Results of Malnutrition Correction in Children with Cystic Fibrosis with Hypercaloric Formulas for Enteral Nutrition for One Month: Cohort Study

Background. The use of hypercaloric formulas in cystic fibrosis patients has the risks of negative effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Thus, it is interesting to analyze the efficacy of malnutrition correction and the safety of hypercaloric enteral products with a low glycemic index and with medium-chain triglycerides content of 50%.Objective. The aim of the study is analyze the efficacy of malnutrition correction with therapeutic hypercaloric product for enteral nutrition in children with cystic fibrosis.Methods. The study included patients aged from 3 to 18 years with malnutrition (BMI < 50 percentile) who were prescribed therapeutic hypercaloric formula to correct the malnutrition. Anthropometric indicators (height, body weight), actual nutritional status, pancreatin doses, lung function, carbohydrate metabolism rates, and cholestasis marker (bile acid concentration) were measured initially and after 1 month of using formula nutrition.Results. The children’ body weight (Me) has increased from 24.5 (21.2; 38.7) to 25.3 kg (21.6; 39.7) (p = 0.001), growth (Me) — from 133.5 (120.2; 146.5) to 136.5 cm (123.0; 148.5) (p < 0.001) after 1 month of using hypercaloric formula. The growth percentile increased from 33 to 40, the z-criterion values — from –0.5 to –0.3 SD (p < 0.001). There was no increase in BMI in dynamics due to the fact that the growth of children was ahead of body weight increase. The daily energy intake increased by an average of 450 kcal that was 21.8% regarding physiological need.Conclusion. The inclusion of hypercaloric formula in the diet of children with cystic fibrosis for 1 month significantly increases the indicators of linear growth and positively affects the overall physical development. There were no negative effect of formula on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

Methanol Extract of Azanza garckeana Fruit Pulps Protects against Formalin-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Adult Albino Male Mice

Introduction: The aqueous extract of Azanza garckeana was recently reported of exhibiting ameliorative and pro-fertility properties however the protective effects on formalin testicular toxicity have not been studied. Objective: This study investigated the protective effect of methanol extract of Azanza garckeana on formalin-induced testicular toxicity. Methods: Forty male albino mice were randomly divided into 8 groups of 5. Animals in the first group (1) served as control and administered normal saline (1 ml/kg) by the oral route daily for 40 days. In similar manner, animal in groups 2 received formalin (10 mg/kg) by the IP route, while animals in groups 3; 4 and 5 concurrently received formalin (10 mg/kg IP) and extract at doses of 125; 250 and 500 mg/kg respectively by the oral route. Mice in groups 6; 7 and 8 received the extract at doses of 125; 250 and 500 mg/kg respectively. Phytochemical analysis was conducted for each constituent using specific methods. Gonadotropin and sperm analysis were carried out using standard methods. Result: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various constituents, but notably flavonoids. Induced-toxicity with formalin and concurrent treatment with extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg from day 20 to 40 caused significant body weight increase compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Similarly, treatment with the extract alone at all doses caused significant increase in body weight from day 20 to 40 (p < 0.05). Treatment with the extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg, caused a significant increase in weight of testes and epididymis compared to control and untreated group (p < 0.05).The extract induced significant increase in gonadotropin levels of animals compared to control and the untreated group (p < 0.05).The extract at 125 mg/kg demonstrated the highest fecundity potential, but there was no any consistent relationship between GSI and fecundity. Conclusion: This investigation was able to establish the protective and pro-fertility potentials of methanol extract of Azanza garckeana.

Nutritional behaviors of women and men in Poland during confinement related to the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic

The influence of the confinement on the changes of eating behaviors in men and women in Poland and between groups were assessed. Results were obtained for 112 men and 200 women. An anonymous questionnaire available on-line from 29 April to 19 May 2020 was the research tool. It contained questions about the frequency of consumption "before" and "during" confinement. Additionally, anthropometric measurements were declared by the respondents. An increase in the number of meals and an improvement in their regularity were observed in both groups. However, the frequency of snacking also increased. During lockdown women consumed potatoes, sweets, canned meat and eggs and men consumed canned meat more frequently. Products consumed less frequently were: fast food, instant soups and energy drinks (women), and white bread and fast food (men). The frequency of alcohol consumption also increased during lockdown. Average body weight and BMI increased significantly during social isolation. Body weight increase was declared by almost half of women and 40% of men. During the blockade period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the dietary behavior of the study group of women and men were found. The nature of these changes varied according to gender and the dietary parameters analyzed.

Impact of body mass index on duplex parameters of cranial vessels among the Egyptian population

Background Obesity is a major health problem that affects different vascular systems, including cerebrovascular circulation. Carotid duplex is the best screening tool for early diagnosis of cerebrovascular changes in relation to different risk factors including obesity. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of body mass index on the parameters of extracranial vessels in healthy subjects using vascular duplex ultrasonography. Results The intimal medial thickness in the common carotid is found to increase as the body mass index and body weight increase (directly related), with this increase being significant (P-value < 0.05). Conclusion These findings indicate that increase in body mass index can adversely affect duplex parameters of the common carotid artery. Clinical trial registration NCT03252652. Registered August 16th 2017

Polysaccharides Obtained from Cordyceps militaris Alleviate Hyperglycemia by Regulating Gut Microbiota in Mice Fed a High-Fat/Sucrose Diet

Polysaccharides isolated from fungus Cordyceps militaris display multi-biofunctions, such as immunostimulation, down-regulation of hyperlipidemia, and anti-cancer function. The occurrence of obesity and metabolic syndrome is related to the imbalance of gut microbiota. In this study, the effects of C. militaris and its fractions on modifying metabolic syndrome in mice were evaluated. Mice were fed a high-fat/high-sucrose diet (HFSD) for 14 weeks to induce body weight increase and hyperlipidemia symptoms in mice, and then the mice were simultaneously given a HFSD and C. militaris samples for a further 8 weeks. The results indicated that the fruit body, polysaccharides, and cordycepin obtained from C. militaris had different efficacies on regulating metabolic syndrome and gut microbiota in HFSD-treated mice. Polysaccharides derived from C. militaris decreased the levels of blood sugar and serum lipids in mice fed HFSD. In addition, C. militaris-polysaccharide treatment obviously improved intestinal dysbiosis through promoting the population of next generation probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila in the gut of mice fed HFSD. In conclusion, polysaccharides derived from C. militaris have the potential to act as dietary supplements and health food products for modifying the gut microbiota to improve the metabolic syndrome.

Antimalarial Property and Acute Toxicity of the Leaves of Theobroma cacao L.

The leaf of Theobroma cacao L. is used in traditional medicine in Ghana for the treatment of malaria, yet, with no scientific evidence of its antimalarial property in animals. It was, therefore, studied to validate the antimalarial property in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Infected mice were treated with an aqueous extract of T. cacao leaf at different doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg daily for four days. Parasitaemia was determined before treatment and 24 hours following the last dose of extract. The % reduction in parasitaemia and ED50 and ED90 of the extract were determined. Body weight, rectal temperature, and daily mortality of mice were also recorded. The extract had ED50 and ED90 of 242.20 ± 29.38 and 351.00 ± 29.52 mg/kg/day, respectively. Percentage parasitaemia suppression was significant for all doses. The extract at the maximum dose of 400 mg/kg body weight had the highest % parasitaemia suppression of 79.19%; mean survival time of 24.00 ± 2.19 days and median survival of 23 days; body weight increase of 3.82 ± 0.59; and the lowest body temperature reduction of 0.79 ± 0.11°C. T. cacao leaf extract showed an antimalarial property in P. berghei-infected mice. This reinforces the justification for the use of the plant material in treating malaria in Ghana.

The Effect of Obesity and Flexibility Toward Women’s Body Fat in Productive Age at Larasati Gymnastic Semarang Member

Obesity is an body fat increase. Overweight is a relative body weight increase when compared to the standard. Overweight then became a term that represented "obesity" both clinically and epidemiologically. Flexibility is the effectiveness of a person in adjusting himself to all activities with stretching the body in a wide area of the joint. The design used in this study is a 2x2 factorial. It is explained about factorial experiments that what is measured is not only the influence of the main factor of each independent variable on the dependent variable, but also the influence of the interaction between the independent variables. The population in this study is the 50 members of Larasati gymnastics in Semarang, who in productive age women between 30-40 years.The number of samples is quite representative (representing) for the large population in this study. The sampling technique in this study was using purposive sampling, which is a sampling technique determined by giving equal opportunity to each member of the population as a sample, namely the number is adjusted to the member of the subject in each group, the experimental group of obesity type pear and apple type obesity control group. Based on the results of the research achieved, it turns out that women who have high flexibility have a large reduction in fat if they have the apple type of obesity. Women who have high flexibility with apple obesity type have a better decrease in body fat than women with low flexibility and have pear obesity type. Fcount = 6.962> Ftable = 3.11. The effectiveness that is applied to reduce body fat is influenced by the type of high flexibility and type of low flexibility of those women.

Nutritional Behaviors of Women and Men in Poland During Confinement Related to the SARS-CoV-2 Epidemic

Purpose The influence of the confinement on the changes of eating behaviors in men and women in Poland and between groups were assessed. Methods Results were obtained for 112 healthy men and 200 women. An anonymous questionnaire available on-line from 29 April to 19 May 2020 was the research tool. It contained questions about the frequency of consumption "before" and "during" confinement. Additionally, anthropometric measurements were declared by the respondents. Results An increase in the number of meals and an improvement in their regularity were observed in both groups. However, the frequency of snacking also increased. During lockdown women consumed potatoes, sweets, canned meat and eggs and men consumed canned meat more frequently. Products consumed less frequently were: fast food, instant soups and energy drinks (women), and white bread and fast food (men). The frequency of alcohol consumption also increased during lockdown. Average body weight and BMI increased significantly during social isolation. Body weight increase was declared by almost half of women and 40% of men. Conclusion During the blockade period caused by the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic, changes in the dietary behavior of the study group of women and men were found. The nature of these changes varied according to gender and the dietary parameters analyzed.

D-Tagatose Feeding Reduces the Risk of Sugar-Induced Exacerbation of Myocardial I/R Injury When Compared to Its Isomer Fructose

It is known that fructose may contribute to myocardial vulnerability to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. D-tagatose is a fructose isomer with less caloric value and used as low-calorie sweetener. Here we compared the metabolic impact of fructose or D-tagatose enriched diets on potential exacerbation of myocardial I/R injury. Wistar rats were randomizedly allocated in the experimental groups and fed with one of the following diets: control (CTRL), 30% fructose-enriched (FRU 30%) or 30% D-tagatose-enriched (TAG 30%). After 24 weeks of dietary manipulation, rats underwent myocardial injury caused by 30 min ligature of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery followed by 24 h′ reperfusion. Fructose consumption resulted in body weight increase (49%) as well as altered glucose, insulin and lipid profiles. These effects were associated with increased I/R-induced myocardial damage, oxidative stress (36.5%) and inflammation marker expression. TAG 30%-fed rats showed lower oxidative stress (21%) and inflammation in comparison with FRU-fed rats. Besides, TAG diet significantly reduced plasmatic inflammatory cytokines and GDF8 expression (50%), while increased myocardial endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression (59%). Overall, we demonstrated that D-tagatose represents an interesting sugar alternative when compared to its isomer fructose with reduced deleterious impact not only on the metabolic profile but also on the related heart susceptibility to I/R injury.

Ameliorative and fecundity potentials of aqueous extract of Azanza garckeana (T. Hoffm) fruit pulp in formalin-induced toxicity on male albino mice

The study investigated the ameliorative and fecundity potentials of Azanza garckeana on formalin-induced toxicity in mice testes. Male albino mice were divided into eight groups of five mice each. Group I was administered normal saline (1 ml/kg per oral); Group II received formalin (10 mg/kg) alone; Groups III, IV and V received formalin (10 mg/kg IP) plus extract (orally) at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg respectively for 40 days; Groups VI, VII and VIII received extract alone at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg respectively. Gonadotropin assays and sperm analysis were carried out using standard methods. Animals in groups III to VIII showed significant body weight increase compared to baseline value (p<0.05) from day 20 to 40. Co-administration of the extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg with formalin caused a significant increase in weight of the epididymis compared to control (p<0.05). Extract at 125 and 500 mg/kg induced significant increase in LH, FSH and testosterone compared to control (p<0.05). Extract alone at 250 and 500 mg/kg caused significant increase in FSH compared with control (p<0.05). Extract at 250 mg/kg demonstrated highest fecundity potential of 8.49. These results imply that Azanza garckeana possesses ameliorative and pro-fertility properties. Keywords: Azanza garckeana; Gonadotropins; Aphrodisia; Fecundity; Gonadosomatic index; Sperm Motility