Brazil Nut-Enriched Diet Modulates Enteric Glial Cells and Gut Microbiota in an Experimental Model of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) promotes gut dysbiosis, and enteric glial reactivity, a feature of intestinal inflammation. Brazil nut modulated enteric glial profile in healthy animals and could modulate these cells in 5/6 nephrectomized rats.Methods: A 5/6 nephrectomy-induced CKD and Sham-operated rats were divided as follows: CKD and Sham received a standard diet and CKD-BN and Sham-BN received a 5% Brazil nut enriched-diet. The protein content of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), enteric glial marker, and GPx protein content and activity were assessed in the colon. The major phyla of gut microbiota were assessed.Results: CKD-BN group presented a decrease in GFAP content (p = 0.0001). The CKD-BN group modulated the abundance of Firmicutes, increasing its proportion compared to the CKD group. The CKD-BN group showed increased GPx activity in the colon (p = 0.0192), despite no significant difference in protein content.Conclusion: Brazil nut-enriched diet consumption decreased enteric glial reactivity and modulated gut microbiota in the CKD experimental model.

Effects of Probiotic-Enriched Minas Cheese (Lactobacillus acidophilus La-05) on Cardiovascular Parameters in 5/6 Nephrectomized Rats.

Dairy foods have become an interest in chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to their nutritional profile, which makes them a good substrate for probiotics incorporation. This study evaluated the effect of probiotic-enriched Minas cheese with Lactobacillus acidophilus La-05 in an experimental rat model for CKD on cardiac, inflammatory, and oxidative stress parameters. Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 7/group): 5/6 nephrectomy + conventional Minas cheese (NxC); 5/6 nephrectomy + probiotic Minas cheese (NxPC); Sham + conventional Minas cheese (ShamC); Sham + probiotic Minas cheese (ShamPC). Offering 20 g/day of Minas cheese with Lact. acidophilus La-05 (108-109 log CFU/g) for 6 weeks. The cardiomyocyte diameter was determined. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in plasma, heart, kidney, and colon tissue was performed. At the end of supplementation, no significant changes in lipid profile and renal parameters were found. The NxPC group showed a decrease in cardiomyocyte diameter compared to the NxC group (16.99 ± 0.85 vs. 19.05 ± 0.56 µm, p = 0.0162); also they showed reduced plasmatic SOD activity (502.8 ± 49.12 vs. 599.4 ± 94.69 U/mL, p < 0.0001). In summary, probiotic-enriched Minas cheese (Lact. acidophilus La-05) consumption suggests a promisor cardioprotective effect and was able to downregulate SOD activity in a rat model of CKD.

Supplementation of diet with Brazil nut modulates body composition, bone parameters, and lipid peroxidation in Wistar rats.

Oxidative stress, adipose tissue, and bone compartments can be disturbed in chronic diseases. Non-pharmacological strategies, such as Brazil nuts (BNs), can improve these parameters. This study evaluated the effects of BN supplementation at different concentrations on body composition, lipid profile, and peroxidation in healthy rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (CT), Brazil nut 5% (BN5), and Brazil nut 10% (BN10) groups. Body composition, brown adipose tissue (BAT), plasma lipid peroxidation, and lipid profile were evaluated in the three groups. The BN5 group showed an improvement in all bone parameters compared with that of the CT group (p  < .0001). The BN5 and BN10 groups showed reduced plasma lipid peroxidation compared with that of the CT group (p = .0009), whereas the BN10 group presented lower BAT lipid peroxidation than that of the other groups (p = .01). High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) levels were higher in the BN5 group than in the CT group (p = .01). Conclusively, the use of BNs in a controlled manner promoted improvement in bone parameters, HDL-c levels, and lipid peroxidation in healthy rats. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Nuts has been included in the diet because of their versatility, acceptance, and easy access. Among them, Brazil nut (BN) is considered one of the major known food sources of selenium as well as a source of fibers, unsaturated fatty acids, and phenolic compounds. Studies have shown that BN supplementation is effective in reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid peroxidation, and selenium deficiency when used as a non-pharmacological strategy in experimental models of chronic diseases and in clinical trials. The present study showed that controlled administration of BN improved bone parameters, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, and lipid peroxidation in healthy rats. Therefore, BN is a promising non-pharmacological agent for the prevention of the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases.

5/6 nephrectomy affects enteric glial cells and promotes impaired antioxidant defense in the colonic neuromuscular layer.

AIMS: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) produces multiple repercussions in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), such as alterations in motility, gut microbiota, intestinal permeability, and increased oxidative stress. However, despite enteric glial cells (EGC) having important neural and immune features in GIT physiology, their function in CKD remains unknown. The present study investigates colonic glial markers, inflammation, and antioxidant parameters in a CKD model. MAIN METHODS: A 5/6 nephrectomized rat model was used to induce CKD in rats and Sham-operated animals as a control to suppress. Biochemical measures in plasma and neuromuscular layer such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were carried out. Kidney histopathology was evaluated. Colon morphology analysis and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), connexin-43 (Cx43), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, and GPx protein expression were performed. KEY FINDINGS: The CKD group exhibited dilated tubules and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the reminiscent kidney (p = 0.0002). CKD rats showed higher SOD activity (p = 0.004) in plasma, with no differences in neuromuscular layer (p = 0.9833). However, GPx activity was decreased in the CKD group in plasma (p = 0.013) and neuromuscular layer (p = 0.0338). Morphological analysis revealed alterations in colonic morphometry with inflammatory foci in the submucosal layer and neuromuscular layer straightness in CKD rats (p = 0.0291). In addition, GFAP, Cx43, NF-κBp65 protein expression were increased, and GPx decreased in the neuromuscular layer of the CKD group (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: CKD animals present alterations in colonic cytoarchitecture and decreased layer thickness. Moreover, CKD affects the enteric glial network of the neuromuscular layer, associated with decreased antioxidant activity and inflammation.

Avaliação de diferentes procedimentos para extração de DNA a partir de esfregaços corados pelo método de Ziehl-Neelsen / Evaluation of different methods of DNA extraction from baciloscopic tests of Ziehl-Neelsen stainig

O Pará é o estado com maior taxa de incidência de tuberculose (TB) na região Norte, com 36,3 casos por 100 mil habitantes em 2004. A obtenção de DNA de qualidade a partir de material fixado em lâminas coradas pelo método de Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) supriria a falta de amostras representativas para estudos de genotipagem, contribuindo para melhor entendimento da dinâmica de transmissão da TB. O presente estudo avaliou quatro diferentes procedimentos para obtenção de DNA de M. tuberculosis a partir de 196 esfregaços corados pelo método de ZN, que utilizaram xilol e N-acetil-L-cisteína (NALC) em conjunto, de forma isolada ou nenhuma destas substâncias, e ainda dois protocolos de amplificação distintos, um com o adjuvante de PCR glicerol e outro com betaína. O percentual de amplificação foi superior para as amostras que foram submetidas ao procedimento que utilizou somente o xilol e ao que não utilizou nenhuma substância, sendo 77 por cento e 67 por cento, respectivamente, para o protocolo com glicerol, e de 98 por cento e de 96 por cento para o protocolo com betaína. A partir dos resultados obtidos, não é recomendado o uso de xilol ou NALC nos procedimentos de remoção das amostras e sugere-se a inclusão do adjuvante betaína nas reações, assim como o uso do DNA extraído de lâminas coradas pelo método de ZN em análises baseadas em PCR.