Effectiveness of health literacy intervention on cardiovascular diseases among university students of Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Global burden of cardiovascular diseases is alarming which is intricately linked with health literacy. To what extent improvement in health literacy can lower down cardiovascular diseases occurrence has not yet properly documented. This study focused on assessing the knowledge and existing lifestyle behavior about cardiac diseases among university students. We further aimed to improve this awareness after imparting an educational intervention among undergraduate non-medical students to sensitize them about risk factors. METHOD: A pre and post approaches with cross sectional study design was conducted in University of Gujrat during April-September 2017. Using structured questionnaire comprising of response items about hypertension, heart attack, stroke and preventive practices, data was randomly collected from students (n = 100). Survey respondents were also given a lecture regarding cardiovascular diseases awareness and a post test evaluation was also conducted on same group of students. RESULTS: With response rate of 86.95%, mean age of participating students was 21.2 (SD ± 1.34) years. Female students comprised of 53% out of which 57% were from rural background. Assessment of cardiovascular disease knowledge revealed maximum mean pre test score 30.53 (SD ± 7.61) and for post test 40.65 (SD ± 4.34) (p < 0.00). Mean score for using preventive practices was 13.02 (SD ± 2.97) for pre test whereas for post test it was 14.09 (SD ± 2.90) (p < 0.00). Intervention impact was significant on hypertension related complications (p < 0.000), symptoms of heart attack (p < 0.000), symptoms of stroke (p < 0.000) and preventive practices (p < 0.00). CONCLUSION: Findings presented here show a fair degree of awareness among university students about study title prior to any educational intervention. However, by attending educational session, a significant increase in the positive lifestyle behavior and knowledge was noticed. We conclude that health promotion activities in educational institutes to sensitize students can bring rational changes in Pakistani society to promote healthy behavior and minimize cardiovascular disease risks.

Flour functional properties of purple maize (Zea mays L.) from Argentina. Influence of environmental growing conditions.

The objective was to characterize thermal and viscosity properties of flour of purple maize from Argentina, and to evaluate the environmental effects on composition and flour properties. Half-sib families were selected from original germplasm and reproduced during 2014 and 2015. Chemical composition, thermal and pasting properties of whole grain flour were determined. Non-purple genotypes were used as controls. Composition of purple maize did not show significant differences with controls, but amylose content was significantly lower. High variability in pasting and thermal properties of flour was observed between genotypes. Anthocyanin content positively correlated with breakdown (r = 0.37, P < 0.05), indicating that anthocyanins increased starch granules fragility during cooking. The higher gelatinization enthalpy of purple genotypes was coincident with the lower amylose content in relation to non-purple. The amylopectin retrogradation enthalpy negatively correlated with polyphenols (r = -0.35, P < 0.05) and anthocyanins (r = -0.40, P < 0.05), probably due to interactions formed after starch gelatinization. Flour functionality parameters showed higher effect of genotype and lower effects of environment and genotype × environment interaction. The variability found among genotypes indicates different flour behavior that would facilitate the identification of progenies with particular properties for production of functional maize based-foods.

Ischemia-reperfusion histopathology alterations of the rabbit intestinal wall with and without ischemic preconditioning.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the histopathology alterations of the intestinal mucosa of rabbits submitted to mesenteric artery ischemia and reperfusion with and without ischemic preconditioning. METHODS: Two groups of ten male New Zealand white rabbits body (weight 2.2-3.0, average 2.5 kg). For mesenteric ischemia induction in all animals the small bowel and mesentery were cut 30cm and 60cm far from the gastroduodenal pyloric transition before the proximal mesenteric artery occlusion. In the Group 1 animals, the proximal mesenteric artery was occluded for 45 min with an atraumatic vascular clamp, followed by reperfusion for 30 min. In the Group 2 the 45 min ischemic phase was preceded by three cycles of ischemia (2 minutes each) alternated with three cycles of reperfusion (2 minutes each). For istopathology study small bowel biopsies were obtained before ischemia (control), after 45 min of mesenteric ischemia and at 30 min. of mesenteric artery reperfusion. RESULTS: In the Group I animals, the followings histopathology grade results were observed: t1, mean 2,8; t2, mean 3,3. Using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parameter test, differences between t0 and t1 and t0 and t2 were significants (p<0.05), but not significant between t1 and t2 (p>0.05). In the Group 2 animals histopathology grade results were: t1 mean 2,6 and t2, mean 2,1. Differences between t0 and t1, t0 and t2 were significant (p<0.05). It was not observed differences (p>0.05) between results of t1 in both groups but histopathology injury observed in Group 1 t2 biopsies were higher (p<0.05) than observed in the same period (t2) of Group 2 animals. CONCLUSION: Microscopic examination of the biopsies revealed significant evidence of preconditioning protection against small bowel wall ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion histopathology alterations of the rabbit intestinal wall with and without ischemic preconditioning / Alterações histopatológicas da parede intestinal de coelhos na isquemia-reperfusão com e sem precondicionamento isquêmico

PURPOSE: To evaluate the histopathology alterations of the intestinal mucosa of rabbits submitted to mesenteric artery ischemia and reperfusion with and without ischemic preconditioning. METHODS: Two groups of ten male New Zealand white rabbits body (weight 2.2-3.0, average 2.5 kg). For mesenteric ischemia induction in all animals the small bowel and mesentery were cut 30cm and 60cm far from the gastroduodenal pyloric transition before the proximal mesenteric artery occlusion. In the Group 1 animals, the proximal mesenteric artery was occluded for 45 min with an atraumatic vascular clamp, followed by reperfusion for 30 min. In the Group 2 the 45 min ischemic phase was preceded by three cycles of ischemia (2 minutes each) alternated with three cycles of reperfusion (2 minutes each). For istopathology study small bowel biopsies were obtained before ischemia (control), after 45 min of mesenteric ischemia and at 30 min. of mesenteric artery reperfusion. RESULTS: In the Group I animals, the followings histopathology grade results were observed: t1, mean 2,8; t2, mean 3,3. Using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parameter test, differences between t0 and t1 and t0 and t2 were significants (p<0.05), but not significant between t1 and t2 (p>0.05). In the Group 2 animals histopathology grade results were: t1 mean 2,6 and t2, mean 2,1. Differences between t0 and t1, t0 and t2 were significant (p<0.05). It was not observed differences (p>0.05) between results of t1 in both groups but histopathology injury observed in Group 1 t2 biopsies were higher (p<0.05) than observed in the same period (t2) of Group 2 animals. CONCLUSION: Microscopic examination of the biopsies revealed significant evidence of preconditioning protection against small bowel wall ischemia-reperfusion injury.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as alterações histopatológicas da mucosa intestinal de coelhos submetidos a isquemia-reperfusão com e sem precondicionamento isquêmicol. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados dois grupos de dez coelhos Nova Zelândia machos com pesos variáveis entre 2,2 e 3,0 kg (média de 2,5 kg) de peso corpóreo. Para indução da isquemia, em todos os animais, o intestino delgado e o mesentério foram seccionados 30 cm e 60 cm após a transição pilórica gastroduodenal, antes da oclusão da artéria mesentérica cranial. Nos animais do Grupo 1, a artéria mesentérica proximal foi ocluida por pinçamento atraumático durante 45 min., seguido de reperfusão por 30 min. No Grupo 2, foi realizado precondicionamento por três ciclos de 2 min. de oclusão mesentérica intercalados com três ciclos de 2 min. de reperfusão, seguido de oclusão mantida por 45 min e reperfusão de 30min. como no Grupo I. Para estudo histopatológico, foram obtidas biópsias da parede intestinal antes da isquemia (t0-controle), após 45 min. de isquemia (t1) e após 30 min. de reperfusão (t2). RESULTADOS: No Grupo I foram observados os seguintes graus de lesões: t1, média de 2,8 e t2, média 3,3, Foram significantes as diferenças entre t0 e t1 e t0 e t2, mas não foram significantes as variações entre t1 e t2 (p>0,05). No Grupo 2, obteve-se em t1,média de 2,6 e t2, média 2,1. Foram significantes (p<0,05) as diferenças entre t0 e t1, t0 e t2 e entre t1 e t2. . Não ocorreu diferença significante (p>0,05) entre os resultados de t1 nos dois Grupos, mas foram significantes (p<0,05) as diferenças entre os resultados histopatológicos das biopsias de t2 dos Grupos 1 e 2. CONCLUSÃO: O precondicionamento isquêmico reduziu significantemente a degeneração histopatológica determinada pela reperfusão pós-isquêmica da parede intestinal.

The lysosomal stability as a biomarker for the determination of pollution in aquatic environments

This work studied the effects caused by five different formulae of gasoline on the stability of the lysosomes isolated from the liver of the tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus). The functional integrity of the lysosomal membranes was evaluated via the acid phosphatase activity. The results showed that there were significant changes in the stability of the lysosomes exposed to the presence of the hydrocarbons in the environment. Therefore, considering the method's simplicity, the sensitivity of the responses and its low cost the assessment of the lysosomal activity could be an important tool for the study of the effects of pollution in the aquatic environments.

A procura de biomarcadores de agentes poluidores, mais simples e menos custosos, tem levado ao estudo dos lisossomos, isolados de animais componentes da biota nos ambientes contaminados, principalmente por poluentes com características lipofílicas, a exemplo dos hidrocarbonetos policíclicos e seus derivados. Este trabalho estudou os efeitos provocados por 05 diferentes formulações de gasolina sobre a estabilidade de lisossomos, isolados de fígado de tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus). A integridade funcional das membranas lisossômicas foi avaliada através da atividade da fosfatase ácida, expressa em mU/mg de proteínas totais. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que existem alterações significativas na estabilidade dos lisossomos isolados de fígado de tilápias submetidas aos efeitos de hidrocarbonetos presentes no meio ambiente. Portanto, levando em conta a simplicidade, a sensibilidade de resposta e o baixo custo, os autores recomendam a avaliação da atividade lisossômica, como uma importante ferramenta para o estudo dos efeitos da poluição dos meios aquáticos.