Association between exercise training in haemodialysis patients and burden of their family caregivers: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: Considering that exercise programmes are related with a range of benefits for end-stage renal disease patients, we evaluated the association between haemodialysis (HD) patients' involvement in intradialytic exercise training with the burden of their family caregivers. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 60 caregivers of HD patients were recruited, 30 of them who cared for patients that regularly participated in an exercise programme during dialysis sessions and 30 caregivers who looked after patients undergoing usual HD treatment without intradialytic exercise. The caregivers were submitted to the Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) and their quality of life (short-form-36 (SF-36)), anxiety and depression levels were assessed. Data were expressed as mean ± SD or median (interquartile range). RESULTS: Multiple linear regression showed that the global CBS score was significantly associated with the exercise training after adjusting for age, educational level and anxiety level of caregivers, and dependency level of patients measured by the Lawton scale (coefficient of determination = 0.53; adjusted coefficient of determination = 0.48). Additionally, the caregivers of HD patients submitted to intradialytic exercise (42.0 ± 12.9 years, 33.3% male) compared to caregivers of patients undergoing usual treatment (50.7 ± 17.5 years, 26.7% male) exhibited less caregiver burden (global CBS score = 1.2 (0.2) vs 1.9 (0.7), P < 0.001), better quality of life (physical component score = 53.7 (9.6) vs 49.7 (16.2) and mental component score = 50.6 (17.5) vs 28.2 (32.5), P < 0.05) and lower anxiety (7.2 ± 4.2 vs 10.8 ± 4.1, P = 0.001) and depression levels (3.0 (3.3) vs 6.0 (5.3), P = 0.034), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intradialytic exercise training in HD patients was associated with lower burden of their family caregivers.

Emphysema induced by elastase alters the mRNA relative levels from DNA repair genes in acute lung injury in response to sepsis induced by lipopolysaccharide administration in Wistar rats.

Purpose/Aim of the study: Patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in association with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) present oxidative stress in lung cells, with production of free radicals and DNA lesions in pulmonary and adjacent cells. Once the DNA molecule is damaged, a set of enzymatic mechanisms are trigged to preserve genetic code integrity and cellular homeostasis. These enzymatic mechanisms include the base and the nucleotide excision repair pathways, as well as telomere regulation. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the mRNA levels from APEX1, ERCC2, TP53, and TRF2 genes in lung tissue from Wistar rats affected by acute lung injury in response to sepsis and emphysema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups (n = 6, for each group): control, emphysema, sepsis, and emphysema with sepsis. Pulmonary emphysema was induced by intratracheal instillation of elastase (12 IU/animal) and sepsis induced by intraperitoneal Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection (10 mg/kg). Lungs were removed, and samples were withdrawn for histological analysis and total RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and mRNA level evaluation by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Data show acute lung injury by LPS and emphysema by elastase and that APEX1, ERCC2, TP53, and TRF2 mRNA levels are increased significantly (p < 0.01) in emphysema with sepsis group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that alteration in mRNA levels from DNA repair and genomic stability could be part of cell response to acute lung injury in response to emphysema and sepsis.

Evaluation of the anti-osteoporotic effect of Ginkgo biloba L. in Wistar rats with glucocorticoid-induced-osteoporosis by bone densitometry using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and mechanical testing

ABSTRACT Evaluate the effect of the extract of Ginkgo biloba in the bone alkaline phosphatase, bone mineral density, in the mechanical properties of the tibia in rats with glucocorticoid-induced-osteoporosis. After osteoporosis induction, the rats were divided into five groups: Osteoporosis; EGb1 (28 mg/Kg); EGb2 (56 mg/Kg); alendronate (0.2 mg/animal) and control. The animals were treated during 20 and 30 days. The control group was compared with the osteoporosis's (Student's t-test), while the other were analyzed by ANOVA test followed by Tukey/Dunnett'T3 (p<0.05). In the osteoporosis group the bone alkaline phosphatase, bone mineral density, the bone stiffness, the maximum load and the resilience were reduced. The bone alkaline phosphatase values increased in the EGb1 and EGb2 groups (30 days). In addition, in the EGb2 and alendronate groups (20 and 30 days) the bone mineral density increased. The extract of Ginkgo biloba restored bone alkaline phosphatase and bone mineral density using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Evaluation of the anti-osteoporotic effect of Ginkgo biloba L. in Wistar rats with glucocorticoid-induced-osteoporosis by bone densitometry using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and mechanical testing.

Evaluate the effect of the extract of Ginkgo biloba in the bone alkaline phosphatase, bone mineral density, in the mechanical properties of the tibia in rats with glucocorticoid-induced-osteoporosis. After osteoporosis induction, the rats were divided into five groups: Osteoporosis; EGb1 (28 mg/Kg); EGb2 (56 mg/Kg); alendronate (0.2 mg/animal) and control. The animals were treated during 20 and 30 days. The control group was compared with the osteoporosis's (Student's t-test), while the other were analyzed by ANOVA test followed by Tukey/Dunnett'T3 (p<0.05). In the osteoporosis group the bone alkaline phosphatase, bone mineral density, the bone stiffness, the maximum load and the resilience were reduced. The bone alkaline phosphatase values increased in the EGb1 and EGb2 groups (30 days). In addition, in the EGb2 and alendronate groups (20 and 30 days) the bone mineral density increased. The extract of Ginkgo biloba restored bone alkaline phosphatase and bone mineral density using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Assessment of sperm production and reproductive organs of Wistar rats to long-term exposure of Caesalpinia ferrea.

Caesalpinia ferrea Mart (Leguminosae) is a medicinal plant used to treat diabetes, among other therapeutic properties, but which is also reported to have hepatotoxic effects. Although it contains substances such as flavonoids and coumarin, which are known to have antifertility activity, no studies have apparently been conducted to evaluate the potential adverse side effects of this plant on the function of the reproductive system after a chronic treatment. Therefore, this investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect and safety of the long-term exposure to C. ferrea on male Wistar rats' vital organs, reproductive system and sperm production. Adult and immature male rats were treated with an aqueous extract of C. ferrea at a dose level of 300 mg/kg of body weight, administered during one or two spermatogenic cycles of this species. The reproductive and vital organs were analyzed, and sperm was collected from the epididymal secretion of the right epididymis cauda. The long-term administration of C. ferrea did not significantly alter the body, vital and reproductive organs weights. Gamete production was not affected either. The chronic assessment of C. ferrea suggests that this plant does not affect the normal functioning of the Wistar rat reproductive system.

Assessment of sperm production and reproductive organs of Wistar rats to long-term exposure of Caesalpinia ferrea

Caesalpinia ferrea Mart (Leguminosae) is a medicinal plant used to treat diabetes, among other therapeutic properties, but which is also reported to have hepatotoxic effects. Although it contains substances such as flavonoids and coumarin, which are known to have antifertility activity, no studies have apparently been conducted to evaluate the potential adverse side effects of this plant on the function of the reproductive system after a chronic treatment. Therefore, this investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect and safety of the long-term exposure to C. ferrea on male Wistar rats' vital organs, reproductive system and sperm production. Adult and immature male rats were treated with an aqueous extract of C. ferrea at a dose level of 300 mg/kg of body weight, administered during one or two spermatogenic cycles of this species. The reproductive and vital organs were analyzed, and sperm was collected from the epididymal secretion of the right epididymis cauda. The long-term administration of C. ferrea did not significantly alter the body, vital and reproductive organs weights. Gamete production was not affected either. The chronic assessment of C. ferrea suggests that this plant does not affect the normal functioning of the Wistar rat reproductive system.

Caesalpinia ferrea Mart (Leguminosae) é uma planta medicinal utilizada principalmente no tratamento do diabetes, dentre outras propriedades terapêuticas, mas que também apresenta relatos de hepatotóxicos. Embora apresente em sua constituição substâncias capazes de interferirem na fertilidade, como flavonóides e cumarina, nenhum estudo foi ainda realizado para avaliar os efeitos adversos dessa planta no funcionamento do sistema reprodutor após tratamento de longa duração. Portanto, este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar a utilização segura e os efeitos de C. ferrea nos órgãos vitais, no sistema reprodutor e na produção de espermatozóides de ratos Wistar submetidos a tratamento crônico. Animais imaturos e adultos foram tratados com o extrato aquoso de C. ferrea na dose de 300 mg/kg de peso corporal, administrado durante um ou dois ciclos espermatogênicos dessa espécie. Os órgãos reprodutores e vitais foram analisados e os espermatozóides foram coletados na secreção epididimária proveniente da cauda do epidídimo direito. A administração crônica de C. ferrea não alterou significativamente o peso corporal e nem o peso dos órgãos reprodutores e vitais. A produção de gametas também não foi afetada. Os dados sugerem que a utilização crônica de C. ferrea não interfere com o funcionamento normal do sistema reprodutor do rato Wistar.

Efeito do extrato de Ginkgo biloba L., Ginkgoaceae, na osteoporose induzida em ratas Wistar / Effect of the aqueous extract of Ginkgo biloba L., Ginkgoaceae, in induced osteoporosis in Wistar rats

Este trabalho investigou os efeitos do tratamento por vinte dias com extrato de Ginkgo biloba (EGb) na osteoporose induzida por glicocorticóides. Foram utilizadas 36 ratas divididas em seis grupos (n=6): Controle, osteoporose, controle positivo, EGb1 (14 mg EGb/mg/kg/dia), EGb2 (28 mg EGb/kg/dia) e EGb3 (56 mg EGb/kg/dia). Os tratamentos foram realizados por vinte dias, após a indução da osteoporose. Após a eutanásia foram removidos o fêmur e a mandíbula de todos os animais. A mandíbula esquerda foi radiografada digitalmente para avaliação da cortical e do suporte ósseo periodontal (SOP). A análise histomorfométrica foi realizada no fêmur e mandíbula direitos. O grupo controle foi comparado ao grupo osteoporose (Teste t de Student) e os demais grupos foram submetidos a ANOVA, seguido do teste post-hoc de Dunnett. Houve redução significava do SOP mesial, percentual ósseo alveolar (POA) mandibular, percentual ósseo trabecular (POT) do fêmur no grupo osteoporose. Houve aumento do SOP mesial no grupo controle positivo, EGb2 e EGb3. O POA da mandíbula e o POT do fêmur aumentaram nos grupos EGb2 e EGb3. O EGb nas doses de 28 mg/kg e 56 mg/kg recuperou de forma significativa o SOP mesial, o POA da mandíbula e o POT do fêmur.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a 20 day treatment with extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) in glucocorticoid-induced-osteoporosis. 36 rats were divided into six groups (n=6): control, osteoporosis, positive control, EGb1 (14 mg EGb/kg/day), EGb2 (28 mg EGb/kg/day) and EGb3 (56 mg EGb/kg/day). Treatments were conducted for twenty days, after osteoporosis was induced. Following euthanasia the femur and mandible of all animals were removed. The left mandible was radiographed to evaluate the cortical and the periodontal bone support (PBS). The histomorphometric analysis was performed on the right mandible and the right femur. The control group was compared with the osteoporosis group (Student's t-test). The other groups were analyzed through ANOVA test followed by Dunnett post-hoc test. There was a significantly reduction in the mesial PBS, in the percentage of the alveolar bone (PAB) of the mandible and percentage of the trabecular bone (PTB) of the femur in the osteoporosis group. There was an increase in the mesial PBS in the positive control group, EGb2 and EGb3. The PAB of the mandible and the PTB of the femur increased in the EGb2 and EGb3 groups. The EGb in the 28 mg/kg and 56 mg/kg doses were effective to increase the mesial PBS, the PAB of the mandible and the PTB of the femur.