Effect of beta-carotene on titanium oxide nanoparticles-induced testicular toxicity in mice

Objective

This study evaluated the protective effect of beta-carotene (BC) on titanium oxide nanoparticle (TNP) induced spermatogenesis defects in mice.

Materials and methods

Thirty-two NMRI mice were randomly divided into four groups. BC group received 10 mg/kg of BC for 35 days. TNP group received 300 mg/kg TNP for 35 days. TNP+BC group initially received 10 mg/kg BC for 10 days and was followed by concomitant administration of 300 mg/kg TNP for 35 days. Control group received only normal saline for 35 days. Epididymal sperm parameters, testicular histopathology, spermatogenesis assessments and testosterone assay were performed for evaluation of the TNP and BC effects on testis.

Results

Serum testosterone levels were markedly decreased in TNP-intoxicated mice. Epididymal sperm parameters including sperm number, motility and percentage of abnormality were significantly changed in TNP-intoxicated mice (p < 0.01). Histopathological criteria such as epithelial vacuolization, sloughing of germ cells and detachment were significantly increased in TNP-intoxicated mice (p < 0.001). BC+TNP treatment significantly prevented these changes (p < 0.05). BC also significantly elevates testosterone levels in BC+TNP group compared to TNP-treated mice (p < 0.01).

Discussion and conclusion

The results of this study demonstrated that BC improved the spermatogenesis defects in TNP-treated mice. BC had a potent protective effect against the testicular toxicity and might be clinically useful.     

Genetic associations in community context: a mixed model approach identifies a functional variant in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">RBP4</Emphasis> gene associated with HDL-C dyslipidemia

Background

The objective of this study was to examine individual and community factors that influence high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) dyslipidemia in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), a genetically isolated population in Canada with a high prevalence of HDL-C dyslipidemia.

Methods

First, a group of single nucleotide polymorphisms from 10 metabolic trait candidate genes was tested using a multivariate logistic regression model. The significant SNPs were entered into the second phase, where a mixed logistic model incorporated the community disease risk factors together with the individual factors as the fixed part of the model and the geographic region as a random effect.

Results

Analysis of 1489 subjects (26.9% HDL-C dyslipidemia) identified rs3758539, a non-coding variant in the 5’UTR of RBP4, to be associated with HDL-C dyslipidemia (odds ratio?=?1.45, 95% confidence interval?=?1.08–1.97, p?=?0.01). The association remained significant, and the effect size did not change after the incorporation of individual and community risk factors from 17 geographic regions (odds ratio: 1.41, 95% confidence interval?=?1.03–1.93, p?=?0.03) in NL. Besides this variant, sex, BMI, and smoking also showed significant associations with HDL-C dyslipidemia, whereas no role was identified for the community factors.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the use of community-level data in a genetic association testing. It reports a functional variant in the promoter of RBP4, a gene directly involved in lipoprotein metabolism, to be associated with HDL-C dyslipidemia. These findings indicate that individual factors are the main reason for a higher prevalence of HDL-C dyslipidemia in the NL population.

     

Ketorolac and Predicted Severe Acute Pancreatitis: A Randomized,Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective: We evaluated the effect of ketorolac on reducing the severity of acute pancreatitis.Design and Setting: Randomized clinical trial performed in a University hospital.Participants: There were 56 adult patients, with predicted severe acute pancreatitis, randomly divided into two groups.Methods: The patients in the study group received intravenous ketorolac, 10 mg, three times daily from the time of enrollment for a maximum of 5 days, as needed, along with standard medical treatment. Primary outcome measure was the change in the serum level of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Patients were also followed up in terms of hospitalization duration, need for intensive care unit (ICU), organ failure development, persistent organ failure, pancreatic necrosis, nutritional assessment, and mortality. The study continued to gather clinical follow-up information up to 4 months.Results: Serum level of hs-CRP was significantly lower in the ketorolac group compared with the control group on days 3, 4, and 5. There were no significant differences in organ failure, pseudocyst formation, acute necrotic collection, mortality, and ICU transfer between groups. Days of hospitalization were significantly lower in the study group. The feeding start time was significantly shorter in the study group with no need for tube feeding in the ketorolac group. Frequency of NPO (not per oral) was significantly lower in the ketorolac group.Conclusion: The use of ketorolac may improve feeding outcomes and shorten length of hospitalization in predicted severe acute pancreatitis.     

Cardiopulmonary imaging, functional and laboratory studies in sickle cell disease associated pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) occurs in approximately 30% of adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) and is an independent risk factor for early death. In this study, we aimed to determine the value of general laboratory testing, plain chest radiography, electrocardiography (ECG), high-resolution computer tomography (HRCT) of the thorax, pulmonary function testing, and plasma N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with SCD-related PHT. A cohort of 85 ambulatory sickle cell patients were prospectively screened for PHT with echocardiography (defined as a tricuspid regurgitation flow velocity of > or =2.5 m/sec). All patients were systematically evaluated by the aforementioned diagnostic tests comparing patients with and without PHT. The prevalence of PHT was 41% in HbSS/HbSbeta(0)-thalassemia patients and 13% in HbSC/HbSbeta(+)-thalassemia patients. No statistically significant differences were detected in ECG, chest radiography, HRCT, and pulmonary function testing between patients with and without PHT. The degree of anemia and renal dysfunction, but not the presence of PHT, were the most important determinants of plasma (NT-pro)BNP levels. The performed imaging and functional studies do not seem to be of value in identifying etiological conditions (such as airflow obstruction or parenchymal lung disease) nor do they offer clues to the presence of mild PHT in SCD.     

Efficacy and safety of a new insulin infusion protocol adapted for the target glycemic range of 140–180 mg/dl in adult critical care units: a tertiary care centre experience

International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries - In critical care setting, insulin infusion rather than subcutaneous insulin is recommended to maintain the blood glucose (BG) level in...