The lysosomal stability as a biomarker for the determination of pollution in aquatic environments

This work studied the effects caused by five different formulae of gasoline on the stability of the lysosomes isolated from the liver of the tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus). The functional integrity of the lysosomal membranes was evaluated via the acid phosphatase activity. The results showed that there were significant changes in the stability of the lysosomes exposed to the presence of the hydrocarbons in the environment. Therefore, considering the method's simplicity, the sensitivity of the responses and its low cost the assessment of the lysosomal activity could be an important tool for the study of the effects of pollution in the aquatic environments.A procura de biomarcadores de agentes poluidores, mais simples e menos custosos, tem levado ao estudo dos lisossomos, isolados de animais componentes da biota nos ambientes contaminados, principalmente por poluentes com características lipofílicas, a exemplo dos hidrocarbonetos policíclicos e seus derivados. Este trabalho estudou os efeitos provocados por 05 diferentes formulações de gasolina sobre a estabilidade de lisossomos, isolados de fígado de tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus). A integridade funcional das membranas lisossômicas foi avaliada através da atividade da fosfatase ácida, expressa em mU/mg de proteínas totais. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que existem alterações significativas na estabilidade dos lisossomos isolados de fígado de tilápias submetidas aos efeitos de hidrocarbonetos presentes no meio ambiente. Portanto, levando em conta a simplicidade, a sensibilidade de resposta e o baixo custo, os autores recomendam a avaliação da atividade lisossômica, como uma importante ferramenta para o estudo dos efeitos da poluição dos meios aquáticos

Metabolic Reponses to a physical exercise session in women with excess body mass: randomized clinical trial

Abstract Background There are various factors that influence the effect of physical exercise on the lipid profile, among them the body mass index and calorie expenditure of the exercise are some of the main factors. To test the hypothesis that a physical exercise session based on caloric expenditure may acutely modify the glycemia and lipid values of women with excess body mass. Methods The study included 66 women, randomly divided into two groups, control and experimental, with BMI of 29 ± 4.4 kg/m2 vs 29 ± 4.3 kg/m2 (p = 0.45) sedentary and aged 23 ± 3.8 vs 24 ± 3.5 years, respectively (p = 0.25). After 12 h fasting, the volunteers underwent the first blood collection. The experimental group was submitted to a physical exercise session corresponding to energy expenditure of 250Kcal, of light intensity based the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), 12 h after the first blood collection. The control and experimental group volunteers underwent a second blood collection 24 h after the first. Glycemia, insulin status and lipid profile were measured and Homa IR and Homa-beta were calculated. The t-test for independent and dependent samples was used, and a level of significance of 5% was adopted. Results Physical exercise changed the glycemic response in both the intragroup analysis (before = 96 ± 6.6 mg/dL vs after = 92 ± 6.6 mg/dL), (p = 0.01), and in the intergroup analysis (control = Δ 0.9 ± 6.1 vs experimental = Δ -4.1 ± 6.3) (p = 0.02). No changes were shown for the Homa IR, Homa Beta and Insulin indexes. When the lipid profiles were evaluated, differences in HDL were shown in the intragroup analysis (before = 89 ± 10.5 mg/dL vs. after = 91 ± 10.3 mg/dL) (p = 0.04). For the other parameters (LDL, TG, Total Cholesterol, TG/HDL), no changes were shown. Conclusion In women with excess body weight, a low intensity exercise session diminished the glycemia, but did not change the lipid response. Trial registration NCT03170973 . Retrospectively registered

Quantificação das substâncias fenólicas totais em órgãos da aroeira Schinus Terebenthifolius (RADDI)

<abstract language="eng">The "aroeira" (Schinus terebenthifolius, RADDI), known as a toxic plant is actually very used in popular medicine, mainly in the treatment of general inflammatory processes. Many of its properties or of its curative effects may be attributed to the different polyphenols that belong to its structural constitution. In this work we have demonstrated that the distribution of total phenols was different in the several organs of the "aroeira", such as leaves, flowers, fruits and stem. The importance of these substances for the plant physiology and defense mechanisms, their ecological relationships and some therapeutic uses were also discussed. The correlation between the polyphenol properties and the metabolism of animal cells, suggest special attention when the infusions or hydroalcoholic extracts, obtained from that plant, are used in humans