Methods: Twenty-four adult male Balb/C mice were divided into six groups: i) normal diet; ii) positive control diet; iii) negative control diet; and iv) HFD with SCGO at 12.5 mg/kg body weight (mg/kg BW); v) HFD with SCGO at 25 mg/kg BW, vi) HFD with SCGO at 50 mg/kg BW. Liver weight and morphology, spleen weight, serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), TNF-α expression in the aorta and lipid profiles were assessed at the end of the experimental period.
Results: SCGO treatment was associated with significant decreases in liver and spleen weight as well as amelioration of hepatic steatosis. SCGO treatment also decreased TNF-α levels and expression. Serum levels of SOD in the SCGO groups were significantly increased compared with the negative control group. Lipid profiles were improved in the SCGO treatment groups compared with the negative control group.
Conclusion: SCGO as an herbal medicine could be an effective treatment for degenerative disorders caused by HFD.
METHOD: Male SD rats were divided into five groups (n = 8), injected with LPS and thereafter treated with LA (50 and 100 mg/kg) or vehicle orally for 14 days. After fourteen days of LA treatment, all the groups were humanely killed to investigate biochemical parameters followed by pro-inflammatory cytokine markers; tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β. Moreover, liver tissues were harvested for histopathological studies and evaluation of targeted protein expression with western blot and localisation through immunohistochemistry (IHC).
RESULTS: The study results showed that treatment of LA 50 and 100 mg/kg for 14 days were able to reduce the elevated level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, liver inflammation, and downregulated the expression of TLR4/NF-κB mediating proteins in liver tissues.
CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that treatment of LA has a protective role against LPS-induced liver inflammation in rats, thus, warrants further in-depth investigation through mechanistic approaches in different study models.
METHODS: Since 2008, the Pediatric Swiss IBD Cohort Study has collected data on the pediatric IBD population in Switzerland. Data on 329 patients were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS: A total of 55 patients (16.7%) experienced 1-4 EIM (39 Crohn disease, 12 ulcerative colitis, and 4 IBD-unclassified patients). At IBD onset, presence of EIM was more frequent than in the adult population (8.5% vs 5.0%, P = 0.014). EIM were more frequent in Crohn disease when compared to ulcerative colitis/IBD-unclassified (22.5% vs 10.3%, P = 0.003). The most prevalent EIM were peripheral arthritis (26/329, 7.9%) and aphthous stomatitis (24/329, 7.3%). Approximately 27.6% of all EIM appeared before IBD diagnosis. Median time between IBD diagnosis and occurrence of first EIM was 1 month (-37.5-149.0). Thirty-one of the 55 patients (56.4%) were treated with 1 or more anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. IBD patients with EIM were more likely to be treated with anti-TNF compared to those without (56.4% vs 35.0%, P = 0.003). Response rates to anti-TNF depended on underlying EIM and were best for peripheral arthritis (61.5%) and uveitis (66.7%).
CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of pediatric patients with IBD, EIM were frequently encountered. In up to 30%, EIM appeared before IBD diagnosis. Knowledge of these findings may translate into an increased awareness of underlying IBD, thereby decreasing diagnostic delay. Anti-TNF for the treatment of certain EIM is effective, although a substantial proportion of new EIM may present despite ongoing anti-TNF therapy.