Methods: In this study, AA was administered orally at an individual dose of 300 and 2000 mg/kg body weight to group 1 and 2 respectively, while group 3 served as normal control. All the animals were observed for 2 weeks to determine any behavioral and physical changes. On day 15, blood was collected for hematological and biochemical investigation, later animals from all the three groups were euthanized to harvest and store essential organs for histopathological analysis. Four different staining techniques; hematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, Periodic acid Schiff and Oil O Red were used to investigate any alterations in different tissues through microscopical observation.
Results: The results of the study showed no morbidity and mortality at two different dosage of AA treatment. Daily food & water intake, body weight, relative organ weight, hematological and biochemical parameters were detected to be normal with no severe alteration seen through microscopical investigation in the structure of harvested tissues. Our findings support the safety profile of AA, which was well tolerated at higher dose. Thus, an in-detail study on the subacute disease model is warranted.
METHODS: Blood and pancreas were collected from adult male diabetic rats receiving 28days treatment with VVSAE orally. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin and lipid profile levels and activity levels of anti-oxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase-SOD, catalase-CAT and glutathione peroxidase-GPx) in the pancreas were determined by biochemical assays. Histopathological changes in the pancreas were examined under light microscopy and levels of insulin, glucose transporter (GLUT)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Ikkβ and caspase-3 mRNA and protein were analyzed by real-time PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry respectively. Radical scavenging activity of VVSAE was evaluated by in-vitro anti-oxidant assay while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the major compounds in the extract.
RESULTS: GC-MS analyses indicated the presence of compounds that might exert anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis effects. Near normal FBG, HbAIc, lipid profile and serum insulin levels with lesser signs of pancreatic destruction were observed following administration of VVSAE to diabetic rats. Higher insulin, GLUT-2, SOD, CAT and GPx levels but lower TNF-α, Ikkβ and caspase-3 levels were also observed in the pancreas of VVSAE-treated diabetic rats (p<0.05 compared to non-treated diabetic rats). The extract possesses high in-vitro radical scavenging activities.
CONCLUSION: In conclusions, administration of VVSAE to diabetic rats could help to protect the pancreas against oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis-induced damage while preserving pancreatic function near normal in diabetes.
METHODS: Two parameters were measured (i) rate of glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells in-vitro (ii) degree of pancreatic destruction in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced male diabetic rats receiving M. pumilum aqueous extract (M.P) (250 and 500mg/kg/day) as reflected by levels of pancreatic oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. In the meantime, phyto-chemical compounds in M.P were also identified by using LC-MS.
RESULTS: M.P was found able to enhance glucose uptake by 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells in-vitro while its administration to the male diabetic rats causes decreased in the fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels but causes increased in insulin and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, to near normal. Levels of oxidative stress in the pancreas as reflected by levels of lipid peroxidation product (LPO) decreased while levels of anti-oxidantive enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPx) in pancreas increased. Additionally, levels of inflammation as reflected by NF-κB p65, Ikkβ and TNF-α levels decreased while apoptosis levels as reflected by caspase-9 and Bax levels decreased. Anti-apoptosis marker, Bcl-2 levels in pancreas increased.
CONCLUSIONS: The ability of M.P to enhance glucose uptake and reduces pancreatic complications could account for its beneficial effects in treating DM.
METHODS: SLBH at 1 and 2g/kg/b.w. was given orally to streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide-induced male diabetic rats for 28days. Metabolic parameters (fasting blood glucose-FBG and lipid profiles-LP and serum insulin) were measured by biochemical assays. Distribution and expression level of insulin, oxidative stress marker i.e. catalase, inflammatory markers i.e. IKK-β, TNF-α, IL-1β and apoptosis marker i.e. caspase-9 in the pancreatic islets were identified and quantified respectively by immunohistochemistry. Levels of NF-κβ in pancreas were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).
RESULTS: SLBH administration to diabetic male rats prevented increase in FBG, total cholesterols (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. However, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and serum insulin levels in diabetic rats receiving SLBH increased. Additionally, histopathological changes and expression level of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis markers in pancreatic islets of diabetic rats decreased with increased expression level of insulin in the islets. LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several compounds in SLBH that might be responsible for these effects.
CONCLUSIONS: SLBH has great potential to be used as agent to protect the pancreas against damage and dysfunction where these could account for its anti-diabetic properties.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS: To ensure conceptual and item equivalence, the original version of the PCPI-S will be reviewed and adapted for cultural context by an expert committee. The instrument will subsequently be translated into Malay language using the forward-backward translation method by two independent bilingual speaking individuals. This will be pretested in four primary care clinics and refined accordingly. The instrument will be assessed for its psychometric properties, such as test-retest reliability, construct and internal validity, using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Study findings will be disseminated to healthcare professionals and academicians in the field through publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations, as well as at managerial clinic sites for practice improvement. The study was approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM/NIHSEC/ P18-766 (14) and Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (2018-14363-19627).
PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the accuracy of 3D digital casts generated by 4 photogrammetry software programs (Agisoft Metashape, 3DF Zephyr, Meshroom, and Polycam) and casts from 2 conventional impression materials (alginate and polyvinyl siloxane [PVS]) for the fabrication of nasal maxillofacial prostheses.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A stone cast of a patient's nose was used as the basis for generating a reference digital 3D cast and another 54 test 3D casts. The reference cast was created by scanning the stone cast using a FARO Optor Lab 3D scanner. The 54 test 3D casts were generated and divided into 6 test groups as follows: Agisoft group: 9 3D casts generated using Agisoft Metashape, a commercial personal computer (PC) software program; 3DF Zephyr group: 9 3D casts generated using 3DF Zephyr, a commercial PC software program; Meshroom group: 9 3D casts generated using Meshroom, a free PC software program; Polycam group: 9 3D casts generated using the Polycam, a commercial Android cloud application; PVS group: 9 3D casts generated indirectly by 3D scanning a gypsum cast made from a polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression of the stone nose cast; and Alginate group: 9 3D casts generated indirectly by scanning a master cast made using alginate impressions of the stone nose cast. Deviation measurements of the produced specimens were analyzed using the Geomagic Control X software program, and statistical comparisons were performed employing the Kruskal-Wallis test (α=.05).
RESULTS: The results showed that the 3DF Zephyr group had the smallest deviation measurements (median: 0.057 mm ±0.012) among the 4 photogrammetry software programs, while the alginate impression group had the largest deviations (median: 0.151 mm ±0.094) of the 2 conventional impression materials. Significant differences were observed among the 4 photogrammetry software programs and the 2 conventional impression materials (H=39.41, df=5, P.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Photogrammetry software programs, specifically Agisoft Metashape and 3DF Zephyr, demonstrated better accuracy than conventional impression materials in creating nasal digital casts. Photogrammetry has the potential to improve workflow and reduce patient discomfort during the fabrication of maxillofacial prostheses. Further research is needed to validate these findings in clinical settings.
METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and received 3-days estradiol-17β benzoate (E2) plus genistein (25, 50, or 100 mg kg(-1) day(-1) ) or 3-days E2 followed by 3-days E2 plus progesterone with genistein (25, 50, or 100 mg kg(-1) day(-1) ). A day after last treatment, uterine fluid secretion rate was determined by in vivo uterine perfusion with rats under anesthesia. Animals were sacrificed and uteri were harvested and subjected for histological analyses. Luminal/outer uterine circumference was determined and distribution of AQP-1, 2, 5, and 7 in endometrium was visualized by immunofluorescence. Expression of AQP-1, 2, 5, and 7 proteins and mRNAs were determined by Western blotting and Real-time PCR respectively.
RESULTS: Combined treatment of E2 with high dose genistein (50 and 100 mg kg(-1) day(-1) ) resulted in significant decrease in uterine fluid volume, secretion rate and expression of AQP-1, 2, 5, and 7 proteins and mRNAs in uterus (p
METHODS: Uteri from ovariectomized, female Sprague-Dawley rats receiving seven days estradiol, progesterone or genistein (25, 50 and 100mg/kg/day) were harvested and levels of AQP-1, 2, 5 and 7 proteins and mRNAs were determined by Western blotting and Real-time PCR (qPCR) respectively. Distribution of these proteins in uterus was observed by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: Genistein caused a dose-dependent increase in uterine AQP-1, 2, 5 and 7 protein and mRNA expression, however at the levels lower than following estradiol or progesterone stimulations. Effects of genistein were antagonized by estradiol receptor blocker, ICI 182780. Estradiol caused the highest AQP-2 protein and mRNA expression while progesterone caused the highest AQP-1, 5 and 7 protein and mRNA expression in uterus. AQP-1, 2, 5 and 7 protein were found to be distributed in the myometrium as well as in uterine luminal and glandular epithelia and endometrial blood vessels. In conclusion, the observed effects of estradiol, progesterone and genistein on uterine AQP-1, 2, 5 and 7 expression could help to explain the differences in the amount of fluid accumulated in the uterus under these different conditions.