The effect of systemic lipopolysaccharides on the cardiovascular system in Sprague-Dawley rats using Manuka honey as a treatment

BACKGROUND : It has been said that there is a probable “head-to-heart” link in resulting in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This is because cardiovascular (CV) and neurodegenerative diseases such as AD share many risk factors. Researchers have theorised that a significant contributor to the neurological and CV complications in AD may be due to exposure to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin that results in a low-grade systemic inflammatory immune response. Systemic inflammation impacts both the CV and neurological systems in harmful ways. The elderly is more vulnerable to exposure since they are increasingly likely to suffer from tooth loss or gastrointestinal tract impairments resulting in LPS introduction into the CV system. AIM : The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of low physiological levels of systemic LPS exposure on the CV system, of male Sprague-Dawley rats over a ten-day period. Manuka honey was introduced as a possible mopping agent for the effects of LPS on the CV system. STUDY DESIGN : Twenty-four 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (average weight: 250-300 g) were randomly divided into four groups. The groups included rats exposed to Phosphate buffer-saline, phosphate buffered-saline and Manuka honey, LPS only as well as LPS and Manuka honey. The animals were housed for 19 days, in which the animals were given daily subcutaneous injections. The Manuka honey administered to the control and experimental groups received the Manuka honey solution through oral gavage starting on the 11th day for a seven-day period. METHODS : In this study we examined the CV tissue of the animals through light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The total cholesterol levels were also measured by using the QuickDetectTM total cholesterol (Rat) ELISA assay. Results: Myocardial LPS exposure resulted in cardiac myofibril damage and mitochondrial cristae destruction. The results indicated that Manuka honey may have alleviated some of this damage. However, the treatment failed to prevent mitochondrial cristae destruction. Lipopolysaccharide exposure to aortic tissue resulted in cellular abnormalities, elastic fragmentation and collagen deposition. Manuka honey administration resulted in the reduction of cellular abnormalities and elastin fragmentation in the aorta however, the treatment induced collagen depletion. CONCLUSION : The aorta and cardiac muscle are vulnerable to the effects of low levels of systemic LPS exposure. Exposure resulted in elevation in cardiac and aortic cellular and elastin destruction that may possibly conclude in CV disease long term. In addition, Manuka honey serves as an insufficient remedy to counteract the harmful effects of LPS on the CV system.National research fundPhysiolog

Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes is accompanied by significant morphological and ultrastructural changes in both erythrocytes and in thrombin-generated fibrin : implications for diagnostics

We have noted in previous work, in a variety of inflammatory diseases, where iron dysregulation occurs, a strong tendency for erythrocytes to lose their normal discoid shape and to adopt a skewed morphology (as judged by their axial ratios in the light microscope and by their ultrastructure in the SEM). Similarly, the polymerization of fibrinogen, as induced in vitro by added thrombin, leads not to the common ‘spaghetti-like’ structures but to dense matted deposits. Type 2 diabetes is a known inflammatory disease. In the present work, we found that the axial ratio of the erythrocytes of poorly controlled (as suggested by increased HbA1c levels) type 2 diabetics was significantly increased, and that their fibrin morphologies were again highly aberrant. As judged by scanning electron microscopy and in the atomic force microscope, these could be reversed, to some degree, by the addition of the iron chelators deferoxamine (DFO) or deferasirox (DFX). As well as their demonstrated diagnostic significance, these morphological indicators may have prognostic value.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (grant BB/L025752/1) as well as the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.http://www.cardiab.com/hb201

An evaluation of the state of wellness amongst medical aid company employees in South Africa

Huidige navorsing op die gebied van welstand in die werkplek is gefragmenteer en vereis ’n holistiese, geïntegreerde en stelselmatige begrip van werknemerwelstand sodat gesondheiden welstandsorg doeltreffend bestuur kan word. Die toenemende las van nie-oordraagbare toestande in Suid-Afrika beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid van voorkomingstrategieë soos welstandprogramme. Die werkomgewing bied ’n ideale plek, aangesien ’n groot deel van die bevolking geteiken word, insluitende diegene wie se lewenstyl verbeter moet word. Hierdie studie is dus daarop gemik om verskeie gesondheid- en welstandkomponente onder werknemers van ’n mediesefondsmaatskappy te evalueer in ’n poging om risikogebiede te identifiseer wat verdere ingryping vereis. Die deelnemers het bestaan uit 140 werknemers van ’n mediesefondsmaatskappy wat ten minste 40 h per week werk. Hulle is onderwerp aan ’n welstandassesseringsbattery bestaande uit antropometrieke, gesondheidverwante en fisieke kapasiteitmetings. Die resultate toon dat ingryping nodig is betreffende alkohol- en dwelmgebruik, dieetgewoontes, hartgesondheid, liggaamsamestelling, spieruithouvermoë, kardiorespiratoriese uithouvermoë en individuele persepsies van die maatskappy. Dié studie het resultate opgelewer wat die bevindings van baie vorige navorsing op hierdie gebied staaf. Die trefwydte van welstandprogramme op die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking is egter beperk. Die sukses van welstandprogramme wat fisieke aktiwiteit beklemtoon, is goed gedokumenteer in hoë-inkomstelande, met bewys van die ekonomiese voordele en opbrengs op belegging. Gevolglik word daar aangevoer dat die toepassing van welstandprogramme ’n positiewe uitwerking op die Suid-Afrikaanse werkmag sal hê.Current research in the area of wellness in the workplace is fragmented and requires a holistic, integrated and systemic understanding of employee wellness in order for health and wellness care to be effectively managed. The growing burden of noncommunicable conditions in South Africa highlights the necessity for prevention strategies such as wellness programmes to be implemented. The workplace provides an ideal setting as a large proportion of the population will be targeted, including those who require lifestyle improvement. Therefore this study sought to evaluate various health and wellness components among employees of a medical aid company in an attempt to identify risk areas which require further intervention. Participants were 140 employees of a medical aid company who work a minimum of 40 h per week and who were subjected to a wellness assessment battery, consisting of anthropometrical, health-related and physical capacity measurements. The results indicate that intervention is required in terms of alcohol and drug usage, dietary habits, heart health, body composition, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, and individual perceptions towards the company. This study produced results which corroborate the findings of a great deal of previous research in this field. However, the scope for applying wellness programmes to the South African population is limited. The success of wellness programmes which emphasise physical activity has been well documented in high-income countries, with evidence of economic benefits and return on investment. And so it is proposed that implementation of wellness programmes will have a positive effect on the South African workforce.http://www.satnt.ac.zaam201

Electron confocal and atomic force microscopic analysis of platelets fibrin and erythrocytes in atopic asthma

Background: The underlying risk factor of non-communicable diseases is inflammation. The pathophysiology of asthma and/or allergic asthma is also, no surprisingly, also linked to chronic inflammation. The prevalence and incidence of asthma is on the increase, despite of a variety of treatment modalities. Asthma therefore is a growing burden on healthcare system and on society. Asthma pathophysiology is not only linked to inflammation, but also with activation of coagulation and reduced fibrinolysis due to plasma and locally derived factors in the airways. Alterations to these factors may thus influence the biophysical and mechanical properties of the coagulation, fibrin deposition followed by asthma pathology. Methodology: The objective of this study was to evaluate changes of blood components in asthma patients (n=30) compared to controls (n=30) using routine haematology screening using a haematology analyser; structural changes and axial ratio analysis using light microscopy (erythrocytes), elasticity using atomic force microscopy (erythrocytes); ultrastructural changes using scanning electron microscopy (erythrocytes, platelets and fibrin), transmission electron microscopy (platelets) and confocal microscopy (platelets) as well as the viscoelastic properties of the fibrin clot using thromboelastography; and mRNA levels of FXIII-A in whole blood by quantitative PCR. Results: The haematology findings of controls and asthma patients were within normal clinical ranges. There was, however, a significantly higher level of circulating monocytes (p=0.0066), erythrocytes (p=0.0004), haemoglobin (p=0.0057) and haematocrit (p=0.0049). The analysis of eosin stained erythrocytes by light microscopy showed more echinocytes, acanthocytes and ovalocytes compared to controls and the axial ratio was also significantly higher (controls: 1.2�0.22nm vs. asthma: 1.165�0.16nm, p<0.0001). Atomic force microscopy findings showed significantly reduced erythrocyte membrane elasticity (p=0.001). Morphological changes of erythrocytes were also noted from scanning electron microscopy. Platelet morphology and ultrastructure were qualitatively assessed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy and showed morphological changes indicative of platelet activation in asthma samples. In addition, the assessment of clot kinetics by thromboelastography also showed alteration with a tendency to produce stronger fibrin clots in asthma samples. The reaction time was higher (p<0.0001), alpha-angle was lower (p<0.0001), maximum rate of clot formation was higher (p<0.0001) � all indicative of a longer time for clotting to occur but the maximal amplitude which is indicative of clot strength and stability was significantly higher in asthma samples (p=0.0478). As the aggregation and cross-linking of fibrin fibres depends on factor XIII (FXIII), its excessive production may lead to alterations in fibrin polymerisation and crosslinking resulting in stronger fibrin clot formation and resistance to fibrinolysis. Densitometry analysis of scanning electron microscopy images of fibrin fibres showed a significantly lower variance in asthma samples (p<0.0001) indicative of more matt like structures compared to normal fibrin fibres in controls. The analysis of gene expression by qPCR revealed a significant 17.34-fold higher FXIII-A mRNA level in whole blood of asthma patients compared to controls indicating greater potential for de novo production of FXIII-A compared to the control group. These results would facilitate further research possibilities for identifying potential biomarkers in allergic asthma. These findings support the hypothesis of this study: enhanced coagulation may be attributed to the altered morphology and activation of platelets, erythrocyte and fibrin networks in asthma. Conclusion: In conclusion, altered erythrocyte and platelet morphology, excess production of FXIII-A, altered fibrin architecture and clot properties affects the coagulation profile in asthma, systemically. Further research is needed to extrapolate exact mechanism by which increased systemic coagulation contributes to the pathophysiology of the disease locally.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2018.PhysiologyPh