The role of pioglitazone in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and insulin sensitivity in a high fat-carbohydrate diet-induced rat model of insulin resistance

We explored the cascade effects of a high fat-carbohydrate diet (HFCD) and pioglitazone (an anti-diabetic therapy used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)) on lipid profiles, oxidative stress/antioxidant, insulin, and inflammatory biomarkers in a rat model of insulin resistance. Sixty albino rats (80-90 g) were randomly divided into three dietary groups; 1) standard diet; 2) HFCD diet for 12 weeks to induce an in vivo model of insulin resistance; and 3) HFCD diet plus pioglitazone. Blood and tissue samples were taken to assess hepatic function, lipid profiles, oxidative biomarkers, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, antioxidant defense biomarkers, including reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrotic factor (TNF-α). HFCD-fed rats had significantly (P≤0.05) increased serum triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), alanine transaminase (ALT), and bilirubin levels, but decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels compared with the normal group. Moreover, serum leptin, resistin, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were increased significantly in HFCD animals compared with controls. Similarly, HFCD-induced insulin resistance caused antioxidant and cytokine disturbances, which are important therapy targets for pioglitazone. Importantly, administration of this drug ameliorated these changes, normalized leptin and resistin and inflammatory markers by reducing TNF-α levels. Metabolic cascades of elevated lipid profiles, oxidative stress, insulin, and inflammatory biomarkers are implicated in insulin resistance progression. HFCD induced metabolic cascades comprising hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, obesity-associated hormones, and inflammatory biomarkers may be alleviated using pioglitazone.

The influence of carbohydrates in the interaction of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis with CCL-6 cells in vitro / A influência de carboidratos na interação entre Paracoccidioides brasiliensis e células CCL-6 (in vitro)

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the early events in the interaction between Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and its host. To understand the effect of carbohydrates in the interaction between the fungus and epithelial cell in culture, we analyzed the influence of different carbohydrate solutions on the adhesion of P. brasiliensis yeast cells to CCL-6 cells in culture. METHODS: Fungal cells were cultivated with the epithelial cell line, and different concentrations of D-fucose, N-acetyl-glucosamine, D-mannose, D-glucosamine, D-galactosamine, sorbitol and fructose were added at the beginning of the experiment. Six hours after the treatment, the cells were fixed and observed by light microscopy. The number of P. brasiliensis cells that were adhered to the CCL-6 monolayer was estimated. RESULTS: The number of adhesion events was diminished following treatments with D-fucose, N-acetyl-glucosamine, D-mannose, D-glucosamine and D-galactosamine as compared to the untreated controls. Sorbitol and fructose-treated cells had the same adhesion behavior as the observed in the control. P. brasiliensis propagules were treated with fluorescent lectins. The FITC-labeled lectins WGA and Con-A bound to P. brasiliensis yeast cells, while SBA and PNA did not. CONCLUSIONS: The perceptual of adhesion between P. brasiliensis and CCL-6 cells decreased with the use of D-mannose, N-acetyl-glucosamine and D-glucosamine. The assay using FITC-labeled lectins suggests the presence of N-acetyl-glucosamine, α-mannose and α-glucose on the P. brasiliensis cell surface. An enhanced knowledge of the mediators of adhesion on P. brasiliensis could be useful in the future for the development of more efficient and less harmful methods for disease treatment and control.

INTRODUÇÃO: Pouco se conhece a respeito dos eventos iniciais que mediam as interações entre Paracoccidioides brasiliensis e seus hospedeiros. Com a intenção de compreender a importância de carboidratos junto a estas interações, foram analisados os efeitos de soluções de carboidratos sobre a adesão de células leveduriformes de P. brasiliensis sobre culturas de células CCL-6. MÉTODOS: As células fúngicas foram cultivadas com as células epiteliais e diferentes concentrações de D-fucose, N-acetyl-glucosamina, D-manose, D-glicosamina, D-galactosamina, sorbitol e frutose foram adicionadas ao cultivo no início da interação. Após 6h de tratamento, as células foram fixadas e observadas em microscópio óptico. RESULTADOS: Os tratamentos utilizando D-fucose, N-acetil-glicosamina, D-manose, D-glicosamina e D-galactosamina reduziram os números de adesões quando comparados com o controle. Os tratamentos realizados com o uso de sorbitol e frutose apresentaram os mesmos resultados observados no controle. Para detectar a presença de carboidratos na superfície do fungo, propágulos de P. brasiliensis foram tratados com lectinas fluorescentes. WGA-FITC e Con-A-FITC se ligaram às células de P. brasiliensis ao contrário de SBA e PNA. CONCLUSÕES: O percentual de adesão entre P. brasiliensis e células CCL-6 foi reduzido com o uso de D-manose, N-acetil-glicosamina e D-glicosamina. O uso de lectinas marcadas sugeriu a presença de N-acetil-glicosamina, α-manose e α-glicose na superfície de P. brasiliensis. Estes resultados contribuem para o aumento do conhecimento relacionado aos mediadores de adesão de P. brasiliensis, e poderão ser utilizados no futuro para o desenvolvimento de medidas mais eficientes para o controle e tratamento deste patógeno.

Los edulcorantes y su uso en Niños / Sweeteners and use in children

Los carbohidratos simples como el azúcar, se encuentran en una gran cantidad de alimentos como tortas,caramelos, helados, refrescos, gaseosas y bocadillos. Los edulcorantes son sustancias artificiales que se clasifican en nutritivos, y no nutritivos o no calóricos. Para que los edulcorantes fueran aprobados por la Food Drugs Administration (FDA), han pasado por una serie de pruebas farmacológicas y toxicológicas paradeterminar si su uso es seguro. Las dosis o cantidades seguras de consumo se denominan ingesta diariaaceptable o admisible que puede ser consumida por las personas en forma mantenida sin riesgo apreciable para la salud. Su uso de manera moderada, puede ser de gran utilidad en el manejo de una dieta balanceada o con disminución en las calorías totales, para conservar el peso adecuado o controlar la ganancia y mantenerniveles de glicemia lo más cercano a lo normal. Aún queda mucho por investigar en relación con los edulcorantes y los datos hasta el momento indican que son seguros.

Carbohydrates as the simple sugar found in a variety of foods such as cakes, candy, ice cream, soft drinks and snacks. Artificial sweeteners are substances that are classified as nutritive and non-nutritive or non-caloric. For sweeteners are approved by the Food Drugs Administration (FDA), have gone through a series of pharmacological and toxicological tests to determine if their use is safe. Safe doses or quantities ofconsumption are called acceptable daily intake or intake (ADI) that can be consumed by people in theform maintained without appreciable health risk. Its use in moderation, can be very useful in managing abalanced diet or decrease in total calories, to keep the weight or gain and maintain control of blood glucoselevels as close to normal. Much remains to be investigated in relation to sweeteners and the data so farindicate they are safe.

Factors influencing rapid clonal propagation of Chlorophytum arundinaceum (Liliales: Liliaceae), an endangered medicinal plant

Chlorophytum arundinaceum is an important medicinal plant and its tuberous roots are used for various health ailment treatments. It has become an endangered species in the Eastern Ghats, and a rare medicinal herb in India, due to its excessive collection from its natural habitat and its destructive harvesting techniques, coupled with poor seed germination and low vegetative multiplication ratio. In order to contribute to its production systems, an efficient protocol was developed for in vitro clonal propagation through shoot bud culture. For this, multiple shoots were induced from shoot bud explants on Murashige and Skoog’s medium supplemented with 2.5-3.0mg/L BAP, 0.01-0.1mg/L NAA and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Inclusion of Adenine Sulphate (25mg/L) in the culture medium improved the frequency of multiple shoot production and recovered the chlorotic symptoms of the leaves. Media having pH 5.9 and 4% sucrose showed significant improvement on shoot bud multiplication and growth. In vitro flowering was observed when the subcultures were carried out for over four months in the same multiplication media. Rooting was readily achieved upon transferring the shoots on to half- strength MS medium supplemented with 0.1mg/L IBA and 2% (w/v) sucrose. Micropropagated plantlets were hardened in the green house, successfully established, and flowered in the field. This method could effectively be applied for the conservation and clonal propagation to meet the demand of planting materials. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (1): 435-445. Epub 2011 March 01.

Chlorophytum arundinaceum es una planta medicinal importante y sus raíces se utilizan en diversos tratamientos contra enfermedades. Se ha convertido en una especie en peligro de extinción en el Ghats Oriental y una hierba medicinal rara en la India, debido a la recolecta excesiva en su hábitat natural y la manera destructiva de cosecharla, asociado con una mala germinación y pobre multiplicación vegetativa. Para contribuir con sus sistemas de producción, se desarrolló un protocolo eficiente para la propagación clonal in vitro a través del cultivo de brotes. Para ello, los retoños múltiples fueron inducidos a partir de sus brotes en un medio Murashige y Skoog enriquecido con 2.5-3.0mg/L de BAP, 0.01-0.1mg/L de NAA y el 3% (w/v) sucrosa. La inclusión de sulfato de adenina (25mg/L) en el medio de cultivo mejoró la frecuencia de producción de brotes múltiples y se recuperaron los síntomas de clorosis de las hojas. Los medios con un pH de 5.9 y 4% de sucrosa mostraron una mejoría significativa en la multiplicación y crecimiento de las yemas. En la floración in vitro se observó cuando los subcultivos se llevaron a cabo durante más de cuatro meses para los mismos medios de multiplicación. El enraizamiento se logró fácilmente al transferir los brotes a un medio MS de intensidad media enriquecido con 0.1 mg/l de IBA y 2% (w/v) de sucrosa. Las plántulas micropropagadas maduraron en el invernadero, se establecieron exitosamente y florearon en el campo. Este método se podría aplicar para la conservación y propagación clonal con el fin de satisfacer la demanda de material de siembra.

Resistance of melanized yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis to antimicrobial oxidants and inhibition of phagocytosis using carbohydrates and monoclonal antibody to CD18

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a thermal dimorphic fungal pathogen, produces a melanin-like pigment in vitro and in vivo. We investigated the involvement of carbohydrates and monoclonal antibody to CD18, on phagocytosis inhibition, involving macrophage receptors and the resistance of melanized fungal cells to chemically generated nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypochlorite and H2O2. Our results demonstrate that melanized yeast cells were more resistant than nonmelanized yeast cells to chemically generated NO, ROS, hypochlorite and H2O2, in vitro. Phagocytosis of melanized yeast cells was virtually abolished when mannan, N-acetyl glucosamine and anti-CD18 antibody were added together in this system. Intratracheal infection of BALB/c mice, with melanized yeast cells, resulted in higher lung colony forming units, when compared to nonmelanized yeast cells. Therefore, melanin is a virulence factor of P. brasiliensis.

Efeitos da ingestão prévia de carboidrato de alto índice glicêmico sobre a resposta glicêmica e desempenho durante um treino de força / Effects of pre-exercise ingestion of high glycemic level carbohydrate over the glycemic response and performance during strength training

O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar os efeitos da ingestão prévia de carboidrato no desempenho físico e comportamento glicêmico durante o treino de força. Oito voluntários realizaram 2 sessões de exercício de força (7 exercícios com 3 séries na intensidade de 70 por cento de 1 repetição máxima), nas quais ingeriram bebida composta de carboidrato (maltodextrina) ou placebo. A bebida foi ingerida 15 minutos antes do início da sessão, a ordem das sessões foi randomizada, e essas foram separadas por 7 dias de intervalo. A glicemia foi mensurada em 4 momentos: antes da ingestão da bebida, 15 minutos após a ingestão da bebida, na metade do treino, e ao final do mesmo. O desempenho físico nos dois dias de treino foi influenciado somente pela variação no número das repetições executadas, as quais foram inseridas no cálculo da tonelagem total de treino executada nas respectivas sessões (repetições · séries · carga). A freqüência cardíaca foi continuamente monitorada e a concentração de lactato foi mensurada ao término da sessão. A glicemia esteve aumentada somente aos 15 minutos após a ingestão da bebida com carboidrato (de 98,25 ± 17,77mg/dL para 133,12 ± 22,76mg/dL, p = 0,015), enquanto que no dia da bebida placebo não foram observadas alterações significativas nestes momentos (de 98,25 ± 13,69mg/dL para 94,38 ± 12,21mg/dL, p = 1,000). A tonelagem total de treino, freqüência cardíaca e concentração final de lactato foram semelhantes nos dois treinos de força. Mesmo com o aumento da glicemia pré-exercício após a ingestão da bebida com carboidrato, os resultados do estudo não indicam que a ingestão prévia de carboidrato à sessão de exercício de força pode ser uma suplementação eficaz para aumentar o desempenho físico.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of pre-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on performance and glycemic response during a strength training session. Eight male volunteers performed 2 strength exercise sessions with the ingestion of a carbohydrate (maltodextrin) or placebo drink 15 minutes before each session (7 exercises with 3 sets at 70 percent of 1 maximum repetition). The trials were performed 7 days apart from each other and their order was randomized. Glycemia was measured at 4 times: before the drink ingestion, 15 minutes after the drink ingestion, halfway through the training and at the end of the exercise session. The total performance was affected by variation on achieved repetitions in the different days, which were inserted in the total load rate analysis performed in the respective sessions (repetitions · sets · load). Heart rate was continuously monitored and lactate concentration was measured at the end of session. Glycemia increased only at 15 minutes after the carbohydrate drink ingestion (from 98.25 ± 17.77mg/dL to 133.12±22.76 mg/dL, p= 0.015) , while on the placebo drink day no significant changes were observed (from 98.25 ± 13.69 mg/dL to 94.38 ± 12.21 mg/dL, p=1.000). The total load rate, heart rate and final lactate concentration were not different in the two strength exercise sessions. Although pre-exercise glycemia was increased after the carbohydrate drink ingestion, the results do not indicate that carbohydrate ingestion before strength exercise session can be an efficient supplementation in order to improve physical performance.

Studies on L-asparaginase enzyme of actinomycetes isolated from estuarine fishes.

Actinomycetes were isolated from different organs viz. skin, gills and gut contents of three species of fishes viz. Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758), Chanos chanos (Forskal, 1775) and Etroplus suratensis (Bloch, 1780) using three different media from the Vellar estuary, situated along the southeast coast of India. Among the three fishes, M. cephalus harboured highest number of actinomycetes population in all the three body parts examined followed by C. chanos and E. suratensis. Out of the three body parts of all fishes, gut contents had highest actinomycetes population followed by gills and skin. Among the three media used for isolation of actinomycetes, Kuster's agar medium was found to be suitable than the starch casein agar and glucose asparagine agar media. Out of the 40 strains isolated, only six strains (LA-2, LA-8, LA-15, LA-20, LA-29 and LA-35) showed significant L-asparagianse activity and were taken up for further studies. Impact of various physical and chemical factors such as pH, temperature, sodium chloride concentration, carbon sources and amino acids on the growth of actinomycetes and L-asparaginase activity was also studied. Optimum growth and enzyme activity was noticed under pH 7 to 8, temperature 37 degrees C, 1-2% sodium chloride concentration, sucrose as carbon source and without any amino acids. Analysis of the cell components of the isolated strains has revealed the wall type-I (the wall type-I is typical for the genus Streptomyces) and the strains were micromorphologically similar to the genus Streptomyces. Hence, the morphological, physiological and biochemical along with the micromorphological results obtained for the L-asparaginase producing strains were compared and the strains were tentatively identified as Streptomyces aureofasciculus (LA-2), S. chattanoogenesis (LA-8), S. hawaiiensis (LA-15), S. orientalis (LA-20), S. canus (LA-29) and S. olivoviridis (LA-35).

Effect of sugars on the association between cowpea vicilin (7S storage proteins) and fungal cells

Vicilins (7S storage proteins) found in various legume seeds have been previously shown to interfere with the germination of spores or conidia of phytopathogenic fungi and inhibit yeast growth and glucose stimulated acidification of the medium by yeast cells. In the present work vicilins from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds were added to the growth medium of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and Fusarium oxysporum conidia. Helix pomatia lectin, wheat germ agglutinin and Ulex europaeus lectin were used to identify differences in the binding of the vicilins to the surface of cells of S. cerevisiae and F. oxysporum treated with this protein. After the growth period, the material in suspension (yeast cells) was centrifuged and the final pellet was also treated with different sugar (glucose, sucrose, glucosamine, N-acetyl-glucosamine) concentrations and 0.1 M HCl for extraction of vicilins associated to chitinous structures present in yeast cells. Our results showed that vicilin sub-units were present in the different sugar extracts of yeast cells pretreated with the vicilins and these proteins were eluted by 0.5 M solutions of sugars in the following order of efficiency of elution: N-acetyl-glucosamine, sucrose/glucose and glucosamine.

Plant regeneration from leaf explants of mulberry: influence of sugar, genotype and 6-benzyladenine.

A protocol for plant regeneration from leaf explants was developed for tropical mulberry varieties. Effect of sugars, 6-benzyladenine and genotype on shoot regeneration was studied. Highest percentage of shoot regeneration (80 +/- 6) was obtained with genotype S799 on medium containing glucose and 8.9 microM 6-benzyladenine. Genotypes Mandalaya and MIHP, having thicker leaves with waxy cuticle, showed poorer regeneration ability than S799 and Sujanpur-5, which have thinner leaves and cuticle. Histological studies revealed that shoots regenerated from sub-epidermal cells.

Thermal stability of penicillin G acylase : effect of stabilizing agents.

The role of sugars, polyhydroxy compounds, phenylacetic acid and 6-aminopenicillanic acid in stabilization of immobilized penicillin G acylase (IMPGA) was studied. The loss in the activity of IMPGA at 50 degrees C, 2 h, after incorporation of sucrose and mannitol at 0.1 M concentration was 16 and 18% respectively; the loss in the activity of the enzyme under these conditions in the absence of stabilizing agents was 40%.

Lectinas solubles beta-galactosídicas / Beta-galactoside solubles lectins

Sobre la base de estudios estructurales y funcionales, las lectinas animales se han clasificado en dos tipos: el Tipo C, caracterizado por su dependencia de los iones de calcio y el Tipo S que no es calciodependiente, sino tioldependiente. Entre estas últimas, se ha estudiado ampliamente el grupo de lectinas S-Lac, que son extraídas con buffers salinos con lactosa, en presencia de tioles. Contituyen una familia de proteínas realcionadas estructuralmente, que contienen una serie de aminoácidos conservados. Se unen específicamente a glicoconjugados complementarios y su biosíntesis y localización son reguladas por el desarrolo. Su rol puede relacionarse con diversas actividades biológicas que poderían variar según el órgano.

Uso tópico do açúcar em feridas / Sugar topic use in wounds

Este trabalho refere-se ao uso tópico do açúcar em lesöes de pele (feridas cirurgícas, traumáticas, úlceras crônicas, queimaduras, etc), infectadas ou näo. Foram revistos artigos até 1986 e coletados dados referentes aos resultados clínicos e laboratoriais, aos mecanismos de açäo do açúcar, às vantagens e desvantagens de seu uso.

Colchicine binding to tubulin from brain homogenates in the presence of the sugars, glycols and metal ions: effect of nickel ions on the tubulin solubility

The fact that glycerol preserves microtubules from depolymerizing in vitro, and that some ions such as Ca(II) and Mg(II), regulate the assembly-disassembly process of these structures, induced us to study the effect of several sugars, glycols and metal ions on solubility and colchicine affinity of tubulin in rat brain homogenates, and of purified microtubular protein. Inhibition of colchicine binding was significant with glycerol, polyethylene glycol 1000 (PEG-2) and the ions A1(III), Co(II), Ni(II), while compounds structurally related to glycero (glucose and sucrose) did not inhibition it. Mannitol, instead, increased the activity a 47% over control. Apparently the presence of some compounds in brain homogenates [PEG-2 (1000) and NI (II)] favored tubulin sedimentation when these latterwere centrifuged at 100,000 x g for 150 min at 20 degrees C, but the form in which tubulin becomes aggregated in the pellet is unknown. Nickel ion madeinsoluble microtubular protein of homogenates and the purified one by more than 90% without causing significant inhibition of the colchicine binding. The sediment containing nickel-treated two cycles purified microtubular protein observed with the electron microscope did not present microtubules, but it revealed the presence of irregular, wavy and streteched structures, but it revealed the presence of irregular, wavy and stretched structures bearing highly dense dotted material. The sediments became soluble in phosphate-glutamate buffer (pH 6.8) and, when incubated in polymerizing conditions, gave rise to microtubules undistinguishable from those prepared with untreated purified protein

Influência de diversos açúcares na incidência de cárie de molares de ratos (Rattus nvergicus, var. albinus) / Influence of several sugars in the dental caries incidence of molars of rats (Rattus novergicus, var. albinus)

Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar em molares de ratos, o grau de cariogenicidade de diversos açúcares encontrados no mercado e consumidos pela populaçäo: sacarose, na forma de açúcar refinado, mascavo e cristal; glicose e frutose. Para tanto, utilizou-se 70 ratos de ambos os sexos (Rattus novergicus, albinus) distribuídos em 5 grupos de 14 animais cada. Todos os animais receberam ad libitum água destilada e a raçäo cariogênica 2.000a preconizada por REGOLATI & MUHLEMANN 48, na qual, com exceçäo do grupo controle, o açúcar refinado foi substituído totalmente pelos açúcares em estudo, obedecendo ao seguinte esquema: Grupo I - (controle), Grupo II - açúcar mascavo, Grupo III - açúcar cristal, Grupo IV - glicose, Grupo V - frutose. As quantidades de líquido e raçäo consumidos foram avaliadas diariamente e os animais pesados semanalmente para controle do ganho de peso. Observou-se que os machos do grupo da frutose (G V) tiveram um menor desenvolvimento ponderal ao longo do período experimental que correspondeu a 45 dias, quando procedeu-se ao sacrifício dos animais. Foram entäo removidos os segmentos ósseos maxilares e mandibulares e preparados para o exame das lesöes de sulco de molares, segundo o método de Keyes. A análise dos dados obtidos permitiu concluir que: - a glicose e a frutose produziram um índice de cárie em esmalte menor que o açúcar refinado, sendo a diferença estatisticamente significante; - o grupo do açúcar mascavo e o grupo do açúcar cristal tiveram menos cáries em esmalte que o grupo controle, embora as diferenças näo tenham sido significantes do ponto de vista estatístico; - o açúcar cristal, a glicose e a frutose apresentaram valores mais baixos nos escores de cárie de dentina superficial e de dentina média estatisticamente significantes