Obesity in Severe COVID-19 Patients Has a Distinct Innate Immune Phenotype.

Obesity alters the capacity of effective immune responses in infections. To further address this phenomenon in the context of COVID-19, this study investigated how the immunophenotype of leukocytes was altered in individuals with obesity in severe COVID-19. This cross-sectional study enrolled 27 ICU COVID-19 patients (67% women, 56.33 ± 19.55 years) that were assigned to obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, n = 9) or non-obese (BMI < 30kg/m2, n = 18) groups. Monocytes, NK, and both Low-Density (LD) and High-Density (HD) neutrophils were isolated from peripheral blood samples, and surface receptors' frequency and expression patterns were analyzed by flow cytometry. Clinical status and biochemical data were additionally evaluated. The frequency of monocytes was negatively correlated with BMI, while NK cells and HD neutrophils were positively associated (p < 0.05). Patients with obesity showed a significant reduction of monocytes, and these cells expressed high levels of PD-L1 (p < 0.05). A higher frequency of NK cells and increased expression of TREM-1+ on HD neutrophils were detected in obese patients (p < 0.05). The expression of receptors related to antigen-presentation, phagocytosis, chemotaxis, inflammation and suppression were strongly correlated with clinical markers only in obese patients (p < 0.05). Collectively, these outcomes revealed that obesity differentially affected, and largely depressed, innate immune response in severe COVID-19.

Health functions and related molecular mechanisms of ellagitannin-derived urolithins.

Ellagitannins are vital bioactive polyphenols that are widely distributed in a variety of plant-based foods. The main metabolites of ellagitannins are urolithins, and current research suggests that urolithins provide a variety of health benefits. This review focused on the role of the gut bacteria in the conversion of ellagitannins to urolithins. Based on the results of in vitro and in vivo studies, the health benefits of urolithins, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-aging, cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, kidney protective, and muscle mass protective effects, were thoroughly outlined, with a focus on their associated molecular mechanisms. Finally, we briefly commented on urolithins' safety. Overall, urolithins' diverse health benefits indicate the potential utilization of ellagitannins and urolithins in the creation of functional foods and nutraceuticals to treat and prevent some chronic diseases.

Eating habits and body image among gym goers / Hábitos alimentares e imagem corporal entre frequentadores de academias

Although regular exercise is widely recommended to promote health and improvement quality of life, young people commonly report exercising primarily for weight control and for reasons related to their physical appearance. The objective of the study was to evaluate the degree of body satisfaction and its association with eating habits of individuals exercising in gymnasiums. This was a cross-sectional study involving 432 adolescents and young adults (men = 39.8%, women = 60.2%). A body self-perception questionnaire and a silhouetted scale was used to evaluate body image, as well as a food consumption questionnaire, whose score was calculated using the formula: Eating score = (total of points obtained ÷ maximum of possible points according to the number of items filled out) x 100. The scoring scale ranges from 0 to 100 and the higher the score the greater the inadequacy of eating habits. The chi-squared test was used to analyze the association between the degree of body satisfaction and the ingestion of the food groups, a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. The total prevalence of body dissatisfaction was 75.7% with no significant difference between the sexes. Men were more "dissatisfied with thinness" (58.2%), while women were more "dissatisfied with excess weight" (46.5%). The individuals who were "satisfied" with their body image had a lower score in the food consumption questionnaire (46.96 points) compared to "dissatisfied" individuals (p<0.05) and, therefore, the "satisfied" individuals consumed a higher frequency of vegetable and fruit groups (p <0.05). The association between body dissatisfaction and food groups revealed that people who were "unsatisfied by thinness" had a higher frequency of consumption of processed products, soft drinks and eggs, while those who were "dissatisfied with excess weight" had a higher frequency of consumption of sweets and candies. In this study, a high prevalence of body dissatisfaction among young individuals attending gymnasiums was observed, which was associated with a higher frequency of an inadequate diet

Embora o exercício físico regular seja amplamente recomendado para promover saúde e melhorias na qualidade de vida, pessoas jovens comumente relatam se exercitar principalmente para controle de peso e por motivos relacionados à sua aparência física. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o grau de satisfação corporal e sua associação com hábitos alimentares de indivíduos que se exercitam em academias de ginástica. Trata-se de um estudo transversal contendo 432 adolescentes e adultos jovens (homens = 39,8%, mulheres = 60,2%). Aplicou-se um questionário de autopercepção corporal e escala de silhuetas para avaliar a imagem corporal, e questionário de consumo alimentar, cuja pontuação foi calculada por meio da fórmula: Escore alimentar = (total de pontos obtidos ÷ máximo de pontos possíveis de acordo com o número de itens preenchidos) x 100. A escala de pontuação varia de 0 a 100 e quanto maior a pontuação maior a inadequação dos hábitos alimentares. O teste do qui-quadrado foi empregado para analisar a associação entre o grau de satisfação corporal e a ingestão dos grupos alimentares, valor de p <0,05 foi considerado significante. A prevalência total de insatisfação corporal foi de 75,7% sem diferença significante entre os sexos. Os homens mostram-se mais "insatisfeitos pela magreza" (58,2%), enquanto as mulheres estavam mais "insatisfeitas pelo excesso de peso" (46,5%). Os indivíduos "satisfeitos" com sua imagem corporal apresentaram menor pontuação no questionário de consumo alimentar (46,96 pontos) em comparação aos "insatisfeitos" (p <0,05) e, portanto, os "satisfeitos" apresentaram maior frequência de ingestão dos grupos dos vegetais, legumes e frutas (p <0,05). A associação entre a insatisfação corporal e os grupos alimentares revelou que pessoas "insatisfeitas pela magreza" apresentaram maior frequência de consumo de produtos industrializados, refrigerantes e ovos, enquanto que os "insatisfeitos pelo excesso de peso" possuíram maior frequência de consumo de doces e balas. Observou-se neste estudo alta prevalência de insatisfação corporal entre indivíduos jovens que frequentam academias de ginástica, a qual esteve associada à maior frequência de inadequação alimentar

Colon epithelial cells luminal environment and physiopathological consequences: impact of nutrition and exercise

The colonic epithelial cells represent a border between the colon luminal content, containing notably bacteria and a complex mixture of compounds, and the"milieu interieur"as defined by the French physiologist Claude Bernard.The physical-chemical composition of the luminal content, including luminal pH and bacterial metabolite, that obviousl y is not constant, is modified for instance according to the diet. Data obtained recently indicate that physical exercise may also modify the colonic luminal content. Evidence has indicated that modification of the luminal content characteristics has, indeed, consequences for the colonic epithelial cells, notably in terms of energy metabolism and DNA integrity. Although such alterations impact presumably the homeostatic process of the colonic epithelium renewal and the epithelial barrier function, their contribution to pathological processes like mucosal inflammation, pre-neoplasia, and neoplasia remains partly elusive. Open questions remain regarding the individual and collective roles of luminal changes, particularly in a long-term perspective. These questions are related particularly to the capacity of the bacterial metabolites to cross the mucus layer before entering the colonocytes, to the concentrations of metabolites in proximity of the colonic crypt stem cells, and to the capacity of colonocytes to detoxicate deleterious compounds, to take up and utilize beneficial compounds.