Protective effects of Panax ginseng on muscle injury and inflammation after eccentric exercise.

Eccentric muscle contraction causes fibre injury associated with disruption of the myofibrillar cytoskeleton. The medicinal plant Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, known for its therapeutic properties, was studied to explore its protective effects after eccentric contraction. A crude extract and a standardised extract (G115) of different saponin compositions were tested as to their efficacy in reducing lipid peroxidation, inflammation and release of myocellular proteins after the realisation of an eccentric contraction protocol on a rat treadmill. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels were significantly reduced by approximately 25% after ingestion of both extracts of ginseng. Both extracts reduced lipid peroxidation by approximately 15% as measured by malondialdehyde levels. beta-Glucuronidase concentrations and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) levels, which can be considered markers of inflammation, were also significantly reduced. The values of beta-glucuronidase were increased from 35.9+/-1.5 to 128.4+/-8.1 in vastus and to 131.1+/-12.1 U x g(-1) in rectus, the protection due to ginseng administration being approximately 40% in both muscles. Both extracts appeared to be equally effective in reducing injuries and inflammation caused by eccentric muscle contractions.

Effect of antibiotic therapy in asthenozoospermic men associated with increased agglutination and minimal leukospermia.

Thirteen patients with asthenozoospermia and semen analysis suggestive of infection were studied and divided at random into 2 groups according to the antibiotic treatment they received: (I) ciprofloxacine 250 mg every 12 hours by 14 days per os (n = 7) and (II) trimethoprim 160 mg and sulfamethoxazole 800 mg every 12 hours by 14 days per os (n = 6). Their couples received the same treatment. Changes in sperm density, morphology, viability, motility, agglutination, pH, and presence of leukocytes were analyzed before and after treatment. The average of morphologically normal sperms significantly decreased after treatment in the ciprofloxacine group; sperm with grade III motility increased in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group, but without statistical significance. With these preliminary results, it can be concluded that antibiotic administration modifies some of the spermatic parameters, particularly motility and morphology, in patients whose semen analysis parameters suggested infection.

[Evaluation of nutritional potential of fish in diets based on beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and a cereal/corn (Zea mays) and/or rice (Oryza sativa)]. / Evaluación del potencial nutricional del pescado en dietas a base de frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris) y un cereal [Maíz (Zea mays) y/o arroz (Oryza sativa)].

p6e complementation between corn and fish, and rice and fish was evaluated for the purpose of establishing the required levels of each constituent in the mixture to obtain the optimum value in the biological evaluations for each diet. The optimum fish levels were around 10 and 6% for the corn and rice diets, respectively. Complementary levels of fish in the bean: corn and bean:rice diets were evaluated in the same manner. The best values in the biological evaluation were obtained with only 2% of fish. The economical analysis of these mixtures revealed that the nutritional value of the Central American rural diets can be increased with the introduction of fish in small quantities in the habitual diets, without increasing the family food expenses.