Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Brazil Nuts on Microvascular Endothelial Function in Hypertensive and Dyslipidemic Patients: A Randomized Crossover Placebo-Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with GBNs on microvascular endothelial function in hypertensive and dyslipidemic patients. METHODS: Ninety-one patients of both sexes aged 62.1 ± 9.3 years received 13 g/day of GBNs or a placebo for three months with a washout period of one month between treatments. Microvascular endothelial function was assessed using LSCI coupled with iontophoresis of ACh and PORH. We also used skin video capillaroscopy to measure capillary density and recruitment at rest and during PORH. Plasma concentrations of NOx were also measured as a marker of nitric oxide bioavailability. RESULTS: Supplementation with GBNs significantly increased the plasma levels of Se (p < 0.05) and NOx (p < 0.05). However, we did not observe any effects of GBN consumption on microvascular vasodilator responses to ACh or PORH (p > 0.05), and GBNs did not improve capillary density at baseline or recruitment during PORH (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with GBNs induced significant increases in the plasma Se concentration and systemic bioavailability of nitric oxide. Nevertheless, GBN supplementation did not lead to any improvement in systemic microvascular reactivity or density in patients with arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia who were undergoing multiple drug therapies.

Improvement of antioxidant status after Brazil nut intake in hypertensive and dyslipidemic subjects.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of partially defatted Granulated Brazil nut (GBN) on biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status of hypertensive and dyslipidemic patients on nutrition and drug approaches. METHODS: Ninety one hypertensive and dyslipidemic subjects of both genders (51.6 % men), mean age 62.1 ± 9.3 years, performed a randomized crossover trial, double-blind, placebo controlled. Subjects received a diet and partially defatted GBN 13 g per day (≈227.5 µg/day of selenium) or placebo for twelve weeks with four-week washout interval. Anthropometric, laboratory and clinic characteristics were investigated at baseline. Plasma selenium (Se), plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx3) activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), 8-epi PGF2α and oxidized LDL were evaluated at the beginning and in the end of each intervention. RESULTS: GBN intake significantly increased plasma Se from 87.0 ± 16.8 to 180.6 ± 67.1 µg/L, increased GPx3 activity in 24,8% (from 112.66 ± 40.09 to 128.32 ± 38.31 nmol/min/mL, p < 0,05), and reduced 3.25% of oxidized-LDL levels (from 66.31 ± 23.59 to 60.68 ± 20.88 U/L, p < 0.05). An inverse association between GPx3 and oxidized LDL levels was observed after supplementation with GBN by simple model (ß -0.232, p = 0.032) and after adjustment for gender, age, diabetes and BMI (ß -0.298, p = 0.008). There wasn't association between GPx3 and 8-epi PGF2α (ß -0.209, p = 0.052) by simple model. CONCLUSION: The partially defatted GBN intake has a potential benefit to increase plasma selenium, increase enzymatic antioxidant activity of GPx3 and to reduction oxidation in LDL in hypertensive and dyslipidemic patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01990391; November 20, 2013.

Evaluation of the bioaccumulation kinetics of toxic metals in fish (A. brasiliensis) and its application on monitoring of coastal ecosystems.

This study proposes a pro-active approach for evaluations of methylmercury (MeHg), total mercury (THg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in situ bioaccumulation in fish (Atherinella brasiliensis) muscles, using specimens from the external sector of Guanabara Bay as a study case. This approach included an hierarchical sequence: analysis of the pollutants concentrations and their comparison to safety criteria; correlations between specimens concentrations vs length (as a proxy of exposure time); projections of concentrations in key lengths (sexual maturation, asymptotic, length limits for fishing and median of fish population) through polynomial regressions, dose-response analysis (Probit), decreasing curves and incorporation rates (using only three length intervals). The incorporation rates were ascending for MeHg and THg (continued bioaccumulation) and descending for As, Pb and Cd (possible biological dilution). The projections were satisfactory, evidencing their use for an improvement on the risks monitoring of fishing and fish consumption by humans in coastal environments.

Accumulation and potential sources of lead in marine organisms from coastal ecosystems of the Chilean Patagonia and Antarctic Peninsula area.

Environmental concentrations of Pb have been increased due to anthropogenic activities, which have provoked the released of this element to the environment in large amounts. To understand how Pb behaves in remote southern marine ecosystems, we measured Pb concentrations and isotope ratios in biota from coastal marine ecosystems of the Chilean Patagonia and the Antarctic Peninsula area. Lead concentrations in the aquatic organisms ranged from 0.02 to 1.19 mg kg-1 d.w. In Patagonia, higher Pb levels were found in fish than in invertebrates (crab, shrimp, porifera, limpet and shellfish). In comparison with the baseline reference values from other parts of the world, fishes exhibited lower Pb levels. The results of Pb isotopic compositions indicated that the bioaccumulation of Pb in marine organisms come from different anthropogenic sources. These Pb levels might be useful for further studies that allow a deeper evaluation of sources for Pb contamination in these remote ecosystems.

Decadal and spatial variation of Hg concentrations in sediments of a multi-stressor impacted estuary.

The present study has evaluated temporal and spatial mercury trends based on surficial sediment samples and 210Pb-dated sediment profiles. The obtained results show that there are areas close to the main bay's tributary rivers where the Hg content has doubled during the last 15 years and regions where it has decreased by a factor of 2, mainly the area close to the navigation channel, which is submitted to periodic dredging. In the inner part of the bay, the most contaminated region, mercury shows a strong association with sulfide. In the same region, based on the 210Pb results, it was possible to calculate the yearly increment on the Hg concentration in the surface sediment, 0.62 µg kg-1 y-1 to 0.29 µg kg-1 y-1, according to the distance to the bay's main tributary rivers.

Selenium Levels in the Whole Blood of Children and Teenagers from Two Riparian Communities at the Madeira River Basin in the Western Brazilian Amazon.

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient that exerts multiple functions in the organism, and both its deficiency and excess can cause health impairments. Thus, it is important to monitor its levels in the population, especially in vulnerable groups, such as children from the Brazilian Amazon region, where there is a lack of information in this regard. The aim of this research was to study Se levels in the whole blood of children and teenagers (5-16 years old) from two riparian communities at the Madeira River (Cuniã RESEX and Belmont). Se level variations related to the communities' location, seasonality, diet, and body mass index (BMI) were assessed. Blood samples were collected in both communities for Se determinations, using ICP-MS and hemogram analyses, during May and September of 2011. Food frequency questionnaires were applied to assess consumption rates of specific food items. Non-parametric tests and linear multiple regressions were applied in the data analyses. Median Se levels were significantly higher during May (Cuniã RESEX 149 µg L-1; Belmont 85 µg L-1) compared to September (Cuniã RESEX 79 µg L-1; Belmont 53 µg L-1). No significant differences were found between the communities regarding BMI measurements and anemia prevalence. However, Se blood levels were significantly higher at the Cuniã RESEX compared to Belmont. In addition, the former showed higher fish and Brazil nut intakes, which may be the main Se sources for this community. These results contribute to a better understanding of Se reference levels for children and teenagers of Western Amazon riparian communities.

The influence of changes in lifestyle and mercury exposure in riverine populations of the Madeira River (Amazon Basin) near a hydroelectric project.

In the Amazon Basin, naturally occurring methylmercury bioaccumulates in fish, which is a key source of protein consumed by riverine populations. The hydroelectric power-plant project at Santo Antônio Falls allows us to compare the Hg exposure of riverine populations sparsely distributed on both sides of the Madeira river before the area is to be flooded. From 2009 to 2011, we concluded a population survey of the area (N = 2,008; representing circa 80% of community residents) that estimated fish consumption and mercury exposure of riverine populations with different degrees of lifestyle related to fish consumption. Fish samples from the Madeira river (N = 1,615) and 110 species were analyzed for Hg. Hair-Hg was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in less isolated communities near to the capital of Porto Velho (median 2.32 ppm) than in subsistence communities in the Cuniã Lake, 180 km from Porto Velho city (median 6.3 ppm). Fish Hg concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 6.06 µg/g, depending on fish size and feeding behavior. Currently available fish in the Madeira river show a wide variability in Hg concentrations. Despite cultural similarities, riparians showed hair-Hg distribution patterns that reflect changes in fish-eating habits driven by subsistence characteristics.

The Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) as a candidate sentinel of Atlantic Ocean health.

INTRODUCTION: Seabirds have been historically used to monitor environmental contamination. The aim of the present study was to test the suitability of a species belonging to the Procellariiformes group, the Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus, as a sentinel of environmental health, by determining contaminant levels (trace metals and organochlorine compounds) from carcass tissues and by isolating Vibrio spp. and Aeromonas spp. from live specimens. To this end, 35 Puffinus puffinus carcasses wrecked on the north-central coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and two carcasses recovered in Aracruz, on the coast of the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, were sampled, and fragments of muscle and hepatic tissues were collected for contaminant analyses. Swabs from eleven birds found alive at the north-central coast of Rio de Janeiro were collected for isolation of the aforementioned bacteria. RESULTS: THE AVERAGE CONCENTRATION IN DRY WEIGHT (DW) OF THE TRACE METALS WERE: mercury 7.19 mg kg(-1)(liver) and 1.23 mg kg(-1) (muscle); selenium 34.66 mg kg(-1) (liver) and 7.98 mg kg(-1) (muscle); cadmium 22.33 mg kg(-1) (liver) and 1.11 mg kg(-1) (muscle); and lead, 0.1 mg kg(--1) (liver) and 0.16 mg kg(-1) (muscle). Organochlorine compounds were detected in all specimens, and hexachlorbiphenyls, heptachlorbiphenyls and DDTs presented the highest levels. Regarding microbiological contamination, bacteria from the Vibrio genus were isolated from 91% of the analyzed specimens. Vibrio harveyi was the predominant species. Bacteria from the Aeromonas genus were isolated from 18% of the specimens. Aeromonas sobria was the only identified species. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that Puffinus puffinus seems to be a competent ocean health sentinel. Therefore, the monitoring of contaminant levels and the isolation of public health interest bacteria should proceed in order to consolidate this species importance as a sentinel.

Evaluation of physiological parameters before and after respiratory physiotherapy in newborns with acute viral bronchiolitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute viral bronchiolitis is a respiratory disease with high morbidity that affects newborn in the first two years of life. Its treatment with physiotherapy has been highlighted as an important tool, however, there is no consensus regarding its effects on patients improvement. We aimed to evaluate the physiological parameters before and after the procedure respiratory therapy in newborn with acute viral bronchiolitis. METHOD: This was a cross sectional observational study in 30 newborns with acute viral bronchiolitis and indicated for physiotherapy care in a hospitalized Urgency and Emergency Unit. It was collected the clinical data of newborn through evaluation form, and we measured heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2) and respiratory rate (RR). We measured the variables before physiotherapy treatment, 3, 6 and 9 minutes after the physiotherapy treatment. RESULTS: There has been no change in HR, however, we observed a decrease in RR at 6 and 9 min compared to 3 min and increase in SpO2 at 3, 6 and 9 min compared to before physiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Respiratory physiotherapy may be an effective therapy for the treatment of newborn with Acute Viral Bronchitis.