Iria Luiza Gomes Farias

A method for isolation of rat lymphocyte-rich mononuclear cells from lung tissue useful for determination of nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase activity

Methods for the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human lung mononuclear cells (LMCs) have been proposed previously. This study describes a method that allows the separation of lymphocyte-rich LMCs from rats. Trypan blue was applied to determine cell viability. White blood cell and differential cell counts were also performed. Relationships between nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase, EC 3.6.1.5) activities expressed in milligrams of protein, millions of cells, and millions of viable cells were examined as linear correlations. The lung tissue yielded 82.46% lymphocytes, 8.6% macrophages, 2.20% monocytes, and 1.27% polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). In LMCs, a very strong correlation was observed as follows: between NTPDase activity, as determined using ATP or ADP as a substrate, expressed in milligrams of protein and that expressed in millions of cells (r ≥ 0.91), between that expressed in milligrams of protein and that expressed in millions of viable cells (r ≥ 0.91), and between that expressed in millions of cells and that expressed in millions of viable cells (r ≥ 0.98). Based on our results, we affirm that NTPDase activity could be expressed in millions of viable cells, millions of cells, or milligrams of protein.

Brazilian nut consumption by healthy volunteers improves inflammatory parameters.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single dose of Brazil nuts on the inflammatory markers of healthy individuals. METHOD A randomized crossover study was conducted with 10 healthy individuals (mean age 24.7 ± 3.4 y). Each individual was tested four times regarding intake of different portions of Brazil nuts: 0, 5, 20 and 50 g. At each testing period, peripheral blood was collected before and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 24, and 48 h after intake of nuts, as well as at 5 and 30 d after intake of various Brazil nut portions. Blood samples were tested for high-sensitivity to C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, albumin, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, urea, and creatinine. RESULTS Consumption of nuts did not affect biochemical parameters for liver and kidney function, indicating absence of hepatic and renal toxicity. A single intake of Brazil nuts (20 or 50 g) caused a significant decrease in serum IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels (P < 0.05), whereas serum levels of IL-10 were significantly increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The results indicate a long-term decrease in inflammatory markers after a single intake of large portions of Brazil nuts in healthy volunteers. Therefore, the long-term effect of regular Brazil nut consumption on inflammatory markers should be better investigated.

Uncaria tomentosa-Adjuvant Treatment for Breast Cancer: Clinical Trial.

Breast cancer is the most frequent neoplasm affecting women worldwide. Some of the recommended treatments involve chemotherapy whose toxic effects include leukopenia and neutropenia. This study assessed the effectiveness of Uncaria tomentosa (Ut) in reducing the adverse effects of chemotherapy through a randomized clinical trial. Patients with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma—Stage II, who underwent a treatment regimen known as FAC (Fluorouracil, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide), were divided into two groups: the UtCa received chemotherapy plus 300 mg dry Ut extract per day and the Ca group that only received chemotherapy and served as the control experiment. Blood samples were collected before each one of the six chemotherapy cycles and blood counts, immunological parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and oxidative stress were analyzed. Uncaria tomentosa reduced the neutropenia caused by chemotherapy and was also able to restore cellular DNA damage. We concluded that Ut is an effective adjuvant treatment for breast cancer.

A Single Consumption of High Amounts of the Brazil Nuts Improves Lipid Profile of Healthy Volunteers

Background. This study investigates the effects of Brazil nut ingestion on serum lipid profile in healthy volunteers. Methods. Ten healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Each subject was tested 4 times in a randomized crossover in relation to the ingestion of different serving sizes of the Brazil nut: 0, 5, 20, or 50 g. At each treatment point, peripheral blood was drawn before and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 24, and 48 hours and 5 and 30 days. Blood samples were tested for total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c and LDL-c, resp.), triglycerides, selenium, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, albumin, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, gamma GT, urea, creatinine, and C-reactive protein. Results. A significant increase of the plasma selenium levels was observed at 6 hours within the groups receiving the nuts. Serum LDL-c was significantly lower, whereas HDL-c was significantly higher 9 hours after the ingestion of 20 or 50 g of nuts. The biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function were not modified by ingestion of nuts. Conclusions. This study shows that the ingestion of a single serving of Brazil nut can acutely improve the serum lipid profile of healthy volunteers.

A single high dose of ascorbic acid and iron is not correlated with oxidative stress in healthy volunteers.

Fe (II) is a potential prooxidant in vivo and can induce cellular oxidative stress. Ascorbic acid (AA) is a powerful physiological antioxidant and, in the presence of free Fe (II), can exhibit prooxidant effects in vitro. However, in vivo prooxidant effects of Fe (II) and AA have not yet been indisputably demonstrated. Here we evaluate the potential toxic effect of supplementation of Fe (II) associated with AA. Nine healthy, nonsmoking male volunteers (20–31 years old) participated in the crossover study design. The volunteers were supplemented with either a dose of 2 g of AA, 150 mg of iron carbonyl or 2 g of AA plus 150 mg of iron carbonyl with a washout period of 15 days between each treatment. AA, iron, ferritin, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, catalase, δ-aminolevulinic dehydratase and SH thiol groups were measured in the blood of the volunteers. Plasma AA levels were increased at 2, 5 and 24 h after AA or AA plus iron ingestion. Plasma Fe levels were increased at 2 and 5 h in the AA plus iron group. Erythrocyte malondialdehyde levels decreased at 5 and 24 h after AA and 5 h after AA plus iron ingestion. Catalase activity from erythrocytes was increased 5 h after supplementation with AA plus iron. There was no significant difference between groups in the other biochemical parameters evaluated. Thus, the present study does not support the hypothesis that the combination of high plasma concentrations of AA and iron, or iron alone, could cause in vivo oxidative damage after a single supplementation dose.

Uncaria tomentosa for Reducing Side Effects Caused by Chemotherapy in CRC Patients: Clinical Trial

To evaluate the effectiveness of Uncaria tomentosa in minimizing the side effects of chemotherapy and improving the antioxidant status of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, a randomized clinical trial was conducted. Patients (43) undergoing adjuvant/palliative chemotherapy with 5-Fluorouracil/leucovorin + oxaliplatin (FOLFOX4) were split into two groups: the UT group received chemotherapy plus 300 mg of Uncaria tomentosa daily and the C group received only FOLFOX4 and served as a control. Blood samples were collected before each of the 6 cycles of chemotherapy, and hemograms, oxidative stress, enzymes antioxidants, immunologic parameters, and adverse events were analyzed. The use of 300 mg of Uncaria tomentosa daily during 6 cycles of FOLFOX4 did not change the analyzed parameters, and no toxic effects were observed.

Carbonyl iron reduces anemia and improves effectiveness of treatment in under six-year-old children

O tratamento da anemia ferropriva de criancas consiste, em sua maioria, no uso de solucao de sulfato ferroso e este tratamento nem sempre apresenta a efetividade desejada. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a efetividade do ferro carbonila, na forma de comprimidos mastigaveis, como uma alternativa de tratamento para anemia ferropriva de criancas menores de seis anos de idade. Foram incluidas no estudo 73 criancas atendidas em PSFs de Santa Maria, RS. Um grupo recebeu comprimidos mastigaveis de ferro carbonila (CI) e o grupo controle recebeu solucao de sulfato ferroso (FS), ambos a dose de 5mg/Kg/dia por 90 dias. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas nos dias zero, 30 e 90 do tratamento para avaliacao de hemograma, ferritina, ferro serico e capacidade total de ligacao do ferro. Tambem foi avaliada a aceitacao e aderencia ao tratamento e relato de efeitos colaterais durante o tratamento. A hemoglobina teve um incremento de 1,3g/dL no grupo CI e 1,2g/dL no grupo FS aos 30 dias de tratamento. Apos 90 dias de tratamento, o grupo CI apresentou resultados significativamente melhores para hematocrito, VCM, HCM, CTLF e ferritina. A ferritina do grupo CI teve um importante aumento ao final do tratamento (9,51ng/mL para 26,16ng/mL). O grupo CI apresentou melhor aceitacao do tratamento e menos efeitos colaterais. Comprimidos mastigaveis de ferro carbonila poderiam ser considerados uma importante opcao terapeutica para tratamento da anemia ferropriva de criancas menores de seis anos de idade.

Effect of Uncaria tomentosa Extract on Apoptosis Triggered by Oxaliplatin Exposure on HT29 Cells

Background/Aim. The use of herbal products as a supplement to minimize the effects of chemotherapy for cancer treatment requires further attention with respect to the activity and toxicity of chemotherapy. Uncaria tomentosa extract, which contains oxindole alkaloids, is one of these herbal products. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether Uncaria tomentosa extract modulates apoptosis induced by chemotherapy exposure. Materials and Methods. Colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT29 cells) were grown in the presence of oxaliplatin and/or Uncaria tomentosa extract. Results. The hydroalcoholic extract of Uncaria tomentosa enhanced chemotherapy-induced apoptosis, with an increase in the percentage of Annexin positive cells, an increase in caspase activities, and an increase of DNA fragments in culture of the neoplastic cells. Moreover, antioxidant activity may be related to apoptosis. Conclusion. Uncaria tomentosa extract has a role for cancer patients as a complementary therapy. Further studies evaluating these beneficial effects with other chemotherapy drugs are recommended.

Antioxidant effects of Phyllanthus niruri tea on healthy subjects

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential antioxidant effects of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri, Euphorbiaceae) tea on healthy subjects. METHODS Five non-smoking, male healthy volunteers, 20 to 31 years old, were enrolled. Each subject was treated twice, following a randomized crossover fashion regarding the ingestion of P. niruri infusion (5 g/750 mL) (tea group) or 750 mL of water (control group). Fasting venous blood samples were collected prior to and at 1, 2 and 4 h after infusion drinking. Samples were tested for plasmatic gallic acid and ascorbic acid levels, erythrocytic catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and intracellular DCFH fluorescence in granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes. RESULTS Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were not altered by tea ingestion. Plasma levels of gallic acid were significantly increased at 1, 2 and 4 h after P. niruri ingestion and plasma ascorbic acid at 1 h after P. niruri ingestion. CONCLUSIONS Ingestion of P. niruri tea is associated with a slight increase in antioxidant markers in human blood (ascorbic acid and gallic acid), which may contribute to its pharmacological effects.

Effect of antioxidant potential on severity of cirrhosis in humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS to examine the relationship between the antioxidant potential and severity parameters of cirrhosis in humans. METHODS fifteen patients with hepatic cirrhosis (nine subjects - Child group B, and six subjects - Child group C) and nine control subjects were enrolled in the study. The main criteria taken into account to characterize the diagnosis of cirrhosis and its complications were the AST: ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, Bonacini score, Meld score and Child classification. Those parameters were determined based on laboratory results and patients clinical records. Se, Zn, ascorbic acid (AA) levels and oxidative stress parameters were measured in blood samples of cirrhotic patients. RESULTS the analysis of plasma levels of Se and AA showed low concentrations in cirrhotic patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Though, there was a positive correlation between plasma of Se and severity parameters of cirrhosis in patients of Child group B and C. In the activity of the antioxidant enzymes only catalase was lower in patients of Child group C compared with control group. CONCLUSION we found low plasma levels of Se and AA among cirrhotic patients. However, is not clear why selenium levels tend to increase with the severity of liver cirrhosis.