Oxidative stress and the fetotoxicity of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Pregnant Quackenbush Special mice were exposed to ethanol under semiacute (3.0 g/kg body weight intragastrically, days 7 to 12 of pregnancy), and chronic conditions (15% ethanol in drinking water for 5 weeks before and during pregnancy) to assess whether embryo-fetotoxic actions of the drug involve oxidative stress effects. Effects were monitored both in the maternal system and embryo. Alcohol compromised the maternal system by increasing the generation of lipid peroxides in the liver. It also decreased glutathione and vitamin E levels, and glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in this organ. Glutathione peroxidase activity in the maternal blood decreased. Only minor alcohol-induced changes occurred in the uterine endometrium, including decreased xanthine oxidase and increased gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Similarly, only few changes were induced in day-12 embryos by alcohol. In this case, glutathione content and xanthine oxidase activity decreased while glutathione reductase activity increased following exposure to the chronic regime. With the possible exception of the maternal liver where evidence of oxidative damage was detected, these results do not reflect substantial changes in the antioxidant defences of either the pregnant mouse or embryo. However, the changes may contribute to the growth retarding and other fetotoxic effects of alcohol when they are totalled into the multifactorial actions of the drug

The Effects of Resveratrol, Metformin, Cold and Strength Training on the Level of Perilipin 5 in the Heart, Skeletal Muscle and Brown Adipose Tissues in Mouse

The high accumulation of lipid droplets in the cell is related to metabolic disorders, such as obesity. Perilipin 5 (Plin5), plays an important role in triglyceride hydrolysis in the lipid droplets. In this study, this protein has been evaluated in different tissues and conditions in mice. Fifty male mice were divided into 5 groups and treated for 45 days with Resveratrol, Metformin, strength training, and 4 °C cold. Brown adipose tissue (BAT), gastrocnemius skeletal muscle and heart were isolated for RNA extraction. The Plin5 gene expression was evaluated, using Real-Time PCR, and the plin5 was analyzed at the protein level, using western blot. In BAT, Resveratrol significantly reduced the plin5 protein level and gene expression (p < 0.05). In heart tissue, Resveratrol and strength training, decreased (p < 0.05) the plin5 expression, but Metformin increased the gene expression (p < 0.05). In skeletal muscle, resveratrol, strength training, cold and Metformin significantly increased the plin5 expression at the gene and protein level (p < 0.05). In BAT, Resveratrol has a greater effect in decreasing lipid deposits, compared with the strength training and cold; thus, it can play a better role in preventing lipid accumulation. In heart tissue, Resveratrol probably decreases insulin resistance, due to the increased expression of plin5 in skeletal muscl

Adiponectin effects on osteonectin gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cell line

Background and purpose: Atherosclerosis is a major cause of death in adults in most countries. Many studies have focused on the protective role and anti-inflammatory properties of adiponectin but its role in calcification has been less studied. Studies that could determine the causes and mechanisms of calcification could be of great value. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of adiponectin on osteonectin gene expression, a protein involved in vascular calcification. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, vascular smooth muscle cells were obtained from Pasteur Institute of Iran and were cultured in F12K medium containing β-glycerophosphate as calcifying stimuli. The cells were treated with 5μg/ml adiponectin. At 24 and 48 hours osteonectin gene expression in these cells was studied against control cells using real time PCR. Results: We observed that adiponectin increased osteonectin gene expression against control cells 2.17 and 3.6 fold in vascular smooth muscle cells at 24 and 48 hours, respectively. Conclusion: Increasing the expression of osteonectin gene lead to increases in calcification, therefore, adiponectin could be considered as a risk factor for atherosclerosis

Comparison of pure palm olein oil, hydrogenated oil-containing palm, and canola on serum lipids and lipid oxidation rate in rats fed with these oils

Due to increased consumption of canola oil and hydrogenated oil containing palm and palm olein, and their possible effects on serum lipoproteins, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of these oils on lipids and lipid oxidation level. Methods: In this experimental study, 88 Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups. Control group (A) was on a normal diet. Groups B, C, and D, in addition to normal diet, were fed with hydrogenated oil-contained palm oil, pure palm olein oil, and canola oil, respectively for 4 weeks. Serum Biochemical factors [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), LDL, HDL, LDL/HDL ratio, oxLDL, paraoxanase-1 (PON1), and malondialdehyde (MDA)] were measured. Results: The lowest mean serum TC was seen in the control group and the highest in the group B. There were differences in TC, TG, HDL, MDA, and PON1 between the control group and other groups (P0.05). MDA was higher in groups C and D. Conclusion: Canola oil, hydrogenated oil-containing palm and palm olein may increase atherosclerosis risk through decreasing PON1 activity and elevating oxLDL. Palm olein oils in rats' diets cause a considerable decrease in LDL and help to increase HDL

Effects of cumin extract on serum lipid profile and total antioxidant capacity in rats receiving high-fat diet

Background and Objective: Obesity is a serious global health problem. In this study the effects of cumin extract in rats receiving high fat diets were investigated and compared with metformin. Materials and Methods: Eighty rats were divided into two sets of forty and each set was divided into four groups: the first group was a control group, the second group received a high fat diet, the third group received a high fat diet with metformin and forth group received a high fat diet with an extract of cumin. After treatment Malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase and antioxidant capacity (FRAP) were measured. Results: In the first set, the weight of the second group increased in comparison to the group receiving a normal diet. Weight in rats receiving metformin in combination with cumin extract decreased compared to the second group. MDA in rats belonging to the second group showed a greater increase compared to the control group, however FRAP was decreased. Results gathered from the second set are as follows: MDA increased in rats belonging to the second group more than the control group but, FRAP and catalase declined. MDA and catalase increased in the metformin group compared to the second group. PON1 activity, catalase and FRAP in cumin receiving rats increased compared to the second group and MDA declined. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that cumin extract has better protective effects against oxidative stress in high fat diet and obesity in comparison to metformin in rats

Compare the effects of atorvastatin and omega-3 on index of lipid oxidation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Background and aims: Oxidative stress in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome causes a lot of problems and oxidized lipids increase the risk of many diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in malondialdehyde (MDA) following treatment with atorvastatin and omega-3. To identify the factors causing the decline lipid oxidation are particularly important in the management and treatment of these patients. Methods: In this clinical trial study, patients with this syndrome were divided into three groups based on the visit. The first group, 26 patients consumed 4g per day omega -3. The second group, 27 patients consumed 20 mg per day atorvastatin and control group, 29 patients received placebo. After gathering all the samples using standard method for measuring lipid profile, the level of malondialdehyde was detected by the HPLC, insulin and testosterone were measured by ELISA. Data were analyzed with using paired t-test and ANOVA in SPSS software. Results: Omega-3 supplementation decreased malondialdehyde and testosterone. It also had a positive effect on raising HDL-C. Atorvastatin only decreased malondialdehyde in the atorvastatin recipients. Conclusion: Omega-3 supplements or atorvastatin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome reduces the lipid oxidation and MDA level. It is expected to decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome by reduction of lipid oxidation

Determination of fecal Alpha 1-Antitrypsin as marker for differentiation of microbial and non-microbial diarrhea

Alpha-1 anti-trypsin=AAT) یکی از پروتئین های فاز حاد سرم انسان است که سطوح سرمی آن در بعضی از بیماری ها از جمله بیماری های کبدی، کلیوی و ریوی تغییر می یابد و متعاقب اختلالات گوارشی از جمله اسهال، AAT از طریق مدفوع دفع می شود. اندازه گیری AAT مدفوع در تشخیص دفع غیر طبیعی پروتئین مورد استفاده قرار گرفته است. در مطالعات مختلفی، میزان AAT مدفوع به عنوان شاخص در تشخیص افتراقی انواع اختلالت گوارشی اندازه گیری شده است. باتوجه به اینکه تشخیص افتراقی اسهال های میکروبی از غیر میکروبی به علت نیاز به انجام کشت مدفوع وقت گیر می باشد لذا در این مطالعه سنجش میزان AAT مدفوع به عنوان یک آزمایش غربالی اولیه برای متمایز نمودن انواع اسهال ها (عفونی باکتریال و غیر عفونی) مورد مطالعه قرار گرفته است. در این مطالعه مورد-شاهدی مقدار AAT مدفوع کودکان بستری شده در بخش اطفال بیمارستان هاجر شهرکرد اندازه گیری شد. گروه اول شامل 30 کودک مبتلا به اسهال بودند که نتیجه کشت مدفوع آنها از نظر میکروبی مثبت و گروه دوم شامل 30 کودک مبتلا به اسهال بودند که نتیجه کشت مدفوع آنها از نظر میکروبی منفی بوده است و گروه شاهد شامل 30 کودک غیر مبتلا به اسهال بود. در تمام کودکان فوق میزان AAT مدفوع به روش رادیال ایمونودیفیوژن اندازه گیری گردید. میانگین مقدار AAT در گروه اول mg/dl 46.2±50، در گروه دوم mg/dl 34.77±25 و در گروه شاهد (افراد سالم) mg/dl 3.35±1.08 می باشد. از نظر آماری میانگین AAT در سه گروه اختلاف معنی داری نشان داد. نتایج این بررسی نشان داد که میانگین مقدار AAT در گروه مبتلا به اسهال و دارای کشت میکروبی مثبت (گروه اول) بالاتر از سایر گروه ها بوده است. اما در سطح انفرادی تمام افراد این گروه میزان AAT بالایی نداشتند. لذا پیشنهاد می گردد در مطالعه تکمیلی میزان AAT مدفوع در مقایسه با میزان AAT سرم اندازه گیری گردد

Effects of Pioglitazone On the Lipid Profile, Serum Antioxidant Capacity, and UCP1 Gene Expression in Mouse Brown Adipose Tissue.

BACKGROUND: Pioglitazone increases insulin sensitivity and improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetics. In this study, we evaluated the effects of pioglitazone on the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in mouse brown adipose tissue (BAT), and on recovery from oxidative stress due to a high-fat diet. METHODS: 30 mice were divided into three groups: group 1 received a normal diet, group 2 received a high-fat diet, and group 3 received a high-fat diet plus 30 mg/kg pioglitazone. After treatment, the cholesterol, triglyceride, paraoxonase 1 (PON1), total serum antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and specific activity of hepatic catalase were measured. BAT UCP1 expression was evaluated at both the mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: The weights differed between the groups (p<0.05). Serum MDA was greater and TAC, liver catalase, and PON1 were less than in group 2 than in group 1 (p<0.05). In Serum MDA was less and catalase activity was greater in group 3 than in group 2 (p<0.05). UCP1 gene expression was less in group 2 than in group 1 (p<0.05) but greater than in group 3 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Pioglitazone may have a protective role in high-fat-diet-induced oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant capacity. Moreover, it can induce weight loss by increasing UCP1 mRNA and protein expression. KEYWORDS: High-fat diet; MDA; PON1; TAC; UCP1; pioglitazon

Effect of Allium sativum L. extract on acid and pepsin secretion in basal condition and stimulated with vag stimulate in rat

Background: Garlic is used world wide to give flavor to foods as pecols ect. by different nations specially by Iranian society. The dominant believe is, the garlic therapeutic effects on patients with gastric discomfort and digesting problems. Objective: in this study we aimed to investigate the garlic effect on gastric acid and pepsin in both basic and stimulated condition by electrical stimulus of voguesnerve in rat. Methods: in an experimental study two groups of 12 wistar rats were selected. to make the animal unconscious, 50mg/kg Sodium Tiopantal were given ip. and each rat was tracheostomized, laparatomized, gastrodeodonostomized and then 100 mg/kg of garlic extract dissolved in 9 saline was introduced to stomach of animal. The vagus nerves of both side of the neck released from carotid sheet and stimulated with 15millivolts, frequency 4 Herts and 1 milisecond wide. The stomach secretions then washed out in following stages; first base, second base, vagus stimulated conditions and reverse to base. The acid amounts of washing were measured by titrometry and pepsin amounts were measured with Anson technique. Results: the acid and pepsin secretion were significantly increased in rats received garlic extracts (p&lt;0.000 p&lt;0.05 respectively). Stimulation by vagus nerves in control group significantly increased the level of acid (p&lt;0.05) and pepsin (p&lt;0.05) and garlic treated group had similar secretion rate to stimulated group. Furthermore there were no significant relationship between sex of studied rats. Conclusion: consumption of garlic in the diet has lots of benefits for digestion of foods, so it can be beneficial for those patients with digestive problems, however it should be noted that people with digestive dysfunction related to increased level of gastric acid or pepsin must avoid garlic consumption. Therefore patient with gastritis and duodenal ulcer are not allowed to take garlic in their diet

Measuring universal health coverage based on an index of effective coverage of health services in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019 : A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) involves all people receiving the health services they need, of high quality, without experiencing financial hardship. Making progress towards UHC is a policy priority for both countries and global institutions, as highlighted by the agenda of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and WHO's Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW13). Measuring effective coverage at the health-system level is important for understanding whether health services are aligned with countries' health profiles and are of sufficient quality to produce health gains for populations of all ages. Methods Based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we assessed UHC effective coverage for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. Drawing from a measurement framework developed through WHO's GPW13 consultation, we mapped 23 effective coverage indicators to a matrix representing health service types (eg, promotion, prevention, and treatment) and five population-age groups spanning from reproductive and newborn to older adults (≥65 years). Effective coverage indicators were based on intervention coverage or outcome-based measures such as mortality-to-incidence ratios to approximate access to quality care; outcome-based measures were transformed to values on a scale of 0–100 based on the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile of location-year values. We constructed the UHC effective coverage index by weighting each effective coverage indicator relative to its associated potential health gains, as measured by disability-adjusted life-years for each location-year and population-age group. For three tests of validity (content, known-groups, and convergent), UHC effective coverage index performance was generally better than that of other UHC service coverage indices from WHO (ie, the current metric for SDG indicator 3.8.1 on UHC service coverage), the World Bank, and GBD 2017. We quantified frontiers of UHC effective coverage performance on the basis of pooled health spending per capita, representing UHC effective coverage index levels achieved in 2019 relative to country-level government health spending, prepaid private expenditures, and development assistance for health. To assess current trajectories towards the GPW13 UHC billion target—1 billion more people benefiting from UHC by 2023—we estimated additional population equivalents with UHC effective coverage from 2018 to 2023. Findings Globally, performance on the UHC effective coverage index improved from 45·8 (95% uncertainty interval 44·2–47·5) in 1990 to 60·3 (58·7–61·9) in 2019, yet country-level UHC effective coverage in 2019 still spanned from 95 or higher in Japan and Iceland to lower than 25 in Somalia and the Central African Republic. Since 2010, sub-Saharan Africa showed accelerated gains on the UHC effective coverage index (at an average increase of 2·6% [1·9–3·3] per year up to 2019); by contrast, most other GBD super-regions had slowed rates of progress in 2010–2019 relative to 1990–2010. Many countries showed lagging performance on effective coverage indicators for non-communicable diseases relative to those for communicable diseases and maternal and child health, despite non-communicable diseases accounting for a greater proportion of potential health gains in 2019, suggesting that many health systems are not keeping pace with the rising non-communicable disease burden and associated population health needs. In 2019, the UHC effective coverage index was associated with pooled health spending per capita (r=0·79), although countries across the development spectrum had much lower UHC effective coverage than is potentially achievable relative to their health spending. Under maximum efficiency of translating health spending into UHC effective coverage performance, countries would need to reach $1398 pooled health spending per capita (US$ adjusted for purchasing power parity) in order to achieve 80 on the UHC effective coverage index. From 2018 to 2023, an estimated 388·9 million (358·6–421·3) more population equivalents would have UHC effective coverage, falling well short of the GPW13 target of 1 billion more people benefiting from UHC during this time. Current projections point to an estimated 3·1 billion (3·0–3·2) population equivalents still lacking UHC effective coverage in 2023, with nearly a third (968·1 million [903·5–1040·3]) residing in south Asia. Interpretation The present study demonstrates the utility of measuring effective coverage and its role in supporting improved health outcomes for all people—the ultimate goal of UHC and its achievement. Global ambitions to accelerate progress on UHC service coverage are increasingly unlikely unless concerted action on non-communicable diseases occurs and countries can better translate health spending into improved performance. Focusing on effective coverage and accounting for the world's evolving health needs lays the groundwork for better understanding how close—or how far—all populations are in benefiting from UHC