Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Concentrations Research Articles

Feeding pomegranate pulp to Ghezel lambs for enhanced productivity and meat quality

Agrifood by-products contain nutrients and bioactive compounds that can be used in the diets of livestock – thereby value-adding to an otherwise waste product of environmental and economic significance. This study investigated the effect of dietary pomegranate pulp in the total mixed ration of Ghezel lambs, evaluating its effect on growth performance, blood parameters, carcass traits, as well as meat quality and shelf life. 3-month-old Ghezel lambs (individually housed, n = 8) were randomly assigned to be either non-supplemented (control) or supplemented with 100 g/kg DM of sun-dried pomegranate pulp for 28 days, post-adjustment. Results showed that supplementation of lamb diets with pomegranate pulp significantly increased liveweight and average daily gains, while not significantly affecting dry matter intake. Lamb serum urea and alkaline phosphatase concentrations and hot carcass weight were increased with pomegranate pulp supplementation. Compared to control lambs, the meat from lambs fed the supplemented diet had higher concentrations of intramuscular fat, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid, total unsaturated fatty acid, and meat phenolic compounds. Pomegranate pulp supplemented lambs also had a higher ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids; and produced liver tissue with less fat and ash contents. Meat oxidative status (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) and quality (water holding capacity, colour, and pH) were improved when lambs were supplemented with pomegranate pulp. These findings demonstrate that using pomegranate pulp as a feed for Ghezel lambs has advantageous effects on animal performance and meat quality, offering valorisation of an agrifood by-product.

Correlation between CRAB Symptoms and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

To investigate the relationship between clinical indicators of CRAB symptoms and antioxidant enzyme activity in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the bone marrow supernatants of 44 patients with MM and 12 patients with non-malignant hematological diseases was detected by colorimetric assay, and then the differences in the activity of antioxidant enzymes between the two groups were compared. Furthermore, the relationship between the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the MM group and the levels of serum calcium, serum creatinine (Scr), hemoglobin (Hb), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as bone lesions were analyzed. The antioxidant enzyme activity was lower in MM patients compared with the control group (P < 0.05). When the concentrations of serum calcium and ALP were higher than the normal levels, Hb was lower than 85 g/L, and there were multiple bone lesions, the activity of CAT, SOD and GPX was significantly declined (P < 0.05); When the concentration of Scr≥177 μmol/L, the activity of GPX was significantly declined (P < 0.05). Regression analyses showed that CAT, SOD and GPX were negatively correlated with serum calcium (r =-0.538, r =-0.456, r =-0.431), Scr (r =-0.342, r =-0.384, r =-0.463), and ALP (r =-0.551, r =-0.572, r =-0.482). The activity of antioxidant enzymes, including CAT, SOD and GPX, were decreased in patients with MM and they were negatively correlated with some clinical indicators of CRAB symptoms (such as serum calcium, Scr, and ALP), which suggests that promoting the activity of antioxidant enzymes may be beneficial to treat the CRAB symptoms of the patients with MM.

Effects of Chronic Heat Stress on Growth, Apoptosis, Antioxidant Enzymes, Transcriptomic Profiles, and Immune-Related Genes of Hong Kong Catfish (Clarias fuscus).

Chronic heat stress can have detrimental effects on the survival of fish. This study aimed to investigate the impact of prolonged high temperatures on the growth, antioxidant capacity, apoptosis, and transcriptome analysis of Hong Kong catfish (Clarias fuscus). By analyzing the morphological statistics of C. fuscus subjected to chronic high-temperature stress for 30, 60, and 90 days, it was observed that the growth of C. fuscus was inhibited compared to the control group. The experimental group showed a significant decrease in body weight and body length compared to the control group after 60 and 90 days of high-temperature stress (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). A biochemical analysis revealed significant alterations in the activities of three antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase activity (SOD); catalase activity (CAT); glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), the malondialdehyde content (MDA), and the concentrations of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP); Aspartate aminotransferase (AST); and alanine transaminase (ALT) in the liver. TUNEL staining indicated stronger apoptotic signals in the high-temperature-stress group compared to the control group, suggesting that chronic high-temperature-induced oxidative stress, leading to liver tissue injury and apoptosis. Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 1330 DEGs, with 835 genes being upregulated and 495 genes being downregulated compared to the control group. These genes may be associated with oxidative stress, apoptosis, and immune response. The findings elucidate the growth changes in C. fuscus under chronic high temperature and provide insights into the underlying response mechanisms to a high-temperature environment.

Effects of glycyrrhiza polysaccharides on growth performance, meat quality, serum parameters and growth/meat quality-related gene expression in broilers.

With growing restrictions on the use of antibiotics in animal feed, plant extracts are increasingly favored as natural feed additive sources. Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GP), known for its multifaceted biological benefits including growth promotion, immune enhancement, and antioxidative properties, has been the focus of recent studies. Yet, the effects and mechanisms of GP on broiler growth and meat quality remain to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GP on growth, serum biochemistry, meat quality, and gene expression in broilers. The broilers were divided into five groups, each consisting of five replicates with six birds. These groups were supplemented with 0, 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 mg/kg of GP in their basal diets, respectively, for a period of 42 days. The results indicated that from day 22 to day 42, and throughout the entire experimental period from day 1 to day 42, the groups receiving 1,000 and 1,500 mg/kg of GP showed a significant reduction in the feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) compared to the control group. On day 42, an increase in serum growth hormone (GH) levels was shown in groups supplemented with 1,000 mg/kg GP or higher, along with a significant linear increase in insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration. Additionally, significant upregulation of GH and IGF-1 mRNA expression levels was noted in the 1,000 and 1,500 mg/kg GP groups. Furthermore, GP significantly elevated serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and globulin (GLB) while reducing blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. In terms of meat quality, the 1,500 and 2,000 mg/kg GP groups significantly increased fiber density in pectoral muscles and reduced thiobarbituric acid (TBA) content. GP also significantly decreased cooking loss rate in both pectoral and leg muscles and the drip loss rate in leg muscles. It increased levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid, while decreasing concentrations of stearic acid, myristic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. Finally, the study demonstrated that the 1,500 mg/kg GP group significantly enhanced the expression of myogenin (MyoG) and myogenic differentiation (MyoD) mRNA in leg muscles. Overall, the study determined that the optimal dosage of GP in broiler feed is 1,500 mg/kg.

Effect of dietary methionine hydroxy analogue‐free acid (MHA‐FA) supplementation levels on growth performance, blood metabolites and immune responses in broiler chickens

AbstractBackgroundBroiler diets are commonly supplemented by liquid methionine hydroxy analogue‐free acid (MHA‐FA) containing as product with 88% of active substance to meet sulphur amino acid (SAA) requirements.ObjectivesTwo experiments were conducted to assess the effects of different dietary MHA‐FA levels on growth performance, blood metabolites and immune responses in broilers.MethodsIn experiments 1 and 2, 432 and 360 male broilers were fed either a basal corn–soya bean meal diet that met the energy and nutrient requirements with the exception of SAAs or the basal diet supplemented with 5 graded levels of MHA‐FA (+0.9 and +0.8 g/kg), for 1–11 and 11–24‐day ages, respectively. Chicks were vaccinated with inactivated H9N2/Newcastle disease (ND) and live‐ND on days 5 and 11, respectively.ResultsResponses in both experiments had similar tendency at corresponding dietary MHA‐FA levels. By increasing dietary MHA‐FA level, weight gain (WG), feed efficiency (FE), relative breast weight (RBW) and immunity against ND and avian influenza virus inoculation improved with quadratic trend. Blood serum triglyceride, low‐density lipoprotein, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase concentration were affected in response to dietary MHA‐FA levels with quadratic trends. By using broken‐line regression analysis, the optimum dietary MHA‐FA levels for optimized WG, FE and RBW during 1–10‐day age were obtained at 2.20, 3.31 and 3.33 g/kg, respectively; based on MHA‐FA content of Met equivalent, the digestible SAA requirements were estimated 0.81%, 0.91% and 0.92%, respectively. Similarly, for the 11–24‐day age period, the optimum dietary MHA‐FA supplementation levels were obtained 1.79, 2.21, 2.41 and 2.53 g/kg, with the digestible SAA requirements estimated 0.75%, 0.79%, 0.80% and 0.81% for optimized WG, FE, RBW and immune responses, respectively.ConclusionsSupplemental levels of MHA‐FA that optimize performance, breast meat and immunity in broilers fed corn–soya bean meal diet, varied from 0.18% to 0.33%, correspond to age and what traits are considered for optimization.

Effects of dietary wheat supplementation levels on growth performance, rumen bacterial community and fermentation parameters in Chinese Tibetan Sheep.

The objective of this study was to evaluate various wheat supplementation levels on rumen microbiota and fermentation parameter in Tibetan sheep. A total of ninety ram with an average 12.37 ± 0.92 kg at the age of 2 months were randomly allocated to three treatments: 0% wheat diet (CW, N = 30), 10% wheat diet (LW, N = 30), and 15% wheat diet (HW, N = 30) on a dry matter basis. The experiment was conducted over a period of 127 days, including 7 days of adaption to the diets. Our results showed that sheep fed 10% wheat exhibited optimal average daily gain and feed gain ratio compared with HW group (p < 0.05). The serum alkaline phosphatase concentration was the lowest when fed the 10% wheat diet (p < 0.05), whereas serum aspartate aminotransferase concentration was the highest (p < 0.05). Both acetate and propionate increased with increase in dietary wheat ratio (p < 0.05), while a greater decrease in concentrations of NH3 -N was observed (p < 0.05). In rumen fluid, 3413 OTUs were obtained with 97% consistency. Phylum Firmicutes was the predominant bacteria and accounted for 49.04%. The CW groups supported significantly increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes (p < 0.05), as compared with the HW group. The abundance of Bacteroidales_UCG-001, Ruminococcus, and Mitsuokella possessed a higher relative abundance in HW group (p < 0.05). No differences in the bacterial community and fermentation parameters were observed between the sheep fed 0% and 10% wheat (p > 0.05). Ruminal bacterial community structure was significantly correlated with isobutyrite (r2 = 0.4878, p = 0.035) and valerate (r2 = 0.4878, p = 0.013). In conclusion, supplementation of 10% wheat in diet promoted the average daily gain and never altered microbial community structure and fermentation pattern, which can be effectively replace partial corn in Chinese Tibetan Sheep.

Impact of apoptotic biomarkers for prognosis of dengue disease severity among eastern Indian patients.

Dengue virus (DENV) induced severe manifestations is a precursor for fatality among infected patients. Previous autopsy examinations of severe dengue (SD) patients reported presence of apoptotic cells in liver, brain, intestinal and lung tissues. Thus, serum-level of major apoptotic proteins of dengue patients was evaluated in the current study, along with their biochemical parameters. Patients were categorized according to World Health Organization (WHO)-defined classification. DENV-infection was screened among 165 symptomatic patients by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, antidengue IgM, and IgG ELISA. Serum levels of apoptotic (Capase-3,7,8, Bcl-2 and FasL) and hepatic-markers, lipid profile, hematological parameters of 78 dengue-positive patients were determined by sandwich-ELISA/immunoturbidimetry/auto-analyzer. Significantly higher levels of caspase-3,7,8 and FasL was detected among SD patients compared to those without warning (WOW) signs. Amongst biochemical parameters, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase serum concentrations significantly increased among severe patients. Principal component analysis followed by hierarchical clustering differentiated severe and with warning dengue patient groups from those WOW using caspase-3,7,8 and FasL biomarkers-thus clearly distinguishing severe-dengue group. Correlation analyses also established strong positive correlation between caspase-3,7,8 and FasL. Thus, serum level of caspase-3,7,8 and FasL during early stage of infection could be used as biomarkers for WHO-defined dengue disease severity.

The Impact of Renal Function on Liver Cirrhosis among Patients in Wasit Governorate, Iraq

In Al-Kut city's AL-Zahraa general hospital, this study was carried out.for individuals with liver cirrhosis to evaluate their serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, urea, creatinine, T.Protien, Albumin, and Bilirubin. The 50 patients ranged in age from 20 to 60, with 29 male and 21 female individuals.Based on the patient's medical history and physical examination, liver cirrhosis was determined to affect both sexes of the patient. The 30 control groups were drawn from the medical personnel and family of those who did not exhibit any indications or symptoms of renal liver disease or kidney diseases. With ages ranging from 22 to 66, there were 20 men and 10 women. Eight to fourteen hours following the patients' overnight fasts, blood samples were obtained. The research reveals the following. Serum ALT, AST and GGT concentrations in liver cirrhosis patients were found to be significantly increased compared with control group (P&lt;0.01).Serum Bilirubin (Total) and direct Bilirubin concentrations in liver cirrhosis patients were found to be significantly high compared with control group (P&lt;0.5), (P&lt;0.01) respectively. Serum Albumin concentrations in liver cirrhosis patients were found to be no significantly lower compared with control group (P&gt;0.5). Serum Total protein concentrations in liver cirrhosis patients were found to be no significantly lower compared with control group (P≤0.5).Serum Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations in liver cirrhosis patients were found to be significantly increased compared with control group (P&lt;0.01).Serum urea, creatinine, Uric acid and ammonia level concentrations in liver cirrhosis patients were found to be significantly high compared with control group (P&lt;0.01).

Interactions between Polygenetic Variants and Lifestyle Factors in Hypothyroidism: A Hospital-Based Cohort Study.

Hypothyroidism is a prevalent endocrine disorder and is associated with a variety of metabolic disturbances. This study aimed to investigate the polygenic variants associated with hypothyroidism risk and the interaction of polygenic risk scores (PRS) with dietary patterns in influencing disease risk in 56,664 participants aged >40 in a hospital-based cohort. The participants were classified as having hypothyroidism (n = 870) diagnosed by a physician and no hypothyroidism (n = 55,794). Genetic variants associated with hypothyroidism were identified using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Genetic variants interacting with each other were selected using a generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis, and the PRS generated was evaluated for interaction with lifestyle parameters. Coffee, alcohol, meat intake, and a Korean balanced diet were inversely associated with hypothyroidism risk, as were selenium, copper, and manganese intakes. White blood cell (WBC) counts and serum alkaline phosphatase and triglyceride concentrations were positively associated with hypothyroidism risk, as were osteoporosis and thyroid cancer. The GMDR analysis generated a three-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) model comprising dual oxidase-1 (DUOX1)_rs1648314; thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR)_rs75664963; and major histocompatibility complex, class-II, DQ Alpha-1 (HLA-DQA1)_rs17426593. The PRS derived from the three- and seven-SNP models were associated with a 2.11- and 2.32-fold increase in hypothyroidism risk, respectively. Furthermore, the PRS from the three-SNP model showed interactions with WBC counts, wherein the positive association with hypothyroidism risk was more pronounced in participants with low WBC counts than those with high WBC counts (≥4 × 109 /L). Dietary patterns, such as the plant-based diet (PBD) and the Western-style diet (WSD), along with smoking status, exhibited interactions with the PRS, influencing hypothyroidism risk. In participants with a high PRS, those in the high-PBD, low-WSD, and smoker groups had a higher proportion of hypothyroidism than those in the low-PBD, high-WSD, and non-smoker groups. In conclusion, genetic variants related to immunity and thyroid hormone secretion were linked to hypothyroidism risk, and their PRS interacted with PBD and WSD intake and smoking status. These results contribute to a better understanding of hypothyroidism and its prevention strategies for precision medicine intervention.

The Protective Effects of the Echium amoenum Seed Oil Against Seizures Induced by Pentylenetetrazole

Background: Many recent studies have documented that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as a safe supplement raise seizure thresholds. However, the evidence of seed oil supplements on seizure susceptibility remains controversial, and among them, Echium seed oil (EO) is a mixture of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs. Objectives: This study aimed to test the effects of the sub-chronic administration of EO on intravenous pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) seizure threshold, considering its antioxidant activity and biochemical parameters. Methods: Fifty male mice were divided into five groups (10 in each), including control (no treatment), vehicle (sesame oil), and EO (1, 3, and 5 g/kg) groups. Vehicle and EO were administered p.o. once a day for four weeks. Then, the intravenous PTZ induced-seizure threshold was determined. Finally, the serum concentration of lipid, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was assessed. Results: Pretreatment with EO raised the seizure threshold dose-dependently compared to the vehicle. Pretreatment with EO had no adverse effect on the serum concentration of ALP, AST, ALT, creatinine, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), but at the dosages of 3 and 5 g/kg decreased the concentration of cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (P &lt; 0.05), and triglyceride (TG) (P &lt; 0.01). Also, 1 and 3 g/kg of EO improved the activity of SOD (P &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: Pretreatment with EO increases the seizure threshold without negative impacts on the liver and kidney biomarkers, correlated with its positive effects on antioxidant activity and serum lipid profiles.

The Effects of Zinc Supplementation on Growth, Diarrhea, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immune Function in Holstein Dairy Calves.

The current study examined the effects of supplementary zinc proteinate (ZnPro) and zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, diarrhea, antioxidant capacity, immune function, and mineral element concentrations of calves aged 1 to 28 days. A total of twenty-four newborn calves were divided randomly into 3 groups (n = 8; 2 males and 6 females per group), and each received: 0 mg/d Zn (CON), 627 mg/d ZnPro (80 mg/d Zn; ZnPro group), and 101 mg/d ZnO (80 mg/d Zn; ZnO group). The calves received the additive in their milk during the first 28 days of life. Compared with the CON group: ZnPro and ZnO improved average daily gain (ADG) and decreased the feed:gain ratio (FGR) between days 1 and 14 (p < 0.05), while the ADG increased and FGR decreased only in the ZnPro group between days 1 and 28 (p < 0.05). The incidence of diarrhea decreased (p < 0.05) in the ZnPro and ZnO groups between days 15 and 28 as well as days 1 and 28, but decreased (p < 0.05) only in the ZnPro group between days 1 and 14. The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration of the ZnPro and ZnO groups increased on days 14 and 28 (p < 0.05). ZnPro supplementation increased serum IgM concentration during the whole study, while ZnO enhanced serum IgM concentration only on day 14 (p < 0.05). In the ZnO group, the serum concentration of cytokines interleukin (IL)-10 increased on day 14, while that of IL-1β increased on day 28 (p < 0.05). In addition, ZnPro reduced the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration on days 14 and 28 (p < 0.05). Both ZnPro and ZnO increased the serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and metallothionein (MT) on day 14 (p < 0.05). With zinc supplementation, plasma Zn concentration increased (p < 0.05) on days 14 and 28 of age. We concluded that supplementary ZnPro and ZnO reduced incidences of diarrhea and promoted the immune function, but ZnPro improved the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of Holstein dairy calves to a greater extent.

The Preclinical Benefit of Glutamine in bisphenol A-induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Background: Oxidative stress may be a causative factor for bisphenol A (BPA) -induced hepatotoxicity. Glutamine (GM) is an amino acid with the ability to inhibit oxidative stress. Objective: This study evaluated the ability of GM to prevent BPA-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Methods: Adult Wistar rats of both sexes (n=30) were used. The rats were randomly grouped into six of five rats each. Groups A (Control), B, and C were treated with normal saline (0.2 mL), GM (80 mg/kg), and BPA (50 mg/kg), respectively for 60 days. Groups D-F were treated with GM (20 mg/kg)+BPA (50 mg/kg), GM (40 mg/kg)+BPA (50 mg/kg), and GM (80 mg/kg)+BPA (50 mg/kg), respectively for 60 days. After treatment, blood and liver samples were obtained for biochemical and histological assessments, respectively. Results: Significantly (P&lt;0.01) decreased body weight and significantly (P&lt;0.01) increased liver weight occurred in the BPA-administered group when compared to the control group. The BPA-administered group showed significantly (P&lt;0.001) elevated serum total bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, aminotransferases, conjugated bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and liver malondialdehyde concentrations when compared to the control group. Significantly (P&lt;0.001) decreased liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione levels occurred in the PBA-administered group when compared to the control group. BPA caused hepatocyte necrosis, sinusoids, and central vein congestion. BPA-induced hepatotoxicity was reversed by GM; 20 mg/kg (P&lt;0.05), 40 mg/kg (P&lt;0.01), and 80 mg/kg (P&lt;0.001) in a dose-related fashion when compared to BPA. Conclusion: GM may be effective against BPA-associated hepatotoxicity.

Alkaline phosphatase in clinical practice in childhood: Focus on rickets.

Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and its isoenzymes reflect bone metabolism: ALP increases the ratio of inorganic phosphate to pyrophosphate systemically and facilitates mineralization as well as reduces extracellular pyrophosphate concentration, an inhibitor of mineral formation. On the contrary, low ALP activity is associated with reduction of bone turnover. ALP includes four isoenzymes depending on the site of tissue expression: intestinal ALP, placental ALP, germ cell ALP and tissue nonspecific ALP or liver/bone/kidney ALP. The bone isoenzyme (B-ALP) is involved in bone calcification and is a marker of bone turnover as a result of osteoblastic activity. ALP and its isoenzymes are crucial in the diagnostic process of all the forms of rickets.The most common cause of rickets is vitamin D nutritional deficiency. The aim of this review is to update on the role played by ALP serum concentrations as a relevant marker in thediagnosis and treatment of rickets. Indeed, the diagnosis of rickets is based on its clinical, radiological and laboratory characteristics. An elevated ALP level is one of the markers for the diagnosis of rickets in children, though it is also associated with bone formation process. ALP is also useful for the differentiation between rickets and other disorders that can mimic rickets because of their clinical and laboratory characteristics, and, together with other biochemical markers, is crucial for the differential diagnosis of the different forms of rickets. Age, severity and duration of rickets may also modulate ALP elevation. Finally, ALP measurements are useful in clinical and therapeutic follow-up.

PREVALENCE OF ELEVATED AST, ALT, ALP IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Background:Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major public health concern affecting millions of people worldwide. The relationship between liver enzymes and T2DM has been reported in limited studies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of elevated liver enzymes in T2DM. Methods: A total of 200 individuals (100 diabetic and 100 nondiabetic) were enrolled in the study. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were measured in serum collected from them. T2DM was dened as fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥126 mg/dLor self-reported recent use of insulin or antidiabetic medications. Results:Among the participants, 63% in T2DM and 30% in the non-diabetic group had at least one or more elevated liver enzymes in serum. The mean concentrations of serum AST, ALT and ALP were signicantly higher in the T2DM group compared to the non-diabetes group, suggesting high prevalence of elevated liver enzymes in the T2DM. Conclusions: A high prevalence of elevated liver enzymes was observed in subjects having T2DM than in non-diabetics. More studies of this nature should be carried out in developing countries to get proper insights into the importance of assessing liver enzymes in T2DM.

Effects of supplemental zinc on growth, carcass characteristics, and liver abscess formation in steers with experimentally induced ruminal acidosis challenge.

The study's aim was to evaluate the effect of dietary Zn supplementation on steer performance, biomarkers of inflammation and metabolism, and liver abscess formation in response to a mild acidosis challenge. Forty-two steers (417 ± 3.99 kg; n = 6/pen) were housed in pens with bunks designed to measure individual dry matter intake (DMI) and fed one of two diets containing either 0 (CON; n = 18) or 90 mg Zn/kg from a Zn-amino acid complex (Zn-AA; n = 18; AvailaZn; Zinpro) for 109 d. Six additional steers were fed the CON diet and did not undergo the acidosis challenge (NON; n = 6). The acidosis challenge included restricting steers to 50% of the previous 7 d daily DMI on days 46 and 47, steers were individually provided 10% of DMI as cracked corn (as-fed) at 0800 h followed by ad libitum feed access 2 h post-grain consumption. Steer was the experimental unit, and two contrasts were constructed: NON vs. CON and CON vs. Zn-AA. Blood samples were collected on days 40, 48, 53, 69, 80, and 108 and analyzed as repeated measures. Final body weight and overall average daily gain (2.29, 2.30, and 2.31 ± 0.920 kg/d for CON, Zn-AA, and NON, respectively) were not different (P ≥ 0.74) between treatments. By design, DMI was greater (P < 0.01) for NON compared to CON on day 46 but was not different (P ≥ 0.41) for the rest of the experiment. While hot carcass weight (423, 428, and 424 ± 7.9 kg for CON, Zn-AA, and NON, respectively) and ribeye area were not different (P ≥ 0.53) due to treatment, marbling score tended (P = 0.06) to be greater in CON compared to Zn-AA. The 12th rib backfat thickness was greater (P = 0.05) in NON vs. CON steers. Liver abscess incidence tended to be greater (P = 0.12) in CON (24% abscesses) vs. Zn-AA (6% abscesses). NON had a greater incidence (P = 0.05; 50% abscesses) compared to CON. Overall, blood fibrinogen and leukocyte counts were not different between treatments (P ≥ 0.67); however, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio tended to be greater in NON vs. CON (P = 0.08). Serum aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase concentrations were greater in NON vs. CON (P ≤ 0.02), and serum alkaline phosphatase concentration was lesser in CON vs. Zn-AA (P < 0.01). Overall, dietary Zn supplementation tended to lessen incidence of liver abscesses with limited impacts on overall cattle performance. Shifts in liver enzymes may represent opportunities to identify cattle with liver abscesses earlier in the feeding period.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation on various parameters in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: An updated meta-analysis.

The current updated meta-analysis aimed to explore the effects of vitamin D supplementation on various parameters in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), using the latest trials available. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were screened for the collection of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the efficacy of additional vitamin D vs. the placebo group on NAFLD patients in the last 5 years. Trials included were focused on the assessment of anthropometric and biochemical indices. Our results revealed that additional vitamin D greatly increased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), and decreased the low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. However, no significant differences were found in terms of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), c-glutamyltransferase, fasting blood glucose (FBG), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Ca2+ levels between the supplementation of vitamin D and placebo. The present study demonstrated the advantageous impact of supplementary vitamin D on the levels of 25(OH)D and LDL-C in NAFLD patients. However, the results failed to provide evidence for the superiority of additional vitamin D in relation to the concentrations of serum ALP, AST, TC, Ca, γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), TC, FBG, IR and HDL-C.

Exploring the anti-inflammatory potential of Colocasia esculenta root extract in in-vitro and in-vivo models of inflammation

Ethnopharmacological relevanceColocasia esculenta (CE) (L.) Schott is an annual herbaceous tropical plant from the family of Araceae which has been traditionally used for the healing of various ailments such as asthma, arthritis, internal hemorrhage, diarrhea, and neurological disorders. The plant is reported to have potential anti-microbial, anti-fungal, antimetastatic, anti-hepatotoxic, and anti-lipid peroxidative activities. Aim of the studyThe present study is designed to explore the potential anti-inflammatory property of Colocasia esculenta methanolic root extract (CEMRE) on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Materials and methodsCarrageenan-induced rat paw edema model was used to investigate the in vivo anti-inflammatory action of CEMRE. Adult male Wistar rats (180–220 g; n = 6) were pre-treated with CEMRE (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW) orally before 1 h of injection of 1% carrageenan. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg BW) was given orally as the standard drug. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandinE2 (PGE2), and cytokines levels were measured. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was done to identify the phytoconstituents present in CEMRE. The inhibitory activity of CEMRE was investigated against cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in in vitro assessment of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The RAW 264.7 cells were pre-treated with Indomethacin (5 μM and 10 μM) and CEMRE (17 μg/ml and 34 μg/ml) followed by induction of LPS (1 μg/ml) for 24 h. Docking analyses were also performed to explore the interaction of important phytoconstituents (Sinapic acid, Acetylsalicylic acid, L-fucose, Salicylic acid, Quinic acid, Zingerone, and Gingerol) of CEMRE with COX-2 and iNOS. ResultsPre-treatment with CEMRE (400 mg/kg) could inhibit the paw inflammation significantly which was elevated due to carrageenan induction. The inhibition is comparable to that of the standard drug Indomethacin. The concentration of serum AST, ALT, ALP, NO, PGE2 and cytokines were also considerably lowered in the CEMRE-treated group as compared to the carrageenan-induced group. CEMRE (34 μg/ml) inhibited the LPS-stimulated relative expression of mRNA of COX-2 and iNOS and significantly reduced the expression of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2. Docking analyses revealed promising interaction with low binding energies between Sinapic acid with both the target proteins COX-2 and iNOS. ConclusionCollectively, our results suggested that CEMRE exhibited effective anti-inflammatory actions on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells by reducing the in vivo paw edema inhibition, inhibiting the serum NO, PGE2, cytokines and also reduced the in vitro production of NO, PGE2 along with expressions of mRNA COX-2 and iNOS. Molecular docking demonstrated good binding affinities among the target proteins and ligand Sinapic acid. Thus the bioactive compound from CE need to be isolated and purified.

Effects of Acute High-Temperature Stress on Physical Responses of Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)

To understand the physiological reactions of juvenile yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) under acute high-temperature stress, this study measured the changes in biochemical indexes of serum, liver, gill, and muscle of yellowfin tuna under acute high-temperature stress (HT, 34 °C) and a control group (28 °C) for 0 h and 6 h, 24 h and 48 h. The rising speed of water temperature in the HT group was 2 °C/h and the timing started when the temperature reached 34 °C. In the HT group, there was no significant difference between the four adjacent times in cortisol and lactic acid concentration. Serum triglyceride, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase concentration were significantly different from the four adjacent times. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the liver and gills increased at 6 h and 24 h, and the gills and liver had antioxidant reactions in a short time. The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the gills changed significantly at 6 h, while that in the liver did not change significantly. The gills were more sensitive to temperature stress than the liver and muscle. Acute high-temperature stress affected yellowfin tuna’s antioxidant enzymes and metabolic indexes, resulting negative trend in physiological indexes, indicating that yellowfin tuna juveniles are susceptible to elevated temperature.

Clinicopathological Patterns and Biochemical Markers in Serum of Uterine Leiomyoma Patients

Background: Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are exceedingly common reproductive neoplasms with foremost public health impact. A cross-sectional study was performed to systematically investigate the marker enzymes, clinicopathological correlations, and electrolyte profile in myoma Method: This study enrolled 44 control and 46 leiomyoma subjects, aged 21- 50 years. Anthropometric parameters, detailed history of disease and clinicopathological outcomes were documented via a standardized questionnaire followed by uterine ultrasound investigation. Venous blood samples were taken for the measurement of marker enzymes and serum electrolyte concentration with commercially accessible kits Results: In the age group between 30-40 years high incidence of myoma (43.5%) was found. Majority of fibroids were observed single (52%) and Intramural uterine fibroids were found more common type (61%) of leiomyomas. Menorrhagia was frequent clinical demonstration with 63% leiomyoma cases. In 26% myoma women positive family history of leiomyomas was also observed. A significant increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and body mass index (BMI) while in parity a significant decrease was recorded in leiomyoma patients in comparison with controls. Serum electrolytes investigation revealed a substantial increase in the calcium (Ca2+) as well as chloride (Cl–) concentration and significant drop in potassium (K+) concentration in myoma subjects when compared to the controls. While for serum sodium (Na+) concentration, a non-significant difference was documented between comparable groups. Analysis of marker enzymes manifested a significant increase in the serum concentration of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and acid phosphatase (ACP) in fibroid patients in comparison to controls whereas non-significant variations were recorded for serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentration. Conclusion: A reduced serum K+ concentrations and raised Ca2+, Cl–and Na+ levels in the leiomyoma patients illustrate increased estrogen concentration, that may be responsible for fibroid growth and serum concentration of AST, ACP and ALP are sustainable diagnostic markers of uterine fibroids.

Bloodlettings in Hemochromatosis Result in Increased Blood Lead (Pb) Concentrations

Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disorder, most often associated with mutations of the HFE (High FErrum) gene. If left untreated, it can result in severe parenchymal iron accumulation. Bloodletting is the mainstay treatment. We have previously shown that treatment of hemochromatosis by repeated bloodlettings may induce changes in the serum levels of several trace elements. The aim of this work was to evaluate if whole blood concentrations of the environmental pollutants lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) could be affected by bloodlettings. We recruited 28 patients and 21 healthy individuals (control group). Whole blood and urine levels of Pb, Hg, and Cd were measured before the start and after the completion of treatment using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, together with serum iron and liver function tests. Concentrations of blood Pb, but not Hg or Cd, were significantly increased after treatment. The increase in Pb was higher in C282Y homozygous patients than in the other patients, and it was positively correlated with the serum concentration of alkaline phosphatase. Bloodlettings in hemochromatosis result in an increase in the blood concentration of Pb. Augmented absorption due to iron loss or Pb mobilization from bone may contribute to the higher blood Pb level.