Red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaf supplementation improves antioxidant status in C57BL/6J mice fed high fat high cholesterol diet

The effect of diet supplemented with red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) leaf on antioxidant status of plasma and tissue was investigated in C57BL/6J mice. The mice were randomly divided into two groups after one-week acclimation, and fed a high fat (20%) and high cholesterol (1%) diet without (control group) or with 8% freeze-dried red beet leaf (RBL group) for 4 weeks. In RBL mice, lipid peroxidation determined as 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS value) was significantly reduced in the plasma and selected organs (liver, heart, and kidney). Levels of antioxidants (glutathione and beta-carotene) and the activities of antioxidant enzyme (glutathione peroxidase) in plasma and liver were considerably increased, suggesting that antioxidant defenses were improved by RBL diet. Comet parameters such as tail DNA (%), tail extent moment, olive tail moment and tail length were significantly reduced by 25.1%, 49.4%, 35.4%, and 23.7%, respectively, in plasma lymphocyte DNA of RBL mice compared with control mice, and indicated the increased resistance of lymphocyte DNA to oxidative damage. In addition, the RBL diet controlled body weight together with a significant reduction of fat pad (retroperitoneal, epididymal, inguinal fat, and total fat). Therefore, the present study suggested that the supplementation of 8% red beet leaf in high fat high cholesterol diet could prevent lipid peroxidation and improve antioxidant defense system in the plasma and tissue of C57BL/6J mice.

Clinical Analysis of Hypofluorescent Spots in Indocyanine Green Angiography

PURPOSE: We observed many cases which showed hypofluorescent spots in indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) at the late phase as well as white dot syndrome, so we analyzed for types and causes of these. METHODS: we analyzed the color photographs, fluorescein angiographs (FAG) and ICGA of the 21 patients (39 eyes) who have noted hypofluorescent spots at the late phase retrospectively. RESULTS: The hypofluorescent spots in ICGA could be classified into two types. The first is that which seen hypofluorescence from the early phase and clearly to the late phase and the second, relatively lighter dark spots which appeared after midphase and is seen in the late phase. But when we analyze these together with ophthalmologic findings and FAG, we found out that the lesion could not be found in the retina and FAG or that it is noted as hyperfluorescence or hypofluorescence in the early and late phase of FAG. So the causes were thought to be variable. CONCLUSIONS: We could find hypofluorescent spots in the late phase of ICGA in the lesions which were classified as white dot syndrome in the past as well as presented normal finding in the retina and FAG and they had variable morphologies and causes.