Changes in endotoxin levels in T2DM subjects on anti-diabetic therapies

Introduction Chronic low-grade inflammation is a significant factor in the development of obesity associated diabetes. This is supported by recent studies suggesting endotoxin, derived from gut flora, may be key to the development of inflammation by stimulating the secretion of an adverse cytokine profile from adipose tissue. Aims The study investigated the relationship between endotoxin and various metabolic parameters of diabetic patients to determine if anti-diabetic therapies exerted a significant effect on endotoxin levels and adipocytokine profiles. Methods Fasting blood samples were collected from consenting Saudi Arabian patients (BMI: 30.2 ± (SD)5.6 kg/m2, n = 413), consisting of non-diabetics (ND: n = 67) and T2DM subjects (n = 346). The diabetics were divided into 5 subgroups based on their 1 year treatment regimes: diet-controlled (n = 36), metformin (n = 141), rosiglitazone (RSG: n = 22), a combined fixed dose of metformin/rosiglitazone (met/RSG n = 100) and insulin (n = 47). Lipid profiles, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, adiponectin, resistin, TNF-α, leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and endotoxin concentrations were determined. Results Regression analyses revealed significant correlations between endotoxin levels and triglycerides (R2 = 0.42; p < 0.0001); total cholesterol (R2 = 0.10; p < 0.001), glucose (R2 = 0.076; p < 0.001) and insulin (R2 = 0.032; p < 0.001) in T2DM subjects. Endotoxin showed a strong inverse correlation with HDL-cholesterol (R2 = 0.055; p < 0.001). Further, endotoxin levels were elevated in all of the treated diabetic subgroups compared with ND, with the RSG treated diabetics showing significantly lower endotoxin levels than all of the other treatment groups (ND: 4.2 ± 1.7 EU/ml, RSG: 5.6 ± 2.2 EU/ml). Both the met/RSG and RSG treated groups had significantly higher adiponectin levels than all the other groups, with the RSG group expressing the highest levels overall. Conclusion We conclude that sub-clinical inflammation in T2DM may, in part, be mediated by circulating endotoxin. Furthermore, that whilst the endotoxin and adipocytokine profiles of diabetic patients treated with different therapies were comparable, the RSG group demonstrated significant differences in both adiponectin and endotoxin levels. We confirm an association between endotoxin and serum insulin and triglycerides and an inverse relationship with HDL. Lower endotoxin and higher adiponectin in the groups treated with RSG may be related and indicate another mechanism for the effect of RSG on insulin sensitivity

Investigating IoT Middleware Platforms for Smart Application Development

With the growing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, the data generated through these devices is also increasing. By 2030, it is been predicted that the number of IoT devices will exceed the number of human beings on earth. This gives rise to the requirement of middleware platform that can manage IoT devices, intelligently store and process gigantic data generated for building smart applications such as Smart Cities, Smart Healthcare, Smart Industry, and others. At present, market is overwhelming with the number of IoT middleware platforms with specific features. This raises one of the most serious and least discussed challenge for application developer to choose suitable platform for their application development. Across the literature, very little attempt is done in classifying or comparing IoT middleware platforms for the applications. This paper categorizes IoT platforms into four categories namely-publicly traded, open source, developer friendly and end-to-end connectivity. Some of the popular middleware platforms in each category are investigated based on general IoT architecture. Comparison of IoT middleware platforms in each category, based on basic, sensing, communication and application development features is presented. This study can be useful for IoT application developers to select the most appropriate platform according to their application requirement

<i>“We’re Seeking Relevance”</i>: Qualitative Perspectives on the Impact of Learning Analytics on Teaching and Learning

Whilst a significant body of learning analytics research tends to focus on impact from the perspective of usability or improved learning outcomes, this paper proposes an approach based on Affordance Theory to describe awareness and intention as a bridge between usability and impact. 10 educators at 3 European institutions participated in detailed interviews on the affordances they perceive in using learning analytics to support practice in education. Evidence illuminates connections between an educator’s epistemic beliefs about learning and the purpose of education, their perception of threats or resources in delivering a successful learning experience, and the types of data they would consider as evidence in recognising or regulating learning. This evidence can support the learning analytics community in considering the proximity to the student, the role of the educator, and their personal belief structure in developing robust analytics tools that educators may be more likely to use

Hepatotoxic and Nephrotoxic Effects of Petroleum Fumes on Petrol Attendants in Ibadan, Nigeria

The present study was conducted to evaluate the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of petroleum fumes on male and female petrol attendants. Investigations had been carried out on thirty (30) adult petrol attendants from different filling stations in Ibadan metropolis of Nigeria with ten (10) healthy adults as control. All the subjects involved in this study were between the ages of 27-35 years. The subjects were grouped according to the duration of time they had worked in the filling station. Serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and total bilirubin concentration were determined to evaluate hepatotoxicity. Kidney function tests were also evaluated using serum creatinine, total protein and urea level. Electrolytes (potassium, chloride and sodium ions) leakages into the serum were also evaluated. The results reveal that serum AST, ALT, ALP activities and total bilirubin concentration in the petrol attendants were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher compared with the control. The petrol attendants that have spent 27-36 months in the petrol station show significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in AST, ALT, ALP activities and total bilirubin concentration compared with other petrol attendants that have spent lesser duration in the filling station. The kidney function test reveals that petrol attendants show significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in creatinine, total protein and urea level compared with the control. Petrol attendanst show significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in serum potassium, chloride and sodium ion concentrations compared with the control group. The study suggests that long term inhalation of petrol fumes is associated with adverse effect on the kidney and liver function.  Keywords: Liver; Kidney: Petroleum fume: Petroleum attendants; Electrolyte

In vitro antilisterial properties of crude aqueous and nhexane extracts of the husk of Cocos nucifera

The in vitro antilisterial activities and time kill regimes of crude aqueous and n-hexane extracts of the husk fiber of Cocos nucifera were assessed. The aqueous extracts were active against 29 of the 37 test Listeria isolates while the n-hexane extracts were active against 30. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of all the susceptible bacteria ranged between 0.6 and 2.5 mg/ml for the aqueous fraction and between 0.6 and 5.0 mg/ml for the n-hexane extract. The average log reduction in viable cell count in the time kill assay ranged between 0.32 Log10 and 3.2 Log10 cfu/ml after 4 h of interaction, and between 2.6 Log10 and 4.8 Log10 cfu/ml after 8 h interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC (aqueous extract); and between 2.8 Log10 and 4.8 Log10 cfu/ml after 4 h of interaction, and 3.5 Log10 to 6.2 Log10 cfu/ml after 8 h interaction in 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC for the n-hexane extract. The extract was bactericidal against one of the test bacteria at 1 × MIC and against three of the test bacteria at 2 × MIC for the 8 h interaction period for the aqueous extract, while for the n-Hexane fraction; the extract was bactericidal against all the five test bacteria at both MICs after the 8 h interaction period. We suggested that the crude aqueous and n-hexane extracts of the husk of C. nucifera could be bacteriostatic or bactericidal depending on the time of exposure and concentration.Key words: Cocos nucifera, n-hexane extract, aqueous extract, minimum inhibitory concentration, time-kill