Effect of Castor and Cashew Nut Shell Oils, Selenium and Vitamin E as Antioxidants on the Health and Meat Stability of Lambs Fed a High-Concentrate Diet.

Functional oils are known for their compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and are used in ruminant nutrition as alternatives to chemicals in order to improve performance. This study aimed to compare the influence of castor and cashew nut shell oils with pure organic selenium (hydroxy-selenomethionine) plus vitamin E, which are known and well-stablished antioxidants, on the performance traits, shelf life and microbial quality of the meat, physiological functions and oxidative stress control of lambs. Thirty-two Dorper x Santa Ines lambs (initial bodyweight of 22.42 ± 3.9 kg and 60 days of age) were submitted to a diet consisting of Cynodon dactylon hay (6%) and concentrate (94%). The animals were divided into four treatments: control, without additives; functional oils (FO), 0.50 g/kg DM of castor and cashew nut shell oils; hydroxy-selenomethionine and vitamin E (SeE), 0.50 mg/kg of organic selenium and 100 IU/kg DM of vitamin E; FO plus SeE, at the same doses as the other groups. Blood samples were collected after 1, 30 and 53 days on feed. After 54 days, the lambs were slaughtered and rumen health, carcass and meat traits, shelf life, and microbiological quality were evaluated. There were no differences in performance or carcass traits. A higher muscle and serum Se concentration (p < 0.0001), lower lipid peroxidation in meat during display (p < 0.0001), and a lower count of psychrotrophic microorganisms on day 5 were observed in the SeE and FO plus SeE groups. The treatments reduced the counts of Enterobacteriaceae, and Staphylococcus spp. FO animals showed higher GSH-Px activity on day 30, while the peroxidase activity was higher in FO plus SeE animals (p = 0.035). SeE and FO plus SeE animals had lower serum ALT and AST levels. Functional oils improved the microbiological quality of meat. Hydroxy-selenomethionine and vitamin E prevented oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and microbial spoilage.

Effects of hepatitis B virus infection, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase on prediabetes and diabetes mellitus: A cohort study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to confirm whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the levels of liver enzymes would increase the risk of prediabetes and diabetes mellitus (DM) in China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 10,741 individuals was enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate the Hazard ratios (HRs) to evaluate the relationships between HBV infection and the risk of DM and prediabetes. Decision trees and dose response analysis were used to explore the effects of liver enzymes levels on DM and prediabetes. RESULTS: In baseline population, HBV infection ratio was 5.31%. In non-adjustment model, the HR of DM in HBV infection group was 1.312 (95% CI, 0.529-3.254). In model adjusted for gender, age and liver cirrhosis, the HR of DM in HBV infection group were 1.188 (95% CI, 0.478-2.951). In model adjusted for gender, age, liver cirrhosis, smoking, drinking, the HR of DM was 1.178 (95% CI, 0.473-2.934). In model further adjusted for education, family income and occupation, the HR of DM was 1.230 (95% CI, 0.493-3.067). With the increases of levels of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), the risk of prediabetes was gradually increasing (Pnon-linearity<0.05). There were dose-response relationships between ALT, GGT and the risk of DM (Pnon-linearity<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HBV infection was not associated with the risk of prediabetes and DM. The levels of liver enzymes increased the risk of prediabetes and DM.

Thyroid hormone disruption and cognitive impairment in rats exposed to PBDE during postnatal development.

Polybrominated diphenyl ether flame-retardants (PBDEs) are thyroid-disrupting environmental chemicals. We investigated the effects of postnatal exposure to DE-71 (a mixture of tetra- and penta-brominated congeners), n-propylthiouracil (PTU) and thyroxine (T4) replacement on open-field (OF) and radial maze (RAM) tests. Wistar rats (5 males/5 females per litter, 32 litters) were treated orally (PND 5-22) with PTU (4mg/kg bw/d), DE-71 (30mg/kg bw/d), with and without co-administration of T4 (15µg/kg bw/d, sc). PTU depressed T4 serum levels and body weight gain and enlarged thyroid gland. Although decreasing T4 levels, DE-71 did not change thyroid and body weights. PTU-treated rats showed hyperactivity (PND 42 and 70), and working and reference memory learning deficits (RAM, PND 100). Although not altering motor activity and working memory, DE-71 caused a reference memory deficit (females only). T4 co-administration averted hypothyroxinemia and long-term cognitive deficits caused by PTU and DE-71.

Hepatoprotective effects of ginseng in rats fed cholesterol rich diet

Background: Ginseng species having been used in various traditional herbal therapies for many years in worldwide. In recent years, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia and obesity have become serious health problems. These are considered risk factor for metabolic and organic diseases such as atherosclerosis, fatty liver, diabetes. Therefore, prevention and treatment of these disorders are significant for ensuring comfortable and healthy life. It has been also stated that ginseng saponin suppressed liver enzyme increments caused by feeding with high cholesterol or fatty diet. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ginseng on liver enzymes of rats fed cholesterol-rich diet. Materials, Methods & Results: In this study, 24 healthy adult male Wistar Albino rats were equally divided into three groups as control group (K), cholesterol group (C), and cholesterol + ginseng group (CG). The K group had ad libitum access to a standard rat diet for 40 days. The C and CG groups had ad libitum access to the same diet containing 5% cholesterol powder and 5% cholesterol + 1 g/kg Panax ginseng root powder, respectively, for 40 days. On the 40 th day of the study, blood samples were taken from 8 animals in each group. At the end of the study, plasma samples were analyzed for aspartase transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and [...]

Hepatoprotective effects of ginseng in rats fed cholesterol rich diet

Background: Ginseng species having been used in various traditional herbal therapies for many years in worldwide. In recent years, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia and obesity have become serious health problems. These are considered risk factor for metabolic and organic diseases such as atherosclerosis, fatty liver, diabetes. Therefore, prevention and treatment of these disorders are significant for ensuring comfortable and healthy life. It has been also stated that ginseng saponin suppressed liver enzyme increments caused by feeding with high cholesterol or fatty diet. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ginseng on liver enzymes of rats fed cholesterol-rich diet. Materials, Methods & Results: In this study, 24 healthy adult male Wistar Albino rats were equally divided into three groups as control group (K), cholesterol group (C), and cholesterol + ginseng group (CG). The K group had ad libitum access to a standard rat diet for 40 days. The C and CG groups had ad libitum access to the same diet containing 5% cholesterol powder and 5% cholesterol + 1 g/kg Panax ginseng root powder, respectively, for 40 days. On the 40 th day of the study, blood samples were taken from 8 animals in each group. At the end of the study, plasma samples were analyzed for aspartase transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and [...](AU)