Curcumin supplementation could improve diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction associated with decreased vascular superoxide production and PKC inhibition

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Curcumin, an Asian spice and food-coloring agent, is known for its anti-oxidant properties. We propose that curcumin can improve diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction through superoxide reduction.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Diabetes (DM) was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ). Daily curcumin oral feeding was started six weeks after the STZ injection. Twelve weeks after STZ injection, mesenteric arteriolar responses were recorded in real time using intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy. Superoxide and vascular protein kinase C (PKC-βII) were examined by hydroethidine and immunofluorescence, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The dilatory response to acetylcholine (ACh) significantly decreased in DM arterioles as compared to control arterioles. There was no difference among groups when sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was used. ACh responses were significantly improved by both low and high doses (30 and 300 mg/kg, respectively) of curcumin supplementation. An oxygen radical-sensitive fluorescent probe, hydroethidine, was used to detect intracellular superoxide anion (O₂^●-) production. O₂^●-production was markedly increased in DM arterioles, but it was significantly reduced by supplementation of either low or high doses of curcumin. In addition, with a high dose of curcumin, diabetes-induced vascular PKC-βII expression was diminished.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Therefore, it is suggested that curcumin supplementation could improve diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction significantly in relation to its potential to decrease superoxide production and PKC inhibition.</p

The Effects of Processing Parameters on the Residual Wall Thickness Distribution at the Sharp Angle Corner of Water Assisted Injection Molded Parts

Abstract Water-assisted injection molding (WAIM) has been widely used for tubular plastic parts due to its advantages of relatively low cost and fast cycling time. However, the non-uniform distribution of the wall thickness, especially at the sharp corner, is still a basic problem in the WAIM process. This work presents the effects of sharp corner angles on wall thickness distribution in sections near corners for various processing conditions of the WAIM process, including melt temperature, mold temperature, water delay time, water holding time, and holding pressure. Three grades of polypropylene (PP) resins with different melt flow indices were studied using seven mold geometries that varied the angle of the sharp corner section. The wall thickness distribution at the corner sections were characterized in terms of inner and outer residual wall thicknesses, hollow core ratio, and the percentage of difference between the inner and outer wall thicknesses. In addition, computational fluid dynamic simulations with Moldflow Plastics Insight version 4.1 were performed for each sharp corner angle. It was found that the wall thickness distribution of the straight tube was more uniform than those of the curve tubes. Water injection delay time and water pressure were the major parameters that had a significant impact on the hollowed core ratios, while the percent difference between inner and outer wall thicknesses was mainly influenced by melt temperature.</jats:p