Inclusión de semillas de aguacate (Persea americana) en la dieta para mejorar el metabolismo de carbohidratos y lípidos en ratas / Inclusion of avocado (Persea americana) seeds in the diet to improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in rats

The effects of avocado seeds (A) inclusion (2%, 4% and 8%) in diets on cholesterol and carbohydrate metabolism in normal rats Sprague Dawley (SD) fed on basal diet (BD) or high sucrose diet (HSD) and spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) fed on BD were studied. The inclusion of avocado seeds in the diet influences the feeding and growth performance in rats. The inclusion of A lowered (p < 0.05) cholesterol at 2% and 4% doses and glucose at 2% in serum of SD rats fed on BD, whereas only serum cholesterol level was reduced at all the three doses in SHR. Increased liver glycogen (p < 0.05) was noted in SD rats fed on BD with 8% A. All avocado seeds doses increased (p < 0.05) liver glycogen storage in SHR fed on BD and SD rats fed on HSD. Avocado seeds can lower blood glucose and cholesterol and enhance liver glycogen storage in rats.

Los efectos de la inclusión de semillas de aguacate (A) (2%, 4% y 8%) en dietas sobre el metabolismo del colesterol y carbohidratos en ratas normales Sprague Dawley (SD) alimentados con dieta basal (BD) o dieta con alto contenido en sacarosa (HSD) se estudiaron las ratas hipertensas (SHR) alimentadas con BD. La inclusión de las semillas de aguacate en la dieta influye en la alimentación y el crecimiento en ratas. La inclusión de A disminuyó (p < 0,05) el colesterol a dosis del 2 y el 4% y glucosa al 2% en suero de ratas SD alimentadas con BD, mientras que solo el nivel de colesterol sérico se redujo en todas las 3 dosis en SHR. Se observó un aumento del glucógeno hepático (p < 0,05) en ratas SD alimentadas con BD con un 8% de A. Todas las dosis de semillas de aguacate aumentaron (p< 0,05) el almacenamiento de glucógeno hepático en SHR alimentado con BD y SD alimentadas con HSD. Las semillas de aguacate pueden reducir la glucosa y el colesterol en la sangre, y aumentar el almacenamiento de glucógeno hepático en ratas.

Mechanism of Action of Azadirachta Indica Linn. (Neem) Aqueous Leaf Extract as Hypoglycaemic Agent.

To find out the mechanism of action of Azadirachta indica aqueous leaf extract (ALE) as hypoglycaemic agent. Materials and Methods: Overnight fasted albino rats of Wister strain of either sex were divided into 3 groups-a) Control (5% aqueous gum acacia suspension 5ml/kg, PO), b) Test (ALE-500mg/kg, PO) and c) Standard (glibenclamide 0.5mg/kg, PO). Blood glucose was estimated before administration of drugs and at 30min, 60min & 120min after the administration of drugs. For glycogen estimation also different animals were taken and divided into similar groups and after 1h of administration of drugs, the animals were killed and glycogen concentration from the liver, skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle were estimated. Results: The ALE produces a marked decrease in blood glucose level in normal rats. The glycogen content of liver, skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle was increased significantly (p<0.001) after 1h of administration of ALE as compare to control. Conclusion: ALE decreases blood glucose level and increases glycogen concentration in liver, skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle significantly. Increased glycogen synthesis is one of the important mechanisms responsible for its hypoglycemic action.

investigation of the anti-diabetic effects of an extract from Cladonia humilis

The effect of Cladonia humilis on glycaemic metabolism was researched in this studied. The blood glucose, insulin secretion and glycogen synthesis of the hyperglycemic mice induced by alloxan were analyzed respectively. The gluconeogenesis and the sugar tolerance of the normal mice were also analyzed in this paper. After the hyperglycemic mice were orally administrated with Cladonia humilis extract, the blood glucose was decreased [p<0.05], the level of insulin secretion and glycogen synthesis were elevated [p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively]. In addition, Cladonia humilis extract could inhibite the gluconeogenesis [p<0.01] and improve the sugar tolerance in normal control mice. These results maybe account for the causes of Cladonia humilis extract-induced significant decreases of the blood glucose in hyperglycemic mice

Review on estimation of postmortem interval using FTIR spectroscopy / 法医学杂志

Estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is a practical task in daily forensic casework. Researches on PMI is an important practical project in forensic field. Estimation of the time since death is influenced by internal and external, antemortem and postmortem factors, thus the old methods have limitations. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has been applied to study the pure protein, nucleic acid and carbohydrate and to detect the changes in complex cells and tissues. At present because the powerful software has could be used to achieve the spectrum transformation, smoothing, baseline correction and normalization, it is possible to analyze the samples quantitatively with the FTIR which has been applied in the biology and clinical medicine. This paper has reviewed the mechanism of FTIR and its application in biomedicine. The postmortem FTIR spectral changes were also discussed, which showed its potential for estimating PMI.

Changes in some hormones by low doses of di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a commonly used plasticizer in PVC blood storage bags & medical tubing.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Di (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer commonly used in PVC blood storage bags leaches out in significant amounts into blood during storage. In view of many reports on the toxicity of this compound, it was considered necessary to investigate the effect of DEHP at the low level solubilized in blood on some important hormones in rats and in human blood stored in DEHP plasticized blood bags. METHODS: Rats were administered DEHP at a low level of 750 microg/100 g body weight on alternate days for 14 days. Changes in the serum insulin, blood glucose, liver glycogen level and T3, T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) as well as cortisol in the serum were studied. Changes in the hormones were also studied in blood stored in DEHP plasticized PVC bags. RESULTS: The results indicated decrease in serum insulin, cortisol and liver glycogen, and increase in blood glucose, serum T3 and T4 in rats receiving DEHP. These changes were reversed when administration of DEHP was stopped. Similar changes in hormones were also observed in the blood stored in DEHP plasticized blood bags. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The results indicated that administration of DEHP at low levels to rats caused symptoms of diabetes, thyroid and adrenocortical dysfunction. Though the results obtained in rats cannnot be extrapolated to human, the fact that similar hormonal changes seen in human blood stored in DEHP plasticized blood bags may suggest possibility of DEHP causing similar changes in human. The fact that these changes were reversed in rats when DEHP administration was stopped, indicates that transfusion of a few units of blood to a recipient may not be harmful, but it may pose a problem during repeated transfusions such as in thalassaemia patients.

Diabetes mellitus, resistencia a la insulina y enfermedades crónicas del hígado / Diabetes mellitus, resistance to insulin and chronic diseases of the liver

Se analizan los cambios que ocurren en el metabolismo de la glucosa en pacientes con hepatopatías crónicas. La sensibilidad a la insulina está disminuida en los pacientes con cirrosis hepática, incluso antes de que la intolerancia a la glucosa se haga manifiesta. La resistencia a la insulina reside en el músculo y mayormente resulta de un defecto en la síntesis del glucógeno. La diabetes mellitus en los pacientes con cirrosis y resistencia a la insulina es el resultado de un defecto progresivo en la secreción de insulina con el desarrollo de resistencia a la insulina por el hígado, lo que conduce a la hiperglucemia de ayuno.

Age related modulation of circadian time structure of blood, plasma and tissue variables in male domestic fowls.

To study modulation of circadian time structure of 11 blood, plasma and tissue variables in male domestic fowls, as a function of age, three experiments were made in one-day-old fowls (72) standardized by 12L:12D. In the first experiment, at 6 week age, 24 birds were killed by decapitation, four each at six different circadian stages (2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 hr after light onset, HALO). Equal number of birds were killed at similar circadian stages at the age of 12 and 18 week in the second and the third experiments, respectively. Age affected both, the circadian patterns and the mesors (24 hr mean values). The circadian pattern included amplitude (half of the total extent of variation) and acrophase (estimated time of peak) for each variable. The results clearly suggest that the pattern of circadian rhythm may vary as a function of age of the bird.

Morphological changes induced by colchicine in neutrophilis interfere with the distribution of glycogen particles

A incubaçäo de neutrófilos na presença de colchicina induz a formaçäo de protuverâncias, onde usando-se a técnica do ácido periódico-tiossemicarbazida-proteinato de prata, uma concentraçäo de partículas caracterizada como glicogênio foi encontrada. Outras estruturas citoplasmáticas, tais como mitocôndrias e grânulos, näo estavam presentes nas protuberâncias. A microeletrônica de varredura revelou que a superfície das protuberâncias era mais lisa que a do restante do corpo celular