Nutrigenomic Effects of White Rice and Brown Rice on the Pathogenesis of Metabolic Disorders in a Fruit Fly Model.

Consumption of white rice (WR) has been shown to predispose individuals to metabolic disorders. However, brown rice (BR), which is relatively richer in bioactive compounds, possesses anti-glycaemic and antioxidant effects. In this study, fifteen cultivars of paddy rice that are predominantly consumed in North West Nigeria were analysed for their nutritional composition, bioactive contents and effects on metabolic outcomes in a fruit fly model.

Effect of natron administration on the antioxidant status and lipid profile of rats.

Natron consumption has been implicated in the pathogenesis of peripartum cardiomyopathy. This work evaluates the effect of natron on the antioxidant status and lipid profile of postpartum rats administered graded doses of natron for four consecutive weeks. After treatment, the rats were assessed for antioxidant status, malondialdehyde level, and lipid profile.

Biochemical and histological changes in the heart of post-partum rats exposed to Natron.

Background: The customary puerperal practice of Natron consumption has been identified as one of the predisposing factors in the etiology of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). This study was designed to investigate the effect of Natron in postpartum Wistar albino rats.

Methods: A total of 30 postpartum Wistar rats were exposed to different doses (50mg/kg, 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg) of Natron for 28days.

M2 macrophages exhibit higher sensitivity to oxLDL-induced lipotoxicity than other monocyte/macrophage subtypes.

Background: In obesity, phenotypic switches occur in macrophage populations such that the predominantly M2-polarised anti-inflammatory state seen in lean individuals changes to a predominantly M1-polarised pro-inflammatory state in those who are obese. However, the mechanisms by which these phenotypic shifts occur have not yet been fully elucidated.

Results: The effects of oxLDL (1-40 μg/ml; 24 h) on several parameters relevant to the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR)-mediated lipotoxic effects of oxLDL (disruption of ER Ca²⁺ handling; activation of the UPR transcription factor XBP-1; upregulation of the UPR target genes BiP and CHOP; apoptosis; cell viability) were investigated in human primary monocyte-derived macrophages, and also in monocyte-macrophages derived from the THP-1 monocytic cell line.