Influence of estimated training status on anti and pro-oxidant activity, nitrite concentration, and blood pressure in middle-aged and older women

The purpose of this study was to compare the association between anti and pro-oxidant activity, nitrite concentration, and blood pressure (BP) in middle-aged and older women with different levels of estimated training status (TS). The sample consisted of 155 females (50-84 years) who were submitted to a physical examination to evaluate estimated TS through the "Functional Fitness Battery Test," BP measurements, and plasma blood samples to evaluate pro-oxidant and antioxidant activity and nitrite concentrations. Participants were separated by age into a middle-aged group (< 65 years) and an older (≥65 years) group and then subdivided in each group according to TS. Blood biochemistry was similar between groups. On the other hand, protein oxidation was lower in participants with higher TS, independent of age. Older females with higher TS presented higher nitrite concentrations, lower lipoperoxidation, and lower values of BP compared with those with lower TS. Lower GPx activity was observed in participants with higher TS compared with middle-aged with lower TS. Thus, our results suggest that good levels of TS may be associated with lower oxidative stress and higher nitrite concentration and may contribute to maintain normal or reduced blood pressure values.Fil: Jacomini, André M.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Dias, Danielle da Silva. Universidade Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Brito, Janaina de Oliveira. Universidade Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: da Silva, Roberta F.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Monteiro, Henrique L.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Llesuy, Susana Francisca. Universidade Nove de Julho; Brasil. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: De Angelis, Kátia. Universidade Nove de Julho; BrasilFil: Amaral, Sandra L.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Zago, Anderson S.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasi

A diversidade específica para a análise das sucessões fitoplanctônicas. Aplicação ao ecossistema da ressurgência de Cabo Frio (RJ).

Extensive qualitative and quantitative data on phytoplankton collected in the Cabo Frio (Brazil) upwelling zone and analysed by Utermohl method were used for calculating Gleason-Margalef, Menhinick, Shannon, Margalef, Simpson inverse and Mac Intosh absolute diversity indices, and the relative indices of Redundancy and Evenness. The relationships between Margalef index and the other indices were studied. Shannon index, mathematically similar to the Margalef index showed the best agreement (r = 0,959); Gleason index is simpler to calculate and is quite satisfactory for a superficial analysis (r = 0,880). The Redundancy calculation is recommended for the interpretation of a single sample. In general, at Cabo Frio, phytoplankton diversity index is rarely less than 1.00 bit.cel“1 even after the enrichment by deep water. The planktonic ecosystem in Cabo Frio maintains a certain level of maturity which may explain the relatively mild nature of the blooms which follow upwelling.A partir de dados quantitativos e qualitativos sobre o fitoplâncton da ressurgência de Cabo Frio (RJ) foram calculados os índices absolutos de diversidade específica de Gleason-Margalef, Menhinick, Shannon, Margalef, inverso de Simpson, Mac Intosh e os índices relativos de Redundância e Uniformidade. Foi realizado um estudo de correlações entre o índice de Margalef e os demais. O índice de Shannon apresentou a melhor correlação (r = 0,959) e o de Gleason, de cálculo bem simples, pode ser considerado satisfatório para uma análise superficial (r = 0,880). O cálculo da Redundância é aconselhado para a análise de uma amostra isolada. Nas águas costeiras de Cabo Frio, o índice de diversidade específica do fitoplâncton é raramente inferior a 1,00 bit.cel'1, mesmo após a fertilização pelas águas profundas. O ecossistema planctônico de Cabo Frio mantém um certo nível de maturidade que pode explicar a fraca intensidade dos florescimentos fitoplanctônicos consecutivos aos efeitos da ressurgência

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors

Effects of supplementation of tropical fruit processing by-products on lipid profile, retinol levels and intestinal function in Wistar rats

Abstract Fruits agro-industrial by-products may have a great variety of bioactive compounds that promote health. Thus, the effects of supplementation with acerola, cashew and guava processing by-products for 28 days on retinol level, lipid profile and on some aspects related to intestinal function in rats were investigated. The animals supplemented with different fruit by-products presented similar weight gain, faecal pH values and intestinal epithelial structures; however, they showed higher moisture and Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. counts in faeces compared to the control group. Supplementation with the cashew by-product decreased the blood glucose, acerola and guava by-products reduced serum lipid levels and all fruit by-products tested increased serum and hepatic retinol. The results indicated that acerola and guava by-products possess a potential hypolipidemic effect. The three fruit by-products increase the hepatic retinol deposition and the faecal populations of beneficial bacterial groups and modulated aspects of intestinal function. The findings of this study can contribute to sustainable fruticulture and support future clinical studies with the supplementation of by-products