The observation of microfilarial rate and density in cats inoculated with increasing numbers of Brugia pahangi infective larvae

Having close kinship to Brugia malayi, B. pahangi is a member of the family Filariidae, which causes lymphatic filariasis in dogs and cats. Although this nematode is unlikely to cause a zoonotic disease in humans, study of the B. pahangi life cycle may help control human filariasis. The objective of this study was to examine microfilarial rates and densities of B. pahangi in experimentally induced infections in cats as a relative measurement. Cats were infected with 3 different amounts of 3rd-stage larvae (L3); 100, 300 and 500. Cats infected with 100 L3 became patent for microfilariae longer than the other groups (mean100 = 99+/-44 days). In comparison, the pre-patent period of B. pahangi was somewhat shorter in cats with 300 and 500 L3 infections (mean300 = 76+/-13 and mean500 = 63+/-5 days). The microfilarial densities of these cats were also determined; the density of microfilariae (mf/1 ml blood) increased relative to the duration of infection. One-way ANOVA tests were used to compare the microfilarial densities of the cats with varying numbers of L3. We found that the microfilarial density of cats with 500 L3 exhibited significant differences (p < 0.05) from cats with 300 and 100 L3. However, we concluded that the amount of microfilariae produced in the blood circulation of these cats were not increasing relative to the numbers of L3 taken by the host.     

Grape seed extract supplementation prevents high-fructose diet-induced insulin resistance in rats by improving insulin and adiponectin signalling pathways

Recent evidence strongly supports the contention that grape seed extract (GSE) improves hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia in high-fructose-fed rats. To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of action, we examined the effects of GSE on the expression of muscle proteins related to the insulin signalling pathway and of mRNA for genes involved in the adiponectin signalling pathway. Compared with rats fed on a normal diet, high-fructose-fed rats developed pathological changes, including insulin resistance, hyperinsulinaemia, hypertriacylglycerolaemia, a low level of plasma adiponectin and a high level of plasma fructosamine. These disorders were effectively attenuated in high-fructose-fed rats supplemented with GSE. A high-fructose diet causes insulin resistance by significantly reducing the protein expression of insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1, Akt and GLUT4, and the mRNA expression of adiponectin, adiponectin receptor R1 (AdipoR1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-α in the skeletal muscle. Supplementation of GSE enhanced the expression of insulin signalling pathway-related proteins, including Akt and GLUT4. GSE also increased the mRNA expression of adiponectin, AdipoR1 and AMPK-α. In addition, GSE increased the mRNA levels of glycogen synthase and suppressed the mRNA expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3-α, causing an increase in glycogen accumulation in the skeletal muscle. These results suggest that GSE ameliorates the defective insulin and adiponectin signalling pathways in the skeletal muscle, resulting in improved insulin resistance in fructose-fed rats.     

Phenylethanoid and flavone glycosides from Ruellia tuberosa L.

A new phenylethanoid glycoside, isocassifolioside (8), and two new flavone glycosides, hispidulin 7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1′″ → 2″)-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (11) and pectolinaringenin 7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1′″ → 2″)-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (12) were isolated from the aerial portions of Ruellia tuberosa L., together with verbascoside (1), isoverbascoside (2), nuomioside (3), isonuomioside (4), forsythoside B (5), paucifloside (6), cassifolioside (7), hispidulin 7-O-β-d-glucuronopyranoside (9) and comanthoside B (10). The structure elucidations were based on analyses of chemical and spectroscopic data including 1D- and 2D-NMR. The isolated compounds 1–12 exhibited radical scavenging activity using ORAC assay.     

Evaluation of the diagnostic performance of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in differentiating between benign and metastatic lymph nodes in cases of cholangiocarcinoma

Abdominal Radiology - Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the primary tumor found in the bile duct and is associated with a high incidence of lymph node (LN) metastases and poor outcomes. The presence of...     

Effect of the shades of background substructures on the overall color of zirconia-based all-ceramic crowns

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the color of a background substructure on the overall color of a zirconia-based all-ceramic crown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty one posterior zirconia crowns were made for twenty subjects. Seven premolar crowns and six molar crowns were cemented onto abutments with metal post and core in the first and second group. In the third group, eight molar crowns were cemented onto abutments with a prefabricated post and composite core build-up. The color measurements of all-ceramic crowns were made before try-in, before and after cementation. A repeated measure ANOVA was used for a statistical analysis of a color change of all-ceramic crowns at α=.05. Twenty four zirconia specimens, with different core thicknesses (0.4-1 mm) were also prepared to obtain the contrast ratio of zirconia materials after veneering.

RESULTS

L^*, a^*, and b^* values of all-ceramic crowns cemented either on a metal cast post and core or on a prefabricated post did not show significant changes (P>.05). However, the slight color changes of zirconia crowns were detected and represented by ΔE^*_ab values, ranging from 1.2 to 3.1. The contrast ratios of zirconia specimens were 0.92-0.95 after veneering.

CONCLUSION

No significant differences were observed between the L^*, a^*, and b^* values of zirconia crowns cemented either on a metal cast post and core or a prefabricated post and composite core. However, the color of a background substructure could affect the overall color of posterior zirconia restorations with clinically recommended core thickness according to ΔE^*_ab values.     

Preventive effect of grape seed extract against high-fructose diet-induced insulin resistance and oxidative stress in rats

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the preventive effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on insulin resistance and oxidative stress in rats fed a high-fructose diet. After 8 weeks of the experiment, the fasting plasma glucose, insulin concentrations, and the homeostasis model assessment of basal insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) of rats fed a high-fructose diet supplemented with 1% GSE were significantly lower than that of a high-fructose diet group. In the oral glucose tolerance test, rats fed a high-fructose diet supplemented with 1% GSE had a significantly reduced plasma glucose and insulin concentrations after 15 min of glucose loading, indicating that GSE improved glucose intolerance. In addition, fed rats fed a high-fructose diet supplemented with 1% GSE markedly increased activity of hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase, and suppressed lipid peroxidation when compared to rats fed a high-fructose diet. However, rats fed a high-fructose diet supplemented with GSE were not found to have a significant change in the activity of hepatic glutathione peroxidase. In conclusion, intake of GSE may be a feasible therapeutic strategy for prevention of a high-fructose diet-induced insulin resistance and oxidative stress.     

Timing of adiposity rebound: a step toward preventing obesity

Adiposity rebound (AR) is used as an indicator to predict obesity in adults. Previous studies about AR in the U.S. were based on local data; therefore, the generalizability of study results is limited. The purpose of this study was to identify the timing of AR for U.S. children using a national survey data set, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Combined data of NHANES 1999-2008 were used to estimate the national level of this critical period for U.S. children developing obesity. Data of 8813 children 2 to 10 years of age were analyzed. Mean body mass index was estimated using the survey sample analysis method. Visual inspection method was employed to examine the timing of AR. Gender and race/ethnicity differences in AR were identified at an early age. AR occurred earlier in girls and in Non-Hispanic African-American children than in Non-Hispanic Caucasian children. Differences in timing for AR by gender and race/ethnicity should be considered in planning early and timely intervention efforts to prevent childhood obesity.