Trophoblast Changes in Maternal Obesity

Maternal obesity has become a common metabolic dysfunction among reproductive age women affecting at least 1 in 5 women. Pregnancy complicated with maternal obesity is associated with adverse outcomes to both mother and the fetus. Maternal obesity increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome including pre‑eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and overgrowth and stillbirth. Recent studies show that children born to obese mother have increased adiposity and are vulnerable to develop metabolic syndromes later in their life. Placenta, which plays an important part during pregnancy and fetal development has become a major research focus of scientists around the world for its impact on fetal health. Increased evidence suggest that a maternal obesogenic environment influences placental normal function and in turn programs the developing fetus towards adverse health outcomes in adult life. Here, we briefly discuss how maternal obesogenic environment impacts placental functions and influence child health later in life

RESPONDENT CHARACTERISTICS AND STUDENT HEALTH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COVID-19: COVID-19

COVID-19 is not over yet. Prevention of COVID-19 is still being carried out and the emphasis is on increasing knowledge of health students so that they are expected to have an effect on positive attitudes and behaviors to prevent COVID-19 in health students. The purpose of this study was to see the relationship between individual characteristics and knowledge about COVID-19, especially for health students on campus because the campus community is a community that can contribute to preventing the transmission of COVID-19 through breaking the chain of transmission of COVID-19. This type of research is a type of quantitative research with a cross sectional design. The number of samples was 323 health students at Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang, Health Analyst Department which was determined by saturated sampling technique. The method of data collection was done through an online questionnaire technique and assisted by the google form program. Data analysis using univariate test and bivariate test (Continuity Correction) to determine the relationship between respondent characteristics and student knowledge. The results of statistical tests with Continuity Correction values ​​successively from gender, age, education level and history of COVID-19 are 0.723, 0.417, 0.084 and 1.00 which indicate a value of > 0.05 so it can be concluded that the student characteristics have no relationship. with the level of student knowledge related to COVID-19. The benefit of the results of this study is that it can measure student knowledge and see the relationship between respondents' characteristics and students' level of knowledge. The results of the study have implications for the application of appropriate types of counseling or socialization activities to be applied to health students, for example education using booklets or videos. Although the results of the knowledge category obtained are high, it is important to continue to carry out education and health promotion programs as an effort to increase knowledge and support COVID-19 prevention practices

A mini review on the role of phosphatidylcholine metabolism in obesity

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is one of the major building blocks of biological membranes in mammalian cells. In PC, two fatty acyl chains are linked to the sn-1 and sn-2 positions of the glycerol backbone, and a head group containing a phosphate and choline is linked to the sn-3 position. The length and saturation of the fatty acyl chains of PC vary significantly and determine the biophysical and chemical properties of PC. In mammalian cells, active metabolism of PC takes place primarily through de novo synthesis, the remodelling cycle of deacylation and reacylation, and further modification of lysophosphatidylcholine. PC metabolism undergoes remarkable changes in obesity. In this mini review, we discuss PC metabolism and summarize recent advances about the important involvement of PC metabolism in obesity and obesity-related diseases

Evaluation of Pharmacodynamic interaction between Tinospora Cordifolia Alcoholic extract and Gliclazide : An herb-drug interaction study

Many diabetic people today consume herbs or herbal formulations along with prescription and non-prescription medications which may result in the herb-drug interaction Tinospora Cordifolia, with berberine being one of the most abundant active phytoconstituent widely used as an antidiabetic While Gliclazide is indicated to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus whichacts asan insulin secretagogue .T. Cordifolia is a potent inhibitor of CYP2C9 and Gliclazide is known to be metabolized by this enzyme. Potential Pharmacodynamic herb drug interaction might be possible in case of co administration of both. The pharmacodynamic interaction between TCE and Gliclazide was evaluated on hypoglycemic activity in normal and streptozotocinnicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. The study was conducted in 2 parts viz. acute study and sub-acute study in both normal and diabetic animals. The serum triglyceride level and histopathology of pancreawas performed to assess effect on glucose metabolism and pancreas.FTIR Analysis was also carried out to evaluate the interaction between functional groups. The combination showed pharmacodynamic interaction as reduction the time of onset of action and increasing the duration of action of gliclazide when administered in combination with T. cardiofolia. In FTIR studies of combination showed no physical interaction betweenfunctional groups suggesting both drugs might be acting on the different receptors. The study concludes that the combination of Gliclazide with TCE showed an increase in the hypoglycemic effect as compared to the gliclazide alone in STZ-NIC induced diabetic rats. This might be utilized clinically as a beneficial drug interaction in patients after thorough investigations in clinical studie

Enhancement of the Neuroprotective Effect of Curcumin in Combination with Piperine in Nicotinamide-Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats.

Introduction: Curcumin (CUR) is a hydrophobic molecule with poor bioavailability.Piperine is reported to enhance the bioavailability of drugs by increasing absorption in the small intestine and decreasing glucuronidation in the liver.Objective:The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the neuroprotectiveeffect of curcuminincombinationwith piperine innicotinamide- streptozotocin (NIC-STZ) induced diabetic rats.Methods:MaleWistar rats were divided into groups viz.vehicle control, disease control,glibenclamide (1), glibenclamide+ piperine(1+50), curcumin (50) and curcumin (50) with piperine10, 30 and 50.All the groups except vehicle control were induced diabetes by injecting NIC-STz. The animals received treatment daily for six weeks after the confirmation of diabetic status.Behavioural, biochemical and histological parameters were evaluated to access the neuroprotective effect.Results: Oral administration of curcumin + piperine (50+50 mg/kg) caused a significant fall in blood glucose level. Disease control showed increased paw withdrawal latency and nociceptive threshold compared with vehicle control. Curcumin + piperine treated animals showed decreased paw withdrawal latency. Combination of curcumin + piperine (50+50 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant antioxidant property by increasing tissue GSH and SOD and lowering lipid content (MDA) compared to the disease control group. The histopathological study showed reduced damage to the sciatic nerve in curcumin + piperine (50+50 mg/kg, p.o.) treated group.Conclusion: Itis concluded that the curcumin-piperine combination reducedthe degeneration of sciatic nerve by reduction of lipid peroxidation and lowering oxidative stress indicating the neuroprotective effect in diabetic neuropathy

THE ROLE OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES IN PREECLAMPSIA

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-associated disease characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, and the leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality worldwide. PE is believed to be caused by alterations in feto-maternal communication. Since extracellular vesicles (EV) are crucial for cell-to-cell communication, their role in pregnancy and pregnancy-associated diseases has been a matter of active investigation. Recent evidence points to the role of maternal and placental EV in the regulation of angiogenesis, hormonal and immune mechanisms during pregnancy. This minireview focuses on how alterations in the levels of maternal and fetal EV may contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. A better understanding of fetomaternal EV crosstalk with cellular and molecular signaling pathways involved in fetal development may be crucial to early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions for PE.&nbsp

Pharmacological Effect of Curcumin in Combination with Piperine in Nicotinamide-Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Nephropathy in Male Wistar Rats.

Background-Curcumin is one of the principle substances found in the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. Piperine, an alkaloid separated from Piper nigrum L., has bioenhancer property.Objective- The objective of the present study was to evaluate the nephroprotective activity of curcumin when administered concomitantly with piperine in diabetic rats.Methods- Male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups viz. vehicle control,  disease control,   glibenclamide (1), glibenclamide + piperine (1+50) , curcumin (50), curcumin+ piperine (50+10), curcumin + piperine (50+30), curcumin + piperine (50+50). Overnight fasted rats were administered nicotinamide (110 mg/kg, i.p.) and 15 min after nicotinamide injection, streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected in all groups except group 1. Curcumin and piperine combination was administered as 2% Tween 80 suspension. Curcumin was administered (50 mg/kg) by oral route. Piperine was administered (10, 30, 50 mg/kg) through the oral route in combination with curcumin. Treatment proceeded up to 6 weeks. Biochemical, antioxidant parameters and histopathological studies were carried out at the end of the study. Result- Curcumin + piperine (50+50 mg/kg) administration caused a significant decrease in blood glucose, triglyceride, serum creatinine, serum uric acid, urine creatinine, and urine albumin levels. The antioxidant activity of the combination was evident as there was a significant increase in kidney GSH and SOD levels along with significant decrease in MDA. The histopathological study showed reduced damage to kidney in curcumin + piperine (50+50 mg/kg) group.Conclusion- It is thus concluded that curcumin in combination with piperine showed enhanced nephroprotective activity in diabetic rats

Evaluation of Antidiabetic and Antioxidative Efficacy of Strychnos Potatorum (Nirmali) Seeds Extract in High Fat Diet Fed- Low Dose Streptozotocin Induced Experimental Type 2 Diabetes in Rats

Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial, multisystemic chronic endocrine disorder characterized by insufficient insulin secretion in association with insulin resistance. Strychnos potatorum Linn. seeds have been used in the traditional system of medicine for the treatment of various non communicable diseases including diabetes mellitus. In the present study, we have evaluated the antidiabetic and antioxidant property of Strychnos potatorum seeds extract in type 2 diabetic rats. Chronic hyperglycemia promotes auto-oxidation of glucose to generate excessive free radicals which result in the development of both macro- and microvascular complications.Design: S. potatorum seeds were delipidated and the ethanolic extract was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening. The total phenolic, flavonoid, carbohydrate and protein contents were estimated. High fat fed and -Low dose streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetic rats were orally treated with S. potatorum seeds extract (500mg/kg b.w./rat/day) for 30 days. The levels of important biochemical indices and oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxides, hydroperoxides and protein carbonyls were determined in plasma and vital tissues. The levels of both enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidants were also evaluated.Results: Diabetic rats showed significantly increased levels of fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobulin. The oxidative stress markers were significantly increased and levels of both enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidants were declined. Oral treatment of S. potatorum seeds extract results in the maintenance of normoglycemia by decreasing the levels of oxidative stress markers and improved the status of antioxidants in diabetic rats.Conclusions: S. potatorum seeds possess significant antidiabetic properties which may partially responsible for its antioxidant properties

Obesity and related metabolic diseases – role of chronic inflammation

In today’s society, with a trend towards westernization, obesity is at its peak affecting around 1 billion people worldwide.  Low-grade inflammation for a prolonged period is suggested to be one of the main inducers of the pathogenesis of obesity and its by driven conditions such as insulin resistance, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases. This mini-review summarizes the current knowledge on mechanistic studies of obesity-associated inflammation and its link to other conditions, particularly insulin resistance (IR)

Design, synthesis and spectral characterization of a new Zinc – Avicularin, a metal flavonol complex and evaluation of its toxicity and antidiabetic efficacy in High Fat Diet Fed - Low Dose Streptozotocin Induced Experimental Type 2 Diabetes in Rats

Objectives: Zinc is an essential trace element with prominent roles in the structural and functional aspects of insulin. Several reports are available on the development of zinc complexes with various ligands to reduce the toxicity of zinc. In the present study, an attempt has been made to synthesize zinc-avicularin complex and it was subjected to spectral characterization and systematic antidiabetic properties. Design: The zinc-avicularin complex was synthesized by molar ratio method and characterized by spectral studies such as FT-IR, mass, 1H NMR and 13C NMR Acute toxicity and dosage fixation studies were carried out as per OCED guidelines. HFD fed -low dose streptozotocin induced experimental type 2 diabetes was chosen as the animal model. The oral glucose tolerance test performed in the control and experimental groups of rats. The levels of fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), plasma insulin and urine sugar, protein, urea, uric acid and creatinine were determined by established methods. The activities of serum AST, ALT and ALP were assayed. Results: The spectral studies provide evidence for the complexation between zinc ions with avicularin. Acute toxicity and dosage fixation studies revealed the non toxic nature of the complex and the optimum dose as 5 mg/kg b.w./rat/day orally for 30 days. The biochemical alterations observed in the experimental diabetic rats were reverted to the physiological range after treatment with zinc-avicularin complex as well as metforminConclusion: The newly synthesized and characterized zinc-avicularin complex is non toxic and elicits significant antihyperglycemic activity which in turn may be due to the insulin stimulatory and/or insulin mimetic activity