ABSTRACT
To investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and adipokine-ameliorating effects of Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, in obese rats.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and adipokine-ameliorating effects of Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, in obese rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After 2 weeks of acclimation with free access to regular rodent chow and water, obese-prone-caesarean-derived (OP-CD) rats were fed a modified AIN-93G diet containing 60% energy from fat. Treatment was performed twice daily by gavage feeding with 500, 1 500, or 3 500 mg/kg body weight LWDH suspended in water (n=12 rats per group). Twelve obese-resistant-CD (OR-CD) rats were fed the atherogenic diet and gavaged with water, and served as the normal control. Blood biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and adiponectin were measured post-sacrifice and used to determine the treatment effect of LWDH and assess the suitability of OR/OP-CD rats for studying these parameters.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 9 weeks of treatment, LWDH lowered serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels showed a tendency towards reduction, but were not significantly different from the OP-CD control. Liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was increased in response to all three doses of LWDH, while the levels of reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were unchanged. Serum adiponectin levels were increased in response to oral administration of LWDH at the dose of either 500 or 1 500 mg/kg body weight. In addition, comparisons between OR-CD and OP-CD rats revealed differential, and for some biomarkers, conflicting characteristics of high-fat diet-fed OP-CD rats in reference to obese human subjects in terms of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and circulating adiponectin levels.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results show, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress and adiponectin-ameliorating effects of LWDH in obese rats. The suitability of the OR/OP-CD rat model as a research tool to study inflammation, oxidative stress, and adipokine production requires further investigation.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Adiponectin , Blood , C-Reactive Protein , Chronic Disease , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Pharmacology , Glutathione , Metabolism , Inflammation , Drug Therapy , Interleukin-6 , Blood , Obesity , Oxidative StressABSTRACT
To determine the prevalence of speech abnormalities in Saudi children and hearing impairment. Children between 4-15 years were assessed as part of a national survey of hearing impairment. They were selected randomly from the four major provinces of Saudi Arabia representing different socioeconomic and demographic groups. A WHO/PDH modified questionnaire was filled by the families and each child was clinically and audiologically assessed. Nine thousand five hundred and forty children were surveyed. Two thousand and two children were excluded from the study as they were too young to be assessed. Speech abnormalities and delayed speech development were seen more in children whose parents were cousins or relatives. The incidence of speech abnormality was 61.11% and 12.45% in exposed and unexposed [to risk factors] children respectively. The odd ratio for hearing impairment and the risk of impairment in relation to speech abnormality was found to be 19.13% and 8.02% respectively. Speech abnormalities and delayed speech development were seen more in children whose parents were cousins or relatives. Speech abnormalities were much higher in the children from the Southern province [3.76%] as compared to the Central [1%], the Eastern [1.23%] and the Western [0.56%] provinces