Bacopa monnieri

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE), characterized by impaired cerebellar functions during chronic liver failure (CLF), involves N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) overactivation in the brain cells. Bacopa monnieri (BM) extract is a known neuroprotectant. The present paper evaluates whether BM extract is able to modulate the two NMDAR subunits (NR2A and NR2B) and its downstream mediators in cerebellum of rats with chronic liver failure (CLF), induced by administration of 50 mg/kg bw thioacetamide (TAA) i.p. for 14 days, and in the TAA group rats orally treated with 200 mg/kg bw BM extract from days 8 to 14. NR2A is known to impart neuroprotection and that of NR2B induces neuronal death during NMDAR activation. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase- (nNOS-) apoptosis pathway is known to mediate NMDAR led excitotoxicity. The level of NR2A was found to be significantly reduced with a concomitant increase of NR2B in cerebellum of the CLF rats. This was consistent with significantly enhanced nNOS expression, nitric oxide level, and reduced Bcl2/Bax ratio. Moreover, treatment with BM extract reversed the NR2A/NR2B ratio and also normalized the levels of nNOS-apoptotic factors in cerebellum of those rats. The findings suggest modulation of NR2A and NR2B expression by BM extract to prevent neurochemical alterations associated with HE

Fisetin Modulates Antioxidant Enzymes and Inflammatory Factors to Inhibit Aflatoxin-B1 Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Rats

Fisetin, a known antioxidant, has been found to be cytotoxic against certain cell lines. However, the mechanism by which it inhibits tumor growth in vivo remains unexplored. Recently, we have demonstrated that Aflatoxin-B1 (AFB1) induced hepatocarcinogenesis is associated with activation of oxidative stress-inflammatory pathway in rat liver. The present paper describes the effect of in vivo treatment with 20 mg/kg b.w. Fisetin on antioxidant enzymes vis-a-vis oxidative stress level and on the profile of certain proinflammatory cytokines in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by two doses of 1 mg/kg b.w. AFB1 i.p. in rats. The reduced levels of most of the antioxidant enzymes, coinciding with the enhanced level of reactive oxygen species in the HCC liver, were observed to regain their normal profiles due to Fisetin treatment. Also, Fisetin treatment could normalize the enhanced expression of TNFα and IL1α, the two proinflammatory cytokines, reported to be involved in HCC pathogenesis. These observations were consistent with the regression of neoplastic lesion and declined GST-pi (placental type glutathione-S-transferase) level, a HCC marker, in the liver of the Fisetin treated HCC rats. The findings suggest that Fisetin attenuates oxidative stress-inflammatory pathway of AFB1 induced hepatocarcinogenesis

New Strategies in Sport Nutrition to Increase Exercise Performance.

Despite over 50 years of research, the field of sports nutrition continues to grow at a rapid rate. Whilst the traditional research focus was one that centred on strategies to maximize competition performance, emerging data in the last decade has demonstrated how both macronutrient and micronutrient availability can play a prominent role in regulating those cell signalling pathways that modulate skeletal muscle adaptations to endurance and resistance training. Nonetheless, in the context of exercise performance, it is clear that carbohydrate (but not fat) still remains king and that carefully chosen ergogenic aids (e.g. caffeine, creatine, sodium bicarbonate, beta-alanine, nitrates) can all promote performance in the correct exercise setting. In relation to exercise training, however, it is now thought that strategic periods of reduced carbohydrate and elevated dietary protein intake may enhance training adaptations whereas high carbohydrate availability and antioxidant supplementation may actually attenuate training adaptation. Emerging evidence also suggests that vitamin D may play a regulatory role in muscle regeneration and subsequent hypertrophy following damaging forms of exercise. Finally, novel compounds (albeit largely examined in rodent models) such as epicatechins, nicotinamide riboside, resveratrol, β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate, phosphatidic acid and ursolic acid may also promote or attenuate skeletal muscle adaptations to endurance and strength training. When taken together, it is clear that sports nutrition is very much at the heart of the Olympic motto, Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger)

DESAIN DAN IMPLEMENTASI MPPT FUZZY LOGIC CONTROL MENGGUNAKAN BOOST CONVERTER UNTUK PENERANGAN PADA PETERNAKAN AYAM

Energi listrik merupakan salah satu kebutuhan primer yang diperlukan manusia dalam berkehidupan bermasyarakat. Seiring dengan meningkatnya kebutuhan energi listrik dan semakin menipisnya cadangan bahan bakar fosil menyebabkan pemerintah mendorong upaya penelitian untuk menghasilkan energi terbarukan. Pemanfaatan energi terbarukan juga diperlukan bagi masyarakat yang memiliki peternakan karena membutuhkan penerangan. Salah satu energi terbarukan yang cocok untuk peternakan adalah panel surya. Dalam penggunaan MPPT konvensional menyebabkan daya yang dihasilkan tidak dapat maksimal. Hal tersebut dikarenakan perubahan temperatur dan penyinaran cahaya dapat mempengaruhi keluaran daya yang dihasilkan. Masalah tersebut dapat diatasi dengan menggunakan metode MPPT yang dapat melacak titik daya maksimal sehingga dapat memaksimalkan daya yang dihasilkan menggunakan MPPT dengan mengontrol besar pulsa sinyal. Keluaran dari panel surya akan disambungkan dengan Boost converter untuk mencari titik daya maksimum menggunakan Fuzzy logic Control. Dari hasil pengujian ini daya yang dihasilkan mencapai 97.28% dari daya panel surya dengan irasiasi 1000 W/m2 sampai 600 W/m2. Sedangkan untuk variasi suhu 150C hingga 350C dengan iradiasi tetap, daya yang dihasilkan mencapai 97.43% dari daya panel surya. Peningkatan daya rata-rata antara tanpa MPPT dan dengan MPPT cukup baik yaitu sebesar 2.9 W.Kata Kunci – Panel surya, Boost converter, fuzzy logic, MPP