Effects of alternate-day fasting and time-restricted feeding in obese middle-aged female rats.

Objectives: Obesity is a multifactorial condition associated with metabolic alterations that can be aggravated during female aging. Calorie restriction via intermittent fasting (IF) diets may reduce body weight and therefore have the potential to decrease obesity and associated comorbidities, such as insulin resistance. This study investigated the effects of two IF protocols, alternate-day fasting (ADF) and time-restricted feeding (TRF) in middle-aged obese female rats.

VDR, SOD-2, and CYP24A1 Gene Expression in Different Genotypes of BsmI SNP of the Vitamin D Receptor Gene in Individuals with Hypovitaminosis.

Background: Hypovitaminosis D is a public health problem due to its implications for various diseases. Vitamin D has numerous functions, such as modulating the metabolism of cellular tissues, and it is expressed through the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene that may influence gene expression modulation, which plays an important role in vitamin D metabolism.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the genotypes of BsmI single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the VDR gene on VDR, SOD2, and CYP24A1 gene expression in individuals with low serum vitamin D levels.

Evaluation interaction of graphene oxide with heparin for antiviral blockade: a study of ab initio simulations, molecular docking, and experimental analysis.

Context: Heparin, one of the drugs reused in studies with antiviral activity, was chosen to investigate a possible blockade of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for viral entry through computational simulations and experimental analysis. Heparin was associated to graphene oxide to increase in the binding affinity in biological system. First, the electronic and chemical interaction between the molecules was analyzed through ab initio simulations.

Air pollution combined with high-fat feeding aggravates metabolic and cardiovascular diseases: A dangerous, oxidative, and immune-inflammatory association.

Unlabelled: Obesity and particulate air pollutant (PM) are important risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases. PM exacerbates insulin resistance and lipid ectopic deposition in obese animals. The inorganic fraction of PM the Residual Oil Fly Ash (ROFA), is related to cardiovascular events, by enhancing the generation of reactive species, inflammatory cytokines, and leukocyte activation.

Increased eHSP70-to-iHSP70 ratio in prediabetic and diabetic postmenopausal women: a biomarker of cardiometabolic risk.

Decreased estrogen levels in menopause are associated with anthropometric, metabolic, and inflammatory impairments, predisposing women to cardiometabolic risk factors such as diabetes. Menopause and type two diabetes (DM2) are marked by altered heat shock response (HSR), shown by decreased expression of the 70-kDa heat shock protein in the intracellular milieu (iHSP70). While iHSP70 plays an anti-inflammatory role, extracellular HSP70 (eHSP70) may mediate pro-inflammatory pathways and has been associated with insulin resistance in DM2.

Adapted Murine Sepsis Score: Improving the Research in Experimental Sepsis Mouse Model.

The Murine Sepsis Score (MSS) is used to assess the severity of sepsis in rats and mice based on observational characteristics. The quantitative variables of glycemia, body weight, and temperature are predictors of severity in experimental models of sepsis. Therefore, our study sought to adapt the MSS with the same variables to indicate earlier the severity of the disease in murine models of the disease.

Oxidative and Cellular Stress Markers in Postmenopause Women with Diabetes: The Impact of Years of Menopause.

Women live approximately one-third of their lives in postmenopause. Among postmenopausal women, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases. These conditions promote alterations in the oxidative, metabolic, and immune-inflammatory profiles marked by higher extracellular 72 kDa-heat shock protein (eHSP72).

Effects of aerobic and resistance exercise training associated with carnosine precursor supplementation on maximal strength and V̇O in rats with heart failure.

Background: Combined exercise training (CET) has been associated with positive responses in the clinical status of patients with heart failure (HF). Other nonpharmacological tools, such as amino acid supplementation, may further enhance its adaptation. The aim was to test whether CET associated with supplementing carnosine precursors could present better responses in the functional capacity and biochemical variables of rats with HF.

Salivary cortisol concentrations in hematogy/oncology nurses on working days and days off.

Objective: to assess salivary cortisol concentrations in hematology/oncology nurses on working days and days off.

Methods: a cross-sectional study carried out with 28 nurses from a university hospital. A sociodemographic, employment and health profile questionnaire was applied.

Insufficient social distancing may contribute to COVID-19 outbreak: The case of Ijuí city in Brazil.

The coronavirus disease that emerged in 2019 (COVID-19) is highly contagious and has given way to a global pandemic. A present COVID-19 has high transmission rates worldwide, including in small Brazilian cities such as Ijuí. Located in the northwest part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and with a population of 83,475, Ijuí was selected as the site of a population-based survey involving 2,222 subjects, from April to June 2020.

Perisynaptic astrocytes as a potential target for novel antidepressant drugs.

Emerging evidence suggests that dysfunctions in glutamatergic signaling are associated with the pathophysiology of depression. Several molecules that act on glutamate binding sites, so-called glutamatergic modulators, are rapid-acting antidepressants that stimulate synaptogenesis. Their antidepressant response involves the elevation of both extracellular glutamate and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, as well as the postsynaptic activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1.

Ovariectomy enhances female rats' susceptibility to metabolic, oxidative, and heat shock response effects induced by a high-fat diet and fine particulate matter.

Obesity and exposure to fine particulate matter (air pollutant PM) are important risk factors for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. They are also related to early menopause. The reduction of 17β-estradiol (E2) levels during female climacteric, marked by menopause, is of significant concern because of its imminent influence on metabolism, redox and inflammatory status.

Suppressed anti-inflammatory heat shock response in high-risk COVID-19 patients: lessons from basic research (inclusive bats), light on conceivable therapies.

The major risk factors to fatal outcome in COVID-19 patients, i.e., elderliness and pre-existing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), share in common the characteristic of being chronic degenerative diseases of inflammatory nature associated with defective heat shock response (HSR).

Social distancing patterns in nine municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: the Epicovid19/RS study.

OBJECTIVE To describe social distancing practices in nine municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, stratified by gender, age, and educational attainment. METHODS Two sequential cross-sectional studies were conducted in the municipalities of Canoas, Caxias do Sul, Ijuí, Passo Fundo, Pelotas, Porto Alegre, Santa Cruz do Sul, Santa Maria, and Uruguaiana to estimate the population prevalence of COVID-19. The study was designed to be representative of the urban population of these municipalities.

Reduction of functional cardiovascular reserve in the stages of chronic kidney disease.

Objective: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) present reduced oxygen consumption at peak exercise (VO2 peak). No studies have evaluated objective measures of the cardiovascular reserve, besides VO2 peak and VO2 at the anaerobic threshold (VO2 AT), and compared these measures among ckd patients at different stages of the disease.

Methods: Fifty-eight patients [pre-dialysis group (PD)=26, hemodialysis group (HD)=20, and post-kidney transplant group (KT)=12] were included.

A single dose of eHSP72 attenuates sepsis severity in mice.

High levels of extracellular 72 kDa heat shock protein (eHSP72) can be detected in the serum of septic patients and are associated with increased oxidative profiles and elevated rates of mortality among these patients. However, a possible immunomodulatory role for this protein, resulting in tissue protection during sepsis, has never been assessed. In this study, we investigated whether eHSP72 administration could attenuate the severity of sepsis in a mouse peritonitis model.

The association of subchronic exposure to low concentration of PM and high-fat diet potentiates glucose intolerance development, by impairing adipose tissue antioxidant defense and eHSP72 levels.

The subchronic exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and high-fat diet (HFD) consumption lead to glucose intolerance by different mechanisms involving oxidative stress and inflammation. Under stressful conditions, the cells exert a heat shock response (HSR), by releasing the 72-kDa heat shock proteins (eHSP72), fundamental chaperones. The depletion of the HSR can exacerbate the chronic inflammation.

Chronic heat treatment positively impacts metabolic profile of ovariectomized rats: association with heat shock response pathways.

Low estrogen levels may predispose women to increased bodyweight and dyslipidemia. Previous studies from our laboratory suggest an involvement of depressed heat shock response (HSR) in this scenario because estrogen potently stimulates HSR. As heat treatment induces the expression of the anti-inflammatory heat shock proteins of the 70-kDa family (HSP70) and its accompanying HSR, we aimed to investigate whether chronic heat treatment promotes beneficial effects on biometric, lipid profile, oxidative stress, and HSR in ovariectomized rats.

The Effect of Glutamatergic Modulators on Extracellular Glutamate: How Does this Information Contribute to the Discovery of Novel Antidepressants?

Background: In the search for new antidepressants, clinical researchers have been using drugs that simultaneously modulate multiple targets. During preclinical and clinical trials, the glutamatergic modulators riluzole and ketamine have received particular attention. Glutamatergic agents have a modulatory effect on synaptic transmission, so they can act on both neurons and astrocytes.

Ovariectomy predisposes female rats to fine particulate matter exposure's effects by altering metabolic, oxidative, pro-inflammatory, and heat-shock protein levels.

The reduction of estrogen levels, as a result of menopause, is associated with the development of metabolic diseases caused by alterations in oxidative stress (OS), inflammatory biomarkers, and 70-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP70) expression. Additionally, exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution modifies liver OS levels and predisposes organisms to metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We investigated whether ovariectomy affects hepatic tissue and alters glucose metabolism in female rats exposed to particulate air pollution.

Effects of High-Fat Diet on eHSP72 and Extra-to-Intracellular HSP70 Levels in Mice Submitted to Exercise under Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter.

Obesity, air pollution, and exercise induce alterations in the heat shock response (HSR), in both intracellular 70 kDa heat shock proteins (iHSP70) and the plasmatic extracellular form (eHSP72). Extra-to-intracellular HSP70 ratio (H-index = eHSP70/iHSP70 ratio) represents a candidate biomarker of subclinical health status. This study investigated the effects of moderate- and high-intensity exercise in the HSR and oxidative stress parameters, in obese mice exposed to fine particulate matter (PM).

Resistance training and L-arginine supplementation are determinant in genomic stability, cardiac contractility and muscle mass development in rats.

L-arginine supplementation has been related to increased maximum strength and improvement of hemodynamic parameters in several diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of L-arginine supplementation and resistance training on muscle mass, hemodynamic function and DNA damage in healthy rats subjected to a low-arginine concentration diet. Twenty three Wistar rats (290-320g) were divided into 4 groups: Sedentary (SED-Arg, n = 6), Sedentary+Arg (SED+Arg, n = 6), Resistance Training (RT-Arg, n = 5), Resistance Training+Arg (RT+Arg, n = 6).

Detectable levels of eHSP72 in plasma are associated with physical activity and antioxidant enzyme activity levels in hypertensive subjects.

Previous studies reported that extracellular HSP72 (eHSP72) correlates with poor prognosis, markers of vascular dysfunction, and the severity of cardiovascular diseases, associated with a systemic oxidative and inflammatory profile. On the other hand, eHSP72 may represent immune-regulatory signaling that is related to exercise benefits, but the association between physical activity levels and eHSP72 levels is not established. Thus, since regular physical activity may avoid oxidative stress and inflammation, we investigate whether detectable levels of eHSP72 in plasma are associated with physical activity and antioxidant enzyme activity levels in hypertensive subjects.

Subacute exposure to residual oil fly ash (ROFA) increases eHSP70 content and extracellular-to-intracellular HSP70 ratio: a relation with oxidative stress markers.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to particles induces an imbalance in 70-kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70). Since intracellularly (iHSP70) it has anti-inflammatory roles whereas extracellularly (eHSP70) it has pro-inflammatory roles, we evaluate the effect of residual oil fly ash (ROFA) exposure on eHSP70-to-iHSP70 ratio (H index), a biomarker of inflammatory status that is related to oxidative stress in plasma and lymphoid tissue. Wistar rats that received ROFA suspension for three consecutive days (750 μg) showed an increase in plasma eHSP70 levels (mainly the 72-kDa inducible form).

Exercise Training under Exposure to Low Levels of Fine Particulate Matter: Effects on Heart Oxidative Stress and Extra-to-Intracellular HSP70 Ratio.

Fine particulate matter (PM) promotes heart oxidative stress (OS) and evokes anti-inflammatory responses observed by increased intracellular 70 kDa heat shock proteins (iHSP70). Furthermore, PM increases the levels of these proteins in extracellular fluids (eHSP70), which have proinflammatory roles. We investigated whether moderate and high intensity training under exposure to low levels of PM modifies heart OS and the eHSP70 to iHSP70 ratio (H-index), a biomarker of inflammatory status.