Prevalência de Enteroparasitoses em Escolares: Uma Revisão do Perfil Encontrado nas Diferentes Regiões do Brasil

Intestinal infections caused by protozoa and helminths are considered a major cause of diseases by infectious processes in the world. The present study aims to conduct a survey regarding the recent years of the prevalence of intestinal parasites in school children in various cities in Brazil, identifying which species are most commonly found and the regions that require greater dedication in this area. The analyzed studies showed that the Northern and Northeastern regions presented a higher prevalence of intestinal parasites, however, in the Southeast, results were encouraging with low levels of contamination by parasites compared to all regions in Brazil. As for intestinal parasites, the most common, found in all Brazilian regions, was Ascaris lumbricoides followed by Giardia lamblia. Therefore, one can conclude that the high prevalence of intestinal parasites in children found in some places in Brazil can demonstrate the need for greater care with basic sanitation and personal hygiene, both in households and in the places of study. These data show the importance of conducting educational programs that will develop personal awareness of parents, families and children themselves.Infecções intestinais causadas por helmintos e protozoários são consideradas uma das maiores causas de agravos por processos infecciosos no mundo. O presente estudo tem como objetivo realizar um levantamento referente aos últimos anos da prevalência de parasitas intestinais em crianças no período escolar de diversas cidades do Brasil, identificando quais as espécies mais encontradas e as regiões que necessitam de maior dedicação nesta área. Por meio dos estudos analisados, verificou-se que as regiões com maior prevalência de parasitas intestinais foram o Norte e Nordeste; entretanto, na região Sudeste os resultados foram animadores, com baixos índices de contaminação por parasitas, comparados com os de todas as regiões do Brasil. Quanto aos parasitas intestinais, os mais comuns encontrados em todas as regiões brasileiras foram o Ascaris lumbricoides e o Giardia lamblia. Portanto, pode-se concluir que a alta prevalência de enteroparasitoses encontrada em crianças de alguns locais do Brasil pode demonstrar a necessidade de maior cuidado com as condições de saneamento básico e higiene pessoal, tanto nos domicílios como nos locais de estudo. Com os dados apresentados, mostrase a importância da realização de programas educativos que venham a desenvolver a consciência pessoal dos pais, familiares e das próprias crianças

Effects of Concurrent Training on Oxidative Stress and Insulin Resistance in Obese Individuals

Obesity is associated with insulin resistance (IR) and increased oxidative stress. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate anthropometric parameters, IR, and oxidative stress in obese individuals subjected to two types of concurrent training at the same intensity but differing in frequency. Accordingly, 25 individuals were divided into two groups: concurrent training 1 (CT1) (5 d/wk) and concurrent training 2 (CT2) (3 d/wk), both with moderate intensity. Anthropometric parameters, IR, and oxidative stress were analyzed before and after 26 sessions of training. Both groups had reduced body weight and body mass index (P<0.05), but only CT1 showed lower body fat percentage and increased basal metabolic rate (P<0.05). Moreover, CT1 had increased HOMA-IR and decreased protein damage (carbonyl level), and CT2 had decreased HOMA-IR and increased lipid peroxidation (TBARS level) (P<0.05). On the other hand, both training protocols reduced the GPx activity. It can be concluded that both types of concurrent training could be an alternative for lowering body weight and BMI. Also, it was observed that concurrent training, depending on the frequency, can contribute to reducing body fat, oxidative damage (protein oxidation), and IR but can induce oxidative damage to lipids. More studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved

Proteína C Reativa, Função Endotelial e Influência Genética: Associação com a Obesidade

Obesity is a multifactor chronic disease and its incidence has been increasing over the years and is being considered a public health problem. It is characterized by a chronic state of low grade inflammation, in which the C-reactive protein levels are usually increased. This inflammatory process can change the endothelial function in these individuals, since elevated levels of C-reactive protein are related to a low production of nitric oxide, which is responsible for the endothelium vasodilation. Several studies have demonstrated the influence of polymorphisms in the genes of C-reactive protein and of the endothelial nitric oxide synthesis enzyme in obese and healthy individuals. Thus this literature review aims at discussing the relationship between obesity and C-reactive protein levels and endothelial function, as well as to elucidate the association of genetic factors. Scientific articles from the databases PubMed, Science Direct and Scielo were consulted, using the following keywords and combinations of them: C-reactive protein, function/endothelial dysfunction, polymorphism and obesity. Thus, we concluded that obese individuals have elevated levels of C-reactive protein as a result of excess of body fat and this implies a reduction in nitric oxide synthesis. All these factors can be influenced by polymorphisms in regulatory genes of the production of these proteins.A obesidade é uma doença crônica e multifatorial, que vem aumentando sua incidência ao longo dos anos e está sendo considerada um problema de saúde pública. É caracterizada por um estado crônico de baixo grau de inflamação, no qual os níveis de proteína C reativa geralmente estão aumentados. Esse processo inflamatório pode alterar a função endotelial nesses indivíduos, uma vez que os níveis elevados de proteína C reativa estão relacionados a uma baixa produção de óxido nítrico, o qual é responsável pela vasodilatação do endotélio. Vários estudos têm demonstrado a influência de polimorfismos nos genes da proteína C reativa e da enzima óxido nítrico sintase endotelial em indivíduos obesos e saudáveis. Dessa forma, esta revisão de literatura tem como objetivo discutir a relação da obesidade com níveis de PCR e função endotelial, bem como elucidar a associação de fatores genéticos. Foram consultados artigos científicos dos bancos de dados PubMed, Science Direct e Scielo, utilizando os seguintes descritores e combinações entre eles: proteína C reativa, função/ disfunção endotelial, polimorfismo e obesidade e seus respectivos em inglês. Com isso, concluímos que indivíduos obesos apresentam elevados níveis de proteína C reativa, em decorrência do excesso de gordura corporal, e isso implica uma redução na síntese de óxido nítrico. Todos esses fatores podem ser influenciados por polimorfismos nos genes reguladores da produção dessas proteínas

Mapeamento do sítio de produção do microRNA-423-5P em modelo animal de remodelamento cardíaco após insulto isquêmico

O objetivo desta tese é avaliar a expressão do miRNA-423-5p, em diferentes sítios, em modelo experimental de remodelamento cardíaco após insulto isquêmico em ratos. Os animais foram randomizados em grupos SHAM (cirurgia sem oclusão da artéria coronária descendente anterior esquerda) ou IAM (cirurgia com ligadura da artéria coronária descendente anterior esquerda) e acompanhados por 1, 7, 28 e 90 dias. Após o tempo de seguimento, os animais foram submetidos ao ecocardiograma e eutanasiados. Foi retirado sangue do plexo retroorbital, sangue venoso e arterial e coletado tecido do músculo gastrocnêmio e do ventrículo esquerdo separando as áreas remota (REM), infartada (INF) e peri-infartada (PERI). A partir da homogeneização dos tecidos, foi realizada a extração de miRNA e sua expressão quantificada pelo método de PCR em tempo real. Também foi mensurado os níveis plasmáticos do peptídeo natriurético cerebral (BNP). Os dados foram analisados pela teste de ANOVA de uma e duas vias e correlações através do programa estatístico SPSS 21.0. Quanto a caracterização do modelo utilizado, podemos verificar que a fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo dos ratos IAM foram menores que os do grupo SHAM e os percentuais de área acinética foram iguais em todos os grupos IAM, como esperado. Também observamos que o miRNA-423-5p é expresso no coração, nos diferentes segmentos analisados, apresentando variação significativa nos tempos avaliados, correlacionado-se positivamente com o tamanho do infarto e negativamente com a fração de ejeção do ventrículo esquerdo. Diante deste cenário, nossos achados solidificam o conceito de que a expressão do miRNA-423-p se altera ao longo do tempo após insulto isquêmico e pode ter papel relevante no remodelamento cardíaco de origem isquêmica.The objective of this project was to evaluate the expression of miRNA-423-5p in an experimental model of cardiac remodeling after ischemic injury in rats. Animals were randomized to SHAM group (surgery without occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery) or acute myocardial infaction (AMI) group (surgery with ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery) and followed for 1, 7, 28 and 90 days. After the follow-up period, the animals were submitted to echocardiography and euthanized. Blood from the retroorbital plexus, venous and arterial blood was collected; and gastrocnemius and left ventricle tissue was collected, separating the remote (REM), infarcted (INF) and peri-infarcted (PERI) areas. From the homogenization of tissues, miRNA was extracted and its expression quantified by real-time PCR. Plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were also measured by ELISA. Data were analyzed by one-way and two-way ANOVA and coefficient correlations were calculated using the statistical package SPSS 21.0. Regarding the experimental model, we could verify that the left ventricular ejection fraction of the AMI rats were reduced compared to the SHAM group and the percentages of akinetic area were the same in all AMI groups, as expected. We also observed that miRNA-423-5p is expressed in the heart in the different segments analyzed, showing significant variation in the different periodos that were evaluated, is positively correlated with infarct size and negatively with left ventricular ejection fraction. In this scenario, our findings solidify the concept that miRNA-423-p expression changes over time after an ischemic insult and may play a relevant role in the cardiac remodeling of ischemic origin

Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Different Types of Chocolate, Milk, Semisweet, Dark, and Soy, in Cerebral Cortex, Hippocampus, and Cerebellum of Wistar Rats

Chocolate is a product consumed worldwide and it stands out for presenting an important amount of phenolic compounds. In this study, the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of male Wistar rats when consuming different types of chocolate, including milk, semisweet, dark, and soy, was evaluated. The total polyphenols concentration and antioxidant activity in vitro by the method of DPPH radical-scavenging test were evaluated in chocolate samples. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS), protein oxidation (carbonyl), sulfhydryl groups, and activity of SOD enzyme in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of rats treated or not with hydrogen peroxide and/or chocolate were also evaluated. The dark chocolate demonstrated higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity, followed by semisweet, soy, and milk chocolates. The addition of chocolate in the diet of the rats reduced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation caused by hydrogen peroxide. In the sulfhydryl assay, we observed that the levels of nonenzymatic defenses only increased with the chocolate treatments The SOD enzyme activity was modulated in the tissues treated with the chocolates. We observed in the samples of chocolate a significant polyphenol content and an important antioxidant activity; however, additional studies with different chocolates and other tissues are necessary to further such findings

In vitro antioxidant capacity of tea of Echinodorus grandiforus, “leather hat,” in Wistar rat liver

Oxidative stress has been considered as one of the factors responsible for hepatic diseases, which sometimes require new ways of treatment. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant capacity of the tea of Echinodorus grandiforus (“leather hat” plant) in rat liver. Different preparations of tea were evaluated for phenolic composition, antioxidant activity by DPPH assay and ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation induced by copper sulfate. The antioxidant activity was assessed in liver tissue treated with sodium azide in the presence or absence of tea by assays for lipid peroxidation (TBARS), protein oxidation (carbonyl) and the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results show that different preparations of tea are important sources of polyphenols and contain theobromine, catechin and vitexin. Furthermore, the results indicate that this tea exhibits an antioxidant activity by its ability to scavenge DPPH radical. Different preparations of tea prevented damage to lipids and proteins induced by sodium azide, as well as assisting in restoring CAT and SOD activities. Thus, it can be seen that E. grandiforus tea had antioxidant activity in serum and liver being able to prevent oxidative damages generated by sodium azide

Cytotoxic activity of Vitis labrusca extract in cultures of Trichomonas vaginalis

AIMS: To evaluate the anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity of the extract of organic and conventional leaves of Vitis labrusca. METHODS: Organic and conventional grapevine leaf extracts were prepared with extractor Sohxlet. The total phenolic extracts were evaluated by Folin-Cicoalteau and High-Performace Liquid Chromatography. The antiparasitic activity of the extracts was performed on growth of T. vaginalis. Tests were conducted at three final concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 mg/mL. The trophozoites were counted by hemocytometer and their density was adjusted in Trypticase-Yeast Extract-Maltose (TYM) growth environment in order to obtain a final concentration of 1x105 trophozoites/ml. After incubated with the extracts for 24 hours at 37 °C, the count of motile trophozoites was taken by hemocytometer. The vehicle controls were performed by substituting the extract by water. RESULTS: The conventional leaf extract is rich in catechin and the organic in resveratrol. The extracts of V. labrusca showed no anti-T.vaginalis activity at concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/mL. However in the concentration of 20 mg/L conventional grapevine leaf extracts reduced by 100% and the organic extract by 48% the survival of trophozoites. Catechin polyphenols, quercetin and rutin were in higher concentration in the extract with greater efficacy, which may be the responsible for the anti-T. vaginalis action of the conventional extract. CONCLUSIONS: The vine leaf extract may be an alternative to combat T. vaginalis. Pre-clinical and clinical studies are needed to confirm efficacy and safety of this intervention