Vitamin A supplementation ameliorates obesity-associated retinal degeneration in WNIN/Ob rats.

Objective: Obesity is associated with various health afflictions, including ocular complications such as diabetic retinopathy, high intraocular pressure, cataracts, and macular degeneration. We previously reported progressive retinal degeneration after the onset of obesity in the spontaneously obese rat (WNIN/Ob) model. In the present study, we investigated vitamin A supplementation to ameliorate obesity-associated retinal degeneration in the WNIN/Ob rat.

A novel rat model with obesity-associated retinal degeneration.

Purpose: A strong association between retinal degeneration and obesity has been shown in humans. However, the molecular basis of increased risk for retinal degeneration in obesity is unknown. Thus, an animal model with obesity and retinal degeneration would greatly aid the understanding of obesity-associated retinal degeneration.

Overexpression of aldose reductase in human cancer tissues.

Background: Aldose reductase (AR) belongs to the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) super family and catalyzes the conversion of aldoses to the corresponding alcohol. Some recent studies have shown overexpression of AR and AR-like proteins in human liver cancers and some cancer cell lines such as HepG2 and HeLa cells. However, apart from hepatic cancer tissue, the status of AR expression has not been reported in other human cancer tissues.

Curcumin and turmeric delay streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract in rats.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin and its source, turmeric, on streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract in rats.

Methods: Wistar-NIN rats were selected and diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) and divided into four groups (group II-V). The control (group I) rats received only vehicle.