Does Ramadan fasting affect acylated ghrelin and growth hormone concentrations during short-term maximal exercise in the afternoon?

Ghrelin is an important stomach hormone that influences several metabolic activities and influences growth hormone (GH) release in response to change in energy homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting on acylated ghrelin and GH concentrations during a short-term maximal exercise. Eleven male soccer players (age, 22.11 ± 1.3 years; height, 1.76 ± 0.2 m; body mass, 75.3 ± 2.2; mean ± SD) were asked to perform a 30-s Wingate test, during which we recorded the peak (PP) and mean (MP) powers and fatigue index. Measurements were performed in the afternoon at 18:00 h, after three different occasions: (i) one week before Ramadan (BR), (ii) the first week of Ramadan (FWR), and (iii) the fourth week of Ramadan (ER). Blood samples were taken before, immediately and 60 min after the exercise. Our results show that PP and MP were affected by Ramadan fasting with a significant decrease during Ramadan (i.e. FWR and ER) in comparison with ER (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between BR and FWR (p > 0.05). Also, a significant decrease in body weight and body fat percentage was observed during Ramadan in comparison with ER. From diet record analysis, protein, fat, and carbohydrate decreased significantly during FWR (p < 0.01), often with further decreases by ER. A significant increase in plasma concentrations of ghrelin was observed during the ER (p < 0.001) compared with BR and FWR, and GH levels were significantly higher during ER (p < 0.01) in comparison with BR and FWR. However, the 30-s Wingate tests had no significant effect on plasma concentrations of ghrelin before or during Ramadan. Our study shows that the concentrations of ghrelin and GH change in the last week of Ramadan fasting, though it is unclear if these changes are related to the changes in body composition during Ramadan, or if they are responsible for the change in performance at the short-duration anaerobic test.     

Effect of Ramadan fasting on feelings,dietary intake,rating of perceived exertion and repeated high intensity short-term maximal performance

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting on feelings, dietary intake, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and repeated high-intensity short-term maximal performance. Thirteen physically active men (age: 21.2 ± 2.9 years, height: 175.6 ± 5.6 cm, body-mass: 72.4 ± 8.6 kg) performed a 5-m shuttle run test (6 × 30-s + 35-s of recovery in-between) during five experimental periods: fifteen days before Ramadan (BR), the first ten days of Ramadan (FR), the last ten days of Ramadan (ER), ten days after Ramadan (AR10) and 20 days after Ramadan (AR20). The study was carried out in Tunisia during the 2016 Ramadan month. During the 5-m shuttle run test, higher distance (HD), total distance (TD) and fatigue index (FI) were recorded. RPE was determined after a 5-min warm-up and after each repetition of the 5-m shuttle run test (the mean RPE score during the test was calculated). Moreover, a feelings scale (FS) was used after the warm-up and after the end of the 5-m shuttle run test. During the five experimental periods, dietary intake was assessed. The results showed that HD, TD and FI during the 5-m shuttle run test were not affected by Ramadan observance (p > 0.05). Likewise, FS scores recorded after the warm-up and the 5-m shuttle run test were not affected by Ramadan fasting (p > 0.05). However, mean RPE scores during the 5-m shuttle run test were significantly lower at ER (4.06 UA), AR10 (3.86 UA) and AR20 (3.71 UA) in comparison to BR (4.51 UA) (p < 0.05). The results showed also that Ramadan fasting has no adverse effect on energy intake, protein (g and %), fat (g and %) and carbohydrate (g). However, the fractional contribution of carbohydrate was significantly higher AR10 than FR (53.1% vs. 45.8%) and ER (53.1% vs. 46.5%) and AR20 than FR (5.92% vs. 45.8%) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, Ramadan fasting has no adverse effect on feelings, dietary intake, and short-term maximal performance. However, the RPE during repeated high intensity short-term maximal exercise was reduced AR20 in comparison to ER.

Abbreviations:

AR: After Ramadan; AR10: Ten days after Ramadan; AR20: Twenty days after Ramadan; BR: Fifteen days before Ramadan; ER: Last ten days of Ramadan; FI: Fatigue index; FR: First ten days of Ramadan; FS: Feelings scale; HD: Higher distance; PSQI: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; RPE: Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale; TD: Total distance     

The Effects of Intermittent Fasting during the Month of Ramadan in Chronic Haemodialysis Patients in a Tropical Climate Country

Background

Chronic kidney disease is an emerging problem in the majority Muslim countries. Despite the uncertainties of the risks involved, some Muslim patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis choose to observe intermittent fasting during the month of Ramadan. This study aims to investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting in haemodialysis patients residing in a tropical climate country.

Methods

This prospective cross sectional study recruited Muslim patients on regular haemodialysis from three haemodialysis centres in Kuala Lumpur from 15^th July 2011 to 29^th August 2011. Patients who fasted for any number of days were included (n = 35, 54% female, age 54±11 years). 89% of patients fasted for more than 15 days and 49% were diabetics. Dialysis parameters and blood samples were obtained one week prior to Ramadan and during the last week of Ramadan. The differences in dialysis parameters and biochemical values pre- and end-Ramadan were examined using paired t-test.

Results

Both pre- and post-dialysis weight were significantly decreased during Ramadan fasting compared to the month prior (p = <0.001). There was a significant decrease in the amount of ultrafiltration (p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in dry weight, inter-dialytic weight gain, mean urea reduction ratio or blood pressure measurements comparing pre- and end of Ramadan fasting. There was a significant increase in serum albumin level (p = 0.006) and decrease in serum phosphate level (p = 0.02) at the end of Ramadan.

Conclusion

Ramadan fasting is associated with reduced weight, improved serum albumin and phosphate level in our population of haemodialysis patients. A larger multi-centre study will allow us to understand more about the effects of fasting in this population.     

Time courses of changes of para-, meta-, and ortho-tyrosine in septic patients: A pilot study

Objectives: Sepsis is associated with oxidative stress. Due to oxidative stress, three tyrosine isoforms, para-, meta-, and ortho-tyrosine (p-, m-, and o-Tyr), can be formed non-enzymatically in smaller amounts. p-Tyr is mainly formed physiologically in the kidneys through the activity of the phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme. The three tyrosine isoforms may undergo different renal handling.

Methods: Twenty septic patients were involved in the study and 25 healthy individuals served as controls. Blood and urine levels of p-, m-, and o-Tyr were measured on admission and four consecutive days.

Results: Serum m-Tyr levels were higher in septic patients than in controls on days 2 (P = 0.031) and 3 (P = 0.035). Serum p-Tyr levels were lower in the cases than in controls on days 1 (P = 0.005) and 2 (P = 0.040), and subsequently normalized due to a day-by-day elevation (P = 0.002). The tendency of urinary m-Tyr concentration was decreasing (P = 0.041), while that of urinary p-Tyr concentration was increasing (P = 0.001). Fractional excretion of m-Tyr (FE_m-Tyr) showed a decreasing tendency (P = 0.009), and was, on all days, higher than FE_p-Tyr, which remained near-normal, less than 4%. Procalcitonin showed significant correlation with FE_m-Tyr (r = 0.454; P < 0.001).

Discussion: Our data suggest that the oxidative stress marker m-Tyr and physiologic p-Tyr may be handled differently in septic patients. The excretion of m-Tyr correlates with inflammation. m-Tyr may be actively secreted or produced in the kidney in some patients, whereas the decreased serum level of p-Tyr is a consequence of diminished renal production and not of renal loss.     

Alteration in Glutathione Content and Associated Enzyme Activities in the Synaptic Terminals but not in the Non-synaptic Mitochondria from the Frontal Cortex of Parkinson’s Disease Brains

Altered redox dynamics contribute to physiological aging and Parkinson’s disease (PD). This is reflected in the substantia nigra (SN) of PD patients as lowered antioxidant levels and elevated oxidative damage. Contrary to this observation, we previously reported that non-SN regions such as caudate nucleus and frontal cortex (FC) exhibited elevated antioxidants and lowered mitochondrial and oxidative damage indicating constitutive protective mechanisms in PD brains. To investigate whether the sub-cellular distribution of antioxidants could contribute to these protective effects, we examined the distribution of antioxidant/oxidant markers in the neuropil fractions [synaptosomes, non-synaptic mitochondria and cytosol] of FC from PD (n = 9) and controls (n = 8). In the control FC, all the antioxidant activities [Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), GSH peroxidase (GPx), GSH-S-transferase (GST)] except glutathione reductase (GR) were the highest in cytosol, but several fold lower in mitochondria and much lower in synaptosomes. However, FC synaptosomes from PD brains had significantly higher levels of GSH (p = 0.01) and related enzymes [GPx (p = 0.02), GR (p = 0.06), GST (p = 0.0001)] compared to controls. Conversely, mitochondria from the FC of PD cases displayed elevated SOD activity (p = 0.02) while the GSH and related enzymes were relatively unaltered. These changes in the neuropil fractions were associated with unchanged or lowered oxidative damage. Further, the mitochondrial content in the synaptosomes of both PD and control brains was ≥five-fold lower compared to the non-synaptic mitochondrial fraction. Altered distribution of oxidant/antioxidant markers in the neuropil fractions of the human brain during aging and PD has implications for (1) degenerative and protective mechanisms (2) distinct antioxidant mechanisms in synaptic terminals compared to other compartments.     

Conducting an Acute Intense Interval Exercise Session During the Ramadan Fasting Month: What Is the Optimal Time of the Day?

This study examines the effects of Ramadan fasting on performance during an intense exercise session performed at three different times of the day, i.e., 08:00, 18:00, and 21:00?h. The purpose was to determine the optimal time of the day to perform an acute high-intensity interval exercise during the Ramadan fasting month. After familiarization, nine trained athletes performed six 30-s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) cycle bouts followed by a time-to-exhaustion (T_exh) cycle on six separate randomized and counterbalanced occasions. The three time-of-day nonfasting (control, CON) exercise sessions were performed before the Ramadan month, and the three corresponding time-of-day Ramadan fasting (RAM) exercise sessions were performed during the Ramadan month. Note that the 21:00?h session during Ramadan month was conducted in the nonfasted state after the breaking of the day's fast. Total work (TW) completed during the six WAnT bouts was significantly lower during RAM compared to CON for the 08:00 and 18:00?h (p?<?.017; effect size [d]?=?.55 [small] and .39 [small], respectively) sessions, but not for the 21:00?h (p?=?.03, d?=?.18 [trivial]) session. The T_exh cycle duration was significantly shorter during RAM than CON in the 18:00 (p < .017, d?=?.93 [moderate]) session, but not in the 08:00 (p?=?.03, d?=?.57 [small]) and 21:00?h (p?=?.96, d?=?.02 [trivial]) sessions. In conclusion, Ramadan fasting had a small to moderate, negative impact on quality of performance during an acute high-intensity exercise session, particularly during the period of the daytime fast. The optimal time to conduct an acute high-intensity exercise session during the Ramadan fasting month is in the evening, after the breaking of the day's fast. (Author correspondence: abdul_rashid_aziz@ssc.gov.sg)     

Seasonal pattern in bipolar disorders and cardio-vascular risk factors: A study from the FACE-BD cohort

Seasonal pattern (SP) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are major contributors to poor outcome in bipolar disorders (BD). Patients with seasonal bipolar depression present increased appetite, carbohydrate cravings, weight gain, and hypersomnia, which can increase the development of MetS. MetS also appears to be associated with seasonal mood changes in the general population. This study examines whether a SP in BD is associated with an increased risk of MetS and its sub-components. One thousand four hundred and seventy-one outpatients with BD were systematically enrolled from 2009 to 2016. Inclusion required a disease duration of at least 5 years, with 486 (33%) patients with SP (SP+) and 985 (67%) without (SP–) according to the DSM IV-TR criteria. When using continuous measures of metabolic components, SP+ patients, as compared to SP–, suffered from higher levels for systolic blood pressure (p = 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.009), fasting glucose (p = 0.007), triglycerides levels (p = 0.03), a larger abdominal circumference (p = 0.02), and a higher body mass index (p = 0.07). In the covariance analysis, adjusted for gender, age, and bipolar subtype, as well as the number of depressive and hypomanic episode, SP+ patients had a significantly higher level of fasting glucose and higher systolic blood pressure. The frequency of MetS did not differ between groups (21.2% in SP– versus 23.9% in SP+). When using categorical definitions for abnormal metabolic components (International Diabetes Federation criteria), there were no differences between groups, except that SP+ patients were more overweight/obese as compared to SP– patients (55.03% versus 46.7%, respectively; p = 0.002) and tended to have more frequently high fasting glucose (18.2% versus 14.3%, respectively; p = 0.07). MetS was frequent in patients with BD, however not associated with SP. Patients with SP appeared more vulnerable to overweight/obesity and presented with higher levels of MetS subcomponents although these parameters were mainly in the normal range. All patients with BD should benefit from early screening and targeted management of cardio-vascular risk factors.     

Serum Myeloperoxidase Activity, Total Antioxidant Capacity and Nitric Oxide Levels in Patients with Chronic Otitis Media

It has been suggested that oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic otitis media (COM), but the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of COM has not yet been fully explored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and nitric oxide (NO) in patients with COM. Sixty-one patients with COM and 30 controls were enrolled in the present study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (n = 21) or absence (n = 40) of cholesteatoma. Serum MPO activity and 4-HNE, MDA and NO levels were significantly higher in patients with COM than controls (for all, p < 0.001), while TAC levels were significantly lower (for all, p < 0.001). Serum MPO activity and MDA, 4-HNE and NO levels were significantly higher in patients with cholesteatoma than in those without cholesteatoma, while TAC levels were significantly lower; but the difference between groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Increased oxidative stress seems to be associated with decreased antioxidant levels in patients with COM. Thus, increased oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of COM. It is believed that the administration of antioxidant vitamins such as A, C and E may be useful in preventing and treating COM.     

The effects of 12-week progressive strength training on strength,functional capacity,metabolic biomarkers,and serum hormone concentrations in healthy older women: morning versus evening training

ABSTRACT

Previous findings suggest that performing strength training (ST) in the evening may provide greater benefit for young individuals. However, this may not be optimal for the older population. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 12-week ST program performed in the morning vs. evening on strength, functional capacity, metabolic biomarker and basal hormone concentrations in older women. Thirty-one healthy older women (66 ± 4 years, 162 ± 4 cm, 75 ± 13 kg) completed the study. Participants trained in the morning (M) (07:30, n = 10), in the evening (E) (18:00, n = 10), or acted as a non-training control group (C) (n = 11). Both intervention groups performed whole-body strength training with 3 sets of 10–12 repetitions with 2–3 minutes rest between sets. All groups were measured before and after the 12-week period with; dynamic leg press and seated-row 6-repetition maximum (6-RM) and functional capacity tests (30-second chair stands and arm curl test, Timed Up and Go), as well as whole-body skeletal muscle mass (SMM) (kg) and fat mass (FM-kg, FM%) assessed by bioelectrical impedance (BIA). Basal blood samples (in the intervention groups only) taken before and after the intervention assessed low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), blood glucose (GLU), triglycerides (TG), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations and total antioxidant status (TAS) after a 12 h fast. Hormone analysis included prolactin (PRL), progesterone (P) estradiol (ESTR), testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). While C showed no changes in any variable, both M and E significantly improved leg press (+ 46 ± 22% and + 21 ± 12%, respectively; p < 0.001) and seated-row (+ 48 ± 21% and + 42 ± 18%, respectively; p < 0.001) 6-RM, as well as all functional capacity outcomes (p < 0.01) due to training. M were the only group to increase muscle mass (+ 3 ± 2%, p < 0.01). Both M and E group significantly (p < 0.05) decreased GLU (–4 ± 6% and –8 ± 10%, respectively), whereas significantly greater decrease was observed in the E compared to the M group (p < 0.05). Only E group significantly decreased TG (–17 ± 25%, p < 0.01), whereas M group increased (+ 15%, p < 0.01). The difference in TG between the groups favored E compared to M group (p < 0.01). These results suggest that short-term “hypertrophic” ST alone mainly improves strength and functional capacity performance, but it influences metabolic and hormonal profile of healthy older women to a lesser extent. In this group of previously untrained older women, time-of-day did not have a major effect on outcome variables, but some evidence suggests that training in the morning may be more beneficial for muscle hypertrophy (i.e. only M significantly increased muscle mass and had larger effect size (M: g = 2 vs. E: g = 0.5).     

Intestinal concentrations of free and encapsulated dietary medium-chain fatty acids and effects on gastric microbial ecology and bacterial metabolic products in the digestive tract of piglets

The influence of low dietary levels of free and encapsulated medium-chain fatty acids on their concentrations in the digesta, the gastric microbial ecology and bacterial metabolic products in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in weaned piglets was studied. Starting after weaning, 36 piglets were fed a diet without (Control) or with medium-chain fatty acids uncoated (MCFA) or coated with vegetable fat and lecithin (MCFAc). After 4 weeks, the animals were killed, and digesta from the stomach and different sections of the GIT were collected. The concentrations of caprylic (p < 0.001) and capric (p = 0.001) acids were higher in the stomachs of piglets fed diets MCFA and MCFAc compared to the Control group. The concentrations dropped rapidly along the GIT, regardless of encapsulation, and tended to be higher in groups MCFA and MCFAc compared to the Control. Compared to the Control group, ingestion of diet MCFAc led to an increase in the number of eubacteria (p = 0.001), enterobacteriaceae (p < 0.001), clostridial clusters I (p = 0.001) and IV (p = 0.019), Lactobacillus johnsonii (p < 0.001) and Lactobacillus amylovorus (p = 0.001) in gastric contents. A similar trend was seen with diet MCFA. Relative concentrations of short-chain fatty acids were characterised by lower propionic acid levels (p = 0.045), numerically (p < 0.1) higher acetic, lower n-butyric and i-valeric acid concentrations in the small intestine. Lactic acid concentrations were not significantly changed in the GIT, but ammonia concentrations increased (p < 0.001) in the distal small intestine in the MCFA and MCFAc groups. In conclusion, medium-chain fatty acids affected microbial ecology parameters in the gastric contents and bacterial metabolites in the small intestine. At low dietary levels, medium-chain fatty acids may be regarded as modulators of the gastric microbiota in weaned piglets.     

Opuntia ficus-indica juice supplementation: what role it plays on diurnal variation of short-term maximal exercise?

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of natural Opuntia ficus-indica juice (OFIJ) supplementation on anaerobic performance at two times of day. Twenty-two healthy male subjects (20.91 ± 1.22; 21.00 ± 0.84 years) divided into two groups: Experimental group (EG: n = 11) and a control group (CG: n = 11) performed two tests-sessions (30-s of Wingate test (i.e. Peak power (PP), Mean power (MP)), Sargent jump test (SJT), sprint 10 m), before and after natural OFIJ supplementation at 07:00 h and 17:00 h. T-test showed that the OFIJ has a potent antioxidant capacity for capturing free radicals following the 22-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^●) test (p < 0.05). Likewise, the ANOVA revealed that anaerobic performances were significantly higher at 17:00 h compared to 07:00 h around the peak of the temperature (p < 0.05) in both EG and CG before supplementation. Moreover, OFIJ lead an improvement of performances with (+2.09% at 07:00 h vs.+9.36% 17:00 h) for PP, (+11.29% at 07:00 h vs.+11.77% 17:00 h) for MP, (+9.42% at 07:00 h vs.+7.63% 17:00 h) for SJT in EG. The RPE scores on response to the Wingate test decrease after OFIJ supplementation (p < 0.01). For the sprint values, a significant improvement was after OFIJ (?7.10% at 07:00 h vs. ?6.45% 17:00 h). However, no change was observed for CG after supplementation. In conclusion, the natural OFIJ supplementation for two weeks appears to ameliorate the performance upon two times of day with great improvement observed in the evening during short-term maximal exercise given the higher muscle damage, inflammatory, and oxidative responses at this time of day. Thus, it’s necessary that athletes, coaches, and medical staff consider the positive effects of Opuntia ficus-indica to improve anaerobic performance.     

Effect of Ramadan on the Diurnal Variation in Short‐Term High Power Output

This study examined the effects of Ramadan fasting on anaerobic performances and their diurnal fluctuations. In a balanced and randomized study design, 12 subjects were measured for maximal power (P_max; force‐velocity test), peak power (P_peak), and mean power (P_mean) with the Wingate test at 07:00, 17:00, and 21:00 h on four different occasions: one week before Ramadan (BR), the second week of Ramadan (SWR), the fourth week of Ramadan (ER), and two weeks after Ramadan (AR). There was an interval of 28 h between any two successive tests. Oral temperature was measured before each test. Under each condition, the results showed a time‐of‐day effect on oral temperature. Analysis of variance revealed a significant (Ramadan×time‐of‐day of test) interaction effect on P_max. This variable improved significantly from morning to evening before Ramadan (1.1±0.2 W · kg^?1), during the second week of Ramadan (0.6±0.2 W · kg^?1), and two weeks after the end of Ramadan (0.9±0.2 W · kg^?1). However, daily fluctuations disappeared during the fourth week of Ramadan. For P_peak and P_mean, there was no significant Ramadan×test‐time interaction. These variables improved significantly from morning to evening before Ramadan ([1±0.3 W · kg^?1] for P_peak and [1.7±1.6 W · kg^?1] for P_mean) and in the second week of Ramadan ([0.9±0.6 W · kg^?1] for P_peak and [1.7±1.5 W · kg^?1] for P_mean). However, they were not affected by time‐of‐day in the fourth week of Ramadan. Considering the effect of Ramadan on anaerobic performances, in comparison with before Ramadan, no significant difference was observed during Ramadan at 07:00 h. The variables were significantly lower in the second week of Ramadan and in the fourth week of Ramadan at 17:00 h and 21:00 h. P_mean was not affected during the second week of Ramadan. In conclusion, the time‐of‐day effect on anaerobic power variables tends to disappear during Ramadan. In comparison with the period before Ramadan, anaerobic performances were unaffected in the morning but impaired in the evening during Ramadan.     

Effect of bright light therapy on delayed sleep/wake cycle and reaction time of athletes participating in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

This study investigated the effect of using an artificial bright light on the entrainment of the sleep/wake cycle as well as the reaction times of athletes before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. A total of 22 athletes from the Brazilian Olympic Swimming Team were evaluated, with the aim of preparing them to compete at a time when they would normally be about to go to bed for the night. During the 8-day acclimatization period, their sleep/wake cycles were assessed by actigraphy, with all the athletes being treated with artificial light therapy for between 30 and 45 min (starting at day 3). In addition, other recommendations to improve sleep hygiene were made to the athletes. In order to assess reaction times, the Psychomotor Vigilance Test was performed before (day 1) and after (day 8) the bright light therapy. As a result of the intervention, the athletes slept later on the third (p = 0.01), seventh (p = 0.01) and eighth (p = 0.01) days after starting bright light therapy. Regarding reaction times, when tested in the morning the athletes showed improved average (p = 0.01) and minimum reaction time (p = 0.03) when comparing day 8 to day 1. When tested in the evening, they showed improved average (p = 0.04), minimum (p = 0.03) and maximum reaction time (p = 0.02) when comparing day 8 to day 1. Light therapy treatment delayed the sleep/wake cycles and improved reaction times of members of the swimming team. The use of bright light therapy was shown to be effective in modulating the sleep/wake cycles of athletes who had to perform in competitions that took place late at night.     

Synergic Effect of Exercise and Lipoic Acid on Protection Against Kainic Acid Induced Seizure Activity and Oxidative Stress in Mice

Anti-convulsant effects of physical exercise and lipoic acid (LA), also referred to as thioctic acid with antioxidant activity, were investigated using chemical induced seizure model. We investigated the synergic effect of physical exercise and LA on kainic acid-induced seizure activity caused by oxidative stress. After 8 weeks of swimming training, body weight decreased and endurance capacity increased significantly compared to sedentary mice. Kainic acid (30 mg/kg, i.p.) evoked seizure activity 5 min after injection, and seizure activity peaked approximately 80 min after kainic acid treatment. Median seizure activity score in KA only treated group was 4.55 (range 0.5–5), 3.45 for “LA + KA” group (range 0.5–4.3), 3.12 for “EX + KA” group (range 0.05–3.4, p < 0.05 vs. “KA only” group), 2.13 for “EX + LA + KA” group (range 0.5–3.0, p < 0.05 vs. “EX + KA” group). Also, there was a synergic cooperation of exercise and LA in lowering the mortality in kainic acid treated mice (χ² = 5.45, p = 0.031; “EX + KA” group vs. “LA + EX + KA” group). In addition, the synergic effect of exercise and LA was found in PGx activity compared to separated treatment (“LA + EX + KA”: 37.3 ± 1.36; p < 0.05 vs. “LA + KA” and “EX + KA” group). These results indicate that physical exercise along with LA could be a more efficient method for modulating seizure activity and oxidative stress.     

Time-related eating patterns and chronotype are associated with diet quality in pregnant women

Animal studies strongly suggest that timed feeding can have beneficial physiological effects, including protection against the obesogenic and metabolic consequences of a high-fat diet. However, the relationship between variables related to the timing of eating and diet quality in pregnancy women, which is considered as a period of nutritional vulnerability, is still poorly described in the literature. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between time-related eating patterns and chronotype with diet quality of pregnant women. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 pregnant women in the first gestational trimester (≤12 weeks of gestation). The information regarding food intake was obtained by three 24-Hour Dietary Recall (24HR). Time-related eating patterns, i.e., the interval between the first and the last meal (eating duration), nightly fasting, time of the first and last meals, and number of meals eating on a day were determined. Chronotype was derived using the mid-sleep time on free days on weekends, with a further correction for calculated sleep debt. Diet quality was evaluated using the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index-Revised (BHEI-R), validated for the Brazilian population. Linear regression modeling analyses adjusted for confounders were used to investigate the association between time-related eating patterns and chronotype with diet quality. The BHEI-R total score was negatively associated with time of the first meal (β = ?0.355; p = 0.002; r² adjusted = 0.141), and positively associated with eating duration (β = 0.262; p = 0.024; r² adjusted = 0.086) and number of meals (β = 0.273; p = 0.019; r² adjusted = 0.091). In addition, the score of total fruit component was negatively associated with chronotype (β = ?0.236; p = 0.033; r² adjusted = 0.078), time of the first meal (β = ?0.393; p = 0.001; r² adjusted = 0.171), and positively associated with eating duration (β = 0.259; p = 0.022; r² adjusted = 0.087) and number of meals (β = 0.376; p = 0.001; r² adjusted = 0.159). The score for whole fruit component was negatively associated with time of the first meal (β = ?0.388; p = 0.001; r² adjusted = 0.152), and positively associated with number of meals (β = 0.403; p = 0.001; r² adjusted = 0.164). A longer eating duration, earlier time of the first meal, higher number of meals and morningness tendency are associated with a better diet quality in the first gestational trimester – higher scores of the total BHEI-R and/or fruit components. We suggest that nutritional guidelines should consider time-related eating patterns and chronotype to ensure good diet quality of pregnant women since the beginning of gestation, contributing on prevention of metabolic-nutritional complications.     

Long-term effects of foetal undernutrition on intermediary metabolism in growing lambs

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of foetal undernutrition on the metabolism in growing lambs. Seven-month-old lambs whose mothers had been fed either restrictively (RN; n = 14) or adequately (AN; n = 6) in late gestation were fasted for three days. One hour before fasting and after 48 h and 72 h fasting, changes in plasma concentrations of metabolites, i.e. glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), 3-β-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) and urea as well as hormones, i.e. insulin, the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and leptin, were determined. Blood glucose, NEFA, urea, insulin, IGF-I and leptin were not different between the two groups of lambs. Unexpectedly, at the end of the 3 d fasting, in spite of lower NEFA concentration (1.6 ± 0.03 vs. 1.9 ± 0.05 mM in Groups RN and AN, respectively), the BOHB concentration in RN lambs (0.94 ± 0.02 mM) was significantly higher than that in AN lambs (0.78 ± 0.04 mM). This higher rate of BOHB production might be interpreted as perturbations in ketone body metabolism potentially induced by undernutrition during foetal life. However, more investigations are necessary to clarify this interrelationship.     

Resilience,sleep quality and morningness as mediators of vulnerability to depression in medical students with sleep pattern alterations

The medical career is considered highly stressful, especially during internships when academic and clinical demands, combined with changes in sleep patterns, increase students’ likelihood to develop depression. Resilience, which is considered as opposite vulnerability to stress and, along with another protective factor, namely morningness, may cause a student to be less reactive to stimuli and, therefore, less prone to depression. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of resilience and morningness facing to sleep quality and main risk factors, on the development of depression symptoms in a group of students with sleep pattern alterations. To this end, an observational and longitudinal study was performed with 30 undergraduate interns, with an average age of 22.63 years (SE ± 0.13), 33% men and 67% women. A survey was conducted in three different times during the year of internship: at the beginning (T₁), in the middle (T₂) and the end (T₃). The instruments were the Brief Resilience Scale, Composite Scale of Morningness, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Patient Health Questionnaire. The path analysis examined the roles of morningness, sleep quality and resilience as potential mediators between family history of depression and depression symptoms at different times. The results showed that resilience had a protective effect on depression symptoms at T₂ (β = ?0.18, p < 0.05) and with greater power at T₃ (β = ?0.41, p < 0.05), as did morningness, although less strongly, on the symptoms at T₃ (β = ?0.13, p < 0.05). A relationship between these two mediating variables was also observed (β = 0.30, p < 0.05). The initial sleep quality had an effect on the increase of depression symptoms at T₁ (β = 0.61, p < 0.05) and T₃ (β = 0.21, p < 0.05), while family history of depression had a direct effect on the measures of depression at T₂ (β = 0.49, p < 0.05) and T₃ (β = 0.19, p < 0.05). Aside from personal risk factors, it is possible to conclude that the levels of resilience, morningness and sleep quality manifested by students at the beginning of their internship may explain the decrease in depression symptoms at the end of the course.     

Age- and gender-related oxidative status determined in healthy subjects by means of OXY-SCORE,a potential new comprehensive index

Oxidative stress has been related to various diseases, gender and ageing, and has been measured by various markers. The authors developed a procedure to compute a global oxidative stress index (OXY-SCORE), reflecting both oxidative and antioxidant markers in healthy subjects. Its performance was tested in relation to age and gender and in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Eighty-two healthy subjects and 20 CAD patients were enrolled. Plasma free and total malondialdehyde (F- and T-MDA), glutathione disulphide/reduced form ratio (GSSG/GSH) and urine isoprostanes (iPF_2α-III) levels were combined as oxidative damage markers (damage score). GSH, α- and γ-tocopherol (TH) levels, and individual antioxidant capacity were combined as antioxidant defence indexes (protection score). The OXY-SCORE was computed by subtracting the protection score from the damage score. Among single parameters, T-MDA and iPF_2α-III significantly correlated with age; only GSH and both tocopherols correlated with male gender in healthy subjects. The OXY-SCORE was positively associated with age (p=0.004) and male gender (p=0.03). As expected, the OXY-SCORE was higher in CAD with a very significant p-value (<0.0001), after adjusting for age, gender and smoking. Combining different markers can potentially provide a powerful index in the evaluation of oxidative stress related to age, gender and CAD status.     

Local and systemic oxidant/antioxidant status before and during lung cancer radiotherapy

To examine local and systemic oxidative status of lung cancer (LC) and oxidant effects of radiotherapy (RT), this study evaluated antioxidants and markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and in the blood of 36 LC patients and 36 non-cancer controls at baseline and during and after RT for LC. LC patients had higher baseline serum urate, plasma nitrite and lower serum oxidized proteins than controls (p=0.016, p<0.001 and p=0.027, respectively), but BAL fluid oxidative stress markers were similar. RT tended to raise some antioxidants, however, significant increases were seen in serum urate, conjugated dienes and TBARS (p=0.044, p=0.034 and p=0.004, respectively) 3 months after RT. High urate at baseline may compensate against the oxidative stress caused by LC. RT shifts the oxidant/antioxidant balance towards lipid peroxidation, although the antioxidant defense mechanisms of the body appear to counteract the increased oxidative stress rather effectively.