Protective Effect Of Different Doses Research Articles

Momordin Ic ameliorates psoriasis skin damage in mice via the IL-23/IL-17 axis.

Psoriasis, a chronic and easily recurring inflammatory skin disease, causes a great economic burden to the patient's family because the etiology and mechanism are still unclear and the treatment cycle is long. In this study, the function and related mechanisms of Momordin Ic in psoriasis were investigated. The IMQ-induced mouse psoriasis model was constructed. The protective effects of different doses of Momordin Ic on psoriasis skin damage in mice were detected by PASI score, HE staining and Ki-67 staining. A psoriasis-like keratinocyte model was established at the cellular level using M5 (IL-17A, IL-22, oncostatin M, IL-1α, and TNF-α) triggered HaCaT. The effects of Momordin Ic upon HaCaT cell biological behavior were examined using MTT and CCK-8 assays. In terms of mechanism, the expression level of each inflammatory factor was assessed using IHC staining and/or ELISA, qRT-PCR, the expression of oxidative stress-related indicators was detected biochemically, and western blot was performed to detect the levels of key proteins of the Wnt signaling and VEGF. As the results shown, at the in vivo level, Momordin Ic significantly alleviated skin damage, reduced PASI score and inhibited hyperproliferation of keratinized cells in psoriasis mice. At the cellular level, Momordin Ic also significantly reversed M5-induced hyperproliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes. In terms of mechanism, Momordin Ic significantly inhibited the IL-23/IL-17 axis, dramatically elevated the levels of intracellular antioxidants including SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT, and significantly down-regulated the levels of the indicator of oxidative damage, malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, Momordin Ic also significantly inhibited the level of β-catenin, a pivotal protein of the Wnt signaling, C-Myc, a target gene of the Wnt signaling, and VEGF, a critical protein of angiogenesis. Inconclusion, Momordin Ic can be involved in the skin-protective effects of psoriasis by multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway and the IL-23/IL-17 axis, and suppression of oxidative damageand VEGF expression. Momordin Ic has been proven to be an underlying therapeutic drug for the treatment of psoriasis.

Spray vaccination with a Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-vectored infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) vaccine protects commercial chickens from ILT in the presence of maternally-derived antibodies

ABSTRACT Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) poses a significant threat to the poultry industry, and vaccines play an important role in protection. However, due to the increasing scale of poultry production, there is an urgent need to develop vaccines that are suitable for convenient immunization methods such as spraying. Previous studies have shown that Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-ILT vaccines administered via intranasal and intraocular routes to commercial chickens carrying maternally-derived antibodies (MDAs) are still protective against ILT. In this study, a recombinant NDV (rNDV) was generated to express infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) glycoprotein B (gB), named rLS-gB, based on a full-length cDNA clone of the LaSota strain. The protective effect of different doses of rLS-gB administered by spray vaccination to commercial chickens at 1 d of age (doa) was evaluated. The chickens were exposed to 160-μm aerosol particles for 10 min for spray vaccination, and no adverse reactions were observed after vaccination. Despite the presence of anti-NDV MDAs and anti-ILTV MDAs in chickens, the ILTV- and NDV-specific antibody titres were significantly greater in the vaccinated groups than in the unvaccinated group. After challenge with a virulent ILTV strain, no clinical signs were observed in the 107 EID50/ml group compared to the other groups. Furthermore, vaccination with 107 EID50/ml rLS-gB significantly reduced the ILTV viral load and ameliorated gross and microscopic lesions in the trachea of chickens. Overall, these results suggested that rLS-gB is a safe and efficient candidate spray vaccine for ILT and is especially suitable for scaled chicken farms.

Different doses of atorvastatin in the treatment of patients with cardiorenal syndrome Type-2: A retrospective cohort study.

To assess the cardiorenal protective effects of different doses of atorvastatin in patients with cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) Type-2. Medical records of 113 patients with CRS Type-2, admitted to First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from August 2021 to August 2022 and treated with atorvastatin, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were retrospectively grouped based on the dosage of atorvastatin. A total of 38 patients who received 10mg/day atorvastatin were selected as a Low-dose group, 36 patients who received 20mg/day atorvastatin comprised a Medium-dose group, and 39 patients who received 40mg/day atorvastatin comprised a High-dose group. Cardiac function indicators (Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension [LVEDD], left ventricular end-stage systole diameter [LVESD], and left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]), renal function indicators (creatinine [SCr], serum uric acid [SUA], heme oxygenase-1 [HO-1], urinary albumin [UALB]), and inflammatory factors (Serum interleukin-6 [IL-6], hypersensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], and tumor necrosis factor -α [TNF-α]) were compared between the three groups. After the treatment, levels of renal and cardiac function indicators, and inflammatory factor indicators of the three groups were significantly improved compared to the before-treatment levels. The degree of improvement in the Medium-dose and the High-dose groups was significantly higher than in the Low-dose group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in all cardiorenal function indicators and inflammatory factors between the Medium-dose and the High-dose groups after the treatment. During the treatment process, no adverse events were reported in all three groups. In the treatment of patients with CRS Type-2, medium dose (20mg/day) atorvastatin can have the same therapeutic effect as the high dose (40mg/day) treatment. Medium dose has a good protective effect on the heart and kidneys of the patients, and helps to reduce inflammatory reactions and improve heart and kidney function.

Protective Effects of Different Doses of Ginsenoside-Rb1 Experimental Cataract Model That in Chick Embryos

Purpose There has been increased interest in phytochemical antioxidants to prevent protein damage and aggregate formation in cataract treatment. In this study, the protective effect of different doses of Rb1 (GRb1), one of the ginsenosides of Panax Ginseng, in the experimental cataract model formed in chick embryos was investigated. Methods Five different experimental groups were formed with 100 SPF fertilized eggs: Control (0.9% NaCl to physiological saline), hydrocortisone hemisuccinate sodium (HC), low dose (HC + L-GRb1 (1 mg/kg)), medium dose (HC+). M-GRb1 (2.5 mg/kg)), and high dose (HC + H-GRb1 (5 mg/kg)). All solutions were given to air sack at 15 days of incubation. On the 17th day, the bulbous oculi of the chick embryos were dissected. Cataract formations of the lenses, glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant (TAS), total oxidant (TOS) levels, Caspase-3 H-score, and TUNEL index were determined. In addition, crystalline alpha A (CRYAA) gene expression was evaluated. Results Cataracts were observed in the control, HC, HC + L-GRb1, HC + M-GRb1, and HC + H-GRb1 groups with a frequency of 0%, 100%, 75%, 56.25%, and 100%, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the control and HC groups in terms of TAS, TOS, MDA, GSH, Caspase-3 H-score, and TUNEL index (p < .05). When the therapeutic effect of the GRb1 groups was evaluated, the HC group showed significant differences with the HC + L-GRb1 and HC + M-GRb1 groups in almost all parameters (p < .05), while there was no statistical difference with the HC + H-GRb1 group (p > .05). In addition, gene expression levels differed between the groups, although not statistically significant (p > .05). Conclusion 1 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg GRb1 applications show therapeutic properties on the HC-induced cataract model. This effect is more pronounced at 2.5 mg/kg.

Clinical Observation of Hemodynamic and Cerebral Protective Effects of Different Doses of Dexmedetomidine in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Background: Patients with craniocerebral trauma may suffer ischemic brain injury and neurological dysfunction due to immune inflammation and neuroendocrine reactions. Dexmedetomidine (Dex) is one of the commonly used anesthetic drugs in clinic. Studies have shown Dex has the function of protecting brain nerves and inhibiting inflammation. However, there are few studies on the effects of different doses of dexmedetomidine on patients undergoing surgery. The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of different doses of Dex on hemodynamics and brain protection in patients undergoing brain trauma surgery. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients with craniocerebral trauma surgery were randomly divided into study group (group A, n = 40) and control group (group B, n = 40) by random number table method. Dex pump volume was 0.5 μg/kg/h in group A and 1.0 μg/kg/h in group B. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded before anesthesia induction (T0), immediately after endotracheal intubation (T1) and at the end of operation (T2). The serum levels of central nervous system specific protein (S-100β) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were measured and compared between the two groups at T0 and T2. Results: HR and MAP in group A were significantly higher than those in group B at T2, and the difference was statistically significant (P P β and NSE in both groups at T2 were lower than those at T0, and the concentrations of S-100β and NSE in group A were significantly lower than those in group B at T2 (P < 0.05). Conclusions: 0.5 μg/kg dose of Dex is stable in hemodynamics and has a better protective effect on brain function in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Protective effects of nigella sativa oil against gentamicin-induced ototoxicity in rats: A dose-ranging study.

Aminoglycosides are relatively potent antibiotics used against some life-threatening infections but contribute to ototoxicity. Although the beneficial effects of high-dose nigella sativa oil (NSO) on ototoxicity in the form of intratympanic or oral use have been demonstrated, no variable-dose studies have been conducted on this subject. We aimed to investigate the potential protective effect of different doses of intraperitoneal (i.p.) NSO on Gentamicin (GM)-induced ototoxicity with auditory brainstem responses (ABR) testing. Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-400 gr) were used in this study. Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, with six animals in each group: All the groups received GM (120mg/kg i.p) for ten days. Group 1: 0.9% saline solution (0.3ml/kg i.p.), Group 2: NSOL (low dose 0.1ml/kg i.p.), Group 3: NSOM (median dose 0.3ml/kg i.p.), Group 4: NSOH (high dose 3ml/kg i.p.), Group 5: NSOML (late onset median dose 0.3ml/kg i.p) were given for fifteen days. But death occurred in 3 rats in group 4 and they were excluded from the study. The pretreatment and posttreatment ABR testings were performed. The posttreatment ABR results were compared with the pretreatment values. A significant difference was found in group 1 (p:0,002), group 2 (p: 0,040), and group 4 (p: 0,027). When the posttreatment tests were compared with each other, there was a significant difference between groups 1 and 2 (p<0,001), groups 1 and 3 (p<0,001), and groups 1 and 5 (p<0,001). The administration of 0.1ml/kg and 3ml/kg dose of NSO does not prevent ototoxicity. The 0.3ml/kg dose of NSO effectively prevents GM-induced ototoxicity within both prophylactic and therapeutic use.

Protective effects of different doses of MitoQ separately and combined with trehalose on oxidative stress and sperm function of cryopreserved Markhoz goat semen

The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ has been regarded as an effective antioxidant agent against cryo-induced oxidative cellular damage. This study aimed to evaluate the use of different doses of MitoQ combined with trehalose to minimize mitochondrial impairment and oxidative stress during sperm cryopreservation of Markhoz goat. For this, semen samples (n = 50) were collected by electroejaculation every 5 days from 5 bucks in 10 replicates. On each collection day, 5 ejaculates (one ejaculate for each buck) were pooled and then diluted in eight different Tris-based extenders as follows: no additives (control), 20, 200, 2000 nM of MitoQ (MT20, MT200, MT 2000, respectively), 150 mM of trehalose (Tr), MT20+Tr, MT200+Tr, MT2000+Tr. The semen samples were frozen using a standard protocol, and sperm function and oxidative stress were evaluated after thawing. The semen extender supplemented with MT200+Tr had higher (P < 0.05) total and progressive motility, acrosome and membrane integrity, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity, and lower (P < 0.05) DNA fragmentation, malondialdehyde and intracellular hydrogen peroxide levels than the all other groups except MT200; meanwhile, MT200 was also improved (P < 0.05) in these parameters than in the control group. Furthermore, MT200 and MT200+Tr showed higher (P < 0.05) percentages of live cryopreserved sperm with high mitochondrial activity than other groups. However, abnormality percentage and catalase activity of frozen-thawed sperm were not affected by treatments (P > 0.05). To conclude, we have found that supplementation of 200 nM MitoQ alone or in combination with 150 mM trehalose to semen extender improved the quality of cryopreserved sperm in goats, which is associated with enhanced antioxidant enzymatic defense and mitochondrial activity and reduced DNA fragmentation.

Anti-inflammatory activity of acacia catechu-bark aqueous solution in aspirin induced gastric ulcer in rodents

Background: Aspirin is amongst the most widely used drugs and has many adverse effects on gastric mucosa. Anti-inflammatory properties of Acacia catechu have been established already. Objective was to evaluate the histopathological changes induced by aspirin in the stomach of albino rats and to assess the protective effect of different doses of Acacia catechu.Methods: Experimental study Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore for 21 days. Forty-eight adult albino rats, both males and female, were divided into four groups A, B, C and D randomly; each comprising of 12 rats. Group A was control, group B was given aspirin 100 mg/kg and group C and D were given aspirin 100 mg/kg along with Acacia catechu 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg respectively by oral route. The rats from individual group were sacrificed on 3rd day, 7th day and 14th day and stomachs were examined under light microscope to observe the inflammatory cells infiltration.Results: Gross and microscopic findings on days 3, 7 and 14 were similar. Control groups A1, A2 and A3 showed normal healthy gastric mucosa and the least number of inflammatory cells. In group B, aspirin produced ulcerations and linear breaks; with highest inflammatory infiltrates. On microscopic examination, numerous inflammatory cells were noted. Group C and D rats had minimum ulcer index and fewer inflammatory cells.Conclusions: Acacia catechu has protective role against gastric injury by inhibiting inflammation.

Development of a subunit vaccine based on fiber2 and hexon against fowl adenovirus serotype 4

Hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) is widespread in China and causes high chicken mortality that results in great economic losses. A safe and effective vaccine is needed, and a subunit vaccine has potential for development. In this study, a truncated region of the FAdV-4 fiber 2 fused with coding sequence of one epitope of hexon was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system, and the immune protective effects of different doses of recombinant fiber 2 subunit vaccine on SPF chickens were compared. The recombinant fiber2 (Gly275- Pro479 aa)-hexon (Met21-Val51 aa) protein (rFH) obtained in Escherichia coli showed good solubility. The chicken survival rate at the lowest dose (2.5 μg/bird) was 75% (6/8), and at higher doses (≥5 μg/bird) was 100% (8/8) in challenge experiment. Two chickens in the 2.5 μg/bird treatment showed severe lesions, while birds in the higher dose treatments showed no obvious tissue damage as determined by histopathologic analysis of liver and spleen. Absolute quantitative real-time PCR showed no viral load in the ≥5 μg/bird treatments, but two chickens in the 2.5 μg/bird treatment had high viral loads. The challenge experience demonstrated that the rFH vaccine provided 100% protection at ≥5 μg/bird. These results suggested that rFH protein as an effective vaccine to protect against FAdV-4 and provided a new idea for the development of vaccine against HHS.

The effect of FTY720 at different doses and time-points on LPS-induced acute lung injury in rats

We sought to assess the protective effect of different doses of Fingolimod (FTY720) in a rat model of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and explored the underlying mechanisms. The ALI model was established in rats and different doses of FTY720 (0.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, or 2 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally. Lung computed tomography and blood gas analyses were performed at 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h after intraperitoneal injection, and the lung tissues were extracted to prepare paraffin sections for histopathological examination. The levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) were detected by ELISA, and the expressions of inflammatory pathway proteins in each group were measured by Western blot analysis. A single intraperitoneal injection of FTY720 inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB activation, reduced the level of inflammatory cytokines, and decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Moreover, it alleviated lung tissue injury, as shown by marked attenuation of pulmonary oedema and improved arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and the general condition of ALI rats. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the protective effect of FTY720 against LPS-induced ALI. The underlying mechanism of the protective effect may involve inhibition of LPS-induced activation of NF-κB and regulation of the inflammatory pathway to alleviate barrier dysfunction of alveolar capillaries.

INVESTIGATION OF PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT DOSES OF OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS IN EXPERIMENTAL RENAL ISCHEMIA REPERFUSION DAMAGE

Objective&#x0D; Ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury is caused by a sudden&#x0D; and temporary impairment of blood flow to a particular&#x0D; organ or tissue. Renal IR-induced kidney damage causes&#x0D; high levels of permanent damage and mortality.&#x0D; Dietary omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects and are used as protective&#x0D; agents.&#x0D; Materials and Methods&#x0D; In the study; Protective effects of different doses of&#x0D; omega-3 fatty acid in ischemia reperfusion injury were&#x0D; investigated by biochemical and histological analyzes.&#x0D; 40 adult female rats were divided into 5 groups&#x0D; as sham control, IR, IR+100, IR+400, IR+700 (n:8).&#x0D; The right kidney was removed by nephrectomy in the&#x0D; sham control group, and the left kidney was not treated.&#x0D; For IR injury; the right kidney was removed by&#x0D; nephrectomy, and the left kidney was clamped. Omega-&#x0D; 3 fatty acids of 100 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 700 mg/&#x0D; kg were administered by gastric gavage to the treatment&#x0D; groups for 14 days before the surgery and for&#x0D; 15. gastric gavage was administrated in the morning&#x0D; of the operation.&#x0D; Results&#x0D; According these data; with application of omega-3,&#x0D; histopathological examination results were correlated.&#x0D; It is found that, histopathological results were&#x0D; supported by biochemical results. There was a significant&#x0D; decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase&#x0D; (MPO) levels in the treated groups, while&#x0D; catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)&#x0D; levels were detected to be increased.&#x0D; Conclusion&#x0D; It was concluded that administration of omega-3 fatty&#x0D; acids beforehand in cases that may cause ischemia&#x0D; and reperfusion damage in the kidney can provide a&#x0D; protective effect on this tissue.

Immunomodulatory Effect of Curcumin in the Upregulation of Inflammasome Pathway Genes Induced by Sulfur Mustard Analog: An In-vitro Study

Sulfur Mustard (SM) induces cell injury via exerting oxidative stress, protease-anti protease imbalance, and inflammation. Inflammasome as one part of innate immunity has a critical role in the recognition of cell injuries and the initiation of the inflammation process by releasing IL-1β. Hence, the present study investigated the effects of the sub-lethal doses of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) as SM analog on the gene expression level of inflammasome-related genes as well as the potential protective effects of curcumin on this process. The effects of sub-lethal doses (500, 1000, and 2500 mM) of CEES on pulmonary epithelial cell line (A549) were determined at various time points (12, 24, and 48 h). Following the treatment of cells with CEES, the kinetic alterations of the expression levels of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-ĸB1), NLR family pyrin domain containing 1 (NLRP1), Caspase-1 (Casp1), and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) genes were analyzed; using real-time PCR. In addition, the concurrent protective effects of different doses of curcumin (20, 40, 80, and 160 mM) on modulating the effects of CEES were studied. Although it was found that the lowest sub-lethal dose of CEES (500 mM) was able to up-regulate the inflammasome-related genes, the maximum alterations occurred 48 h after the treatment with the higher sub-lethal dose (2500 mM) of CEES. The maximum alteration occurred in Casp1 (38 fold), IL-1β (19 fold), and NLRP1 (~4 fold) genes (p<0.0001). However, the NF-ĸB gene expression level did not alter following CEES exposure. Even though low doses of curcumin (20, 40, and 80 mM) were able to down-regulate the studied genes, it was found that the treatment of cells with 160 mM of curcumin for 48 h was able to normalize the expression level of all genes. The present study concludes that curcumin as an anti-inflammatory agent may have beneficial immunomodulatory effects following CEES exposure.

Protective effect of different doses of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis for early severe infections among patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis.

To analyse the protective effect of different doses of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) prophylaxis for early severe infections in antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), considering time-varying changes. In this retrospective observational study, we assessed the protective effect of TMP/SMX within the first 6 months of diagnosis among Japanese patients with AAV. We included 250 consecutive patients with AAV who were admitted to our hospital. The protective effect of TMP/SMX against early severe infections was verified using Cox regression analysis along with potential confounding factors. Cox regression with inverse probability treatment weights for early severe infections was also performed as a sensitivity analysis. Cox regression analysis showed that the reduced TMP/SMX exposure group had a significant protective effect against early severe infections (standard-dose group versus no TMP/SMX group: hazard ratio [HR] 0.393, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.139-1.11, p=0.077; reduced-dose group versus no TMP/SMX group: HR 0.418, 95%CI: 0.216-0.807, p=0.009), even when considering time-dependent changes. In the sensitivity analysis, the reduced-dose group still had a significantly lower risk of early severe infections than the no TMP/SMX group (HR = 0.393, 95%CI: 0.177-0.873, p=0.022). During follow-up, 18.0% of the patients discontinued TMP/SMX due to side effects. TMP/SMX is highly effective in preventing severe infections among patients with AAV despite the high incidence of side effects. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dose of TMP/SMX for preventing severe infections, especially considering renal impairment.

The protective effects of the Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide against acrylamide-induced inflammation and oxidative damage in rats.

In this study, the protective effects of the Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide (PSG-1) on selected tissue (liver, spleen, kidneys and intestine) toxicity induced by acrylamide (AA) in SD rats were investigated. The results showed that pretreatment with PSG-1 could prevent AA-induced damage to liver and kidney functions by increasing the activities of ALT, AST and ALP and the levels of TG, BUN and CR in the serum of AA-treated rats. PSG-1 could also maintain the intestinal barrier function and permeability by preventing the reduction of the serum d-Lac and ET-1 levels in the intestine of AA-treated rats. In addition, AA-induced DNA damage, as indicated by an increase of the 8-OHdG level, was alleviated by pretreatment with PSG-1. Histological observations of the tissues confirmed the protective effects of different doses of PSG-1. Moreover, PSG-1 supplementation reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in rats by upregulating the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and IL-10 levels, and preventing the overproduction of malondialdehyde (MDA), IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Thus, these findings suggest that PSG-1 effectively prevents AA-induced damage in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and intestine of rats, partially by alleviating the inflammatory response and oxidative stress and protecting the intestinal integrity and barrier function.

Protective effects of Abelmoschus esculentus hydroalcoholic extract on changes in pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and testicular tissue in streptozotocin-induced diabetic adult rats

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of different doses Abelmoschus esculentus hydroalcoholic extract (AEHE) on changes in pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and testicular tissue in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic adult rats. Materials and Methods: The rats were randomly divided into six groups of six. The control group did not receive treatment, but the STZ60 group received 60 mg/kg STZ intraperitoneally for 3 days to induce diabetes and the AEHE400 group received 400 mg/kg AEHE orally for 28 days. The STZ60 + AEHE100, 200 and 400 groups first received 60 mg/kg STZ intraperitoneally for 3 days to induce diabetes and then received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg AEHE, respectively, for 28 days orally. At the end of the study, the hormonal levels were measured by ELISA method, and the testicular tissue was evaluated histopathologically. Results: Hormonal results represented that compared to the control and AEHE400 groups, the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels had increased in STZ60 group, and testosterone level had decreased. In the STZ60 + AEHE groups, FSH, LH and testosterone levels were improved compared to the STZ60 group. Histopathological findings also showed that compared to the control and AEHE400 groups, the number of spermatogenic and Leydig cells decreased in STZ60 group, but there were no changes in Sertoli cells. In the STZ60 + AEHE groups, an improvement in the number of spermatogenic and Leydig cells was observed compared to the STZ60 group. Conclusion: At the optimum dose (400 mg/kg), AEHE has protective effects on the testicular tissue and levels of pituitary-gonadal axis hormones in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

A Novel Integrated Active Herbal Formulation Ameliorates Dry Eye Syndrome by Inhibiting Inflammation and Oxidative Stress and Enhancing Glycosylated Phosphoproteins in Rats.

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is a chronic condition of the eye with insufficient production of tears leading to inadequate lubrication of eyes. Symptoms of DES are associated with discomfort and redness of the eye, blurred vision, and tear film instability which leads to the damaged ocular surface. Inflammation and oxidative stress play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, the protective effect of different doses (100 or 200 mg/kg) of a novel multi-component oral formulation of lutein/zeaxanthin, curcumin, and vitamin D3 (LCD) was evaluated using a rat model with benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced dry eye syndrome. The formulation was administered orally to rats for 4 weeks. We observed a significant improvement in tear volume, tear breakup time, tear film integrity, and reduction in overall inflammation in rats fed with the LCD at dose 200 mg/kg performing better than 100 mg/kg. Furthermore, the formulation helped in lowering oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant levels and restored protective tear protein levels including MUC1, MUC4, and MUC5AC with 200 mg of LCD having the most significant effect. The results strongly suggest that the combination of lutein/zeaxanthin, curcumin, and vitamin-D3 is effective in alleviating the symptoms of dry eye condition with a multi-modal mechanism of action.

Protective effects of different doses of human milk on neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.

We aim to summarize the evidence focusing on the effects of various doses of human milk on the risk of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The eligible articles in the study were those investigating the association between human milk and NEC published before June 26, 2019, in the PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, VIP database, CNKI database, and Wangfang database. The included criteria were as follows: premature infants of <37 weeks; randomly controlled trials (RCTs); those fed by mother's own milk or donor human milk; studies focused on the comparison of human milk and formula milk, involving various breast milk doses; and NEC-related studies. Compared with the exclusive formula, the incidence of NEC in the infants fed by exclusive human milk was significantly lower. The incidence of NEC in the infants fed by exclusive human milk was significantly lower than that of partial human milk [risk ratio (RR) = 0.54, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.36–0.79, P < .05]. The incidence of NEC in the infants fed mainly by human milk was significantly lower than that of mainly fed by formula. Incidence of NEC in the infants fed by exclusive human milk was significantly lower than that of any formula (RR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.34–0.71, P < .05). In summary, this meta-analysis was based on the RCTs involving the prevention of NEC using human milk. Exclusive human milk and partial human milk reduced the incidence of NEC in premature infants, especially in the those fed by high proportion of human milk. In addition, more RCTs are needed to further validate such conclusion.

Use of selenium to ameliorate doxorubicin induced hepatotoxicity by targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines

ABSTRACT Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used drug for the treatment of cancer,but its clinical use is limited by its liver toxicity. Administering DOX with an antioxidant has become a strategy for preventing the side effects of DOX. Although selenium (Se) is an important trace mineral, data concerning the effect of Se on DOX induced liver tissue are lacking. We investigated the mechanism of DOX hepatotoxicity and the protective effect of different doses of Se on Dox induced liver damage. Female Wistar albino rats were divided into eight equal groups. Se was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) to rats at doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 mg 0.5 h after injection i.p. of 5 mg/kg DOX on days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Liver histopathology was assessed to determine the dose at which Se may best inhibit Dox induced liver toxicity. Also, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression levels and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) activity were determined using immunohistochemistry. We found that DOX caused liver damage and increased TNF-α, IL-1β and PCNA levels. Se prevented structural damage to liver tissues. Our findings reinforce the protective effects of Se in rat liver.

Oil and extract of safflower seed improve fructose induced metabolic syndrome through modulating the homeostasis of trace elements, TNF-α and fatty acids metabolism

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSafflower (Carthamus tinctorius) has many applications in folk medicine. Its oil is used traditionally to treat obesity and other metabolic disorders. The anti-hypercholesterolemic and antioxidant effects of this plant have been well documented, but the anti-inflammatory effects and its role on fatty acid oxidation and homeostasis of trace elements are not fully understood. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of different doses of oil and extract of safflower seed against fructose induced metabolic syndrome by investigating the homeostasis of trace elements, TNF-α, and fatty acids metabolism. MethodsEighty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into ten groups and treated daily for 16 weeks. At the end of the study, plasma levels of liver enzymes, lipid profiles, blood glucose, insulin and TNF-α were measured. The levels of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation were also measured along with the expression of CD36, fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (FAS), and Carnitine palmitoyl transferase I (CPT-1) beta genes in the liver. ResultsThe antioxidant enzymes activity significantly decreased and lipid peroxidation, lipid profiles, liver enzymes, and TNF-α significantly increased in fructose-induced metabolic syndrome compared to the control groups, as well as the level of some trace elements significantly changed (p < 0.05). Treatment with oil and safflower seed extract in a dose dependent manner could improve biochemical parameters in groups of metabolic syndrome treated with oil and extract compared to metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05). The results also showed that the expression of above mentioned genes significantly increased in groups of metabolic syndrome treated with oil and extract compared to control and metabolic syndrome groups (p < 0.05). ConclusionIt can be concluded that safflower seed extract and its oil can improve fructose-induced metabolic syndrome through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, adjustment of homeostasis of trace elements, and enhancing the beta-oxidation capacity of the liver by increasing the expression of CD36, FAS, and CPT-1beta genes.

Protective Effects of Crocin Against Hepatic Damages in D-galactose Aging Model in Rats.

Aging is a progressive process which is associated with liver dysfunction and it is due to oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell apoptosis. Long-term D-galactose (D-gal) administration is able to develop an aging model in animals. Crocin as a major active ingredient in saffron has shown anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects via its antioxidant capacity. Thus, the aim of the present study was the assessment of crocin effects on hepatic and metabolic disorders induced by D-gal in rats. Aging model was induced in rats by 56-day administration of D-gal (400 mg/kg/day subcutaneously). Protective effects of different doses of crocin (7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg/day) in concomitant with D-gal administration were evaluated. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) amounts were measured by means of their reaction, respectively, with thiobarbituric acid and 5,5′-Dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) under a specific condition. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), β-galactosidase, induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and carboxymethyllysine (CML) levels were determined by western blotting method. Additionally, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured in serum. D-gal administration significantly elevated ALT, AST, ALP levels, which were markedly inhibited by crocin administration. Crocin suppressed the overgeneration of lipid peroxidation products such as MDA. iNOS was elevated by D-gal administration and was returned to the normal extent by crocin. Therefore, Crocin as a powerful antioxidant and radical scavenger, totally exhibited hepatoprotective effects against D-gal-induced toxicity in rats.