ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the possible protective and/or therapeutic potentials of Dunaliella salina (D. salina) biomass, its carotenoid and polar fractions on cardiac dysfunction associated with D-galactose (D-GAL) induced aging in rats. Methods: Aging associated cardiac dysfunction was induced in rats by injection of D-GAL (200 mg/kg; i.p) for 8 weeks. D-GAL injected rats were treated with two regimens; protective regimen where D. salina biomass (250 mg/kg), its carotenoid (250 μg/kg) and polar (250 μg/kg) fractions were given orally for two weeks concurrently with D-GAL injection as well as treatment regimen where the three treatments were given orally for 28 consecutive days after D-GAL injection. Results: D-GAL injection for 8 weeks was accompanied with dramatic electrocardiographic changes as well as profound elevation in serum levels of homocysteine, creatinine kinase isoenzyme and lactate dehydrogenase in addition to the reduction of the cardiac content of glucose trasporter 4. D-GAL also induced reduction in cardiac superoxide dismutase activity and elevation of inducible nitric oxide synthetase and interleukin-6. On the other hand, oral administration of D. salina carotenoid fraction as well as the total biomass significantly attenuated the D-GAL-induced disturbances in the above mentioned parameters where the protective regimen appeared more successful in controlling the manifestations of cardiac dysfunction. The histopathological examination further emphasized the promising results. Besides, the HPLC analysis of the carotenoid fraction of D. salina revealed the presence of 2.31% β -carotene. Conclusions: D. salina carotenoid fraction as well as the total biomass ameliorate D-GAL-induced aging associated cardiac dysfunction which is attributed to the potent antioxidant activity of β -carotene.
ABSTRACT
An arteriovenous fistula must be able to sustain the flow demands of the hemodialysis machine; the flow rate in the fistula only has to be marginally greater than the demands of the blood pump. So fistula flow should be in the range of 600 to 700 ml/min. Overflow occurs when flow rate exceeds 20% of cardiac output. Evaluation of arteriovenous fistula flow rate and post fistula venous diameter in patients on regular hemodialysis to highlight the prevalence of overflow fistula and its relation to gender, co-morbidities, signs and symptoms. The measurements of fistula flow rate and post fistula venous diameter in a randomly selected sample of 43 hemodialysis patients [all are bracheocephalic AV-fistula] in the department of dialysis in al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital in the period from the 1[st] of August 2010 till the 28[th] of February 2011. Statistical analysis using Chi-square test and Pearson correlation has been done via SPSS software version 17. From the 43 patients enrolled in the study, 31[72%] patients have a fistula flow rate over 1300 ml/min, overflow group; 12 [28%] patients have a flow rates within 1000 +/- 300 ml/min, optimal flow group and none has a fistula flow rate less than 700 ml/min. There is a significant association between overflow fistula with [hypertension, the presence of peripheral cyanosis in the fistula corresponding hand, the occurrence of numbness in the fistula corresponding hand and the occurrence of dizziness during hemodialysis] and a strong linear correlation between the measurements of post fistula venous diameter and corresponding fistula flow rates, Pearson correlation coefficient [r] of +0.8005. Our study shows a high prevalence of overflow fistula in the patient sample, and this high flow rate is associated with significant complications
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical , Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color , Brachial ArteryABSTRACT
To study the bioavailibility of nonheme iron from standard and test meals in Pakistani adults and to determine iron absorption using extrinsically tagged iron 59Fe. Nonheme iron absorption was measured from standard and test meals in ten healthy individuals. Total calories, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, ascorbic acid, total iron, phytate and ascorbic acid content were determined in both meals. Retention of iron was detected by whole body counting using gamma counter before and after administration of standard, test meals and reference dose. Iron absorption with test meal was 13% and after adjustment with serum ferritin and reference dose was 16.5% and 14% respectively. The absorption of standard meal was 6.7% which after adjustment with serum ferritin and reference dose was 8.8% and 6.9% respectively. The iron and ascorbic acid content of test meal was 6.5 mg and 5.7 mg respectively while phytate phosphorus content was 114 mg. The iron and ascorbic acid content of standard meal was 1.3 mg and 2.4 mg respectively while phytate phosphorus content was 137 mg. This evaluated absorption from one of the typical Pakistani diet compared to the standard meal was better. This shows that there are some other physiological factors that lead to iron deficiency anemia in Pakistan