Antioxidant and ntiinflammatory efficacy of curcumin on lung tissue in rats with sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: To detect antioxidant and antiinflammatory efficacy of Curcumin (Cur) on lung tissue in rats with sepsis. METHODS: Totally 32 rats were divided into 4 groups; the rats in Group 1 (control group) had abdominal incision under sterile conditions following anesthesia and the abdomen was sutured. Abdominal incision was performed in the rats in Group 2 (Cur group) under sterile conditions following anesthesia and the abdomen was closed. Cur was given to this group after dissolving within dimethylsulphoxide as 100 mg/kg through oral gavage and started for 3 d before surgical procedure. Group 3 (CLP group) had caecal ligation and punction (CLP) under sterile conditions to create sepsis following anesthesia and the abdomen was sutured. CLP was performed in the rats in Group 4 (CLP + Cur group) under sterile conditions following anesthesia to create a sepsis model and the abdomen was closed. Cur was also given to this group after dissolving within dimethylsulphoxide as 100 mg/kg through oral gavage and started for 3 d before surgical procedure. All the rats were sacrificed through blood aspiration from the heart under sterile conditions following anesthesia and lung tissues were removed after 24 h following the surgical procedures. The tissue samples were homogenizated for biochemical analyses; and malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric okxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxidedysmutase (SOD) nd catalase (CAT) were analyzed through spectrophotometric method, immunhistochemical iNOS staining was performed to assess the inflammation; and histopathological differences between the groups were evaluated. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease was detected in the CLP + Cur group when compared with the CLP group of which Cur was not given in terms of MDA, MPO and NO levels (P < 0.05) whereas a statistically significant elevation was fpund in the CLP + Cur group when compared with the CLP group in terms of SOD and CAT levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study outcomes revealed that supplementation of Cur presents an antioxidant effect by reducing the free radical level and increasing the antioxidant enzyme levels; and an antiinflammatory effect by reducing iNOS level.

The association of anthropometric measurements and lipid profiles in Turkish hypertensive adults.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have associated anthropometric measurements and lipid profile with hypertension in adult populations and to the best of our knowledge none has been done in Turkey OBJECTIVES: To relate anthropometric derivatives of overweight/obesity with hyperlipidemia status in a group of Turkish hypertensive adults. METHODS: Six hundred forty nine (307 male, 342 female) hypertensive adults aged between 20 and 64 years were included in the study. RESULTS: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) of participants were measured as 147.6 ± 17.2 and 91.4 ± 10.4 mmHg for males and 149.9 ± 16.3 and 91.1 ± 9.4 mmHg for females, respectively. With respect to BMI classification systolic BP was significantly higher in obese males and females, and diastolic BP was only higher in obese females (p<0.05). According to BMIs for lipid profile, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC) levels were found to be lower in normal females than other BMI groups. Age and waist circumference (WC) in particular was the most related factor for systolic and diastolic BP in both genders (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates most hypertensive adults surveyed were overweight and obese. Furthermore, age and WC were the important factors that affects the systolic and diastolic BP in both genders.

Evaluation of dietary quality of adolescents using Healthy Eating Index

The aim of this study was to use the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) to assess diet quality and determine the relationship between the HEI-2005 and the energy and nutrient intakes of adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,104 healthy adolescents, mean age of 15.8 +/- 1.24 years. Dietary intake was measured with the 24-hour dietary recall method, and dietary quality was assessed by means of the HEI-2005. Diet quality scores ranged from 23.7 to 77.5. The mean score was found to be 51.5 +/- 9.07 according to the HEI-2005. There were no differences according to gender; 42.8% had a poor diet and 57.2% had a diet that needs improvement. No subjects had a "good diet". Lower mean subgroup scores were found for whole grains, total vegetables, total fruits, dairy products, and meat and beans. Fruits and vegetables scores were significantly high in girls, whereas sodium, oil, and meat and beans scores were significantly high in boys. Total HEI-2005 scores were increasingly associated with parental education level when age and gender were adjusted. There was a negative correlation between HEI-2005 scores and age, total energy intake, and fat intake. Positive correlation was only observed in the HEI-2005 scores for protein and dietary fibre intakes. Consequently, the overall diet quality and nutritional habits of Turkish adolescents need modification and improvement. In the family, measures should be initiated by the government, including advertisements and campaigns.