RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Antarctic expeditioners face extremes of environmental conditions along with isolation which affect normal human activity at a polar station. Diets of polar expeditioners consist of products that have been kept in storage for more than a year. Processing and preservation adversely affect the nutritive value of the food products, especially water-soluble vitamins. This study was conducted to determine water-soluble vitamin status of Antarctic expeditioners consuming processed canned food. METHODS: Twenty-two healthy male volunteers age 26 to 56 years (39.5+/-8.5, mean+/-SD) participated in the study. The study was conducted in 3 phases: at Goa, India (phase I), 48 hours after arriving in Antarctica (phase II) and after 1 month in Antarctica (phase III). Water-soluble vitamin status in erythrocytes was assessed at each phase with evaluation of riboflavin, thiamine, and pyridoxine status. Urinary N-methyl nicotinamide and methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels were measured to assess niacin and vitamin B(12) status. Blood plasma assays were used to assess ascorbic acid status. RESULTS: No significant changes in riboflavin, thiamine, and pyridoxine status in erythrocytes and urinary excretion levels were observed after 1 month in Antarctica. Vitamin C levels decreased significantly (P<.001) after 1 month in Antarctica compared with basal values (1.31+/-0.076 mg/dL during phase I to 0.81+/-0.063 mg/dL during phase III). However, these levels were still within the normal reference range. CONCLUSION: This study found no water-soluble vitamin deficiencies in participants consuming processed and canned food after 1 month in Antarctica.
Asunto(s)
Dieta/normas , Conservación de Alimentos/métodos , Estado Nutricional , Vitaminas/sangre , Vitaminas/orina , Adulto , Regiones Antárticas , Ácido Ascórbico/sangre , Ácido Ascórbico/orina , Biotina/sangre , Biotina/orina , Ácido Fólico/sangre , Ácido Fólico/orina , Análisis de los Alimentos/métodos , Humanos , India/etnología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Niacinamida/sangre , Niacinamida/orina , Valor Nutritivo , Ácido Pantoténico , Riboflavina/sangre , Riboflavina/orina , Tiamina/sangre , Tiamina/orina , Factores de Tiempo , Vitamina B 12/sangre , Vitamina B 12/orina , Vitaminas/análisisRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in pulmonary function of human male volunteers from 2 different populations: Indians and Kyrgyzis before and after ascent to 3,200 m and during a 4-week stay at that altitude. METHODS: Ten healthy soldiers of the Indian army (22-25 years of age) and 10 Kyrgyzis recruits (19-20 years of age), height and weight matched, were volunteers in this study. Their pulmonary functions were evaluated at baseline (Bishkek, 760 m); on days 2, 13, and 25 at a mountain clinic at Tuya Ashuu pass (3,200 m) in the northern Tien Shan Range; and on return to Bishkek. A dry spirometer was used to measure lung function at each location. RESULTS: Results indicated that Kyrgyzis had significantly larger forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) than those of the Indians, but their peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), forced expiratory flow rate at 25% to 75% of FVC (FEF(25-75%)), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) measures were comparable. At high altitude (HA), FVC showed significant reduction on day 2, with subsequent recovery in the Kyrgyzis; but in the Indians, FVC showed gradual reduction, and on day 25, it was significantly reduced compared with the baseline value. FEV(1) did not show any change with altitude in either group. Expiratory flow rates and MVV showed significantly higher values at HA in both groups. However, after air density correction for the 2 altitudes, PEF and MVV showed no changes from their baseline values, and the mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF(25-75%)) was actually reduced in both groups: on day 2 in the Kyrgyzis and on day 25 in the Indians. On day 2 of return from a 4-week stay at HA, all test measures were back to their baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: The major difference between the 2 populations was larger lung volumes in the Kyrgyzis compared with the Indians, with no differences seen in their flow rate measures. Also, there was a different time schedule of altitude-induced reductions in FVC and FEF(25-75%).
Asunto(s)
Adaptación Fisiológica , Altitud , Etnicidad , Pulmón/fisiología , Espirometría/métodos , Adulto , Flujo Espiratorio Forzado , Volumen Espiratorio Forzado , Humanos , India , Kirguistán , Masculino , Flujo Espiratorio Máximo , Pruebas de Función Respiratoria , Factores de Tiempo , Capacidad VitalRESUMEN
High altitude exposure results in decreased partial pressure of oxygen and an increased formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which causes oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and DNA. Exposure to high altitude appears to decrease the activity and effectiveness of antioxidant enzyme system. The antioxidant system is very less in brain tissue and is very much susceptible to hypoxic stress. The aim of the present study was to investigate the time dependent and region specific changes in cortex, hippocampus and striatum on oxidative stress markers on chronic exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. The rats were exposed to simulated high altitude equivalent to 6100 m in animal decompression chamber for 3 and 7 days. Results indicate an increase in oxidative stress as seen by increase in free radical production, nitric oxide level, lipid peroxidation and lactate dehydrogenase levels. The magnitude of increase in oxidative stress was more in 7 days exposure group as compared to 3 days exposure group. The antioxidant defence system such as reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) levels were significantly decreased in all the three regions. The observation suggests that the hippocampus is more susceptible to hypoxia than the cortex and striatum. It may be concluded that hypoxia differentially affects the antioxidant status in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum.
Asunto(s)
Encéfalo/metabolismo , Hipoxia/metabolismo , Estrés Oxidativo , Animales , Encéfalo/enzimología , Glutatión/metabolismo , Glutatión Peroxidasa/metabolismo , Glutatión Reductasa/metabolismo , Hipoxia/enzimología , L-Lactato Deshidrogenasa/metabolismo , Peroxidación de Lípido , Masculino , Tamaño de los Órganos , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Superóxido Dismutasa/metabolismoRESUMEN
Nine temporal spatial parameters of gait were evaluated on 8 normal healthy able-bodied soldiers while walking barefoot, with bathroom slippers and military boots on, respectively. Subjects used their regular bathroom slippers and military boots for the study. A 5 camera based Expert Vision 3-D motion analysis system (M/s Motion Analysis Corporation, USA) was used while the subjects walked 10 meters along a straight and level walkway at a comfortable speed. Cleveland Clinic retro reflective marker sets for lower body were used to record static as well as walk data of both legs. Static and walk data were collected at 60 Hz and 120 Hz respectively. A minimum of 10 walking trials for each subject for each condition were obtained and at least 3 good trials having complete trajectories of all the markers covering entire gait cycle for each condition were selected for analysis as per routine gait analysis procedure. A total of 83, 81 and 74 full strides for barefoot, bathroom slippers and military boot respectively were subjected to statistical analysis. Step length and stride length increased significantly from barefoot to military boot with a significant reduction in cadence. Swing phase and single support time increased significantly from barefoot to bathroom slippers and military boot. Total support time and initial double support time decreased significantly for the same conditions compared to barefoot. The observations in this study indicated that use of footwear (bathroom slippers, military boot) caused significant changes in the gait parameters.
Asunto(s)
Marcha/fisiología , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador , Personal Militar , Zapatos , Adulto , Humanos , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador/métodos , MasculinoRESUMEN
The present investigation was undertaken to determine the efficacy of topical administration of flavone of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) on cutaneous wound healing in rats. Four full-thickness excision wounds were created on the back of rat and 1.0% w/v flavone prepared in propylene glycol was applied topically. Control animals received the vehicle alone in an identical manner. The healing of the wound was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, hydroxyproline, hexosamine, antioxidants estimation and histopathology of the granulation tissue. The sea buckthorn flavone promoted the wound healing activity as indicated by improved rate of wound contraction, decreased time taken for epithelialization (16.3 days versus 24.8 days in controls) and significant increase in hydroxyproline (26.0%) and hexosamine (30.0%) content. These findings were also confirmed by histopathological examinations. In addition, it was observed that sea buckthorn flavone possesses potent antioxidant properties as evidenced by significant increase in reduced glutathione (55.0%), vitamin C (70.0%) and catalase (20.0%) activities in wound granulation tissue. The flavone treatment also resulted in significant decrease in lipid peroxide levels (39.0%). The results suggest that the sea buckthorn flavone promotes wound healing activity.
Asunto(s)
Dermis/patología , Flavonas/farmacología , Hippophae/química , Cicatrización de Heridas/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Antioxidantes/análisis , Flavonoides/análisis , Tejido de Granulación/química , Tejido de Granulación/ultraestructura , Hexosaminas/análisis , Hidroxiprolina/análisis , Fenoles/análisis , Polifenoles , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Piel , Cicatrización de Heridas/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Hippophae rhamnoides L. (family Elaeagnaceae), commonly known as seabuckthorn, is a wild shrub growing at high altitude (1200-4500 meters) in adverse climatic conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate healing potential of seabuckthorn leaves in a preclinical study on rats using a cutaneous excision-punch wound model. Four full-thickness excision-type wounds of 8.0 mm diameter were created on the dorsal surface of rats under aseptic conditions. The aqueous lyophilized extract of seabuckthorn leaves, at doses of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% w/v prepared in propylene glycol, were applied topically twice daily for 7 days. Control animals received the vehicle alone in an identical manner. Wound granulation tissues were excised on eighth day postwounding, and the hydroxyproline, hexosamine, total protein content, and antioxidant levels were determined. Wound surface area was also measured on the eighth day before wound excision to determine wound contraction. Topical application of 1.0% seabuckthorn leaf extract statistically significantly augmented the healing process, as evidenced by increases in the content of hydroxyproline and protein as well as the reduction in wound area when compared with similar effects in response to treatment using povidone-iodine ointment (standard care). The reduced glutathione, vitamin C, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities showed significant increases in seabuckthorn leaf extract-treated wounds as compared to controls. The lipid peroxide levels were significantly decreased in leaf extract-treated wounds. The results suggest that aqueous leaf extract of seabuckthorn promotes wound healing, which may be due to increased antioxidant levels in the granulation tissue.