Bacillus coagulans T4 and Lactobacillus paracasei TD3 Ameliorate Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in High-Fat Diet-Fed C57BL/6J Mice.

Background: This study aims to investigate the effects of Bacillus coagulans T4 and Lactobacillus paracasei TD3 probiotics on skeletal muscle inflammation and oxidative stress in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Probiotics B. coagulans T4, and L. paracasei TD3 were administered to male C57BL/6J mice fed with HFD. The gene expression of macrophage infiltration markers, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress indicators in the muscle tissue was investigated. Results: Treatment with B. coagulans T4 and L. paracasei TD3 reduced macrophage infiltration, accompanied by a decrease in the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and an increase in the expression of interleukin (IL)-10. On the other hand, L. paracasei TD3 decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) while B. coagulans T4 decreased carbonyl and increased catalase activity. Conclusions: Treatment with probiotics B. coagulans T4 and L. paracasei TD3 partially ameliorated obesity-induced skeletal muscle inflammation in HFD-fed mice.

The high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and curcumin supplementation can positively regulate the autophagy pathway in myocardial cells of STZ-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVE: Targeting autophagy is a new therapeutic strategy for the complications of diabetes,such as diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). During diabetes, increased or insufficient autophagic activity causes aberrations in cellular homeostasis. Regarding the conflicting and unclear results regarding the effect of HIIT and curcumin supplementation on the expression of genes associated to autophagy, this study aimed to assess whether 4-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and curcumin supplementation are able to influence the expression of autophagy-related genes in myocardial cells of diabetic rats. METHODS: In an experimental design, 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: non-diabetic control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetes + HIIT (D + HIIT), and diabetes + curcumin (D + CU). After HIIT program and curcumin treatment, the genes expression of autophagy pathway were assessed in the myocardium by real-time PCR Tanique. RESULTS: The results indicated that the expression levels of ATG1, Beclin1, ATG5, and LAMP-2 genes were significantly reduced in the DC group compared to the NC group (p < 0.001). Following 4-week HIIT, the expression of Beclin1, ATG-5, and LAMP-2 improved considerably compared to the DC group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, after 4 weeks of curcumin supplementation, the expression levels of ATG-5 and Beclin-1 were significantly improved compared to the DC group (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively). It seems HIIT and curcumin supplementation can be an effective approach for inducing autophagy and improving cardiac function in DCM rats.However, HIIT seems more effective than curcumin in this regard.

Evaluation of heavy metal pollution in the Zayandeh-Rud River as the only permanent river in the central plateau of Iran.

Zayandeh-Rud River is the only permanent river in the central plateau of Iran. This river has been subject to an extensive discharge of wastewater and effluents from several point and nonpoint pollution sources. Accordingly, sediment quality of Zayandeh-Rud River in Varzaneh region, were studied. Algae and the sediment were sampled through 3 replications at 6 stations in the downstream after crossing through the Isfahan city and reaching Gavkhuni international wetland. Chlorophyll content and As, Pb, and Cd concentrations were measured in each sample Cladophora sp. and Oscillatoria sp. were identified using standard identification keys. The mean concentrations of metals in all stations exceeded background levels. Mean concentration of arsenic (162.9 mg/kg) in the sediment is about 31 times more than the ISQG standard (5.9 mg/kg) and considerably higher than the similar studies in Iran and other regions of the world. The mean concentration of As in algae samples is higher than the most polluted areas of the world. The mean concentration of Pb in the sediment (19.69 mg/kg) is lower than the ISQGs standard (35 mg/kg) and most of the studied river in north of Iran such as Chalous, Baboul-Rud, Gorgan-Rud (North), Khiav (North West), and Anzali wetland. The mean concentration of Cd in the sediment (2.11 mg/kg) is significantly higher than ISQG standard (0.6 mg/kg and some north highly polluted wetlands of Iran such as Anzali. There is a significant positive correlation between the mean concentrations of As and Pb in the sediment and Cladophora sp. tissue, and a negative one between the mean concentration of Pb in the sediment and chlorophyll b/a. There are significant negative correlations between the mean concentration of As in the sediment and chlorophyll a, and the total chlorophyll concentration in Oscillatoria sp. The results of Muller index indicate that the concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As in all stations occur in the Unpolluted, Moderate/Heavy, and Heavy/Extreme groups, respectively. Degree of contamination and modified degree of contamination show very high degree of pollution in the studied area. RI in all the stations showed very high ecological risk. The bioaccumulation factor for all metals in both algae is less than one. So, these two species may not be described as heavy metal accumulators. This study is an alarm for the Zayandeh-Rud River as the most important freshwater source for the Iranian Plateau. Graphical abstract.