Thermal Steam Aerosolization Protects Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Sepsis in Rats.

Background: Sepsis is a severe systemic inflammatory state in response to infection. The induction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) by heat stress has been reported to protect against lethal effects of sepsis. In clinical situation, inhalation of thermal water has been used empirically in the treatment of chronic diseases of respiratory tract. Thus, thermal steam aerosolization may have beneficial effects on sepsis via HPS70 induction. Objective: The present study tested the hypothesis that thermal steam aerosolization could protect against lipopolysaccharideinduced sepsis in rats. Material and Method: Male Spraque-Dawley rats were subjected to steam aerosolization at 40°C for 1 hour before intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Blood pressure, heart rate and core temperature were recorded in two hours interval. At the end of the study period, vascular response to vasoconstrictor of isolated aortic rings ex vivo was assessed. Serum proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1beta and IL-6, were analyzed using ELISA technique. Plasma nitric oxide was determined using nitrate/nitrite fluorometric assay Kit. HSP70 expression, heat shock factor-1 (HSF-1) mRNA level and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) activity in the lungs of rats were investigated using western blot analysis, real-time quantitative PCR and transcription factor kits for NF-kappa B p65, respectively. Results: Thermal steam aerosolization treatment prevented the fall in systolic, diastolic, mean arterial blood pressures induced by LPS and restored the vascular response to adrenaline. LPS significantly increased plasma nitrate/nitrite concentration, serum IL-1 beta and IL-6 levels, and NF-kappa B activity in rat lung lysate which were reduced by thermal steam aerosolization. Thermal steam aerosolization induced both HSP70 and HSF-1 mRNA expression. Conclusion: The present study suggests that thermal steam aerosolization can delay the stage of shock in LPS-induced septic rats. It shows a beneficial therapeutic effect and may be applied to the clinical approach for septic shock patient.

Glucan-rich polysaccharides obtained from split gill mushroom [Schizophyllum commune (Fr.)] ameliorate hyperglycemia by enhancing insulin and GLUT2 pancreas in type 2 diabetic rats.

AIMS: Abnormalities in the secretion of insulin are the cause of pathology and complications in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic effect of polysaccharide extracts from the split gill mushroom in type 2 diabetes rats administered a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) in combination with a high-fat diet. METHODS: The rats were divided into 6 groups: the control group (ND), the control group fed with polysaccharide extract from split gill (ND240), the diabetes group (HFD+DM), the diabetic group fed 120 (HFD+S120) and 240 mg/kg BW polysaccharide extract (HFD+S240), and the diabetic group receiving metformin (HFD+Met). Subsequently, the Islets of Langerhans of pancreatic tissue were studied using a light microscope and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Immunofluorescence for the detection of insulin and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) proteins, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also detected in pancreatic tissue. RESULTS: In the diabetic and HFD+120 groups, the tissues harbored various pathologies. The HFD+S240 and HFD+Met groups were found to have lower blood sugar levels. The levels of insulin and GLUT2 increased compared with the diabetic group. Additionally, the levels of MDA were reduced. CONCLUSIONS: The use of polysaccharide extract from split gill mushrooms (240 mg/kg BW) is an alternative to treating various pathologies in the relief or treatment of diabetes mellitus.

The effectiveness of edible bird's nest in lowering VEGF, CD31, and PDGFR-ß levels in diabetic retinopathy in rats with type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: Diabetic eye disease, known as diabetic retinopathy (DR), is one of the problems that can arise from having high blood sugar for an extended period. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the edible bird's nest (EBN) on retinal angiogenesis in diabetic rats. METHODS: The 50 rats were separated into five different groups, each containing 10 rats: control, diabetes (DM), bird's nest-fed diabetes (75 mg/kg Body weight; BW), (EBN 75), (150 mg/kg BW) (EBN 150), and glyburide (GR) for an eight-week study. H&E and Masson's trichrome staining were utilized to investigate the retinal tissue and vascular changes. The immunofluorescence study was used to detect angiogenic protein expression. The vascular corrosion cast/SEM method was also used to evaluate capillary plexus formation within the retinal layer. RESULTS: From histological studies, DM rats have thinning of the retinal layer. Remarkably, the retinal vessels displayed dilations resembling ruptured blood vessels. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (30.51±2.62), cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31) (28.18±0.22), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR-ß) (141.67±0.97) were increased. EBN 75 exhibited some small improvements in their blood vessels and eye tissue. At a dose of 150 mg/kg BW, EBN proved to be more effective. There was a significant decrease in VEGF and CD31 expression compared with the diabetic group (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These studies have demonstrated that EBN can lower the growth levels of VEGF, CD31, and PDGFR-ß, which results in a decrease in angiogenesis and a recovery from a variety of diabetic retinopathy-related diseases.

Anti-Inflammatory and Gut Microbiota Modulating Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei MSMC39-1 on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Rats.

Probiotics have been shown to possess several properties, depending on the strain. Some probiotics have important roles in preventing infection and balancing the immune system due to the interaction between the intestinal mucosa and cells in the immune system. This study aimed to examine the properties of three probiotic strains using the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibition test in colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2 cells). It was revealed that the viable cells and heat-killed cells of the probiotic L. paracasei strain MSMC39-1 dramatically suppressed TNF-α secretion in Caco-2 cells. The strongest strains were then chosen to treat rats with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Viable cells of the probiotic L. paracasei strain MSMC39-1 reduced aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase in the serum and significantly inhibited TNF-α secretion in the colon and liver tissues. Treatment with the probiotic L. paracasei strain MSMC39-1 alleviated the colon and liver histopathology in DSS-induced colitis rats. Furthermore, supplementation with probiotic L. paracasei strain MSMC39-1 increased the genus Lactobacillus and boosted the other beneficial bacteria in the gut. Thus, the probiotic L. paracasei strain MSMC39-1 exhibited an anti-inflammation effect in the colon and modulated the gut microbiota.