Beneficial effect of apple vinegar on reproductive parameters in male rat model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with low testosterone levels in serum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of apple vinegar on fertility indices in a rat model of NAFLD. To study this effect, 32 adult male rats were divided into four groups: A-normal diet, B-high-fat diet (HFD), C-apple vinegar and D-HFD plus apple vinegar. At the end of the week 22, the Lee index, serum lipid profiles, liver enzymes, glucose and total antioxidant levels (TAC) in serum were determined. In addition, liver and testis tissue homogenate, histopathology, serum testosterone and sperm parameters were measured and HOMA-IR calculated. Significant reduction in Lee index, serum triglyceride, cholesterol, liver enzymes and glucose levels was observed in vinegar treated group compared with HFD group. Vinegar lowered insulin resistance compared with HFD (p < 0.01). Steatosis in hepatocytes reduced from 56% in HFD group to 20% in group D (p < 0.05). Vinegar caused a significant increase in serum testosterone, improvement in sperm parameters and a reduced germ cell apoptosis (p < 0.05). There was an insignificant increase in TAC levels in the serum and homogenate tissue of liver and testis compared with HFD. This study reports apple vinegar has beneficial effects on male rat fertility indices in an in vivo model of NAFLD.

Association Between Klotho Gene Polymorphism and Markers of Bone Metabolism in Patients Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis in Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Some genetic variations of Klotho have been reported as a risk factor for calcification and hyperphosphatemia in chronic kidney disease. Klotho polymorphism is also associated with outcome in patients receiving hemodialysis. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between Klotho single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and bone metabolism as an early prognostic measure for chronic kidney disease.   Materials and Methods. Sixty patients receiving hemodialysis and 60 age-matched controls were enrolled in the study of the assessment of 2 types of Klotho polymorphism (G395A and C1818T). Serum biochemical parameters, including calcium, phosphate, urea, creatinine, parathyroid hormone, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 were measured.  Results. The frequency of being A carriers suggested marginal significances between the groups (GA and AA, 30% versus GG, 18.3%, P = .06), but such significant results were not found for the T allele carriers (CT and TT, 76.6% versus CC, 76.6%, P > .99). Homozygote and heterozygote individuals for the A allele at G395A SNP (A allele carriers) were more likely to be on hemodialysis (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.60 to 3.30), but this association was not true for T allele carriers of C1818T SNP. Parathyroid hormone and serum calcium, phosphate, creatinine, and urea showed prominently higher levels in the patients receiving hemodialysis compared with control individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The A allele of the G395A polymorphism of Klotho, which emerges the higher levels of phosphate, may be associated with the risk of mortality in Iranian patients receiving hemodialysis.

Glutathione S-transferase mu gene variants and colorectal cancer development--use of sequence-specific probes for an Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: Enzymes of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) family are encoded by a set of polymorphic genes as an important part of cellular chemical defense. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of GSTM1 deletion on susceptibility to developing clinical outcome of colorectal cancer in a group of CRC patients from Isfahan province, Iran, in comparison to age and gender matched control group. METHODS: DNA was extracted from blood of 140 CRC patients and 90 healthy individuals and a set of sequence specific hybridization probes was used for GSTM1 genotyping by real-time PCR in Light-Cycler instrument. Chi-squared test was used to assess the statistical significance of observed differences between the patient and control subjects of different genders and ages. To estimate the risk for overall and stratified analyses, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) computed with logistic regression. RESULTS: No difference in GSTM1 null genotype frequency was found in CRC patients and controls stratified by gender (p value=0.14). The data were suggested a trend of increasing risk for GSTM1 null genotype in patients over 60 years old compared with controls (p value=0.05). GSTM1 null genotype carried an increase of the odds of developing CRC in patients over 60 years old (OR=2.7; 95% CI: 1.03-7.05). No significant association was found (P>0.05) between the GSTM1 null genotype with tumor site (right, left, rectum) or tumor differentiation (well, moderately). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the GSTM1 null genotype may contribute to colorectal cancer development in people over 60 years old.