ABSTRACT
Background/Aims@#Ulcerative colitis (UC), along with Crohn’s disease, is one of the main types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). On the other hand, deregulated autophagy is involved in many chronic diseases, including IBD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of Atg5 and microRNA-181a (miR-181a) in the pathophysiology of UC. @*Methods@#Colon biopsy, stool, and blood samples of 6 men and 9 women were confirmed for UC. Also, 13 men and 17 women were selected as healthy control (HC). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry were used to measure the Atg-5 content of the colon biopsies. Besides, the serum and stool levels of Atg5 were measured using ELISA. Moreover, the total RNA of blood cells was extracted and evaluated for the expression of miR-181a. @*Results@#We found 1.2 ng/mL versus 0.46 ng/mL, 0.34 ng/mL versus 0.24 ng/mL, and 0.082 ng/mL versus 0.062 ng/mL of Atg5 in stool, intestinal tissue, and serum of UC and HCs, respectively. There was no significant difference in the expression of miR-181a in the blood samples of UC and HCs. Immunohistochemistry showed high positivity without any significant difference between the 2 groups in the quantitative analysis. @*Conclusions@#The significant difference observed between the stool Atg5 content of the HCs and UC patients may provide new insight into using this protein as a diagnostic biomarker, however, considering the small size of our studied population further studies are needed.
ABSTRACT
Objective: L-carnitine [LC] has been shown to protect cardiac metabolism in diabetes patients with cardiovascular diseases [CVDs]. Apelin, a newly discovered adipocytokines, is an important regulator of cardiac muscle function; however, the role of the level of expression of Apelin axis in improvement of cardiac function by LC in diabetic patients, is not clear. In the present study, obese insulin-resistant rats were used to determine the effect of LC, when given orally with a high-calorie diet, on Apelin and Apelin receptor [Apj] expression in cardiac muscle
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, rats were fed with high-fat/high-carbohydrate diet for five weeks and subsequently were injected with streptozotocin 30 mg/kg for induction of obesity and insulin resistance. After confirming the induction of diabetes [serum glucose above 7.5 mmol/L], the animals received LC 300 mg/kg in drinking water for 28 days. On days 0, 14 and 28 after treatment, cardiac Apelin and Apj gene expression was evaluated by real time polymerase chain reaction [PCR] analysis. Serum levels of insulin, Apelin, glucose, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin-1beta [IL-1beta] and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] were also measured using commercial kits
Results: Cardiac Apelin and Apj expression and serum Apelin were increased in obese rats, while LC supplementation decreased the serum levels of Apelin and down-regulated Apelin and Apj expression in cardiac muscle. These changes were associated with reduced insulin resistance markers and serum inflammatory factors and improved lipid profile
Conclusion: We concluded that LC supplementation could attenuate the over-expression of Apelin axis in heart of diabetic rats, a novel mechanism by which LC improves cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients
ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to assess the dynamic patterns of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, acute phase protein (α1-acid-glycoprotein, AGP), and an inflammation associated factor (adenosine deaminase; ADA) following experimental caprine coccidiosis. Ten kids aging from 2 to 4 months were infected orally with 5×104 sporulated oocysts and 10 animals served as controls. Blood samples were collected in both groups before infection and at days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 post-infection (PI), and the levels of above-mentioned factors were measured. IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, AGP, and ADA activities were significantly higher in infected animals from day 7 PI (P<0.05). In conclusion, the circulatory levels of most systemic inflammatory markers, including pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6), AGP, and ADA increased significantly starting from day 3 to day 7 PI in caprine coccidiosis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Acute-Phase Proteins , Aging , Coccidiosis , Cytokines , Immunity, Innate , Inflammation , Interleukin-4 , Interleukin-6 , OocystsABSTRACT
Leptin is one of the possible mediators of ethanol intake. On the other hand, the concentration of total plasma homocysteine [Hcy] is a well-established indicator for the risk of cardiovascular disease, and seems to be related to ethanol consumption. So, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of acute [70%] and chronic [10%] exposure to evaporated ethanol on: 1-brain leptin and Hcy concentration on the 15th day of embryonic development of chick. 2- brain leptin and Hcy concentration immediately after hatch of chick and 3- serum leptin concentration immediately after hatch of chick. In this experimental study sixty fertilized eggs were used. Eggs were divided into control; acute exposure to ethanol and chronic exposure to ethanol. Hcy was measured by using enzyme-linked assay, and leptin was measured with the chick leptin radioimmunoassay kit. Data showed brain Hcy concentration on the 15th day of embryonic stage of chicken that acute and chronic exposure to ethanol significantly [p<0.05] decreased, but did not have any effect on brain Hcy concentration immediately after hatch in chicken that acute and chronic exposure to ethanol during embryonic stages. Acute and chronic exposure to ethanol during embryonic stages significantly [p<0.05] increased brain leptin on the 15th day of embryonic stage, brain leptin immediately after hatch of chicken and plasma leptin immediately after hatch of chicken. Present results indicated that acute and chronic exposure to ethanol by evaporation in embryonic stage of chicken can change the brain Hcy, brain leptin and serum leptin
ABSTRACT
Radio frequency wave [RFW] generated by base transceiver station [BTS] has been reported to make deleterious effects on liver and kidney, possibly through oxidative stress. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of radiofrequency wave [RFW]-induced oxidative stress in the liver and kidney and the prophylactic effect of vitamin C on this organs by measuring the antioxidant enzymes activity including: glutathione peroxidase [GPx], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase [CAT], and malondialdehyde [MDA]. In this experimental study, thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups and treated daily for 45 days as follows: control, vitamin C [L-ascorbic acid 200 mg/kg of body weight/day by gavage], test [exposed to 900MHz RFW] and the treated group [received vitamin C in addition to exposure to RFW]. At the end of the experiment all animals were sacrificed and their liver and kidney were removed and were used for measurement of antioxidant enzymes and MDA activity. The results indicate that exposure to RFW in the test group decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and increased MDA compared with the control groups [p<0.05]. In the treated group vitamin C improved antioxidant enzymes activity and reduced MDA compared to the test group [p<0.05]. It can be concluded that RFW causes oxidative stress in liver and kidney, and vitamin C improves the antioxidant enzymes activity and decreases MDA
ABSTRACT
Radiofrequency waves [RFW] of electronic devices and wireless communication systems affect biological systems by changing free radicals, increase lipid peroxidation and changes of antioxidant activity thereby leading to oxidative stress. This study was conducted to evaluate the RFW-induced oxidative stress in the erythrocytes and the prophylactic effect of vitamin C on these cells by measuring antioxidant enzymes activity including: glutathione peroxidase [GPx], superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], and malondialdehyde [MDA]. In this experimental study, 32 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups and treated daily [4 h/day] for 45 days as follows: sham, sham+vitamin C [200 mg/kg/day by nasogastric tube], RFW [exposed to 900 MHz RFW] and RFW+ vitamin C group [received vitamin C in addition to exposure to RFW]. At the end of the experiment blood sample was collected by heart puncture for measurement of antioxidant enzymes activity and MDA level. The results indicate that exposure to RFW in the test group decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and increased MDA compared with the control groups [p<0.05]. In the treated group vitamin C improved antioxidant enzymes activity and improved MDA level compared to the test group [p<0.05]. It can be concluded that RFW causes oxidative stress in erythrocytes, and vitamin C improves the antioxidant enzymes activity and decreases MDA
ABSTRACT
This experiment was conducted to assess the changing patterns and relative values of acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines in experimental caprine coccidiosis. Eighteen newborn kids were allocated to 3 equal groups. Two groups, A and B, were inoculated with a single dose of 1x10(3) and 1x10(5) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria arloingi, respectively. The third group, C, received distilled water as the control. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of each kid in both groups before inoculation and at days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 post-inoculation (PI), and the levels of haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma were measured. For histopathological examinations, 2 kids were selected from each group, euthanized, and necropsied on day 42 PI. Mean Hp concentrations in groups A and B (0.34 and 0.68 g/L) at day 7 PI were 3.2 and 6.3 times higher than the levels before inoculation. The mean SAA concentrations in groups A and B (25.6 and 83.5 microg/ml) at day 7 PI were 4.2 and 13.7 times higher than the levels before inoculation. The magnitude and duration of the Hp and SAA responses correlated well with the inoculation doses and the severity of the clinical signs and diarrhea in kids. These results were consistent with the histopathological features, which showed advanced widespread lesions in group B. In both groups, significant correlations were observed for TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma with SAA and Hp, respectively. In conclusion, Hp and SAA can be useful non-specific diagnostic indicators in caprine coccidiosis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Acute-Phase Proteins/analysis , Blood Chemical Analysis , Coccidiosis/immunology , Disease Models, Animal , Eimeria/pathogenicity , Goats , Histocytochemistry , Inflammation Mediators/analysisABSTRACT
This study was undertaken to investigate the hematological and biochemical changes in experimentally infected goats with Besnoitia caprae from the time of infection till 360 days post-infection (PI). Six male goats were inoculated subcutaneously with 13x10(7) bradyzoites of B. caprae, and blood samples were collected from the jugular vein. The total erythrocyte and total leukocyte counts, hematocrit value, and differential leukocyte counts were determined. Serum biochemical analysis, including the total protein, albumin, total globulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, chloride, testosterone, calcium (Ca2+), inorganic phosphorus, sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), iron (Fe2+), glucose, serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), fibrinogen, ceruloplasmin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase, was undertaken. Skin biopsy from the limbs were collected at weekly intervals and histologically examined for Besnoitia cysts. Cysts were present in the skin biopsies of the leg of the infected goats from day 28 PI. There were variations in hematological analyses, but no significant difference was seen. From day 30 to 360 PI, results showed that SAA, Hp, fibrinogen, and ceruloplasmin concentrations increased, whereas testosterone concentrations decreased. Infected goats exhibited decrease of albumin and increase of serum total protein and globulin concentrations. By contrast, there were no significant differences in the remained analyses concentrations.