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.

Chronotherapeutic effect of fluvastatin on lipid profile in rats

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease [CHD], and its management is important in preventing the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Lipid-altering drug treatment, targeted to patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease, has been shown [in clinical trials] to reduce the incidence of first and recurrent CHD events. Statins are used widely for the treatment of dyslipidemia. They act through reversible competitive inhibition of the hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A [HMG-CoA] reductase, the enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. The early use of statin in management of dyslipidemia recommended their morning administration. However, this strategy should be re-evaluated in light of reports showing that the biosynthesis of cholesterol exhibits diurnal periodicity with nocturnal increase in the level of cholesterol precursors. The experiments were performed on forty male albino rats divided after estimation of basic lipid profile into four equal groups, each composed of 10 animals: control normocholesterolemic, hypercholesterolemic non-treated, hypercholesterolemic treated with morning fluvastatin [8mg/kg, for 12[th] weeks] and hypercholesterolemic treated with evening fluvastatin [8mg/kg for 12[th] weeks]. Lipid profile was estimated at the end of the 4[th], 8[th], 12[th] and 16[th] weeks for all animals using spectrophotometeric assay kits and the results were expressed in mg/dl. Both morning and evening treatment with fluvastatin significantly reduced blood cholesterol level and low-density lipoprotein. Significant increase of plasma high density lipoprotein level was observed in evening treated group in comparison with non-treated hypercholesterolemic animals. Interestingly, all these beneficial effects of fluvastatin treatment were more significant when administered in the evening rather than in the morning pattern of treatment. On the other hand, fluvastatin treatment whether given in the morning or in the evening for hypercholesterolemic animals, produced no significant effect on plasma triglyceride level and total lipid level in comparison with non-treated hypercholesterolemic animals. It is concluded that therapeutic efficiency of fluvastatin is best obtained when the drug was administered in the evening rather than in the morning. This most likely occurred due to the circadian rhythm of cholesterol biosynthesis. This chronotherapeutic pattern of fluvastatin recommends its night administration to ensure introduction of the drug at the proper timing thus achieving the best therapeutic effect

Development, characterization & potential clinical use of monoclonal antibodies against human alphafoetoprotein.

Four anti-alphafoetoprotein (AFP) monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were raised in the laboratory and characterized using ELISA and immunodot assays. The affinity constants of the MAbs, analysed by scatchard plots, ranged from 3.1 X 10(8) to 2.15 X 10(9) M/l. Epitope analysis using competition RIA indicated that MAb 5E2D7 and 5E2E3 recognize different epitopes on AFP. This combination was used to set up a two site sandwich ELISA with HRPO conjugated 5E2D7. AFP values in sera of hepatocellular carcinoma patients and pregnant women were quantitated using sandwich ELISA. The anti-AFP MAbs showed strong reactivity when tested on hepatoma tissue sections using immunoperoxidase technique.

Effect of processing on corn and parboiled rice proteins

The nutritional quality of corn and parboiled rice before and after processing was estimated. Data for food intake, weight gain and food efficiency of corn and rice revealed that baking of corn had a significant effect on its nutritive value. On the other hand cooking of rice did not affect its nutritive value significantly. However, when the relative nutritive value [RNV] was estimated by the slope ratio bioassay, there was decrease in the RNV after baking corn or cooking rice. This decrease was found on the basis of either the body weight gain or moisture gain in the bodies of the rats as response parameters

effect of baking on wheat proteins at two extraction levels

The nutritive value of wheat proteins at two extraction levels 87 and 93% was estimated. Data for food intake, weight gain and food efficiency revealed that neither level of extraction nor baking had a significant effect on the nutritive value of wheat proteins tested in this investigation. However, when the relative nutritive value [RNV] was estimated by the slope ratio bioassay, there was a decrease in the RNV after baking for the two extraction levels calculated either on the basis of change in body weight or body water of the rats as response parameters

Evaluation of birth registration accuracy in Egypt

A nutritional survey was carried out in some rural and unprivilaged communities of Egypt to evaluate the state of birth registration. Age data included information's collected from 97 sample areas only yielding 2910 children. When birth dates were verified 18.7% of the children were found to be delayed in registration. The highest number of children was registered during January. A lesser number was registered during October for males and during May for females. These results were discussed and recommendations were suggested