Analysis of static and dynamic balance in healthy elderly practitioners of Tai Chi Chuan versus ballroom dancing

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Tai Chi Chuan or ballroom dancing promotes better performance with respect to postural balance, gait, and postural transfer among elderly people. METHODS: We evaluated 76 elderly individuals who were divided into two groups: the Tai Chi Chuan Group and the Dance Group. The subjects were tested using the NeuroCom Balance Master¯ force platform system with the following protocols: static balance tests (the Modified Clinical Tests of Sensory Interaction on Balance and Unilateral Stance) and dynamic balance tests (the Walk Across Test and Sit-to-stand Transfer Test). RESULTS: In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity on a firm surface with open and closed eyes, as well as on a foam surface with closed eyes. In the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Unilateral Stance, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented a lower sway velocity with open eyes, whereas the Dance Group presented a lower sway velocity with closed eyes. In the Walk Across Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented faster walking speeds than those of the Dance Group. In the Sit-to-stand Transfer Test, the Tai Chi Chuan Group presented shorter transfer times from the sitting to the standing position, with less sway in the final standing position. CONCLUSION: The elderly individuals who practiced Tai Chi Chuan had better bilateral balance with eyes open on both types of surfaces compared with the Dance Group. The Dance Group had better unilateral postural balance with eyes closed. The Tai Chi Chuan Group had faster walking speeds, shorter transfer times, and better postural balance in the final standing position during the Sit-to-stand Test. .

Prophylactic role of B vitamins against bulk and zinc oxide nanoparticles toxicity induced oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis in rat livers

The aim of this work is to explore the protective of B vitamins [B[3], B[6] and B[12]] against the hepatotoxic potency of either bulk zinc oxide [ZnO-bulk] or its nanoparticles [ZnO-NPs]-induced liver damage in rats. ZnO- bulk or its NPs were administered orally [500 mg/kg b.w.] for 10 successive days. The results revealed that oral coadministration of combination of B vitamins [250 mg B[3], 60 mg B[6] and 0.6 mg B[12] /Kg body weight] daily for 3 weeks to rats intoxicated by either ZnO- bulk or its NPs markedly ameliorated increases in serum of alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and lactate dehdrogenase [LDH]. The B vitamins also down-regulated increases in serum glucose level as well as increases in immuno-inflammatory biomarkers, including tumor necrosis factor- alpha [TNF- alpha] and C-reactive protein compared with intoxicated, untreated rats. Beside, the used agent successfully modulated the alterations in serum vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], attenuated liver oxidative DNA damage compared with ZnO intoxicated groups. We showed that the used B complex mitigated increased malondialdehyde [MDA], decrease in glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and increase in the apoptosis marker caspase 3 of liver tissue in response to either ZnO-bulk or its NP toxicity. In conclusion, early treatment with vitamin B complex may protect liver tissue from deleterious damage induced by the toxic effects of ZnO- bulk or its NPs

Corneal thickness changes during corneal collagen cross-linking with UV-A irradiation and hypo-osmolar riboflavin in thin corneas / Alterações na espessura da córnea durante "cross-linking" do colágeno com irradiação UV-A e riboflavina hipo-osmolar em córneas finas

PURPOSE: To evaluate the thinnest corneal thickness changes during and after corneal collagen cross-linking treatment with ultraviolet-A irradiation, using hypo-osmolar riboflavin solution in thin corneas. METHODS: Eighteen eyes of 18 patients were included in this study. After epithelium removal, iso-osmolar 0.1% riboflavin solution was instilled to the cornea every 3 minutes for 30 minutes. Hypo-osmolar 0.1% riboflavin solution was then applied every 20 seconds for 5 minutes or until the thinnest corneal thickness reached 400 µm. Ultraviolet-A irradiation was performed for 30 minutes. During irradiation, iso-osmolar 0.1% riboflavin drops were applied every 5 minutes. Ultrasound pachymetry was performed at approximately the thinnest point of the cornea preoperatively, after epithelial removal, after iso-osmolar riboflavin instillation, after hypo-osmolar riboflavin instillation, after ultraviolet-A irradiation, and at 1, 6 and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: Mean preoperative thinnest corneal thickness was 380 ± 11 µm. After epithelial removal it decreased to 341 ± 11 µm, and after 30 minutes of iso-osmolar 0.1% riboflavin drops, to 330 ± 7.6 µm. After hypo-osmolar 0.1% riboflavin drops, mean thinnest corneal thickness increased to 418 ± 11 µm. After UVA irradiation, it was 384 ± 10 µm. At 1, 6 and 12 months after treatment, it was 372 ± 10 µm, 381 ± 12.7, and 379 ± 15 µm, respectively. No intraoperative, early postoperative, or late postoperative complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Hypo-osmolar 0.1% riboflavin solution seems to be effective for swelling thin corneas. The swelling effect is transient and short acting. Corneal thickness should be monitored throughout the procedure. Larger sample sizes and longer follow-up are required in order to make meaningful conclusions regarding safety.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as alterações da espessura mínima da córnea durante e após o cross-linking do colágeno corneano com radiação ultravioleta A e solução hipo-osmolar de riboflavina em córneas finas. MÉTODOS: Dezoito olhos de 18 pacientes foram incluídos neste estudo. Após a remoção do epitélio, solução iso-osmolar de riboflavina 0,1% foi instilada a cada 3 minutos por 30 minutos. Solução hipo-osmolar de riboflavina 0,1% foi então aplicada a cada 20 segundos por 5 minutos ou até que a espessura mínima da córnea atingisse 400 µm. Irradiação UVA foi feita durante 30 minutos. Durante a irradiação, riboflavina iso-osmolar 0,1% foi aplicada a cada 5 minutos. Paquimetria ultrassônica foi realizada no ponto mais fino da córnea antes da cirurgia, após a remoção do epitélio, após a instilação de riboflavina iso-osmolar, após a instilação de riboflavina hipo-osmolar, após a irradiação com UVA e após 1, 6 e 12 meses do tratamento. RESULTADOS: Antes da cirurgia, a espessura mínima da córnea era de 380 ± 11 µm. Após a remoção do epitélio, este valor foi reduzido para 341 ± 11 µm e após 30 minutos de riboflavina iso-osmolar, caiu para 330 ± 7,6 µm. Após a riboflavina hipo-osmolar, a espessura mínima da córnea aumentou para 418 ± 11 µm. Após a irradiação com UVA, era de 384 ± 10 µm. Após 1, 6 e 12 meses do tratamento este valor era de 372 ± 10, 381 ± 12,7 e 379 ± 15 µm, respectivamente. Não foram observadas complicações no intra ou no pós-operatório precoce ou tardio. CONCLUSÕES: A solução de riboflavina hipo-osmolar 0,1% parece ser eficaz para edemaciar córnea finas. Este efeito é transitório e de curta duração. A espessura da córnea deveria ser monitorada durante todo o procedimento. Maior número de casos e seguimento prolongado são necessários para tirarmos conclusões quanto à segurança.

Effect of lecithin with vitamin-B complex and tocopheryl acetate on long-term effect of ethanol induced immunomodulatory activities.

The alcoholic liver disease usually causes overall immunological alterations which might be attributed to hepatic disease, to ethanol action, and/or to malnourishment. In the present study, efficacy of lecithin with vitamin-B complex to treat ethanol induced immunomodulatory activity was compared with the effect of lecithin alone and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E). Ethanol (1.6 g/kg body wt/day for 12 weeks) exposure increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level, while decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) content in whole blood hemolysate of 8-10 week-old male BALB/c mice (weighing 20-30 g). The activities of transaminase (AST and ALT) enzymes, interleukin (IL)-10 and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) elevated, while IL-2 and IL-4 reduced in mice serum due to ethanol exposure. These suggested that oxidative stress and immunomodulatory activities were interdependent and associated with ethanol induced liver damage. Lecithin treatment significantly reduced AST (32.44%), ALT (32.09%), IL-10 (25.63%) activities and TBARS content (12.76%) compared to ethanol treated group. However, lecithin with vitamin-B complex treatment, significantly reduced AST (62.83%); ALT (61.96%); IL-10 (35.88%); IFN-gamma (22.55%) activities and TBARS content (31.58%), while significantly elevated GSH content (36.49%) and SOD activity (61.21%). Tocopheryl acetate treatment significantly reduced AST (62.83%); ALT (61.54%); IL-10 (36.35%): IFN-gamma (23.28%) activities and TBARS content (35.84%). while significantly elevated GSH content (28.76%) and SOD activity (62.42%) compared to ethanol treated group. These findings persuasively argued that lecithin with vitamin-B complex was a new promising therapeutic approach in controlling ethanol induced immunomodulatory activities involving liver damage processes. Prevention of oxidative stress with correction of nutritional deficiency caused alteration in the ethanol-induced immunomodulatory activities and associated liver diseases.

Importancia de las vitaminas hidrosolubles como factores reguladores de la expresión génica / Importance of water-soluble vitamins as regulatory factors of genetic expression

Among nutrients, the role of water-soluble vitamins as genetic expression modulators has not been exhaustively stu-died. Relevant information is shown herein on the present state of the art in this field. For example, vitamin C deficiency leads to a decrease in mRNA levels of apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) in liver. Biotin participates in the regulation, both at mRNA and protein level, of the enzymes that participate in its own metabolic cycle and of enzymes that contribute to glucose metabolism. Thiamine regulates the expression of some genes that code for enzymes using thiamine diphosphate as cofactor. Thiamine deficiency diminishes the mRNA levels of transketolase and pyruvate dehydrogenase. It has been shown in riboflavin-deficient rats that FAD regulates some acetyl CoA dehydrogenases, producing a marked increase in mRNA levels. Nicotinamide positively regulates glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase when NADH is added. Vitamin B6 modulates the expression of a variety of genes that respond to hormones. Vitamin B12 increases concentrations of the enzymatic protein methionine synthetase and doe not affect mRNA levels, which implies that this protein is regulated by its cofactor post-transcriptionally. Most mechanisms involved in these regulation examples are not known, which opens new research areas for the future.

Uso de vitaminas em terapia nutricional / Use of vitamins in nutritional therapy

Vitaminas säo utilizadas na prática clínica diária de especialistas em terapia nutricional. O reconhecimento precoce das complicaçöes desenvolvidas pelo excesso ou deficiência de vitaminas bem como sua profilaxia é dever da equipe de saúde frente ao paciente. Os autores descrevem de forma objetiva as principais características das vitaminas. Säo abordados aspectos bioquímicos e metabólicos e as necessidades diárias das vitaminas säo apresentadas.(au)

Germination and growth of dature innoxia mill i in vitro studies on the effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with selected vitamins on germination and seedling growth

An inexpensive technique for ensuring high percentage of in vitro seed germination of Datura innoxia Mill. a hard to germinate medicinal plant producing scopolamine, was tested successfully in a factorial randomised experiment. Assay of seeds for their native vitamin B1, B6 and C contents revealed very low concentrations. They were, therefore, treated for 18 h at 20°C with 0, 250, 500, 750 or 1,000 ppm of these three vitamins as well as B-complex and incubated in petri dishes for 5 weeks. Counts, made at weekly intervals, indicated 28 days as the optimal stage for germination. Growth parameters, studied at 35 days were found to be significantly affected by all treatments at P=0.05. Out of the four vitamins treated, B6 and, among the concentrations, 500 ppm alone and in combination proved most efficacious in breaking seed dormancy and accelerating early seedling growth of D. innoxia

Avaliaçäo experimental em camundongos da atividade repelente do complexo vitamínico B, em relaçäo ao Culex quinquefasciatus / Experimental evaluation in mice of vitamin B complex repellent activity in ralation to Culex quinquefasciatus

Para avaliar a atividade do complexo vitamínico B (CVB) como, repelente de mosquitos, houve administraçäo pela via oral a camundongos Balb-C, posteriormente expostos, como fonte alimentar, ao Culex quinquefasciatus. Devido ao elevado número de insetos näo atraídos pelo sangue dos roedores que receberam o CVB, mas também pelos componentes do grupo controle, ficou comprometida a avaliaçäo desejada, talvez em virtude da natureza da metodologia usada, que merece ser divulgada para cooperar com os interessados em efetuar futuras observaçöes congêneres