Nutritional strategies cause memory damage and alter biochemical parameters without causing neuroinflammation

Obesity results from an energy imbalance and has been considered an epidemic due to its increasing rates worldwide. It is classified as a low-grade chronic inflammatory disease and has associated comorbidities. Different nutritional strategies are used for the purpose of weight loss, highlighting low-carbohydrate (LC) diets, ketogenic diets, and intermittent fasting (IF). These strategies can lead to metabolic and behavioral changes as they stimulate different biochemical pathways. Therefore, this study evaluated memory, energy metabolism, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense parameters in mice subjected to an LC diet, ketogenic diet (KD), or IF. Eighty male Swiss mice, 60 days old, were divided into 4 groups: control, LC, KD, or IF. Body weight was measured weekly, and food intake every 48 h. After 15 days of nutritional interventions, the animals were subjected to the behavioral object recognition test and subsequently euthanized. Then, visceral fat was removed and weighed, and the brain was isolated for inflammatory and biochemical analysis. We concluded from this study that the LC and KD strategies could damage memory, IF improves the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and the LC, KD, and IF strategies do not lead to neuroinflammatory damage but present damage at the level of oxidative stress.

Short-term hyperoxia induced mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes dysfunction and oxidative stress in lung of rats

BACKGROUND

Oxygen therapy is an alternative for many patients with hypoxemia. However, this practice can be dangerous as oxygen is closely associated with the development of oxidative stress.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were exposed to hyperoxia with a 40% fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) and hyperoxia (FIO2 = 60%) for 120 min. Blood and lung tissue samples were collected for gas, oxidative stress, and inflammatory analyses.

RESULTS

Hyperoxia (FIO2 = 60%) increased PaCO2 and PaO2, decreased blood pH and caused thrombocytopenia and lymphocytosis. In lung tissue, neutrophil infiltration, nitric oxide concentration, carbonyl protein formation and the activity of complexes I and II of the mitochondrial respiratory chain increased. FIO2 = 60% decreased SOD activity and caused several histologic changes.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we have experimentally demonstrated that short-term exposure to high FIO2 can cause oxidative stress in the lung.

High concentrations of fructose cause brain damage in mice

Excessive fructose consumption is associated with the incidence of obesity and systemic inflammation, resulting in increased oxidative damage and failure to the function of brain structures. Thus, we hypothesized that fructose consumption will significantly increase inflammation, oxidative damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction in the mouse brain and, consequently, memory damage. The effects of different fructose concentrations on inflammatory and biochemical parameters in the mouse brain were evaluated. Male Swiss mice were randomized into four groups: control, with exclusive water intake, 5%, 10%, and 20% fructose group. The 10% and 20% fructose groups showed an increase in epididymal fat, in addition to higher food consumption. Inflammatory markers were increased in epididymal fat and in some brain structures. In the evaluation of oxidative damage, it was possible to observe significant increases in the hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. In the epididymal fat and in the prefrontal cortex, there was a decrease in the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes and an increase in the striatum. Furthermore, short memory was impaired in the 10% and 20% groups but not long memory. In conclusion, excess fructose consumption can cause fat accumulation, inflammation, oxidative damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction, which can damage brain structures and consequently memory.

Influence of anti-obesity strategies on brain function in health and review: A review

The aim of this review was to investigate in the literature the application of strategies such as low carbohydrate diet (LCD), ketogenic diet (KD) and intermittent fasting (IF) and their effects on the CNS. We performed a narrative review of the literature. The search was specifically carried out in PubMed, selecting articles in English, which had the following keywords: obesity, central nervous system, low carb diet, ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting, using the narrative review methodology. The studies found show that the benefits of the LCD, KD and IF strategies, at the CNS level, have a strong influence on the mechanisms of hunger and satiety, as well as on the reduction of food reward and show improvement in memory and mood influenced by the interventions.

Stanniocalcin 1 Inhibits the Inflammatory Response in Microglia and Protects Against Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy

Sepsis-associated encephalopathy is a serious consequence of sepsis, triggered by the host response against an infectious agent, that can lead to brain damage and cognitive impairment. Several mechanisms have been proposed in this bidirectional communication between the immune system and the brain after sepsis as neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1), an endogen neuroprotective protein, acts as an anti-inflammatory and suppresses superoxide generation through induction of uncoupling proteins (UCPs) in the mitochondria. Here, we demonstrated a protective role of STC-1 on inflammatory responses in vitro, in activated microglia stimulated with LPS, and on neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function in the hippocampus of rats subjected to an animal model of sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), as well the consequences on long-term memory. Recombinant human STC-1 (rhSTC1) suppressed the pro-inflammatory cytokine production in LPS-stimulated microglia without changing the UCP-2 expression. Besides, rhSTC1 injected into the cisterna magna decreased acute hippocampal inflammation and oxidative stress and increased the activity of complex I and II activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain and creatine kinase at 24 h after sepsis. rhSTC1 was effective in preventing long-term cognitive impairment after CLP. In conclusion, rhSTC1 confers significant neuroprotection by inhibiting the inflammatory response in microglia and protecting against sepsis-associated encephalopathy in rats.

Treatment with isolated gold nanoparticles reverses brain damage caused by obesity

In this study, we performed two experiments. In the first experiment, the objective was to link gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with sodium diclofenac and/or soy lecithin and to determine their concentration in tissues and their toxicity using hepatic and renal analyzes in mice to evaluate their safety as therapeutic agents in the subsequent treatment of obesity. In the second experiment, we evaluated the effect of GNPs on inflammatory and biochemical parameters in obese mice. In the first experiment, we synthesized and characterized 18 nm GNPs that were administered intraperitoneally in isolation or in association with sodium diclofenac and/or soy lecithin in mice once daily for 1 or 14 days. Twenty-four hours after the single or final administration, the animals were euthanized, following which the tissues were removed for evaluating the concentration of GNPs, and serum samples were collected for hepatic and renal analysis. Hepatic damage was evaluated based on the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), whereas renal damage was evaluated based on creatinine levels. A higher concentration of GNPs was detected in the tissues upon administration for 14 days, and there were no signs of hepatic or renal damage. In the second experiment, the mice were used as animal models of obesity and were fed a high-fat diet (obese group) and control diet (control group). After eight weeks of high-fat diet administration, the mice were treated with saline or with GNPs (average size of 18 nm) at a concentration of 70 mg/L (70 mg/kg) once a day, for 14 days, for 10 weeks. Body weight and food intake were measured frequently. After the experiment ended, the animals were euthanized, serum samples were collected for glucose and lipid profile analysis, the mesenteric fat content was weighed, and the brains were removed for inflammatory and biochemical analysis. In obese mice, although GNP administration did not reduce body and mesenteric fat weight, it reduced food intake. The glucose levels were reversed upon administration of GNPs, whereas the lipid profile was not altered in any of the groups. GNPs exerted a beneficial effect on inflammation and oxidative stress parameters, without reverting mitochondrial dysfunction. Our results indicate that the intraperitoneal administration of GNPs for 14 days results in a significant GNP concentration in adipose tissues, which could be an interesting finding for the treatment of inflammation associated with obesity. Based on the efficacy of GNPs in reducing dietary intake, inflammation, and oxidative stress, they can be considered potential alternative agents for the treatment of obesity.

Gold nanoparticles potentiates N-acetylcysteine effects on neurochemicals alterations in rats after polymicrobial sepsis

Herein, we report the effect of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and n-acetylcysteine (NAC) isolated or in association as important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds on brain dysfunction in septic rats. Male Wistar rats after sham operation or caecal ligation and perforation (CLP) were treated with subcutaneously injection of AuNP (50 mg/kg) and/or NAC (20 mg/kg) or saline immediately and 12 h after surgery. Twenty-four hours after CLP, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were obtained and assayed for myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, cytokines, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls formation, mitochondrial respiratory chain, and CK activity. AuNP + NAC association decreased MPO activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines production, being more effective than NAC or AuNP isolated treatment. AuNP + NAC association and NAC isolated treatment decreased oxidative stress to lipids in both brain structures, while protein oxidation decreased only in the hippocampus of AuNP + NAC association-treated animals. Complex I activity was increased with AuNP + NAC association and NAC isolated in the hippocampus. Regarding CK activity, AuNP and AuNP + NAC association increased this marker in both brain structures after CLP. Our data provide the first experimental demonstration that AuNP and NAC association was able to reduce sepsis-induced brain dysfunction in rats by decreasing neuroinflammation, oxidative stress parameters, mitochondrial dysfunction and CK activity.

Parent-child agreement on ratings of anxiety in children

Research on congruence of parents' and children's reports of children's symptomatology has typically yielded low to moderate agreement. This study extended past research by examining the rate of parent-child agreement on reported anxiety for a nonclinical sample of children. 85 children ages 8 to 16 years and attending recreational summer camps completed measures of their own anxiety and parents completed the same scales on their children twice; once according to their perceptions of their own child's anxiety and once for how they predicted their own child would complete the measures. Analysis indicated that (a) parent-child correspondence was low when using either parents' perceptions or predictions of their child's anxiety, (b) mother-father correspondence on their child's anxiety was moderately high, (c) the children's gender and age were not significantly associated with correspondence, and (d) mothers' and fathers' anxiety was negatively associated with parent-child correspondence. The implications of these findings for research and clinical practice are discussed.