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SummaryStudy aim: The study is quantitative, with a cross-sectional comparison design, and aimed to verify the association between physical activity (PA) levels and biochemical markers linked to liver function of patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Material and methods:The following biochemical variables were analyzed: alanine aminotransferases (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGt), and alkaline phosphatase (FA), these being good markers for hepatic damage, besides glycemia, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short version, was used to evaluate the levels of physical activity, being classified as active and physically inactive. Results: The sample consisted of 84 individuals aged 56.2 ± 11.6 years; there was a predominance of males, patients with different socioeducational patterns and those followed up for more than 6 months in the hepatology service with positive serology for HCV and HCV (RNA+), attending the Institute of Liver and Transplants of Pernambuco (IFP). The results obtained in this study indicate smaller values of the median with maximum and minimum scores of the analyzed parameters in patients considered to be physically active (ALT: p = 0.43, FA: p = 0.86 and γGt: p = 0.15, glycemia: p = 0.22, LDL: p = 0.58, HDL: P = 0.004, triglycerides: p = 0.47), in comparison with the physically inactive patients. It is concluded that patients who have a higher level of physical activity present lower values of biochemical markers, positively affecting their hepatic condition. Conclusions: There was only a significant difference in the HDL variable, but the patients with a lower level of physical activity showed greater values in general, less in the triglyceride variability. In order to test these and other important variables and improve the quality of life and health by a more direct method.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of aerobic training on insulin resistance and inflammatory response in obese mice (ob/ob) with NAFLD. Materials and Methods: Male ob/ob mice were randomly divided into sedentary (n=7) and trained (n=7) groups. Aerobic training consisted of 5 weekly sessions, 60 min per session at 60% of the maximum speed of the running test. Hepatic and pancreatic samples were collected to evaluate histological features and gene expression associated with insulin resistance and inflammatory response after 8-week experiment protocol. RNA was performed by TRIzol ® . PCR experiments were performed using the Rotor-Gene RG-3000. Parametric data were assessed by t-test, one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons. Non-parametric data were assessed by the Mann-Whitney tests with Dunn's post-test of multiple comparisons. Histological analysis was assessed by chi-square test with Fisher's exact test. Significant variables were considered when p<0.05. All the analyses were performed by GraphPad Prism V6.0 software (GraphPad Software Inc.). Results: Reductions in bodyweight (p = 0.008), weight evolution (p = 0.03), food intake (p <0.0001) and fat content were observed in trained group. Moreover, the trained group showed better results in peak velocity (p=0.03) physical effort tolerance (p=0.006) and distance (p=0.01). Gene expression showed differences in IL-10 (p=0.03) and GLUT-2 (p=0.03) in hepatic analysis, between groups. Pancreatic gene expression showed difference between groups in IRS-2 (p=0.004), GLUT-2 (p=0.03) and IL-10 (p=0.008) analysis. Also, the trained group showed lower values for interlobular fat and inflammatory infiltrate in histological analysis when compared to sedentary animals. Conclusion: An 8-week physical training protocol was able to attenuate bodyweight gain, food intake and generate positive effects on gene expression related to insulin resistance and inflammation in both liver and pancreas of ob/ob mice.

of the patient is multifactorial, with genetic, biochemical profile immune system and lifestyle as a protagonist of such a process which has as one of the clinical outcomes hepatic fibrosis, increasing the progression of the cell subject to hepatocellular carcinoma. These parameters directly influence the fibrous framework of HCV patients that may be worsened by maintaining physical inactivity frame and biochemical profile disruption, since it favors the inflammatory and fibrogenic process. Since studies with patients with HCV and physical activity are quite scarce, they demonstrate the efficacy of physical activity on the fibrotic and hepatic condition of patients with hepatitis C virus, since this requires a prescriptive planning with quality and adequate for these individuals. Thus defining the best type of physical activity or exercise that will bring the best effects to patients with hepatitis C and other hepatic comorbidities, which can condition the lifestyle of these individuals and thus lead to better pathophysiological stages, avoiding the progression of the disease, providing an improvement of their health, and psychosocial since the physical activity and / or exercise guarantee the activation of elements linked to the neuroendocrine axis activating the secretion of endorphins guaranteeing the well-being of the patients with this pathology. Thus the objective of this review is to describe the main benefits of physical activity within the pathophysiological processes found in patients with HCV.

SummaryStudy aim: Was to verify whether the regular practice of physical activity promotes some protective factor against the develop­ment of LS in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Materials and method: Clinical data were obtained through medical records available at the Pernambuco Liver Institute. Physi­cal activity levels were obtained through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form to classify the patients according to the guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Results: The sample consisted of patients of both genders, over 18 years of age, who had positive anti-HCV, HCV-RNA and confirmatory tests for presence or absence of liver steatosis. 126 patients were included in the study. Patients with liver steatosis (G1) were more frequently male (57%) compared to patients without liver steatosis (G2) (p = 0.02). Physical activity analysis showed significant differences for GGT (p = 0.04), HDL (p = 0.04), AF (p = 0.02), viral genotype 3 (p = 0.04) and waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.01) in anthropometric data. Correlation analysis showed a significant difference for GGT (r = -0.23; p = 0.01) and total bilirubin (BT) (r = -0.22; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Regular practice of physical activity generates a protective factor against the development of LS in patients in­fected by the hepatitis C virus and it is associated with the maintenance of variables related to hepatic and biochemical damage in patients infected with HCV.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common forms of liver disease. Lifestyle modifications, such as a reduction in body weight (BW) and aerobic exercise training (AET), are effective treatments for NAFLD. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of AET on hepatic oxidative metabolism in ob/ob mice. Male ob/ob mice were separated into two groups: the sedentary group (S), n=7, and the trained group (T), n=7. The T mice were submitted to an 8-week protocol of AET at 60% of the maximum velocity achieved in the running test. Before AET, no difference was observed in running capacity between the groups (S=10.4 ± 0.7 min vs. T= 13 ± 0.47 min). However, after AET, the running capacity was increased in the T group (12.8 ± 0.87 min) compared to the S group (7.2±0.63 min). Skeletal muscle in the T group (26.91±1.12 U/mg of protein) showed higher citrate synthase activity compared with the S group (19.28±0.88 U/mg of protein) (p =0.004) . BW and food consumption were significantly reduced in the T group compared to the S group (p=0.008 and p=0.001, respectively). The analysis of hepatic gene expression showed an increase in PGC-1a levels (p=0.002) and a reduction in CPT-1a levels (p=0.03). The levels of TBARs and carbonyls, as well as SOD, CAT and GST, were not different between the groups. In the nonenzymatic antioxidant system, we found that the T group had higher sulfhydryl (p = 0.02), GSH (p=0.001) and GSH/GSSG (p=0.02) activity. The activity of the metabolic enzymes citrate synthase (p=0.004) and β-HAD (p=0.01) was also increased in the T group. Besides improve in metabolism, no differences were observed in the histological analyses. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that AET improves BW control, mitochondrial functionality and oxidative metabolism in ob/ob mice.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common forms of liver disease. Lifestyle modifications, such as a reduction in body weight (BW) and aerobic exercise training (AET), are effective treatments for NAFLD. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of AET on hepatic oxidative metabolism in ob/ob mice. Male ob/ob mice were separated into two groups: the sedentary group (S), n=7, and the trained group (T), n=7. The T mice were submitted to an 8-week protocol of AET at 60% of the maximum velocity achieved in the running test. Before AET, no difference was observed in running capacity between the groups (S=10.4 ± 0.7 min vs. T= 13 ± 0.47 min). However, after AET, the running capacity was increased in the T group (12.8 ± 0.87 min) compared to the S group (7.2±0.63 min). Skeletal muscle in the T group (26.91±1.12 U/mg of protein) showed higher citrate synthase activity compared with the S group (19.28±0.88 U/mg of protein) (p =0.004) . BW and food consumption were significantly reduced in the T group compared to the S group (p=0.008 and p=0.001, respectively). The analysis of hepatic gene expression showed an increase in PGC-1a levels (p=0.002) and a reduction in CPT-1a levels (p=0.03). The levels of TBARs and carbonyls, as well as SOD, CAT and GST, were not different between the groups. In the nonenzymatic antioxidant system, we found that the T group had higher sulfhydryl (p = 0.02), GSH (p=0.001) and GSH/GSSG (p=0.02) activity. The activity of the metabolic enzymes citrate synthase (p=0.004) and β-HAD (p=0.01) was also increased in the T group. Besides improve in metabolism, no differences were observed in the histological analyses. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that AET improves BW control, mitochondrial functionality and oxidative metabolism in ob/ob mice.

Introduction: Studies have suggested that pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and Mannose Binding Lectin (MBL) may interfere with cognitive processes. Objective: Identify data reported in the literature involving cognition, PTX3 and MBL. Materials and Methods: The research was done in five databases and the selection of studies was performed in two stages. The first involved review of titles and abstracts. Then the full articles were read and those that did not meet the eligibility criteria were excluded. Results: A total of 3,097 titles and abstracts were selected, but 3,089 were excluded. Finally, 8 articles were included in the review. The articles pointed out that high levels of PTX-3 could be predictors of cognitive impairment while high levels of MBL could have a protective effect on cognition. Conclusion: The current studies are still contradictory and inconclusive, but they lead us to reflect on possible genetic influences of innate immunity in the Central Nervous System. Further research involving the effects of PTX-3 and MBL and its variants on cognition are necessary.