ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Recently, lupin seed (Lupinus albus L., Fabaceae) products have emerged as a functional food due to their nutritional and health benefits. Numerous reports have demonstrated the hypoglycemic effects of lupin's gamma conglutin protein; nonetheless, its mechanism of action remains elusive. To understand the role of this protein on glucose metabolism, we evaluated the effect of administering L. albus' gamma conglutin on Slc2a2, Gck, and Pdx-1 gene expression as well as GLUT2 protein tissue levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. While consuming their regular diet, animals received a daily gamma conglutin dose (120 mg/kg per body weight) for seven consecutive days. Serum glucose levels were measured at the beginning and at the end of the experimental period. At the end of the trial, we quantified gene expression in pancreatic and hepatic tissues as well as GLUT2 immunopositivity in Langerhans islets. Gamma conglutin administration lowered serum glucose concentration by 17.7%, slightly increased Slc2a2 and Pdx-1 mRNA levels in pancreas, up-regulated Slc2a2 expression in the liver, but it had no effect on hepatic Gck expression. After gamma conglutin administration, GLUT2 immunopositivity in Langerhans islets of diabetic animals resembled that of healthy rats. In conclusion, our results indicate that gamma conglutin up-regulates Slc2a2 gene expression in liver and normalizes GLUT2 protein content in pancreas of streptozotocin-induced rats.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The high global incidence of type 2 diabetes has challenged researchers to establish animal models that resemble the chronic stage observed in type 2 diabetes patients. One such model is induced by neonatal streptozotocin (n-STZ) administration to rat pups at 0, 2, or 5 days after birth. In this study, we assessed lns-1 gene expression and tissue insulin levels as well as serum concentration of glucose and insulin, insulin resistance, and histological changes of the islets of Langerhans in n5-STZ rats after 20-weeks post-induction. Methods: Wistar rat pups were randomly distributed into a control group and a streptozotocin-induced group. Experimental induction involved a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (150 mg/kg) into neonates at five days after birth. Results: At 20 weeks post-induction, streptozotocin-induced rats exhibited increased serum glucose levels, reduced serum insulin levels, impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance compared to control rats. Histologically, streptozotocin-induced rats exhibited atrophic islets, vacuolization, and significantly fewer insulin-positive cells. lns-1 gene expression was significantly decreased in n5-STZ rats in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: Our findings support that the n5-STZ model 20 weeks post-induction represents an appropriate experimental tool to study T2D and to evaluate novel therapeutic agents and targets that involve insulin gene expression and secretion, as well as complications caused by chronic diabetes.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Rats , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation , Insulin/genetics , Islets of Langerhans/metabolism , Animals, Newborn , Disease Models, Animal , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/chemically induced , Immunohistochemistry , Insulin Resistance , Insulin/metabolism , Random Allocation , Rats, Wistar , Streptozocin , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Background: Several studies have analyzed the relation between obesity and the hormonal imbalances generated by overweight and a family history of breast cancer. All of these factors are potentially implicated in the early development of breast cancer. Aim: To verify the existence of a significant relation between the nutritional status of breast cancer patients, their hormone serum levels (estrogens, prolactin, and progesterone), and the existence of a family history of breast cancer. Material and Methods: Retrospective data was collected from clinical records of524 women diagnosed with breast cancer in a Spanish hospital. Results: There was a positive association between estrogen, progesterone and prolactin serum levels and body mass index. The elevations in hormone levels occurred earlier in life among women with a family history of breast cancer. A two way ANOVA found a significant association between progesterone and prolactin levels with the age at diagnosis of breast cancer. Conclusions: Extreme serum levels of these hormones appear to be related to the early development of breast cancer, which in turn is influenced by the existence of a family history of cancer among those women with normal or average hormone levels.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Breast Neoplasms/etiology , Estrogens/blood , Nutritional Status/physiology , Obesity/blood , Progesterone/blood , Prolactin/blood , Age of Onset , Analysis of Variance , Breast Neoplasms/blood , Breast Neoplasms/genetics , Obesity, Morbid/blood , Obesity, Morbid/epidemiology , Obesity/epidemiology , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Por sus características nutricionales Lupinus exaltatus es considerado una fuente alternativa de alimento para animales en zonas templadas, pero la presencia de alcaloides quinolizidínicos limita su consumo. Se determinó la composición y concentración de alcaloides en hojas, tallos, flores y frutos inmaduros de L. exaltatus durante cinco etapas fenológicas para proponer alternativas de uso y manejo de esta especie como forraje. Se estableció un cultivo en macetas y en cada etapa fenológica se tomaron seis plantas que se separaron en sus diferentes órganos, para ser deshidratados y analizar su composición y contenido de alcaloides por cromatografía de gases capilar-espectrometría de masas (CG-EM). En cada etapa y órganos se identificaron los alcaloides quinolizidínicos lupanina, 3-b-hidroxilupanina, afilina, epiafilina, dehidro-oxoesparteína y a-isolupanina. Aunque el perfil permaneció constante, la concentración de alcaloides totales en los diferentes órganos fluctuó significativamente (0,31-2,1%) en función de las etapas de crecimiento. Tras cinco etapas de crecimiento y desarrollo el menor contenido promedio de alcaloides se encontró en tallos (0,63%) mientras que en frutos inmaduros (vainas verdes) se encontró el más alto (1,95%). La lupanina resultó ser el compuesto individual mayoritario en tallos y frutos. Aunque no se detectaron alcaloides potencialmente tóxicos y teratogénicos (esparteína citisina, anagirina y amodendrina), los resultados indican que el mayor riesgo de intoxicación del ganado por consumo de L. exaltatus podría ocurrir en las etapas de formación de vainas y fructificación, debido a la alta concentración de alcaloides totales y mayor abundancia de lupanina en frutos inmaduros.
Due to its nutritional characteristics, Lupinus exaltatus is considered as an alternative source of animal feed in temperate regions. However, the presence of quinolizidine alkaloids in different plant organs limits its consumption. The composition and concentration of alkaloids in leaves, stems, flowers, and inmature fruits of L. exaltatus was determined in five different phenological stages with the final purpose of suggesting alternatives for its management and use as forage. Plants were sowed in pots and at each phenological stage six plants were harvested and separated in roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and inmature pods that were air dried to constant weight. Each organ was analyzed for alkaloid composition and content by capillary gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In each phenological stage and in all organs the alkaloid profile was characterized by the presence of six major alkaloids: epiaphylline aphylline, a-isolupanine, lupanine, dehydro-oxosparteine and 3-b-hydroxylupanine. Although the alkaloid profile was constant, the total concentration in the different organs showed a significant variation (0.31-2.1%) in the different phenological stages. In general, after the five growth stages the stems showed the lowest average total alkaloid concentration (0.63%) whereas inmature pods had the highest total alkaloids (1.95%). Lupanine was the major alkaloid in stems and fruits. Although alkaloids with the highest toxicity (sparteine, anagyrine and ammodendrine) were not detected, the results indicate that the major risk for intoxication could occur during pod growth and seed ripening, due to high total alkaloid content and larger abundance of lupanine in immature fruits.
Por suas características nutricionais Lupinus exaltatus é considerado uma fonte alternativa de alimento para animais em regiões temperadas, mas a presença de alcalóides quinolizidínicos limita seu consumo. Determinou-se a composição e concentração de alcaloides em folhas, caules, flores e frutos imaturos de L. exaltatus durante cinco etapas fenológicas para propor alternativas de uso e manejo desta espécie como forragem. Estabeleceu-se um cultivo em vasos e em cada etapa fenológica foram colhidas seis plantas e separardas em seus diferentes órgãos, para serem deshidratados e para analizar sua composição e conteúdo de alcalóides por cromatografia de gases capilar-espectrometria de massas (CG-EM). Em cada etapa e órgãos foram identificados os alcalóides quinolizidínicos lupanina, 3-b-hidroxi lupanina, afilina, epiafilina, dehidro-oxoesparteína e a-isolupanina. Ainda que o perfil tenha permanecido constante, a concentração de alcaloides totais nos diferentes órgãos flutuou significativamente (0,31-2,1%) em função das etapas de crescimento. Depois de cinco etapas de crescimento e desenvolvimento o menor conteúdo médio de alcaloides foi encontrado em caules (0,63%) enquanto que em frutos imaturos (vagens verdes) se encontrou o mais alto (1,95%). A lupanina resultou ser o composto individual maioritário em caules e frutos. Ainda que não se detectaram alcaloides potencialmente tóxicos e teratogénicos (esparteína citisina, anagirina e amodendrina), os resultados indicam que o mayir risco de intoxicação do gado por consumo de L. exaltatus poderia ocorrer nas etapas de formação de vagens e frutificação, devido a alta concentração de alcaloides totais e maior abundância de lupanina em frutos imaturos.
ABSTRACT
Se hace un estudio de 255 pacientes con lesiones de los tendones flexores en la zona 2 de la mano, operados por distintas técnicas quirúrgicas, teniendo en cuenta distintos factores que pudieron influir en los resultados; lo más importante fue el tiempo transcurrido entre la herida y la operación y el tipo de rehabilitación posoperatoria empleada. Los mejores resultados se lograron en aquellos casos operados precozmente con técnicas sencillas como las suturas, avanzamientos y migraciones. En los casos operados tardíamente (después de 30 días de haberse herido), los resultados no fueron tan buenos, con excepción de aquéllos en que se hicieron migraciones tendinosas, con las que se logró el 48% de resultados buenos; 43% de regulares y 9% de malos. También se observó que los casos tardíos en que se practicaron otras técnicas más complicadas (injertos, Paneva-Holecich, Hunter), evolucionaron mejor cuando se hizo fisioterapia posoperatoria adecuada, mediante inmovilización de las primeras falanges en extensión mientras se flexionaban las segundas y terceras, mediante la utilización de la férula antilumbrical (metálica o de yeso), estímulos eléctricos y ejercicios activos contra resistencia