Investigation of the effect of gestational diabetes on fetal cardiac tissue in streptozotocin induced in rats

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the cause of congenital anomalies resulted from gestational diabetes on fetal cardiac tissue in experimental animal study model. Methods: Totally 12 female Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups, each consisting of 6 rats. Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to the study group by dissolving in citrate solution. The rats with a blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL and above were considered to be diabetic rats. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidative stress (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were calculated in the cardiac tissues and maternal serum samples of the fetuses delivered by cesarean section after the mating process. The cardiac tissues were also subjected to histopathological examination. Results: TOS and OSI values in fetal cardiac tissues of the diabetic rats were found to be significantly higher than that of the control group (p=0.026 and p=0.005). Histopathological examination revealed that the mitotic index was lower and the cell organization was found to be damaged in the fetuses of the study group rats. Conclusion: Increased levels of free oxygen radicals considered to be due to hyperglycemia may cause congenital anomalies, especially during organogenesis period, by disrupting cell homeostasis and adversely affecting mitosis.

Prediction of postoperative atrial fibrillation with left atrial mechanical functions and NT-pro ANP levels after coronary artery bypass surgery: A three-dimensional echocardiography study.

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative AF (POAF) is the most common cause of morbidity after coronary artery bypass surgery. In this study, we aimed to show the relationship between POAF and N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (NT-pro ANP) levels and the relationship between mechanical functions and left atrial volume measured using preoperative three-dimensional echocardiography (3D ECHO) among patients that will undergo isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in elective conditions. METHOD: Sixty-six consecutive patients (51 male, 15 female) who were decided to undergo CABG and had normal sinus rhythm were involved in the study. Patients were followed by continuous electrocardiography monitoring and daily electrocardiogram. LA volume and mechanical functions were calculated with 3D ECHO. In addition, for the analysis of plasma levels of NT-pro ANP, blood samples were collected before the surgery. RESULTS: During follow-up after the operation, 15 patients (22.7%) had postoperative atrial fibrillation. LA Vmax, Vmin, VpreA values were higher (P < .001, P = .004, P < .001 respectively) Also in POAF-developed group and SR group, LAVI values were 27.56 ± 4.2 and 20.7 ± 4.64 mL/m2 , respectively (P < .001). In POAF-developing group, NT-pro ANP levels were significantly higher (P < .001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, age (ß = 0.355, P = .007) and LAVI (ß = 0.668, P = .012) are independent predictors of POAF. CONCLUSION: It was found that 3D echocardiography can be used as a helping noninvasive method to show subclinical atrial volume and mechanical dysfunction in patients undergoing CABG. Also, blood levels of NT-pro ANP in POAF group were increased.

Resveratrol reduces light and electron microscopic changes in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats: Role of iNOS expression.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatotoxicity is a major complication of acetaminophen (APAP), a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug. Resveratrol (RSV) is a naturally occurring diphenol and it has anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. OBJECTIVES: In this study, the beneficial effects of RSV on APAP-induced hepatotoxicity was investigated in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Group 1: Ethanol, Group 2: Saline, Group 3: RSV (10 mg/kg/ip), Group 4: APAP (1000 mg/kg/ip/single dose), Group 5: APAP+RSV (20 min after administration of APAP). The rats were sacrificed 24 h after administration of APAP. Light and electron microscopic changes were evaluated. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined in liver tissue. RESULTS: Rats of the ethanol, saline, and RSV groups did not present any histopathological alterations. In the APAP group, we observed vascular congestion, necrosis, inflammation, sinusoidal dilatation, and loss of glycogen content. In the APAP+RSV group, these changes were markedly reduced. iNOS immunostaining showed very weak positive stained hepatocytes the sections of control, saline, and RSV groups. However, in the APAP group, iNOS immunostaining was most evident in pericentral hepatocytes. In the same areas in APAP+RSV group, intensity of iNOS immunostaining decreased. A significant increase in MDA and decreases in GSH level, CAT, and SOD activity indicated that APAP-induced hepatotoxicity was mediated through oxidative stress. Significant beneficial changes were noted in tissue oxidative stress indicators in rats treated with RSV. CONCLUSION: These biochemical, histopathological, and ultrastructural findings revealed that RSV reduced the severity of APAP-induced alterations in liver.

Methylprednisolone prevents bacterial translocation in thioacetamide-induced liver failure in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Steroids have been shown to prevent intestinal oxidative stress. We investigated the effects of methylprednisolone on intestinal oxidative damage and bacterial translocation in thioacetamide-induced liver failure in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Group 1 (n=8) was the control group. In group 2 (n=8), the thioacetamide group, rats received 300 mg/kg intraperitoneal thioacetamide daily for 2 days. In group 3 (n=8), the thioacetamide+methylprednisolone group, treatment with methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg intraperitoneal) was commenced 48 h before the first dose of thioacetamide. In group 4 (n=8), the methylprednisolone group, the rats received only methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg intraperitoneal). RESULTS: Serious hepatic and intestinal oxidative damage and high bacterial translocation frequencies were observed in the thioacetamide group compared with those of the controls. Bacterial translocation frequency in the thioacetamide+methylprednisolone group was significantly lower than that in the thioacetamide group (p<0.05). Intestinal thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and myeloperoxidase levels and tissue damage scores for the intestines in the thioacetamide+methylprednisolone group were lower than those in the thioacetamide group (p<0.01, p<0.01, and p<0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that methylprednisolone reduces bacterial translocation by preventing intestinal oxidative damage in this model of acute liver failure in rats.

Acute physiological changes in elite free-style wrestlers during a one-day tournament.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine free radical production, muscle damage and inflammation responses of well-trained wrestlers to a simulated one-day tournament of free-style wrestling. METHODS: Twelve elite competitive wrestlers with mean age (±SD) of 24.09±6.20 years, body mass 74.09±11.50 kg, and body height 174.90±8.8 cm and who had competed for national teams completed five matches according to the official Olympic wrestling tournament regulations. Blood sampling was collected before and after fifth match. Baseline blood testing was measured at 10:00 a.m. and then matches started at 12:00. Each match was implemented within one hour. Also, the resting time was 45 minutes following each match. The measurements were analyzed by Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, which is used to test for significant differences between pre- and post-test. RESULTS: The post-match lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were significantly increased compared with the baseline status. However, baseline malondialdehyde levels were not found significantly different compared with post-match. CONCLUSIONS: The current study ensured that one-day Free-Style wrestling tournament brings about significantly increasing on CK, LDH of muscle damage markers. Also, inflammatory status showed a progressive worsening during the course of one-day tournament. The study showed enhanced muscle damage markers and inflammatory status after one-day Free-Style wrestling tournament. Therefore, it appears that one-day free-style wrestling tournament imposes significant physiological demands on wrestlers that may adversely affect their performance and inflammatory status, thereby putting the athletes in a greater risk for injury.

Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as an early biomarker for prediction of acute kidney injury in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Our aims are to determine whether the urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) can predict acute kidney injury (AKI) development in nonseptic and nonasphyxiated but critically ill preterm infants. METHODS: Fifty preterm infants, gestational age (GA) between 28 and 34 weeks, were included in this case control study. Blood and urine samples were taken for blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and uNGAL on postnatal (PN) days 1 and 7. uNGAL levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of the AKI group were compared with the non-AKI group. RESULTS: AKI was diagnosed in six infants during the first week. The median uNGAL levels were significantly higher in the preterm infants with AKI than those of the controls on PN days 1 and 7 (p = 0.006 and p = 0.023, respectively). Backward stepwise logistic regression analysis identified that 5-minute Apgar score and uNGAL levels were significantly associated with the development of AKI, even after controlling for GA, birth weight, gender, and 1-minute Apgar score in nonseptic and nonasphyxiated but critically ill preterm infants. CONCLUSIONS: uNGAL can be useful as a predictive marker of AKI in nonseptic and nonasphyxiated but critically ill preterm infants.

Association of folic acid receptor α in maternal serum with neural tube defects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether serum folic receptor α levels are changed in women whose previous pregnancies were complicated with neural tube defects (NTDs). METHODS: This was a case-control study that included 41 women as the control group who had previously had at least one healthy pregnancy and 37 women as the study group who had a previous pregnancy complicated with NTDs. Blood samples were obtained from all of the participants six weeks after the termination of pregnancy or delivery of a baby. Serum folate receptor α concentrations were analyzed using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. RESULTS: The mean concentrations of serum folate receptor α were significantly lower in the NTD cases compared to those in the control group (p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in mean serum folate titers between the NTD cases and the control group (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Low serum folic acid receptor α levels in the current study did not appear to be a regulatory marker of maternal folate homeostasis per se but rather a factor that contributed to the development of NTDs.

NGAL and NT-proBNP levels in diabetic patients with macroproteinuria.

BACKGROUND: In patients with heart failure plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels are correlated to urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels. We prospectively evaluated the relationship among glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), urine and serum NGAL and NT-proBNP levels in 20 type II diabetic patients with macroalbuminuria at 4-month intervals. RESULTS: Compared with 20 age, gender-matched healthy controls, diabetic patients had higher urine and serum NGAL, serum NT-proBNP and lower eGFR. The eGFR of the patients at the baseline, the 4th and the 8th month were 29.6 ± 12.0, 27.8 ± 13.7 and 22.9 ± 10.4 mL/min/1.73 m(2), respectively. No significant change in urine NGAL levels was detected (p > 0.05), whereas there were significant increases in NT-proBNP, serum NGAL and urine ACR and significant decrease in eGFR as the study progressed (p < 0.05). Both the baseline and the 4th month urine ACR were positively correlated to NT-proBNP levels measured at the same periods (r: 0.451; p: 0.046; r: 0.489; p: 0.029 respectively). In all measurements, urine ACR was negatively correlated to serum albumin levels measured at the same periods (r: -0.792; p: 0.000; r: -0.716; p: 0.000; r: -0.531; p: 0.016 respectively). None of eGFR measurements was correlated with NT-proBNP (p > 0.05). Neither serum NGAL nor urinary NGAL levels are associated with NT-proBNP (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings show an association between NT-proBNP and proteinuria in type II diabetic patients with macroalbuminuria but not with serum and urine NGAL.

Ameliorative effects of resveratrol on acute ovarian toxicity induced by total body irradiation in young adult rats.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ovarian protective effects of resveratrol in rats exposed to total body irradiation. DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTINGS: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Thirty female rats were randomized into four groups: (1) control group (n = 7); (2) low-dose (10 mg/kg) resveratrol group (n = 8); (3) high-dose (100 mg/kg) resveratrol group (n =7); and (4) sham irradiation group (n = 8). The drugs were administered intraperitoneally as single doses, and the rats were exposed to total body radiation 24 h after the treatment. The animals were sacrificed the following day, and their ovaries were excised for histopathological and biochemical analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The ovarian follicle counts were calculated, and irradiation-dependent ovarian damage and tissue levels of antioxidant enzymes were evaluated. RESULTS: Group 2 and Group 3 showed significantly higher numbers of total follicle counts compared with Group 1 (P < 0.01). The low-dose resveratrol treatment was associated with significantly higher numbers of primary follicles than the high-dose group. The tissue activities of glutathione peroxidase (GsH-Px) and catalase (CAT) were significantly elevated in the resveratrol-treated animals. Evaluation of ovarian histology revealed no remarkable changes in fibrosis and leucocyte infiltration among the resveratrol-treated and control rats; however, vascularity was significantly reduced in the high-dose group (P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Resveratrol attenuated irradiation-dependent ovarian damage, suggesting that this natural antioxidant is effective in reducing the follicle loss induced by ionizing radiation.

Independent predictors of cardiovascular risk in polycystic ovarian syndrome.

We aimed to determine the independent predictors of cardiovascular risk in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Ninety-one PCOS and 51 control patients were enrolled to our prospective cross sectional case-control study. In early follicular phase hormonal and lipid profile, fasting insulin and CRP (hs-CRP) levels and glucose levels on fasting and 2 h after the 75 g glucose intake were determined. Insulin resistance (IR) was evaluated with homeostasis model assessment and free testosterone was determined with free androgen index. PCOS was found to be associated with dyslipidemia, hyperandrogenism, IR and sub-clinical inflammation. The prevalence of overweight-obesity (41.8% vs. 25.5%, p = 0.038), IR (42.9% vs. 23.5%, p = 0.035) and glucose intolerance (15.38% vs. 1.96%, p = 0.043) were significantly higher in PCOS compared to control group. Independent predictors of the risk of elevated hs-CRP level were PCOS status (OR = 5, 95% CI: 1.55-16.14, p = 0.007) and high BMI (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 1.2-14.2, p = 0.022) and high BMI (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.05-1.4, p = 0.007) and of TC/HDL ratio was high BMI (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05-1.4, p = 0.009) and increasing age (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.2, p = 0.04). The presence of PCOS, independent from obesity and IR, is the strongest predictor of elevated hs-CRP level. Obesity and advanced age further increases the cardiovascular risk in PCOS.

An antibody of TNF-alpha did not prevent thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α antibodies have been shown to reduce liver damage in different models. We investigated the effects of infliximab (a TNF-α antibody) on liver damage in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Group 1 (n = 8) was the control group. In group 2 (n = 8), the TAA group, the rats received 300 mg/kg intraperitoneal (ip) TAA daily for 2 days. In group 3 (n = 8), the TAA + Infliximab (INF) group, infliximab (5 mg/kg ip daily) was administered 48 hours before the first dose of TAA daily for 2 days and was maintained for 4 consecutive days. In group 4 (n = 8), the INF group, the rats received only ip infliximab (5 mg/kg) daily. Livers were excised for histopathological and biochemical tests (thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances [TBARS], and myeloperoxidase [MPO]). Serum ammonia, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), TNF-α, liver TBARS and MPO levels, and liver necrosis and inflammation scores in the TAA group were significantly higher than in the control and INF groups (all p < 0.01). All parameters except AST were not significantly different between TAA and TAA + INF. In conclusion, our results suggest that oxidative stress plays an important role in TAA-induced hepatotoxicity, and infliximab does not improve oxidative liver damage.

Serum leptin, resistin, and lipid levels in patients with end stage renal failure with regard to dialysis modality.

UNLABELLED: Little information is available on the relationship between serum resistin levels and other adipokines with serum lipid levels and insulin resistance in uremic patients under different dialysis modalities. METHODS: This study investigated the effects of dialysis modality on serum leptin, adiponectin, resistin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha levels in age, sex, and total adipose tissue mass (TATM); matched 30 hemodialysis (HD) patients, 30 continuous peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, and 30 healthy controls; and evaluated the relationship between these adipokines and dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. RESULTS: Serum resistin, adiponectin, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were significantly increased in dialysis patients compared to controls (p < 0.05). In CAPD patients, serum leptin, resistin, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels were higher than those in HD patients (p < 0.05). Leptin levels were positively correlated with TATM, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein (LDLc) levels in both dialysis groups. Resistin levels were found to positively correlate with TATM and triglycerides in CAPD patients. No relationship was found between the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and adipokines studied. CONCLUSION: Serum leptin, resistin, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels were higher in CAPD patients. Leptin levels were positively correlated with TATM, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDLc levels in dialysis patients. Resistin levels were positively correlated with TATM and triglycerides in CAPD patients. Glucose load during CAPD may be an important factor in increased in leptin, resistin, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels in CAPD patients. These results highlight the importance of leptin and resistin as determinants of dyslipidemia, especially in CAPD patients.