Impact of physical exercise on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)

Obesity is a chronic multifactorial disease characterized by excess adiposity. Adipose tissue hypertrophy favors lipid deposition in ectopic tissues, such as the liver, which favors the development of the metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), characterized by excessive accumulation of lipids in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes (fatty liver). Triglyceride overload in hepatocytes observed in obesity is associated with inflammation and insulin resistance status. Non-pharmacological strategies, such as the practice of physical exercise, seem to be an effective in reducing inflammatory markers and improving insulin sensitivity in obese individuals with MAFLD attenuating hepatocellular steatosis. Thus, this review aims to demonstrate the factors involved in the development of hepatic steatosis, as well as investigate the impact of physical exercise on insulin sensitivity and inflammatory markers in the condition of obesity-associated MAFLD

Influência de diferentes dietas hipercalóricas sobre o estresse oxidativo cardíaco/ Influence of different hypercaloric diets on cardiac oxidative stress

A alta ingestão de dietas hipercalóricas vem sendo mundialmente observada, acarretando aumento do tecido adiposo abdominal com concomitante quadro inflamatório sistêmico de baixo grau, desequilíbrio de citocinas, complicações metabólicas e cardiovasculares. Além disso, observa-se aumento da produção de radicais livres, que associado a diminuição das defesas antioxidantes, resultam em estresse oxidativo. Essa revisão sistemática objetiva analisar estudos que utilizam intervenções nutricionais por meio de dietas hipercalóricas e sua influência no estresse oxidativo cardíaco. A busca virtual foi realizada nas bases de dados Medline, via Pubmed e Bireme, ScienceDirect, Lilacs, e Scielo utilizando como descritores “oxidative stress”, “heart”, “myocardial”, “cardiac”, “high-fat diet”, “high-carbohydrate diet” e “diet”. Foram identificados 739 artigos, os quais após critérios de elegibilidade resultaram em 19 estudos. Estes foram separados em estudos experimentais envolvendo diferentes protocolos de dietas hipercalóricas ricas em gordura e/ou carboidratos.  Os estudos demonstram relação entre consumo de dietas hipercalóricas e estresse oxidativo cardíaco, baseadas em gorduras saturadas ou insaturadas, acrescidas ou não de açúcar observado pelo aumento da lipoperoxidação, carbonilação proteica e elevação das espécies reativas de oxigênio in situ, reporta-se possível envolvimento da enzima NADPH oxidase neste processo, bem como redução das defesas antioxidantes porém há carência de informações sobre as possíveis vias sinalizadoras envolvidas nesse processo.

Experimental Hyperthyroidism Decreases Gene Expression and Serum Levels of Adipokines in Obesity

Aims. To analyze the influence of hyperthyroidism on the gene expression and serum concentration of leptin, resistin, and adiponectin in obese animals. Main Methods. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: control (C)—fed with commercial chow ad libitum—and obese (OB)—fed with a hypercaloric diet. After group characterization, the OB rats continued receiving a hypercaloric diet and were randomized into two groups: obese animals (OB) and obese with 25 μg triiodothyronine (T3)/100 BW (OT). The T3 dose was administered every day for the last 2 weeks of the study. After 30 weeks the animals were euthanized. Samples of blood and adipose tissue were collected for biochemical and hormonal analyses as well as gene expression of leptin, resistin, and adiponectin. Results. T3 treatment was effective, increasing fT3 levels and decreasing fT4 and TSH serum concentration. Administration of T3 promotes weight loss, decreases all fat deposits, and diminishes serum levels of leptin, resistin, and adiponectin by reducing their gene expression. Conclusions. Our results suggest that T3 modulate serum and gene expression levels of leptin, resistin, and adiponectin in experimental model of obesity, providing new insights regarding the relationship between T3 and adipokines in obesity

The perception of effort is not a valid tool for establishing the strength-training zone

The main purpose was to investigate whether the perception of effort during the two first repetitions of strength exercises could be an adequate strategy for estimating the strength-training zone. The sample comprised 11 women (18 to 35 years-old). In the first week, the volunteers performed a 1-RM test in seven exercises on strength machines, and the load was calculated to reach 50%, 70% and 90% of the 1-RM. Over the next three weeks, the volunteers were required to perform randomly the exercises at these three intensities. After the two first repetitions, the volunteers were questioned about how many repetitions they believed they could achieve until failure (self-estimated). Additionally, volunteers were asked to indicate their exertion according Borg scale. After volunteers performed every exercise until concentric failure to complete the repetition maximum test (RMs test). The data were analyzed using linear regression, Pearson correlation and paired t-test. The results showed that the self-estimated number of repetitions underestimated 44% and 30% of the mean values of repetition maximum obtained directly at intensities of 50% and 70% (p < 0.05), respectively. Although repetition maximum were correlated with Borg scale (r = -0.23 to -0.41; p < 0.05) and self-estimated number of repetitions (r = 0.25 to 0.41; p < 0.05), the standard errors of estimate obtained by linear regression were very high (40% to 49%), which prevented any estimation equations. In conclusion, the perception of effort during the two first repetitions is not a satisfactory strategy for estimating the strength-training zone

Endobronchial myxoma: Case report

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary myxoma is an extremely rare benign neoplasm. It is mostly parenchymal but may occasionally occur within the tracheobronchial tree. There are very few reports of endobronchial myxoma. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of endobronchial myxoma in a 40-year-old female patient with a history of asthma and repeated right-sided pneumonia. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) showed medium lobe atelectasis. Fiber optic bronchoscopy revealed a polypoid, well-circumscribed tumor, causing total obstruction of the medium lobe bronchus. Biopsy of the mass was non-diagnostic. Further study included a positron emission tomography (PET) which demonstrated low metabolic activity of the tumor and no evidence of neoplasia in other location. The patient was submitted to a medium lobectomy and microscopic examination of the tumor revealed myxoid stroma with lobulated pattern, elongated and stellate cells, compatible with myxoma. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary myxoma is extraordinary rare and endobronchial location is very few reported in medical literature

High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Model Does Not Promote Endothelial Dysfunction via Increasing Leptin/Akt/eNOS Signaling

Experimental studies show that the unsaturated high-fat diet-induced obesity promotes vascular alterations characterized by improving the endothelial L-arginine/Nitric Oxide (NO) pathway. Leptin seems to be involved in this process, promoting vasodilation via increasing NO bioavailability. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that unsaturated high-fat diet-induced obesity does not generate endothelial dysfunction via increasing the vascular leptin/Akt/eNOS signaling. Thirty-day-old male Wistar rats were randomized into two groups: control (C) and obese (Ob). Group C was fed a standard diet, while group Ob was fed an unsaturated high-fat diet for 27 weeks. Adiposity, hormonal and biochemical parameters, and systolic blood pressure were observed. Concentration response curves were performed for leptin or acetylcholine in the presence or absence of Akt and NOS inhibitor. Our results showed that an unsaturated high-fat diet promoted a greater feed efficiency (FE), elevation of body weight and body fat (BF), and an adiposity index, characterizing a model of obesity. However, comorbidities frequently associated with experimental obesity were not visualized, such as glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. The evaluation of the endothelium-dependent relaxation with acetylcholine showed no differences between the C and Ob rats. After NOS inhibition, the response was completely abolished in the Ob group, but not in the C group. Furthermore, Akt inhibition completely blunted vascular relaxation in the C group, but not in the Ob group, which was more sensitive to leptin-induced vascular relaxation. L-NAME incubation abolished the relaxation in both groups at the same level. Although Akt inhibitor pre-incubation reduced the leptin response, group C was more sensitive to its effect. In conclusion, the high-unsaturated fat diet-induced obesity improved the vascular reactivity to leptin and does not generate endothelial dysfunction, possibly by the increase in the vascular sensitivity to leptin and increasing NO bioavailability. Moreover, our results suggest that the increase in NO production occurs through the increase in NOS activation by leptin and is partially mediated by the Akt pathway