The effects of early diabetes on duodenal alterations in the rats / Efectos de la diabetes temprana sobre las alteraciones duodenales en ratas

SUMMARY: Diabetes mellitus (DM) mainly affects functional changes in the duodenum, which plays an important role in the digestion and absorption of food. The impairment of duodenal function contributes to malnutrition, abdominal bloating and pain in diabetic patients. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the histological alterations and quantitative measurements of duodenal structures in the early stage of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three control and five diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal dose of 60 mg/kg STZ. After four weeks of diabetic induction, the duodenum was prepared for histological study and morphometric analysis. In diabetic rats, there were deformed villi with disrupted surface epithelium and mildly distorted shapes of crypts, together with an increase in villus height and crypt depth. The epithelial cells detached from their underlying basement membrane. The goblet cells decreased in number, whereas an increased number of Cellula panethensis (Paneth cells) with pale-stained eosinophilic granules occurred in the DM group. A diabetic thickened submucosal layer was observed as enhanced duodenal glands (Brunner's glands) hypertrophy and collagen accumulation. These findings indicated that histopathologic lesions of the duodenum developed in the early stage of diabetes. The destruction of villi, crypts, and epithelium may affect digestion and absorption. The structural changes in goblet and Cellula panethensis and duodenal glands may be associated with malfunction to protect duodenal mucosa from bacteria and stomach acid. These conditions can worsen the quality of life in diabetic individuals, leading to complications such as maldigestion, malabsorption, and duodenal ulcer.

RESUMEN: La diabetes mellitus (DM) afecta principalmente a cambios funcionales en el duodeno, que juega un papel importante en la digestión y absorción de los alimentos. El deterioro de la función duodenal contribuye a la desnutrición, distensión abdominal y dolor en pacientes diabéticos. Por lo tanto, este estudio tuvo como objetivo estudiar las alteraciones histológicas y determinar las mediciones cuantitativas de las estructuras duodenales en la etapa temprana de ratas diabéticas inducidas por estreptozotocina (STZ). Ocho ratas macho Sprague-Dawley fueron distribuidas en dos grupos: tres ratas control y cinco diabéticas. La diabetes se indujo mediante una dosis intraperitoneal única de 60 mg/kg de STZ. Después de cuatro semanas de inducción, se preparó el duodeno para estudio histológico y análisis morfométrico. En ratas diabéticas, había vellosidades deformadas con epitelio superficial destruido y formas ligeramente distorsionadas de las criptas, junto con un aumento en la altura de las vellosidades y la profundidad de las criptas. Las células epiteliales se encontraban separadas de la membrana basal subyacente. Las células caliciformes habían disminuido en número, mientras que en el grupo DM se produjo un aumento en el número de Cellula panethensis (células de Paneth) con gránulos eosinofílicos teñidos pálidos. Se observó una capa submucosa engrosada con aumento de la hipertrofia de las glándulas duodenales (glándulas de Brunner) y acumulación de colágeno. Estos hallazgos indican que las lesiones histopatológicas del duodeno se desarrollaron en la etapa temprana de la diabetes. La destrucción de vellosidades, criptas y epitelio puede afectar la digestión y la absorción. Los cambios estructurales en Cellula panethensis y glándulas duodenales pueden estar asociados con un mal funcionamiento en la protección de la mucosa duodenal tanto de las bacterias como del ácido gástrico. Estas condiciones pueden empeorar la calidad de vida de las personas diabéticas y provocar complicaciones como mala digestión, malabsorción y úlcera duodenal.

Physical fitness of the applied Thai traditional medical students at faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the fitness of applied Thai traditional medical (ATTM) students thereby obtaining data to promote a greater physical fitness in ATTM students. Methods: Cardio-respiratory fitness, muscular strength, flexibility and body composition were measured in 208 ATTM students from years 1 to 4 in the academic year 2010. To determine their lifestyles, questionnaires were also answered by ATTM students. Results: Firstly, although cardio-respiratory fitness of female ATTM students was within normal limit of Thai, cardio-respiratory fitness of male ATTM students was lower than that of Thai. Secondly, muscular strength of both male and female ATTM students was lower than those of Thai. Thirdly, flexibility of ATTM students was comparable to that of Thai. Fourthly, although BMI of ATTM students was comparable to that of Thai, the average waist to hip circumference ratio of female ATTM students was higher than that of female Thai. Finally, eighty four percent of ATTM students exercised less than three times a week and fifty percent of ATTM students ate less than three meals per day, respectively. Conclusion: ATTM students need not only the training programs for cardio-respiratory fitness, and muscular strength but also need a breakfast campaign. Persuading them to pay more attention to their physical exercises and appropriate diets will eventually create the healthy ATTM practitioners in the future.

Body composition, muscular strength and cardiovascular strength of the second-year medical students at faculty of medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate Siriraj medical students’ fitness thereby obtaining data for promoting greater physical fitness in Siriraj medical students. Methods: Physical fitness among second year medical students academic year 2008 was measured by methods including body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip circumference ratio in determining body composition, hand grip dynamometer in determining muscular strength, heart rate as well as blood pressure before and after performing a YMCA step test in determining cardiovascular strength and a questionnaire in determining the lifestyle of medical students. Results: Average BMI and cardiovascular strength of both male and female medical students were within normal range compared to those of Thai. However, muscular strength of both male and female medical students was relatively low compared to those of average Thai as sixty-six per cent of them had exercise less than twice a week. Conclusion: Siriraj medical students need more physical exercises to improve their physical fitness. It is important to persuade medical students to pay more attention to their health, which will eventually make them to be healthy doctors in the future.

The patterns of the cephalic veins termination.

Objective: To study and classify the types of the terminations of the cephalic veins in the Thais and compare the percent count of each type between male and female, right and left sides. Methods: The ending part of the cephalic veins were dissected and classified in Thai cadavers. Each type was shown by photograph, diagram, number and percent count. Results: The cephalic vein, studied from 208 upper extremities, had three types of termination. Type I, cephalic vein terminated in axillary vein; type II termination was external jugular vein; type III termination was axillary vein and external jugular vein. Conclusion: The termination of cephalic veins were shown and classified into three types and sex had no influence on the patterns of cephalic vein termination.

Morphology of the axis in Thais.

These metrical and morphological studies of the axis, were based on the axis of 120 Thais, 60 male and 60 female. The measurements included the dimensions of dens, vertebral foramen, anteroposterior and transverse diameter of the axis. All of the dimensions and sexual dimorphism were compared using statistical methods. The results and statistical values of the measurements were illustrated in tabular form. Qualitative observation concerning the shape of dens near the basal regions were reported. In all measurements, the average values of males were greater than those of females. Judging from the statistical analysis, no sex difference was apparent in the mean height of dens and mean diameters of vertebral foramen.