The role of hesperidin in ameliorating retinal changes in rats with experimentally induced type 1 diabetes mellitus and the active role of vascular endothelial growth factor and glial fibrillary acidic protein / 대한해부학회지

Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T 1 DM) are vulnerable to developing diabetic retinopathy even under insulin therapy. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of hesperidin and insulin in rats with T 1 DM compared with insulin alone in improving diabetic retinal changes. Eighty rats were divided into four equal groups: group I, control rats without diabetes; group II, untreated rats with diabetes; group III, rats with diabetes treated daily with subcutaneous (SC) doses of long-acting insulin; and group IV, a rat with diabetes in which hesperidin was orally administered with SC insulin.The animals were assessed histologically, morphometrically, and biochemically. In group II, the thickness of all retinal layers decreased histologically. Ultrastructurally, degenerated retinal neurons and congested blood vessels were observed.Immunostaining detected elevated gene expression of advanced glycation end products. Gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, and glial fibrillary acidic protein were elevated. In this study, hesperidin supplementation with insulin significantly improved the retinal histological changes, supported by morphometric findings, compared with insulin alone. Moreover, treatment with hesperidin significantly reduced malondialdehyde and elevated serum antioxidant markers, including superoxide dismutase and catalase; furthermore, glutathione peroxidase decreased. Hesperidin might be an effective supplement for improving diabetic retinal complications occurring even with insulin treatment.

Association between serum OPG/s rankl system and leptin with aging in male rats

Increasing evidences have suggested the association between serum leptin and bone formation. Osteoprotegerin [OPG], an osteoblast derived regulator of bone resorption and formation binds with soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor Kappa beta ligand [sRANKL] on osteoclast surface -which binds to its cognate receptor RANK on the osteoclast precursor. Thus, OPG/RANKL/RANK system controls the balance in bone formation and resorption. This study is designed to evaluate whether the OPG/sRANKL system and leptin levels are modified with aging and how they are related to bone and aortic changes. Three groups of rats were selected according to age, 4 months old [Group I], 12 months old [Group II] and 24 months old [Group III]. Serum levels of OPG, sRANKL, leptin, calcium and phosphorus [in sera and aortic extracts] were determined. Histopathological examination of rat femur and aorta from each group was also done. ANOVA test revealed significant difference between the three groups. The aged group [Group III] had higher calcium levels in sera and aortic extracts, serum phosphorus, serum sRANKL, leptin with increased sRANKL/OPG ratio. However OPG was significantly decreased in the same group in comparison to the other 2 groups. A significant negative correlation between serum OPG and sRANKL/OPG ratio [r = -0.879, p < 0.001] and body weight [r = -0.763, p < 0.01] and positive correlation between leptin and sRANKL/OPG ratio [r = 0.734, p < 0.01] and Ca aortic extract [r = 0.844, p < 0.01]. The disruption of OPG/sRANKL system and leptin with old age due to deficient OPG, high serum sRANKL and leptin resistance would represent a link between arterial calcification and bone resorption that are mostly present in the elderly

Demonstration of species-specific and cross-reactive components of hydatid cyst fluid antigens

ELISA-hydatid cyst fluid antigen [HCF-Ag-ELISA] and conventional echinococcosis IHAT were assessed for cystic hydatid disease [CHD] confirmed by HCF-Ag immunoblotting assay. The sensitivity of the tests was 94.4% and 83.3% for HCF-Ag-ELISA and IHA, respectively. HCF-Ag-ELISA showed some cross reactions in tumor cases [5.5%], but no cross reaction was observed in rheumatoid arthritis patients. IHA showed 100% specificity. To confirm this data, SDS- PAGE immunoblotting using HCF-Ag was applied. Echinococcus specific reactions were reported with 44 Kda, 34 Kda, 29 Kda and 8 Kda HCF-Ag resolved bands. A cross reaction was found with 27 Kda, 21 Kda, 16 Kda and 13 Kda bands in tumor patients. Moreover, a cross reaction was found with 200 Kda, 175 Kda, 62 Kda, 52 Kda and 40 Kda in serological anti-schistosoma antibodies positive cases. So, using specific HCF-Ag immunoblotting provided 100% sensitivity and specificity in CHD

Subclinical hypothyroidism and dyslipidemia in pre- eclampsia

Aim: To investigate the thyroid function and lipid profile in pre-eclamptic patients and to assess the possible association between subclinical thyroid alterations and dyslipidemia in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. Subjects and Thirty pre-eclamptic patients were selected from the Shatby Hospital [15 with severe pre-eclampsia [group I], and 15 with mild disease [group II]]. Twenty five healthy normotensive volunteer women were enrolled as controls [15 pregnant [group III] and 10 non-pregnant [group IV]]. The following parameters were estimated in serum: thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], free thyroxine [FT4], and the lipid profile [TC, TG, HDL-C]. LDL-C, VLDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio were calculated. In addition, serum thyroid peroxidase auto-antibodies [TPO-ABs] were detected. Mean serum TSH was significantly elevated, while FT4 was significantly decreased in group I and II. The frequency of TPO-ABs positivity was [16.7%] in pre-eclamptic cases. TC was significantly elevated in both group I and II. TG was also elevated in them reaching significant levels in group II, while HDL-C was significantly decreased in group I. TSH was significantly negatively correlated with FT4 and positively with both TC and TG in pre-eclamptic cases. Conclusions: The disruption of thyroid hormone homeostasis during pregnancy due to subclinical alterations in thyroid function and the associated hyperlipidemia may play a role in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia

Role of leptin in premenopa usal and postmenopausal obese women

Leptin, the product of ob gene, is thought to play a key role in the regulation of body fat mass, body weight and energy expenditure . Malfunction of this mechanism could lead to obesity. Thirty six healthy obese females with body mass index [BMI]>27 Kg/m[2] were divided into two groups: premenopausal and postmenopausal group, each group is further subdivided according to waist to hip ratio [WHR] into upper body [android] and tower body [gynoid] obese groups. Control groups with matching age were taken. Anthropometric parameters [weight, height, BMI, WHR], serum leptin, testosterone, lipids and lipoproteins were determined for all groups. In premenopausal females one way AN OVA test revealed significant differences in leptin, testosterone, BMI, WHR, triglycerides and VLDL between the three groups. In postmenopausal females the significant difference was found in leptin, testosterone, weight, height, BMI and WHR. Positive correlations between leptin and BMI [r =0.81, p<0.05] and WHR [r=0.78, p<0.05] were found in the android premenopausal female group.Leptin is also correlated positively with testosterone in the gynoid premenopausal group [r =0.86, p <0.05] but negatively in the android postmenopausal female group [r=-0.76, p<0.05]. The above data suggest hyperleptinemia and leptin resistance in the two types of obesity but the association between leptin and body fat content was found to be in the android premenopausal group only, the same group showed hypertriglyceridemia and increase in VLDL indicating that premenopausal females with higher WHR are more liable to cardiovascular risks