The Role of N-Acetylcysteine Supplementation on the Oxidative Stress Levels, Genotoxicity and Lineage Commitment Potential of Murine Haematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells.

Objectives: The maintenance of haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) is crucial to ensure a sufficient supply of functional cells for research or therapeutic applications. However, when exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a normoxic microenvironment, HSPCs exhibit genomic instability which may diminish their quantity and quality. This study aimed to investigate the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation on the oxidative stress levels, genotoxicity and lineage commitment potential of murine haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs).

Low-dose Nicotine Exposure Induced the Oxidative Damage of Reproductive Organs and Altered the Sperm Characteristics of Adolescent Male Rats.

Background: Nicotine is a major toxic and hazardous component of cigarette smoke, and it has been widely used in nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). This study was aimed to investigate the effects of chronic low-dose nicotine on sperm characteristics and reproductive organ integrity in adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Methods: Twelve rats were equally divided into two groups.

Aqueous calyxes extract of Roselle or Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn supplementation improves liver morphology in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

Background And Study Aims: The complex series of deleterious events among diabetes patients leads to multiple organ failure. Therefore, a holistic approach of treatment is urgently required to prevent worsening of complications. The present investigation was carried out to study the possible protective effects of Roselle or Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn (HSL) calyxes aqueous extract, as an antidiabetic and antioxidant agent against oxidative liver injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Mechanisms of Diabetes-Induced Liver Damage: The role of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Diabetes mellitus is a non-communicable disease that occurs in both developed and developing countries. This metabolic disease affects all systems in the body, including the liver. Hyperglycaemia, mainly caused by insulin resistance, affects the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins and can lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which can further progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and, finally, hepatocellular carcinomas.

Comparison of Digestion Methods for the Determination of Trace Elements and Heavy Metals in Human Hair and Nails.

Background: Microwave is the most reliable sample digestion method. However, it requires expensive microwave digester automation and has relatively low productivity. In this study, three non-automated digestion methods, i.

The role of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Roselle) in maintenance of ex vivo murine bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells- (HSCs-) based therapy requires ex vivo expansion of HSCs prior to therapeutic use. However, ex vivo culture was reported to promote excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), exposing HSCs to oxidative damage. Efforts to overcome this limitation include the use of antioxidants.

Fenitrothion alters sperm characteristics in rats: ameliorating effects of palm oil tocotrienol-rich fraction.

Exposure to organophosphate insecticides such as fenitrothion (FNT) in agriculture and public health has been reported to affect sperm quality. Antioxidants may have a potential to reduce spermatotoxic effects induced by organophosphate. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of palm oil tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) in reducing the detrimental effects occurring in spermatozoa of FNT-treated rats.

The protective effect of aqueous extracts of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L. UKMR-2) against red blood cell membrane oxidative stress in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of aqueous extracts of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L. UKMR-2) against red blood cell (RBC) membrane oxidative stress in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230-250 g were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 rats each): control group (N), roselle-treated control group, diabetic group, and roselle-treated diabetic group.

Antioxidant Activity of Tocotrienol Rich Fraction Prevents Fenitrothion-induced Renal Damage in Rats.

Fenitrothion (FNT) is an organophosphate compound widely used as pesticide in Malaysia. The present study aims to investigate effects of palm oil tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) on the renal damage of FNT-treated rats. A total of 40 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups randomly, the control, TRF, FNT and FNT+TRF groups.

Fenitrothion induced oxidative stress and morphological alterations of sperm and testes in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Objective: Fenitrothion residue is found primarily in soil, water and food products and can lead to a variety of toxic effects on the immune, hepatobiliary and hematological systems. However, the effects of fenitrothion on the male reproductive system remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fenitrothion on the sperm and testes of male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Protective role of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extract against streptozotocin induced sperm damage in diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus contributes to male sexual dysfunction and infertility by modulating oxidative damage. To date, a number of studies have demonstrated antioxidant properties of Linn. This study was designed to investigate the effects of UKMR-2 variety on sperm functioning of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Selenium supplementation reduced oxidative stress in diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.

Selenium in the form of sodium selenite (SSE) is an essential micronutrient which known to possess antioxidant and anticancer properties. This study emphasizes the role of selenium on oxidative stress in experimental rats with N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) initiated and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) promoted multistage hepatocellular carcinogenesis (HCC). Rats were divided randomly into six groups: negative control, positive control (DEN+2-AAF), preventive group (pre-SEE 4 weeks+DEN), preventive control (respective control for preventive group), therapeutic group (DEN+post-SSE 12 weeks) and therapeutic control (respective control for therapeutic group).

The role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in diabetic complications.

Diabetes is considered to be one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. There is a growing scientific and public interest in connecting oxidative stress with a variety of pathological conditions including diabetes mellitus (DM) as well as other human diseases. Previous experimental and clinical studies report that oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis and development of complications of both types of DM.

Nephroprotective effects of Zingiber zerumbet Smith ethyl acetate extract against paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats.

Paracetamol (PCM) overdose can cause nephrotoxicity with oxidative stress as one of the possible mechanisms mediating the event. In this study, the effects of ethyl acetate extract of Zingiber zerumbet rhizome [200 mg per kg of body weight (mg/kg) and 400 mg/kg] on PCM-induced nephrotoxicity were examined. Rats were divided into five groups containing 10 rats each.

Absence of p53 gene expression in selenium molecular prevention of chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Background/aim: p53 pathway is thought by many researchers to be critically involved in selenium's chemoprevention or in hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression of p53, p21 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) using preventive and therapeutic approaches of selenium in chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Materials And Methods: Rats were divided randomly into six groups: Negative control, positive control (diethyl nitrosamine +2-acetylaminofluorene), preventive group, preventive control (respective control for preventive group), therapeutic group and therapeutic control (respective control for therapeutic group).

Nuclear factor-kappa B as a promising target for selenium chemoprevention in rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

Background And Aims: Selenium's molecular mechanism for cancer chemoprevention remains unknown. We aimed to study the gene expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), tumor growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and cyclin D1 and the effects of sodium selenite using preventive and therapeutic approaches in chemically-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Methods: Rats were divided randomly into six groups: negative control, positive control (diethyl nitrosamine [DEN] + 2-acetylaminofluorene [2-AAF]), preventive group, preventive control (respective control for preventive group), therapeutic group and therapeutic control (respective control for therapeutic group).

Supplementation of selenium reduces chemical hepatocarcinogenesis in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Selenium is an essential micronutrient mineral found mainly in soils and has been shown to prevent certain cancers in humans and animals. However, the dose and effects of selenium on liver cancer are controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sodium selenite (4 mg/kg in drinking water) on chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Toxic effects of Litsea elliptica Blume essential oil on red blood cells of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Litsea elliptica Blume leaves have been traditionally used as medicinal herbs because of its antimutagenicity, chemopreventative and insecticidal properties. In this study, the toxic effects of L. elliptica essential oil against Sprague-Dawley rat's red blood cells (RBCs) were evaluated.

The effects of palm oil tocotrienol-rich fraction supplementation on biochemical parameters, oxidative stress and the vascular wall of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Objective: This study examined the effects of palm oil tocotrienol-rich fractions on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: Animals were divided into three groups: (i) normal non-diabetic (NDM), (ii) diabetic treated (tocotrienol-rich fractions - TRF) and (iii) diabetic untreated (non-TRF). The treatment group received oral administration of tocotrienol-rich fractions (200 mg/kg body weight) daily for eight weeks.

An open label study of the use of EEG biofeedback using beta training to reduce anxiety for patients with cardiac events.

Objective: To establish the effectiveness of EEG biofeedback using beta training as a relaxation technique and ultimately reducing anxiety levels of patients with confirmed unstable angina or myocardial infarction.

Methodology: Patients with confirmed unstable angina or myocardial infarction referred by cardiologists were recruited 2-3 days after their cardiac event from the cardiology wards. Their initial anxiety scores were determined using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Alpha lipoic Acid prevents pancreatic islet cells damage and dyslipidemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

In the present study, the effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profile in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats have been evaluated. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into nondiabetic (NDM), diabetic without supplementation (No Suppl) and diabetic with ALA groups. ALA was orally administered once a day for 8 weeks with a dose of 100 mg/kg BW.

Anxiety, depression and psychosocial stress in patients with cardiac events.

Stress tends to worsen the prognosis of patients with coronary heart disease. The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between stress related psychosocial factors like anxiety, depression and life events and temporally cardiac events specified as acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina 65 subjects with confirmed myocardial infarction or unstable angina were interviewed using 2 sets of questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Life Changes Stress Test, a segment of the Rahe's Stress and Coping Inventory first at time of occurrence of their cardiac event and the second time was 6 months later. Anxiety, depression and life events scores were calculated for both and recurrence of cardiac event for the 6 month duration was also recorded.