The effects of the gut bacterial product, gassericin A, on obesity in mice.

Background: Obesity can arise from various physiological disorders. This research examined the impacts of the bacteriocin, gassericin A, which is generated by certain gut bacteria, using an in vivo model of obesity.

Methods: Fifty Swiss NIH mice were randomly assigned to five different groups.

Protective effect of ellagic acid against high-glucose-induced injury in human umbilical venous endothelial cells.

Objective: There is escalating evidence suggesting the beneficial effects of ellagic acid (EA) on the cardiovascular system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of EA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) against high glucose (HG)- induced endothelial dysfunction and to study the potential roles of adropin and nitric oxide (NO) in this regard.

Materials And Methods: The experimental groups consisted of normal and HG (30 mM, 48 hr)-treated HUVECs incubated without or with 5 or 10 μM of EA (6 groups of at least 6 replicates, each).

Inhaled paraquat-induced lung injury in rat, improved by the extract of Zataria multiflora boiss and PPARγ agonist, pioglitazone.

The effects of a PPAR-γ agonist, pioglitazone and Zataria multiflora (Z. multiflora) on inhaled paraquat (PQ)-induced lung oxidative stress, inflammation, pathological changes and tracheal responsiveness were examined. The study was carried out in control rats exposed to normal aerosol of saline, PQl and PQh groups exposed to aerosols of 27 and 54 mg/m3 PQ, groups exposed to high PQ concentration (PQh) and treated with 200 and 800 mg/kg/day Z.

A novel approach towards obesity: The use of a bacterial product, gassericin A, in 3T3-L1 cells.

Background And Objective: The problem of obesity and its related complications are adversely affecting human society. We studied the effects of gassericin A, a bacteriocin produced by the intestinal bacteria, on adipocyte differentiation and development.

Design: Gassericin A was purified from Lactobacillus gasseri LA39 and was added to the culture medium of 3T3-L1 cells in two phases: Phase 1, 3T3-L1 cells were incubated with gassericin A while being induced to adipocytes (days 1-7); phase 2, the cells were incubated with the bacteriocin after being induced to adipocytes (days 8-12).

Carvacrol and PPARγ agonist, pioglitazone, affects inhaled paraquat-induced lung injury in rats.

Exposed rats to normal saline and paraquat (PQ) aerosol as control and PQ group, rats exposed to PQ and treated with 20 and 80 mg/kg/day carvacrol, 5 and 10 mg/kg/day pioglitazone, low dose of pioglitazone + carvacrol and 0.03 mg/kg/day dexamethasone (Dexa) for 16 days after the end of PQ exposure were studied (n = 6 in each group). Lung pathological changes, tracheal responsiveness to methacholine and ovalbumin (OVA) as well as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and interleukin (IL)-6 level in the lung tissue homogenize as well as TGF-β, IL-6, oxidant and antioxidant levels oxidant and antioxidants were increased in PQ group (p < 0.

Immediate and late systemic and lung effects of inhaled paraquat in rats.

The immediate and the late effects of inhaled Paraquat (PQ) on systemic and lung inflammation and oxidative stress were investigated. Rats were exposed to saline (control group) and two doses of inhaled PQ (27 and 54 mg/m) and studied variables were measured: 1) one day after the end of PQ exposure as "immediate condition", 2) 16 days after the end of PQ exposure as "late condition". Total and differential white blood cells (WBC) counts, lipid peroxidation and nitrite were increased but thiol, superoxide dismutase and catalase in the blood and BALF as well as methacholine EC50 was reduced in both conditions in the animals exposed to PQ compared to control groups (p < 0.

Paraquat-induced systemic inflammation and increased oxidative markers in rats improved by extract and carvacrol.

Objective: Paraquat (PQ) is a herbicide which induces oxidative stress and inflammation. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects were shown for (Z) and carvacrol previously. The effects of Z hydroalcoholic extract and carvacrol on systemic inflammation and oxidative stress induced by inhaled PQ were examined in this study.

Carvacrol and influenced the PPARγ agonist effects on systemic inflammation and oxidative stress induced by inhaled paraquat in rat.

Objectives: The effects of PPAR-γ agonist alone and in combination with carvacrol and on inhaled paraquat (PQ) induced-systemic inflammation and oxidative stress were examined.

Materials And Methods: Control group exposed to normal saline aerosol, one group exposed to 54 mg/m PQ aerosol and four groups exposed to PQ aerosol and treated with 5 mg/kg/day pioglitazone, pioglitazone + 200 mg/kg/day Z. extract, pioglitazone + 20 mg/kg/day carvacrol, and 0.

Cardioprotective effects of resveratrol following myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

Resveratrol (RSV), a plant origin polyphenol, has shown beneficial cardiovascular effects. In this study, isolated hearts from male Wistar rats were studied using the Langendorff technique. Following 30 min stabilization, the hearts underwent 30 min global ischemia and 120 min reperfusion.

Nitric oxide plays a pivotal role in cardioprotection induced by pomegranate juice against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

Pomegranate juice (Pg) has demonstrated cardiovascular beneficial effects. The current research intends to investigate the roles of nitric oxide (NO) and antioxidants in Pg-induced cardioprotection against ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Isolated hearts from anesthetized rats were subjected to 30-min global ischemia followed by 120-min reperfusion.

Cardioprotective Effects of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Juice in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease.

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of pomegranate juice in patients with ischemic heart disease. One hundred patients, diagnosed with unstable angina or myocardial infarction, were randomly assigned to the test and the control groups (n = 50, each).

Liver ischemia preconditions the heart against ischemia-reperfusion arrhythmias.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the hypothesis that an antiarrhythmic effect might be obtained by ischemic preconditioning of the liver, and also to characterize the potential underlying mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats were anesthetized by thiopental sodium (50 mg/kg, IP) followed by IV injection of heparin (250 IU). Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) was induced by 3 cycles of 5 min liver ischemia followed by 5 min of reperfusion.

Lack of effect of proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) deletion on the pathophysiological changes produced by lipopolysaccharide in the mouse: comparison with dexamethasone.

This study tested the hypothesis that activation of proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) contributes towards the pathophysiology of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced shock in the mouse. The effects of LPS on plasma glucose, biochemical markers of hepatic, renal and pancreatic exocrine function and lung content of myeloperoxidase (MPO) were examined in homozygous PAR-2 knockout mice (PAR-2 -/-) and genetically equivalent, homozygous PAR-2 +/+ mice. The effect of LPS was also examined in normal mice receiving dexamethasone (10 mg kg(-1), i.