Abstract: Obesity as a global health challenge motivates pharmaceutical industries to produce anti-obesity drugs. However, effectiveness of these agents is remained unclear. Because of popularity of dietary supplements, the aim of this study was tp investigate the effects of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) and L-carnitine (LC) on serum glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and weight changes in diet induced obese rats. 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: Normal fat diet (n=8), and High fat diet (HFD) (n=32). After eight weeks, the second group which was maintained on HFD until the end of study, was subdivided into four categories: a) 500 mg Corn Oil (as control group), b) 500 mg CLA, c) 200 mg LC, d) 500 mg CLA+ 200 mg LC.All doses are planned per kg body weights, which were administered by oral gavage for four weeks. Body weights were measured and recorded weekly by means of a digital scale. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected for biochemical markers measurement. SPSS Version 16 was used for statistical analysis. At the end of 8th week, a significant difference in weight was observed between HFD and NFD group. After 12 weeks, LC significantly reduced weight gain by 4.2%. Trend of weight gain in CLA and CLA+LC groups was insignificantly decelerated. CLA+LC reduced triglyceride level significantly, but just CLA had significant influence on total cholesterol and insignificant decreasing effect on FBS. Our results showed that an obesogenic diet in a relative short time led to obesity and dyslipidemia which can be modified by LC and CLA to some extent.
Abstract: Tartrazine is an organic azo dyes food additive widely used in foods, drugs, and cosmetics. The present study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of tartrazine on kidneys and liver biomarkers in addition to the investigation of oxidative stress and change of histopathological structure of liver and kidneys in 30 male rats. Tartrazine was orally administrated daily at dose 200 mg/ kg bw (1/ 10 LD50) for sixty days. Serum and tissue samples were collected at the end of the experiment to investigate the underlying mechanism of tartrazine through assessment oxidative stress (Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and biochemical markers (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Total protein and Urea). Liver and kidneys tissue were collected and preserved in 10% formalin for histopathological examination. The obtained values were statistically analyzed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by multiple comparison test. Biochemical analysis revealed that tartrazine induced significant increase in serum ALT, AST, total protein, urea level compared to control group. Tartrazine showed significant decrease in liver GSH and SOD where their values when compared to control group. Tartrazine induced increase in liver MDA compared to control group. Histopathology of the liver showed diffuse vacuolar degeneration in hepatic parenchyma, the portal area showed sever changes sever in hepatoportal blood vessels and in the bile ducts. The kidneys showed degenerated tubules at the cortex together with mononuclear leucocytes inflammatory cells infiltration. There is perivascular edema with inflammatory cell infiltration surrounding the congested and hyalinized vascular wall of blood vessel. The present study indicates that the subchronic effects of tartrazine have a toxic effect on the liver and kidneys together with induction of oxidative stress by formation of free radicals. Therefore, people should avoid the hazards of consuming tartrazine.
Abstract: This study was conducted to examine the possible role of serum Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the prediction of severity of preeclampsia. The study group comprised of 40 preeclamptic cases (22 with mild and 18 with severe) and 40 healthy normotensive pregnant controls. Serum samples of all the cases were assayed for GGT and LDH. Demographic, hemodynamic and laboratory data as well as serum GGT and LDH levels were compared among the three groups.
The results indicated that severe preeclamptic cases had significantly increased levels of serum GGT and LDH. The symptoms in severe preeclamptic women were significantly increased in patients with GGT > 70 IU/L and LDH >800 IU/L. Elevated levels of serum GGT and LDH can be used as biochemical markers which reflects the severity of preeclampsia and useful for the management of preeclampsia to decrease maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.
Abstract: This study was designed to investigate the role of serum nitric oxide and sialic acid in the development of diabetic nephropathy as disease marker. Total 210 diabetic patients (age and sex matched) were selected followed by informed consent and divided into four groups (70 each) as I: control; II: diabetic; III: diabetic hypertensive; IV: diabetic nephropathy. The blood samples of all subjects were collected and analyzed for serum nitric oxide, sialic acid, fasting blood glucose, serum urea, creatinine, HbA1c and GFR. The BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, blood glucose, HbA1c and serum sialic acid levels were high (p
Abstract: Obesity is frequent attendant phenomenon of patients
with endocrinological disease. Between BMI and endocrinological
diseases is close correlation. In thesis we focused on the allocation of
hormone concentration – PTH and TSH, CHOL a mineral element Ca
in a blood serum. The examined group was formed by 100
respondents (women) aged 36 – 83 years, who were divided into two
groups – control group (CG), group with diagnosed endocrine disease
(DED). The concentration of PTH and TSH, Ca and CHOL was
measured through the medium of analyzers Cobas e411 (Japan);
Cobas Integra 400 (Switzerland). At individuals was measured body
weight as well as stature and thereupon from those data we
enumerated BMI. On the basis of Student T-test in biochemical
parameter of PTH and Ca we found out significantly meaningful
difference (p
Abstract: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a well-known
hepatotoxin and exposure to this chemical is known to induce
oxidative stress and causes liver injury by the formation of free
radicals. Flacourtia indica commonly known as 'Baichi' has been
reported as an effective remedy for the treatment of a variety of
diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the
hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of leaves of Flacourtia
indica against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity. Animals were pretreated
with the aqueous extract of Flacourtia indica (250 & 500 mg/kg
body weight) for one week and then challenged with CCl4 (1.5 ml/kg
bw) in olive oil (1:1, v/v) on 7th day. Serum marker enzymes (ALP,
AST, ALT, Total Protein & Total Bilirubin) and TBARS level
(Marker for oxidative stress) were estimated in all the study groups.
Alteration in the levels of biochemical markers of hepatic damage
like AST, ALT, ALP, Total Protein, Total Bilirubin and lipid
peroxides (TBARS) were tested in both CCl4 treated and extract
treated groups. CCl4 has enhanced the AST, ALT, ALP and the
Lipid peroxides (TBARS) in liver. Treatment of aqueous extract of
Flacourtia indica leaves (250 & 500 mg/kg) exhibited a significant
protective effect by altering the serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP,
Total Protein, Total Bilirubin and liver TBARS. These biochemical
observations were supported by histopathological study of liver
sections. From this preliminary study it has been concluded that the
aqueous extract of the leaves of Flacourtia indica protects liver
against oxidative damages and could be used as an effective protector
against CCl4 induced hepatic damage. Our findings suggested that
Flacourtia indica possessed good hepatoprotective activity