Combined protective effect of vitamins C and E on cadmium induced oxidative liver injury in rats

Our study pertains to the potential ability of vitamin C and/or vitamin E, used as nutritional supplements, to alleviate oxidative stress induced by cadmium. Male rats were randomly divided into five groups of eight each. Group I served as the controls; group II received in their drinking water CdCl2 (200 mg/L); group III received both CdCl2 and vitamin C (1.5 g/L of water); group IV was treated with CdCl2 and vitamin E (400 mg/kg diet); and group V received CdCl2 + vitamin C + vitamin E. The exposure of rats to cadmium chloride for 30 days resulted in a significant decrease in body weight gain. Cadmium treatment also produced oxidative liver injury characterized by increasing serum glucose concentration, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), alanine aminotransaminase (GOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Meanwhile cadmium supplementation decreased serum total protein and albumin in animals. In addition, liver glutathione level, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were diminished. With vitamin C and vitamin E administration during intoxication of cadmium, corrective effects on Cd-induced oxidative stress in the liver was observed. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that oral exposure to Cd caused reduction in LPO and antioxidant enzyme activities in rat’s liver, and vitamin C or vitamin E may have partial ameliorative effects on these disturbances, whereas vitamin C and vitamin E together assured a more efficient protection of the organ against the noticed oxidative stress.Key words: Cadmium, vitamin E, vitamin C, oxidative stress, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase

Preventive effect of zinc on nickel-induced oxidative liver injury in rats

This study pertains to the potential ability of zinc, used as nutritional supplements, to alternate oxidative stress induced by nickel. Male rats were randomly divided into four groups of eight each. Group I served as the controls; group II received in their drinking water ZnSO4 (227 mg/l); group III received NiSO4 (2 mg/100b.w/day intraperitoneally); group IV was treated with ZnSO4 and NiSO4. The exposure of rats to nickel sulfate for 21 days resulted in a significant decrease in body weight gain and absolute liver weight, relative liver weight. Nickel treatment also produced oxidative liver injury characterized by increasing serum glucose concentration, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), alanine aminotransferase (GOT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Meanwhile nickel supplementation decreased serum total protein and albumin in animals. In addition, liver glutathione level, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were diminished. The administration of zinc with nickel (Ni + Zn) corrective effects on Ni-induced oxidative stress in liver was observed. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that intraperitoneally injection with Ni caused reduction in enzymes activities in rat’s liver and treatment with zinc offers a relative protection against nickel induced oxidative liver injury and lipid peroxidation probably due to its antioxidant proprieties.Key words: Nickel, zinc, rats, oxidative stress, liver

The Crisis in Idlib: Turkey Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

The ceasefire agreement for Idlib signed between Russia and Turkey on March 5th is a step towards de-escalation. Yet, it remains doubtful whether this can translate into more than just providing short-term relief. To secure EU support in Idlib, Turkey has sought to increase pressure on European countries by "opening" its borders for refugees to travel on to the EU. While Ankara's instrumentalization of refugees is appalling, the humanitarian situation requires European support. Hence, the EU should coordinate with the US to increase pressure on Russia to facilitate a safe zone in northern Idlib in addition to the further humanitarian assistance the EU has pledged. To respond to the immediate pressure on its borders, the EU will have little choice but to negotiate a new deal building on the 2016 EU-Turkey refugee agreement, given the continuing disagreement on asylum and migration policy among EU member states

EFFECT OF SILYMARIN EXTRACTED FROM SILYBUM MARIANUM ON NICKEL HEMATOTOXICITY AND NEPHROTOXICITY IN MALE ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of silymarin extract from Silybum marianum against nickel-induced alterations in haematological indices, kidney dysfunction and renal antioxidant defence system.Methods: Male albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups seven each. Control, silymarin, nickel and nickel plus silymarin. Silymarin was administrated orally (100 mg/kg b. wt) and nickel as nickel sulfate (NiSO4 6H20) was given intraperitoneally (20 mg/kg b. wt) at alternative days. The experiment continued for three consecutive weeks. Body weight was recorded regularly. After overnight fasting, animals were killed and serum creatinine, serum urea, serum uric acid, hematological parameters and renal antioxidant markers were determined.Results: The treatment with nickel led to a significant decrease in body weight with an increase in both absolute and relative kidney weights and a significant increase in renal markers, which confirmed by histopathological alteration. A microcytic anemia was also observed, which was manifested by a reduction of red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, platelet counts (Plt), hematocrit and white blood cells counts (WBC). The level of lipid peroxidation was increased. Whereas, GSH concentration and enzymatic antioxidants SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activities were decreased. The co-treatment with methanolic extract of milk thistle attenuated the variation in the hematological and renal markers, decreasing renal lipid peroxidation (p<0.05) with a concomitant increasing reduced glutathione content (p<0.01) and restoring the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px) in kidney, as well as an improvement in histological changes compared to those previously noticed in nickel group.Conclusion: To conclude, these findings demonstrated that silymarin extract effectively improved heamatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity caused by nickel

The beneficial effect of combined administration of vitamins C and E on renal function and selected parameters of antioxidant system in diabetic rats fed zinc-deficient diet

The aim of this study was to examine the progression of kidney damage induced by zinc deficiency in diabetic rats and to evaluate the effect of combined treatment of vitamin E and vitamin C in renal injury by providing protection against deleterious action of zinc deficiency. Female diabetic albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups. The first group received a diet containing a 54 mg zinc/kg diet (adequate zinc, AZ), the second group received a diet containing 1 mg zinc/kg diet (zinc deficient group, ZD), and the three other groups received ZD diet and treated orally with vitamin E (500 mg/kg body wt) (ZD + Vit E), vitamin C (500 mg/kg body wt) (ZD + Vit C), and combined vitamins C and E (250 + 250 mg/kg body wt) (ZD+VitC+VitE), respectively. Body weight was recorded regularly (twice weekly). After four weeks of dietary manipulation, kidney zinc level, serum albumin and total protein concentration of ZD group were significantly lower than those of AZ group. Dietary zinc deficiency also increased proteinuria excretion, serum and urinary urea and uric acid levels, serum creatinine and kidney malondialdehyde concentration. In contrast, the catalase activity and reduced glutathione level in the kidney were reduced. In conclusion, vitamins E and C act as beneficial antioxidants protect renal function against the noticed oxidative stress due to zinc deficiency and experimental diabetes.Keywords: Experimental diabetes, zinc, vitamin E, vitamin C, oxidative stress, kidney damage

EFFECT OF THE JOINT SUPPLEMENTATION OF VITAMIN C AND VITAMIN E ON NICKEL HEAMATOTOXICITY AND NEPHROTOXICITY IN MALE SWISS ALBINO MICE

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamins C and E separately and in combination against nickel-induced alterations in haematological indices and kidney dysfunction. Methods: Male Swiss albino mice were divided into eight equal groups: Control, vitamin C (Vit C), vitamin E (Vit E), vitamin C and vitamin E (Vit C+Vit E), nickel (Ni), nickel and vitamin C (Ni+Vit C), nickel and vitamin E (Ni+Vit E), and nickel plus vitamins C and E (Ni+Vit C+Vit E). Vitamin C (1g/l) was given to mice through their drinking water. Vitamin E (1g/kg) and nickel as nickel sulfate (2.7 mg/kg) were supplemented in diet for four weeks.Results: Nickel caused a significant decrease in body weight, food and water consumption along with significant increase in the absolute and relative kidney weights. Haemoglobin, red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, platelet counts (Plt) and packed cell volume (PCV) were significantly diminished, while white blood cells count (WBC) increased in nickel exposed mice. The renal damage induced by nickel was evidenced by a significant increase in the levels of serum urea, creatinine and uric acid. However, vitamins C and E in combination more significantly ameliorated the altered histopathological and biochemical changes in the kidney as well as hematological parameters of Ni intoxicated mice than either vitamin C or E.Conclusion: The study showed that vitamin C and E combination effectively attenuated Ni-induced heamatotoxicity and nephrotoxiicty in mice.Keywords: Nickel, Vitamins C, Vitamin E, Heamatotoxicity, Kidney injury, Histopatholog

Die Transformation der Türkei zum Ein-Mann-Staat: Der Entwurf zur Verfassungsreform bedroht Demokratie, Rechtsstaatlichkeit und Pluralismus

Nachdem das türkische Parlament im Januar 2017 dem AKP-Entwurf zur Verfassungsänderung zustimmte, schreitet die politische Umgestaltung der Türkei zum autokratischen Präsidialsystem weiter voran. Der Reformvorschlag sieht eine drastische Verschiebung der Machtverhältnisse und exekutiven Befugnisse zugunsten des Staatspräsidenten vor. Selbst ohne die notwendige Zustimmung im Referendum am 16. April würde die Einführung des Präsidialsystems Recep Tayyip Erdoğans oberste Priorität bleiben. Die damit verbundene weitere Entfernung der Türkei von europäischen Werten und Normen würde die bereits stark belasteten Beziehungen zur EU noch stärker strapazieren. Trotz ihrer beschränkten Einflussmöglichkeiten kann die EU zumindest Anreize schaffen, um das Ausmaß der autokratischen Ausprägung des türkischen Regierungssystems etwas einzudämmen: Die Union bleibt der wichtigste Handelspartner der Türkei; an die Modernisierung der Zollunion ließen sich klare politische Konditionen knüpfen. Zudem könnte eine mögliche Lösung des Zypernkonflikts neue Kanäle zwischen der EU und Türkei öffnen

Effect of ginger on zinc, lipid profile and antioxidants levels in blood and liver of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats fed on zinc deficiency diet

Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease affecting 463 million people across the world. Ginger has enormous health promoting potential effects in number of ailments including diabetes. So, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) supplementation on carbohydrate metabolism, antioxidant status and tissue zinc in diabetic rats fed zinc deficient diet. Rats were divided into four groups. The first group was non-diabetic rats fed adequate zinc diet. The second was diabetic group fed also adequate zinc diet. While, the third and the fourth groups were diabetic fed zinc deficient diet, one non-treated and the other treated with ginger 2% diet. The findings showed an increase of blood glucose, transaminases, lipids profile and malondialdehyde levels, whereasinsulin, liverzinc, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, proteins, reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzymes were reduced in zinc deficient rats. However, treatment with ginger restored the previous parameters. The obtained results indicated that ginger has a powerful effect, which led to a reduction of diabetes development in zinc deficiency due to its antioxidant potential

Effect of ginger on zinc, lipid profile and antioxidants levels in blood and liver of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats fed on zinc deficiency diet

168-176Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease affecting 463 million people across the world. Ginger has enormous health promoting potential effects in number of ailments including diabetes. So, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) supplementation on carbohydrate metabolism, antioxidant status and tissue zinc in diabetic rats fed zinc deficient diet. Rats were divided into four groups. The first group was non-diabetic rats fed adequate zinc diet. The second was diabetic group fed also adequate zinc diet. While, the third and the fourth groups were diabetic fed zinc deficient diet, one non-treated and the other treated with ginger 2% diet. The findings showed an increase of blood glucose, transaminases, lipids profile and malondialdehyde levels, whereasinsulin, liverzinc, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, proteins, reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzymes were reduced in zinc deficient rats. However, treatment with ginger restored the previous parameters. The obtained results indicated that ginger has a powerful effect, which led to a reduction of diabetes development in zinc deficiency due to its antioxidant potential

A Seropositive Nodular Rheumatoid Polyarthritis without Arthritis: Does It Exist?

The rheumatoid polyarthritis is the most frequent chronic polyarthritis. It affects essentially the woman between 40 and 60 years. Rheumatic subcutaneous nodules and tenosynovitis are usually associated with seropositive symptomatic rheumatoid polyarthritis. It is, however, rare that they constitute the essential clinical expression of the disease. In this case, it makes dispute another exceptional form of rheumatoid arthritis such as rheumatoid nodulosis. A 60-year-old woman was hospitalized for tumefaction of the dorsal face of the right hand evolving two months before. The clinical examination found subcutaneous nodules from which the exploration ended in rheumatoid nodules with tenosynovitis. The evolution after four years was favourable under corticosteroid therapy, methotrexate, and colchicine