Biochemical effects of chronic abuse of ergogenic aids in rats

To investigate the potential health risks associated with recommended or overdoses of amino acids mixture such as Power Mix [PM], Branched Chain Amino Acids [BCAAs] or Ceratine [Cr] supplementation as ergogenic aids for short or long-term rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned into two major groups; the first group was orally treated with the above mentioned supplements for six weeks [short-term], and the second group was treated similarly but for twelve weeks [long-term]. Each of the short- and long-term group was subdivided into seven subgroups which were treated as follows: PM [0.8 g/kg/day], PM [2.4 g/kg/day], BCAAs [0.2 g/kg/day]. BCAAs 0.6 g/kg/day], Cr [2 g/kg/day], Cr [6 g/kg/day] and controls [kept without treatment]. Plasma amino acids levels beside renal, thyroid, adrenal, and hepatic functions were estimated. Significant elevation in total amino acids concentration was found as result of feeding with the three dietary supplements. Results showed significant increase in serum creatinine level in rats ingested with these ergogenic aids except the low dose of PM given for short- or long-term. High doses of the three supplements given for both short- and long-term and low doses of BCAAs and Cr given for long-term caused significant elevation in serum uric acid level. Significant increase in serum NAG activity was observed among the three dietary supplements. Also, significant rise in serum AST and ALT activities was obtained after feeding the three dietary supplements except the low dose of PM given for short-term. Serum T3 level was significantly increased by feeding BCAAs or Cr in high doses for long-term. None of the three supplements exerted significant change in serum TSH and T4 levels. High doses of PM, BCAAs or Cr given for either short- or long-term caused significant increase in serum corticosterone and significant decrease in plasma ACTH levels. The three dietary supplements resulted in significant increase in cytosolic AST and ALT activities except the low dose of PM given for short- and long-term as well as low dose of BCAAs and Cr given for short-term. The three dietary supplement except low dose of PM fed for short-term, caused significant rise in mitochondrial AST activity. This study showed that supplementation of high-dose of PM, BCAAs or Cr given for long-term as ergogenic aids induced renal and hepatic damage as well hormonal disturbances

Serum neopterin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II [p75] levels and disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

This study was undertaken to determine the clinical value of assaying serum levels of neopterin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II [p75] [sTNFRII] and the development of major flares [active disease] in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] manifested clinically with lupus nephritis [LN], neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus [NPLE] or vasculitis. Patients and Serum concentrations of neopterin, TNF-alpha and its soluble receptor sTNFRII p75 were studied in 40 female patients with SLE at various degrees of disease activity and in 10 matched for age and sex healthy controls by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. SLE disease activity index [SLEDAI] score was used to assess disease activity. Thirty five, 30 and 28 of patients had LN, NPLE and vasculitis respectively as the main clinical manifestation. Renal biopsies were taken from 35 SLE patients who manifested with nephritis. Their pathology revealed that 7, 8, 9 and 10 had mesangial, membranous, focal and lastly diffuse LN. Of the 30 patients with NPLE, six patients were classified as having mild, 9 as having moderate, and 15 as having severe NPLE. Twenty eight of SLE patients manifested with vasculitis in the form of skin gangrene and ulcer or nail infarction or splinter hemorrhage. Serum levels of neopterin, TNF-alpha and sTNFRII of SLE patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls [p<0.0001 for all]. While, TNF-alpha/ sTNFRII ratio was decreased significantly in SLE patients compared to healthy subjects [p<0.0001]. sTNFRII and TNF-alpha/sTNFRII were the only parameters that showed significantly higher or lower levels in SLE patients with mild activity classified according to SLEDAI score compared to normal subjects [p=0.0004, 0.0001]. Otherwise, the levels of neopterin, TNF-alpha and sTNFRII were significantly higher in either moderate or severe activity as scored by SLEDAI score compared to normal subjects [in moderate: for neopterin, TNF-alpha, sTNFRII p=0.0001, 0.03, 0.0001; for severe: p= 0.0001 for all respectively]. Patients with focal and diffuse LN had significantly increased serum levels of neopterin, TNF-alpha and sTNFRII, and a significantly higher SLEDAI score in comparison with those patients without LN [in focal: for neopterin, TNF-alpha, sTNFRII and score p=0.001, 0.01, 0.0001, 0.0002; for diffuse: p=0.0002,0.0004, 0.0001. 0.0001 respectively]. Patients with membranous LN had only increased sTNFRII level in comparison with those patients without LN [p=0.03]. Serum concentration of neopterin. TNF-alpha and sTNFRII were significantly elevated in both moderate, and severe NPLE and also patients' SLEDAI score as compared to those patients without NPLE [in moderate: neopterin, TNF-alpha, sTNFRII and score p= 0.008, 0.04, 0.001, 0.001 and in severe NPLE p =0.0001 for all respectively]. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha and SLEDAI score were significantly higher in patients with severe NPLE than in mild NPLE [p=0.009, 0.004 respectively]. Serum concentration of neopterin was significantly elevated only in the mild NPLE [p=0.02] as compared to those patients without NPLE. Patients with vasculitis had significantly increased score and elevation of serum neopterin, TNF-alpha and sTNFRII compared to patients without vasculitis [p=0.02, 0.02, 0.0001, 0.009 respectively]. SLEDAI score were correlated positively with serum neopterin, TNF-alpha, sTNFRII and TNF-alpha/ sTNFRII levels [r=0.77, 0.75, 0.83, 0.35; p<0.0001 for the first 3 and 0.02 for the last respectively]. Also, serum neopterin levels showed significant positive correlation with serum TNF-alpha, sTNFRII and TNF-alpha/ sTNFRII levels [r=0.89, 0.94, 0.40 p<0.0001 for the first 2 and 0.008 for the last respectively] Measurement of serum sTNFRII is more better than TNF-alpha as a predictor of mild activity of SLE. However, serum neopterin is a useful parameter for detection of mild NPLE. Serum sTNFRII is a good parameter for better detection of all pathological types of lupus nephritis. Also, it was the one amongst other parameters measured that exhibited the higher significant elevation when comparing patients with different LN pathology. Even more, SLEDAI score showed the highest correlation with sTNFRII Lastly, TNF-alpha showed the highest significant elevation in patients with vasculitis

Serological studies on flocks showing depressed egg production

A serological investigation undertaken on flocks with depressed egg production. This syndrome is characterized either by a failure to attain predicted production targets or by a fail in egg numbers. The depression in production could reach over 30%. It might or might not return to normal. For a short period the eggs produced in some flocks were smaller, lose color, have poor egg shell strength and many soft shelled eggs are laid. Also, some flocks were suffering from mid respiratory symptoms and increase in mortality with decrease in feed intake. The results revealed that, no obvious correlation was found between antibody to adenovirus, [BDS76 and CELO], infection bronchitis virus [IBV], infections larengotracheitis virus [ILTV], avain encephalomyelitis virus [AEV], Newcastle disease virus [NDV], reovirus or infectious bursal disease virus [IBDV] and this syndrome

influence of some dopamigergic agents on serum prolactin concentrations in male rats

The effects of several dopaminergic agents on prolactin [PRL] release were determined in male rats. The central nervous system stimulant, 4 aminopyridine, which affect turnover of monoamines [2.6 mg/kg] induced a non significant decrease in serum PRL level, while dopamine precursor L-dopa [100 mg/kg] resulted in a significant inhibition on PRL levels. Pencillamine and discultiram, a dopamine beta-hydroxylase inhibitors at a dose of 300 and 480 mg/kg respectively, had no effect on serum PRL level. It is concluded that neurotransmitter dopamine is responsible for inhibition of PRL release, since the dopamine precursor L-dopa inhibits PRL and the dopamine receptor blocker haloperidol [HAL] increases its release