Resveratrol limits diabetes-associated cognitive decline in rats by preventing oxidative stress and inflammation and modulating hippocampal structural synaptic plasticity.

Many patients with diabetes are at increased risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia. Resveratrol, a polyphenol found mainly in grapes and red wine, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. Studies demonstrated that resveratrol could prevent memory deficits and the increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. However, whether administration of resveratrol could modulate the structural synaptic plasticity in diabetic rats remains unknown. Therefore, we tested its influence against cognitive dysfunction as well as on hippocampal structural synaptic plasticity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Our results showed that the cognitive performances in diabetic group were markedly deteriorated, accompanied by noticeable alterations in oxidative as well as inflammation parameters, SYN and GAP-43 expression were reduced in the hippocampus. In contrast, chronic treatment with resveratrol (10, 20mg/kg) improved neuronal injury and cognitive performance by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation as well as inhibiting synapse loss in diabetic rats. In conclusion, the present study suggested that oral supplementation of resveratrol might be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment and/or prevention of diabetic encephalopathy.

The CD14--159C/T polymorphisms and the risks of tuberculosis: a meta-analysis.

Previous studies about the association between CD14--159C/T polymorphisms and the risks of tuberculosis (TB) have yielded conflicting results, and thus a meta-analysis was performed in order to provide a more accurate estimation. A computerized literature search with additional manual search was conducted for the relevant available studies. Pooled odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated by either fixed-effects model or random-effects model based on heterogeneity test. A total of 8 eligible studies (1729 cases and 1803 controls) were included in the meta-analyses. Overall, a significant association between CD14--59C/T polymorphism and TB risks was detected in the recessive model (TT vs. TC/CC, OR=1.48, 95%CI 1.06-2.07). Significant associations were also detected in Asians (T vs. C, OR=1.49, 95%CI 1.33-1.67; TT vs. CC, OR=1.94, 95%CI 1.54-2.45; TT vs. TC/CC: OR=1.86, 95%CI 1.57-2.20). In contrast, no significant association was detected in Caucasians in each genetic model. The subgroup analysis stratified by TB types showed a significant association between CD14--159C/T polymorphism and pulmonary TB risks (T vs. C, OR=1.51, 95%CI 1.01-2.26; TT vs. TC/CC, OR=1.84, 95%CI 1.03-3.29), which did not reach statistically significance when the P values were Bonferroni adjusted to 0.025. No publication bias was detected in any comparisons. Collectively, the results of this meta-analysis suggest a possible association between CD14--59C/T polymorphism and TB risks in Asians, but not in Caucasians. Well-designed case-control studies with larger sample size are needed to confirm these results.