Influence of sodium bis(oxalato)oxovanadate(IV) on phospholipids in liver Golgi fractions from control and streptozotocin-diabetic rats

(1) Both vanadyl oxalate and streptozotocin (STZ) caused in comparison with untreated control statistically significant increase (P<0.001 and P<0.02) of PLs (μmoles of P_i per mg of protein) in rat liver Golgi-rich membrane fraction. (2) The diabetic, vanadium treated rats (D+V) showed lower than control-treated (C+V) content of PLs in these fractions. (3) Three experimental groups of rats: control-treated (P<0.01), diabetic treated with vanadium (P<0.05) and untreated diabetic (P<0.02), had a higher percentage of PI (phosphatidylinositol) in comparison with untreated-control animals.     

The protective efficacy of magnolol in hind limb ischemia-reperfusion injury

We investigated the protective effects of magnolol, an active antioxidant and free radical scavenger extracted from Magnolia officinalis, in a hind limb ischemic-reperfusion animal model. Adult male Spraque-Dawley rats were subjected to hind limb ischemic insult for 2 hours and were intravenously treated with magnolol at 0.01 mg/kg (n=8), 0.3 mg/kg (n=8) mg/kg or 1 mg/kg (n=8) mg/kg, or vehicle (n=8). At 24 h post-insult, the levels of nitrite/nitrate (NOX), malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), as well as the degree of muscle damage, were assessed. Relative to controls, animals treated with magnolol (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) had attenuated muscular inflammation, edema and damage. Magnolol (0.3–1 mg/kg) also effectively reduced postischemic rises in the MDA, NOx and MPO levels (p<0.05, respectively). Magnolol administrated at 0.01 mg/kg, however, failed to protect against the ischemic-perfusion limb injury. In addition, magnolol (0.01–1 mg/kg) did not affect local muscular blood reperfusion or other physiological parameters, including hematocrit, glucose, arterial blood gases and mean arterial blood pressure. Thus, intravenous administration with magnolol at 0.3–1 mg/kg protects against ischemic limb damage in rats. This cytoprotection may be attributed to its antioxidant, anti-nitrosative and anti-inflammatory actions.     

Effect of Sargentodoxa cuneata total phenolic acids on focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury rats model

Objective

Explore the possible protective effect of Sargentodoxa cuneata total phenolic acids on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury rats.

Diosgenin attenuates inflammatory response induced by myocardial reperfusion injury: role of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels

Reperfusion injury is one of the main reasons of cardiac disease morbidity. Phytopharmaceuticals are gaining importance in modern medicine of cardioprotection because of their multiplex capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of diosgenin on the inflammatory response induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury and the role of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (mitoKATP) channels in this regard. Wistar rats (250–300 g) were used in this study. The Langendorff-perfused hearts of animals were subjected to a 30-min global ischemia followed by a 90-min reperfusion. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was measured by spectrophotometry. The levels of inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and IL-6 in the supernatant of heart’s left ventricle were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay rat specific ELISA kit. The LDH release into the coronary effluent during reperfusion was significantly decreased, and cardiac contractility significantly improved by diosgenin preadministration as compared with those of control or Cremophor-EL (solvent of diosgenin) groups (398?±?48 vs. 665?±?65 or 650?±?73 ml/min) (P?<?0.01). Administration of diosgenin before the main ischemia significantly reduced the levels of IL-6 (P?<?0.05), IL-1β, and TNF-α (P?<?0.01) in the reperfusion phase of diosgenin-treated hearts as compared with untreated control hearts. Inhibition of mitoKATP channels by 5-hydroxydecanoate significantly reverses the cardioprotective effects of diosgenin (P?<?0.05). The findings of the present study indicate that preconditioning with diosgenin may induce cardioprotective effect against reperfusion injury through reducing the production of inflammatory mediators and activating the mitoKATP channels.     

Effect of tempol and tempol plus catalase on intra-renal haemodynamics in spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone (SHSP) and Wistar rats

Vasoconstriction within the renal medulla contributes to the development of hypertension. This study investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in regulating renal medullary and cortical blood perfusion (MBP and CBP respectively) in both stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and Wistar rats. CBP and MBP were measured using a laser-Doppler flow meter before and after intra-renal infusion of tempol, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic or tempol plus catalase, the hydrogen peroxide-degrading enzyme. Tempol infusion significantly elevated blood perfusion within the renal medulla (MBP) in both SHRSP (by 43 ± 7%, P < 0.001) and Wistar rats (by 17 ± 2%, P < 0.05) but the magnitude of the increase was significantly greater in the SHRSP (P < 0.01). When the enzyme catalase and tempol were co-infused, MBP was again significantly increased in SHRSP (by 57 ± 6%, P < 0.001) and Wistar rats (by 33 ± 6%, P < 0.001), with a significantly greater increase in perfusion being induced in the SHRSP relative to the Wistar rats (P < 0.01). Notably, this increase was significantly greater than in those animals infused with tempol alone (P < 0.01). These results suggest that ROS plays a proportionally greater role in reducing renal vascular compliance, particularly within the renal medulla, in normotensive and hypertensive animals, with effects being greater in the hypertensive animals. This supports the hypothesis that SHRSP renal vasculature might be subjected to elevated level of oxidative stress relative to normotensive animals.     

Comparison of the behaviour of Awassi lambs in cafeteria feeding system with single diet feeding system

This study was carried out to compare behavioural activities of Awassi lambs in cafeteria feeding system with conventional feeding (control) that animals fed concentrate. Sixteen, 3-month-old male lambs were housed individually for 42 days. The main effect was on the feeding systems, cafeteria and control. Cafeteria lambs (n=8) were offered the main ingredients (barley, cotton seed meal (CSM), wheat bran and alfalfa straw), while control animals (n=8) were fed a single diet (48% barley, 22% cottonseed meal, 18% wheat bran, 10% alfalfa and 2% vitamin–mineral mixture; having 2467 Kcal ME and 161 g kg⁻¹) with the same main ingredients with slightly higher nutrient content for growth. Food and water intakes were recorded daily, while behavioural observations were recorded twice a week for a period of 1 h at 5 min intervals at 13:00, 16:00, 19:00, 22:00, 01:00, 04:00, 07:00 and 10:00 h after the initiation of daily feeding. After every 5 min, each lamb was monitored to determine its eating, ruminating, drinking, walking, standing, playing, resting and other activities.Cafeteria lambs selected a diet that matched their growth requirement as did control lambs. However, cafeteria lambs ate more (P<0.01). Cafeteria animals preferred cotton seed meal (42.4%) to barley (32.9%) without changing their water intake, final live weight and daily gain (P>0.05). Cafeteria lambs also had higher rates of eating (22% versus 19%, P<0.01), ruminating (24% versus 23%, P>0.05) and resting (29% versus 23%, P<0.01) than the control lambs. On the other hand, cafeteria lambs spent less time standing (19% versus 25%, P<0.01) and walking (1.5% versus 2.1%, P<0.01) compared with control animals. In conclusion, cafeteria lambs selected a diet that matched their presumed biological (behavioral and nutritional) needs without changing their growth performance.     

Effect of age and gender on carcass traits and meat quality of farmed brown hares

A total of 48 sub-adult hares and adult reproducing farmed hares were used to characterize carcass and meat traits according to the age and gender of animals. With respect to carcass traits, when age increased, the carcass weight significantly increased (2022 to 3391 g; P<0.001), but dressing out percentages did not change. The dissectible fat (1.3% to 2.2%; P<0.05) and Longissimus lumborum (LL) proportions (13.5% to 14.5%; P<0.001) and muscle-to-bone ratio of hind legs (5.11 to 6.23; P<0.001) increased, whereas the hind leg proportions decreased (37.3% to 36.3%; P=0.01). As for the meat quality, the pH of hind leg (5.74 to 5.83; P<0.001) and LL (5.53 to 5.69; P<0.001) increased with age, while the L* index decreased in both cuts (42.9 to 34.4 in hind leg; 45.1 to 40.3 in LL; P<0.001). The redness index increased at the hind leg (4.07 to 5.76; P<0.001), while it decreased at LL (3.03 to 1.46; P<0.001). In the case of the hind leg, meat thawing losses decreased (1.58% to 1.02%), and shear force increased (2.97 to 4.02 kg/g). In the case of LL, thawing losses decreased (8.79% to 4.91%; P<0.001) in the adult hares compared with the sub-adult ones. Meat water and protein contents decreased in the hind leg and LL of the adult hares compared with the sub-adult ones, whereas ether extract increased in a restricted range in LL only (0.92% to 1.11%; P<0.001). In the case of the hind leg, the rate of the saturated fatty acids (SFA) decreased (41.0% to 26.7%), and the rate of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increased (34.0% to 45.3%) (P<0.001). In the case of LL, SFA (38.6% to 42.9%) and monounsaturated fatty acids (19.4% to 27.2%) increased, whereas PUFA decreased (42.0% to 30.1%) when the age increased (P<0.001). Gender affected only the slaughter results and carcass traits. In conclusion, farmed hares have favourable slaughter results (high dressing percentage), carcass traits (high hind legs and loins rates), and meat nutritional value (high-protein, low-fat meat). This fact would offer additional commercial opportunities, in addition to restocking, to hare farmers.     

Plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol concentrations are decreased in hind limb unloaded Dahl salt-sensitive female rats

Plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)₂D) concentration was shown to decrease during bed rest in several studies when baseline plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentration was sub-optimal. Dahl salt-sensitive female (S) rats, but not Dahl salt-resistant female (R) rats, demonstrated a 50% decrease in plasma 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)₂D₃) concentration after 28 days of hind limb unloading (HU, disuse model) during low salt intake (0.3%). We tested the vitamin D endocrine system response of female S rats to hind limb unloading during high salt intake (2%, twice that of standard rat chow to mimic salt intake in the USA). Hind limb unloading resulted in lower plasma 25-OHD₃ concentrations in S-HU rats than in R-HU rats (P < 0.05) and greater urinary loss of 25-OHD₃ by S-HU rats than by S rats (P < 0.05). Plasma 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ concentration of S-HU rats was half that of S rats, but was unchanged in R-HU rats. The association of low plasma 25-OHD concentration with decrease in plasma 1,25-(OH)₂D concentration of hind limb unloaded rats and of bed rest participants (published studies) suggests that low vitamin D status might be a risk factor for decrease in plasma vitamin D hormone concentration during long-term immobilization or bed rest.     

Effects of using vasectomized bulls in artificial insemination practice on the reproductive efficiency of Italian buffalo cows

The effects of the presence or absence of vasectomized male buffaloes on the reproductive efficiency of buffalo cows (n = 396) undergoing artificial insemination (AI) was studied on six farms owned and operated by a single consortium. Lactating animals were separated into two groups of various sizes on each farm and kept under semi-range conditions. Vasectomized bulls were present in one group at a bull/empty-cow ratio of 1:30. No bulls were present in the other group. Reproductive efficiency between the two groups over a period of 3.5 months was compared and evaluated on the basis of: 1) the number of spontaneous overt estruses associated with either feeble or intense signs of estrous behaviour; 2) the number of functional estrous cycles, i.e. estrous cycles with luteal phases defined as normal, based on specified progesterone concentrations in milk or blood plasma 8–10 days after estrus; 3) the number of consecutive functional estrous cycles in cases of induced estrus; and 4) pregnancy rate.Groups with bulls present demonstrated a significantly higher reproductive efficiency than groups without them. There was a higher incidence of spontaneous estrus (92 versus 69%; P < 0.01); spontaneous estrus of high intensity (62.2 versus 31.1%; P < 0.01); and higher incidence of functional estrous cycles following both spontaneous (65.8 versus 57.1%) and induced (77.0 versus 59.5%; P < 0.05) estrus. Exposure to vasectomised bulls also increased the incidence of consecutive functional estrous cycles (90.5 versus 68.1%; P < 0.01), and the pregnancy rate in cows inseminated at spontaneous (42.5 versus 18.9%; P < 0.01) or induced (51.1 versus 33.3%; P < 0.05) estrus. Overall pregnancy rate did not differ significantly between cows inseminated at induced or spontaneous estrus, although in the absence of bulls, pregnancy rate per AI was higher in cows inseminated at induced than at spontaneous estrus (33.3 versus 18.9%).     

Combined Impact of Exercise and Temperature in Learning and Memory Performance of Fluoride Toxicated Rats

In previous studies, we investigated a link between high fluoride exposure and functional IQ deficits in rats. This study is an extension conducted to explore the combined influence of physical exercise and temperature stress on the learning ability and memory in rats and to assess whether any positive modulation could be attenuated due to exercise regimen subjected to F-toxicated animals at different temperatures. Accumulation of ingested fluoride resulted significant inhibition in acetylcholinesterase activity (P?<?0.05), plasma cortisol levels (P?<?0.05), and impaired the acquisition, performance, latency time, and retention in fluoride-exposed animals. Fluoride-toxicated rats took more number of sessions during the learning phase [F _{5, 35}?=?19.065; P?<?0.05] and post hoc analysis on the number of correct choices revealed that there was a significant effect of treatments [F _{5, 30}?=?15.763; P?<?0.05]; sessions [F _{8, 240}?=?58.698; P?<?0.05]; and also significant difference in the interactions [F _{40, 240}?=?1.583; P?<?0.05]. The latency data also revealed a significant difference between groups [F _{5, 30}?=?28.085; P?<?0.05]; time?=?[F _{8, 240}?=?136.314; P?<?0.05]; and there was a significant difference in the interactions [F _{40, 240}?=?2.090; P?<?0.05]. In order to ascertain if interdependence between fluoride concentrations and the foregoing free radical parameters, respective correlation coefficients were calculated and results clearly emphasize the positive role of exercise in the promotion of cognitive functions by decreasing fluoride levels in rat hippocampus. A significant recovery in cognitive function was noticed in all the exercised animals due to reduced burden of brain oxidative stress. In comparison to exercise regimens performed at different temperatures, high (35?°C) and low temperatures (20?°C) led to a slower acquisition and poor retention of the task when compared to thermo neutral temperatures (25 and 30?°C). Thus exercise up-regulate antioxidant defenses and promote learning abilities in fluorotic population.     

Preliminary Determination of a Molecular Basis to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) is a debilitating fatigue illness that has an unknown etiology. We studied 20 chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients, who complied with the Oxford and American CDC definitions, and 45 non-CFS subjects. Participants completed questionnaires, were clinically examined, and had first morning urine specimens collected, which were screened by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for changes in metabolite excretion. Multivariate analysis of the urinary metabolite profiles differed significantly in the CFS patients compared to the non-CFS patients (P< 0.004). The CFS patients had increases in aminohydroxy-N-methylpyrrolidine (P< 0.00003, referred to as chronic fatigue symptom urinary marker 1, or CFSUM1), tyrosine (P< 0.02), β-alanine (P< 0.02), aconitic acid (P< 0.05), and succinic acid (P< 0.05) and reductions in an unidentified urinary metabolite, CFSUM2 (P< 0.0007), alanine (P< 0.005), and glutamic acid (P< 0.02). CFSUM1, β-alanine, and CFSUM2 were found by discriminant function analysis to be the first, second, and third most important metabolites, respectively, for discriminating between CFS and non-CFS subjects. The abundances of CFSUM1 and β-alanine were positively correlated with symptom incidence (P< 0.01 andP< 0.001, respectively), symptom severity, core CFS symptoms, and SCL-90-R somatization (P< 0.00001), suggesting a molecular basis for CFS.     

Effects of estradiol on renal cyclic guanosine monophosphate and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Background: Evidence suggests that estradiol offers protection against the development of cardiovascular and renal pathologies, although the mechanisms involved are still under investigation. The nitric oxide (NO) pathway regulates blood pressure and kidney function, and estradiol is associated with increases in NO bioavailability. We hypothesized that in female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), estra-diol increases NO bioavailability, activates the NO synthase (NOS) pathway, and suppresses superoxide production compared with rats that underwent ovariectomy (OVX).Objective: The goal of this study was to determine whether estradiol regulates the NO/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway and superoxide levels in the kidneys of female SHR.Methods: Three types of SHRs were studied: gonad-intact females, OVX rats, and OVX rats with estra-diol replacement (OVX+E). Renal cortical cGMP levels were measured to assess NO bioavailability. NOS enzymatic activity, NOS protein expression, basal superoxide production, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity were measured in the renal cortex.Results: Fifty-six SHRs were included in the study (17 intact females, 21 OVX rats, 18 OVX+E rats). Mean (SEM) cGMP levels were significantly lower in the renal cortex of OVX rats (0.03 [0.008] pmol/mg, n = 5) than in intact females (0.1 [0.02] pmol/mg, n = 6; P < 0.05), and estradiol restored cGMP levels to those seen in intact females (0.1 [0.01] pmol/mg, n = 5; P < 0.05). Despite a decrease in cGMP following OVX, renal cortical NOS activity, NOS1 and NOS3 protein expression, and the phosphorylation status of NOS3 were comparable among the 3 groups (n = 7–9 per group). However, mean basal superoxide production in the renal cortex was higher in OVX rats (3.2 [0.3] cpm/mg, n = 12) than in intact females (1.9 [0.3] cpm/mg, n = 8; P < 0.05) and lower in OVX+E rats (1.3 [0.3] cpm/mg, n = 9; P < 0.05). Mean NADPH oxidase activity was comparable in the renal cortex of intact females and OVX rats (81 [4] and 83 [12] cpm/35 μg, respectively [n = 5 per group]). OVX+E rats had significantly lower mean renal cortical NADPH oxidase activity than did rats in the other groups (45 [6] cpm/35 μg, n = 6; P < 0.05), and the decrease in activity was accompanied by a decrease in p22^phox protein expression.Conclusions: In vivo manipulations of estradiol levels influenced renal cortical NO bioavailability, as assessed indirectly by cGMP measurements. The decrease in cGMP following OVX was not due to alterations in the activity or expression of NOS.     

Health-related quality of life in Swedish men and women with early rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disorder that may adversely affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) both in established and early disease.Objectives: In patients with recent onset (<12 months) of RA, this extension of a previous study assessed HRQoL and the effect of disease activity over time.Methods: Consecutive patients with recent onset of RA between March 1996 and November 1998 were followed for 6 years at the Department of Rheumatology of the University Hospital of Umeå in Sweden. Patients were requested to complete the 36-item Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey at 0, 24, 48, and 72 months. Gender differences were examined, and correlations between the SF-36 scales (with higher scores indicating better HRQoL) and data reflecting disease activity were analyzed.Results: Fifty-one patients, 34 women and 17 men (mean age, 50.6 years; range, 20–78 years), participated in the study; in all, 41 patients completed the SF-36 at both 0 and 72 months. At inclusion (0 months), women reported significantly higher scores for physical role functioning, bodily pain, and social functioning compared with men (all, P < 0.05). At 72 months compared with 0 months, women reported significantly better mental health (P < 0.05), whereas men reported significantly better physical role functioning (P < 0.05), bodily pain (P < 0.01), mental health (P < 0.01), and vitality (P < 0.01). Additionally, at 72 months, the entire patient group rated physical role functioning and social functioning (both, P < 0.05), bodily pain and vitality (both, P < 0.01), and mental health (P < 0.001) as significantly better compared with the inclusion assessment. Overall improvement with time was significantly better for men than for women (P < 0.05). There were limited correlations between SF-36 point disease activity parameters and the SF-36 scores at 0 months (erythrocyte sedimentation rate vs physical functioning, mental health [both, P < 0.05], and bodily pain [P < 0.01]; 28-joint Disease Activity Score vs bodily pain [P < 0.05] and emotional role functioning [P < 0.01]) and at 72 months (C-reactive protein vs physical role functioning [P < 0.05]). Most of the physical subscales at inclusion correlated with the physical component summary (PCS) of the SF-36 questionnaire at 6 years.Conclusions: At disease onset, women with early RA reported better HRQoL than did their male counterparts. After 6 years, women and especially men both experienced better HRQoL, and no significant gender differences remained in any of the SF-36 scales or values for disease activity parameters. The PCS score at disease onset was the best predictor of the PCS score after 6 years.     

Increase of myometrial activity correlated with variations in 17β-estradiol and progesterone uterine concentrations in mid-term pregnant rat: estrogen agonist effect of 4-hydroxytamoxifen

The objective of this investigation was to examine the effects of 4-hydroxytamoxifen on the uterine activity. For this, we evaluated the electrical activity of the myometrium, chronically, in conscious unrestrained rats at mid-pregnancy. We also examined the tissular progesterone and 17β-estradiol concentrations in the myometrium and uterus 6 hours after administration of 4-hydroxytamoxifen. Comparison of myometrial electrical activities recorded during the control period with those obtained during the two periods (6 and 24 hours) after administration of4-hydroxytamoxifen (80 μg.kg⁻¹, s.c.) showed an increase in simultaneity of uterine contractions (P < 0.01). Tissular steroid hormone measurement by radioimmunoassay shows a fall of progesterone in the myometrium (P < 0.001) and of 17β-estradiol in the uterus (P < 0.01), 6 hours after administration of 4-hydroxytamoxifen. In the myometrium, for 50% of animals, 17β-estradiol concentration decreased (P < 0.01) and for 50% of animals it increased (P < 0.05). The decrease in progesterone is significant in the myometrium and in the whole uterus (respectively P < 0.001 and P < 0.01), 24 hours after administration of 4-hydroxytamoxifen. The 17β-estradiol concentration significantly decreased for all animals in the myometrium (P < 0.01) and in the uterus (P < 0.01), after this time. It appears that variation in progesterone induces the activation of uterine motility and exerts an effect on some factors involved in the regulation of the rat myometrium at mid-pregnancy.     

Age-Dependent Influence of Gender on the Association Between Obesity and a Cluster of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

BackgroundObesity is a main risk factor in metabolic syndrome. Gender is known to influence the risk of obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors. However, it remains to be determined whether there is a gender-specific difference in the relationship between obesity and accumulation of other cardiometabolic risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine whether the association between obesity and a cluster of other cardiometabolic risk factors is modified by gender.MethodsThe subjects were 17,791 Japanese men and women who were divided into younger (35–40 years) and older (60–70 years) age groups. The relationships between obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m² or waist-to-height ratio [WHtR] ≥0.5) and multiple cardiometabolic risk factors (≥2 of the risk factors of high blood pressure, dyslipidema, and hyperglycemia) were compared between men and women in each age group.ResultsIn the younger group, the crude odds ratios (ORs) for multiple cardiometabolic risk factors in obese versus nonobese subjects were significantly higher in women than in men (BMI: 6.23 [range, 5.53–7.02] in men vs 16.63 [range, 12.37–22.37] in women, P < 0.01; WHtR: 6.04 [range, 5.36–6.81] in men vs 9.77 [range, 7.14–13.37] in women, P < 0.01), whereas this difference was not found in the older group (BMI: 3.03 [range, 2.69–3.42] in men vs 2.92 [range, 2.33–3.67] in women P = 0.076; WHtR: 3.11 [range, 2.78–3.47] in men vs 2.50 [range, 2.02–3.09] in women, P < 0.05). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the ORs for multiple cardiometabolic risk factors after adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol consumption, and regular exercise in subjects with versus subjects without a large waist circumference tended to be higher in women than in men in the younger group but not in the older group. The ORs of the interaction term consisting of gender and each adiposity index for multiple cardiometabolic risk factors were significantly higher than a reference level of 1.00 in the younger group (BMI: 2.68 [range, 1.95–3.69], P < 0.01; WHtR: 1.62 [range, 1.16–2.27], P < 0.01) but not in the older group (BMI: 0.95 [range, 0.74–1.23], P = 0.712; WHtR: 0.80 [range, 0.63–1.02], P = 0.066).ConclusionThe results suggest that the association between obesity and a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors is stronger in women than in men, and this gender-specific difference exists in younger (35–40 years) but not in older (60–70 years) individuals.     

Plasma follicle stimulating hormone,ovulation rate and fertility in Merino ewes treated with bovine follicular fluid

Charcoal-treated bovine follicular fluid (bFF) given as four 5-ml subcutaneous injections to 13 Merino-Border Leicester ewes around the time of natural luteolysis suppressed (P<0.01) plasma levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) [from 1.08 ± 0.05 to 0.41 ± 0.03, mean ± s.e.m. of log_e (ng+ 1) /mlplasma]. This was followed (P < 0.01) by hypersecretion or a rebound of FSH (to 1.46 ± 0.11) lasting 32 h in 10 of the treated ewes, and then by a further fall (to 0.73 ± 0.03, P < 0.05) before the surge (1.21 ± 0.07, P < 0.05) associated with the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH).Plasma FSH at 56–72 h before the LH surge (i.e., at the time of the FSH rebound) was correlated with the subsequent ovulation rate (n=13, r= + 0.73, P < 0.01). Fewer ewes treated with four injections of 2 or 5 ml of bFF than control ewes (injected with bovine plasma) became pregnant (28 of 41 vs. 38 of 41, χ² = 4.05, P < 0.05), although plasma progesterone was similar at Day 11 in treated and control ewes. It is concluded that plasma FSH during such a rebound influences the subsequent ovulation rate in sheep.     

Anti-diabetic effects of sodium 4-amino-2,6-dipicolinatodioxovanadium(V) dihydrate in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The evaluation of the anti-diabetic effects of an organic vanadium(V) complex in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was investigated. The STZ-induced diabetic rats were orally administrated with sodium 4-amino-2,6-dipicolinatodioxovanadium(V) dihydrate (V5dipic-NH₂), a vanadium(V) coordination compound. The compound was administered through drinking water at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL for 20 days, and then the concentration was increased to 0.3 mg/mL for the following 20 days. At the end of the experiment, V5dipic-NH₂ statistically significantly reduced the levels of blood glucose (P < 0.01), serum total cholesterol (P < 0.01), triglycerides (P < 0.01) and the activities of serum aspartate amino transferase (P < 0.05) and alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.01) compared to untreated diabetic animals. After treatment with 0.3 mg/mL V5dipic-NH₂, the oral glucose tolerance was improved in diabetic animals (P < 0.01). In addition, the daily intake of elemental vanadium was markedly decreased in V5dipic-NH₂-treated diabetic rats compared to vanadyl sulfate (VOSO₄)-treated diabetic rats, which suggested that the anti-diabetic activity of the element vanadium was elevated after being modified with an organic ligand. These results suggested that V5dipic-NH₂, as an organic vanadium compound, is more effective than inorganic vanadium salt at alleviating the symptoms of diabetes.     

Effect of 3:7 ratio of Astragalus total saponins and Curcumin on the diabetic nephropathy rats model

Objective

Study the effect of the 3:7 ratio of Astragalus total saponins and Curcumin on the model of diabetic nephropathy rats, and explore its mechanisms.