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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 10 mg/kg/week of nandrolone decanoate (DECA - Deca Durabolin®) on body composition, hormonal levels, spermatic parameters, redox status, and morphometric parameters of testicle and epididymis; furthermore, the fertility capacity of Wistar rats was measured thought in vitro fertilization (IVF). The animals (n = 16) were divided into two groups: control group (CTRL, n = 8), which received only vehicle composed by peanut oil and 10% of the benzoic alcohol and nandrolone decanoate group (DECA, n = 8), which received intramuscular injections of DECA for 8 weeks, both groups were treated for 8 weeks. The results demonstrate significative decrease in visceral fat, testosterone levels, and thiol content on epididymis, reduction on normal sperm parameters, and deleterious effect on testicles and epididymis tissue morphology showing reduction of germ height and luminal diameter on the DECA group. Thus, it can be concluded that high doses of nandrolone decanoate impairs male reproductive parameters.

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The COVID-19 disease, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in late 2019 and rapidly spread worldwide, becoming a pandemic that infected millions of people and caused significant deaths. COVID-19 continues to be a major threat, and there is a need to deepen our understanding of the virus and its mechanisms of infection. To study the cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we performed an RNA sequencing of infected vs. uninfected Calu-3 cells. Total RNA was extracted from infected (0.5 MOI) and control Calu-3 cells and converted to cDNA. Sequencing was performed, and the obtained reads were quality-analyzed and pre-processed. Differential expression was assessed with the EdgeR package, and functional enrichment was performed in EnrichR for Gene Ontology, KEGG pathways, and WikiPathways. A total of 1040 differentially expressed genes were found in infected vs. uninfected Calu-3 cells, of which 695 were up-regulated and 345 were down-regulated. Functional enrichment analyses revealed the predominant up-regulation of genes related to innate immune response, response to virus, inflammation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. These transcriptional changes following SARS-CoV-2 infection may reflect a cellular response to the infection and help to elucidate COVID-19 pathogenesis, in addition to revealing potential biomarkers and drug targets.

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PURPOSE: Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inactivates a range of bioactive peptides. The cleavage of insulinotropic peptides and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) by DPP4 directly influences glucose homeostasis. This study aimed to describe the mode of interaction between sitagliptin (an antidiabetic drug) and human DPP4 using in silico approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Docking studies were conducted using AutoDock Vina, 2D and 3D schematic drawings were obtained using PoseView and PLIP servers, and the DPP4-sitagliptin complex was visualized with Pymol software. RESULTS: The best affinity energy to form the DPP4-sitagliptin complex was E-value â€‹= â€‹- 8.1 â€‹kcal â€‹mol-1, as indicated by docking simulations. This result suggests a strong interaction. According to our observations, hydrophobic interactions involving the amino acids residues Tyr663 and Val712, hydrogen bonds (Glu203, Glu204, Tyr663, and Tyr667), π-Stacking interactions (Phe355 and Tyr667), and halogenic bonds (Arg123, Glu204, and Arg356) were prevalent in the DPP4-sitagliptin complex. Root Mean Square Deviation prediction also demonstrated that the global structure of the human DPP4 did not have a significant change in its topology, even after the formation of the DPP4-sitagliptin complex. CONCLUSION: The stable interaction between the sitagliptin ligand and the DPP4 enzyme was demonstrated through molecular docking simulations. The findings presented in this work enhance the understanding of the physicochemical properties of the sitagliptin interaction site, supporting the design of more efficient gliptin-like iDPP4 inhibitors.

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The objective of this article was to assess the effects of six-week pre-season training on whole-body and regional bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)-derived parameters, body composition, power, and aerobic performance in professional soccer players. Ten professional soccer athletes participated in the present study. Whole-body and regional hamstrings BIA-derived parameters [resistance, reactance, impedance, phase angle (PhA)], body composition, total body water (TBW), intracellular (ICW), and extracellular (ECW) were measured before, at mid-point, and after sixth week of the pre-season. Power (countermovement jump and squat jump) and aerobic capacity (Yo-Yo test) were measured before and after pre-season. There was a significant increase in the regional PhA (+13.9%) but not in the whole-body. There was a reduction in fat mass (-4.1%), an increase in fat-free mass (+1.7%), TBW (+8.3%), ICW (+8.8%), and ECW (+7.6%), as well as an increase in jump height (+11.0%) and distance covered in the Yo-Yo test (+34.7%). From our results, it is possible to suggest that pre-season training can induce an increase in hamstring PhA as well as body recomposition and improvement of physical fitness in professional soccer players.

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Objective: To evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress and NGAL levels in blood and urine of amateur athletes after participating in a 100 km ultramarathon. Methodology: The sample was composed of seven athletes, submitted to anthropometric assessment, cardiopulmonary exercise test, collection of urine and blood, measurement of body weight. The rate of perceived exertion (RPE), competition duration, heart rate (HR), energy expenditure and oxygen consumption (V'O2") were also measured during the event. The energy consumption during the race was verified at its end. The analyses were based on the means (M) and respective standard deviations (SD), with statistical significance set at 5% (p < 0.05). Paired t-test was used for comparison between the periods before and after the competition, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to measure the linear correlation between quantitative variables. Results: Body mass index (BMI) of the sample was 25.75 kg/m2 ± 3.20, body fat percentage 18.54% ± 4.35% and V'O2"max 48.87% ± 4.78. Glucose, cortisol, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) (p < 0.01) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) active were higher after the race when compared to basal values. Moreover, lactate, creatinine, microalbuminuria, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (p < 0.001) were also higher after the race. After the competition, there was a significant correlation only between serum NGAL and creatinine, which was classified as strong and positive (r: 0.77; p < 0.05). There was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of body weight after the event (72.40 kg ± 9.78) compared to before it (73.98 kg ± 10.25). In addition, we found an increase of RPE (p < 0.001) after the race. The competition lasted 820.60 min (±117.00), with a 127.85 bpm (±12.02) HR, a 2209.72 kcal ± 951.97 energy consumption, 7837.16 kcal ± 195.71 energy expenditure, and 28.78 ml/kg/min-1 (±4.66) relative V'O2"max. Conclusion: The lack of correlation between oxidative stress biomarkers and serum and urine NGAL suggests that NGAL is more sensitive to inflammatory processes than to ROS levels.

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AIM: We aimed to evaluate whether the streptozotocin-induced diabetic model can generate lung functional, histological and biochemical impairments and whether moderate exercise can prevent these changes. METHODS: Wistar rats were assigned to control (CTRL), exercise (EXE), diabetic (D) and diabetic with exercise (D+EXE) groups. We used the n5-STZ model of diabetes mellitus triggered by a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 120 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) in newborn rats on their 5th day of life. EXE and D+EXE rats were trained by running on a motorized treadmill, 5 days a week for 9 weeks. Blood glucose, body weight, food intake, exercise capacity, lung mechanics, morphology, and antioxidant enzymatic activity were analysed. RESULTS: On the 14th week of life, diabetic rats exhibited a significant impairment in post-prandial glycaemia, glucose tolerance, body weight, food intake, lung function (tissue viscance, elastance, Newtonian resistance and hysteresis), morphological parameters, redox balance and exercise capacity. Physical training completely prevented the diabetes-induced alterations, except for those on fasting blood glucose, which nevertheless remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: Mild diabetes in n5-STZ-treated rats jeopardized pulmonary mechanics, morphology and redox balance, which confirms the occurrence of diabetes-induced pneumopathy. Moreover, moderate exercise completely prevented all diabetes-induced respiratory alterations.

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BACKGROUND: Physical exercise is a health promotion factor regulating gene expression and causing changes in phenotype, varying according to exercise type and intensity. Acute strenuous exercise in sedentary individuals appears to induce different transcriptional networks in response to stress caused by exercise. The objective of this research was to investigate the transcriptional profile of strenuous experimental exercise. METHODOLOGY: RNA-Seq was performed with Rattus norvegicus soleus muscle, submitted to strenuous physical exercise on a treadmill with an initial velocity of 0.5 km/h and increments of 0.2 km/h at every 3 min until animal exhaustion. Twenty four hours post-physical exercise, RNA-seq protocols were performed with coverage of 30 million reads per sample, 100 pb read length, paired-end, with a list of counts totaling 12816 genes. RESULTS: Eighty differentially expressed genes (61 down-regulated and 19 up-regulated) were obtained. Reactome and KEGG database searches revealed the most significant pathways, for down-regulated gene set, were: PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, RAF-MAP kinase, P2Y receptors and Signaling by Erbb2. Results suggest PI3K-AKT pathway inactivation by Hbegf, Fgf1 and Fgr3 receptor regulation, leading to inhibition of cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Cell signaling transcription networks were found in transcriptome. Results suggest some metabolic pathways which indicate the conditioning situation of strenuous exercise induced genes encoding apoptotic and autophagy factors, indicating cellular stress. CONCLUSION: Down-regulated networks showed cell transduction and signaling pathways, with possible inhibition of cellular proliferation and cell degeneration. These findings reveal transitory and dynamic process in cell signaling transcription networks in skeletal muscle after acute strenuous exercise.

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ABSTRACT Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that is characterized by causing damage to the peripheral nervous system, generating sensory and motor changes. Objective: This study aims at analyzing the impact of the use of different orthotic insoles on the gait of diabetic female rats. Methods: Twenty-six female Wistar rats were randomly divided into the Control and Diabetic groups. The mechanical sensitivity test was performed manually on the surface of the animals' hind paws using the von Frey test. The functional evaluation was carried out on an adapted platform where the animals were stimulated to walk in order to capture images of the ventral region for measurements of the right and left hind paws. After the images were collected they were processed using Kinovea software version 0.8.27 to assess: stride distance, time, speed and acceleration. Results: There was a reduction in the weight of the animals in the Diabetic Group (p = 0.0018), associated with hyperglycemia (p = <0.0001), and a decrease in mechanical sensitivity as compared to the Control Group (p = 0.0372). Gait analysis showed a reduction in stride speed (p = 0.0482) and acceleration (p = 0.0149), with the silicone orthosis in the Diabetic Group. Conclusions: The silicone orthosis demonstrated a reduction in stride speed and acceleration, without compromising the other variables in the diabetic rats. The other insoles showed no functional difference between groups. Even though the animals showed a change in sensitivity at the end of 28 days of DM induction, this time does not appear to have been able to develop extensive changes in the rats' gait function. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - Investigating the Results of Treatment.

RESUMO Introdução: O diabetes mellitus é uma doença crônica que se caracteriza por causar danos no sistema nervoso periférico, gerando alterações sensitivas e motoras. Objetivos: O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o impacto do uso de diferentes órteses do tipo palmilha sobre a marcha de ratas diabéticas. Métodos: Vinte e seis ratas Wistar foram divididas randomicamente nos grupos Controle e Diabético. O teste de sensibilidade mecânica foi realizado manualmente na superfície da pata traseira dos animais com o teste de von Frey. A avaliação funcional foi feita em plataforma adaptada, na qual as ratas foram estimuladas a deambular, a fim de captar imagens da região ventral para medições das patas traseiras direita e esquerda. Depois da coleta, as imagens foram processadas no software Kinovea versão 0.8.27 para avaliar distância, tempo, velocidade e aceleração de um passo. Resultados: Observou-se redução do peso dos animais no Grupo Diabético (p = 0,0018), associado à hiperglicemia (p = <0,0001) e diminuição da sensibilidade mecânica em comparação com o Grupo Controle (p = 0,0372). Na análise da marcha, verificou-se redução da velocidade (p = 0,0482) e aceleração de um passo (p = 0,0149) com a órtese de silicone no Grupo Diabético. Conclusões: A órtese de silicone demonstrou redução da velocidade e da aceleração do passo, sem comprometimento das demais variáveis nas ratas diabéticas. As demais palmilhas não demonstraram diferença funcional entre os grupos. Ainda que os animais tenham apresentado alteração de sensibilidade, ao final de 28 dias de indução do DM, esse tempo parece não ter sido capaz de desenvolver alterações amplas na função da marcha das ratas. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - Investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: La diabetes mellitus es una enfermedad crónica que se caracteriza por causar daños al sistema nervioso periférico, generando alteraciones sensitivas y motoras. Objetivos: El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar el impacto del uso de diferentes ortesis, del tipo plantilla sobre la marcha de ratas diabéticas. Métodos: Veintiséis ratas Wistar fueron divididas aleatoriamente en los grupos Control y Diabético. El test de sensibilidad mecánica fue realizado manualmente en la superficie de la pata trasera de los animales con el test de von Frey. La evaluación funcional fue hecha en plataforma adaptada, en la que se estimuló a las ratas a deambular, a fin de capturar imágenes de la región ventral para mediciones de las patas traseras derecha e izquierda. Después de la colecta, las imágenes se procesaron en el software Kinovea versión 0.8.27, para evaluar distancia, tiempo, velocidad y aceleración de un paso. Resultados: Se observó una reducción del peso de los animales en el Grupo Diabético (p = 0,0018), asociado a la hiperglucemia (p = <0,0001), y disminución en la sensibilidad mecánica en comparación con el Grupo Control (p = 0,0372). En el análisis de la marcha, se verificó reducción de la velocidad (p = 0,0482) y una aceleración de un paso (p = 0,0149), con la ortesis de silicona en el Grupo Diabético. Conclusiones: La ortesis de silicona demostró reducción de la velocidad y de la aceleración del paso, sin compromiso de las demás variables en las ratas diabéticas. Las demás plantillas no demostraron diferencia funcional entre los grupos. Aunque los animales hayan presentado alteración de la sensibilidad, al final de 28 días de inducción de DM, ese tiempo parece no haber sido capaz de desarrollar alteraciones amplias en la función de la marcha de las ratas. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - Investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

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The search for the ideal body has been making people appeal increasingly to surgical intervention and medicine which can accelerate the aesthetic transformations that are so desired. Among these medicines, Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) is being used, specially Nandrolone Decanoate (DECA), which has more anabolic than androgenic effects. However, it is not known at which point of the use of AAS can comprise fertility of male users. In this way, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of chronic administration of doses of Nandrolone Decanoate in male Wistar rat fertility. For such a matter was used 20 rats Wistar, which 16 were males and 4 females, adults, with 8 weeks old, weighing 250 to 350g. Males were divided into two groups: Control and DECA group. Based on the data preliminarily obtained, even though observing some macroscopics abnormalities in the testicles of rats treated with DECA, such as testicular atrophy, apparently these steroids do not affect the reproductive male health significatively at the point of comprising the capacity of fertilization.(AU)

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The search for the ideal body has been making people appeal increasingly to surgical intervention and medicine which can accelerate the aesthetic transformations that are so desired. Among these medicines, Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) is being used, specially Nandrolone Decanoate (DECA), which has more anabolic than androgenic effects. However, it is not known at which point of the use of AAS can comprise fertility of male users. In this way, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of chronic administration of doses of Nandrolone Decanoate in male Wistar rat fertility. For such a matter was used 20 rats Wistar, which 16 were males and 4 females, adults, with 8 weeks old, weighing 250 to 350g. Males were divided into two groups: Control and DECA group. Based on the data preliminarily obtained, even though observing some macroscopics abnormalities in the testicles of rats treated with DECA, such as testicular atrophy, apparently these steroids do not affect the reproductive male health significatively at the point of comprising the capacity of fertilization.

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