Probiotics ameliorates LPS induced neuroinflammation injury on Aβ 1–42, APP, γ-β secretase and BDNF levels in maternal gut microbiota and fetal neurodevelopment processes

Metabolic Brain Disease - The gut microbiota influences brain development and functioning through the gut-brain axis. This is first study regulate maternal gut microbiota and fetal neurodevelopment...     

Consumption of Coprinus comatus polysaccharide extract causes recovery of alcoholic liver damage in rats

Context: Excess use of alcohol is known to be associated with liver diseases such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Various practices may be applied to prevent or treat the damage caused by chronic alcoholism. Coprinus comatus (O.F. Müll.) Pers. (Agaricaceae) is a macrofungus that has been reported to aid the recovery of murine livers damaged by benzopyrene.

Objective: In this study, the possible therapeutic effects of three different doses (50, 100, and 150?mg/kg) of C. comatus polysaccharide (PS) extract were studied in rats subjected to an alcoholic diet. The histological and biochemical results were compared between the control and experimental groups.

Materials and methods: Modified Lieber–Decarli’s calorie-adjusted liquid alcohol diet was given orally for 60?d. In addition to histopathology, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), mitochondrial membrane integrity, total cytochrome-c oxidase activity (TotalStCox), total mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase activity (TotalMtStCox), and caspase-3 values were used as liver parameters, and liver sections from all experimental groups were examined by electron microscopy.

Results: Using histopathological assessment, it was observed that there was a decline in liver hepatocyte vacuolization in the treatment group fed 50?mg PS/kg. The TotalStCox and TotalMtStCox values of this group differed from the EtOH control group (p?Discussion and conclusion: Daily administration of 50?mg/kg of C. comatus PS extract considerably reduced the negative effects of alcohol on liver structure and function.     

Changes of antioxidant enzyme activities during cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion of ischemic heart causes the generation of free radicals, and these radicals play an important role in post-ischemic tissue damage. These free radicals are removed by scavenger enzymes and antioxidants in the cell. In this study, erythrocyte catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities were determined in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS: Experimental design: Blood samples were obtained from the coronary sinus of patients at the following times: 1) Before cardiopulmonary bypass, 2) Immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass, 3) Fifteen minutes after the second specimen, 4) Thirty minutes after the second specimen. PATIENTS: this study was carried out on eleven patients undergoing open heart operation. MEASURES: catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzyme activities were determined in these patients. RESULTS. Catalase activity was significantly decreased in the third and fourth groups as compared with the first group, which was also the control group (p<0.05). Glutathione reductase activity in the third group was significantly higher as compared with control group (p<0.001). However, there were no differences in glutathione peroxidase activity among control group and other three groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the activities of antioxidant enzyme activities in erythrocytes are changed during the ischemia and reperfusion of the heart.