Zinc supplement reverses short-term memory deficit in sodium benzoate-induced neurotoxicity in male Wistar rats by enhancing anti-oxidative capacity via Nrf 2 up-regulation.

Sodium benzoate (SB) is a commonly-used food preservative, with a controversial report to its neurological benefit and toxicity. Zinc (Zn) is a trace element that plays a crucial role in memory, inflammation and oxidative stress. This study was to investigate the effect of SB on rat cognition and memory and the possible modulatory effect of Zn supplement. Twenty four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six animals each. Animals in groups 1-4 were treated with normal saline 1 ml/kg, SB 200 mg/kg, zinc sulphate 10 ml/kg and SB 200 mg/kg + zinc sulphate 10 ml/kg/day daily respectively for three weeks. After treatment, the animals were subjected to different behavioural tests, and then sacrificed. Their blood samples were collected for catalase(CAT), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and interleukin-1B(IL-1B) assay. Brain samples were also collected for nuclear factor-erythroid-related factor 2(Nrf2), and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) mRNA gene expression. The serum levels of CAT and SOD were (p < 0.0001; p < 0.0001) reduced in the SB only-treated group compared to the other groups. Nrf2 gene expression was totally shut down in the SB only-treated group but, up-regulated in the Zn-treated groups (p < 0.0001). The serum level of IL-1B was higher in the SB only-treated group compared to the other groups. SB-treated group spent longer time in the close arm (p = <0.0001), shorter time in the open arm (p = <0.0001) and had higher anxiety index (p = 0.0045) than the Zn-treated groups. Conclusively, Zinc improves memory deficit, has anxiolytic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

A Study of Pain Threshold, Interleukins and NLR in Diabetic Polyneuropathy in a Selected Nigerian Population.

Pain serves a protective function and is often lost in chronic conditions such as painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN).This has been reported to be associated with ongoing inflammation. This study aims to investigate an association betweenbody immune responses, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and pain perception in DPN patients. Sixty volunteers wererecruited for the study. 30 control and 30 diagnosed DPN patients (used Biothesiometer). All subjects were trained andinformed consents were obtained. The pain threshold was significantly (p<0.05) lower in DPN (23.48±1.19 sec) comparedto control group (30.38±1.9 sec), there was significant lower NLR in DPN (1.27±0.09) compared to control group (1.93±0.1)and the serum level of IL6 (15.31±0.85 pg/ml) in DPN was significantly higher compared to control group (11.9±0.15 pg/ml),likewise the serum level of IL10 (13.26±2.78 pg/ml) in DPN is significantly higher compared to control group (6.59±1.07pg/ml). This study showed that hyperalgesia seen in patients with DPN was independent of increased NLR, and increasedIL6 & IL10 seen in this group of patients indicates need to further explore the role of immunological response in thepathogenesis and progression of DPN.