Field-based versus laboratory-based estimates of muscle quality index in adolescents with and without Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Low muscle quality index (MQI) is a potential risk of developing functional impairments in older people. However, considering that individuals with Down syndrome (DS) present with a faster decline in biological aging, an investigation on MQI in individuals with DS is necessary. The aims of this present cross-sectional study were to compare (1) MQI between adolescents with and without DS and (2) evaluate laboratory versus field-based estimates of MQI. METHODS: Fifty-six adolescents were recruited and separated into two groups: DS (n = 30, 13 boys and 17 girls; age: 12.38 ± 3.07 years) and a control (non-DS; n = 26, 9 boys and 17 girls; age: 12.46 ± 2.88 years). Laboratory MQI was derived from the ratio of grip strength to arm muscle mass (in kg) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Field-based MQI was quantified from the ratio of hand grip strength (HGS) to body mass index (BMI). For statistical analyses, a two-way ANOVA was conducted for group comparisons, and a Pearson correlation was used to test the association between field MQI and laboratory MQI. RESULTS: Adolescents with DS displayed lower field (P = 0.001), laboratory MQI estimates (P = 0.001) and HGS (P = 0.001) as compared non-DS. Also, there was a strong correlation effect between field MQI and laboratory MQI estimates (P < 0.001, R = 0.81). CONCLUSION: Adolescents with DS have lower field and laboratory MQI compared with adolescents without DS. Simpler field MQI might be used in daily clinical practice, with special attention to those with DS.

Bioaccessibility of some minerals in infant formulas.

To guarantee the adequate intake of nutrients a variety of food supplementation (including infant formulas) has been used to ensure the nutrition of infants. Considering that the total concentration of nutrients is not enough to determine whether the food provides all the nutritional needs, the objective of this study was to evaluate the total concentration and bioaccessibility of some elements in thirty commercial infant formulas consumed in Brazil. A standardized in vitro gastrointestinal digestion method was used to obtain the soluble fraction of each mineral, which was analyzed by ICP OES after microwave oxidative digestion to obtain the bioaccessibility values. The total concentration and the bioaccessibility of the elements varied considerably according to the sample type (traditional infant formulas, formulas for infants with gastrointestinal problems, formulas for premature and soy-based). The bioaccessibility values are 3-43% (Ca), 53-97% (Cu), 35-100% (Fe), 70-114% (K), 47-90% (Mg), 52-95% (P), 31-92% (Zn). In general, the total concentration values for the elements were higher than that declared by the manufacturers, also than the current legislation as well, regarding the DRI. Although these results, it is important to emphasize that the consumption of infant formulas can provide an adequate intake of minerals for the infants. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-021-05215-0.

Bradykinin, insulin, and glycemia responses to exercise performed above and below lactate threshold in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

The aim of this study was to analyze the acute responses of bradykinin, insulin, and glycemia to exercise performed above and below lactate threshold (LT) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Eleven participants with a diagnosis of T2D randomly underwent three experimental sessions 72 h apart: 1) 20 min of exercise performed at 120% of LT (120%LT), 2) 20 min of exercise performed at 80% of LT (80%LT), and 3) 20 min of control session. Blood glucose was analyzed before, during, and at 45 min post-exercise. Bradykinin and insulin were analyzed before and at 45 min post-exercise. Both exercise sessions elicited a parallel decrease in glucose level during exercise (P≤0.002), with a greater decrease being observed for 120%LT (P=0.005). Glucose decreased 22.7 mg/dL (95%CI=10.3 to 35, P=0.001) at the 45 min post-exercise recovery period for 80%LT and decreased 31.2 mg/dL (95%CI=18.1 to 44.4, P<0.001) for 120%LT (P=0.004). Insulin decreased at post-exercise for 80%LT (P=0.001) and control (P≤0.035). Bradykinin increased at 45 min post-exercise only for 80%LT (P=0.013), but was unrelated to the decrease in glucose (r=-0.16, P=0.642). In conclusion, exercise performed above and below LT reduced glycemia independently of insulin, but exercise above LT was more effective in individuals with T2D. However, these changes were unrelated to the increase in circulating bradykinin.

Effect of 12 weeks of resistance exercise on post-exercise hypotension in stage 1 hypertensive individuals.

Post-exercise hypotension (PEH), the reduction of blood pressure (BP) after a single bout of exercise, is of great clinical relevance. As the magnitude of this phenomenon seems to be dependent on pre-exercise BP values and chronic exercise training in hypertensive individuals leads to BP reduction; PEH could be attenuated in this context. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether PEH remains constant after resistance exercise training. Fifteen hypertensive individuals (46 ± 8 years; 88 ± 16 kg; 30 ± 6% body fat; 150 ± 13/93 ± 5 mm Hg systolic/diastolic BP, SBP/DBP) were withdrawn from medication and performed 12 weeks of moderate-intensity resistance training. Parameters of cardiovascular function were evaluated before and after the training period. Before the training program, hypertensive volunteers showed significant PEH. After an acute moderate-intensity resistance exercise session with three sets of 12 repetitions (60% of one repetition maximum) and a total of seven exercises, BP was reduced post-exercise (45-60 min) by an average of aproximately -22 mm Hg for SBP, -8 mm Hg for DBP and -13 mm Hg for mean arterial pressure (P<0.05). However, this acute hypotensive effect did not occur after the 12 weeks of training (P>0.05). In conclusion, our data demonstrate that PEH, following an acute exercise session, can indeed be attenuated after 12 weeks of training in hypertensive stage 1 patients not using antihypertensive medication.

Effect of type 2 diabetes on plasma kallikrein activity after physical exercise and its relationship to post-exercise hypotension.

AIM: The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of type 2 diabetes (T2D) on plasma kallikrein activity (PKA) and postexercise hypotension (PEH). METHODS: Ten T2D patients (age: 53.6±1.3 years; body mass index: 30.6±1.0kg/m(2); resting blood glucose: 157.8±40.2mgdL(-1)) and 10 non-diabetic (ND) volunteers (age: 47.5±1.0 years; body mass index: 28.3±0.9kg/m(2); resting blood glucose: 91.2±10.5mgdL(-1)) underwent two experimental sessions, consisting of 20min of rest plus 20min of exercise (EXE) at an intensity corresponding to 90% of their lactate threshold (90LT) and a non-exercise control (CON) session. Blood pressure (BP; Microlife BP 3AC1-1 monitor) and PKA were measured during rest and every 15min for 135min of the postexercise recovery period (RP). RESULTS: During the RP, the ND individuals presented with PEH at 30, 45 and 120min (P<0.05) while, in the T2D patients, PEH was not observed at any time. PKA increased at 15min postexercise in the ND (P<0.05), but not in the T2D patients. CONCLUSION: T2D individuals have a lower PKA response to exercise, which probably suppresses its hypotensive effect, thus reinforcing the possible role of PKA on PEH.

Plasma Kallikrein and Angiotensin I-converting enzyme N- and C-terminal domain activities are modulated by the insertion/deletion polymorphism.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) is recognized as one of the main effector molecules involved in blood pressure regulation. In the last few years some polymorphisms of ACE such as the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism have been described, but their physiologic relevance is poorly understood. In addition, few studies investigated if the specific activity of ACE domain is related to the I/D polymorphism and if it can affect other systems. The aim of this study was to establish a biochemical and functional characterization of the I/D polymorphism and correlate this with the corresponding ACE activity. For this purpose, 119 male brazilian army recruits were genotyped and their ACE plasma activities evaluated from the C- and N-terminal catalytic domains using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptides, specific for the C-domain (Abz-LFK(Dnp)OH), N-domain (Abz-SDK(Dnp)P-OH) and both C- and N-domains (Abz-FRK(Dnp)P-OH). Plasma kallikrein activity was measured using Z-Phe-Arg-AMC as substrate and inhibited by selective plasma kallikrein inhibitor (PKSI). Some physiological parameters previously described related to the I/D polymorphism such as handgrip strength, blood pressure, heart rate and BMI were also evaluated. The genotype distribution was II n=27, ID n=64 and DD n=28. Total plasma ACE activity of both domains in II individuals was significantly lower in comparison to ID and DD. This pattern was also observed for C- and N-domain activities. Difference between ID and DD subjects was observed only with the N-domain specific substrate. Blood pressure, heart rate, handgrip strength and BMI were similar among the genotypes. This polymorphism also affected the plasma kallikrein activity and DD group presents high activity level. Thus, our data demonstrate that the I/D ACE polymorphism affects differently both ACE domains without effects on handgrip strength. Moreover, this polymorphism influences the kallikrein-kinin system of normotensive individuals.

Maternal consumption of polyphenol-rich foods in late pregnancy and fetal ductus arteriosus flow dynamics.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that maternal consumption of polyphenol-rich foods during third trimester interferes with fetal ductal dynamics by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. STUDY DESIGN: In a prospective analysis, Doppler ductal velocities and right-to-left ventricular dimensions ratio of 102 fetuses exposed to polyphenol-rich foods (daily estimated maternal consumption >75th percentile, or 1089 mg) were compared with 41 unexposed fetuses (flavonoid ingestion <25th percentile, or 127 mg). RESULT: In the exposed fetuses, ductal velocities were higher (systolic: 0.96+/-0.23 m/s; diastolic: 0.17+/-0.05 m/s) and right-to-left ventricular ratio was higher (1.23+/-0.23) than in unexposed fetuses (systolic: 0.61+/-0.18 m/s, P<0.001; diastolic: 0.11+/-0.04 m/s, P=0.011; right-to-left ventricular ratio: 0.94+/-0.14, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: As maternal polyphenol-rich foods intake in late gestation may trigger alterations in fetal ductal dynamics, changes in perinatal dietary orientation are warranted.

Left atrial shortening fraction in fetuses with and without myocardial hypertrophy in diabetic pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that, in diabetic pregnancies, left atrial shortening fraction (LASF) is decreased in fetuses with myocardial hypertrophy, compared to those without hypertrophy and to fetuses of non-diabetic mothers. METHODS: Fetal echocardiography was performed in women with pre-existing or gestational diabetes and in non-diabetic controls between 25 weeks' gestation and term. LASF was calculated using the formula: (end-systolic diameter-end-diastolic diameter)/end-systolic diameter, and data were compared between diabetic women with and without fetal myocardial hypertrophy and controls. RESULTS: The study population comprised 53 diabetic women and 45 controls. Out of the 53 fetuses of diabetic women, 14 had myocardial hypertrophy and 39 had normal septal thickness. Gestational age at the time of examination did not differ significantly between the control group and the two diabetic subgroups (P = 0.57). Fetuses with myocardial hypertrophy presented a mean ( +/- SD) LASF of 0.32 +/- 0.11, those without myocardial hypertrophy 0.46 +/- 0.12, and those of normal mothers 0.53 +/- 0.09 (P < 0.001). A significant inverse linear correlation was observed between LASF and septal thickness (r = - 0.51, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In diabetic pregnancies, LASF is lower in fetuses with myocardial hypertrophy than it is in those without hypertrophy and in fetuses of non-diabetic women, suggesting that LASF could be a useful alternative parameter in the assessment of fetal diastolic function.

Effect of antibodies to intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 on the protection of distant organs during reperfusion syndrome in rats

We investigated kidney and lung alterations caused by intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 (ICAM-1) blockade after ischemia and reperfusion of hind limb skeletal muscles. Rats were submitted to ligature of the infrarenal aorta for 6 h. The animals were randomized into three groups of 6 rats each: group I, sacrificed after ischemia; group II, reperfusion for 24 h, and group III, reperfusion for 24 h after receiving monoclonal anti-ICAM-1 antibodies. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, potassium, pH and leukocyte counts. Samples were taken from the muscles of the hind limbs and from the kidneys and lungs for histological analysis and measurement of the neutrophil infiltrate by myeloperoxidase staining. The groups did not differ significantly with regard to the laboratory tests. There were no major histological alterations in the kidneys. An intense neutrophil infiltrate in the lungs, similar in all groups, was detected. Myeloperoxidase determination showed that after reperfusion there was significantly less retention of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the muscles (352 ± 70 vs 1451 ± 235 I 10² neutrophils/mg; P<0.01) and in the kidneys (526 ± 89 vs 852 ± 73 I 10² neutrophils/mg; P<0.01) of the animals that received anti-ICAM-1 before perfusion compared to the group that did not. The use of anti-ICAM-1 antibodies in this experimental model minimized neutrophil influx, thus reducing the inflammatory process, in the muscles and kidneys after ischemia and reperfusion of the hind limbs

Effect of antibodies to intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 on the protection of distant organs during reperfusion syndrome in rats.

We investigated kidney and lung alterations caused by intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 (ICAM-1) blockade after ischemia and reperfusion of hind limb skeletal muscles. Rats were submitted to ligature of the infrarenal aorta for 6 h. The animals were randomized into three groups of 6 rats each: group I, sacrificed after ischemia; group II, reperfusion for 24 h, and group III, reperfusion for 24 h after receiving monoclonal anti-ICAM-1 antibodies. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, potassium, pH and leukocyte counts. Samples were taken from the muscles of the hind limbs and from the kidneys and lungs for histological analysis and measurement of the neutrophil infiltrate by myeloperoxidase staining. The groups did not differ significantly with regard to the laboratory tests. There were no major histological alterations in the kidneys. An intense neutrophil infiltrate in the lungs, similar in all groups, was detected. Myeloperoxidase determination showed that after reperfusion there was significantly less retention of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the muscles (352 +/- 70 vs 1451 +/- 235 x 10(2) neutrophils/mg; P<0.01) and in the kidneys (526 +/- 89 vs 852 +/- 73 10(2) neutrophils/mg; P<0.01) of the animals that received anti-ICAM-1 before perfusion compared to the group that did not. The use of anti-ICAM-1 antibodies in this experimental model minimized neutrophil influx, thus reducing the inflammatory process, in the muscles and kidneys after ischemia and reperfusion of the hind limbs.

Microbiological aspects of an urban river used for unrestricted irrigation in the semi-arid region of north-east Brazil.

This study compared the behaviour of pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella and Listeria), faecal indicators (faecal coliforms FC and faecal streptococci FS), somatic coliphages and F-specific bacteriophages in an urban river contaminated with domestic sewage and surface run-off from agricultural and cattle grazing lands. The influence of physical and chemical parameters was also investigated as well as Salmonella and Listeria serotype diversity and drug resistance patterns. Faecal contamination was high (FC = 5 x 10(6) - 4 x 10(3) CFU/100 mL; FS = 4 x 10(5) - 2 x 10(2) CFU/100 mL) but decreased along the river by up to 99.5% following 47% reduction of BOD5 and 91% increase of DO, both associated with the self purification process. Somatic coliphages (6.9 x 10(5) - 1 x 10(3) PFU/100 mL) and F-specific bacteriophages (5.8 x 10(4) - 65 PFU/100 mL) behaved similarly with reductions of 99.85%. Salmonella and Listeria were isolated at all sampling points with highestfrequencies (91-100%) at those with sewage discharge and rural water run-off. The lowest value (35%) occurred at the end of the river where it was (a) wider and shallower, (b) it ran slower and was warmer (29-33 degrees C), (c) the pH was alkaline (8.2-9.9), (d) electrical conductivity (2,200-5,800 microS/cm) and DO (6-13 mg/L) were highest. Pathogen decline did not follow exactly FC and FS reduction patterns, while physical and chemical parameters apparently did not interfere with Salmonella and Listeria survival to the same extent as they did with FC and FS. Somatic coliphages and F-specific bacteriophages did not show more resistance than bacterial indicators. Catchment area contribution seemed to be more significant for pathogens than for indicators and rainy periods increased pathogenic isolation frequency. Five Salmonella serotypes and five serogroups were identified. S. hadar and serogroup E were predominant (50%); both are increasing in Brazil apparently from animal sources. Nearly 25% of Salmonella strains were resistant to at least one of twelve antimicrobials tested. Resistance to tetracycline was common (17%) followed by cefalotine (3%). Five Listeria serogroups were isolated and L. grayi (43%) and L. monocytogenes (9%) were present at all points. Listeria drug resistance rates were 100% for oxaciline followed by clindamicine (97%), tetracycline (34%) and vancomycin (32%). Both pathogenic bacterial strains presented resistance to the same drugs observed in humans and warm blood animals but the high number of sensitive strains and the low numbers of strains resistant to more than one drug was not expected because of the heavy anthropogenic impact in this basin.