Caffeic acid abrogates amyloidosis, hypospermatogenesis and cell membrane alterations in the testes and epididymis of fructose-diabetic rats by upregulating steroidogenesis, PCNA and Nrf2 expression.

The fructose-streptozotocin (FRU-STZ) diabetic model has been presented as a viable model of type2 diabetes but its impact on the testes and epididymis of Wistar rats is yet to be investigated. In this study, we probed the role of caffeic acid, a potent antioxidant, in FRU-STZ diabetic rats. Twenty normoglycemic rats were randomly divided into four groups of five rats each: Control, Fructose-Streptozotocin (FRU+STZ), Fructose-Streptozotocin + Caffeic Acid (FRU+STZ+CA), and Caffeic Acid (CA). Diabetes was induced by the administration of 10 % fructose solution ad libitum for 2 weeks followed by a single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg bwt of streptozotocin. Treatment with CA (50 mg/kg bwt) lasted for two weeks. Results showed that FRU-STZ diabetes was able to induce amyloidosis and histopathological deficits in the testis and epididymis characteristic of cytotoxic agents. Poor PCNA immunoreactivity, reactive Nrf2 expression, and defective steroidogenesis were also observed in the diabetic group. FRU-STZ diabetes was also associated with significantly increased Na+-K+ ATPase activity in both testes and epididymis. Treatment with caffeic acid was able to restore steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in the diabetic rats to levels comparable to the control; histological features and Na+-K+ ATPase activity were also reduced in the CA-treated group. Generally, normal rats treated with caffeic acid did not evince any deleterious effects. Our study demonstrates that CA exerts a protective role in FRU-STZ diabetes.

The role of Galectin-1 in HIV associated preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the role of Gal1, a regulatory protein involved in receptor binding and gene transcription within trophoblast cells, in the pathophysiology of HIV associated preeclampsia was determined by immunolocalizing its expression in the placenta of a South African cohort. STUDY DESIGN: this is an analytical study carried out at the Optics and Imaging Center, Neslon R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. A hundred and twenty HIV negative or positive, Black African primigrad or multigravid women with pre-eclamptic and normotensive pregnancies were involved in the study. Post-delivery, full thickness of centrally located placental tissue obtained was fixed for immunohistochemistry. The expression of Gal1 was immunolocalized using immunohistochemical assay kit and further quantified with using AxioVision Image analysis software package. Student t-test was used to compare the levels of the analytes while One-way ANOVA was used for comparison across the groups. RESULTS: Gal1 immunoreactivity was observed within the Hofbauer cells, cytotrophoblast, syncytial knots and in the endothelial cells lining blood vessels in both exchange and conducting villi of both normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies regardless of HIV status. There was a down regulation in Gal1 immunoreactivity in both the exchange and conducting villi of preeclamptic compared to normotensive pregnancies. However, there was no significant effect of HIV infection on Gal1 immunostaining in both villi types. CONCLUSION: The down regulation of Gal1 in preeclampsia may be due to the inhibition of the MAPK pathway. Since Gal1 influences differentiation and migration, the defective trophoblast invasion in preeclampsia may emanate from its decreased immunoexpression. This highlights the role of Gal1 in angiogenesis and placentation.

Liver enzyme patterns in maternal deaths due to eclampsia: A South African cohort.

Eclampsia is an obstetric emergency and a major cause of maternal mortality in low and middle-income countries such as South Africa. Despite years of research, there is no single test for the prediction of eclampsia, however liver function tests have been effective in monitoring the prognosis of this disorder. This was a retrospective study of patients in whom the final cause of death was eclampsia in South Africa between the years 2014-2016. Of 109 cases who died from eclampsia, the highest prevalence was found among primigravidae (42.1%: n = 45) of whom 26.6% (n = 29) were between 20 and 24 years of age. Twenty-six (23.9%) eclamptics did not receive antenatal care and of these 80.7% (n = 21) had the first eclamptic seizure at home. The first level of health care was used by 63.3% (n = 69) of patients; liver function test results were documented in 56.9% (n = 57). An association was found between eclampsia and elevated aspartate aminotransferase levels. Primigravidae especially teenagers are at risk of eclampsia. These women in particular must be informed of the warning signs of preeclampsia and requested to attend for antenatal care frequently especially in the third trimester so that early signs of preeclampsia are detected and timeous delivery is carried out to prevent eclampsia. Furthermore, liver function tests and platelet counts should be done in all women with the preeclampsia-eclampsia syndrome during antenatal and in the immediate postpartum period to prognosticate progression of the disorder and or timing of discharge from hospital.