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This study aims to evaluate the hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic and aortic morphometric effects of fish oil rich in omega-3 in hypercholesterolemic BALB/c mice. This is an experimental model that included 16 male BALB/c mice ( Mus musculus ) divided into three groups (G1 (standard commercial chow and 0.9% saline solution), G2 (hypercholesterolemic diet and 0.9% saline solution) and G3 (hypercholesterolemic diet and fish oil)) for 8 weeks. There was no significant difference in the treatment with omega-3-rich fish oil in the lipid profile ( p > 0.05). In the histological analysis, group G2 detected the presence of hepatitis and liver tissue necrosis, but this was not observed in group G3. As for the morphometry in the light area of the vessel, the G1 group had a higher score (2.62 ± 0.36 mm 2 ) when compared to G2 (2.10 ± 0.16 mm 2 ) and G3 (2.26 ± 0.25 mm 2 ) ( p < 0.05). The vessel wall thickness did not differ between the groups ( p > 0.05). It is concluded that supplementation with fish oil rich in omega-3 carried out in this study may have a protective effect on liver tissue, but it has not yet improved the lipid and morphometric profile. Despite this research being preliminary, it is a relevant study with future prospects for improving the doses of EPA and DHA in order to better elucidate the benefits of fish oil in models of dyslipidemia.

Introduction: Objective: to describe the effects of neuromodulation on the performance of executive functions in overweight and/or individuals with obesity. Methods: articles published in PubMed, ScienceDirect, BIREME, and Web of Science databases were selected using the following combination of descriptors: ("problem solving" OR "executive function" OR memory) AND (tDCS OR TMS) AND obesity. After applying the selection criteria, 08 articles were included for analysis. Results: the articles included had an average of 30.1 participants per study, with a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 76. The overall nutritional status ranged from underweight to grade 3 obesity, and the general mean body mass index was 28,1 kg/m2. Regarding the instruments used to assess executive functions, the most frequent were: the flanker paradigm; binocular rivalry for Continuous Flash Suppression (bCFS/NoCFS); Stroop task; Go/No-Go task; and N-back task. The primary outcomes were dependent on the neuromodulation target site. Reduced food craving and improved performance in the active group were observed from decreased response time and increased precision in cognitive tasks. Conclusion: neuromodulation can generate changes in executive functions, reducing food cravings in overweight and individuals with obesity.

This study investigated the effects of the ethanolic extract from the bark of Combretum leprosum (ECL) on intestinal transit and castor-oil induced diarrhea in mice. The oral administration of ECL (750 and 1000 mg/kg) slowed intestinal transit (ID50 of 455 mg/kg). The ECL (250-1000 mg/kg) reduced castor-oil induced diarrhea, in a time- and dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). To determine if antidiarrheal effect of ECL involves α2-adrenergic or opioid receptor activation, the mice were pretreated with antagonists of these receptors, yohimbine or naloxone respectively. None of these drugs inhibited the antidiarrheal effect of ECL. To test if antidiarrheal effect of ECL is due to an antisecretory action, we realized the enteropooling assay on rats. The ECL increased bowel content and did not inhibit intestinal fluid secretion increase induced by misoprostol (100 µg/kg, s.c.). To determine if antimotility effect of ECL is due to a reduction on gastric motility, we realized the organ bath assay in the rat fundus stomach. Isotonic recordings show that the carbachol /KCl - induced contraction was not reversed by the addition of ECL. In conclusion, our results suggest that ECL contains antidiarrheal compounds and these compounds could induce a reduction of intestinal tract motility.

Nanomaterials based on graphene oxide nanoribbons (GNR) and nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp) serve as attractive materials for bone tissue engineering. Herein, we evaluated the potential of nHAp/GNR toward in vitro analysis of specific genes related to osteogenesis and in vivo bone regeneration using animal model. Three different concentrations of nHAp/GNR composites were analyzed in vitro using a cytotoxicity assay, and osteogenic potential was determined by ALP , OPN , OCN , COL1 , and RUNX2 genes and alkaline phosphatase assays. In vivo bone neoformation using a well-established in vivo rat tibia defect model was used to confirm the efficiency of the optimized composite. The scaffolds were nontoxic, and the osteogenesis process was dose-dependent (at 200 μg mL -1 of nHAp/GNR) compared to controls. The in vivo results showed higher bone neoformation after 15 days of nHAp/GNR implantation compared to all groups. After 21 days, both nHAp/GNR composites showed better lamellar bone formation compared to control. We attributed this enhanced bone neoformation to the high bioactivity and surface area presented by nHAp/GNR composites, which was systematically evaluated in previous studies. These new in vivo results suggest that nHAp/GNR composites can be exploited for a range of strategies for the improved development of novel dental and orthopedic bone grafts to accelerate bone regeneration.