Dietary restriction interferes with oxidative status and intrinsic intestinal innervation in aging rats

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects of dietary restriction on oxidative status, the HuC/D–neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) myenteric neuron population, HuC/D-S100 glial cells, and the morphometry of the small intestine in rats at various ages.MethodsFifteen Wistar rats were divided into 7-and 12-mo-old control groups and a 12-mo-old experimental group subjected to dietary restrictions (50% of normal ration) for 5 mo. At 7 and 12 mo of age, the animals were anesthetized, and blood was collected to assess the biochemical components and oxidative status. Ileum samples were subjected to double-marker (HuC/D-nNOS and HuC/D-S100) immunostaining and histologic processing to morphometrically analyze intestinal wall elements and determine the metaphase index and rate of caliciform cells. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the Tukey post hoc test with a 5% significance level.ResultsAge affected the oxidative status by increasing lipid peroxidation, with no effect on blood components, intrinsic innervation, and intestinal wall elements. The animals subjected to dietary restriction showed improved levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and oxidative status, with no changes in the nNOS neuron population. However, the dietary restriction dramatically decreased the glial and HuC/D myenteric populations, led to atrophy of the neuronal cell body, induced glial hypertrophy, and decreased the thickness of the intestinal wall.ConclusionThe high oxidative status of the aging animals was reversed by dietary restriction, which also lowered cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels. The present dietary restriction elicited morpho-quantitative changes in the myenteric plexus and histology of the ileum, with likely effects on intestinal functions.     

Parathyroid hormone has an important role in blood pressure regulation in vitamin D–insufficient individuals

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to evaluate whether vitamin D status is related to blood pressure (BP) in adults.MethodsWe evaluated the relationship between vitamin D status, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and BP in 332 adults. Anthropometric measurements, BP, and a fasting blood sample was obtained. Participants were stratified into the following BP categories: 1) normal BP; 2) high BP; 3) normal BP through medication. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as 25-hydroxvitamin D ≤ 75 nmol/L; high iPTH as > 65 pg/mL. The relationships between vitamin D status, iPTH and BP were adjusted for body mass index, waist circumference, blood lipids, physical activity, and sunscreen use.ResultsNo differences in prevalences of vitamin D insufficiency and high iPTH were observed among BP groups. No significant association was observed between BP and vitamin D status. Positive correlations were observed between iPTH and systolic BP (r = 0.168; P = 0.002) and between iPTH and diastolic BP (r = 0.168; P = 0.002). iPTH remained correlated with BP even with adjustments.ConclusionsThe present study contributes to the understanding of calcemic hormones and BP regulation.     

The first case report of non-nosocomial healthcare-associated infective endocarditis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA400 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Staphylococcus aureus is the main causal pathogen of infective endocarditis (IE), which may have distinct origins, namely, community, nosocomial, or non-nosocomial healthcare-associated (NNHCA). We report the first case of NNHCA-IE caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain USA400/SCCmec IV in which the combination therapy of rifampin and vancomycin had a favorable outcome for the patient.     

Zoonotic potential of multidrug-resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli obtained from healthy poultry carcasses in Salvador,Brazil

The zoonotic potential to cause human and/or animal infections among multidrug-resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli from avian origin was investigated. Twenty-seven extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli isolates containing the increased survival gene (iss) were obtained from the livers of healthy and diseased poultry carcasses at two slaughterhouses in Salvador, northeastern Brazil. The antimicrobial resistance-susceptibility profiles were conducted with antibiotics of avian and/or human use by the standardized disc-diffusion method. Antimicrobial resistance was higher for levofloxacin (51.8%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (70.4%), ampicillin (81.5%), cefalotin (88.8%), tetracycline (100%) and streptomycin (100%). The minimum inhibitory concentrations above the resistance breakpoints of doxycycline, neomycin, oxytetracycline and enrofloxacin reached, respectively, 88.0%, 100%, 75% and 91.7% of the isolates. Strains with high and low antimicrobial resistance were i.p. administered to Swiss mice, and histopathological examination was carried out seven days after infection. Resistance to goat and human serum complement was also evaluated. The results show that Swiss mice challenged with strain 2B (resistant to 11 antimicrobials) provoked a severe degeneration of hepatocytes besides lymphocytic infiltration in the liver, whereas the spleen showed areas of degeneration of the white and red pulp. Conversely, the spleen and liver of mice challenged with strain 4A (resistant to two antimicrobials) were morphologically preserved. In addition, complement resistance to goat and human serum was high for strain 2B and low for strain 4A. Our data show that multidrug resistance and pathogenesis can be correlated in extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli strains obtained from apparently healthy poultry carcasses, increasing the risk for human public healthy.     

Mitochondrial dysfunction: maternal protein restriction as a trigger of reactive species overproduction and brainstem energy failure in male offspring brainstem

Mitochondria are important organelles in eukaryotic organisms, wherein their capacity to produce energy vary among the tissues depending upon the amounts of oxygen consumed. Part of the oxygen consumed during ATP generation produces reactive oxygen species, which if not efficiently removed can trigger a systemic damage to molecular compounds characterized as oxidative stress. Several studies have demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the central nervous system (CNS) are related to a plethora of neural disorders. Herein, we hypothesize that a late autonomic imbalance-induced hypertension might be related to long-lasting effects of protein restriction during the critical period of the CNS development on the mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in the brainstem of adult (i.e. 150 days of age) male Wistar rats. Maternal protein restriction was induced by offering a diet based on 8% of casein from first day of pregnancy until weaning, when the male pups started to receive laboratory chow up to 150 days of life. The protein restriction induced an extended detrimental modulation in mitochondria function, decreasing the phosphorylation capacity with concomitant decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential, wherein the reactive species overproduction triggered a disruption in proton conductance, which may gradually compromise mitochondria energy conservation. Interestingly, the elevated activity of glutathione-S-transferase and the augmented expression of uncoupling protein 2 are likely protective mechanisms induced by lipid peroxidation products, being feasible molecular changes attempting to deal with oxidative stress-induced ageing.     

Amphiphilic Antimony(V) Complexes for Oral Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis

The need for daily parenteral administration is an important limitation in the clinical use of pentavalent antimonial drugs against leishmaniasis. In this study, amphiphilic antimony(V) complexes were prepared from alkylmethylglucamides (L8 and L10, with carbon chain lengths of 8 and 10, respectively), and their potential for the oral treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was evaluated. Complexes of Sb and ligand at 1:3 (SbL8 and SbL10) were obtained from the reaction of antimony(V) with L8 and L10, as evidenced by elemental and electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analyses. Fluorescence probing of hydrophobic environment and negative-staining transmission electron microscopy showed that SbL8 forms kinetically stabilized nanoassemblies in water. Pharmacokinetic studies with mice in which the compound was administered by the oral route at 200 mg of Sb/kg of body weight indicated that the SbL8 complex promoted greater and more sustained Sb levels in serum and liver than the levels obtained for the conventional antimonial drug meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime [Glu]). The efficacy of SbL8 and SbL10 administered by the oral route was evaluated in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania infantum after a daily dose of 200 mg of Sb/kg for 20 days. Both complexes promoted significant reduction in the liver and spleen parasite burdens in relation to those in the saline-treated control group. The extent of parasite suppression (>99.96%) was similar to that achieved after Glu given intraperitoneally at 80 mg of Sb/kg/day. As expected, there was no significant reduction in the parasitic load in the group treated orally with Glu at 200 mg of Sb/(kg day). In conclusion, amphiphilic antimony(V) complexes emerge as an innovative and promising strategy for the oral treatment of VL.     

Assistive technology for communication of older adults: a systematic review

Objective: Describe the use of assistive technology to enhance communication opportunities for older adults.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted in two databases, PubMed and Web of Science, by using two different searches in each. The search was limited to original articles, in English language, including people aged 60 years and older that used any type of assistive technology for communication. The articles found in the initial search were filtered by title, abstracts and the remaining articles were fully read.

Results: Eighteen studies were included in this review after the reading of full-texts. Most of the studies included apparently healthy participants with communication limitations due to aging related changes and the others included people with some pathology that prevent them from normal communication.

Conclusion: Four categories of assistive technology were identified: assistive technology for people with speech problems; robot or videoconferencing systems; Information and Communication Technologies and, other types of assistive technology for communication, such as hearing aids and scrapbooks. Assistive technology for communication of older adults is not only used by people with disabilities that prevent them from usual communication. They are mostly for older adults without a pathological communication problem.     

Yo jyo hen shi ko, a novel Chinese herbal, prevents nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in ob/ob mice fed a high fat or methionine-choline-deficient diet.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Yo jyo hen shi ko (YHK) is a complex compound purported to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by blocking the propagation of radical-induced reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the effect of YHK in experimental NASH. METHODS: NASH was induced in male ob/ob mice by a high-fat (HF) diet or methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 4 weeks. YHK-treated animals received YHK solution orally (20 mg/kg/day) in both experimental diets (n=6; each group) while control animals received only vehicle. RESULTS: The MCD and HF groups developed moderate diffuse macrosteatosis, hepatocellular ballooning, and a diffuse inflammatory infiltrate. With the addition of YHK, there was a marked reduction in macrosteatosis in both groups. This was associated with decreased lipoperoxide and reduced glutathione-GSH concentrations as well as reduced serum aminotransferases and improved histological markers of inflammation. These changes were also associated with weight loss in the MCD+YHK group and diminished weight gain in the HF+YHK group. CONCLUSION: YHK therapy blunts the development of macrosteatosis in these models of NASH and significantly reduces markers of oxidative stress. YHK also diminishes weight gain in this obesity prone model. Our findings warrant further study on the mechanisms involved with these effects.