IMPACT OF ASPARTAME CONSUMPTION ON NEUROTRANSMITTERS IN RAT BRAIN

Background: Aspartame (APM), a common artificial sweetener, has been used for diabetic subjects and body weight control for a long time. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the impact of APM consumption on neurotransmitters and oxidative stress in rat’s brain. Materials and Methods: Four groups of male Wistar albino rats was used: Group1, control (Rats fed on normal diet). Group 2: Rats were received aspartame (50 mg/kg b w). Group3: Rats were received aspartame (75 mg/kg b w). Group 4: Rats were received aspartame (125 mg/kg b w). Five rats were decapitated after 10, 20, 30 and 40 days from start of experiment. Blood and brain tissue were collected for biochemical analysis. Biochemical analysis of brain tissue includes neurotransmitters (Acetylcholine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, γ-aminobutyric acid and serotonin). Serum for determination of lipid peroxidation (MDA), reduced glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Results: the data obtained showed that antioxidant activities (SOD and GSH) were reduced significantly (

Dermatomycoses in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Prevalence of dermatomycoses varies from one centre to another due to many factors. Knowledge of local prevalence is useful to aid clinical diagnosis and treatment. Due to lack of data in Malaysia, this study aimed to look at the causes of dermatomycoses in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dermatological specimens including skin scrapings, hair and nail clippings were collected carefully from clinically suspected cases of dermatomycoses between 2008 and 2010. All cultures of skin, hair and nails that yielded positive fungal growth were included. Any fungal growth outside the streaking area, duplicate and incomplete data were excluded from the study. Three-hundred-fifty-eight patients were included. Male patients were slightly more than females with a ratio of 1.2:1. The median age was 53 years old with interquartile range of 38-64 years. More than half (53.6%) belonged to 20-60 years age group. Rates of culture isolation were 89.0% for nails, 56.2% for hair and 55.6% for skin. Five-hundred-twenty-two fungi were isolated from 358 clinical specimens. Non-dermatophyte moulds (NDMs) represented the largest group (50.5%; mainly Aspergillus species 18.7%), followed by yeasts (41.6%; mainly Candida species 26.8%) and dermatophytes (7.9%; mainly Trichophyton species 7.7%). In conclusion, NDMs and yeasts were more commonly isolated than dermatophytes from dermatological specimens in this centre. Current treatment regime that focuses on dermatophytes may be ineffective to treat dermatomycoses caused by NDMs or yeasts. Antifungal susceptibility study may be needed to guide therapy in recalcitrant cases