Abstract Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system associated with increased oxidative stress (OS) and mitochondrial alterations. Fish oil consumption has neuroprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in patients with relapsing-recurrent MS (RR-MS). Objective: To evaluate changes in the hydrolytic activity of ATP synthase and mitochondrial membrane fluidity in patients with RR-MS who receive fish oil or olive oil as a dietary supplement. Methods: Clinical, controlled, randomized, double-blind trial. Patients consumed fish oil or olive oil for one year. The hydrolytic activity of ATPase and the fluidity of the mitochondrial membrane of platelets were quantified. Results: In patients with RR-MS, a decrease in the fluidity of mitochondrial membranes and an increase in the hydrolytic activity of ATP synthase was observed in comparison with healthy controls. After 6 or 9 months of treatment with fish oil or olive oil, respectively, these values were normalized. Conclusion: The consumption of fish oil and olive oil increases the fluidity of the mitochondrial membranes and decreases the catabolic activity of ATP synthase in platelets from patients with RR-MS.

Resumen Introducción: la esclerosis múltiple (EM) es una enfermedad inflamatoria del sistema nervioso central asociada con estrés oxidativo (EO) y alteraciones mitocondriales. El aceite de pescado tiene efectos neuroprotectores, antioxidantes y antiinflamatorios en pacientes con EM remitente-recurrente (EM-RR). Objetivo: evaluar los cambios en la actividad hidrolítica de la ATPasa y de la fluidez de membrana mitocondrial en pacientes con EM-RR que reciben aceite de pescado o aceite de oliva como suplemento alimenticio. Métodos: ensayo clínico, controlado, aleatorizado, doble ciego. Los pacientes consumieron aceite de pescado o aceite de oliva durante un año. Se cuantificó la actividad hidrolítica de la ATPasa y la fluidez de la membrana mitocondrial de plaquetas. Resultados: en pacientes con EM-RR hay una disminución de la fluidez de las membranas mitocondriales y un incremento de la actividad hidrolítica de la ATPasa en comparación con controles sanos. Después de 6 y 9 meses de tratamiento con aceite de oliva y de aceite de pescado, respectivamente, los valores se normalizaron y se mantuvieron así hasta el fin del estudio. Conclusión: el consumo de aceite de pescado y aceite de oliva incrementan la fluidez de membrana y disminuye la actividad catabólica de la ATP sintasa en pacientes con EM-RR.

The synthesis of polyacrylamide-cellulose acetate hydrogels by precipitation polymerization in acetone solution is reported herein. These hydrogels exhibit smaller swelling ratios and larger compression moduli than homo polyacrylamide hydrogels. For cellulose acetate concentrations above 20 wt.%, hydrogels with N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker exhibit swelling ratios and compression moduli similar to those of the hydrogels without the crosslinker. A possible explanation for this behavior is that cellulose acetate crosslinks polyacrylamide via free-radical reaction. The hydrogels obtained without the N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide crosslinker exhibit compression moduli up to 1.7 MPa, making them suitable for tissue engineering applications such as cartilage replacement.

Introduction: The feeding behavior establishes a relation of humans with food, includes food habits that could be involved with oxidative stress. Objective: To evaluate the relation of indicators of oxidative stress (lipid peroxides) and antioxidant (ascorbic acid, catalase, superoxide dismutase) with feeding behavior in adults of Teocuhitatlan Corona, Jalisco, Mexico. Method: Study observational, descriptive, cross-sectional of 44 adults with 43 to 88 years, was used a instrument of feeding behavior. The questionnaire were related to indicators of oxidative stress. Were used descriptive statistics, frequency distribution and analysis of covariance with adjustment variables, was considered significant p <0.05. Results: The values of serum lipid peroxides were related to behaviors: consider the nutritional content as most important when choosing food (p = 0.042), dislike milk (p = 0.027), intake of sweets between meals (p = 0.001), habitual inclusion of vegetables and salads in main meal (p = 0.018). We do not found association in to values of ascorbic acid, cholesterol in low density lipoproteins and enzymatic activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase with food behaviors. Discussion: The feeding behaviors analyzed in this study may be involved with development of oxidative stress and could be have protective or harmful effect in development to complications of chronic non-communicable diseases and aging in this population. This suggests to analyze demographic and socio-cultural aspects of region and besides analyzing the consumption and metabolic markers related to food.

Introducción: El comportamiento alimentario establece la relación del ser humano con la alimentación, comprende hábitos alimentarios que podrían intervenir en el desarrollo del estrés oxidativo. Objetivos: Evaluar la relación de indicadores de estrés oxidativo (lipoperóxidos) y capacidad antioxidante (ácido ascórbico, catalasa, superóxido dismutasa) con el comportamiento alimentario en adultos que residen en Teocuitatlán de Corona, Jalisco, México. Método: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal, comparativo de 44 adultos de 43 a 88 años de edad. Se aplicó un instrumento de comportamiento alimentario. Los resultados del cuestionario se relacionaron con los indicadores de estrés oxidativo. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva, distribución de frecuencias y análisis de co-varianza con ajuste de variables, se consideró una significancia de p <0.05. Resultados: Los valores de lipoperóxidos en suero se relacionaron a las siguientes conductas: considerar el contenido nutrimental como factor más importante al elegir el alimento (p=0.042), desagrado por lácteos (p=0.027), ingesta de dulces entre las comidas (p=0.001), inclusión habitual de verduras y ensaladas en la comida principal (p=0.018). No se encontró relación significativa de los valores de cantidad total de ácido ascórbico, colesterol en lipoproteínas de baja densidad y actividades enzimáticas de catalasa y superóxido dismutasa con las conductas alimentarios analizados. Discusión: Los hábitos y conductas de alimentación analizados pueden intervenir en el desarrollo del estrés oxidativo y presentar un efecto protector o perjudicial hacia las complicaciones de enfermedades crónicas no trasmisibles y el envejecimiento de esta población. Se sugiere profundizar en aspectos sociodemográficos y socioculturales de la región, además de integrar un análisis de consumo de alimentos y de marcadores metabólicos relacionados con la alimentación.

BACKGROUND: Karwinskia humboldtiana (Kh) is a poisonous plant of the rhamnacea family. To elucidate some of the subcellular effects of Kh toxicity, membrane fluidity and ATPase activities as hydrolytic and as proton-pumping activity were assessed in rat liver submitochondrial particles. Rats were randomly assigned into control non-treated group and groups that received 1,1.5 and 2 g/Kg body weight of dry powder of Kh fruit, respectively. Rats were euthanized at day 1 and 7 after treatment RESULTS: Rats under Kh treatment at all dose levels tested, does not developed any neurologic symptoms. However, we detected alterations in membrane fluidity and ATPase activity. Lower dose of Kh on day 1 after treatment induced higher mitochondrial membrane fluidity than control group. This change was strongly correlated with increased ATPase activity and pH gradient driven by ATP hydrolysis. On the other hand, membrane fluidity was hardly affected on day 7 after treatment with Kh. Surprisingly, the pH gradient driven by ATPase activity was significantly higher than controls despite an diminution of the hydrolytic activity of ATPase CONCLUSIONS: The changes in ATPase activity and pH gradient driven by ATPase activity suggest an adaptive condition whereby the fluidity of the membrane is altered

Decreased Choline Acetyltransferase (ChAT) brain level is one of the main biochemical disorders in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In rodents, recent data show that the CHAT gene can be regulated by a neural restrictive silencer factor (NRSF). The aim of the present work was to evaluate the gene and protein expression of CHAT and NRSF in frontal, temporal, entorhinal and parietal cortices of AD patient brains. Four brains from patients with AD and four brains from subjects without dementia were studied. Cerebral tissues were obtained and processed by the guanidine isothiocyanate method for RNA extraction. CHAT and NRSF gene and protein expression were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. CHAT gene expression levels were 39% lower in AD patients as compared to the control group (p < 0.05, U test). ChAT protein levels were reduced by 17% (p = 0.02, U test). NRSF gene expression levels were 86% higher in the AD group (p = 0.001, U test) as compared to the control group. In the AD subjects, the NRSF protein levels were 57% higher (p > 0.05, U test) than in the control subjects. These findings suggest for the first time that in the brain of AD patients high NRSF protein levels are related to low CHAT gene expression levels.