The Hepatorenal Protective Potential of Caffeic Acid Consumption on the Arsenic-Exposed Syrian Mice.

Arsenic can induce lethal hepatorenal insufficiency by inducing progressive cytotoxicity in the two main body's hemostatic regulators, the kidney and liver. In the current study, the hepatorenal protective impact of caffeic acid was investigated in arsenic-exposed Syrian mice. Twenty-four male Syrian mice (30 ± 8 g) were provided and randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 receiving nothing, arsenic, arsenic and caffeic, and caffeic acid. The mice passed the 21-day treatment program. The mice's blood was collected and analyzed by measuring the serum ALT/AST enzymes and creatinine/urea levels, respectively. Finally, the histopathological properties in both the kidney and liver organs of the mice were studied. Arsenic administration significantly increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), LDH, urea, and creatinine concentrations (p < 0.05). Simultaneous administration of caffeic acid with arsenic decreased the serum AST and creatinine (p < 0.05). Moreover, the renal glomerulus and liver regeneration in the mice receiving caffeic acid supplements exhibited the caffeic acid hepatorenal protective potential. The histopathological changes caused by arsenic in the mice's liver and kidney tissue including degeneration, necrosis, hyperemia, and tissue hypotrophy were shifted to normal conditions following the caffeic acid administration dose, which was verified by the mice blood biochemical analysis results.

A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled add-on trial to assess the efficacy, safety, and anti-atherogenic effect of spirulina platensis in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The efficacy of spirulina platensis (S. platensis) as an add-on therapy to metformin and its effect on atherogenic keys in patients with uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was evaluated. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to S. platensis (2 g/day) or placebo group for three months while continuing metformin as their usual treatment. The efficacy of S. platensis was determined using the pre- and post-intervention HbA1c levels (primary outcome) as well as tracking FBS and lipid profiles levels (TC, LDL-C, TG, and HDL-C) as secondary outcomes at the different treatment time points (0,30,60,90 days). During the three-month intervention period, supplementation with S. platensis resulted in a significant lowering of HbA1c (↓1.43, p < 0.001) and FBS (↓ 24.94 mg/dL, p < 001) levels. Mean TG in the intervention group was found to be significantly lower in the intervention group than in controls (p < 0.001). Total cholesterol (TC) and its fraction, LDL-C, exhibited a fall (↓41.36 mg/dL and ↓38.4 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.001) coupled with a marginal increase in the level of HDL-C (↑3 mg/dL; p < 0.001). Add-on therapy with S. platensis was superior to metformin regarding long-term glucose regulation and controlling blood glucose levels of subjects with T2DM. Also, as a functional supplement, S. platensis has a beneficial effect on atherogenic keys (TG and HDL-C) with no adverse events.

Pro-oxidant- Antioxidant Balance (PAB) in Rheumatoid Arthritis and its Relationship to Disease Activity.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that tends to be progressive and chronic. Previous studies showed that oxidative stress has a main role in pathology of RA. The aim of this study was the easy elucidation of oxidative stress through pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in these patients. METHOD: The sera of 130 RA patients and 130 age-matched healthy subjects (HS) were collected and the PAB was measured. According to the normal value of PAB in HS, the patients were divided into two groups; patients with increased serum PAB and those with normal serum PAB values. In patients with increased PAB value, the correlation of PAB value with RA disease activity [(DAS28ESR)], biochemical parameters, and BMI were determined. RESULTS: Significantly higher serum PAB values were found in the whole RA group of patients (88.69±39.42 HK) in comparison to HS (53.57±25.10 HK), p . 0.05. There was no significant correlation between PAB values and RA disease activity. In patients with elevated serum PAB value; serum cholesterol, triglycerides and BMI were significantly higher in comparison to patients with normal values. CONCLUSION: The PAB test can show the oxidative stress in RA patients. Further research should be done to determine the potency of the PAB assay as a tool for monitoring adverse effect of oxidative stress in RA, as well as the effect of antioxidant therapies in the outcomes.