Luego fueron rehidratados en una hora, con agua comercial embotellada (AE), una bebida deportiva (BD) o agua de coco (AC), utilizando un volumen equivalente al 120% del peso perdido. Se evaluaron las sensaciones percibidas relacionadas con la tolerancia y la aceptación de las bebidas. Se recolectó la orina eliminada durante tres horas post-rehidratación.Resultados: Hubo interacción entre las bebidas y el tiempo sobre la orina excretada (p=0,003), siendo el AE estadísticamente diferente al AC y la BD a los 30 y 60 min post-rehidratación (p<0,05). El volumen total de orina fue mayor con agua embotellada (625 ± 183 mL), en comparación con AC y BD (390 ± 73 mL y 416 ± 200 mL, respectivamente, p<0,002); AC y BD no fueron distintas entre sí (p>0,05). Esto produjo porcentajes de conservación de líquido diferentes para AE (56%), con respecto a BD (71%) y AC (71%) (p<0,001). No hubo interacción entre las bebidas y el tiempo sobre las sensaciones percibidas de tolerancia (p>0,05).La percepción de la dulzura fue menor para AE (p= 0,024). BD obtuvo mejores puntajes de sabor y aceptación general (p<0,05).Conclusiones: el agua de coco fresca resulta tan efectiva como una bebida deportiva para conservar el líquido consumido, teniendo una buena tolerancia y aceptación. Podría ser usada como una bebida rehidratante, cuando la persona la tenga disponible y le agrade su sabor.

Effect of firefighter boots and viscoelastic insoles on the impact force of the ground reaction force’s vertical component

The aims of the present study were to determine the effect of firefighter's boots on the vertical component of the ground reaction force (GRF) at heel strike, also known as heel strike transient and to analyze the effect of the viscoelastic insoles placed into the firefighter’s boots on this force during the gait. The magnitude of the impact force (FZI) from the vertical ground reaction force, the time to the production of this force (TZI) and the loading rate (GC) were registered. 39 firefighters without any pathology during 2 years before the study were recruited. Three different walking conditions were tested: 1) gait with firefighter's boots, 2) gait with firefighter's boots and viscoelastic insoles and 3) gait with sport shoes. The results showed a higher production and magnitude of the impact force during gait with firefighter's boots than during gait with sport shoes (13,1 vs. 2,6 % of occurrence of the impact force and 61,39 ± 35,18 %BW (body weight) vs. 49,38 ± 22,99 %BW, respectively). The gait with viscoelastic insoles placed into the firefighter's boots did not show significant differences in any of the parameters characterizing the impact force compared to the gait without insoles. The results of this study show a lower cushioning of the impact force during the gait with firefighter's boots in comparison to the gait with sport shoes and the inefficiency of the viscoelastic insoles placed inside the firefighter's boots to ameliorate the cushioning of the impact force at natural walking speed.

Effects of aqueous extract from Asparagus officinalis L. roots on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormone levels and the number of ovarian follicles in adult rats

Background: Asparagus is a plant with high nutritional, pharmaceutical, and industrial values. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of asparagus roots on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and oogenesis in female rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult female Wistar rats were divided into five groups, which consist 8 rats. Groups included control, sham and three experimental groups receiving different doses (100, 200, 400 mg/kg/bw) of aqueous extract of asparagus roots. All dosages were administered orally for 28 days. Blood samples were taken from rats to evaluate serum levels of Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinal hormone (LH), estrogen, and progesterone hormones. The ovaries were removed, weighted, sectioned, and studied by light microscope. Results: Dose-dependent aqueous extract of asparagus roots significantly increased serum levels of GnRH, FSH, LH, estrogen, and progestin hormones compared to control and sham groups. Increase in number of ovarian follicles and corpus luteum in groups treated with asparagus root extract was also observed (p<0.05). Conclusion: Asparagus roots extract stimulates secretion of hypothalamic- pituitary- gonadal axis hormones. This also positively affects oogenesis in female rats.

Feeding level and frequency for freshwater angelfish

The objective of this study was to determine the optimal feeding level and feeding frequency for the culture of freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare). A randomized block design in a factorial scheme (3 × 2) with three feeding levels (30, 60 and 90 g/kg of body weight (BW)/day) and two feeding frequencies (1x and 2x/day) was set up in duplicate, representing 24 experimental units. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and the Tukey test for comparison between means. After 84 days, results indicated that both factors influenced fish performance. No interaction between these factors was, however, observed. Increased feeding level and feeding frequency resulted in increased feed intake. The feed conversion ratio was negatively affected by feeding level, but not affected by feeding frequency. Final weights were higher when fish were fed twice daily, at levels of 60 or 90 g/kg BW/day. Specific growth rate was higher when fish received 60 or 90 g/kg BW/day, regardless of the feeding frequency. Survival was not affected by any treatment, with mean survival rates higher than 90%. It is recommended that juveniles be fed at a level of 60 g/kg BW/day with a minimum of two meals per day, to attain optimal survival, growth and feed efficiency.

Avaliação toxicológica da ayahuasca em ratos Wistar : comportamento e toxicidade reprodutiva em machos

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, 2016.