Relationship between Vitamin D Deficiency and Respiratory Infection in Intensive Care Unit Patients

Objectives: the current study aims to investigate the correlation between vitamin D deficiency and respiratory tract (URT) infection in hospitalized patients. Subjects and methods: a cross sectional observational study was conducted among patients with URT infections admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Results: From 30 ICU respiratory infected patients who were included in the study, results showed that all patients’ serum vitamin D levels were below normal, where 3.3% of patients showed a relative insufficiency and 96.7% represent deficiency. This study included 16 females and 14 males. The results showed that deficiency in females appears to be more than in males with a mean of 15.42 nmol/L and 16.nmo/L respectively. Variable readings of serum vit. D level appeared with the various microorganisms. The lowest level of the vitamin was found with Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Ataphylococcus aureus respectively. In addition, the present study showed that the level of WBCS is inversely proportional to the level of vit. D in most patients. Moreover, patients who were on combination therapy of antibiotic and corticosteroid showed lowest mean of serum vit. D level than patients who were on antibiotic or corticosteroid alone. Conclusion: the present study showed that all patients with respiratory tract infection in ICU have either vit D insufficiency or deficiency. Moreover, there was an inverse relationship between vit D and WBCs level. This may be attributed to the role of vit D in immunity, so vit D may be recommended to be prescribed to avoid further deficiency and to boost the immunity in patient with respiratory tract infection

Protective Effects of Simvastatin, a Lipid Lowering Agent, against Oxidative Damage in Experimental Diabetic Rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible protective effects of simvastatin (SMV) against oxidative stress in streptozotocin- (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced experimentally in rats by i.p. injection of STZ in a dose of 60 mg/kg bwt. After 5 weeks of STZ injection, there were apparent reductions in the animal body weight and significant increase in blood glucose, HbA1c, urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, and lipid profiles with a concomitant decrease in total hemoglobin, plasma glutathione and vitamin C as compared to the control group. The treatment with SMV at a dose (10 mg/kg, orally) normalized all the above-mentioned biochemical parameters in STZ-induced diabetic rats. In vitro studies confirmed the free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of SMV. Therefore, the present results revealed that SMV has a protective effect against STZ-induced oxidative damage by scavenging the free radicals generation and restoring the enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant systems

Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of date palm pollen (Phoenix dactylifera) on experimentally-induced atypical prostatic hyperplasia in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Atypical prostatic hyperplasia (APH) is a pseudoneoplastic lesion that can mimic prostate adenocarcinoma because of its cytologic and architectural features. Suspension of date palm pollen (DPP) is an herbal mixture that is widely used in folk medicine for male infertility. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of DPP suspension and extract on APH-induced rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>APH was induced in adult castrated Wistar rats by both s.c. injection of testosterone (0.5 mg/rat/day) and smearing citral on shaved skin once every 3 days for 30 days. Saw palmetto (100mg/kg), DPP suspension (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg), and lyophilized DPP extract (150,300 and 600 mg/kg) were given orally daily for 30 days. All medications were started 7 days after castration and along with testosterone and citral.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The histopathological feature in APH-induced prostate rats showed evidence of hyperplasia and inflammation. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the expressions of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, IGF-1 and clusterin were increased, while the expression of TGF-β1 was decreased that correlates with presence of inflammation. Moreover, histopathological examination revealed increased cellular proliferation and reduced apoptosis in ventral prostate. Both saw palmetto and DPP treatment has ameliorated these histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in APH-induced rats. These improvements were not associated with reduction in the prostatic weight that may be attributed to the persistence of edema.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>DPP may have a potential protective effect in APH-induced Wistar rats through modulation of cytokine expression and/or upregulation of their autocrine/paracrine receptors.</p

6-Gingerol alleviates exaggerated vasoconstriction in diabetic rat aorta through direct vasodilation and nitric oxide generation

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect and potential mechanism of action of 6-gingerol on alterations of vascular reactivity in the isolated aorta from diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into two experimental groups, control and diabetics. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg kg(−1)), and the rats were left for 10 weeks to develop vascular complications. The effect of in vitro incubation with 6-gingerol (0.3–3 μM) on the vasoconstrictor response of the isolated diabetic aortae to phenylephrine and the vasodilator response to acetylcholine was examined. Effect of 6-gingerol was also examined on aortae incubated with methylglyoxal as an advanced glycation end product (AGE). To investigate the mechanism of action of 6-gingerol, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (100 μM), guanylate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (5 μM), calcium-activated potassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium chloride (10 mM), and cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (5 μM) were added 30 minutes before assessing the direct vasorelaxant effect of 6-gingerol. Moreover, in vitro effects of 6-gingerol on NO release and the effect of 6-gingerol on AGE production were examined. Results showed that incubation of aortae with 6-gingerol (0.3–10 μM) alleviated the exaggerated vasoconstriction of diabetic aortae to phenylephrine in a concentration-dependent manner with no significant effect on the impaired relaxatory response to acetylcholine. Similar results were seen in the aortae exposed to methylglyoxal. In addition, 6-gingerol induced a direct vasodilation effect that was significantly inhibited by Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride and methylene blue. Furthermore, 6-gingerol stimulated aortic NO generation but had no effect on AGE formation. In conclusion, 6-gingerol ameliorates enhanced vascular contraction in diabetic aortae, which may be partially attributed to its ability to increase the production of NO and stimulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate

Antihyperglycemic Effect of Ganoderma Lucidum Polysaccharides on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

The current study evaluated the glucose-lowering effect of ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (Gl-PS) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The diabetic mice were randomly divided into four groups (8 mice per group): diabetic control group, low-dose Gl-PS treated group (50 mg/kg, Gl-PS), high-dose Gl-PS treated group (150 mg/kg, Gl-PS) and positive drug control treated group (glibenclamide, 4 mg/kg), with normal mice used as the control group. Body weights, fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin and blood lipid levels of mice were measured. After 28 days of treatment with Gl-PS, body weights and serum insulin levels of the Gl-PS treated groups was significantly higher than that of the diabetic control group, whereas FBG levels was significantly lower. Moreover, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of the Gl-PS treated groups had dropped, whereas the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels had increased. In addition, according to acute toxicity studies, Gl-PS did not cause behavioral changes and any death of mice. These data suggest that Gl-PS has an antihyperglycemic effect. Furthermore, considering the Gl-PS effects on lipid profile, it may be a potential hypolipidaemic agent, which will be a great advantage in treating diabetic conditions associated with atherosclerosis or hyperlipidemia

Potential and challenges of hydrogen energy storage: The case of Finland

Wind power is rapidly growing on the Finnish grid, and Finland’s electricity consumption is considerably low during the summer when compared to winter. Hence, a storage that can store a large amount of energy during summer and discharge it during winter is needed. The scope of this study is limited to the large-scale hydrogen storage. The study has investigated more than twenty-four hydrogen storage technologies, discussing in fair details their theory of operation, their potential, and challenges from different perspectives. The study resulted in finding that out of all the evaluated technologies, geological storage and liquid organic hydrogen carriers have the highest potential to store hydrogen in a GWh scale over long periods of time in Finland. This does not rule out the other technologies; rather, it portrays the technologies that have the least challenges at the present time. Furthermore, Finland’s electricity generation system was modeled with and without hydrogen storage. The model results showed a slight but perceptible decline in carbon dioxide emissions and fossil fuel-based power accompanied by a higher capability to meet the demand. Finally, a critical analysis for the Finnish electricity mix and the shortlisted hydrogen storage technologies is presented, along with recommendations for future research