Cytokines and Oxidative Stress Status Following a Handball Game in Elite Male Players

Background. Handball is considered an intermittent sport that places an important stress on a player's aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. However, the oxidative stress responses following a handball game remain unknown. We investigated the responses of plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant system and oxidative stress biomarkers following a single handball game. Methods. Fourteen male elite Brazilian handball athletes were recruited in the present study. Blood samples were taken before, immediately, and 24 hours after the game. Results. After the game and during 24 hours of recovery, the concentration of all oxidative stress indices changed significantly in a way indicating increased oxidative stress in the blood (thiol groups and reduced glutathione decreased, whereas TBARS and plasma antioxidant capacity was increased) as well as in erythrocyte (increased levels of TBARS and protein carbonyls). Erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities were also significantly changed by handball. Muscle damage indices (creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase) increased significantly after exercise. In addition, IL-6 increased after the game, whereas TNF-α decreased during recovery. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that a single handball game in elite athletes induces a marked state of oxidative stress evidenced by the oxidative modification in plasma and erythrocyte macromolecules, as well as by changes in the enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant system

Combined astaxanthin and fish oil supplementation improves glutathione-based redox balance in rat plasma and neutrophils

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of daily (45 days) intake of fish oil (FO; 10 mg EPA/kg body weight (BW) and 7 mg DHA/kg BW) and/or natural ASTA (1 mg ASTA/kg BW) on oxidative stress and functional indexes of neutrophils isolated from Wistar rats by monitoring superoxide (O-2(center dot-)), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and nitric oxide (NO center dot) production compared to the progression of auto-induced lipid peroxidation and Ca2+ release in activated neutrophils. Furthermore, phagocytic capacity, antioxidant enzyme activities, glutathione-recycling system, and biomarkers of lipid and protein oxidation in neutrophils were compared to the redox status. Our results show evidence of the beneficial effects of FO + ASTA supplementation for immune competence based on the redox balance in plasma (significant increase in GSH-dependent reducing power), non-activated neutrophils (increased activity of the glutathione-recycling enzymes GPx and GR) and PMA-activated neutrophils (lower O-2(center dot-), H2O2, and NO center dot generation, reduced membrane oxidation, but higher phagocytic activity). Combined application of ASTA and FO promoted hypolipidemic/hypocholesterolemic effects in plasma and resulted in increased phagocytic activity of activated neutrophils when compared with ASTA or FO applied alone. in PMA-activated neutrophils, ASTA was superior to FO in exerting antioxidant effects. the bulk of data reinforces the hypothesis that habitual consumption of marine fish (e.g. salmon, which is a natural source of both astaxanthin and fish oil) is beneficial to human health, in particular by improving immune response and lowering the risk of vascular and infectious diseases. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Cruzeiro do SulUniv Cruzeiro Sul, CBS, Postgrad Program, BR-03342000 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Cruzeiro Sul, Inst Phys Act & Sport Sci ICAFE, Postgrad Program, BR-01506000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2009/12342-8CNPq: 312404/2009-3CNPq: 312190/2009-3Web of Scienc

Testosterone suppresses oxidative stress in human neutrophils

The in vitro effect of testosterone on human neutrophil function was investigated. Blood neutrophils from healthy male subjects were isolated and treated with 10 nM, 0.1 and 10 mu M testosterone for 24 h. As compared with untreated cells, the testosterone treatment produced a significant decrease of superoxide production as indicated by the measurement of extra- and intracellular superoxide content. An increment in the production of nitric oxide was observed at 0.1 and 10 mu M testosterone concentrations, whereas no effect was found for 10 nM. Intracellular calcium mobilization was significantly increased at 10 nM, whereas it was reduced at 10 mu M testosterone. There was an increase in phagocytic capacity at 10 nM and a decrease of microbicidal activity in neutrophils treated with testosterone at 10 mu M. Glutathione reductase activity was increased by testosterone treatment, whereas no effect was observed in other antioxidant enzyme activities. An increase in the content of thiol groups was observed at all testosterone concentrations. Lipid peroxidation in neutrophils evaluated by levels of TBARS was decreased at 10 nM and 0.1 mu M testosterone. These results indicate the antioxidant properties of testosterone in neutrophils as suggested by reduction of superoxide anion production, and lipid peroxidation, and by the increase in nitric oxide production, glutathione reductase activity and the content of thiol groups. Therefore, the plasma levels of testosterone are important regulators of neutrophil function and so of the inflammatory response. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo)[07/03334-6]Cruzeiro do Sul UniversityCruzeiro do Sul UniversityUniversidade Cruzeiro do SulUniversidade Cruzeiro do Su

Análise dos fatores de risco e epidemiologia em campanha de prevenção da cegueira pelo glaucoma em João Pessoa, Paraíba

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar a incidência dos fatores de risco em uma amostra da população, avaliada durante uma campanha de prevenção da cegueira pelo glaucoma, bem como analisar os dados epidemiológicos sobre a ocorrência de casos suspeitos de glaucoma na cidade de João Pessoa, Paraíba. MÉTODOS: Após prévia divulgação, pessoas com idade ≥ 40 anos, compareceram voluntariamente ao Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley, João Pessoa, Paraíba. Realizou-se anamnese, medida da pressão intraocular (PIO) com tonômetro de aplanação de Goldmann e biomicroscopia de fundo. Considerados suspeitos aqueles com PIO ≥ 21 mmHg ou disco óptico com relação escavação sobre disco (E/D) ≥ 0,5 x 0,5. Os suspeitos foram subdivididos por idade, sexo e tipo de alteração e divididos em: Grupo I de 40 e 49 anos; Grupo II de 50 e 59 anos; Grupo III ≥ 60 anos; P+ se apenas PIO Analysis of risk factors and epidemiology of blindness prevention campaign by glaucoma in João Pessoa, Paraíba 21 mmHg; E/D+ se apenas E/D ≥ 0,5x0,5; e P/E/D+ quando ambos alterados. RESULTADO: No total de 244 pacientes, 29,50% foram considerados suspeitos (48,61% homens (H) e 51,38% mulheres(M), sendo 41,66% pertencentes ao Grupo I; 23,61% ao Grupo II e 34,72% ao Grupo III. Com relação ao tipo de alteração: 70,83% eram E/D+; 15,27% eram P+ e 13,88% P/E/D+. Foi ainda realizada uma análise detalhada entre homens e mulheres. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar da irreversibilidade das alterações conseqüentes ao glaucoma, o diagnóstico precoce e o tratamento adequado, associado à conscientização da população, são capazes de prevenir cegueira, comprovando a importância da realização periódica dessas campanhas

Effect of astaxanthin and fish oil on enzymatic antioxidant system and α-amylase activity of salivary glands from rats

y glands contribute to oral health. It is therefore of interest to study therapies that may favor their function and protection. Aim: To evaluate the effect of astaxanthin, fish oil and association of them on enzymatic antioxidant system and functional parameters of salivary glands. Methods: Healthy rats (n=32) were divided into 4 groups: untreated-control, astaxanthin-treated (1 mg/kg body weight- BW), fish oil-treated (10 mg EPA/kg BW and 7 mg DHA/kg BW), and fish oil plus astaxanthin-treated. A prophylactic dose was administered in each group daily by gavage, for 45 days. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reductase, and &#945;-amylase activities were determined in salivary glands and compared by ANOVA and Tukey post-test (p<0.05). Results: Parotid gland presented increased catalase and glutathione system and unaffected SOD activity after astaxanthin and astaxanthin plus fish oil treatment (p<0.05). Fish oil stimulated only glutathione peroxidase activity of parotid gland (p<0.05). Submandibular gland presented stimulated SOD and catalase, and reduced glutathione reductase activities after fish oil and fish oil plus astaxanthin treatment (p<0.05). SOD and glutathione reductase activities were reduced by astaxanthin treatment in submandibular gland (p<0.05). Parotid gland presented increased &#945;-amylase activity in all groups supplemented and submandibular glands presented no changes (p<0.05). Conclusions: Astaxanthin, fish oil and combination of them stimulated the antioxidant system and functional parameter of salivary glands, which could be beneficial to oral health