Plasmatic E-selectin levels were decreased in young women with metabolic syndrome after exercise training

Cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) such as E-selectin are involved in the rolling, adhesion and extravasation of monocytes into the atherosclerotic plaque. Fortunately regular exercise may improve pro-inflammatory status in individuals with metabolic syndrome. Accordingly, this study was designed to determine the influence of exercise on soluble plasmatic E-selectin levels in women with metabolic syndrome. Sixty adult women with metabolic syndrome according to the criteria reported by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III volunteered for this study. Fourty-five were randomly included in experimental group to perform a 12-weeks aerobic training program, 3 days/week, consisting of warm up (10-min), main part (20-35-min [increasing 5 minutes each 3 weeks]) at a work intensity of 60-75% of peak heart rate (increasing 5% each 3 weeks) and cool-down(10-min). Control group included 15 age, sex and BMI-matched women with metabolic syndrome that will not perform any program. Written informed consent was obtained. Further the protocol was approved by an institutional ethic committee. Plasmatic E-Selectin levels was measured by ELISA, using a commercially available kit (Parameter, R&D Systems) twice: 72-hours before starting the program (pre-test) and after its ending (post-test).Results: When compared to baseline soluble E-Selectin concentration was significantly decreased after the 6-weeks protocol (76.4±7.2 vs 57.1±6.4 ng/ml; p\u3c0.05). No changes were reported in controls. A 12-weeks aerobic training program decreased plasmatic E-Selectin concentration in women with metabolic syndrome

Regular training modulated carbonyl group levels in psychologically stressed rats

The present work was designed to assess the utility of an 8-week swimming training program as a healthy tool to reduce protein oxidation expressed in terms of carbonyl group content in psychological stressed rats. To get this goal, sixty 6-8-weeks-old male albino Wistar rats weighing 145-155 g were used in this experimental study. The animals were randomly divided into three groups: control (lot A; n=20), stressed (lot B; n=20) and stressed & exercised (lot C; n=20). Rats were stressed by placing animals in a 25x7 cm plastic bottle 1 h/day, 5 day/week for 8 weeks. Protein oxidation was assessed as carbonyl group content in liver homogenates by reading the absorbance at 366 nm. The policy statement of the American College of Sports Medicine on Research with Experimental Animals was followed. Protein carbonyl content levels in liver homogenates were significantly decreased in stressed & exercised animals (0.58±0.02 vs 0.86±0.03 nmol/mg; p\u3c0.05) when compared with the stressed rats. Accordingly, the most striking feature of our study was that an 8-week moderate training program reduced oxidative damage induced by psychological stress

Aerobic fitness is a potential crucial factor in protecting paralympic athletes with locomotor impairments from atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk

PurposeTo test the hypothesis that aerobic fitness is inversely related to the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) in athletes with locomotor impairments deriving from health conditions, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), lower limb amputation, cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, and other health conditions different from the previous ones.MethodsA total of 68 male athletes who competed in either summer or winter Paralympic games were divided in two health conditions groups (35 with SCI, mean age 37.28.0 years, and 33 with different health conditions, mean age 37.89.9 years) and in four sport type groups (skill, power, intermittent-mixed metabolism-and endurance). They were evaluated through anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, laboratory blood tests, and graded cardiopulmonary maximal arm cranking exercise test, with oxygen uptake peak (VO2peak) measurement. Cardiovascular risk profile was assessed in each athlete.ResultsThe prevalence of ACVD-risk factors in the overall population was 20.6% for hypertension; 47% and 55.9% for high values of total and LDL cholesterol, respectively; 22.1% for reduce glucose tolerance; and 8.8% for obesity. No difference was found between athletes with and without SCI, while the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in those practicing skill sports (22.7%, p=0.035), which was the sport type group with Paralympic athletes with the lowest VO2peak (22.5 +/- 5.70 ml kg(-1) min(-1)). VO2peak was lower in athletes with SCI than those with different health conditions (28.6 +/- 10.0 vs 33.6 +/- 8.9 ml kg(-1) min(-1)p=0.03), and in those with 3-4 risk factors (19.09 +/- 5.34 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) than those with 2 risk factors (27.1 +/- 5.50 ml kg(-1) min(-1)), 1 risk factor (31.6 +/- 8.55 ml kg(-1) min(-1)), or none (36.4 +/- 8.76 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) (p<0.001).ConclusionsThe present study suggests that having higher VO2peak seems to offer greater protection against ACVD in individuals with a locomotor impairment. Prescribing physical exercise at an intensity similar to that of endurance and intermittent sports should become a fundamental tool to promote health among people with a locomotor impairment.Open access funding provided by Universita degli Studi dell'Aquila within the CRUI-CARE Agreement

Comparative study of the acute toxicity of anionic surfactans alkyl benzene sulphonate (ABS) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) on gilthead, Sparus aurata L., eggs

In the present work we have evaluated the acute toxicity of two anionic surfactants, alkyl benzene sulphonate (ABS) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) to eggs of gilthead Sparus aurata. At each surfactant concentration, we determined the exposure time required for 50% mortality of the eggs (LT50), surface tension and volume of oil globule in gilthead eggs.Clear dose-response relationships for mortality of gilthead eggs was observed for both toxicants; at 30 mg/L 50% mortality took place at 45 minutes for ABS and 8 minutes for SDS. At this concentration, SDS was almost six times more toxic than ABS (LT50 is compared). However, at 0.3 mg/L 50% mortality occurred after exposures of 535 minutes to ABS and 425 minutes to SDS. Descriptively, our results showed SDS was more toxic than ABS at high concentrations whereas at low concentrations their toxicity was very similar. However, statistical analysis demonstrated there were no significant differences in the toxicity of both surfactants to gilthead eggs.Surface tension value at each concentration of both surfactants was also calculated. We found that these values decreased with increasing concentration of each surfactant, and this trend was more pronounced in solutions of SDS. We also found that the volume of the oil globule of exposed eggs was influenced by surfactants. After exposure, its volume clearly decreased in comparison to controls, mainly in eggs exposed to SDS

Time course variations of antioxidant enzyme activities and histopathology of gilthead seabream gills exposed to malathion

In a widely distributed and commercially important fish, gilthead seabream Sparus aurata L., we have studied sublethal effects of malathion in order to identify early warning bioindicators of exposure before irreversible damage occurs. To achieve this goal, groups of 10 juvenile specimens were exposed for 24, 48, 72 and 96h to a sublethal concentration of malathion (0.4 mg/l). Another group was used as control. The activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and histopathological features from exposed gills were assessed. It should also be mentioned that no mortality was observed during the whole experience. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were altered significantly from 24 h onward (p<0.05). It is of interest to note that catalase activity was decreased after exposure instead of increasing as other antioxidant enzymes assessed. On the other hand, histopathological alterations of the gills were observed as early as at 48 hexposure, but the most severe damage occurred at 96 h exposure. The evidence presented here, together with other data from the literature, unequivocally established oxidative-stress-inducing effects of malathion in gilthead seabream Sparus aurata. It is also concluded antioxidants employed (SOD, CAT and GPX) changed significantly a long time before histopathological alterations of gills became evident. Consequently, these antioxidant enzymes may be highly recommended as early-warning bioindicators of environmental pollution by malathion in the areas where it is proposed to be used in pest control activities

In vitro acute toxicity of anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) on the motility of gilthead (Sparus aurata L.) sperm

This paper describes the acute toxicity of a known anionic surfactant, Linear Alkylbenzene Sulphonate (LAS), on the quality of gilthead Sparus aurata L. sperm. The parameter used to judge exposure effectiveness was sperm motility as well as its fertilizing ability after being combined with unexposed gilthead eggs. Preincubation of sperm suspensions with concentrations of LAS of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/L caused decrease in sperm motility and fertilizing ability. In this respect, percentages of motile sperm were respectively 89.8±9.8, 81.7±16.3, 69.5±21.3, 57.1±19.1 and 21.2±10.9%. With regard to the percentage of fertilization success, the results were 85.7±8.1, 75.1±20.2, 62.9±19.7, 52.7±19.2 and 14.2±7.9% respectively. At concentrations of LAS of 0.5 mg/L or higher, the differences in both percentage of motility and fertilizing ability with controls were significant (p<5%). Although extrapolation from the laboratory to the field requires caution, the results of this work demonstrated that low-level surfactant pollution may impact directly on reproduction of the free gametes (sperm) released into water. It may lead to a long-term decline and eventual extinction of gilthead populations in nature when they are located close to effluents that are either untreated or receive inadequate secondary treatment. It is also quite important because this species constitutes an important link in the food chain and its death via exposure to surfactants may imbalance the littoral ecosystem

Análisis de los estilos de aprendizaje predominantes entre los estudiantes de ciencias de la salud.

El presente estudio se diseñó para determinar y analizar los estilos de aprendizaje predominantes entre los alumnos de la Escuela de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad de Cádiz. De igual modo se estudiaron los posibles cambios que en cuanto a preferencias podían existir entre los distintos estadios de su formación académica (1º, 2º y 3º curso). Para conseguir tal fin, se recurrió al Cuestionario de Honey Alonso de Estilos de Aprendizaje (CHAEA). Nuestros resultados mostraron una clara preferencia por el estilo Reflexivo, seguido por el Pragmático, Teórico y por último el Activo. Tras el oportuno tratamiento estadístico observamos igualmente que no existían diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los alumnos de los tres cursos de la especialidad. Finalmente consideramos que es útil el desarrollo de esta metodología en el ámbito de la investigación docente con vistas a establecer para cada unidad docente el patrón de referencia de sus estilos predominantes de aprendizaje, pudiendo completarse en futuros estudios con un análisis longitudinal que determine la influencia que la edad puede desarrollar en las preferencias de los mismos alumno

8-weeks training program attenuates mitochondrial oxidative stress in the liver of emotionally stressed rats

In recent years it has been shown that emotional stress induced by immobilization may change the balance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant factors inducing oxidative damage. On the other hand, contradictory views exist concerning the role of physical activity on redox metabolism. Consequently, the present work was designed to assess the influence of an 8-week moderate swimming training program in emotionally stressed rats. Sixty 1-month-old male albino Wistar rats weighing 125-135 g were used in this experimental study. They were divided into three groups, as Control (lot A; n=20), Stressed (lot B; n=20) and Stressed & Exercised (lot C; n=20). Rats were stressed by placing the animals in a 25 x 7 cm plastic bottle 1 h/day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Protein carbonyl content values in liver homogenates were significantly increased in stressed animals (0.58±0.02 vs 0.86±0.03; p=0.018) which clearly indicated that emotional stress was associated with oxidative stress. Ultrastructural alterations, predominantly mitochondrial swelling and the decrease of cristae number observed by electron microscopy represented direct evidence of membrane injury. The most striking feature of our study was that we also found differences between stressed rats and stressed rats that performed our 8 week training program. Consequently our results highlight the potential benefit of a moderate training program to reduce oxidative damage induced by emotional stress since it attenuated protein oxidation and mitochondrial alterations