Hematological alterations in diabetic rats

Dysfunction in adipocytes is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes-associated anemia has been reported due to the increased non-enzymatic glycosylation of RBC membrane proteins, which correlates with hyperglycemia. The present study was hypothesized to assess the effect of citrus flavonoids on hematological parameters and adipose tissue interleukin-6 and adiponectin in type 2 diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by feeding rats with a high fat diet for 2 weeks followed by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. An oral dose of 50 mg/kg hesperidin or naringin was daily given for 4 weeks after diabetes induction. By the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and were immediately used for determination of haematological parameters. Expression levels of adiponectin and interleukin-6 were assayed in adipose tissue samples. Both hesperidin and naringin significantly improved the levels of erythrocytes, leukocytes and their functional indices. Similarly, supplementation with either compound significantly ameliorated the declined adipose tissue adiponectin expression in conjunction with down-regulated interleukin-6. The findings of the present study indicated that hesperidin and naringin exert protection to diabetes-associated anemia in type 2 diabetic rats. This could be due to attenuation of proinflammatory cytokine production and stimulation of adiponectin expression

Thymoquinone and curcumin attenuate gentamicin-induced renal oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in rats

The present study was aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and curcumin (Cur) on gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Rats were divided into four groups as follows: group 1 received normal saline and served as normal controls, group 2 received GM only, group 3 concurrently received GM and TQ and group 4 concurrently received GM and Cur. At day 21, rats were sacrificed and samples were collected for assaying serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), urea and creatinine levels, and renal lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) content as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. In addition, kidneys were collected for histopathological examination and immunohistochemical determination of the antiapoptotic protein, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). The biochemical results showed that GM-induced nephrotoxicity was associated with a significant increase in serum TNF-α, urea and creatinine as well as renal lipid peroxidation. On the other hand, renal GSH content and GPx and SOD activities were significantly declined. Concomitant administration of either TQ or Cur efficiently alleviated the altered biochemical and histopathological features. In conclusion, both TQ and Cur showed more or less similar marked renoprotective effect against GM-induced nephrotoxicity through their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic efficacies

Comments on “Probiotic Bifidobacterium strains and galactooligosaccharides improve intestinal barrier function in obese adults but show no synergism when used together as synbiotics”

A finite strain constitutive model to predict a complex elastoplastic deformation behaviour involves very high pressures and shockwaves in orthotropic materials is developed in this work. The important feature of the proposed hyperelastic-plastic constitutive model is a Mandel stress tensor combined with the new generalised orthotropic pressure. The formulation is developed in the isoclinic configuration and allows for a unique treatment for elastic and plastic orthotropy. The elastic orthotropy is taken into account through a stress tensor decomposition combined with the new pressure. A yield surface of Hill’s yield criterion aligned uniquely within the principal stress space is adopted to characterise plastic orthotropy by means of the evolving structural tensors. An isotropic hardening is adopted to define the evolution of plastic orthotropy. The formulation is further combined with a shock equation of state (EOS) and Grady spall failure model to predict shockwave propagation and spall failure in the materials, respectively. The proposed constitutive model is implemented as a new material model in the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)-DYNA3D code of UTHM’s version. The ability of the newly constitutive model to describe finite strain deformation and shock propagation in orthotropic materials is first investigated against plate impact data of aluminium alloy in the longitudinal and transverse directions before a comparison against plate impact test data of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy composites along the through-thickness direction is finally conducted. A good agreement is obtained in each test

Copper and Magnesium Deficiency are Associated with Osteoporosis in Southern Gaza Patients

Osteoporosis is a common disease in old ages, trace minerals are central components of bone density and hardness. The present study aims to measure copper, magnesium, iron, calcium and phosphorus levels in osteoporotic southern Gaza patients and control groups. A case –control study included 35 osteoporotic patients and 35 controls aged 40-70 years. Copper, magnesium iron, calcium and phosphorus levels were measured in the serum at PalestinianMedical Relieve Society-Gaza by absorption spectrophotometry method-XLFS Kit (Diasys Diagnostic System GmbH). Serum copper and magnesium levels in osteoporotic patients (74.3±9.8μg/dL 1.56±0.18mg/dl) respectively is significantly (p<0.001) lower than control (98.3±15.2μg/dL, 2.06±0.13mg/dl ). The present work indicated a positive correlation between copper and magnesium levels (r=0.627, p<0.00), positive correlation between copper and number of daily meals (r=0.263, p<0.030), and also positive correlation between calcium and daily exercises (r=0.449, p<0.010). In conclusion copper and magnesium levels are significantly lower in postmenopausal women and men with osteoporosis. Optimizing levels of those trace minerals in old people is beneficial in prevention of osteoporosis. Daily exercises and ingestion of food containing trace minerals is highly recommended for this age group

The role of chamomile oil against ochratoxin A in quail breeders: productive and reproductive performances, egg quality and blood metabolites

This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial role of chamomile essential oil in improving productive and reproductive performances, egg quality, and blood metabolites and reducing the toxic effect of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in quail breeder's diets. A total of 144 mature quails, 8 wk old, were divided into 6 groups. The treatments were: G1 (the control), G2 (supplemented with OTA 1 mg/kg diet), G3 (supplemented with chamomile oil 0.5 g/kg diet), G4 (supplemented with chamomile oil 1 G/kg diet), G5 (supplemented with OTA 1 mg/kg diet + chamomile oil 0.5 g/kg diet), and G6 (supplemented with OTA 1 mg/kg diet + chamomile oil 1 g/kg diet). The OTA administration alone significantly decreased egg production and mass in quail breeders (P < 0.0001). Moreover, poor feed conversion ratio (FCR), fertility percentage (P < 0.0001), and hatchability percentage (P < 0.0009) were recorded. A significant decline (P < 0.05) in the levels of serum protein (total protein and globulin) was also recorded in OTA-contaminated groups, along with elevated serum levels of liver enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) and kidney function test as urea and creatinine levels (P < 0.05). Ochratoxin A-contaminated feed resulted in a significant elevation (P < 0.05) in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), along with a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in antioxidant status and immunological response. The supplementation of chamomile essential oil, either 0.5 g/kg or 1g/kg, to the basal diet or OTA-supplemented feed, revealed a significant increase in hatchability %, fertility, egg mass, and egg production and better FCR, egg quality, and immunological status when compared to OTA only. Moreover, chamomile essential oil supplementation improves liver and kidney function markers, decreases LDL, VLDL), TG, and TC. Along with a significant increase (P < 0.05) in terms of antioxidant status as glutathione peroxidase enzyme (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and significantly (P < 0.05) improves immunological response as IgM, IgG, lysozyme and complement 3. In summary, chamomile oil supplementation, either separate or combined with OTA, reduced the adverse effects of OTA and led to improved productive and reproductive performance, egg quality, and blood metabolites in Japanese quail breeders

Beneficial therapeutic effects of Nigella sativa and/or Zingiber officinale in HCV patients in Egypt

Hepatitis C is a major global health burden and Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide. The current study was designed to evaluate the beneficial therapeutic effects of ethanolic extracts of Nigella sativa, Zingiber officinale and their mixture in Egyptian HCV patients. Sixty volunteer patients with proven HCV and fifteen age matched healthy subjects were included in this study. Exclusion criteria included patients on interferon alpha (IFN-α) therapy, infection with hepatitis B virus, drug-induced liver diseases, advanced cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or other malignancies, blood picture abnormalities and major severe illness. Liver function enzymes, albumin, total bilirubin, prothrombin time and concentration, international normalized ratio, alpha fetoprotein and viral load were all assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. Ethanolic extracts of Nigella sativa and Zingiber officinale were prepared and formulated into gelatinous capsules, each containing 500 mg of Nigella sativa and/or Zingiber officinale. Clinical response and incidence of adverse drug reactions were assessed initially, periodically, and at the end of the study. Both extracts as well as their mixture significantly ameliorated the altered viral load, alpha fetoprotein, liver function parameters; with more potent effect for the combined therapy. In conclusion, administration of Nigella sativa and/or Zingiber officinale ethanolic extracts to HCV patients exhibited potential therapeutic benefits via decreasing viral load and alleviating the altered liver function, with more potent effect offered by the mixture

Effect of Empagliflozin on Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Injury in Rats: Role of AMPK/SIRT-1/HIF-1α Pathway in Halting Liver Fibrosis

Hepatic fibrosis causes severe morbidity and death. No viable treatment can repair fibrosis and protect the liver until now. We intended to discover the empagliflozin’s (EMPA) hepatoprotective efficacy in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatotoxicity by targeting AMPK/SIRT-1 activity and reducing HIF-1α. Rats were treated orally with EMPA (3 or 6 mg/kg) with TAA (100 mg/kg, IP) thrice weekly for 6 weeks. EMPA in both doses retracted the serum GGT, ALT, AST, ammonia, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and increased serum albumin. At the same time, EMPA (3 or 6 mg/kg) replenished the hepatic content of GSH, ATP, AMP, AMPK, or SIRT-1 and mitigated the hepatic content of MDA, TNF-α, IL-6, NF-κB, or HIF-1α in a dose-dependent manner. Likewise, hepatic photomicrograph stained with hematoxylin and eosin or Masson trichrome stain of EMPA (3 or 6 mg/kg) revealed marked regression of the hepatotoxic effect of TAA with minimal injury. Similarly, in rats given EMPA (3 or 6 mg/kg), the immunohistochemically of hepatic photomicrograph revealed minimal stain of either α-SMA or caspase-3 compared to the TAA group. Therefore, we concluded that EMPA possessed an antifibrotic effect by targeting AMPK/SIRT-1 activity and inhibiting HIF-1α. The present study provided new insight into a novel treatment of liver fibrosis

Modeling and control of single-stage quadratic-boost split source inverters

This paper aims to develop the recently introduced Spilt-Source Inverter (SSI) topology to improve its boosting characteristics. New SSI topologies with high voltage gain are introduced in this paper. The proposed converters square the basic SSI’s boosting factor by utilizing an additional inductor, capacitor, and two diodes. Thus, the proposed converters are called Quadratic-Boost (or Square-Boost) SSIs (QBIs or SBIs). Four different QBI topologies are presented. One with continuous input current (CC-QBI), and the other draws a discontinuous input current (DC-QBI) but with reduced capacitor voltage stresses. This paper also introduces the small-signal model of the CC-QBI using state variables perturbance. Based on this model, the closed-loop voltage and current control approach of the dc-boosting factor are designed. Moreover, a modified space vector modulation (MSVM) scheme is presented to reduce the input current ripples. To evaluate the performance of the proposed topologies, a comparative study between them and the other counterpart from different perspectives is introduced. It can be found that the CC-QBI topology has superior boosting characteristics when operating with low input voltage compared with their counterparts. It has a higher boosting capability, lower capacitor voltages, and semiconductor stresses, especially when high voltage gains are required. These merits make the proposed topologies convenient to the Photovoltaic and Fuel-Cell systems. Finally, the feasibility of the suggested topology and the introduced mathematical model is verified via simulation and experimental results, which show good accordance with the theoretical analysis. AuthorScopu

Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) Binding Protein-2, Independently of IGF-1, Induces GLUT-4 Translocation and Glucose Uptake in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) is the predominant IGF binding protein produced during adipogenesis and is known to increase the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (GU) in myotubes. We investigated the IGFBP-2-induced changes in basal and insulin-stimulated GU in adipocytes and the underlying mechanisms. We further determined the role of insulin and IGF-1 receptors in mediating the IGFBP-2 and the impact of IGFBP-2 on the IGF-1-induced GU. Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with IGFBP-2 in the presence and absence of insulin and IGF-1. Insulin, IGF-1, and IGFBP-2 induced a dose-dependent increase in GU. IGFBP-2 increased the insulin-induced GU after long-term incubation. The IGFBP-2-induced impact on GU was neither affected by insulin or IGF-1 receptor blockage nor by insulin receptor knockdown. IGFBP-2 significantly increased the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, AMPK, TBC1D1, and PKCζ/λ and induced GLUT-4 translocation. Moreover, inhibition of PI3K and AMPK significantly reduced IGFBP-2-stimulated GU. In conclusion, IGFBP-2 stimulates GU in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through activation of PI3K/Akt, AMPK/TBC1D1, and PI3K/PKCζ/λ/GLUT-4 signaling. The stimulatory effect of IGFBP-2 on GU is independent of its binding to IGF-1 and is possibly not mediated through the insulin or IGF-1 receptor. This study highlights the potential role of IGFBP-2 in glucose metabolism