The cardiovascular effects of chronic hypoestrogenism in amenorrhoeic athletes: a critical review.

In premenopausal women, the most severe menstrual dysfunction is amenorrhoea, which is associated with chronic hypoestrogenism. In postmenopausal women, hypoestrogenism is associated with a number of clinical sequelae related to cardiovascular health. A cardioprotective effect of endogenous oestrogen is widely supported, yet recent studies demonstrate a deleterious effect of hormone replacement therapy for cardiovascular health. What remain less clear are the implications of persistently low oestrogen levels in much younger amenorrhoeic athletes. The incidence of amenorrhoea among athletes is much greater than that observed among sedentary women. Recent data in amenorrhoeic athletes demonstrate impaired endothelial function, elevated low- and high-density lipoprotein levels, reduced circulating nitrates and nitrites, and increased susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. Predictive serum markers of cardiovascular health, such as homocysteine and C-reactive protein, have not yet been assessed in amenorrhoeic athletes, but are reportedly elevated in postmenopausal women. The independent and combined effects of chronic hypoestrogenism and exercise, together with subclinical dietary behaviours typically observed in amenorrhoeic athletes, warrants closer examination. Although no longitudinal studies exist, the altered vascular health outcomes reported in amenorrhoeic athletes are suggestive of increased risk for premature cardiovascular disease. Future research should focus on the presentation and progression of these adverse cardiovascular parameters in physically active women and athletes with hypoestrogenism to determine their effects on long-term health

Fat and Lean Mass Predict Bone Mass During Energy Restriction in Sedentary and Exercising Rodents

Energy restriction (ER) causes bone loss, but the impact of exercise during ER is less understood. In this study, we examined the impact of metabolic hormones and body composition on both total body bone mineral content (BMC) and local (proximal tibia) volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) during short- (4 weeks) and long-term (12 weeks) ER with and without exercise in adult female rats. Our first goal was to balance energy between sedentary and exercising groups to determine the impact of exercise during ER. Second, we aimed to determine the strongest predictors of bone outcomes during ER with energy-matched exercising groups.Methods: Female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three sedentary groups (ad libitum, –20% ER, and –40% ER) and three exercising groups (ad libitum, –10% ER, and –30% ER). Approximately a 10% increase in energy expenditure was achieved via moderate treadmill running (∼60–100 min 4 days/week) in EX groups. n per group = 25–35. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 3 ANOVA with multiple linear regression to predict bone mass outcomes.Results: At 4 weeks, fat and lean mass and serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) predicted total body BMC (R2 = 0.538). Fat mass decreased with ER at all levels, while lean mass was not altered. Serum IGF-I declined in the most severe ER groups (–40 and –30%). At 12 weeks, only fat and lean mass predicted total body BMC (R2 = 0.718). Fat mass declined with ER level regardless of exercise status and lean mass increased due to exercise (+5.6–6.7% vs. energy-matched sedentary groups). At the same time point, BMC declined with ER, but increased with exercise (+7.0–12.5% vs. energy-matched sedentary groups). None of our models predicted vBMD at the proximal tibia at either time point.Conclusion: Both fat and lean mass statistically predicted total body BMC during both short- and long-term ER. Fat and lean mass decreased with ER, while lean mass increased with EX at each energy level. Measures that predicted total body skeletal changes did not predict site-specific changes. These data highlight the importance of maintaining lean mass through exercise during periods of ER

MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A BRAZILIAN KEFIR GRAINS MILK

Kefir is a product resulting from the symbiosis between lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria, presenting probiotic action, such as immune system stimulation, antimicrobial activity against pathogens, intestinal microbiota balance and antitumor action. The present study aimed to the characterization and microbiological identification population the grains to the Brazilian milk kefir. A sample of kefir produced in the Videira/Santa Catarina region was evaluated. For this, ten grams of the sample were inoculated in 30mL of distilled water with 3 grams of skimmed milk powder and incubated for 24 hours at 28ºC. The sample was diluted and plated for isolation on MRS agar, M17 agar, Mycosel agar, YM agar and SD agar. The predominant population was lactic acid bacteria (70.5%), followed by yeasts (29.5%). The former ranged from 109 to 1011 CFU / g and yeasts from 104 to 105 CFU / g. Gram staining and optical microscopy were also performed to identify the prevalence of the microbiota by bacillary cells (short and curvad long) and gram-positive cocci, which grew in association with slightly oval yeast cells. In the catalase test there was a predominance of positive catalase. The result of the presence of distinct microbial populations in kefir shows the need to better explore the microbial composition of the same

Exercise training modifies the bone and endocrine response to graded reductions in energy availability in skeletally mature female rodents

IntroductionReductions in energy availability leading to weight loss can induce loss of bone and impact important endocrine regulators of bone integrity. We sought to elucidate whether endurance exercise (EX) can mitigate bone loss observed in sedentary (SED) skeletally mature rodents subjected to graded energy deficits.MethodsFemale virgin rats (n=84, 5-mo-old; 12/group) were randomized to baseline controls and either sedentary (SED) or exercise (EX) conditions, and within each exercise status to adlib-fed (ADLIB), or moderate (MOD) or severe (SEV) energy restriction diets for 12 weeks. Rats assigned to EX groups performed treadmill running to increase weekly energy expenditure by 10%. MOD-ER-SED, SEV-ER-SED, MOD-ER-EX and SEV-ER-EX were fed modified AIN93M diets with 20%, 40% 10%, and 30% less energy content, respectively, with 100% of all other nutrients provided.ResultsEnergy availability (EA) was effectively reduced by ~14% and ~30% in the MOD-ER and SEV-ER groups, respectively. MOD-ER for 12 weeks resulted in few negative impacts on bone and, except for serum leptin in MOD-ER-SED rats, no significant changes in endocrine factors. By contrast, SEV-ER in SED rats resulted in significantly lower total body and femoral neck bone mass, and reduced serum estradiol, IGF-1 and leptin. EX rats experiencing the same reduction in energy availability as SEV-ER-SED exhibited higher total body mass, lean mass, total BMC, and higher serum IGF-1 at the end of 12 weeks. Bone mechanical properties at 3 bone sites (mid-femur, distal femur, femoral neck) were minimally impacted by ER but positively affected by EX.DiscussionThese findings indicate that combining increased EX energy expenditure with smaller reductions in energy intake to achieve a targeted reduction in EA provides some protection against loss of bone mass and lean mass in skeletally mature female rats, likely due to better preservation of circulating IGF-1, and that bone mechanical integrity is not significantly degraded with either moderate or severe reduced EA

Parasitological inquiry in dogs with guardians in the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (2013-2019)

Cães são hospedeiros reservatórios de espécies de helmintos e protozoários e a coabitação com humanos desempenha um papel fundamental na transmissão zoonótica. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar a prevalência de helmintos e protozoários intestinais e estabelecer os principais endoparasitos em cães domiciliados da cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Amostras fecais foram coletadas de 1400 cães durante os anos de 2013-2019 e analisadas no Laboratório de Helmintoses da Faculdade de Veterinária da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. No total, 316 (22,6%) amostras foram positivas ao menos para um gênero parasitário, com taxas de 62,4%, 43,8%, 23,8%, 14,6%, 8,8%, 18,3% e 30,8%, respectivamente para os anos de 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 e 2019. A taxa de positividade para cães monoinfectados foi de 86,4% (273/316) e de 13,6% (43/316) para poliparasitados, com destaque para Ancylostoma spp. Os resultados reforçam a necessidade de melhorar os programas de controle de parasitos intestinais para proteger cães e humanos e a necessidade de aumentar o conhecimento dos tutores de cães sobre o assunto.Dogs a reservoir hosts for helminth and protozoan species and cohabitation with humans plays a key role in zoonotic transmission. The aim of this study is to report the prevalence of intestinal helminths and protozoa and stablish the principal endoparasites in domestic dogs in the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Fecal samples were collected from 1400 dogs during the years 2013-2019 and analyzed at the Helminths Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. In total, 316 (22,6%) samples were positive for the least one parasite genus, with rates of 62,4%, 43,8%, 23,8%, 14,6%, 8,8%, 18,3% and 30,8%, respectively for the years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The positivity rate for monoinfected dogs was 86,4% (273/316) and 13,6% (43/316) for polyparasited dogs, especially Ancylostoma spp. The results reinforce the need to improve intestinal parasite control programs to protect dogs and humans and the need to increase the knowledge of dog tutors on the subject