A pilot study evaluating high dose esomeprazole, bismuth subcitrate and amoxicillin for eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is strongly associated with peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. We evaluated two triple therapy regimens comprising esomeprazole, high dose bismuth, and different doses of amoxicillin for first-line H. pylori eradication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred patients with dyspepsia and naive H. pylori infection were randomly assigned into two groups (n = 100). Both groups were treated for 14 days similarly with esomeprazole (40 mg, twice daily) and bismuth subcitrate (240 mg, three times daily), but the dose of amoxicillin was varied between Groups A (750 mg) and B (1000 mg) three times daily. Treatment compliance and side effect were evaluated following the therapies and after 8 weeks, a negative test of stool H. pylori antigen confirmed eradication. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable with respect to sex and age. According to intention to treat analysis, eradication rates were 80% (95% CI: 77.2%-82.8%) and 90% (95% CI: 84.1%-95.9%) in A and B groups, respectively (p = 0.22). Per-protocol eradication rates were 87% (95% CI: 80.4%-93.6%) and 92.8% (95% CI: 87.7%-97.9%), respectively (p = 0.23). Severe adverse effects were 3% and 2%, respectively (p = 0.34). CONCLUSION: High dose esomeprazole, amoxicillin and bismuth achieved 92.8% cure rates per protocol in a country with a high background rate of resistance. Additional studies are needed to ascertain whether this therapy can be further improved. Until then, it can be recommended as a first-line H. pylori eradication in north of Iran.

A toxicological evaluation of lithium orotate.

Lithium orotate, the salt of lithium and orotic acid, has been marketed for decades as a supplemental source of lithium with few recorded adverse events. Nonetheless, there have been some concerns in the scientific literature regarding orotic acid, and pharmaceutical lithium salts are known to have a narrow therapeutic window, albeit, at lithium equivalent therapeutic doses 5.5-67 times greater than typically recommended for supplemental lithium orotate. To our knowledge, the potential toxicity of lithium orotate has not been investigated in preclinical studies; thus, we conducted a battery of genetic toxicity tests and an oral repeated-dose toxicity test in order to further explore its safety. Lithium orotate was not mutagenic or clastogenic in bacterial reverse mutation and in vitro mammalian chromosomal aberration tests, respectively, and did not exhibit in vivo genotoxicity in a micronucleus test in mice. In a 28-day, repeated-dose oral toxicity study, rats were administered 0, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg body weight/day of lithium orotate by gavage. No toxicity or target organs were identified; therefore, a no observed adverse effect level was determined as 400 mg/kg body weight/day. These results are supportive of the lack of a postmarket safety signal from several decades of human consumption.

Comparison of Nausea and Vomiting Associated With Amino Acid Formulations Coinfused With Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy: Commercial Parenteral Nutrition Formulas Versus Compounded Arginine/Lysine.

OBJECTIVES: Positively charged amino acids (AA) such as arginine/lysine are coinfused with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs to reduce rates of nephrotoxicity. In the phase 3 NETTER-1 trial, commercial AA formulations were used in association with 177Lu-DOTA-0-Tyr3-Octreotate (DOTATATE). These formulations were also used in an early-access program (EAP) before regulatory approval of 177Lu-DOTATATE. Our program transitioned to compounded l-arginine 2.5%/l-lysine 2.5% in 0.9% NaCl after commercial approval of 177Lu-DOTATATE. We sought to compare rates of nausea/vomiting with arginine/lysine versus commercial parenteral AA formulations. METHODS: Rates of nausea/vomiting of all 20 EAP patients who received commercial AAs (15% Clinisol) were compared with the first 29 patients to receive 177Lu-DOTATATE after commercial approval and coinfused with arginine/lysine. Other parameters reviewed included infusion rates, need for PRN nausea medications, and other toxicities. RESULTS: Seventeen percent of patients who received compounded arginine/lysine experienced nausea, compared with 100% of patients in the EAP group (P < 0.0001). Infusion-related reactions occurred in 3% of the arginine/lysine cohort versus 35% in the EAP group. Infusion durations were substantially shorter in the arginine/lysine cohort (reduced by 61%). CONCLUSIONS: Coinfusions of arginine/lysine with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs result in substantially lower rates of nausea/vomiting compared with commercial AA formulations designed for parenteral nutrition.

Effects of supplementing different chromium histidinate complexes on glucose and lipid metabolism and related protein expressions in rats fed a high-fat diet.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different chromium histidinate (CrHis) complexes added to the diet of rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) on body weight changes, glucose and lipid metabolism parameters, and changes in biomarkers such as PPAR-γ, IRS-1, GLUTs, and NF-κB proteins. METHODS: Forty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into six groups and fed either a control, an HFD, or an HFD supplemented with either CrHis1, CrHis2, CrHis3, or a combination of the CrHis complexes as CrHisM. RESULTS: Feeding an HFD to rats increased body weights, HOMA-IR values, fasting serum glucose, insulin, leptin, free fatty acid, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and MDA concentrations as well as AST activities, and decreased serum and brain serotonin concentrations compared with rats fed a control diet (P < 0.0001). The levels of the PPAR-γ, IRS-1, and GLUTs in the liver and brain decreased, while NF-κB level increased, with feeding an HFD (P < 0.05). Although all the CrHis supplements reversed the negative effects of feeding an HFD (P < 0.05), the CrHis1 complex was most effective in changing the protein levels, while CrHisM was most effective in influencing certain parameters such as body weight and serum metabolites. CONCLUSION: The results of the present work suggest that the CrHis1 complex is most potent for alleviating the negative effects of feeding an HFD. The efficacy of CrHisM is likely due to the presence of the CrHis1 complex.

Polaprezinc for prevention of oral mucositis in patients receiving chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A multi-institutional randomized controlled trial.

Oral mucositis is a common and distressing complication in patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We reported previously in a single-center retrospective analysis that zinc-L-carnosine (polaprezinc [PZ]) reduced the incidence of oral mucositis associated with HSCT. To verify the accuracy of the prophylactic effect of PZ against oral mucositis, we carried out a multi-institutional prospective randomized controlled study. Patients were randomly allocated to either the prevention group, in which PZ lozenge treatment was started before chemotherapy, or the control group, in which administration of PZ lozenges was initiated immediately after the onset of Grade 2 oral mucositis. Oral mucositis was evaluated daily from the start of chemotherapy to 35 days after transplantation. A total of 91 patients were enrolled, and 88 patients (47 in the control group and 41 in the prevention group) were eligible for data analysis. The incidence of Grade ≥2 but not Grade ≥3 oral mucositis was significantly reduced in the prevention group compared to the control group (44.7% in control group vs 22.0% in the prevention group, P = .025). There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of other adverse events or the rate of engraftment (95.6% vs 97.2%, P = .693) between the two groups. These findings suggest that PZ lozenge is effective for prophylaxis against Grade ≥2 oral mucositis associated with chemotherapy in patients undergoing HSCT without any influence on the HSCT outcome.

Fibrotic Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy Predicts Survival in Pancreatic Cancer and Is Measurable with Collagen-Targeted Molecular MRI.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic value of posttreatment fibrosis in human PDAC patients, and to compare a type I collagen targeted MRI probe, CM-101, to the standard contrast agent, Gd-DOTA, for their abilities to identify FOLFIRINOX-induced fibrosis in a murine model of PDAC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Ninety-three chemoradiation-treated human PDAC samples were stained for fibrosis and outcomes evaluated. For imaging, C57BL/6 and FVB mice were orthotopically implanted with PDAC cells and FOLFIRINOX was administered. Mice were imaged with Gd-DOTA and CM-101. RESULTS: In humans, post-chemoradiation PDAC tumor fibrosis was associated with longer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) on multivariable analysis (OS P = 0.028, DFS P = 0.047). CPA increased the prognostic accuracy of a multivariable logistic regression model comprised of previously established PDAC risk factors [AUC CPA (-) = 0.76, AUC CPA (+) = 0.82]. In multiple murine orthotopic PDAC models, FOLFIRINOX therapy reduced tumor weight (P < 0.05) and increased tumor fibrosis by collagen staining (P < 0.05). CM-101 MR signal was significantly increased in fibrotic tumor regions. CM-101 signal retention was also increased in the more fibrotic FOLFIRINOX-treated tumors compared with untreated controls (P = 0.027), consistent with selective probe binding to collagen. No treatment-related differences were observed with Gd-DOTA imaging. CONCLUSIONS: In humans, post-chemoradiation tumor fibrosis is associated with OS and DFS. In mice, our MR findings indicate that translation of collagen molecular MRI with CM-101 to humans might provide a novel imaging technique to monitor fibrotic response to therapy to assist with prognostication and disease management.

Pre-dialysis serum creatinine as an independent predictor of responsiveness to zinc supplementation among patients on hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether pre-dialysis level of serum creatinine (SCre) could indicate the responsiveness to zinc supplementation of patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the results of our previous randomized study of 91 patients who had been on MHD and received zinc supplementation with either zinc acetate hydrate (ZAH; zinc, 50 mg/day) or polaprezinc (PPZ; zinc, 34 mg/day). A late response to zinc supplementation was defined as a serum zinc level of < 80 µg/dL three months after the study began. Patients were divided into two groups: late response (serum zinc level < 80 µg/dL) and early response (serum zinc level ≥ 80 µg/dL). Factors independently associated with a late response to zinc supplementation were determined using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) multivariate logistic analysis. RESULTS: Of 91 patients, 86 continued to receive zinc supplementation after three months. The mean pre-dialysis SCre level was 10.0 mg/dL. The number of patients with a late response and response to zinc supplementation was 32 and 54, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the pre-dialysis SCre and the Δserum zinc change for 3 months. (r = - 0.284, P = 0.008). IPTW multivariate analysis showed that a pre-dialysis SCre level ≥ 10.0 mg/dL (odds ratio, 3.71; 95% confidence interval; 1.24-11.1, P = 0.022) was an independent factor associated with a late response to zinc supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-dialysis SCre level was independently associated with responsiveness to zinc supplementation after three months in patients on MHD.

BRAzil magnesium (BRAMAG) trial: a double-masked randomized clinical trial of oral magnesium supplementation in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence about the role of oral magnesium supplementation in the prevention of preterm birth and related adverse outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare magnesium citrate with placebo in the prevention of adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes among women at higher risk. METHODS: This multicenter, double-masked, placebo-controlled randomized superiority clinical trial compared oral magnesium citrate 300 mg to matched placebo, from 12 to 20 weeks' gestation until delivery. This trial was completed in three centers in northeastern Brazil. Eligible women were those with a singleton pregnancy and ≥ 1 risk factor, such as prior preterm birth or preeclampsia, or current chronic hypertension or pre-pregnancy diabetes mellitus, age > 35 years or elevated body mass index. The primary perinatal composite outcome comprised preterm birth < 37 weeks' gestation, stillbirth > 20 weeks, neonatal death or NICU admission < 28 days after birth, or small for gestational age birthweight < 3rd percentile. The co-primary maternal composite outcome comprised preeclampsia or eclampsia < 37 weeks, severe gestational hypertension < 37 weeks, placental abruption, or maternal stroke or death during pregnancy or ≤ 7 days after delivery. RESULTS: Analyses comprised 407 women who received magnesium citrate and 422 who received placebo. The perinatal composite outcome occurred among 75 (18.4%) in the magnesium arm and 76 (18.0%) in the placebo group - an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.10 (95% CI 0.72-1.68). The maternal composite outcome occurred among 49 (12.0%) women in the magnesium arm and 41 women (9.7%) in the placebo group - an aOR of 1.29 (95% CI 0.83-2.00). CONCLUSIONS: Oral magnesium citrate supplementation did not appear to reduce adverse perinatal or maternal outcomes in high-risk singleton pregnancies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02032186, registered January 9, 2014.

The effects on the quality of poultry meat of supplementing feed with zinc-methionine complex.

BACKGROUND: Recently, an increase in the consumption of poultry meat has been observed Worldwide. This is related to the growing production of this kind of meat. Intensive poultry meat production affects the level of bird welfare and meat quality. The meat industry is looking for new solutions that can reduce meat quality defects. One of them may undoubtedly be a feed reformulation, of which a supplementation with zinc can be taken into consideration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Zn supplementation of chicken feed on the technological and sensory quality of meat. METHODS: The research was carried out on material taken from 60 carcasses. Half of the group (30 pieces) was fed with Zn in the form of nonorganic compounds (zinc oxide) and the other 30 chickens were fed zinc in its organic form, and amino acids (ratio 1:1). After the broilers were slaughtered, the meat quality was evaluated in the breast muscle, and was based on pH value, color parameters, natural drip loss, cooking loss, microbiological status, sensory quality, instrumental shear force and lipid oxidation status. RESULTS: The obtained results show that lower levels (p ≤ 0.01) of drip loss (1.04%), and higher amounts   (p ≤ 0.01) of glucose (4.61 mmol/l) and protein (0.7%) were found in the meat from the group fed with zinc in organic form as an additive. Moreover, the meat from this group was less red (a* value = –0.46 vs. 0.11) and less yellow (b* value 8.41 vs. 10.16) at the same time (p ≤ 0.01). There were no significant differences between the examined groups for cooking loss, microbiological status, lipid oxidation and sensory quality. CONCLUSIONS: It should be stated that Zn supplementation in a form with amino acids has a beneficial effect on the quality of poultry meat as far as drip loss reduction is concerned.

Oral magnesium supplementation for leg cramps in pregnancy-An observational controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Oral magnesium for leg cramps treatment in pregnancy is a controversial issue according to recent Cochrane systematic review. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Mg++ supplementation in leg cramps treatment in pregnancy. METHODS: This observational clinical trial studied 132 pregnant women with leg cramps in the first trimester of pregnancy. At baseline, 74 (56.3%) had two leg cramps episodes per week, 28 (21.1%) three episodes, 13 (9.8%) four episodes and 9 (6.8%) five or more episodes. They were randomized 1:1 to 300 mg/day of oral Mg++ citrate (n = 66) or placebo (n = 66). The primary outcome was the frequency of leg cramps episodes per week reported by pregnant women. Secondary outcomes were the ocurrence of leg cramps and oral magnesium side effects. RESULTS: 130 pregnant women completed the study and the two groups were comparable according to some sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. After 4 weeks of intervention it was observed a 28.4% (39/132) (CI 95%: 20.9-37.0) reduction of leg cramps in all participants and no difference between the two groups was found; reduction of 27.2% (18/66) (CI 95%: 17.0-39.6) in Mg++ group and 32.8% (21/66) (CI 95%: 21.6-45.7) in the placebo group. The OR of leg cramps was 1.3 (CI 95%: 0.6-2.9), p = 0.527, taking the placebo group as reference. Among pregnant women who remained with leg cramps the mean of leg cramps episodes per week showed no significance difference between the Mg++ and placebo groups; t-student test: p = 0.408. Four pregnant women showed gastrointestinal side effects; 2 in each group had nauseas and diarrhoea. CONCLUSION: Oral magnesium supplementation during pregnancy did not reduce the ocurrence and frequency of episodes of leg cramps.

Extracellular Volume Associates With Outcomes More Strongly Than Native or Post-Contrast Myocardial T1.

OBJECTIVES: Because risk stratification data represents a key domain of biomarker validation, we compared associations between outcomes and various cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) metrics quantifying myocardial fibrosis (MF) in noninfarcted myocardium: extracellular volume fraction (ECV), native T1, post-contrast T1, and partition coefficient. BACKGROUND: MF associates with vulnerability to adverse events (e.g., mortality and hospitalization for heart failure [HHF]), but investigators still debate its optimal measurement; most histological validation data show strongest ECV correlations with MF. METHODS: We enrolled 1,714 consecutive patients without amyloidosis or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from a single CMR referral center serving an integrated healthcare network. We measured T1 (MOdified Look-Locker Inversion recovery [MOLLI]) in nonenhanced myocardium, averaged from 2 short-axis slices (basal and mid) before and 15 to 20 min after a gadolinium contrast bolus. We compared chi-square test values from CMR MF measures in univariable and multivariable Cox regression models. We assessed "dose-response" relationships in Kaplan-Meier curves using log-rank statistics for quartile strata. We also computed net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI for Cox models with ECV vs. native T1). RESULTS: Over a median of 5.6 years, 374 events occurred after CMR (162 HHF events and 279 deaths, 67 with both). ECV yielded the best separation of Kaplan-Meier curves and the highest log-rank statistics. In univariable and multivariable models, ECV associated most strongly with outcomes, demonstrating the highest chi-square test values. Native T1 or post-contrast T1 did not associate with outcomes in the multivariable model. ECV provided added prognostic value to models with native T1, for example, in multivariable models IDI = 0.0037 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0009 to 0.0071), p = 0.02; NRI = 0.151 (95% CI: 0.022 to 0.292), p = 0.04. CONCLUSIONS: Analogous to histological previously published validation data, ECV myocardial fibrosis measures exhibited more robust associations with outcomes than other surrogate CMR MF measures. Superior risk stratification by ECV supports claims that ECV optimally measures MF in noninfarcted myocardium.

Evaluation of the effects of Cyclotrichium niveum on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and oxidative stress in male rats orally exposed to lead acetate.

Cyclotrichium niveum is an endemic plant for Turkey and it appears to have in vitro antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition properties. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no study on the in vivo effects of this plant. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of C. niveum on lead (Pb)-acetate-induced potential alterations in brain acetylcholinesterase activity, as well as oxidative stress in male rats. The rats were randomly assigned to control, Pb-acetate, C. niveum and Pb-acetate+ C. niveum groups. Pb-acetate was provided in drinking water (500 ppm), and C. niveum was administered via orogastric gavage (4 ml/kg) for 30 days. The acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain significantly decreased only in the Pb-acetate group. The malondialdehyde level significantly increased, and the reduced glutathione activity decreased in the Pb-acetate group. The reduced glutathione and glutathione-S-transferase activities of the C. niveum group were higher than the control group. No Pb was detected on a ppb level in the brain tissue of the control and C. niveum groups, while it was detected in the brains of the rats in the Pb-acetate and Pb-acetate+ C. niveum groups (185+8.98 ppb and 206+56.65 ppb, respectively). The data collected in this study suggested that C. niveum may reduce inhibition of brain AChE activity and oxidative stress against Pb-acetate-induced alterations in the brain of male rats.

Effects of zinc methionine supplementation on laying performance, zinc status, intestinal morphology, and expressions of zinc transporters' mRNA in laying hens.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate effects of dietary zinc methionine (Zn-Met) supplementation on laying performance, zinc (Zn) status, intestinal morphology, and Zn transporters in laying hens compared with zinc sulfate (ZnSO4 ). A total of 384 Hyline Grey laying hens (38 weeks old) with similar performance (1.42 ± 0.07 kg) were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments and fed with a basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented with Zn, either as Zn-Met at 40 and 80 mg Zn/kilogram diet or as ZnSO4 at 80 mg Zn/kilogram diet, for 10 weeks. RESULTS: There was no difference in egg weight, egg production, feed intake, and feed conversation ratio among all groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control, Zn contents were increased (P < 0.05) in the liver, duodenum, and jejunum of laying hens fed diets supplemented with different Zn sources. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in Zn contents in liver, duodenum, and jejunum between diets supplemented with Zn-Met or ZnSO4 at 80 mg Zn/kilogram diet. Compared with the control and the ZnSO4 group (80 mg Zn/kilogram diet), supplementation with Zn-Met of 80 mg Zn/kilogram diet increased (P < 0.05) villus height, villus area, and villus height/crypt depth ratio but reduced (P < 0.05) crypt depth in jejunum. Expression of metallothionein messenger RNA of jejunum in the group fed a diet containing Zn-Met (80 mg Zn/kilogram diet) was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the control. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that Zn-Met has positive effects on the Zn status of liver, duodenum, and jejunum, intestinal morphology, and metallothionein messenger RNA expression in jejunum of laying hens compared with ZnSO4 . © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of magnesium citrate, magnesium oxide and magnesium sulfate supplementation on arterial stiffness in healthy overweight individuals: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness is closely related to the process of atherosclerosis, an independent cardiovascular risk factor, and predictive of future cardiovascular events and mortality. Recently, we showed that magnesium citrate supplementation results in a clinically relevant improvement of arterial stiffness. It remained unclear whether the observed effect was due to magnesium or citrate, and whether other magnesium compounds may have similar effects. Therefore, we aim to study the long-term effects of magnesium citrate, magnesium oxide and magnesium sulfate on arterial stiffness. In addition, we aim to investigate possible underlying mechanisms, including changes in blood pressure and changes in gut microbiota diversity. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, a total of 162 healthy overweight and slightly obese men and women will be recruited. During a 24-week intervention, individuals will be randomized to receive: magnesium citrate; magnesium oxide; magnesium sulfate (total daily dose of magnesium for each active treatment 450 mg); or placebo. The primary outcome of the study is arterial stiffness measured by the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWVc-f), which is the gold standard for quantifying arterial stiffness. Secondary outcomes are office blood pressure, measured by a continuous blood pressure monitoring device, and gut microbiota, measured in fecal samples. Measurements will be performed at baseline and at weeks 2, 12 and 24. DISCUSSION: The present study is expected to provide evidence for the effects of different available magnesium formulations (organic and inorganic) on well-established cardiovascular risk markers, including arterial stiffness and blood pressure, as well as on the human gut microbiota. As such, the study may contribute to the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in slightly obese, but otherwise healthy, individuals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03632590 . Retrospectively registered on 15 August 2018.

Local Conduction Velocity in the Presence of Late Gadolinium Enhancement and Myocardial Wall Thinning: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study in a Swine Model of Healed Left Ventricular Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Conduction velocity (CV) is an important property that contributes to the arrhythmogenicity of the tissue substrate. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between local CV versus late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and myocardial wall thickness in a swine model of healed left ventricular infarction. METHODS: Six swine with healed myocardial infarction underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and electroanatomic mapping. Two healthy controls (one treated with amiodarone and one unmedicated) underwent electroanatomic mapping with identical protocols to establish the baseline CV. CV was estimated using a triangulation technique. LGE+ regions were defined as signal intensity >2 SD than the mean of remote regions, wall thinning+ as those with wall thickness <2 SD than the mean of remote regions. LGE heterogeneity was defined as SD of LGE in the local neighborhood of 5 mm and wall thickness gradient as SD within 5 mm. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance and electroanatomic mapping data were registered, and hierarchical modeling was performed to estimate the mean difference of CV (LGE+/-, wall thinning+/-), or the change of the mean of CV per unit change (LGE heterogeneity, wall thickness gradient). RESULTS: Significantly slower CV was observed in LGE+ (0.33±0.25 versus 0.54±0.36 m/s; P<0.001) and wall thinning+ regions (0.38±0.28 versus 0.55±0.37 m/s; P<0.001). Areas with greater LGE heterogeneity ( P<0.001) and wall thickness gradient ( P<0.001) exhibited slower CV. CONCLUSIONS: Slower CV is observed in the presence of LGE, myocardial wall thinning, high LGE heterogeneity, and a high wall thickness gradient. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance may offer a valuable imaging surrogate for estimating CV, which may support noninvasive identification of the arrhythmogenic substrate.

Countering the effects of lead as an environmental toxicant on the microanatomy of female reproductive system of adult wistar rats using aqueous extract of Ficus vogelii.

BACKGROUND: Lead without nutritional value is a widely studied occupational and environmental toxicant. Leads' toxic effects on female reproduction are decreased fertility, inability to sustain pregnancy and reduced pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at examining the effect of oral administration of lead acetate (1.5 mg/kg) on the histology of female albino Wistar rats' ovary and Uterus and the extracts' protective role against toxicity. METHODS: The experiment took 28 days involving 25 female Wistar rats divided into 5 groups A, B, C, D and E. A is an untreated group that received normal saline, D lead acetate group that received lead acetate solution, E received aqueous extract, B and C low and high dose of aqueous extract respectively and lead acetate solution. RESULTS: The positive control group showed a significant increase in SOD at P ≤ 0.01 compared to the negative control. Group E showed significant decrease ovarian SOD. The organs weights were significantly reduced in group D. The changes seen in the organs include oedema, necrosis, optical empty spaces, denudations and fatty changes. Administrating the extract protected the organs against the lead acetate. These alterations are shown to cause infertility in female rats. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the extract has protective role against lead reproductive toxicity.

Du-Zhong (Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) Cortex Extract Alleviates Lead Acetate-Induced Bone Loss in Rats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of Du-Zhong cortex extract (DZCE) on lead acetate-induced bone loss in rats. Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: group I (control) was provided with distilled water. Group II (PbAc) received 500 ppm lead acetate in drinking water for 60 days. Group III (PbAc+DZCE) received 500 ppm lead acetate in drinking water, and given intragastric DZCE (100 mg/kg body weight) for 60 days. Group IV (DZCE) was given intragastric DZCE (100 mg/kg body weight) for 60 days. The bone mineral density, serum biochemical markers, bone histomorphology, and bone marrow adipocyte parameters were analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, biochemistry, histomorphometry, and histopathology, respectively. The results showed that the lumbar spine and femur bone mineral density was significantly decreased in PbAc group compared with the control (P < 0.05); however, this decrease was inhibited by the intake of Du-Zhong cortex extract (P < 0.05, vs. PbAc group; P > 0.05, vs. control and DZCE group). Serum calcium and serum phosphorus in the PbAc+DZCE group were greater than that in the PbAc group (P < 0.05). The PbAc group had higher ALP, osteocalcin, and RANKL than the control group (P < 0.01), and they were significantly lower in the PbAc+DZCE group compared with the PbAc group. There were no significant differences of ALP, osteocalcin, and RANKL among the PbAc+DZCE, control, and DZCE groups (P > 0.05). Serum OPG and OPG/RANKL ration were significantly higher in the PbAc+DZCE group than that in the PbAc group (P < 0.05). The bone histomorphometric analyses showed that bone volume and trabecular thickness in the femoral trabecular bone were significantly lower in the PbAc group than that in the control group, but those were restored in the PbAc+DZCE groups. The bone marrow adipocyte number, percent adipocyte volume per tissue volume (AV/TV), and mean adipocyte diameter were significantly increased in the PbAc group compared to the control (P < 0.01), and those were restored in the PbAc+DZCE group. The differences of those parameters between PbAc+DZCE, DZCE, and the control group were not significant. The results above indicate that the Du-Zhong cortex extract has protective effects on both stimulation of bone formation and suppression of bone resorption in lead-exposed rats, therefore, Du-Zhong cortex extract has the potential to prevent or treat osteoporosis resulting from lead expose.

Influence of Chronic Toxicity, Lipid Metabolism, Learning and Memory Ability, and Related Enzyme in Sprague-Dawley Rats by Long-Term Chromium Malate Supplementation.

In our previous study, chromium malate is beneficial for type 2 diabetic rats in control glycometabolism and lipid metabolism. The present study was designed to observe the chronic toxicity, lipid metabolism, learning and memory ability, and related enzymes of chromium malate in rats during the year. The results showed that pathological, toxic, feces, and urine of chromium malate (at daily doses of 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0 µg Cr/kg bm) did not change measurably. Chromium malate (at daily doses of 15.0 and 20.0 µg Cr/kg bm) could significantly reduce the levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL, and triglyceride (TG), and increase the level of HDL in male rats compared to control group and chromium picolinate group. Significant escalating trends of the escape latency and swimming speed (Morris water maze test), and the original platform quadrant stops, residence time, and swimming speed (Space exploration test) in male rats of chromium malate groups were obtained. The SOD, GSH-Px, and TChE activities of chromium malate (at daily doses of 15.0 and 20.0 µg Cr/kg bm) were enhanced significantly in male rats compared with those of the normal control group and chromium picolinate group. Glycometabolism and related enzymes had no significant changes compared to normal control group and chromium picolinate group. These results indicated that long-term chromium malate supplementation did not cause measurable toxicity at daily doses of 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0 µg Cr/kg bm and could improve dyslipidemia and learning and memory deficits.

Effects of dietary Zn-methionine supplementation on the laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and serum parameters of laying hens.

This study was to determine the effects of dietary Zn-methionine (Zn-Met) supplementation on the laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and serum parameters of laying hens. Jingh ong-1 strain laying hens (n = 720, 49 wk of age) were randomly assigned to 6 treatments with 6 replications of 20 birds. The control was fed a basal diet supplemented with 80 mg of Zn/kg as Zn sulphate of diet and the 5 groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg of Zn/kg as Zn-Met of diet for 10 wk, respectively. At the terminal experiment, there were significant differences between control and 80 mg/kg Zn-Met group in feed intake (P < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P < 0.01). Egg weight (P < 0.05) and albumen height (P < 0.01) reduced and were not significantly influenced by supplemental 80 mg/kg Zn-Met group until being stored 15 d as compared to the control. Zn-Met group in 100 mg/kg significantly increased haugh unit (P < 0.05) as compared to the control. The activity of MDA in serum had a linear decrease in 20 to 100 mg/kg Zn-Met. The activity of CAT in liver and GSH-Px in serum had quadratic effects in response to the Zn-Met treatments. Compared to the control, 60 mg/kg Zn-Met group increased the T-AOC, GSH-Px activity in serum (P < 0.01), and the T-AOC (P < 0.05), CuZnSOD (P < 0.01), GSH-Px (P < 0.01) activity in liver. Compared with the control, the concentration of serum ionic Ca in 80, 100 mg/kg Zn-Met treatments reduced (P < 0.01) significantly while the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase (AKP) increased in the Zn-Met groups of 40, 60, and 80 mg/kg (P < 0.01), and 100 mg/kg (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary Zn-Met supplementation at 60 to 80 mg/kg had more positive effects on performance, egg quality, and antioxidant capacity in laying hens as compared to 80 mg/kg ZnSO4.

Implications of bipolar voltage mapping and magnetic resonance imaging resolution in biventricular scar characterization after myocardial infarction.

AIMS: We aimed to study the differences in biventricular scar characterization using bipolar voltage mapping compared with state-of-the-art in vivo delayed gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) imaging and ex vivo T1 mapping. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten pigs with established myocardial infarction (MI) underwent in vivo scar characterization using LGE-CMR imaging and high-density voltage mapping of both ventricles using a 3.5-mm tip catheter. Ex vivo post-contrast T1 mapping provided a high-resolution reference. Voltage maps were registered onto the left and right ventricular (LV and RV) endocardium, and epicardium of CMR-based geometries to compare voltage-derived scars with surface-projected 3D scars. Voltage-derived scar tissue of the LV endocardium and the epicardium resembled surface projections of 3D in vivo and ex vivo CMR-derived scars using 1-mm of surface projection distance. The thinner wall of the RV was especially sensitive to lower resolution in vivo LGE-CMR images, in which differences between normalized low bipolar voltage areas and CMR-derived scar areas did not decrease below a median of 8.84% [interquartile range (IQR) (3.58, 12.70%)]. Overall, voltage-derived scars and surface scar projections from in vivo LGE-CMR sequences showed larger normalized scar areas than high-resolution ex vivo images [12.87% (4.59, 27.15%), 18.51% (11.25, 24.61%), and 9.30% (3.84, 19.59%), respectively], despite having used optimized surface projection distances. Importantly, 43.02% (36.54, 48.72%) of voltage-derived scar areas from the LV endocardium were classified as non-enhanced healthy myocardium using ex vivo CMR imaging. CONCLUSION: In vivo LGE-CMR sequences and high-density voltage mapping using a conventional linear catheter fail to provide accurate characterization of post-MI scar, limiting the specificity of voltage-based strategies and imaging-guided procedures.