Dual bacteriocin and extracellular vesicle-mediated inhibition of Campylobacter jejuni by the potential probiotic candidate Ligilactobacillus salivarius UO.C249.

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is one of the most common causes of foodborne infections worldwide and a major contributor to diarrheal diseases. This study aimed to explore the ability of commensal gut bacteria to control C. jejuni infection. Bacterial strains from the intestinal mucosa of broilers were screened in vitro against C. jejuni ATCC BAA1153. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) of Ligilactobacillus salivarius UO.C249 showed potent dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against the pathogen, likely due to the presence of bacteriocin-like moieties, as confirmed by protease treatment. Genome and exoproteome analyses revealed the presence of known bacteriocins, including Abp118. The genome of Lg. salivarius UO.C249 harbors a 1.8-Mb chromosome and a 203-kb megaplasmid. The strain was susceptible to several antibiotics and had a high survival rate in the simulated chicken gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Post-protease treatment revealed residual inhibitory activity, suggesting alternative antimicrobial mechanisms. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) quantification confirmed non-inhibitory levels of acetic (24.4 ± 1.2 mM), isovaleric (34 ± 1.0 µM), and butyric (32 ± 2.5 µM) acids. Interestingly, extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from the CFS of Lg. salivarius UO.C249 were found to inhibit C. jejuni ATCC BAA-1153. Proteome profiling of these EVs revealed the presence of unique proteins distinct from bacteriocins identified in CFS. The majority of the identified proteins in EVs are located in the membrane and play roles in transmembrane transport and peptidoglycan degradation, peptidase, proteolysis, and hydrolysis. These findings suggest that although bacteriocins are a primary antimicrobial mechanism, EV production also contributes to the inhibitory activity of Lg. salivarius UO.C249 against C. jejuni. IMPORTANCE: Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is a major cause of gastroenteritis and a global public health concern. The increasing antibiotic resistance and lack of effective alternatives in livestock production pose serious challenges for controlling C. jejuni infections. Therefore, alternative strategies are needed to control this pathogen, especially in the poultry industry where it is prevalent and can be transmitted to humans through contaminated food products. In this study, Ligilactobacillus salivarius UO.C249 isolated from broiler intestinal mucosa inhibited C. jejuni and exhibited important probiotic features. Beyond bacteriocins, Lg. salivarius UO.C249 secretes antimicrobial extracellular vesicles (EVs) with a unique protein set distinct from bacteriocins that are involved in transmembrane transport and peptidoglycan degradation. Our findings suggest that beyond bacteriocins, EV production is also a distinct inhibitory signaling mechanism used by Lg. salivarius UO.C249 to control C. jejuni. These findings hold promise for the application of probiotic EVs for pathogen control.

Association of cerebral malaria and TNF-α levels: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral malaria is the most severe form of infection with Plasmodium falciparum characterized by a highly inflammatory response. This systematic review aimed to investigate the association between TNF-α levels and cerebral malaria. METHODS: This review followed the Preferred Reporting of Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was performed at PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, OpenGrey and Google Scholar. We have included studies of P. falciparum-infected humans with or without cerebral malaria and TNF-α dosage level. All studies were evaluated using a risk of bias tool and the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Our results have identified 2338 studies, and 8 articles were eligible according to this systematic review inclusion criteria. Among the eight articles, five have evaluated TNF- α plasma dosage, while two have evaluated at the blood and one at the brain (post-Morten). Among them, only five studies showed higher TNF-α levels in the cerebral malaria group compared to the severe malaria group. Methodological problems were identified regarding sample size, randomization and blindness, but no risk of bias was detected. CONCLUSION: Although the results suggested that that TNF-α level is associated with cerebral malaria, the evidence is inconsistent and imprecise. More observational studies evaluating the average TNF-alpha are needed.

Long-term exposure to lead reduces antioxidant capacity and triggers motor neurons degeneration and demyelination in spinal cord of adult rats.

Lead is a toxic metal found in environment with great neurotoxic potential. The main effect is associated with impairments in hippocampus and cerebellum, driving to cognitive and motor dysfunctions, however, there is a lack of evidences about the effects over the spinal cord. In this way, we aimed to investigate in vivo the effects of long-term exposure to lead acetate in oxidative biochemistry and morphology of rats' spinal cord. For this, 36 male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided into the group exposed to 50 mg/kg of lead acetate and control group, which received only distilled water, both groups through intragastric gavage, for 55 days. After the exposure period, the animals were euthanized and the spinal cords were collected to perform the analyses of lead levels quantification, oxidative biochemistry evaluation by levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrites and the antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP). Besides, morphological evaluation with quantitative analysis of mature and motor neurons and reactivity to myelin basic protein (MBP). Our results showed high levels of lead in spinal cord after long-term exposure; there was a reduction on ACAP level; however, there was no difference observed in MDA and nitrite levels. Moreover, there was a reduction of mature and motor neurons in all three regions, and a reduction of immunolabeling of MBP in the thoracic and lumbar segments. Therefore, we conclude that long-term exposure to lead is able of increasing the levels of the metal in spinal cord, affecting the antioxidant capacity and inducing morphological impairments in spinal cord parenchyma. Our results also suggest that the tissue impairments triggered by lead may be resultant from others molecular mechanisms besides the oxidative stress.

Long-Term Lead Exposure Since Adolescence Causes Proteomic and Morphological Alterations in the Cerebellum Associated with Motor Deficits in Adult Rats.

Lead (Pb) is an environmental contaminant that presents a high risk for human health. We aimed to investigate the possible alterations triggered by the exposure to Pb acetate for a long period in motor performance and the possible relationship with biochemical, proteomic and morphological alterations in the cerebellum of rats. Male Wistar rats were exposed for 55 days, at 50 mg/Kg of Pb acetate, and the control animals received distilled water. Open field (OF) and rotarod tests; biochemistry parameters (MDA and nitrite); staining/immunostaining of Purkinje cells (PC), mature neurons (MN), myelin sheath (MS) and synaptic vesicles (SYN) and proteomic profile were analyzed. Pb deposition on the cerebellum area and this study drove to exploratory and locomotion deficits and a decrease in the number of PC, MN, SYN and MS staining/immunostaining. The levels of MDA and nitrite remained unchanged. The proteomic profile showed alterations in proteins responsible for neurotransmitters release, as well as receptor function and second messengers signaling, and also proteins involved in the process of apoptosis. Thus, we conclude that the long-term exposure to low Pb dose promoted locomotion and histological tracings, associated with alterations in the process of cell signaling, as well as death by apoptosis.

Methylmercury intoxication and cortical ischemia: Pre-clinical study of their comorbidity.

Stroke is one of the main causes of human disability worldwide. Ischemic stroke is mostly characterized by metabolic collapse and fast tissue damage, followed by secondary damage in adjacent regions not previously affected. Heavy metals intoxication can be associated with stroke incidence, because of their damaging action in the vascular system. Mercury, in particular, possesses a high tropism by metabolically active regions, such as the brain. In the present study we sought to evaluate whether methylmercury (MeHg) intoxication can aggravate the tissue damage caused by an ischemic stroke induced by microinjections of endothelin-1 (ET-1) into the motor cortex of adult rats. Following MeHg intoxication by gavage (0.04 mg/kg/day) during 60 days, the animals were injected with ET-1 (1 µl, 40 pmol/µl) or vehicle (1 µl). After 7 days, all animals were submitted to behavioral tests and then their brains were processed to biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses. We observed that long-term MeHg intoxication promoted a significant Hg deposits in the motor cortex, with concomitant increase of microglial response, followed by reduction of the neuronal population following ischemia and MeHg intoxication, as well as disturbance in the antioxidant defense mechanisms by misbalance of oxidative biochemistry with increase of both lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels, associated to behavioral deficits. MeHg exposure and cortical ischemia demonstrated that both injuries are able of causing significant neurobehavioural impairments in motor coordination and learning accompanied of an exacerbated microglial activation, oxidative stress and neuronal loss in the motor cortex, indicating that MeHg as a source of metabolic disturbance can act as an important increasing factor of ischemic events in the brain.

Cerebral malaria induces electrophysiological and neurochemical impairment in mice retinal tissue: possible effect on glutathione and glutamatergic system.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe complication resulting from Plasmodium falciparum infection. This condition has usually been associated with cognitive, behavioural and motor dysfunctions, being the retinopathy the most serious consequence resulting from the disease. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this complication remain incompletely understood. Several experimental models of CM have already been developed in order to clarify those mechanisms related to this syndrome. In this context, the present work has been performed to investigate which possible electrophysiological and neurochemistry alterations could be involved in the CM pathology. METHODS: Experimental CM was induced in Plasmodium berghei-infected male and female C57Bl/6 mice. The survival and neurological symptoms of CM were registered. Brains and retina were assayed for TNF levels and NOS2 expression. Electroretinography measurements were recorded to assessed a- and b-wave amplitudes and neurochemicals changes were evaluated by determination of glutamate and glutathione levels by HPLC. RESULTS: Susceptible C57Bl/6 mice infected with ≈ 106 parasitized red blood cells (P. berghei ANKA strain), showed a low parasitaemia, with evident clinical signs as: respiratory failure, ataxia, hemiplegia, and coma followed by animal death. In parallel to the clinical characterization of CM, the retinal electrophysiological analysis showed an intense decrease of a- and-b-wave amplitude associated to cone photoreceptor response only at the 7 days post-infection. Neurochemical results demonstrated that the disease led to a decrease in the glutathione levels with 2 days post inoculation. It was also demonstrated that the increase in the glutathione levels during the infection was followed by the increase in the 3H-glutamate uptake rate (4 and 7 days post-infection), suggesting that CM condition causes an up-regulation of the transporters systems. Furthermore, these findings also highlighted that the electrophysiological and neurochemical alterations occurs in a manner independent on the establishment of an inflammatory response, once tumour necrosis factor levels and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression were altered only in the cerebral tissue but not in the retina. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, these findings indicate for the first time that CM induces neurochemical and electrophysiological impairment in the mice retinal tissue, in a TNF-independent manner.

Mauritia flexuosa L. protects against deficits in memory acquisition and oxidative stress in rat hippocampus induced by methylmercury exposure.

OBJECTIVE: Methylmercury (MeHg) is the most toxic form of mercury that can affect humans through the food chain by bioaccumulation. Human organism is capable of triggering visual and cognitive disorders, neurodegeneration, as well as increased production of reactive species of O2 and depletion of natural anti-oxidant agents. In this context, Mauritia flexuosa L., a fruit rich in compounds with anti-oxidant properties, emerged as an important strategy to prevent the MeHg damages. So, this work has aimed to elucidate the protective effect of Mauritia flexuosa L. on the damage caused by the exposure of rats to MeHg. METHODS: In order to evaluate the effect of MeHg on rat aversive memory acquisition and panic-like behavior, we have used elevated T-maze apparatus and after behavioral test, the hippocampus was removed to perfom lipid peroxidation. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the exposure to MeHg caused deficits in inhibitory avoidance acquisition (aversive conditioning) and in the learning process, and increased levels of lipid peroxidation in hippocampus tissue. However, the pretreatment with feed enriched with Mauritia flexuosa L. showed a protective effect against cognitive deficits caused by MeHg and also prevented the occurrence of cytoplasmic membrane damage induced by lipid peroxidation in the hippocampal region. DISCUSSION: Therefore, this study suggests that Mauritia flexuosa L. represents an important strategy to prevent neurocytotoxics and behavioral effects of MeHg.

Floor Maze Test is capable of differentiating spatial navigation between frail and pre-frail institutionalized older persons.

Investigation of the association between physical frailty and cognitive performance through spatial navigation is important to enable the identification of individuals with cognitive impairment and physical comorbidity. Objective: To analyze the association between spatial navigation and frailty in frail and pre-frail institutionalized older adults. Methods: Forty older people of both sexes, aged 60 years or over, residing in four Brazilian Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) participated in this study. The following tests were applied: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), 2.44m Timed Up and Go, Floor Maze Test (FMT), and Fried's frailty criteria. For data analysis, the Mann-Whitney and independent t-tests were used to compare the groups (frail x pre-frail), principal component analysis was used to explore the main variables related to the data variance, and binary logistic regression to estimate associations. Results: There was a significant difference in performance in the FMT immediate maze time (IMT) (p=0.02) and in the delayed maze time (DMT) (p=0.009) between the pre-frail and frail older adults. An association between FMT DMT performance and frailty was found, showing that older people with shorter times on the DMT (better performance) had approximately four times the chance of not being frail (odds ratio - OR=4.219, 95% confidence interval - 95%CI 1.084-16.426, p=0.038). Conclusion: Frailty is associated with impaired spatial navigation ability in institutionalized older adults, regardless of gait speed performance.

A investigação da associação entre fragilidade física e desempenho cognitivo por meio da navegação espacial é importante para possibilitar a identificação de indivíduos com déficit cognitivo e comorbidade física. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre navegação espacial e fragilidade em idosos institucionalizados frágeis e pré-frágeis. Métodos: Participaram deste estudo 40 idosos de ambos os sexos, com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, residentes em quatro instituições de longa permanência (ILPI) brasileiras. Foram aplicados os seguintes testes: Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM), 2,44m Timed Up and Go, Floor Maze Test (FMT) e os critérios de fragilidade de Fried. Para a análise dos dados, foram utilizados os testes t independente e de Mann-Whitney para comparar os grupos (frágeis x pré-frágeis), foi feita análise de componentes principais para explorar as principais variáveis relacionadas à variância dos dados e regressão logística binária para estimar associações. Resultados: Houve diferença significativa no desempenho do FMT no tempo imediato do labirinto (TIL) (p=0,02) e no tempo posterior do labirinto (TPL) (p=0,009) entre os idosos pré-frágeis e frágeis. Encontrou-se associação entre o desempenho no FMT TPL e fragilidade, mostrando que idosos com menor tempo de TPL (melhor desempenho) tiveram aproximadamente quatro vezes mais chance de não serem frágeis (odds ratio ­ OR=4,219, intervalo de confiança de 95% ­ IC95% 1,084­16,426, p=0,038). Conclusão: A fragilidade está associada à habilidade de navegação espacial prejudicada em idosos institucionalizados, independentemente do desempenho da velocidade da marcha.

Physical Activity among Elderly Teachers Working in Basic Education Schools.

This study aimed to assess the levels of physical activity (PA) among elderly teachers. It was an epidemiological, cross-sectional, and analytical web survey conducted with teachers working in public basic education schools. Data collection took place between October and December 2021 through an online form. The dependent variable was physical activity practice, classifying teachers as either physically active or inactive. Descriptive, bivariate, and multiple analyses were performed using Poisson Regression with robust variance. A total of 1907 teachers participated in the study, of whom 5.6% were elderly, ranging in age from 60 to 72 years. Regarding PA practice, elderly teachers were found to be more physically inactive compared with adult teachers (PR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.04; 1.34). Conclusion: A statistically significant difference in PA practice was observed between adult and elderly teachers, indicating that elderly teachers are more physically inactive.

Increased Depression and the Worsening of Depressive Symptoms Associated with Physical Inactivity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Two-Phase Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the incidence of depression and other mental disorders in the general population, influenced by various individual and contextual factors. Physical activity (PA) interventions offer a promising approach to mitigating the negative mental health effects of the pandemic. This study aims to analyze the association between PA and depressive symptoms. A total of 785 individuals aged 37.4 ± 13.2 years (72.5% female) were evaluated at two different time points: the first between 2018 and 2019, and the second during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Depressive symptoms, demographic, and socioeconomic data were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory to estimate depressive symptoms. Frequency analysis and binary and multinomial regression were employed for data analysis. The prevalence of mild depressive symptoms increased from 23.1% before the pandemic to 35.1% during the pandemic. Our findings reveal that practicing PA before the pandemic was a protective factor (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.30; p < 0.001) against mild depressive symptoms. Additionally, individuals who continued to practice PA during the pandemic had a lower chance of presenting mild (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.30) and moderate/severe (OR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.27) symptoms. Furthermore, our study shows that PA, which was already a protective factor before the pandemic, remained protective during the pandemic, even for those with the highest levels of depression.

Poor physical fitness is associated with impaired memory, executive function, and depression in institutionalized older adults: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between physical fitness, cognitive function, and depressive symptoms among older adults in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). METHODS: Seventy-six institutionalized male and female elderly individuals (65 years and older) living in LTCFs participated of this study. Physical fitness (aerobic capacity and strength), cognitive functions (global cognition, short-term and working and semantic memories, and executive function), and depressive symptoms were assessed. Linear regression and contingency analyses were performed. Significance was accepted at p-values ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Aerobic capacity predicted 32% of variance in global cognition (p < 0.01) and 25% of variance in semantic fluency/executive function (p < 0.01). Low levels of upper limb strength, lower limb strength, and aerobic capacity were associated with semantic fluency/executive function (OR = 1.38, p = 0.01, OR = 1.26, p = 0.03, and OR = 1.07, p = 0.01, respectively) and depressive symptoms (OR = 1.06, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Poor physical fitness is associated with cognition and depressive symptoms in institutionalized older adults. Low levels of strength and aerobic fitness increase the odds of presenting with impaired semantic fluency and executive function, possibly denoting an increased risk of developing dementia.

Alzheimer's disease genes and proteins associated with resistance and aerobic training: An in silico analysis.

BACKGROUND: Exercise appears to be a viable intervention for maintaining cognitive function and regaining functional autonomy, and perhaps even contributing to a slower progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). OBJECTIVE: To explore different neuroplasticity pathways modulated by aerobic and strength training, determine whether signaling pathways overlapped for each specific training method (aerobic and strength training), and evaluate whether there is a functional relationship between APOE and APP gene expression with aerobic training modulated by BDNF; and strength training modulated by IGF-1. METHODS: An in silico analysis was performed to analyze the connection between exercise types and neuroplasticity as a protective factor in AD. The platform provides a protein-protein interaction network translated into known and predicted interactions. A score > 0.70 was determined as high confidence and the network was considered significant when the Protein-Protein Interaction Enrichment was <0.01. RESULTS: Multiple functional associations considered significant between the analyzed proteins. The results of our gene network model support that exercise, both aerobic and strength, can modulate genes that affect hippocampal neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, which may delay cognitive decline and Alzheimer's related symptoms. CONCLUSION: The investigation about the functional association of aerobic training via BDNF in the modulation of APP, APOE, and MAPT genes in the hippocampus seems to be established, while strength training seems to induce the production of IGF-1 and IGF-1R, modulating AKT1.

Putative Activation of Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 Prevents Brain Oxidative Stress and Inhibits Aggressive-Like Behavior in Zebrafish.

Background: Aggression is a set of complex behaviors commonly described in different neurological disorders, such as schizophrenia, autistim spectrum disorder, and anxiety. Previous studies have described that some changes in the redox status of the brain are closely associated with aggressive behavior in different species. In addition, the endocannabinoid system acts as a neuromodulator of the central nervous system, however, its participation in aggressive behavior needs to be elucidated. Danio rerio (zebrafish) is an important model in the study of aggression, in this context, the present study investigated whether the activation of type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1r) alters the cerebral redox state and aggressive behavior in zebrafish. Materials and Methods: We performed pharmacological manipulations with the CB1r agonist (ACEA) and antagonist (AM-251) to assess the role of this receptor in aggressive behavior. Individuals were isolated in pairs, without physical contact for 24 h, treated with the drugs of interest, and after 30 minutes of pharmacokinetics, the fights were filmed for 30 min, and the individuals were identified as dominant or subordinate. Results: A consistent decrease in the strike and bite aggressive behavior was observed in the group treated with the ACEA agonist compared with that in the control and AM-251 groups. When evaluating the cerebral redox state, we observed that treatment with the ACEA agonist reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased the levels of sulfhydryl groups compared with those in the control group. These results indicate that the activation of CB1r by the ACEA agonist inhibited aggressiveness and attenuated the levels of oxidative stress in both subjects (dominant or subordinate) in the treated group. Conclusion: Thus, we suggest that zebrafish is an alternative model to study common aggressive behavior disorders among species and that CB1r represent a potential target for the development of treatments for aggressive disorders.

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) pulp-enriched diet induces anxiolytic-like effects and improves memory retention.

Background: Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) has a rich nutritional composition, showing nutraceutical and protective effects in several organs. In this study, the effects of an açaí-enriched diet on motor performance, anxiety-like behavior, and memory retention were deeply investigated. Methods: Eight-week male Wistar rats were fed with an Euterpe oleracea (EO) pulp-enriched diet, an olive oil-enriched (OO) diet (polyunsaturated fatty acid [PUFA] fat control diet), or a chow diet for 31 days (28 days pre-treatment and 3 days during behavioral tests). Afterward, animals were submitted to a battery of behavioral tests to evaluate spontaneous motor behavior (open-field test), anxiety-like behavior (elevated plus maze and open-field test), and memory retention (step-down). Oxidative stress in the hippocampus was evaluated by a lipid peroxidation assay. Results: EO-enriched diet did not influence the body weight and food intake but increased the glucose plasmatic level after 31 days under this diet. However, a similar fat-enriched diet stimulated a marked weight gain and reduced the food intake, followed by changes in the plasmatic lipid markers. EO-enriched diet preserved the motor spontaneous performance, increased the exploration in the aversive environment (anxiolytic-like effects), and elevated the latency to step-down (improved memory retention). The EO-enriched diet also reduced the level of lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus. These positive effects of EO-enriched diet can greatly support the usage of this diet as a preventive therapy. Conclusion: Taken together, the current study suggests that Euterpe oleracea-enriched diet promotes anxiolytic-like effects and improves memory consolidation, possibly due to the reduced levels of lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus.

High performance liquid chromatography-based method to analyze activity of GABA transporters in central nervous system.

The GATs are the membrane proteins responsible for the uptake of GABA in the central nervous system. Alterations in GAT activity are implicated in several neurological diseases, including retinopathies. The present study describes an alternative method to determine GAT activity in tissue preparations of the central nervous system, using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The GABA concentration in the medium was determined using the o-phthaldehyde (OPA)-derivation protocol validated by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA). The GAT activity in the retinal preparations was determined through the evaluation of the GABA uptake, which was measured by assessing the difference between the initial and final concentrations of GABA in the incubation medium. The evaluation of the GAT kinetics returned values of Km = 382.5 ± 32.2 µM and Vmax = 34 nmol/mg of protein. The data also demonstrated that the GABA uptake was predominantly Na+- and temperature-dependent, and was also inhibited by incubation with nipecotic acid, a substrate of GABA transporters. Taken together, these findings confirm that our approach provided a specific measure of GAT activity in retinal tissue. The data presented here thus validate, for the first time, an alternative, simple and sensitive method for the evaluation of GAT activity using high performance chromatography on preparations of the central nervous system.

Euterpe oleracea fruit (Açai)-enriched diet suppresses the development of experimental cerebral malaria induced by Plasmodium berghei (ANKA) infection.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral malaria is one of the most severe complications attributed to protozoal infection by Plasmodium falciparum, gaining prominence in children mortality rates in endemic areas. This condition has a complex pathogenesis associated with behavioral, cognitive and motor sequels in humans and current antimalarial therapies have shown little effect in those aspects. Natural products with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have become a valuable alternative therapeutic option in the treatment of distinct conditions. In this context, this study investigated the neuroprotective effect of Euterpe oleracea (açai) enriched diet during the development of experimental cerebral malaria induced by the inoculation of Swiss albino mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain. METHODS: After Plasmodium infection, animals were maintained on a feeding with Euterpe oleracea enriched ration and parameters such as survival curve, parasitemia and body weight were routinely monitored. The present study has also evaluated the effect of açai-enriched diet on the blood-brain barrier leakage, histological alterations and neurocognitive impairments in mice developing cerebral malaria. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that between 7th-19th day post infection the survival rate of the group treated with açai enriched ration was higher when compared with Plasmodium-infected mice in which 100% of mice died until the 11th days post-infection, demonstrating that açai diet has a protective effect on the survival of infected treated animals. The same was observed in the brain vascular extravasation, where Evans blue dye assays showed significantly less dye extravasation in the brains of Plasmodium-infected mice treated with açai enriched ration, demonstrating more preserved blood-brain barrier integrity. Açai-enriched diet also attenuate the histopathological alterations elicited by Plasmodium berghei infection. We also showed a decrease of the neurological impairments arising from the exposure of cerebral parenchyma in the group treated with açai diet, ameliorating motor and neuropsychiatric changes, analyzed through the SHIRPA protocol. CONCLUSION: With these results, we conclude that the treatment with açai enriched ration decreased the mortality of infected animals, as well as protected the blood-brain barrier and the neurocognitive deficits in Plasmodium-infected animals.

Malnutrition Is Associated With Impaired Functional Status in Older People Receiving Home Care Nursing Service.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the magnitude and significance of associations among nutritional status, functional status, comorbidities, age, and gender in older adults receiving assistance from the in-home nursing care service. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 210 home-dwelling persons 65 years or older who received in-home nursing care service were evaluated. Demographic variables, nutritional status, comorbidities, and the dependency levels of activities of daily living were analyzed. To assess the correlation among the factors that influence nutritional status, a theoretical model was developed and adjusted using the path analysis model. Results: The primary finding is that functional status is directly associated with nutritional status (ß = 0.32; p < 0.001) and severity of comorbidities is indirectly associated with nutritional status (ß = -0.07; p < 0.017). Conclusion: The elicited outcomes in this study reinforce the concept that nutritional status is linked with functional status in older adults receiving in-home care nursing service.

The Link between Exercise and Homocysteine in the Alzheimer's Disease: A Bioinformatic Network Model.

Elevated peripheral expression of homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, diabetes, and cancer. It is also associated with cognitive impairment as it has been reported that high levels of Hcy cause cognitive dysfunction and memory deficit. Among several etiological factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Hcy seems to directly contribute to the generation of neurotoxicity factors. This study aims to hypothesize the molecular mechanism by which exercise can reduce the risk of neurological complications promoted by hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), and discuss how exercise could reduce the risk of developing AD by using bioinformatics network models. According to the genes network, there are connections between proteins and amino acids associated with Hcy, exercise, and AD. Studies have evidenced that exercise may be one of several processes by which acid nitric availability can be maximized in the human body, which is particularly important in reducing cell loss and tau pathology and, thereby, leading to a reduced risk of complications associated with HHcy and AD.

Dementia among older adults living in long-term care facilities: an epidemiological study.

Institutionalization has been associated with social isolation, psychological and cognitive changes, and decreased levels of physical activity in older adults. Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and functional dependence in older adults dwelling in two different Brazilian long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 185 older people of both sexes, aged 60 years or over, residing in two LTCFs in the city of Montes Claros-MG, Brazil. The diagnosis of MCI and dementia was performed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Results: Prevalence rates of dementia, MCI, and functional dependence in institutionalized older participants were 62.3, 15.1, and 78.9%, respectively. There was a significant reduction of the Mini-Mental State Examination scores according to the increase of the institutionalization period in LCTFs and the age of older adults (p<0.001). Conclusions: Prevalence of dementia and functional dependence of older adults residing in LTCFs exhibited higher rates compared to the other older population worldwide. A higher institutionalization period is related to a greater cognitive decline.

A institucionalização tem sido associada ao isolamento social, a alterações psicológicas e cognitivas e à diminuição dos níveis de atividade física em idosos. Objetivos: Estimar a prevalência de demência, declínio cognitivo leve (DCL) e dependência funcional em idosos residentes em duas instituições de longa permanência (ILPI) brasileiras. Métodos: Estudo transversal com 185 idosos de ambos os sexos, com 60 anos ou mais, residentes em duas ILPI. O diagnóstico de DCL e demência foi realizado por meio do Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Transtornos Mentais. Resultados: As taxas de prevalência de demência, DCL e dependência funcional em participantes idosos institucionalizados foram 62,3, 15,1 e 78,9%, respectivamente. Houve redução significativa dos escores do miniexame do estado mental de acordo com o aumento do período de institucionalização nas ILPI e a idade dos idosos (p<0,001). Conclusões: A prevalência de demência e dependência funcional de idosos residentes em ILPI foi mais elevada em comparação com outras populações idosas em todo o mundo. Um período maior de institucionalização está relacionado a maior declínio cognitivo.