Effects of Maternal Dexamethasone Exposure During Lactation on Metabolic Imbalance and Oxidative Stress in the Liver of Male Offsprings of Wistar Rats

Summary: It has been reported in human and animal studies that early exposure to glucocorticoids could retard growth and subsequent development of cardio metabolic diseases. Chronic exposure to glucocorticoids induced oxidative stress. Therefore, the role of oxidative stress in some of the observed metabolic imbalance needs to be elucidated. This study examined the effects of lactational dexamethasone exposure on metabolic imbalance and oxidative stress marker in the liver of male offspring of exposed mother. Twenty lactating dams were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals each. Group 1 was administered 0.02 ml/100gbwt/day normal saline through lactation days 1-21. Group 2, 3, and 4 were administered 100 μg/kgbwt/day dexamethasone for lactation days 1-7, 1-14, and 1-21 respectively. The male offspring were thereafter separated and sacrificed at 12weeks of age for evaluation of lipid profile and oxidative stress marker in the liver. Results from this study indicate that Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TAG) and LDL- cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly (p<0.001) higher in the Dex 1-7, Dex 1-14 and Dex 1-21 groups when compared with the control. HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly (p<0.001) reduced in the Dex 1-7, Dex 1-14 and Dex 1-21 groups relative to the control. Basal Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) was also significantly (p<0.001) higher in the Dex 1-14 and Dex 1-21 groups when compared with the control. Liver malondialdehyde was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the Dex1-14 and Dex1-21 group compared to the control. However, liver catalase and SOD activity were all significantly (p<0.001) lower in Dex 1-7, Dex 1-14 and Dex 1-21 groups relative to control. Liver protein was significantly (p<0.001) lower in the Dex1-14 and Dex1-21 treatment groups when compared with the control. Findings from this study suggest that there is possible increase in metabolic imbalance in the offspring of mother exposed to dexamethasone during lactation and these effects may be secondary to increase oxidative stress in the liver.Keywords: Dexamethasone; Lactation; Oxidative Stress; Liver; offspring

Experimental maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation induces neonatal testicular and epididymal oxidative stress; Implications for early postnatal exposure

Maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation alters reproductive functions and increases serum corticosterone in the male offspring. Excess corticosterone may induce oxidative stress. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of maternal treatment with dexamethasone during lactation on oxidative stress indices in the testis and epididymis of a male offspring. Twenty lactating dams were divided into 4 groups (n = 5). Group 1 was administered 0.02 ml/100 g/day normal saline subcutaneously at lactation days 1–21. Groups 2, 3, and 4 were administered 100 μg/kg/day dexamethasone (Dex) subcutaneously at lactation days (LD) 1–7, 1–14, and 1–21 respectively. Testis and epididymis malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured as markers of oxidative stress. The mean testis and epididymis MDA were significantly raised (p < 0.05) in the dexamethasone-treated groups when compared with control. This was accompanied with a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in SOD and catalase activities in these tissues in the DexLD 1–21, when compared with control. The mean total protein level of the epididymis was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in all the dexamethasone treated groups when compared with control. In conclusion, maternal treatment with dexamethasone during the first two weeks of lactation and throughout lactation may lead to increase in oxidative stress in the testis and epididymis of the male offspring of Wistar rats

Preliaminary Comparison of the Effects of N-(1, 3 dimethybutyl)-N- phenyl-p-phenylene diamine (DPPD), Galic Powder (GP) and N-isopropyl-n-phenyl-p-phenylene diamine (DPPD) on the Properties of Natural Rubber Compound

The effects of N-(1,3-dimethyl butyl)-N- phenyl-p-phenylene diamine, DPPD (anti-oxidant), garlic powder, GP and N-isoprophy N- phenyl-p-phenylene diamine, PPPD (anti-degradant) have been examined.  Garlic powder shows comparable tensile strength, hysteresis, (heat build-up) hardness, scorch time (resistance to pre-vulcanization), crosslink density and reversion resistance to the DPPD (anti-oxidant), but better tensile strength, cure time, hysteresis and hardness compared to the PPPD (anti degradant).  Garlic powder exhibits comparable ability to resist pre-vulcanization and reversion to both the antioxidant and the antidegradant

Comparative study of spark plasma sintering features on the densification of Ni-Cr binary alloys

Abstract: Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has been widely regarded as an advanced powder consolidation technique which helps in the development of array of engineering materials. Many have been reported in the literature about sintering parameters such as temperature, pressure, heating rate and holding time. However, little or no reports has been made on some of the intricate features such as process time(s), power SPS (KW), pressing speed (mm/min), and average pressing force (KN) on which sintering parameters are directly related to. This study aims to investigate the behaviour of spark plasma sintered Ni-17Cr binary alloys with emphasis on the densification, hardness value and spark plasma sintering features such as process time (s), power SPS (KW), pressing speed (mm/min), and the average pressing force (KN). Nickel and chromium powders were milled individually using High energy ball milling for durations of 5hr, 10 hr prior to mixing and subsequent sintering. The sintered 5 hr and 10 hr milled Ni-17Cr binary alloys attained relative densities of 98.72 % and 99.1 % respectively. The Microstructural morphology was examined using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sintered 10 hr milled Ni-17Cr binary alloy revealed the higher hardness

Early warning climate indices for malaria and meningitis in tropical ecological zones

This study aims at assessing the impacts of climate indices on the spatiotemporal distribution of malaria and meningitis in Nigeria. The primary focus of the research is to develop an Early Warning System (EWS) for assessing climate variability implications on malaria and meningitis spread in the study area. Both climate and health data were used in the study to determine the relationship between climate variability and the occurrence of malaria and meningitis. The assessment was based on variations in different ecological zones in Nigeria. Two specific sample locations were randomly selected in each ecological zone for the analysis. The climatic data used in this study are dekadal&nbsp;precipitation, minimum and maximum temperature between 2000 and 2018, monthly aerosol optical depth between 2000 and 2018. The results show that temperature is relatively high throughout the year because the country is located in a tropical region. The significant findings of this study are that rainfall has much influence on the occurrence of malaria, while temperature and aerosol have more impact on meningitis. We found the degree of relationship between precipitation and malaria, there is a correlation coefficient R2 ≥ 70.0 in Rainforest, Freshwater, and Mangrove ecological zones. The relationship between temperature and meningitis is accompanied by R2 ≥ 72.0 in both Sahel and Sudan, while aerosol and meningitis harbour R2 = 77.33 in the Sahel. The assessment of this initial data seems to support the finding that the occurrences of meningitis are higher in the northern region, especially the Sahel and Sudan. In contrast, malaria occurrence is higher in the southern part of the study area. In all, the multiple linear regression results revealed that rainfall was directly associated with malaria with β = 0.64, p = 0.001 but aerosol was&nbsp;directly associated with meningitis with β = 0.59, p &lt; 0.001. The study concludes that variability in climatic elements such as low precipitation, high temperature, and aerosol may be the&nbsp;major drivers of meningitis occurrence

Dietary Consumption of Virgin Coconut Oil Ameliorates Lipid Profiles in Diabetic Rats

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is a saturated fat with promising antidiabetic properties but its ameliorative effect on lipid profiles in diabetics is rarely reported. Therefore, in this study, a total of fifteen (15) male rats weighing 200–250 g were divided into 3 experimental groups (n=5). Group I (control) and Group II (diabetic control group) were fed a normal rat chow while Group III (diabetic test group) was fed a 10% VCO diet for 3 weeks. Group II and Group III were made diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg of alloxan. After 72 hours of injection, blood glucose was tested to confirm diabetes mellitus. After 3 weeks, the animals were sacrificed to collect blood samples for lipid profile analysis. The results showed a significant increase in concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein and decrease in concentration of high density lipoprotein in Group II when compared to Group I. Also, the concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein except high density lipoprotein significantly reduced in Group III when compared to Group II (P<0.01, 0.001). VCO consumption can be claimed to ameliorate lipid levels in diabetes mellitus

Gunshot Injuries, A 10-years Experience in a Private Hospital

This paper reports the experience of the authors with 59 cases of gunshot injuries admitted and treated at Lagoon Hospital, a forty-bed private hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, over a 10 year period (1987 - 1996). 44(74.6%) out of the 59 patients were seen in the second half of the study period, that is 1992 – 1996, a period of heightened socio-economic problems and political upheaval. There were 54(91.5%) males and 5(8.5%) females. The average age of the patients was 37.9 years. Of the 59 cases, only 15 (25.4%) patients sustained multiple regions injuries. 44(74.6%) had single region injuries. 40 patients presented to our hospital within 24 hours of the injury. We found this early presentation to be associated with good prognosis. There were altogether two deaths, suggesting a mortality rate of 3.4% among cases to the hospital. NQJHM Vol. 14 (3&4) 2004: pp. 302-30

Virgin Coconut Oil: Remedial Effects on Renal Dysfunction in Diabetic Rats

Renal dysfunction is now a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the remedial effects of virgin coconut oil (VCO) on renal dysfunction in diabetic rats. Fifteen albino Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups that comprise normal control group (Group I) and diabetic control group (Group II) fed with normal rat chows and a diabetic test group (Group III) fed with 10% VCO diet. Group II and Group III were made diabetic by single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg of freshly prepared alloxan monohydrate. After 72 hours of alloxan injection, fasting blood glucose was tested to confirm diabetes mellitus. After 3 weeks, the animals were anaesthetized and sacrificed to collect blood samples for renal function analysis. The creatinine, urea, and blood urea nitrogen values of Group II were significantly different from those of Group I and Group III at P<0.001. Also, there was significant difference (P<0.05) in total protein value between Group II (4.42  ±  0.47 mg/dL) and Group I (5.78  ±  0.12 mg/dL) as well as Group III (5.86  ±  0.19 mg/dL), but there was no significant difference between that of Group I and Group III (5.78  ±  0.12 mg/dL and 5.86  ±  0.19 mg/dL, resp.). Thus, VCO is effective in preventing renal damage in diabetic patients