Taro Lectin Can Act as a Cytokine-Mimetic Compound, Stimulating Myeloid and T Lymphocyte Lineages and Protecting Progenitors in Murine Bone Marrow.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) corm is traditionally consumed as a medicinal plant to stimulate immune responses and restore a health status. Tarin, a taro lectin, is considered responsible for the immunomodulatory effects of taro. In the present study, in order to investigate the effects of tarin on bone marrow hematopoietic population, murine cells were stimulated with tarin combined with a highly enriched conditioned medium containing either IL-3 or GM-CSF. Cells challenged with tarin proliferated in a dose-dependent manner, evidenced by the increase in cell density and number of clusters and colonies. Tarin exhibited a cytokine-mimetic effect similar to IL-3 and GM-CSF, increasing granulocytic cell lineage percentages, demonstrated by an increase in the relative percentage of Gr-1+ cells. Tarin does not increase lymphocytic lineages, but phenotyping revealed that the relative percentage of CD3+ cells was increased with a concomitant decrease in CD19+ and IL-7Rα+ cells. Most bone marrow cells were stained with tarin-FITC, indicating non-selective tarin binding, a phenomenon that must still be elucidated. In conclusion, taro corms contain an immunomodulatory lectin able to boost the immune system by promoting myeloid and lymphoid hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation.

Metabolic syndrome components and estimated glomerular filtration rate based on creatinine and/or cystatin C in young adults: A gender issue?

AIMS: This work aims to identify correlations between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on creatinine and/or cystatin C (Cr, CysC) with metabolic syndrome (MS) components in young adults, according to gender. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross sectional study, where young adults aged between 18 and 30 were matched by gender, age and body mass index. All subjects underwent clinical evaluation and blood sampling for laboratory measurements. MS was determined according to the JIS criteria. The eGFR was estimated using CKD-EPI equations (eGFRCr; eGFRCysC; eGFRCr-CysC). RESULTS: We evaluated 78 subjects with a mean age of 24.5 years. 10.2% had MS, with higher incidence among males (15.4% ♂ vs. 5.1% ♀). Elevated waist circumference was the MS component most observed. Significant correlations (Pearson; p<0.05) between eGFR and metabolic markers were observed only in males. In addition, we observed a significant association between the increase of MS components and the decay of eGFRCr and eGFRCr-CysC (zero vs. two or more components, ANOVA, p<0.05) only among males. CONCLUSION: eGFR decay associated with components of MS and insulin resistance in young male adults could represent a worrying specific risk and indicate that further studies are needed to better understand these findings.

Prevalência de excesso de peso em funcionários de uma instituição privada de ensino / Prevalence in overweight in employees of an instituion of education private

Introdução: O excesso de peso é um grande fator de risco para doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) e metabólicas, e sua crescente prevalência vista hoje em dia, em todo o mundo, vem acarretar consequências tanto sociais quanto econômicas para a saúde pública brasileira. O objetivo foi avaliar o estado nutricional e prevalência do sobrepeso. Objetivos: Avaliar o excesso de peso e níveis pressóricos de funcionários de uma instituição privada de ensino. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo transversal com os funcionários. Aplicou-se um questionário estruturado, coleta de dados antropométricos e níveis pressóricos. Resultados: Foram avaliados 81 funcionários, onde 39,5% eram do sexo masculino e 60,5% do sexo feminino. A idade apresentou média de 30,9±9,5 anos. A prevalência de sobrepeso foi maior nas mulheres e a obesidade foi maior nos homens. A circunferência da cintura elevada foi encontrada em 40,6% dos homens e 57,1% das mulheres. Conclusão: O elevado número de funcionários com excesso de peso, com destaque para a obesidade abdominal, alerta para o risco desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e a necessidade de intervenção nutricional neste público

Introduction: Excess weight is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic, and its increasing prevalence seen today around the world, has lead to both social consequences as economic for the Brazilian public health. The objective was to evaluate the nutritional status and prevalence of overweight. Goals: To evaluate the excess weight and pressure levels of employees of a private educational institution. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with the employees. A structured questionnaire, anthropometric data collection and pressure levels were applied. Results: A total of 81 employees, in which 39.5% were male and 60.5% female. The mean age of 30.9 ± 9.5 years. The prevalence of overweight was higher in women and obesity was higher in men. The waist circumference high DC was found in 40.6% of men and 57.1% women. Conclusion: The high number of employees overweight, especially abdominal obesity, alert to the risk of developing chronic diseases and the need for nutritional intervention in public

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