Abstract Cholesterol is a lipid molecule of great biological importance to animal cells. Dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism leads to raised blood total cholesterol levels, a clinical condition called hypercholesterolemia. Evidence has shown that hypercholesterolemia is associated with the development of liver and heart disease. One of the mechanisms underlying heart and liver alterations induced by hypercholesterolemia is oxidative stress. In this regard, in several experimental studies, gold nanoparticles (AuNP) displayed antioxidant properties. We hypothesized that hypercholesterolemia causes redox system imbalance in the liver and cardiac tissues, and AuNP treatment could ameliorate it. Young adult male Swiss mice fed a regular rodent diet or a high cholesterol diet for eight weeks and concomitantly treated with AuNP (2.5 μg/kg) or vehicle by oral gavage. Hypercholesterolemia increased the nitrite concentration and glutathione (GSH) levels and decreased the liver’s superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Also, hypercholesterolemia significantly enhanced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and GSH levels in cardiac tissue. Notably, AuNP promoted the redox system homeostasis, increasing the SOD activity in hepatic tissue and reducing ROS levels in cardiac tissue. Overall, our data showed that hypercholesterolemia triggered oxidative stress in mice’s liver and heart, which was partially prevented by AuNP treatment.

Abstract Muscle overuse and its consequent muscle damage has no cure. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of tau-AuNPs on muscle recovery of muscle overuse model. The animals (Male Swiss mice) were randomly divided into four groups: Control (Ctr; n=6); tau-AuNPs (n=6); overuse (n=6); and overuse plus tau-AuNPs (n=6). Exercise sessions were performed for 21 consecutive days, and one exercise model was applied daily in the following sequence: low intensity, moderate intensity, and high intensity. The mice were then sacrificed. The quadriceps muscles were surgically removed for subsequent biochemical analysis (oxidative stress parameters, DNA damage markers and muscle differentiation protein). The overuse group significantly increased the oxidative stress parameters and DNA damage markers, whereas tau-AuNPs significantly decreased the oxidative stress parameters in the overuse animal model. However, there were no significant differences observed between overuse group and overuse plus tau-AuNPs administrated group in relation to DNA damage markers including DNA damage frequency and index levels when compared to control and tau-AuNPs groups. Muscle differentiation protein Myf-5 was increased in the overuse plus tau-AuNPs administration group when compared to control group. In conclusion, tau-AuNPs had significant effect on reducing oxidative stress parameters and increasing myogenic regulatory protein Myf-5 in the overuse group. However, it did not have significant effect on reducing DNA damage.

OBJECTIVES: Progressive decline of physiological processes with aging is normal. Aging is also associated with decreased functional capacity and onset of many diseases. This study evaluated the changes in physical fitness (PF), body composition (BC), and lipid profile (LP) in elderly men completing different training protocols. METHODS: Fifty-five men (age 60-80 years) were randomized into the following groups: without training, aerobic training on dry land, combined training on dry land, and combined training in water. Training was conducted for 8 weeks, and PF, LP, and BC were assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in all parameters; however, combined programs on land or in water were more effective at improving strength and aerobic fitness. Combined exercise produced greater effects on BC and LP and some muscle fitness parameters; however, improvements in muscular and aerobic capacities occurred independently of exercise type or model. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the effects of training occur regardless of training type or model, and are directly associated with training periodization, adherence, and regularity.

Estudos têm apontado o exercício físico regular de baixa a moderada intensidade como um importante agente no combate ao estresse oxidativo. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito do exercício físico regular na resposta oxidativa pulmonar após a inalação de pó de carvão mineral. Vinte e quatro ratos Wistar machos (200-250g) foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos com respectivos controles (treinado, n = 6 e não-treinado, n = 6). Os animais receberam, por instilação traqueal, pó de carvão mineral (3mg/0,5ml salina, três dias/semana, durante três semanas) ou 0,5ml de solução salina 0,9%. Quarenta e oito horas após a última instilação, o grupo treinado foi submetido a um programa de exercício progressivo em esteira durante 12 semanas (até 17m.min-1, 50min.dia-1, 10% de inclinação). Quarenta e oito horas após a última sessão de treinamento, todos os animais foram mortos por decapitação e os pulmões e sóleo foram cirurgicamente removidos para posterior análise bioquímica. A atividade da citrato-sintase foi determinada no músculo sóleo e os danos em lipídios e proteínas foram avaliados nos pulmões pela concentração de TBARS e pela determinação de grupos carbonil, respectivamente. Os resultados mostram que a prática regular de exercício físico reduz significativamente os níveis presentes de TBARS em ratos treinados e diminui os níveis de oxidação em proteínas em ambos os grupos quando comparados com os respectivos controles. Os resultados nos levam a sugerir que o exercício físico regular em esteira é um agente capaz de amenizar os danos oxidativos pulmonares induzidos pela inalação de partículas de carvão mineral.

Several studies have pointed the regular low to moderate intensity physical exercise an important agent to combat the oxidant stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the physical exercise in the pulmonary oxidant response after inhaling mineral coal dust. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were randomly divided in two groups with their respective controls (trained, n = 6; non-trained, n = 6). All animals received mineral coal dust via tracheal instillation (saline 3 mg/0.5 ml, 3 days/week for 3 weeks), or 0.5 ml of 0.9% saline solution. Forty-eight hours after the last instillation, the trained group was submitted to a progressive exercise program on treadmill for twelve weeks (up to 17 m.min-1, 50 min/day-1, 10% inclination). Forty-eight hours after the last training session, every animal was killed by decapitation, and their lungs and soleus were surgically removed for later biochemical analysis. The citrate synthase activity was determined in the soleus muscle, and the damages on the lipids and proteins were assessed into the lungs by means of the TBARS concentration and by determining the carbonyl groups, respectively. The results show that the regular practice of physical exercises reduces significantly the present TBARS levels in trained rats, decreasing the oxidation levels in proteins of both groups compared to their respective controls. The results lead us to suggest that the regular physical exercise on treadmill is an agent capable to soften the pulmonary oxidant damages caused by inhaling mineral coal particles.

Los estudios han estado apuntando el ejercicio físico regular de intensidad baja a moderada como un agente importante en el combate a la tensión oxidativa. El objetivo de ese estudio era investigar el efecto del ejercicio físico para regular la respuesta oxidativa pulmonar después de la inhalación de polvo de carbón mineral. Veinticuatro ratones varones Wistar (200-250g) fueron aleatoriamente divididos en 2 grupos con los mandos respectivos (, n = 6 y Ningún -, n = 6). Los animales recibieron, por instilación traqueal polvo de carbón mineral (3mg/0,5ml salina, 3 dias/semana, durante 3 semanas) o 0,5ml de solución salina 0,9%. Cuarenta ocho horas después de la última instilación, el grupo especializado fue sometido a un programa de ejercicio progresivo en la cinta durante 12 semanas (a 17m.min-1, 50min.dia-1, 10% de inclinación). Cuarenta ocho horas después de la última sesión de entrenamiento, todos los animales fueron sacrificados por decapitación y los pulmones y el músculo sóleo fueron extirpados por cirugía para el análisis bioquímico subsecuente. La actividad de la citrato-sintetasa fue determinada en los músculos así como los daños y perjuicios en los lipidos y las proteínas se estimaron en los pulmones para la concentración de TBARS y para la determinación de carbonilo de estos grupos, respectivamente. Los resultados mostraron que el ejercicio físico regular reduce los niveles presentes de TBARS significativamente en los ratones especializados y reduce los niveles de la oxidación en las proteínas en ambos grupos cuando se compararon los grupos respectivos. Los resultados permitieron sugerir que el ejercicio físico regular en la cinta es un agente capaz minimizarlos daños y perjuicios oxidativos pulmonares inducidos por la inhalación de partículas de carbón mineral.