Garlic antagonizes skeletal muscle ischemia reperfusion injury through regulating inflammation, apoptosis and desmin expression in adult male rats.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle injuries with subsequent bleeding is common cause of death on both sports and battle grounds. Application and removal of tourniquet is fast intervention to control hemorrhage resulting ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. The effect of IR in skeletal muscle is far more severe compared to other body tissues because of the devastating systemic complication. Garlic has beneficial effects in IR of various organs. However, using garlic in IR of skeletal muscle is deficient Goals: To investigate the possible protective effect of garlic in rat model of hind limb IR and its possible mechanisms of action. METHODS: Fifty adult male rats divided into five groups; C: control, IR: ischemia/reperfusion group subjected to 2 hours ischemia followed by 2 hours reperfusion (2/2 hr IR) and three garlic treated groups; G1+IR: 24 hr before I/R, G2+IR: 30 min before IR and G3+IR: immediately before reperfusion. We measured wet to dry weight ratio (W/D) of gastrocnemius muscle, serum creatine kinase (CK), Interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), Interleukin-10 (IL-10), gastrocnemius caspase-3 and desmin expression and histopathological damage score. RESULTS: Garlic treatment caused significant decrease in W/D, serum CK, IL-1ß, caspase-3 expression and significant increase in IL-10 as well as desmin expression when compared to IR group. Garlic ameliorated IR-induced histopathological damage and significantly reduced the apoptosis score. Better results obtained with earlier administration before IR. CONCLUSION: Garlic protected against IR-induced skeletal muscle damage through reducing inflammation, apoptosis score and elevating desmin expression. We recommend the earlier use of garlic as prophylactic natural medicine in skeletal muscle IR.

Serum irisin level in myocardial infarction patients with or without heart failure.

This study aimed to assess serum irisin level in myocardial infarction (MI) with or without heart failure (HF) and the possible relation between irisin and cardiac markers, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and lipid profile. Eighty-six subjects were included (33 patients had MI, 33 patients had MI with HF, and 20 controls). Body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), heart rate, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured. Blood samples were withdrawn on admission for measuring irisin, cardiac markers, TNF-α, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration (HDL-C). Patients with MI and HF had reduced serum irisin, LVEF, and HDL-C and higher levels of BMI, WHR, SBP, DBP, troponin-I, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), TNF-α, TC, TGs, and LDL-C compared with control. Negative correlations were observed between irisin and BMI, WHR, SBP, DBP, troponin-I, CK-MB, TNF-α, TC, TGs, and LDL-C. However, positive association was noticed between irisin and LVEF and HDL-C. Irisin might be a useful biomarker in diagnosis of MI with or without HF. It could have anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic effects. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of irisin as a promising prophylactic or therapeutic agent in cardiovascular diseases.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of alpha lipoic acid protect against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats.

Little is known about the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the gastric ulcer and the effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) in their modulation. Hence, this experimental study was designed to assess the possible protective effect of ALA against indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric ulcer in rats, as well as to determine the possible underlying mechanisms with a special focus on TNF-α, PAI-1, and iNOS. Adult male rats (n = 28) were divided into four equal groups: the control group received distilled water, the vehicle group received 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose, the ulcer group received a single oral dose of IND (50 mg/kg) and the ALA-treated group received ALA (100 mg/kg) orally for 3 days before ulcer induction. Four hours after IND administration, all rats were sacrificed. The ulcer index, and gastric tissue homogenate contents of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), TNF-α, and PAI-1 were evaluated. Immunohistochemical evaluation of iNOS protein expression and histopathological examination of gastric tissue were investigated. The results revealed that ALA pretreatment significantly decreased the ulcer index, the gastric levels of MDA, TNF-α, PAI-1, and iNOS protein expression while increased the gastric levels of TAC as well as improved the histopathological appearance of gastric tissues. In conclusion, ALA ameliorated the IND-induced gastric ulceration. This could be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities via suppression of TNF-α-induced elevation of both PAI-1 level and iNOS expression in the gastric tissue.

Serum adiponectin and leptin as predictors of the presence and degree of coronary atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The association of adipocyte-derived proteins, adiponectin and leptin, with the degree of coronary atherosclerosis has not been not been well elucidated. This study aimed to determine the relationship between serum adiponectin and leptin with the presence and degree of coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: Seventy patients and 20 matched controls were recruited. Angiographic evaluation of coronary atherosclerosis was carried out by assessing three atherosclerotic indices, severity (transverse disease), extent (longitudinal disease), and pattern (lesion complexity). RESULTS: The independent predictors of atherosclerosis severity were larger waist/hip ratio, followed by higher low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low serum adiponectin level, older age, higher leptin level, current unstable angina, and finally previous myocardial infarction (MI). This model is a good one as indicated by the model-adjusted r (50%). For extent index, lower serum adiponectin level was by far the most important independent predictor, followed by higher low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, older age, and previous MI, whereas higher serum leptin level was only a univariate predictor. The model-adjusted r was 65%. For pattern index, the independent predictors were previous MI, lower serum adiponectin level, larger waist/hip ratio, higher serum leptin level, older age, and higher fasting blood glucose level. The model-adjusted r was 62%. CONCLUSION: Both serum adiponectin and leptin might play an important pathogenic role not only in the occurrence but also in the severity, extent, and lesion complexity in coronary artery disease patients.

Protective effect of green tea on lead-induced oxidative damage in rat's blood and brain tissue homogenates.

Recent studies have shown that lead (Pb) could disrupt tissue prooxidant/antioxidant balance which lead to physiological dysfunction. Natural antioxidants are particularly useful in such situation. Current study was designed to investigate efficacy of green tea extract (GTE), on oxidative status in brain tissue and blood caused by chronic oral Pb administration in rats. Four groups of adult male rats (each 15 rats) were utilized: control group; GTE-group (oral 1.5% w/v GTE for 6 weeks); Pb-group (oral 0.4% lead acetate for 6 weeks), and Pb+GTE-group (1.5% GTE and 0.4% lead acetate for 6 weeks). Levels of prooxidant/antioxidant parameters [lipid peroxides (LPO), nitric oxides (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD)] in plasma, erythrocytes, and brain tissue homogenate were measured using colorimetric methods. Pb concentrations in whole blood and brain tissue homogenate were measured by atomic absorption. In Pb-group, levels of LPO were higher while NO and GSH were lower in plasma, erythrocytes, and brain tissue than controls. TAC in plasma, SOD in erythrocytes, and GST in brain tissue homogenate were lower in Pb-group versus control. GTE co-administrated with Pb-reduced Pb contents, increased antioxidant status than Pb-group. In erythrocytes, Pb correlated positively with LPO and negatively with NO, GSH, SOD, and Hb. In brain tissue homogenate, Pb correlated positively with LPO and negatively with GSH. This study suggests that lead induce toxicity by interfering balance between prooxidant/antioxidant. Treatment of rats with GTE combined with Pb enhances antioxidant/ detoxification system which reduced oxidative stress. These observations suggest that GTE is a potential complementary agent in treatment of chronic lead intoxication.

Protective effect of green tea on lead-induced oxidative damage in rat’s blood and brain tissue homogenates

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Recent studies have shown that lead (Pb) could disrupt tissue prooxidant/antioxidant balance which lead to physiological dysfunction. Natural antioxidants are particularly useful in such situation. Current study was designed to investigate efficacy of green tea extract (GTE), on oxidative status in brain tissue and blood caused by chronic oral Pb administration in rats. Four groups of adult male rats (each 15 rats) were utilized: control group; GTE-group (oral 1.5% w/v GTE for 6 weeks); Pb-group (oral 0.4% lead acetate for 6 weeks), and Pb+GTE-group (1.5% GTE and 0.4% lead acetate for 6 weeks). Levels of prooxidant/antioxidant parameters [lipid peroxides (LPO), nitric oxides (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD)] in plasma, erythrocytes, and brain tissue homogenate were measured using colorimetric methods. Pb concentrations in whole blood and brain tissue homogenate were measured by atomic absorption. In Pb-group, levels of LPO were higher while NO and GSH were lower in plasma, erythrocytes, and brain tissue than controls. TAC in plasma, SOD in erythrocytes, and GST in brain tissue homogenate were lower in Pb-group versus control. GTE co-administrated with Pb-reduced Pb contents, increased antioxidant status than Pb-group. In erythrocytes, Pb correlated positively with LPO and negatively with NO, GSH, SOD, and Hb. In brain tissue homogenate, Pb correlated positively with LPO and negatively with GSH. This study suggests that lead induce toxicity by interfering balance between prooxidant/antioxidant. Treatment of rats with GTE combined with Pb enhances antioxidant/ detoxification system which reduced oxidative stress. These observations suggest that GTE is a potential complementary agent in treatment of chronic lead intoxication (AU)

Relationship between serum parathyroid hormone and trace elements (serum zinc and magnesium) in hemodialyzed chronic renal failure children.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism and trace elements' metabolism disturbances are common, important, and treatable complications of chronic renal failure (CRF).The relation between parathyroid hormone (PTH) and some trace elements in CRF patients on hemodialysis is still not completely elucidated. The aim of this work is to determine the serum levels of PTH and the trace elements zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) in children with CRF under hemodialysis. The relation between PTH and those trace elements will be investigated. The study included 24 children (15 males and nine females) with CRF on regular hemodialysis. Also, 15 healthy age-matched children were included as control group. Serum levels of PTH, zinc, and magnesium were determined in all cases and controls. PTH and magnesium levels in patients were significantly higher than controls. Serum zinc levels were significantly lower than controls. There was a significant negative correlation between serum levels of PTH and zinc as well as an insignificant negative correlation between PTH and serum magnesium in CRF patients. Elevated PTH may play a role in the pathogenesis of hypozincemia. However, this is another negative report on the relation between PTH and serum Mg in children with CRF.