Diurnal variations of plasma homocysteine, total antioxidant status, and biological markers of muscle injury during repeated sprint: effect on performance and muscle fatigue--a pilot study

The aim of this study was (i) to evaluate whether homocysteine (Hcy), total antioxidant status (TAS), and biological markers of muscle injury would be affected by time of day (TOD) in football players and (ii) to establish a relationship between diurnal variation of these biomarkers and the daytime rhythm of power and muscle fatigue during repeated sprint ability (RSA) exercise. In counterbalanced order, 12 football (soccer) players performed an RSA test (5 x[6 s of maximal cycling sprint + 24 s of rest]) on two different occasions: 07:00-08:30 h and 17:00-18:30 h. Fasting blood samples were collected from a forearm vein before and 3-5 min after each RSA test. Core temperature, rating of perceived exertion, and performances (i.e., Sprint 1, Sprint 2, and power decrease) during the RSA test were significantly higher at 17:00 than 07:00 h (p < .001, p < .05, and p < .05, respectively). The results also showed significant diurnal variation of resting Hcy levels and all biological markers of muscle injury with acrophases (peak times) observed at 17:00 h. These fluctuations persisted after the RSA test. However, biomarkers of antioxidant status' resting levels (i.e., total antioxidant status, uric acid, and total bilirubin) were higher in the morning. This TOD effect was suppressed after exercise for TAS and uric acid. In conclusion, the present study confirms diurnal variation of Hcy, selected biological markers of cellular damage, and antioxidant status in young football players. Also, the higher performances and muscle fatigue showed in the evening during RSA exercise might be due to higher levels of biological markers of muscle injury and lower antioxidant status at this TOD.     

Effects of 85 dB Noise Exposure on Macro and Trace Element Levels in Plasma and Brain Areas of Rats

In this study, our hypothesis was that workplace noise can alter brain element levels like immobilization and light–dark cycle shift, and we aimed to investigate the effects of workplace noise on element levels of brain areas as well as changes in blood of chronically noise-exposed rats. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three groups. The first group was the control. The second group (noise exposed) was subjected to daily 8 h 85 dB workplace noise for 15 days, and the third group (noise exposed plus normal condition) was also subjected to the same noise exposure and then returned to normal condition for 15 days. In noise-exposed group, Na, K, Ca, Mg , Fe, Cu, and Zn levels in plasma significantly increased when compared with controls (p?=?0.03 for Na; p?=?0.005 for K and Mg; p?=?0.002 for Ca and Fe; p?=?0.01 for Cu and Zn). In this group, Fe level of temporal lobe significantly increased (p?=?0.021) while Mg level significantly increased in frontal (p?=?0.021) and temporal (p?=?0.001) lobes when compared with controls. In the noise-exposed plus normal condition group, plasma Na, K, Fe, Cu, and Zn levels were greatly similar to controls. But, plasma Ca and Mg levels significantly decreased when compared with controls (p?=?0.002 and p?=?0.007) and noise-exposed group (p?=?0.002 and p?=?0.001). Fe level of temporal lobe significantly increased when compared with controls (p?=?0.001) and noise exposed group (p?=?0.001). These alterations may be attributed to impaired intake of water and micronutrients or their excretions, emerging by acoustic stress.     

Lack of association between human leukocyte antigen-E alleles and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisians

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a cancer with a remarkable geographical and worldwide ethnic distribution, has been strongly associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I genes. The presence of additional HLA risk factors has been suggested by several reports. In the present study, we analyzed the implication of HLA-E gene polymorphisms in NPC susceptibility in Tunisians, a population characterized by an intermediate incidence of NPC with specific clinical features. Peripheral blood DNA was obtained from 185 patients with NPC and 177 matched controls. Genotyping for three single-nucleotide polymorphisms, codon 83Gly/Arg, codon 157Arg/Gly, and codon 107Arg/Gly, was performed using the polymerase chain reaction method. The HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03 were the only alleles found among Tunisians. The HLA-E*01:03 allele had a slight increase in patients with NPC (43%) compared with controls (37%), but the difference did not reach a statistical significance. Our results show the lack of association between HLA-E alleles and NPC in the Tunisian population. This is not in agreement with the previous studies, suggesting a potential implication of HLA-E gene polymorphisms in the susceptibility to NPC among populations with high-risk incidence. Our study further supports the dissimilarity of NPC between populations with different NPC incidence.     

Development of a beverage from red grape juice fermented with the Kombucha consortium

Kombucha is a health-promoting fermented beverage traditionally made by fermenting a sweetened tea with a symbiotic culture of yeast species and acetic acid bacteria. The aim of this work was to develop a beverage using red grape juice as an alternative substrate. Grape juice contains various nutrient elements and phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, which possess a wide range of biological activities. We investigated the chemical characteristics and sensory and antimicrobial activities of the fermented grape juice Kombucha beverage. The pH decreased from 3.95 to 2.9 during the fermentation process and remained fairly constant thereafter, and the acetic acid bacteria and yeast counts in the broth increased up to 6 days of fermentation and subsequently decreased. Phenolic and anthocyanin contents and the antioxidant activity of the fermented beverage were higher after fermentation, with the maximum increase observed on the sixth day of fermentation when values were approximately 2.47- and 1.59-fold higher than pre-fermentation values, respectively, as assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assays. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used for the qualitative analysis of the grape juice before and after fermentation. Distinct peak variations in the spectral region between 2500 and 1650 cm^?1 were observed, which matched the appearance of organic acids and changes in phenolic compounds. Fermented juice Kombucha showed antibacterial activity toward all tested bacteria, which can be primarily ascribed to the increased production of acetic acid, but also to the biosynthesis of other metabolites, during the fermentation process. The 6-day fermented juice was the most appreciated by the taste panel based on the overall quality evaluation; with prolongation of fermentation the fermented juice acquired a distinct sour flavor.     

Compatibility among entomopathogenic hyphocreales and two beneficial insects used to control Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleurodidae) in Mediterranean greenhouses

The effect of the combined use of Encarsia formosa or Macrolophus caliginosus and one of three marketed mycoinsecticides, Mycotal® (Leucanicillium muscarium-based), Naturalis-L™ (Beauveria bassiana-based) and PreFeRal® (Isaria fumosorosea-based), on the control of the whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, was studied under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The results of both types of tests, the bioassays and the greenhouse trials, for all combinations of E. Formosa with each of the three mycoinsecticides showed that the total mortality of larval populations of T. vaporariorum was not affected. The mortality of T. vaporariorum larvae treated in the second instar revealed the capacity for both B. bassiana- and L. muscarium-based formulations and E. formosa to kill the host either separately or in association. Because of its higher pathogenic activity (under our test conditions), L. muscarium provoked a large proportion of mycoses in larvae exposed to parasitization. In contrast, the efficacy of parasitization was higher in larvae treated with B. bassiana and exposed to E. formosa because of a lower pathogenic activity of the fungus. Bioassays carried out with third-instar larvae of T. vaporariorum showed a low susceptibility to both tested fungi. Consequently, mortalities recorded in larvae subjected to the combined treatments by consecutive exposures or at 2-4 days post-parasitization were mainly caused by the development of the parasitoid. Greenhouse trials showed that fungus-induced mortality of T. vaporariorum in plants treated with L. muscarium, I. fumosorosea, and B. Bassiana was significant compare to control. L. muscarium, B. bassiana and I. fumosorosea killed young whitefly larvae and limited parasitization to 10% or less. Second-instar larvae of M. caliginosus were not susceptible to L. muscarium and B. bassiana formulations with any mode of contamination: direct spraying of larvae, spraying on the foliar substrate or by contaminated T. vaporariorum prey. In greenhouse trials, M. caliginosus populations treated with fungi were not significantly affected compared to controls.     

Pathophysiological role of nitric oxide and adrenomedullin in autism

Several studies indicate that nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the aetiopathogenesis of many neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, Alzheimer's disease, Hungtington disease and stroke. Although it has not been investigated yet, several recent studies proposed that NO may have a pathophysiological role in autism. Adrenomedullin (AM), a recently discovered 52-amino acid peptide hormone, induces vasorelaxation by activating adenylate cyclase and also by stimulating NO release. AM immune reactivity is present in the brain consistent with a role as a neurotransmitter. It has been stated that NO and AM do function in the regulation of many neurodevelopmental processes. We hypothesized that NO and AM activities have been affected in autistic patients and aimed to examine these molecules. Twenty-six autistic patients and 22 healthy control subjects were included in this study. AM and total nitrite (a metabolite of NO) levels have been measured in plasma. The mean values of plasma total nitrite and AM levels in the autistic group were significantly higher than control values, respectively (p < 0.001, p = 0.028). There is no correlation between total nitrite and AM levels (r = 0.11, p = 0.31). Certainly, this subject needs much further research investigating autistic patients in earlier periods of life and with subtypes of the disorder.     

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     

Improvement of fermentative decolorization of olive mill wastewater by Lactobacillus paracasei by cheese whey's addition

The effect of the cheese whey's (CW) addition on the fermentative decolorization of olive mill wastewater (OMW) by Lactobacillus paracasei, with and without pH adjustment by lime, was investigated. Mixtures OMW/CW at different proportions were fermented. The highest colour removal (47%) and total phenolic reduction (22.7%) of OMW were obtained after cofermentation of OMW/CW at proportions of 10/90, respectively. The decrease of pH after cofermentation of the two wastewaters, induced the precipitation of whey proteins with phenolic compounds and, so, improves decolorization. These removal yields reached 64% and 34%, respectively after precipitation by adjustment of pH at 7 with lime at the end of cofermentation. These improvements were correlated to a clarification of wastewaters by precipitation of whey proteins with phenolic compounds. An enhanced decolorization (up to 93%) and a total phenolic reduction (50%) of the mixture were obtained when cofermentation sequentially pH corrected by lime addition was investigated.