Avocado Creole Peel Ameliorates Metabolic Alterations Caused by a High Sucrose Fat Diet in a Wistar Rats Model.

High-sucrose high-fat diets are one of the causes of malnutrition, and may induce metabolic alterations such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and adipogenesis. The objective of this work was to investigate the possible protective effect of traditionally edible avocado creole peel (Persea americana Mill var. drymifolia) when consuming a high-sucrose and fat diet (HSFD). The experimental animal model included 21 male Wistar rats divided in three groups: the control group received a standard diet of purina®, the HSFD group received a high fat diet plus 30% sucrose in drinking water, and finally the HSFD + AP group received the HSFD diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg of avocado peel for 14 weeks. It was observed that alterations included higher cholesterol, glucose, insulin, fatty acids and TNF-α levels as well as lower HDL, and adiponectin. The addition of avocado peel reverted some of these effects, resulting in normal values of triglicerides, insulin and adiponectin, while attenuated the levels of total cholesterol. Liver weight of the group added with avocado peel was similar to the control group. The neuronal density in the hippocampal areas CA1 and dentate gyrus DC were lower in the high glucose fat group, while the ingestion of the avocado peel showed a neuroprotective effect. The avocado creole ingestion reverted or attenuated most of the metabolic effects caused by a high-sucrose fat diet which was attributed to the compounds detected by HPLC-MS and GC-MS that included bioactive polyphenols such as flavanol quercetin, flavanone naringenin, flavan 3-ol catechin, cyanidin 3-glucoside, pelargonidin 3-glucoside, pelargonidin 3-rhamnoside, hydroxydelphinidin, eugenol and estragole.

Putative mechanism of a multivitamin treatment against insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is caused by the abnormal secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in adipose tissue, which is induced by an increase in lipid accumulation in adipocytes, hepatocytes, and myocytes. The inflammatory pathway involves multiple targets such as nuclear factor kappa B, inhibitor of nuclear factor κ-B kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinase. Vitamins are micronutrients with anti-inflammatory activities that have unclear mechanisms. The present study aimed to describe the putative mechanisms of vitamins involved in the inflammatory pathway of insulin resistance. The strategy to achieve this goal was to integrate data mining and analysis, target prediction, and molecular docking simulation calculations to support our hypotheses. Our results suggest that the multitarget activity of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B12, C, D3, and E inhibits nuclear factor kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase, in addition to vitamins A and B12 against inhibitor of nuclear factor κ-B kinase. The findings of this study highlight the pharmacological potential of using an anti-inflammatory and multitarget treatment based on vitamins and open new perspectives to evaluate the inhibitory activity of vitamins against nuclear factor kappa B, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and inhibitor of nuclear factor κ-B kinase in an insulin-resistant context.

[Effect of a multivitamin on insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress in a Wistar rat model of induced obesity]. / Efecto de un multivitamínico sobre la resistencia a la insulina, inflamación y estrés oxidante en un modelo de obesidad inducida en ratas Wistar.

Introduction: Introduction: excessive accumulation of adipose tissue is accompanied by alterations in the inflammatory state and increased oxidative stress, and these variables are associated with insulin resistance and increased glucose and insulin levels. On the other hand, vitamins and minerals reinforce the antioxidant and inflammatory capacity, for this reasons we propose that they could contribute to the control of insulin resistance, glucose and lipid metabolism in a rat model of obesity. Objective: to analyze the effect of a multivitamin supplement on markers of insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress in obese rats on a cafeteria diet. Methods: thirty-five 28-day-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: 1, standard diet control; 2, standard diet plus multivitamin; 3, obese on a cafeteria diet; and 4, obese on a cafeteria diet plus multivitamin. After the treatments, glucose levels, HbA1c, insulin, TNF-α, IL-6, oxidative stress and lipid profile were analyzed by colorimetric methods, as well as the percentage of adipose tissue, Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index y Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI). Results: multivitamin supplementation significantly decreased visceral adipose tissue, HOMA index, glucose, HbA1c, oxidant stress, and inflammatory markers in the obese plus multivitamin rat group, compared with the obese cafeteria diet rat group and the standard diet rat control group. However, the group that was administered only the multivitamin without the cafeteria diet had increased levels of total adipose tissue, glucose, and oxidative stress, as well as the QUICKI index relative to the control group with the standard diet. Conclusion: co-administration of a multivitamin supplement may improve insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and lipid profile; strengthen antioxidant status; and decrease inflammation during weight gain. However, it was not expected that added sugars in multivitamin supplement can also increase total adipose tissue, oxidative stress and glucose levels, so it is suggested to use sugar-free multivitamins in the future.

Introducción: Introducción: la acumulación excesiva de tejido adiposo se acompaña de alteraciones en el estado inflamatorio y aumento del estrés oxidativo, variables que se asocian con la resistencia a la insulina e incremento en los niveles de glucosa e insulina. las vitaminas y minerales refuerzan la capacidad antioxidante e inflamatoria, por lo que planteamos que podrían coadyuvar en el control de resistencia a la insulina y en el metabolismo de la glucosa y lípidos en un modelo de obesidad en rata. Objetivo: analizar el efecto de un suplemento multivitamínico sobre marcadores de resistencia a la insulina, inflamación y estrés oxidativo en ratas obesas con dieta de cafetería. Métodos: se dividieron aleatoriamente 35 ratas macho Wistar de 28 días de edad en cuatro grupos: 1, control dieta estándar; 2, dieta estándar más multivitamínico; 3, obesas con dieta de cafetería; y 4, obesas con dieta de cafetería más multivitamínico. Después de los tratamientos se analizaron los niveles de glucosa, HbA1c, insulina, TNF-α, IL-6, estrés oxidativo y perfil de lípidos por métodos colorimétricos, así como el porcentaje de tejido adiposo y los índices Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) y Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI). Resultados: el suplemento multivitamínico disminuyó significativamente el tejido adiposo visceral, el índice HOMA, la glucosa, la HbA1c, el estrés oxidante y los marcadores inflamatorios en el grupo obeso más multivitamínico, en comparación con el grupo obeso con dieta de cafetería y el grupo control con dieta estándar. Sin embargo, en el grupo al que se le administró solo el multivitamínico sin dieta de cafetería aumentaron sus niveles de tejido adiposo total, glucosa y estrés oxidativo, así como el índice QUICKI con relación al grupo control con dieta estándar. Conclusión: la coadministración de un suplemento multivitamínico puede mejorar la sensibilidad a la insulina, el metabolismo de glucosa y el perfil de lípidos; fortalecer el estado antioxidante; y disminuir la inflamación durante el incremento de peso. Sin embargo, no se esperaba que los azúcares añadidos en el suplemento multivitamínico también pueden incrementar el tejido adiposo total y los niveles de estrés oxidativo y glucosa, por lo que se sugiere a futuro utilizar multivitamínicos libres de azúcares.

Effect of Blackberry Juice Consumption by Pregnant Rats on Brain Length and Cell Density of Dentate Gyrus in Male Wistar Pups.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of blackberry juice consumption during pregnancy on the length of the brain, as well as on the cell density of the dentate gyrus in Wistar rat pups. Pregnant rats were divided into three groups: control (C), fed with standard diet and water ad libitum; BJ1, which received blackberry juice containing polyphenols (7.8 mg/kg) and anthocyanins (1.9 mg/kg); and BJ2, receiving blackberry juice containing polyphenols (9.3 mg/kg) and anthocyanins (3.54 mg/kg). On postnatal day 0, pups per litter, body weight, and length were measured, and cells in the dentate gyrus of male pups were quantified. Maternal body weight and pups per litter were statistically equal across experimental groups during pregnancy. Pups in BJ1 and BJ2 groups showed an increase in body weight (20%) and length (5%) when comparing to controls. An increase in brain length was observed in BJ2 group (8%) as compared to the control. A significant increase in the number of cells/mm2 was observed in the dentate gyrus of the offspring in BJ1 (21.8%) and BJ2 (23.7%) groups when compared to the control group. Given the above, blackberry juice may be considered a potential functional food during pregnancy, while further research on prenatal and postnatal development must be done.

Enriched environment restricted to gestation accelerates the development of sensory and motor circuits in the rat pup.

The effects of stimulating environments on the neural plasticity of the adult brain have been well explored; however, how an enriched environment (EE) affects the mother-fetus interaction is poorly understood. We hypothesized that an enriched environment restricted to pregnancy will succeed in accelerating the development of sensory and motor circuits in the offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats were maintained either under a standard condition - two animals per standard cage- or an enriched environment - eight subjects in larger cages with different physical configurations-. After birth, litters from both groups (n=16 per group) were cross-fostered with mothers that were simultaneously maintained under standard environment during pregnancy. Sensory and motor development were studied in the pups of both groups with a battery of reflex and physical tests. Auditory and gait reflexes appeared two days earlier in the offspring of EE rats as compared to control subjects (p<0.05). In addition, EE pups displayed a better performance in righting reflex, inclined board and geotaxis tests (p<0.05). Differences were found even three weeks after birth. We conclude that EE limited to the phase of pregnancy stimulates the development of pups inutero so that they are born with a higher grade of development.

Análisis bacteriológico de superficies inertes / Bacteriological analysis of inert surfaces

Objetivo: analizar microrganismos presentes en las superficies inertes, que representen un riesgo para la salud de los estudiantes. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, exploratorio y transversal realizado en el periodo febrero- julio de 2012. Se efectuó en un muestreo aleatorio utilizando el método del hisopo y se obtuvieron 72 muestras. Las unidades de análisis fueron mesas, microscopios y charolas por considerarse superficies de mayor contacto con alumnos. Resultados: se encontraron hongos en el 100 por ciento de los cultivos realizados y bacterias en el 66 por ciento. De estas, el 25 por ciento (12) correspondieron a bacterias de flora normal, el 62,5 por ciento (30) a bacterias oportunistas y 12,5 por ciento (6) a bacterias patógenas. Conclusión: las mesas y los microscopios de los laboratorios de enseñanza se encuentran contaminados por hongos y bacterias como Salmonella paratyphi A y Salmonella sp que constituyen un riesgo de infección para los estudiantes que realizan prácticas educativas(AU)

Objective: analyze microorganisms present on inert surfaces which represent a health hazard for students. Methods: an observational cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted from February to July 2012. Random sampling was performed using the swab method. Seventy-two samples were obtained. The study surfaces were tables, microscopes and trays, i.e. the surfaces most commonly touched by students. Results: fungi were found in 100 percent of the cultures. Bacteria were found in 66%. Of the latter, 25 percent (12) were normal flora bacteria, 62.5 percent (30) were opportunistic, and 12.5 (6) were pathogenic. Conclusion: tables and microscopes in teaching laboratories were contaminated with fungi and bacteria such as Salmonella paratyphi A and Salmonella sp., which constitutes an infection hazard for students doing laboratory practice(AU)