Differential Effects of High-Carbohydrate and High-Fat Diet Composition on Metabolic Control and Insulin Resistance in Normal Rats

The macronutrient component of diets is critical for metabolic control and insulin action. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of high fat diets (HFDs) vs. high carbohydrate diets (HCDs) on metabolic control and insulin resistance in Wistar rats. Thirty animals divided into five groups (n = 6) were fed: (1) Control diet (CD); (2) High-saturated fat diet (HSFD); (3) High-unsaturated fat diet (HUFD); (4) High-digestible starch diet, (HDSD); and (5) High-resistant starch diet (HRSD) during eight weeks. HFDs and HCDs reduced weight gain in comparison with CD, however no statistical significance was reached. Calorie intake was similar in both HFDs and CD, but rats receiving HCDs showed higher calorie consumption than other groups, (p < 0.01). HRSD showed the lowest levels of serum and hepatic lipids. The HUFD induced the lowest fasting glycemia levels and HOMA-IR values. The HDSD group exhibited the highest insulin resistance and hepatic cholesterol content. In conclusion, HUFD exhibited the most beneficial effects on glycemic control meanwhile HRSD induced the highest reduction on lipid content and did not modify insulin sensitivity. In both groups, HFDs and HCDs, the diet constituents were more important factors than caloric intake for metabolic disturbance and insulin resistance

Depresión y riesgo de suicidio: posibles indicadores bioquímicos en pacientes psiquiátricos con intento de suicidio en el sureste de México

The diagnosis of suicidal trends in patients with depression has been a challenge for mental health specialists, thus it is desirable to define biochemical markers to identify those patients prone to commit suicide. In the present work eight biochemical variables in psychiatric patients with and without attempt of suicide, as well as in a group of control normal volunteers were analyzed. The biochemical determinations in the blood were: triacylglycerols, cholesterol, cholesterol associated to HD lipoproteins (HDL-cholesterol), total proteins, leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets and platelet serotonin receptors. With exception of proteins and triacylglycerols, all the variables showed significant differences between the groups (ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis; p<0.05). The depressed patients, with and without attempt of suicide, showed lower values (DMS or Mann Whitney U tests; p<0.05) of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and erythrocytes, as well as higher values of platelets (p<0.01), than the normal control group. In contrast, the patients with attempt of suicide showed higher values (p<0.001) of leukocytes but lower (p<0.001) levels of platelet serotonin receptors than the observed ones in patients depressed without attempt of suicide or in the normal volunteers. The analysis of relative risk, compared with the normal volunteers, showed that five variables were associated with the suicidal increase of risk and two variables with its diminution. However, when refining the contrast with the depressed patients without attempt of suicide, only the low value of platelet serotonin receptors increased the risk of suicide (odds ratio 13.39; p<0.001), whereas lower values of leukocytes decreased the risk of suicide (0.0; p<0.001). The analysis of leukocytes and platelet serotonin receptors allows the possibility to use them as potential indicators of suicidal risk in depressed patients.El diagnóstico de las tendencias suicidas en pacientes con depresión ha sido un problema para los especialistas en la salud mental, por lo cual es deseable definir marcadores bioquímicos para identificar a los pacientes con tendencias suicidas. En el presente trabajo se analizaron ocho variables bioquímicas en pacientes psiquiátricos con y sin intento de suicidio, así como en un grupo control de voluntarios normales. Las determinaciones bioquímicas en la sangre fueron: triacilgliceroles, colesterol, colesterol asociado a las lipoproteínas de alta densidad (HDL-colesterol), proteínas totales, leucocitos, eritrocitos, plaquetas y receptores plaquetarios a serotonina. Con excepción de las proteínas y los triacilgliceroles, todas las variables mostraron diferencias significativas entre los grupos (ANDEVA o Kruskal-Wallis; p<0.05). Los pacientes deprimidos, con y sin intento de suicidio, mostraron valores (pruebas DMS o U de Mann Whitney; p<0.05) menores de colesterol, HDL-colesterol y de eritrocitos, así como superiores de plaquetas (p<0.01), que el grupo control normal. En contraste, los pacientes con intento de suicidio mostraron valores mayores (p<0.001) de leucocitos pero menores (p<0.001) niveles de receptores plaquetarios a serotonina que los observados en pacientes deprimidos sin intento de suicidio o en los voluntarios normales. El análisis de riesgo relativo, comparado con los voluntarios normales, mostró que cinco variables fueron asociadas con el incremento de riesgo suicida y dos variables con su disminución. No obstante, al refinar el contraste con los pacientes deprimidos sin intento de suicidio, solamente el valor bajo de receptores plaquetarios a serotonina aumentó el riesgo de suicidio (razón entre grupos 13.39; p<0.001), mientras que valores menores de leucocitos disminuyeron el riesgo de suicidio (0.0; p<0.001). El análisis de leucocitos y de receptores plaquetarios a serotonina abre la posibilidad de que sean utilizados como indicadores potenciales del riesgo suicida en pacientes deprimidos

Combined Effect of Diosgenin Along with Ezetimibe or Atorvastatin on the Fate of Labelled Bile Acid and Cholesterol in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

We analyzed the effect of diosgenin, administered with atorvastatin or ezetimibe, on the fate of 3H(G)-taurocholic acid or 26-14C-cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic rats. Male Wistar rats received a hypercholesterolemic diet (HD), HD + atorvastatin (HD+ATV), HD + ezetimibe (HD+EZT), HD + diosgenin (HD+DG), HD+ATV+EZT, or HD+ATV+DG for 40 days. We also included a control normal group (ND). The labelled compounds were administered on day 30. The animals were placed in metabolic cages for daily feces collection. At day 40 the rats were sacrificed. Lipid extracts from blood, liver, spinal cord, testicles, kidneys, epididymis, intestine, and feces were analyzed for radioactivity. Cholesterol activity was the highest in the liver in HD rats. DG diminished one half of this activity in HD+DG and HD+ATV+DG groups in comparison with the HD group. HD+ATV rats showed four to almost ten-fold cholesterol activity in the spinal cord compared with the ND or HD rats. Fecal elimination of neutral steroids was approximately two-fold higher in the HD+DG and HD+ATV+DG groups. Taurocholic acid activity was four to ten-fold higher in HD+DG intestine as compared to the other experimental groups. Taurocholic activity in the liver of HD and HD+DG groups was two and a half higher than in ND. Our results show that the combination of DG and ATV induced the highest cholesterol reduction in the liver and other tissues

Increase in Suicide Rates by Hanging in the Population of Tabasco, Mexico between 2003 and 2012

Background: Worldwide, the suicide rate is decreasing. To examine changes in the rates of completed suicide in the Mexican population from 2003 to 2012, we analyzed these changes according to: (i) the method of suicide; (ii) age group and (iii) gender. Methods: The data analyzed were obtained from governmental organizations from the State of Tabasco, Mexico. The data provided 1836 cases of subjects born and residing in Tabasco, who completed suicide in this state. Results: Suicide by hanging was a common choice of suicide method for Mexicans. The rate of suicide by hanging increased from 5.80 to 6.49 per 100,000 persons between 2003 and 2012, a rate percentage increase of 11.89%. Conclusions: Hanging was found to be the most common choice of suicide in the Mexican population, probably because the materials required are easily available and the method does not require complicated techniques, especially in the 55–64 age group. Strategies for prevention and intervention should be developed for the Mexican population considering suicide rates by age group and gender

Response to the Fernández-Niño Comments on Hernández-Alvarado et al. Increase in Suicide Rates by Hanging in the Population of Tabasco, México between 2003 and 2012. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2016, 13, 552

We thank the comments of Fernández-Niño [1] addressing our article [2] “Increase in Suicide Rates by Hanging in the Population of Tabasco, Mexico between 2003 and 2012”, which pointed out that the use of the epidemiological concept “prevalence” is not correctly applied in the present manuscript

Phytochemical screening and hypoglycemic activity of Carica papaya leaf in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The extraction of plant constituents is essential to isolate biologically active compounds, aimed to understand their role on the treatment of diabetes. This study was designed to explore the preliminary phytochemical and physicochemical analysis of Carica papaya L., Caricaceae, leaf, and further evaluation of its hypoglycemic effect on diabetic rats. C. papaya leaves were extracted using chloroform, n-hexane or ethanol. For each extract a phytochemical screening was performed. The tests were conducted in triplicate and the qualitative and quantitative determination of the various metabolites was done using analytical standards proposed by Mexican Herbal Pharmacopoeia. The chloroform extract, containing steroids and quinones as major components, was chosen to study C. papaya biological effects. The chloroform extract was evaporated to dryness, and doses 0, 31, 62, 125 mg/kg were orally administered in 300 µl polyethylene glycol to diabetic rats; and 0 and 62 mg/kg to non-diabetic rats. After a 20-day treatment with the chloroform extract, the animals were sacrificed and blood was obtained for biochemical studies. The main effect observed was a decrease in serum glucose, triglycerides and transaminases in diabetic rats after the administration of C. papaya chloroform extract. These results confirm the potential beneficial action of C. papaya to treat the symptoms of diabetic patients