Fatty Acids: From Membrane Ingredients to Signaling Molecules

Fatty acid constitutes the foundation cell membranes, provides metabolic energy, affects functions of membrane-bound enzymes/receptors, conducts signaling cascades, and helps in learning-related memory cognition in mammals, including humans. Structurally, the fatty acids are of two kinds: saturated and unsaturated; the latter are again of mono- and polyunsaturated types. From nutritional perspectives, they are of essential and nonessential types. Omega-6 linoleic acid (ω-6 LLA, C18:2) and ω-3 alpha linolenic acid (ω-3 αLLN, C18:3) and ω-6 arachidonic acid [(ω-6 AA, C20:4); it is conditional] are essential fatty acids (EFAs). In addition, mammalian brains cannot biosynthesize the ω-3 docosahexaenoic acid (ω-3 DHA, C22:6) in adequate amounts because of lack of necessary enzymes. Thus, DHA is essential for the growth and development of the brains. Deficiency of DHA produces visual- and learning-related memory impairments, and neurodegeneration in the aged brains and Alzheimer’s disease brains. Finally, this chapter will highlight and broaden the awareness about the essentiality of different fatty acids with a special emphasis on DHA

Validation of Ganoderma lucidum against hypercholesterolemia and Alzheimer’s disease

Ganoderma lucidum has been hailed as medicinal mushroom. Its effect on memory and learning related behavioral performance along with related protein markers has been evaluated using Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and hypercholesterolemic model rats in the present study. AD model rats were prepared infusing amyloid beta peptide into the right ventricles of the rats. Hypercholesterolemia was evoked feeding 1% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid with basal diet of the rats for 8 weeks. Hot water extract of G. lucidum was ingested orally (200 mg/kg bw) to the HC and AD model rats. Memory and learning related behavioral tests were performed using Barnes maze while protein markers (BDNF, SNAP2, PSD-95, VAchT) were detected using ELISA. Observed findings suggest hypocholesterolemic, lipid profile improving and enhanced cognitive performance of the G. lucidum fed rats. Memory and learning related protein markers also substantiate this fruition. Thus, therapeutic potentiality of Ganoderma lucidum in AD amelioration seems promising. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.400958

Review of Context Specific and Safe Sanitation Technologies for Vulnerable Geomorphologic Areas in the Bengal Basin

Water and excreta related diseases such as diarrhoea and other respiratory problems remain a major health concern in Bangladesh and people in the Hard-to- Reach HtR areas i e vulnerable geomorphologic areas and slipping population from all sorts of development activities suffer more Much effort have already been undertaken to promote decentralized and sustainable context-specific sanitation facilities through increasing the capacity of the vulnerable community and creating their access to services However more activities and effort is needed to ensure the appropriate sanitation facilities for all mainly in the HtR areas Besides design of proper context-specific sanitation technologies safe human excreta disposal is also crucial for preventing the spread of infectious diseases as the thickness of surface impermeable clay and depth to groundwater table play vital role to select the distance between pit-latrine- the source of pathogen bacteria and shallow tubewell The study was undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of existing sanitation technologies in the geomorphologically variable HtR areas Five different HtR areas i e drought prone flood prone char sand bar coastal and haor swamp areas were selected for the survey The study reveals that context specific technologies and designs are required for the sustainability of sanitation services in the vulnerable area

Effects of hydrogen-rich water on abnormalities in a SHR.Cg-Leprcp/NDmcr rat - a metabolic syndrome rat model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hydrogen (H₂), a potent free radical scavenger, selectively reduces the hydroxyl radical, which is the most cytotoxic of the reactive oxygen species (ROS). An increase in oxygen free radicals induces oxidative stress, which is known to be involved in the development of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, we investigated whether hydrogen-rich water (HRW) affects metabolic abnormalities in the metabolic syndrome rat model, SHR.Cg-<it>Lepr^cp</it>/NDmcr (SHR-cp).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male SHR-cp rats (5 weeks old) were divided into 2 groups: an HRW group was given oral HRW for 16 weeks, and a control group was given distilled water. At the end of the experiment, each rat was placed in a metabolic cage for 24 h, fasted for 12 h, and anesthetized; the blood and kidneys were then collected.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixteen weeks after HRW administration, the water intake and urine flow measured in the metabolic cages were significantly higher in the HRW group than in the control group. The urinary ratio of albumin to creatinine was significantly lower and creatinine clearance was higher in the HRW group than in the control group. After the 12-h fast, plasma urea nitrogen and creatinine in the HRW group were significantly lower than in the control group. The plasma total antioxidant capacity was significantly higher in the HRW group than in the control group. The glomerulosclerosis score for the HRW group was significantly lower than in the control group, and a significantly positive correlation was observed between this score and plasma urea nitrogen levels.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present findings suggest that HRW conferred significant benefits against abnormalities in the metabolic syndrome model rats, at least by preventing and ameliorating glomerulosclerosis and creatinine clearance.</p

Raphanus sativus ameliorates atherogeneic lipid profiles in hypercholesterolemic rats and hypercholesterolemia-associated peroxidative liver damage

Objective: Raphanus sativus is a hugely used edible root vegetable. We investigated whether the feeding of the Raphanus sativus hot water extract (RSE) ameliorates atherogenic lipid profile and oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemia. Methods: After feeding of the RSE to hypercholesterolemic rats for 6 weeks, the levels of plasma and hepatic total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and fecal TC levels were studied. The effects of RSE on the hepatic enzymes, namely alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), the levels of lipid peroxide (LPO) and liver histology were also evaluated. Results: Hypercholesterolemia increased the levels of TC and TG in the plasma and livers. The levels of ALT, AST and ALP in plasma and LPO in the liver also increased. The dietary RSE, however, significantly ameliorated the above atherogenic lipids and liver enzymes. The RSE significantly reduced the levels of LPO in the liver, suggesting an in vivo protection against of oxidative stress. The RSE also inhibited the in vitro Fenton’s reagent-induced oxidative stress, thus corroborating the in vivo anti-LPO actions of RSE. The levels of hepatic LPO were positively correlated with plasma AST (r=0.76; P &lt;0.05) and ALT (r=0.43; P&lt;0.05) levels. Histologically, the livers of the RSE-fed hypercholesterolemic rats exhibited lesser fatty droplets and reduced inflammatory cells. Conclusion: Finally, R. sativus extract lowers the cardiovascular disease risk factors under hypercholesterolemic situation by increasing the plasma/hepatic clearance of cholesterol and improving the hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative damage of hepatic tissues

Ultrasound Evaluation of Liver in Patients Who Had History of Hepatitis C

Background: Hepatitis is an infection of liver. The disorder can be self-limiting or lead to fibrosis(scarring), cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Both acute infection and chronic sequelae, such as hepatitis C, cause significance morbidity and mortality in the hum of population. Hepatitis can be very high in general population. Our study evaluate the liver parenchyma in patients with history of Hepatitis C and provide descriptive to prevent future liver pathologies.The primary goal of our research is to delay or perhaps stop the progression of liver fibrosis, as well as to prevent liver disease.Grey scale ultrasonography has been reported to detect Ultrasonographic features of chronic disease resulting in decreased liver function and ultimately, liver failure and to help the patients with cured hepatitis C to check out the parenchymal damage and to give healthy lifestyle. Objective: To evaluate the ultrasonographic features of the liver in the patients who had history of hepatitis C. Study design: ur study design was retro prospective. Material and method: The retro prospective study was conducted in which data of 56 patients were taken. The data was collected from the radiology department of al-Razi health care and Jinnah hospital. After informed consent, data was collected through ultrasound machine. Out of 56 patients 27 were females and 29 were males. study duration was 4 months. Inclusion criteria includes patients with history of liver hepatitis C. Exclusion criteria was patients with other causes of liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, metabolic liver disease and liver transplant recipients except hepatitis C. Result: 56 patients were included in our study out of which 27 were females and 29 were males. The ultrasonographic findings of the patients having liver hepatitis C shows the cirrhosis in 44.6%, change in liver contour in 37.5%, nodularity in 42.9% and vascular changes in 58.9%. Conclusion: Some extent of hepatitis C diseases cannot be seen on CT or MRI but can be seen on grey scale ultrasonography due to its high resolution .so, it can be concluded that the grey scale ultrasonography is more efficient and authentic diagnostic equipment in assessing the liver hepatitis C as compared to the CT. Keywords: hepatitis C, cirrhosis, liver abnormalities, ultrasound. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/91-08 Publication date:July 31st 202

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Enhance Neuronal Differentiation in Cultured Rat Neural Stem Cells

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can induce neurogenesis and recovery from brain diseases. However, the exact mechanisms of the bene�cial effects of PUFAs have not been conclusively described. We recently reported that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) induced neuronal differentiation by decreasing Hes1 expression and increasing p27 kip1 expression, which causes cell cycle arrest in neural stem cells (NSCs). In the present study, we examined the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (AA) on differentiation, expression of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors (Hes1, Hes6, and NeuroD), and the cell cycle of cultured NSCs. EPA also increased mRNA levels of Hes1, an inhibitor of neuronal differentiation, Hes6, an inhibitor of Hes1, NeuroD, and Map2 mRNA and Tuj-1-positive cells (a neuronal marker), indicating that EPA induced neuronal differentiation. EPA increased the mRNA levels of p21 cip1 and p27 kip1 , a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, which indicated that EPA induced cell cycle arrest. Treatment with AA decreased Hes1 mRNA but did not affect NeuroD and Map2 mRNA levels. Furthermore, AA did not affect the number of Tuj-1-positive cells or cell cycle progression. ese results indicated that EPA could be involved in neuronal differentiation by mechanisms alternative to those of DHA, whereas AA did not affect neuronal differentiation in NSCs

Early versus late rehabilitation for stroke survivors: A prospective study

The aim of this study was to examine the optimum time of rehabilitation initiation after stroke in terms of disabilities, mobility and fall risk assessment. Data were collected prospectively at seven tertiary level health care centers in Bangladesh during the 36 months period from 2013 to 2016. All respondents were divided into four groups based on the initiation of rehabilitation as: a) 0-24 hours, b) 25-72 hours, c) 4-7 days and d) 8-60 days. Results show that significant improvement on stroke recovery, disabilities reduction, improvement in mobility restriction and reduction of fall risks in all the four groups but more improvement was observed in 0-24 hour’s group during follow-up after 3 and 12 weeks. On multinomial logistic regression analysis, the independent factors shows the mobility restriction and fall risk were more in the younger patients, male gender, married, hemorrhagic lesion and bilateral stroke

Dietary Crude Lecithin Increases Systemic Availability of Dietary Docosahexaenoic Acid with Combined Intake in Rats

Crude lecithin, a mixture of mainly phospholipids, potentially helps to increase the systemic availability of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Nevertheless, no clear data exist on the effects of prolonged combined dietary supplementation of DHA and lecithin on RBC and plasma PUFA levels. In the current experiments, levels of DHA and choline, two dietary ingredients that enhance neuronal membrane formation and function, were determined in plasma and red blood cells (RBC) from rats after dietary supplementation of DHA-containing oils with and without concomitant dietary supplementation of crude lecithin for 2–3 weeks. The aim was to provide experimental evidence for the hypothesized additive effects of dietary lecithin (not containing any DHA) on top of dietary DHA on PUFA levels in plasma and RBC. Dietary supplementation of DHA-containing oils, either as vegetable algae oil or as fish oil, increased DHA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and total n-3 PUFA, and decreased total omega-6 PUFA levels in plasma and RBC, while dietary lecithin supplementation alone did not affect these levels. However, combined dietary supplementation of DHA and lecithin increased the changes induced by DHA supplementation alone. Animals receiving a lecithin-containing diet also had a higher plasma free choline concentration as compared to controls. In conclusion, dietary DHA-containing oils and crude lecithin have synergistic effects on increasing plasma and RBC n-3 PUFA levels, including DHA and EPA. By increasing the systemic availability of dietary DHA, dietary lecithin may increase the efficacy of DHA supplementation when their intake is combined.Nutricia Researc