Trans fat intake lowers total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels without changing insulin sensitivity index in Wistar rats

Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that trans fat intake increases the risk of some chronic diseases. We hypothesize that trans fat intake would increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus by changing the lipid profile in plasma, the secretion of adipokines in adipose tissue, and the insulin sensitivity. Accordingly, the major objective of present study was to investigate the effect of dietary intake of trans fat on lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and adipokine levels in plasma. Two groups of Wistar rats were fed a diet containing 4.5% trans fat or a control diet containing no trans fat for 16 weeks. Fasting glucose level was monitored every 2 weeks. At the end of feeding experiment, blood, heart, kidney, liver, omental adipose tissue, and semitendinosus muscle were collected. The trans fat content in organs, lipid profile, adipokine, insulin, and glucose levels in plasma were analyzed. The trans fat content in adipose tissue, heart, kidney, liver, and muscle of rats fed trans fat were 169.9, 0.6, 1.2, 1.7, and 2.5 mg/g samples, respectively. The trans fat content in these organs contributed to 15.9%, 1.2%, 2.3%, 4.3%, and 6.1% of the total fat, respectively. The plasma glucose level, insulin level, and insulin sensitivity index were not significantly different between the trans fat and control groups. The results indicated that trans fat intake might not be related to insulin resistance. However, lipid profile and plasma adipokine levels were significantly changed after trans fat feeding. The trans fat fed group showed significantly lower total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the control group. The decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level may indicate the detrimental effect of trans fat intake on lipid profile. Adiponectin and resistin levels were significantly higher in the trans fat group than the control group. Leptin levels were significantly lower in the trans fat group than the control group. The results indicated that dietary intake of trans fat can significantly change the adipokine levels, but the possible links between adipokine level change caused by trans fat intake and metabolic effects of this change need further investigations.     

Developmental expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase in rat: a comparison of liver and lung development.

Metabolism is one of the major determinants for age-related changes in susceptibility to chemicals. Aldehydes are highly reactive molecules present in the environment that also can be produced during biotransformation of xenobiotics and endogenous metabolism. Although the lung is a major target for aldehyde toxicity, early development of aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) in lung has been poorly studied. The expression of ALDH in liver and lung across ages (postnatal day 1, 8, 22, and 60) was investigated in Wistar-Han rats. In adult, the majority of hepatic ALDH activity was found in mitochondria, while cytosolic ALDH activity was the highest contributor in lung. Total aldehyde oxidation capability in liver increases with age, but stays constant in lung. These overall developmental profiles of ALDH expression in a tissue appear to be determined by the different composition of ALDH isoforms within the tissue and their independent temporal and tissue-specific development. ALDH2 showed the most notable tissue-specific development. Hepatic ALDH2 was increased with age, while the pulmonary form did not. ALDH1 was at its maximum value at postnatal day 1 (PND1) and decreased thereafter both in liver and lung. ALDH3 increased with age in liver and lung, although ALDH3A1 was only detectible in lung. Collectively, the present study indicates that, in the case of aldehyde exposure, the in vivo responses would be tissue and age dependent.     

Otosclerosis involving the vestibular aqueduct and Menière's disease

The coexistence of otosclerosis and endolymphatic hydrops in the temporal bone have been described; however, the mechanism for the development of endolymphatic hydrops in otosclerosis remains unknown. Among 128 temporal bones with otosclerosis, involvement of the vestibular aqueduct by otosclerosis was observed in four temporal bones from two patients. In all four, the vestibular aqueduct was filled with active otosclerotic foci; the lumen of the endolymphatic duct and sac was narrowed as a result of fibrosis, and endolymphatic hydrops, more severe in the pars inferior than the pars superior, was observed. Collapse of the ductus reuniens and dilated saccule was seen in three temporal bones. Our study indicates that otosclerotic obstruction of the vestibular aqueduct may create a disturbance of the outflow and/or absorption of endolymph, leading to the development of endolymphatic hydrops and Meniere's disease, thus supporting the theory of longitudinal flow of endolymph.     

Mild gentamicin nephrotoxicity reduces the progression of chronic adriamycin nephrosis

SUMMARY: The effect of mild acute tubular injury on the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis was studied in pair-fed uninephrectomized male Wistar rats with established adriamycin nephrosis ( n = 34). Rats were stratified into three groups according to endogenous creatinine clearance (CrCl), proteinuria (Upr) and body weight (BW): (i) group 1 (Fe, n = 12) received a single intraperitoneal injection of ferric nitrilotriacetate (5 mg Fe/kg BW); (ii) group 2 (G, n = 10) three daily subcutaneous injections of gentamicin (60 mg/kg BW) and; (iii) group 3 (C, n = 12) saline injections. Serial CrCl (day 2, day 5, weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8) and renal histology (week 8) were examined following administration of nephrotoxin. CrCl was reduced on d2 (Fe: 0.78 ± 0.23 mL/min; mean ± SD) and day 5 (G: 0.91 ± 0.36 mL/min) as compared with C (1.22 ± 0.12 mL/min; P <0.05). There was no change in the serum creatinine and functional recovery occurred by d5 (Fe) and week 2 (G). Upr decreased transiently in G at week 2 (G: 482 ± 208 mg/day vs C: 716 ± 233; P = 0.05) despite similar food intake, baseline Upr and CrCl. At week 8, CrCl in Fe (0.84 ± 0.40 mL/min) was similar to C (0.84 ± 0.58 mL/min), whereas in G it remained stable (1.27 ± 0.39 mL/min; P <0.05). By morphometric analysis, mean relative interstitial volume (RIV) and glomerulosclerosis (GS) in Fe (RIV: 28.5 ± 13.4%; GS: 10.3 ± 12.3%) was no different to C (RIV: 24.5 ± 12.5%; GS: 20.9 ± 20.0%), whereas both parameters were reduced in G (RIV: 14.1 ± 8.1%; GS: 4.0 ± 4.8%; P <0.05). Mild gentamicin nephrotoxicity therefore reduced the progression of adriamycin nephrosis. the mechanism of this finding is unclear, but it may relate to altered glomerular and tubular cell handling of protein.     

Epoxyalkanoyls as novel ACE inhibitors

The epoxyalkanoyl derivatives were designed and synthesized as ACE inhibitors. Coupling of unsaturated carboxylic acids with amino acids and following epoxidation with dimethyldioxirane gave the epoxyalkanoyls with high yield. The inhibitory activity of synthesized compounds on angiotensin converting enzyme was IC₅₀ values of 0.06≈5.5 μM.     

Identification and localization of talin in chick retinal pigment epithelial cells

Retinal pigmented epithelial cells are adherent at their basal surface to Bruch's membrane and at their apical surface to the neural retina. We examined the expression and distribution of two proteins that are found in regions of cell-matrix interaction, talin and integrin. Talin is a 235-kDa cytoplasmic protein that has been localized to regions of cell-substrate adhesion. It binds to both integrin, a transmembrane glycoprotein complex, and to vinculin, a cytoskeletal protein. In the present study, we produced a polyclonal antibody to chicken gizzard talin. Using this antibody we showed by western blot analysis that talin is expressed by RPE cells and is found in the triton-soluble fraction. Talin was shown to co-localize with integrin and vinculin in the basal region of chick RPE cells isolated from 18-day-old chick embryos. Neither talin nor integrin was found in the apical processes or in the zonula adherens. Antibodies to vinculin showed staining both in the apical and basal regions of the RPE cells. The localization of integrin, talin and vinculin along the basal membrane suggests that this complex is important in the attachment of the RPE cells to the basement membrane. The distribution of integrin and talin was examined in primary cultures of RPE cells grown on permeable filters. In these cells, a polarized distribution of integrin and talin was not observed. This may suggest that the neural retina may be important for maintaining the differentiated state of the RPE cells.     

Localization of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow using new stimulator for the inching test.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of the TenElectrodes, a new stimulator for inching test, in the diagnosis and localization of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). METHODS: Sixty-two ulnar nerves in 40 control subjects and 24 ulnar nerves in 23 patients with typical symptoms and signs of UNE were studied. The inching test of ulnar motor nerve using TenElectrodes was done along 8 cm across the elbow in the extended position. RESULTS: In the inching test of the control group, the mean segmental latency difference was 0.19+/-0.08 ms. Maximal latency difference over a 1 cm segment did not exceed 0.40 ms in any of the controls but exceeded 0.5 ms or more in all clinical UNE patients. In all UNE patients, the lesion sites were identified by the inching test using TenElectrodes: the retroepicondylar groove (54.2%), the humeroulnar arcade (29.2%), and dual compression (16.6%). CONCLUSIONS: TenElectrodes is a useful stimulator for the inching test in the diagnosis of UNE. The precise localization of compression was possible in all patients with UNE and the most common site was the retroepicondylar groove.     

Retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma: a report of two cases

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare, malignant neoplasm arising from the olfactory epithelium. It has an aggressive biological behavior that is characterized by local recurrence, atypical distant metastasis, and poor long-term prognosis. The incidence of cervical lymph node metastasis in olfactory neuroblastoma is variable, and treatment modalities are controversial. Moreover, few reports have been published concerning retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma. We present two cases of olfactory neuroblastoma with retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. In addition, we provided a review of the current literature regarding olfactory neuroblastoma and retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis from olfactory neuroblastoma.     

A case of recurrent gastric cancer successfully treated with a combination of cisplatin and carmofur

A 51-year-old man with recurrent gastric cancer was treated by combined administration of Cisplatin and Carmofur. The target sites were the abdominal lymph nodes and the area of invasion to the stomach. Cisplatin (50 mg/body/day) was given for 3 days, while Carmofur (400-800 mg/body/day) was administered daily in 1 course. After 1 course of administration, the target tumor was reduced in size and the therapy was continued. A complete response was confirmed by upper gastrointestinal roentgenography, endoscopy and echography after 8 courses of Cisplatin administration. The patient has survived for 2 years 6 months in a state of CR. This case suggests that a combination therapy of Cisplatin and Fluoropyrimidine derivatives might be effective for gastric cancer.