Ovigeny strategy of the parasitic wasp Cosmocomoidea annulicornis (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae): effect of female age, feeding and host availability on reproductive traits.

The reproductive traits of the mymarid wasp Cosmocomoidea annulicornis (Ogloblin) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) attacking eggs of the sharpshooter Tapajosa rubromarginata (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Bioassays were carried out to estimate the realized fecundity and egg load of females. The ovigeny index was calculated and different biological traits, such as body size, oöcyte length, gaster length and wing length, were analysed to assess significant associations between these traits and the species fitness. In addition, the effect of host availability and feeding on longevity and potential fecundity throughout life and the effect of female age on egg maturation dynamics were assessed. The results showed that C. annulicornis is a strongly synovigenic species. A positive correlation was found between fecundity and longevity of the females and between body size and oöcyte length. Contrary to expected, body size was not related to fecundity and longevity. Females lived significantly longer in the presence of hosts and honey than when they were host-deprived and honey-fed or both host and honey deprived. Host availability had a significant effect on the amount of eggs laid by C. annulicornis females. Female age was negatively associated with oöcyte length. Furthermore, females were able to mature additional eggs as they aged, nevertheless, when host-deprived, senescent females presented significantly less mature eggs than younger ones, suggesting a possible egg oosorption. These results might contribute to a better understanding of the reproductive potential of this species as a biocontrol agent.

The Impact of a Nutritional Intervention on Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Type 2 Diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Nutritional management plays a crucial role in treating patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), working to prevent and control the progression of chronic non-communicable diseases. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of individualized nutritional interventions on weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR)} over 12 months and subsequently at follow-up (15 months). METHODS: This longitudinal experimental study (without randomization and blinding) enrolled 84 sedentary participants with T2D (both sexes, aged 18-80 years). They were divided into a control group of 40 participants who received only medical consultations, and an intervention group of 44 participants who received the same medical care along with a nutritional assessment. Consultations occurred quarterly from August 2020 to November 2022 (first-twelfth month), with six to nine patients per session. Subsequently, a follow-up was conducted from December 2022 to November 2023, during which the intervention group had only medical care (during the 12th-15th months). Personalized dietary planning was inspired by the Mediterranean/DASH diets adapted to Brazilian foods and socioeconomic cultures. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Normal variables were compared between groups for each time point and also within each group across different time points using a two-way ANOVA (repeated measures for intragroup) followed by the Sídák post hoc test. Non-normal variables were compared between groups for each time point using Kruskal-Wallis followed by the Dunn post hoc test, and within each group across different time points using Friedman followed by the Dunn post hoc test. Data with a Gaussian distribution were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and data with a non-Gaussian distribution were presented as median ± interquartile range (IQR). For all cases, α < 0.05 and p < 0.05 were adopted. RESULTS: In the intervention group, significant reductions were observed between the first and twelfth month for all parameters (p < 0.05), (except for TC), along with an increase in HDL-C (p = 0.0105). Conversely, in the control group, there was a significant increase in HbA1c, weight, BMI, FBG, and WHR (p < 0.05) between the first and twelfth months. Regarding the comparison between groups, there was a significant difference for all analyzed parameters (p < 0.05) from the first to the twelfth month. In the follow-up, differences were also observed (p < 0.05), except for BMI (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The individualized nutritional intervention improved eating habits, anthropometric, biochemical, and cardiovascular markers in T2D over 12 months, with sustained results during follow-up. The dietary plan inspired by the Mediterranean and DASH diets demonstrated good adaptation to the Brazilian food culture and the patients' socioeconomic contexts. Consistent monitoring and personalized nutritional management are essential for optimizing long-term outcomes. However, more clinical trials are necessary in order to optimize the level of evidence for longitudinal interventions.

Nutritional Strategies for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Thinking about greater adherence to dietary planning, it is extremely important to be aware of all nutritional strategies and dietary prescriptions available in the literature, and of which of them is the most efficient for the management of T2DM. METHODS: A search was carried out in 2023 for randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and guidelines in the following databases: Pubmed, Scielo, Web of Science, CrossRef and Google Scholar. In total, 202 articles were collected and analyzed. The period of publications was 1983-2023. RESULTS: There is still no consensus on what the best nutritional strategy or ideal dietary prescription is, and individuality is necessary. In any case, these references suggest that Mediterranean Diet may of greater interest for the management of T2DM, with the following recommended dietary prescription: 40-50% carbohydrates; 15-25% proteins; 25-35% fats (<7% saturated, 10% polyunsaturated, and 10% monounsaturated); at least 14 g of fiber for every 1000 kcal consumed; and <2300 mg sodium. CONCLUSIONS: Individuality is the gold standard for dietary prescriptions, however, the Mediterranean diet with low levels of carbohydrates and fats seems to be the most promising strategy for the management of T2DM.

Assessment of redox state and biochemical parameters of salivary glands in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats treated with mate tea (Ilex paraguariensis).

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess the effects of mate tea [Ilex paraguariensis] on the redox state and biochemical parameters of salivary glands in diabetic male rats. DESIGN: Twenty-four male Wistar rats (3 months old) were randomly divided into groups (n = 8 per group): control rats that received water (C); diabetic rats that received water (D); diabetic rats treated with mate tea (DMT). The treated streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were given mate tea powder by intragastric gavage at a dose of 20 mg/kg daily for 28 days. Content of total protein, amylase, oxidative lipid damage, measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), oxidative protein damage, measured as protein carbonyl, total antioxidant capacity, uric acid, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were examined by the spectrophotometric method in the parotid and submandibular glands. RESULTS: The D group showed lower total protein, amylase, TBARs, protein carbonyl, total antioxidant capacity, GSH, uric acid, and GPx than the C group in both salivary glands, as well as higher SOD and CAT activities. The DMT group showed higher total protein, amylase, total antioxidant capacity, GSH, uric acid, and GPx than the D group in both salivary glands. Moreover, mate tea increased SOD in the parotid gland and CAT in the submandibular gland of diabetic rats but did not influence TBARs and protein carbonyl in either salivary gland compared to D group. CONCLUSION: Mate tea increased tissue protein synthesis and improved antioxidant defenses in the salivary glands of streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats.

Dynamics of steroid-induced oocyte maturation in three amphibian species: Mathematical modeling and simulation.

Oocyte maturation in vertebrates involves morphological, biochemical, and functional changes through which meiosis, previously arrested in Profase I, is resumed. Within these changes, germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) constitutes morphological evidence of the resumption of the cellular cycle. Sex steroids (progestins and androgens) play a key role in oocyte maturation and are considered inducers of this process. The aims of this study were to analyze the effect of sex steroids on the oocyte maturation of amphibians and to model and simulate the dynamics of this process through the experimental data obtained. The oocytes of sexually mature females of Scinax fuscovarius, Pleurodema borellii, and Physalaemus biligonigerus were treated with different concentrations (0.001-1 µM) of sex steroids progesterone (P 4 ) and testosterone (T) for 24 hr. Dose- and time-response curves were performed with the results achieved. Sex steroids induced oocyte maturation in a dose-dependent manner in all three species. The dose at which the highest maturation percentage was found was 1 µM. No significant differences were observed between GVBD percentages of P 4 and T. However, time-response curves show that oocytes responded earlier and achieved higher GVBD percentages when treated with P 4 . Gompertz mathematical model was proposed in this study to simulate GVBD dynamics. This model properly fits the corresponding experimental data and allows the analysis of the behavior of oocyte maturation in amphibians and the quantification of parameters with biological meaning that are indicative of sex steroids efficiency in this process.