Magnesium, Iron, Copper and Zinc in Vegetable Roots from Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

The inorganic components, especially magnesium, iron, copper and zinc contained in vegetable roots are of major importance, but seldom taken into account, either by general practitioners or by dietitians. The goal of this work is to report on magnesium, iron, copper and zinc in potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, yam and taro produced, and consumed in Campo Grande, the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. After previous determination of humidity, the vegetables were digested with a mixture of HNO3 and H2O2 in the microwave digestion system Speedwave®, Berghof, Germany. The levels of trace elements were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES, iCap 6000® - Thermo Scientific, USA). Most of the elements analyzed occur at levels within the range reported from international and Brazilian sources. However, iron in common potato, sweet potato and cassava was at the lowest level, while magnesium was very low in taro samples. The bioelements studied cannot pose any serious health risks and the edible tuberous roots widely consumed in Mato Grosso do Sul may represent an important source of essential micronutrients. The data show exclusively the population exposure to these minerals, no assumptions made as to their real absorption or bioavailability. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v9i3.92

Alterações plasmáticas do cobre e do zinco em crianças submetidas a cirurgia cardíaca com circulação extracorpórea

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, 2008.A cirurgia cardíaca com circulação extracorpórea desencadeia importante estresse oxidativo devido à formação de espécies reativas de oxigênio e radicais livres produzidos durante o período de isquemia e reperfusão. Estes elementos são danosos para as células cardíacas e responsáveis pelo atordoamento miocárdico. Esse processo está intimamente associado com o metabolismo do cobre e do zinco. O cobre, na forma de íons livres participa na produção e transformação dos radicais livres, com consequente peroxidação lipídica e dano ao DNA. O zinco atua como antioxidante, por competição com o cobre, deslocando esse metal do sítio de ligação na proteína. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar, na criança, a dinâmica das concentrações plasmáticas desses metais durante e após a cirurgia cardíaca com circulação extracorpórea. Vinte e uma crianças de 2 a 14 anos foram incluídas no estudo. Amostras de sangue para dosagem de cobre, ceruloplasmina e zinco foram colhidas dos seguintes locais: cateter venoso central antes da cirurgia; do átrio direito; do oxigenador do circuito de circulação extracorpórea no 5° e 10° minutos após o início da CEC; do seio coronário e do oxigenador do circuito de CEC, concomitantemente, no 3º minuto após remoção da pinça da aorta e ao final do procedimento. Uma última amostra de sangue foi colhida após 24 horas. Os principais parâmetros hemodinâmicos, como a pressão arterial, freqüência cardíaca, bem como o ECG não tiveram alterações inesperadas. A concentração plasmática de cobre antes do procedimento cirúrgico foi mais alta do que a média da população pediátrica. Durante a CEC foi observada uma diminuição nas concentrações do cobre além daquela prevista para a hemodiluição, que retornou ao normal ao final da intervenção cirúrgica. As alterações da ceruloplasmina foram similares às do cobre. No grupo estudado, a concentração plasmática inicial do zinco foi menor do que a média na população pediátrica e não houve alterações significativas durante a CEC, confirmando que esse elemento não foi envolvido nas alterações metabólicas devidas a ela e sim ressaltou o papel chave do cobre nesses processos. As alterações do cobre e do zinco não foram correlacionadas. O estudo concluiu que as alterações do cobre e do zinco evidenciaram menor estresse oxidativo e consequentemente menor lesão celular. _______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe cardiac surgery, comprising extracorporeal circulation, is known to trigger oxidative stress due to the formation of reactive oxygen species and free radicals during the periods of ischemia and reperfusion. They are hazardous to the heart cell components and regarded as responsible for the myocardial stunned. These processes are intricately associated with the metabolism of the most important trace elements, copper and zinc. The former, in the form of weakly bonded or free ions, can easily provoke a massive sprout of free radicals, thus contributing to lipid peroxodation, DNA damage and other undesirable consequences. The latter acts as natural antioxidant, substitutes for copper in the active catalyst centers of major enzymes and carriers, and plays a significant role in the processes of cell and tissue proliferation. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the alterations observed in the trace elements levels in children, which undergo cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Twenty one children of the age between 2 and 14 years took part in the study. The following blood samples were collected for copper, ceruloplasmin and zinc analysis: from venous line before the operation; from right atrium; from oxygenator of the extracorporeal circuit, on 5th and 10th minutes of bypass; from coronary sinus and oxygenator, simultaneously, on 3d minutes after the removal of aortic cross-clamp; at the end of the procedure and 24 hours after, that is in post-operative period. The main haemodynamic parameters, such as blood pressure, heart rate and ECG showed neither unexpected alterations, nor correlations with copper and zinc levels. Plasma concentration of copper before the operation in the group studied was higher than average in the children population. Its decrease was deeper than predicted by haemodilution and the values returned to normal and at the end of the surgical intervention. The changes in ceruloplasmin concentrations were similar to those of total copper, but showed lesser deviations. Its values returned to normal after 24 hours. Zinc concentrations before the operation in the group studied were lower than average for normal children, and there were no significant changes during the bypass, confirming that this element was not involved in the metabolic alterations, but corroborate the key role of copper in these processes. The variations in copper and zinc concentrations were not correlated. The study concluded that the changes of copper and zinc showed less oxidative stress and consequently less damage cell

Oxidative stress during coronary bypass artery grafting

Abstract Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the dynamics of oxidative stress during coronary artery bypass surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: Sixteen patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were enrolled. Blood samples were collected from the systemic circulation during anesthesia induction (radial artery - A1), the systemic venous return (B1 and B2) four minutes after removal of the aortic cross-clamping, of the coronary sinus (CS1 and CS2) four minutes after removal of the aortic cross-clamping and the systemic circulation four minutes after completion of cardiopulmonary bypass (radial artery - A2). The marker of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde, was measured using spectrophotometry. Results: The mean values of malondialdehyde were (ng/dl): A1 (265.1), B1 (490.0), CS1 (527.0), B2 (599.6), CS2 (685.0) and A2 (527.2). Comparisons between A1/B1, A1/CS1, A1/B2, A1/CS2, A1/A2 were significant, with ascending values (P<0.05). Comparisons between the measurements of the coronary sinus and venous reservoir after the two moments of reperfusion (B1/B2 and CS1/CS2) were higher when CS2 (P<0.05). Despite higher values ​​after the end of cardiopulmonary bypass (A2), when compared to samples of anesthesia (A1), those show a downward trend when compared to the samples of the second moment of reperfusion (CS2) (P<0.05). Conclusion: The measurement of malondialdehyde shows that coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass is accompanied by increase of free radicals and this trend gradually decreases after its completion. Aortic clamping exacerbates oxidative stress but has sharper decline after reperfusion when compared to systemic metabolism. The behavior of thiobarbituric acid species indicates that oxidative stress is an inevitable pathophysiological component

Evaluation of oxidative stress in mice subjected to aerobic exercise Avaliação do estresse oxidativo em camundongos submetidos ao exercício físico aeróbico

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of aerobic exercise on oxidative stress in mice. METHODS: The study included twenty female mice Mus musculus-Swiss divided into two groups: sedentary control (GA) and exercise (GB), each containing ten animals. All animals underwent an adaptation period of seven days isolated in individual boxes. After this period, the animals in the exercise group (GB) were trained in angled running wheel with circumference of 25 cm assembled on an articulated axle during five minutes for three consecutive days. On the fourth day, they underwent an exercise program of one session lasting 45 minutes. The evaluation of oxidative stress was performed by determining the levels of malondialhyde derived of lipid peroxidation by the TBA method. The samples were read in a spectrophotometer at 535 nm. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the intergroup comparison of MDA levels in the tissues evaluated. A significant difference was observed in the intragroup comparison of MDA levels in the control group (p = 0.0201).The Tukeys' post hoc test indicated significantly lower values of MDA in the smooth muscle in relation to plasma. In the analysis of variance in the exercise group, a significant difference between tissues (p = 0.0009), with significantly lower values in the smooth muscle in relation to plasma (p<0.001) and higher in striated muscle in relation to smooth muscle (p<0.05) was observed. CONCLUSION: There was no change in the analysis of oxidative stress in mice which were undergone a single session of aerobic exercise.<br>OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência do exercício físico aeróbico sobre o estresse oxidativo em camundongos. MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo 20 camundongos (Swiss), distribuídos em dois grupos: controle-sedentário (GA) e exercício (GB) cada um contendo dez animais. Todos os animais passaram por um período de adaptação de sete dias. Após os animais do grupo (GB) receberam treinamento em roda giratória angulada montada sobre eixo articulado por cinco minutos durante três dias consecutivos. No quarto dia foram submetidos à única sessão de exercício por 45 minutos. A avaliação do estresse oxidativo foi realizada por meio dos níveis de malondiadeído pelo método do TBA. As amostras foram lidas em espectrofotômetro a 535nm. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significativa na comparação intergrupos nos tecidos avaliados. Diferença significativa foi observada na comparação intragrupo para o GA (p=0,0201). O post hoc test de Tukey apontou valores significantemente inferiores no músculo liso em relação ao plasma. A análise de variância do GB apontou diferença significativa entre os tecidos (p=0,0009), com valores menores no músculo liso em relação ao plasma (p<0,001), e maiores no músculo estriado em relação ao músculo liso (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Não houve alteração nas análises de malondialdeído tecidual entre os grupos avaliados

Potential role of zinc in the visceromegaly regression and recovery of hematological parameters during treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in children from an endemic area

ABSTRACT Leishmaniasis is a disease complex with various clinical symptoms caused by different species of parasites of the genus Leishmania. The visceral form of the disease, characterized by severe symptoms is fatal, if not treated. The high toxicity of current antileishmanial drugs and the need for long-term treatment make the therapy complicated, especially in a large number of infected children. Hence, the search for new therapies must be intensified. Oral administration of the trace element zinc has been considered in alternative treatments against different clinical forms of leishmaniasis. This study revealed that the administration of zinc in children with visceral leishmaniasis, during treatment with amphotericin B or glucantime, accelerates the regression of the spleen enlargement without interfering with the recovery of hematological parameters

O uso da L-carnitina como adjuvante no tratamento da miocardiopatia dilatada em criança com Aids Usage of L-carnitine as adjuvant in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy in a child with Aids

OBJETIVO: Apresentar a resposta cardiovascular à L-carnitina de um paciente com insuficiência cardíaca congestiva decorrente de miocardiopatia dilatada pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana. DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: Criança com quadro clínico de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva grave devido à miocardiopatia dilatada pela síndrome de imunodeficiência adquirida. O tratamento para as manifestações clínicas foi instituído, com pouca resposta clínica. Com objetivo de melhorar o desempenho energético/metabólico dos cardiomiócitos, foi instituída terapia com L-carnitina. Observou-se significativa melhora clínica do paciente, em relação ao desempenho cardíaco, mesmo antes do início do tratamento com os fármacos antirretrovirais. COMENTÁRIOS: A L-carnitina é um composto que facilita o transporte dos ácidos graxos de cadeia longa para dentro da mitocôndria. Nesse caso, o uso da L-carnitina parece ser clinica e bioquimicamente justificado.<br>OBJECTIVE: To present the cardiovascular response to L-carnitine of a patient with congestive heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy and human immunodeficiency virus. CASE DESCRIPTION: Child with a clinical history of severe congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy caused by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The treatment for the symptoms resulted in a poor clinical response. In order to improve the energetic performance/metabolism of cardiomyocytes, therapy with L-carnitine was established. There was significant clinical improvement of the cardiac performance of the patient, even before starting the treatment with antiretroviral drugs. COMMENTS: L-carnitine is a compound that facilitates the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. In this case the administration of L-carnitine appears to be clinically and biochemical justified