Quantitative determination of creatine kinase isoenzyme catalytic concentrations in serum using immunological methods

Effect of Canagliflozin, an SGLT2 Inhibitor, in Comparison with Atorvastatin on Dexamethasone-Induced Hepatic Steatosis in Albino Rats

Background:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease that is considered the most common liver disease all over the world. It causes metabolic and hepatic damage that can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective:

Our research pointed to study the preventive effects of canagliflozin (CANA) or atorvastatin (ATO) on dexamethasone-induced hepatic steatosis and dyslipidemia.

Methods:

Animals were grouped as; control group; DEX group; ATO/DEX-treated group; CANA/DE-treated group and ATO+CANA/DEX-treated group. Results: Significant elevations in GSH, SOD and CAT activities, while high significant decreases in serum GOT, GPT, ALP, urea, blood glucose, CK-MB, LDH, T.G, T.C, MDA and P.C levels were demonstrated in treated groups as compared to DEX group in the experimental periods. Also, significant reductions in SGPT, SGPT, ALP, CK-MB, LDH, T.C and T.G levels were detected in CANA/DEX group as compared to ATO/DEX group. All these results were confirmed with histopathological findings where the severe damages and fatty degeneration in both kidney and liver tissues developed by dexamethasone administration resolved by administration of atorvastatin alone or better with Canagliflozin.

Conclusion:

These results indicate that canagliflozin was as effective as atorvastatin or combination of both in reducing dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis. The antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects of canagliflozin may be responsible for the beneficial effects.

Effect of Carnitine and herbal mixture extract on obesity induced by high fat diet in rats

BACKGROUND

Obesity-associated type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing throughout the world. It is generally recognized that natural products with a long history of safety can modulate obesity.

AIM

To investigate the development of obesity in response to a high fat diet (HFD) and to estimate the effect of L-carnitine and an Egyptian Herbal mixture formulation (HMF) (consisting of T. chebula, Senae, rhubarb, black cumin, aniseed, fennel and licorice) on bodyweight, food intake, lipid profiles, renal, hepatic, cardiac function markers, lipid Peroxidation, and the glucose and insulin levels in blood and liver tissue in rats.

METHOD

White male albino rats weighing 80-90 gm, 60 days old. 10 rats were fed a normal basal diet (Cr), 30 rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks during the entire study. Rats of the HFD group were equally divided into 3 subgroups each one include 10 rats. The first group received HFD with no supplement (HFD), the 2nd group HFD+L-carnitine and the third group received HFD+HMF. Carnitine and HMF were administered at 10th week (start time for treatments) for 4 weeks.Body weight, lipid profile & renal function (urea, uric acid creatinine) ALT & AST activities, cardiac markers, (LDH, C.K-NAC and MB) the oxidative stress marker reduced glutathione (GSH), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) catalase activity, in addition to glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance in serum & tissues were analyzed.

RESULTS

Data showed that feeding HFD diet significantly increased final body weight, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, & LDL concentration compared with controls, while significantly decreasing HDL; meanwhile treatment with L-carnitine, or HMF significantly normalized the lipid profile.Serum ALT, urea, uric acid, creatinine, LDH, CK-NAC, CK-MB were significantly higher in the high fat group compared with normal controls; and administration of L-carnitine or herbal extract significantly lessened the effect of the HFD. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and high insulin resistance (IR) significantly increased in HFD in comparison with the control group. The treatment with L-carnitine or HMF improved the condition. HFD elevated hepatic MDA and lipid peroxidation associated with reduction in hepatic GSH and catalase activity; whereas administration of L-carnitine or herbal extract significantly ameliorated these hepatic alterations.

CONCLUSION

HFD induced obesity associated with a disturbed lipid profile, defective antioxidant stability, and high values of IR parameters; this may have implications for the progress of obesity related problems. Treatment with L-carnitine, or HMF extract improved obesity and its associated metabolic problems in different degrees. Also HMF has antioxidant, hypolipidaemic insulin sensitizing effects. Moreover HMF might be a safe combination on the organs whose functions were examined, as a way to surmount the obesity state; and it has a distinct anti-obesity effect.

Renal and liver functions and muscle injuries during training and after competition in Thai boxers

OBJECTIVE

To observe whether there are any injuries to muscle and deleterious effects on the liver and kidneys during training and after competition in Thai boxers.

METHODS

Serum levels of intracellular enzymes and specific markers in the urine were measured during training and after fighting in Thai boxers.

RESULTS

During the training period, the activities of muscle enzymes were significantly increased whereas those of the liver enzymes and creatinine clearance were not changed. After a match, on the other hand, both liver and muscle enzyme activities were elevated but renal function was decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

The training protocol for Thai boxers has virtually no deleterious effect on liver and renal function, but damage to skeletal muscle cells may occur. However, competition may cause muscle injury without any obvious damage to the liver and kidneys.