Blood Uric Acid Concentrations Research Articles

Effects of Dietary Soybean (Glycine max) on Growth Performance, Haematology and Serum Biochemistry of African Carp (Labeo Cubie Ruppell 1832)

The effects of dietary replacements of fish meal with soybean meal on growth performance, heamatology and serum biochemistry in juvenile Labeo cubie were evaluated. Four hundred and fifty (450) apparently healthy juvenile Laboe cubie were distributed into one of fifteen 1000 L tanks divided into five groups and fed any of diets A (0% soybean meal); B (30% soybean meal); C (40% soybean meal); D (45% soybean meal) and diet E (75% soybean meal) for 56 days. At set time points day 7, 14, 28 and day 56, five fish were randomly selected per tank for growth assessments, heamatology and serum biochemical evaluations. Growth performance indices decreased significantly (p < 0.05) along the gradient of soybean meal inclusion and the duration of feeding. The erythrocytes count increased significantly (p < 0.05) at day 14 in fish fed soybean meal diets and decreased significantly (p < 0.05) beginning at day 28 in fish fed soybean meal-based diets. The haematocrit of fish fed diets D and E were significantly (p < 0.05) lower at day 28 compared to day 56. There were no significant variations in haemoglobin concentration and the leucocytes counts (p > 0.05). The proteins, blood glucose and the transaminases increased significantly (p < 0.05) along gradient of dietary inclusion and duration of feeding in the first 28 days while creatinine kinase activity, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid concentration remained significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in fish fed the soybean meal-based diets. The results of the study show juvenile L. cubie may tolerate up to 40% dietary inclusion of soybean meal as replacement for fish meal.

CYSTATIN C AS A MARKER OF KIDNEY FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS AND PURINE METABOLISM DISORDERS

Chronic kidney disease is a pressing issue for healthcare systems over the world; its prevalence has reached 13% in Western countries. In recent years, cystatin C has been proposed as a more reliable endogenous marker of renal function, especially for the diagnosis of initial changes in glomerular filtration rate. The aim of this study is to analyze the signs of chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus depending on the level of uricemia by using cystatin C in real clinical practice. The study included 127 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (mean age = 60.0 years [52.0; 66.0]; sex ratio: 55 men/ 72 women) who received oral hypoglycemic therapy. All subjects, depending on the stage of diabetic nephropathy were divided into groups: group 1 (n=80) included patients with asymptomatic diabetic nephropathy (normoalbuminuria below 30 mg/day)); group 2 (n=22) involved patients with microalbuminuria (30-300 mg/day); group 3 (n=17) included patients with proteinuria; group 4 (n=8) comprised patients with chronic renal failure. Glomerular filtration rate was calculated according to the formulas of Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration taking into account the concentration of cystatin C (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration cys), by Cockcroft-Gault and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study using a calculator of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the development of chronic kidney disease is also predetermined by the following comorbid conditions as hypertension, chronic pyelonephritis, hyperuricemia, and asymptomatic urolithiasis, along with diabetic nephropathy. Glomerular filtration rate values in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus assessed by Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration cys are more reliable than those assessed by using the formulas of Cockcroft-Gault and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study, especially at the limit level of glomerular filtration rate ˂60 ml/min/1.73m2. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the level of circulating cystatin C is associated with body mass index, waist circumference, blood uric acid concentration and albuminuria levels. The blood concentration of cystatin C in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is determined by the blood concentration of creatine and uric acid.

In Silico Structural and Functional Analysis of Bacillus Uricases

Background: Excluding humans, the peroxisomal uricase is responsible for the catabolism of uric acid into allantoin in many species like microorganisms, plants, and invertebrates. Particularly in humans, the synthesis and excretion of uric acid are naturally balanced. When the uric acid concentration crosses 7 mg/dl, it results in conditions such as hyperuricemia and gout. Uricase is one of the potential sources for the reduction of uric acid in humans. Uricase is also widely used as a commercial diagnostic reagent in medical and clinical biochemistry to estimate the uric acid concentration in blood and other biological fluids. Computational approaches can be used for screening and investigation of uricase enzyme with desirable characteristics that can be employed in diverse industrial applications. Objectives: The present study deals with computational-based structural, functional, and phylogenetic analyses of uricase enzymes from various Bacillus species. Methods: Seventy uricase protein sequences from Bacillus species were selected for multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, motif assessment, domain architecture examination, understanding of basic physicochemical properties and in silico identification of the composition of amino acids in uricase. Further, structural (secondary and tertiary structure prediction), and functional (CYS_REC, MOTIF scan, CD-search, STRING, SOSUI, and PeptideCutter) analyses of uricase were performed. Results: Bacillus simplex (WP_063232385.1) was chosen as the representative species of the Bacillus genera. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of B. simplex uricase was predicted and validated using QMEAN, RAMPAGE, ERRAT, Verify 3D and PROQ servers. The analysis revealed that the tertiary structure of the selected uricase has good quality and acceptability. Conclusion: Computational analysis of uricase from various Bacillus sources revealed that all the selected Bacillus uricases are active within acidic to a neutral environment, and thermally stable with a molecular weight ranging from 35.59-59.85kDa. The secondary structure analysis showed that all uricases are rich in alpha-helices and sheets. The CDD tool identified two conserved domains, one of which belongs to OHCU decarboxylase and another belongs to Uricase superfamily. The quality estimation of 3D modeled protein gave a high overall quality factor score of 94.64. Also, all Bacillus species of uricase enzyme and their corresponding genes showed a strong correlation from the phylogenetic comparison of the selected taxa. The present detailed computational investigation on the uricase protein could help in screening a suitable uricase producing microbe with desirable characteristics for industrial application.

New therapeutic agents marketed in 2020: Part 2

New therapeutic agents marketed in 2020: Part 2

The acute and postprandial effects of sugar moiety on vascular and metabolic health outcomes in adolescents.

This study explored the cardiometabolic responses to sugar moieties acutely, and following a subsequent mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT). Twenty-one healthy adolescents (N= 10 female, 14.3± 0.4 years) completed 3 experimental and 1 control condition, in a counterbalanced order. These consisted of different drinks to compare the effect of 300mL of water (control), or 300mL of water mixed with 60g of glucose, fructose or sucrose, on vascular function (flow-mediated dilation (FMD), microvascular reactivity (total hyperaemic response; TRH), and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR)), and blood samples for uric acid, glucose, triglycerides and lactate concentrations. FMD increased 1h after glucose and sucrose (P< 0.001, ES≥ 0.92) but was unchanged following fructose and water (P≥ 0.19, ES≥ 0.09). CVR and TRH were unchanged 1h following all conditions (P> 0.57, effect size (ES)> 0.02). Following the MMTT, FMD was impaired in all conditions (P< 0.001, ES> 0.40) with no differences between conditions (P> 0.13, ES< 0.39). Microvascular TRH was increased in all conditions (P= 0.001, ES= 0.88), and CVR was preserved in all conditions after MMTT (P= 0.87, ES= 0.02). Blood uric acid concentration was elevated following fructose consumption and the MMTT (P< 0.01, ES> 0.40). Consumption of a sugar sweetened beverage did not result in vascular dysfunction in healthy adolescents; however, the vascular and metabolic responses were dependent on sugar moiety. Novelty: Glucose consumption acutely increases peripheral vascular function in healthy adolescents. Acute sugar sweetened beverage consumption (sucrose) does not result in adverse vascular outcomes. Elevations in uric acid are observed with fructose consumption, which may have implications over repeated exposure.

高原地区红细胞与血尿酸浓度变化的研究进展

高原地区红细胞与血尿酸浓度变化的研究进展

Macronutrient Intake And Blood Markers Concentrations In Mexican University Athletes.

PURPOSE: To analyze the association between the concentration of different blood markers and macronutrient intake by sex in university athletes. METHODS: 242 (139 males, 103 females) athletes of different sports were evaluated on their food habits. We administered 24-hour dietary recalls of a training day by standardized staff. Then, we estimated the absolute (g/day) and relative (g/kg/day) macronutrient intake. Also, we obtained uric acid, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triacylglycerides, glucose, hemoglobin, and hematocrit concentrations from blood analysis. We only analyzed the data of subjects who had their blood samples and dietary recall within a period of no more than 30 days apart. The analysis was divided by sex. RESULTS: Subjects` age, body weight, and height were: 21.4 ±3.0 and 20.7 ±2.0 years, 73.6 ±14.1 and 61.7 ±11.6 kg; and 175.8 ±6.8 and 163.6 ±6.9 cm, for men and women respectively. For males, there were significant associations between relative (beta [95% CI], -0.328 [-0.037 to -0.619]; p = 0.027) and absolute (-0.005 [-0.001 to -0.009]; p = 0.027) protein intake and uric acid concentrations; similarly, absolute protein intake was significantly associated with lower creatinine concentrations (-0.014 [-0.001 to -0.027]; p = 0.031). For females, there was a significant association between relative carbohydrate intake and blood glucose (1.912 [0.259 to 3.566]; p = 0.024). No other significant association was found. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, protein intake was associated with lower blood creatinine and uric acid concentrations in males, and carbohydrate intake with higher blood glucose concentrations in females.

Mobile healthcare system based on the combination of a lateral flow pad and smartphone for rapid detection of uric acid in whole blood

Excessive production of uric acid (UA) in blood may lead to gout, hyperuricaemia and kidney disorder; thus, a fast, simple and reliable biosensor is needed to routinely determine the UA concentration in blood without pretreatment. The purpose of this study was to develop a mobile healthcare (mHealth) system using a drop of blood, which comprised a lateral flow pad (LFP), mesoporous Prussian blue nanoparticles (MPBs) as artificial nanozymes and auto-calculation software for on-site determination of UA in blood and data management. A standard curve was found to be linear in the range of 1.5–8.5 mg/dL UA, and convenience, cloud computing and personal information management were simultaneously achieved for the proposed mHealth system. Our mHealth system appropriately met the requirements of application in patients’ homes, with the potential of real-time monitoring by their primary care physicians (PCPs).

Analysis of Morphological Changes in Monosodium Urate Monohydrate Crystals for Gout Treatment

AbstractGout is arthritis induced by monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals. The treatment of gout is mainly a symptomatic treatment, by suppressing the blood uric acid concentration with drugs. Here, the changes in crystal morphology in the process of MSU crystallization were investigated. Experiments were conducted to clarify the mechanisms of nucleation and growth of the MSU crystals, revealing that MSU first precipitated as granular crystals. Thereafter, nucleation and growth of needle‐like crystals were observed concomitant with the disappearance of the granular crystals. These results suggest that it is necessary to suppress the nucleation of granular crystals and the change in morphology from granular to needle‐like of the MSU crystals that cause gout.

A Randomized Study of the Effect of Replacing Sugar-Sweetened Soda by Reduced Fat Milk on Cardiometabolic Health in Male Adolescent Soda Drinkers.

Soda consumption in adolescents has been linked to poorer metabolic outcomes. We tested whether replacing soda with reduced fat milk would improve features of atherogenic dyslipidemia and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Thirty overweight and obese adolescent boys who were habitual consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages were randomly assigned to consume 24 oz/day of sugar-sweetened soda or an energy equivalent of reduced fat (2%) milk for 3 weeks with crossover to the alternate beverage after a ≥ 2 weeks washout. Plasma lipids and lipoproteins and other laboratory measures were assessed after each beverage period. Lipid and lipoprotein measurements, C-reactive protein, and serum transaminases did not differ significantly between the soda and milk phases of the study. Systolic blood pressure z-score and uric acid concentration were significantly lower after consuming milk compared to soda. Milk consumption also significantly decreased plasma glucosyl ceramide (d18:1/C16:0) and lactosylceramides (d18:1/C16:0 and d18:1/C18:0). While no effects of replacing soda with milk on lipid and lipoprotein measurements were observed in these normolipidemic weight-stable adolescent boys, decreases in systolic blood pressure, uric acid, and glycosphingolipids suggest that an overall favorable effect on cardiometabolic risk can be achieved following a short-term dietary intervention.

Role of Salvia officinal's Silver Nanoparticles in Attenuating Renal Damage in Rats Exposed to Methotrexate(Part I)

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective role of Salvia officinal's silver nanoparticles as antioxidant on nephrotic damage induced by methotrexate in adult rats. Green silver nanoparticles were synthesized using alcoholic extract of salvia officinal's leaves, and were characterized by UV-spectrophotometry and scanning electron microscope. The mixing of the plant extract of Salvia. officinal's with silver nitrate solution (1mM), lead to changing of the reaction mixture color to yellowish within one hour and to dark brown after 8 hours, indicating the generation of Salvia officinal's silver nanoparticles , due to the reduction of silver metal ions silver (Ag+) into Nano silver particles via the active compounds present in the S. officinal's plant extracts. Changing in color after the reduction of Ag+ to Salvia officinal's silver nanoparticles. The reduction rate and formation of nanoparticles can be increased further by increase in incubation time. Silver nitrate conversion to Nano silver particles was found to be successful as suggested by the change in color of the solution to brown. For studying the protective role of Salvia officinal's silver nanoparticles , twenty eight adult Wister albino rats were randomly assigned and divided in to four groups as follows T1, T2, T3, and T4, They were treated intramuscularly (twice per week) for 45 days as follows; T1:animals in this group, were given Salvia officinal's (150mg /Kg/.B.W), T2: animals in this groups were given Salvia officinal's Silver nanoparticles (150mg/Kg B.W.); T3:animals of this groups were given both Methotrexate (0.25mg/kg/ B.W.) and Salvia officinal's silver nanoparticles (150mg/Kg/B.W); T4: animals in this groups were given methotrexate (0.25mg/Kg B.W.) for 45 days . The animals of all groups were considered as control group at day zero and injected only doubled distilled water Intramuscala. Fasting blood samples were collected at 0, 15, 30 and 45 days of experimental periods from anesthetized rats using retro-orbital sinus technique and cardiac puncture technique, then sera was isolated for measuring: malondialdehyde, glutathione in serum, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen and uric acid concentrations. The results showed that animals received methotrexate (group T4) caused a case of oxidative stress manifested by significant decrease grower in , elevation in malondialdehyde concentrations, renal dysfunction as documented by significant elevation in serum creatinine, urea and uric acid concentrations. On the other hand, the protective role of salvia officinal's and Salvia officinal's silver nanoparticles given concurrently with methotrexate was clarified in groups T2and T3 ,where there was alleviation of renal damage through correction of the previous mentioned parameters and correction of antioxidant status. In conclusion, the current study documented the antioxidant activity and reno protective effects of Salvia officinal's silver nanoparticles against damaging effects of methotrexate in rats.

Platelet number is positively and independently associated with glycated hemoglobin in non-diabetic overweight and obese subjects

Background and aimsA significant increase in platelet count may be a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This study investigates the association between platelet number and glucose metabolism, evaluated by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, in a apparently healthy population represented by overweight and obese subjects with normal glucose and HbA1c levels. Methods and resultsAs many as 240 subjects, 177 women and 63 men, aged 18–70 years, were enrolled. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, platelet count and fasting blood glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, HbA1c, uric acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were evaluated. Concerning the univariate correlation analyses between platelets number and all other variables, platelet count was significantly (and positively) correlated only with HbA1c (P < 0.05) and female sex (P < 0.01). HbA1c (P < 0.05), female sex (P < 0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.01), positively, and age (P < 0.05) and systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05), negatively, were significantly and independently associated to platelet count in a final multiple regression analysis. ConclusionThis is the first study showing a strong positive and independent relationship between HbA1c and platelet number in non-diabetic overweight and obese subjects.

Cardiac function in adolescents with obesity: cardiometabolic risk factors and impact on physical fitness.

To gain greater insights in the etiology and clinical consequences of altered cardiac function in obese adolescents. Therefore,we aimed to examine cardiac structure and function in obese adolescents, and to examine associations between altered cardiac function/structure and cardiometabolic disease risk factors or cardiopulmonary exercise capacity. In 29 obese (BMI 31.6 ± 4.2 kg/m², age 13.4 ± 1.1 years) and 29 lean (BMI 19.5 ± 2.4 kg/m², age 14.0 ± 1.5 years) adolescents, fasted blood samples were collected to study hematology, biochemistry, liver function, glycemic control, lipid profile, and hormones, followed by a transthoracic echocardiography to assess cardiac structure/function, and a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) to assess cardiopulmonary exercise parameters. Regression analyses were applied to examine relations between altered echocardiographic parameters and blood parameters or CPET parameters in the entire group. In obese adolescents, left ventricular septum thickness, left atrial diameter, mitral A-wave velocity, E/e' ratio were significantly elevated (p < 0.05), as opposed to lean controls, while mitral e'-wave velocity was significantly lowered (p < 0.01). Elevated homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance and blood insulin, c-reactive protein, and uric acid concentrations (all significantly elevated in obese adolescents) were independent risk factors for an altered cardiac diastolic function (p < 0.01). An altered cardiac diastolic function was not related to exercise tolerance but to a delayed heart rate recovery (HRR; p < 0.01). In obese adolescents, an altered cardiac diastolic function was independently related to hyperinsulinemia and whole-body insulin resistance, and only revealed by a delayed HRR during CPET. This indicates that both hyperinsulinemia, whole-body insulin resistance, and delayed HRR could be regarded as clinically relevant outcome parameters.

Effects of Talinum triangulare leaf flavonoid extract on streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia and associated complications in rats.

Talinum triangulare leaf flavonoid extract (TTFE) was evaluated for its effects on streptozotocin‐hyperglycemia and associated complications especially as it relates to dyslipidemia, lipid peroxidation, and renal dysfunction in rats. Two normoglycemic rat groups designated: control (administered distilled water) and control + TTFE (administered 10 mg/kg b.w. TTFE) and two streptozotocin‐induced (STZ) diabetic rat groups designated: STZ‐control (administered distilled water) and STZ + TTFE (administered 10 mg/kg TTFE). The treatment was given orally once daily for 21 consecutive days. Body weight and insulin concentration showed significant improvement while blood glucose, uric acid, creatinine, and total bilirubin concentrations were significantly reduced in diabetic rats administered TTFE compared to diabetic untreated rats. Furthermore, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol, and malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly lowered in diabetic rats administered TTFE compared with diabetic untreated rats. Key enzymes involved in carbohydrate breakdown and cholesterol synthesis, α‐amylase and 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA (HMG‐CoA) reductase, respectively, were significantly inhibited in TTFE‐treated diabetic rats compared to diabetic control. Results presented in this study suggest that administration of TTFE for 21 days normalized STZ‐induced hyperglycemia and its associated dyslipidemia by a mechanism involving inhibition of α‐amylase and HMG‐CoA reductase activities, respectively, in rats.

Resistance training and L-arginine supplementation are determinant in genomic stability, cardiac contractility and muscle mass development in rats.

L-arginine supplementation has been related to increased maximum strength and improvement of hemodynamic parameters in several diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of L-arginine supplementation and resistance training on muscle mass, hemodynamic function and DNA damage in healthy rats subjected to a low-arginine concentration diet. Twenty three Wistar rats (290-320g) were divided into 4 groups: Sedentary (SED-Arg, n = 6), Sedentary+Arg (SED+Arg, n = 6), Resistance Training (RT-Arg, n = 5), Resistance Training+Arg (RT+Arg, n = 6). Trained animals performed resistance training protocol in a squat apparatus adapted for rats (4 sets of 10–12 repetitions, 90s of interval, 4x/week, 65–75% of One Maximum Repetition, for 8 weeks). Comet assay was performed to measure DNA damage in leukocytes. The resistance training induced higher muscle mass in trained groups. The L-arginine supplementation increased both gastrocnemius and left ventricle to body mass ratio and increased left ventricle contractility without changing hemodynamic variables. The SED+Arg group showed higher concentration of extracellular heat shock protein 72 (eHSP72) and total testosterone, as well as lower uric acid concentration in blood versus SED-Arg group. The administration of isolated L-arginine supplementation and its association with resistance training promoted less damage in leukocytes DNA. In conclusion, the L-arginine supplementation showed synergistic effect with resistance training regarding leukocyte genomic stability in a low-L-arginine diet scenario.

Are heterozygous carriers for hereditary fructose intolerance predisposed to metabolic disturbances when exposed to fructose?

High fructose intake causes hepatic insulin resistance and increases postprandial blood glucose, lactate, triglyceride, and uric acid concentrations. Uric acid may contribute to insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in the general population. In patients with hereditary fructose intolerance, fructose consumption is associated with acute hypoglycemia, renal tubular acidosis, and hyperuricemia. We investigated whether asymptomatic carriers for hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) would have a higher sensitivity to adverse effects of fructose than would the general population. Eight subjects heterozygous for HFI (hHFI; 4 men, 4 women) and 8 control subjects received a low-fructose diet for 7 d and on the eighth day ingested a test meal, calculated to provide 25% of the basal energy requirement, containing 13C-labeled fructose (0.35 g/kg), glucose (0.35 g/kg), protein (0.21 g/kg), and lipid (0.22 g/kg). Glucose rate of appearance (GRa, calculated with [6,6-2H2]glucose), fructose, net carbohydrate, and lipid oxidation, and plasma triglyceride, uric acid, and lactate concentrations were monitored over 6 h postprandially. Postprandial GRa, fructose, net carbohydrate, and lipid oxidation, and plasma lactate and triglyceride concentrations were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Postprandial plasma uric acid increased by 7.2% compared with fasting values in hHFI subjects (P<0.01), but not in control subjects (-1.1%, ns). Heterozygous carriers of hereditary fructose intolerance had no significant alteration of postprandial fructose metabolism compared with control subjects. They did, however, show a postprandial increase in plasma uric acid concentration that was not observed in control subjects in responses to ingestion of a modest amount of fructose. This trial was registered at the US Clinical Trials Registry as NCT02979106.

Effects of Chicory on Serum Uric Acid, Renal Function, and GLUT9 Expression in Hyperuricaemic Rats with Renal Injury and In Vitro Verification with Cells.

Hyperuricaemia (HUA) is an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease. Urate crystals are deposited in the kidney and can cause renal tubular interstitial fibrosis, leading to renal dysfunction. Chicory extract (hereafter referred to as chicory) clearly reduced serum uric acid levels in rats with HUA induced by 10% fructose. This is the first study to observe the effect of chicory on serum uric acid levels and renal function in rats with HUA and renal injury. In vivo studies using hyperuricaemic rats with renal injury induced by yeast and adenine demonstrated that chicory decreased serum uric acid level, and its effect of delaying the progression of kidney injury was better than that of benzbromarone. In vitro cell experiments showed that this effect is related to the inhibition of GLUT9 protein expression in renal tubules and that lowering blood uric acid concentrations is one of the factors that alleviates renal damage. The results of this study indicate that chicory can be used as an alternative for alleviating renal dysfunction in hyperuricaemia.

Effect of broccoli sprouts on thyroid function, haematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters in rats with thyroid imbalance

Broccoli sprouts may exert a negative influence on thyroid function as they are a rich source of glucosinolates, in particular glucoraphanin. Under the study in a long-term experiment broccoli sprouts were tested as an element of rats diet, combined with deficient iodine, or sulfadimethoxine ingestion – two models of hypothyroidism. Evaluations were performed for serum TSH and thyroid hormones completed with analyzes of selected haematological, biochemical and immunological (IL-6, IL-10) parameters, as well as cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (GPX1), thioredoxin reductase (TR) in the thyroid, and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPX3). A thermographic analysis was conducted to provide auxiliary indicators for determining a potential thyroid dysfunction under the specific experimental conditions. The levels of TSH, fT3 and fT4 remained unchanged following broccoli sprouts ingestion, which was even found to have a protective effect against sulfadimethoxine induced thyroid damage. Moreover, TR activity significantly increased in response to sprouts ingestion. In animals with hypothyroidism, broccoli sprouts were found to exert a beneficial influence on the antioxidant balance of the thyroid gland. In comparison to the rats with iodine deficiency, broccoli sprouts addition to the diet was observed to decrease IL-6 level. No significant differences in IL-10 concentration were determined.Neither addition of broccoli sprouts to the diet, nor sulfadimethoxine and iodine deficiency, caused negative changes in red blood cell parameters, glucose and uric acid concentrations, or kidney function. However, such a dietary intervention resulted in reduced WBC and PLT levels, and it may adversely interfere with liver function in rats, most likely due to a higher dietary intake of glucosinolates.

Oral uricase eliminates blood uric acid in the hyperuricemic pig model.

An elevated level of serum uric acid—hyperuricemia, is strongly associated with the development of gout and chronic kidney disease (CKD) which is often accompanied by a significantly reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In the present study, we investigated the extra-renal elimination of uric acid via the intestine in a healthy pig model and the effect of oral uricase therapy on plasma uric acid concentrations in pigs with induced hyperuricemia and CKD. The experiment was conducted on eleven, ten-week-old pigs (n = 11). The porcine model of CKD was developed by performing 9/10 nephrectomy surgery on eight pigs. A stable model of hyperuricemia was established in only five of the eight nephrectomized pigs by frequent injections of uric acid (UA) into the jugular vein. All pigs (three healthy pigs and five CKD pigs) were operated for implantation of jugular vein catheters and the three healthy pigs also had portal vein catheters inserted. Blood uric acid concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically, using the Uric Acid Assay Kit (BioAssay Systems, Hayward, USA). The piglets with CKD received orally administered uricase (treatment) and served as their own controls (without uricase supplementation). Oral uricase therapy significantly decreased plasma uric acid concentrations in pigs with CKD, whereas hyperuricemia was observed in the pigs whilst not being treated with uricase. Urinary uric acid excretion was similar during both the treatment and control periods during the first 8 h and 24 h after UA infusions in the CKD pigs. To demonstrate the elimination of UA via the intestine, the healthy pigs were infused with UA into the jugular vein. The blood collected from the jugular vein represents circulating UA concentrations and the blood collected from the portal vein represents the concentration of UA leaving the intestine. The final (after 2 h) concentration of UA was significantly lower in blood collected from the portal vein compared to that collected from the jugular vein (3.34 vs. 2.43 mg/dL, respectively, p = 0.024). The latter allows us to suggest that UA is eliminated from the blood via the gut tissue.

Effects of &lt;i&gt;Prosopis laevigata&lt;/i&gt; pods on growth performance, ruminal fermentation and blood metabolites in finishing lambs

Twenty-one non-castrated male Rambouillet lambs (21±1.44 kg body weight) were used to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary levels of Prosopis laevigata pods (PLP) in a 72 d growth performance trial. Three dietary treatments defined as PLP0 (control, 0 g PLP/kg DM), PLP250 (250 g PLP/kg DM), and PLP500 (500 g PLP/kg DM) were evaluated. Animals fed PLP250 and PLP500 had higher daily weight gain (P<0.05) and feed intake (P<0.01) than lambs fed PLP0. Feed conversion was improved by PLP addition in the diets. Feeding cost decreased linearly as the level of PLP in the diet increased. Blood urea-N concentration increased linearly as PLP increased in the diet. Lambs fed PLP500 had higher (P<0.05) blood uric acid concentrations than lambs fed PLP0 and PLP250. Ruminal total volatile fatty acid (VFA) increased linearly with increasing dietary PLP. Lambs fed PLP250 and PLP500 had higher ruminal ammonia N concentrations (P<0.05) than lambs fed PLP0. Dietary inclusion of PLP did not affect health status of lambs. Prosopis laevigata pods can be used safely in finishing lambs’ diets at 500 g/kg. Keywords: carcass, feed cost, performance