Aegle marmelos differentially affects hepatic markers of glycolysis, insulin signalling pathway, hypoxia, and inflammation in HepG2 cells grown in fructose versus glucose-rich environment

Fructose consumption is responsible for the onset of insulin resistance (IR), and metabolic syndrome. It possesses no functional utility in body and its detrimental effects on hepatic metabolic milieu are beyond those produced by glucose. The need of the hour is to identify fructose-induced IR as an unique pathological state to be managed differentially. The effect of aqueous leaf extract of Aegle marmelos (AM) on hepatic markers of insulin resistance using HepG2 cells cultured in either fructose or glucose-rich environment is investigated. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) were grown under standard conditions in either-DMEM without glucose (NC), DMEM with high glucose 25 mM (Glu), DMEM-glucose+0.55 mM fructose (FC1), DMEM-glucose+1 mM fructose (FC2) or DMEM-glucose+1 mM fructose+0.1 µM insulin (FC3). The cells were treated with either AM, rutin, quercetin, metformin or pioglitazone and assessed for levels of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase (PFK), aldehyde dehydrogenase, phosphatidylinositol kinase (PI3K), signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3), mitochondrial target of rapamycin (mTOR), hypoxia-induced factor (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α). Summarily, when results from fructose- and glucose-rich environment were compared, then (1) IR was more pronounced in former; (2) AM performed better in former; (3) metformin and pioglitazone were equivocal in either; (4) rutin and quercetin showed deviant effects from AM; and lastly (5) effects of rutin were closer to AM than quercetin. We hypothesize that AM ameliorates fructose-induced IR through a mechanism which is distinct from standard drugs and not shared by individual phytoconstituents in toto.

Demyelination in rat model of mania-like behavior

Introduction

Ample amount of data suggests role of REM sleep deprivation as the cause and effect of mania. In the present model, we have tried to implement behavioral sensitization to sleep deprivation, conditions mimicking natural circumstances, so as to produce an animal model with symptomatology resembling very close to human mania. Pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that mania is often co-morbid with multiple sclerosis, therefore we sought to find out whether myelin integrity is disrupted and if lithium could protect against such damage.

Objectives

(1) To analyse mania-like behavior after REM sleep deprivation. (2) To analyse any damage to myelin under TEM.

Aims

We wanted to see if there could be any damage to myelin after behavioral sensitization to stress.

Methods

Rats were sleep deprived by classical flowerpot or platform method. OFT was performed to assess behavior of rats. The analysis was performed over 5 min, separated into 5 bins of 1 min each. Behavioral scores included total square entries, inner square entries, time spent in center, rearing frequency, time spent rearing, number of grooming bouts, time spent grooming defecation and time spent still. TEM was performed to study changes in myelination in two distinct regions of brain, DG and VTA.

Results

It was observed that the REM sleep deprived rats had mania like symptoms. REM sleep deprivation lead to demyelination in DG and VTA. Lithium treatment restored myelination per se.

Conclusions

The result suggests the involvement of myelin damage in the pathogenesis of mania, Li offers protection against such damage.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Modeled Full-Flight Aircraft Emissions Impacts on Air Quality and Their Sensitivity to Grid Resolution

Aviation is a unique anthropogenic source with four-dimensional varying emissions, peaking at cruise altitudes (9-12 km). Aircraft emission budgets in the upper troposphere lower stratosphere region and their potential impacts on upper troposphere and surface air quality are not well understood. Our key objective is to use chemical transport models (with prescribed meteorology) to predict aircraft emissions impacts on the troposphere and surface air quality. We quantified the importance of including full-flight intercontinental emissions and increased horizontal grid resolution. The full-flight aviation emissions in the Northern Hemisphere contributed ~1.3% (mean, min-max: 0.46, 0.3-0.5 ppbv) and 0.2% (0.013, 0.004-0.02 μg/m³) of total O₃ and PM_2.5 concentrations at the surface, with Europe showing slightly higher impacts (1.9% (O₃ 0.69, 0.5-0.85 ppbv) and 0.5% (PM_2.5 0.03, 0.01-0.05 μg/m³)) than North America (NA) and East Asia. We computed seasonal aviation-attributable mass flux vertical profiles and aviation perturbations along isentropic surfaces to quantify the transport of cruise altitude emissions at the hemispheric scale. The comparison of coarse (108 × 108 km²) and fine (36 × 36 km²) grid resolutions in NA showed ~70 times and ~13 times higher aviation impacts for O₃ and PM_2.5 in coarser domain. These differences are mainly due to the inability of the coarse resolution simulation to capture nonlinearities in chemical processes near airport locations and other urban areas. Future global studies quantifying aircraft contributions should consider model resolution and perhaps use finer scales near major aviation source regions.

Risk of incident cardiovascular events amongst individuals with anxiety and depression: A prospective cohort study in the east London primary care database

BACKGROUND

It is unknown how risk of myocardial infarction and stroke differ for patients with and without anxiety or depression, and whether this risk can be explained by demographics, medication use, cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study is to quantify differences in risk of non-fatal MI or stroke among patients with anxiety or depression.

METHODS

Prospective cohort study examining risk of incident MI and stroke between March 2005 and March 2015 for 524,952 patients aged 30 and over from the east London primary care database for patients with anxiety or depression.

RESULTS

Amongst 21,811 individuals with depression at baseline, 1.2% had MI and 0.4% had stroke. Of 22,128 individuals with anxiety at baseline, 1.1% had MI and 0.3% had stroke. Depression was independently associated with both MI and stroke, whereas anxiety was associated with MI only before adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Antidepressant use increased risk for MI but not stroke. Mean age at first MI was lower in those with anxiety, while mean age at first stroke was lower in those with depression.

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited to patients currently registered in the database and thus we did not have any patients that died during the course of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with depression have increased risk of cardiovascular events. The finding of no increased cardiovascular risk in those with anxiety after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors is of clinical importance and highlights that the adequate control of traditional risk factors is the cornerstone of cardiovascular disease prevention. Targeting management of classical cardiovascular risk factors and evaluating the risks of antidepressant prescribing should be prioritized.

Gitelman Syndrome: Presenting During Pregnancy with Adverse Foetal Outcome

Gitelman syndrome (GS) is a rare autosomal recessive salt-losing tubulopathy. The incidence of Gitelman syndrome is 25 cases in 1 million among western population. This patient presented with loose stool, vomiting and sudden onset quadriparesis. Investigations revealed hypokalaemia, metabolic acidosis, hypomagnesaemia, hypocalciuria, hypermagnesuria. Symptoms and hypokalemia improved after starting oral magnesium and potassium supplements. But the patient again presented with symptomatic hypokalemia and delivered a still born foetus with hydrocephalus. Patient was put on potassium sparing diuretics along with supplements and thereafter, has been asymptomatic. There have been very few case reports on Gitelman syndrome in pregnancy and most of them show favourable outcomes. This is a rare case report of a pregnant female with Gitelman syndrome with foetal loss.

Cardiovascular risk factors among patients with schizophrenia, bipolar, depressive, anxiety, and personality disorders

BACKGROUND

The evidence informing the management of cardiovascular risk in patients with psychiatric disorders is weak.

METHODS

This cohort study used data from all patients, aged≥30, registered in 140 primary care practices (n=524,952) in London to estimate the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tobacco consumption, obesity, and physical inactivity, between 2005 and 2015, for patients with a previous diagnosis of schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar or personality disorder. The role of antidepressants, antipsychotics and social deprivation in these associations was also investigated. The age at detection of cardiovascular risk factor was compared between patients with and without psychiatric disorders. Variables, for exposures and outcomes, defined from general practitioners records, were analysed using multivariate regression.

RESULTS

Patients with psychiatric disorders had an increased risk for cardiovascular risk factors, especially diabetes, with hazard ratios: 2.42 (2.20-2.67) to 1.31 (1.25-1.37), hyperlipidemia, with hazard ratios: 1.78 (1.60-1.97) to 1.25 (1.23-1.28), and obesity. Antidepressants, antipsychotics and social deprivation did not change these associations, except for smoking and physical inactivity. Antidepressants were associated with higher risk of diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Antipsychotics were associated with a higher risk of diabetes. Antidepressants and antipsychotics were associated with lower risk of other risk factors. Patients with psychiatric conditions have later detection of cardiovascular risk factors. The interpretation of these results should acknowledge the lower rates of detection of risk factors in mentally ill patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiovascular risk factors require special clinical attention among patients with psychiatric disorders. Further research could study the effect of antidepressants and antipsychotics on cardiovascular risk factors.

Does depression diagnosis and antidepressant prescribing vary by location? Analysis of ethnic density associations using a large primary-care dataset

BACKGROUND

Studies have linked ethnic differences in depression rates with neighbourhood ethnic density although results have not been conclusive. We looked at this using a novel approach analysing whole population data covering just over one million GP patients in four London boroughs.

METHOD

Using a dataset of GP records for all patients registered in Lambeth, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham in 2013 we investigated new diagnoses of depression and antidepressant use for: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, black Caribbean and black African patients. Neighbourhood effects were assessed independently of GP practice using a cross-classified multilevel model.

RESULTS

Black and minority ethnic groups are up to four times less likely to be newly diagnosed with depression or prescribed antidepressants compared to white British patients. We found an inverse relationship between neighbourhood ethnic density and new depression diagnosis for some groups, where an increase of 10% own-ethnic density was associated with a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduced odds of depression for Pakistani [odds ratio (OR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70-0.93], Indian (OR 0.88, CI 0.81-0.95), African (OR 0.88, CI 0.78-0.99) and Bangladeshi (OR 0.94, CI 0.90-0.99) patients. Black Caribbean patients, however, showed the opposite effect (OR 1.26, CI 1.09-1.46). The results for antidepressant use were very similar although the corresponding effect for black Caribbeans was no longer statistically significant (p = 0.07).

CONCLUSION

New depression diagnosis and antidepressant use was shown to be less likely in areas of higher own-ethnic density for some, but not all, ethnic groups.

Comparative evaluation of Bis(thiosemicarbazone)- Biotin and Met-ac-TE3A for tumor imaging

2,2',2″-(11-(2-((4-mercapto-1-methoxy-1-oxobutan-2-yl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraaza cyclotetradecane-1,4,8-triyl)triacetic acid, Met-ac-TE3A and (E)-N-methyl-2-((E)-3-(2-(2-(5-((3aS,4S,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoyl)hydrazinecarbono-thioyl)hydrazonobutan-2-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide, Bis(thiosemicarbazone)- Biotin were synthesized and evaluated for imaging application. The pharmacokinetics of these ligands were determined by tracer methods. In vitro human serum stability of (99m)Tc Met-ac-TE3A/(99m)Tc Bis(thiosemicarbazone)-Biotin after 24h was found to be 96.5% and 97.0% respectively. Blood kinetics of both ligands in normal rabbits showed biphasic clearance pattern. Ex vivo biodistribution study revealed significant initial tumor uptake and high tumor/muscles ratio which is a pre-requisite condition for a ligand to work as SPECT-radiopharmaceutical for tumor imaging.

Psidium guajava Linn. leaf extract affects hepatic glucose transporter-2 to attenuate early onset of insulin resistance consequent to high fructose intake: An experimental study

Background:

Insulin resistance (IR) is amalgam of pathologies like altered glucos metabolism, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and associated with type-II diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases. One of the reasons leading to its increased and early incidence is understood to be a high intake of processed fructose containing foods and beverages by individuals, especially, during critical developmental years.

Objective:

To investigate the preventive potential of aqueous extract of Psidium guajava leaves (PG) against metabolic pathologies, vis-à-vis, IR, dyslipidemia, hyperleptinemia and hypertension, due to excess fructose intake initiated during developmental years.

Materials and Methods:

Post-weaning (4 weeks old) male rats were provided fructose (15%) as drinking solution, ad libitum, for 8 weeks and assessed for food and water/fructose intake, body weight, fasting blood sugar, mean arterial pressure, lipid biochemistry, endocrinal (insulin, leptin), histopathological (fatty liver) and immunohistochemical (hepatic glucose transporter [GLUT2]) parameters. Parallel treatment groups were administered PG in doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg/d, po × 8 weeks and assessed for same parameters. Using extensive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry protocols, PG was analyzed for the presence of phytoconstituents like Myrecetin, Luteolin, Kaempferol and Guavanoic acid and validated to contain Quercetin up to 9.9%w/w.

Results:

High fructose intake raised circulating levels of insulin and leptin and hepatic GLUT2 expression to promote IR, dyslipidemia, and hypertension that were favorably re-set with PG. Although PG is known for its beneficial role in diabetes mellitus, for the first time we report its potential in the management of lifelong pathologies arising from high fructose intake initiated during developmental years.

BDNF mediated activity dependent maturation of visual Wulst following prenatal repetitive auditory stimulation at a critical developmental period in domestic chicks (Gallus domesticus)

The developing visual circuitry attains its mature adult pattern through the process of activity-dependent refinement in which photic stimulation plays the major role. However, auditory stimulation can also facilitate the developing visual Wulst synaptic plasticity and postnatal perceptual behavior, though the underlying mechanism is unclear. We exposed the fertilized eggs of white Leghorn chickens during incubation to either species-specific calls or no sound for varying time periods depending on the functional development of the auditory and/or visual systems. The visual evoked potential (VEP) from the Wulst was recorded at embryonic days (E) 19, 20 and posthatch days (PH) 1-3, to assess functional maturation. A significant attenuation in latencies and higher amplitudes at PH1-3 in the stimulated groups that received exposure during visual system maturation, suggest beneficial effect of auditory inputs only during critical periods. Concomitant with this, there was a significant increase in the expression of BDNF and levels of neurotransmitters GABA, glutamate, norepinephrine and serotonin from E18 only in both hemispheres of the visual Wulst. A significant inter-hemispheric difference in expression was also found in all groups. These results suggest the role of BDNF in activity driven structural and functional maturation of the visual system following prenatal repetitive auditory stimulation.

FAS-antisense 1 lncRNA and production of soluble versus membrane Fas in B-cell lymphoma

Impaired Fas-mediated apoptosis is associated with poor clinical outcomes and cancer chemoresistance. Soluble Fas receptor (sFas), produced by skipping of exon 6, inhibits apoptosis by sequestering Fas ligand. Serum sFas is associated with poor prognosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. We found that the alternative splicing of Fas in lymphomas is tightly regulated by a long-noncoding RNA corresponding to an antisense transcript of Fas (FAS-AS1). Levels of FAS-AS1 correlate inversely with production of sFas, and FAS-AS1 binding to the RBM5 inhibits RBM5-mediated exon 6 skipping. EZH2, often mutated or overexpressed in lymphomas, hyper-methylates the FAS-AS1 promoter and represses the FAS-AS1 expression. EZH2-mediated repression of FAS-AS1 promoter can be released by DZNeP (3-Deazaneplanocin A) or overcome by ectopic expression of FAS-AS1, both of which increase levels of FAS-AS1 and correspondingly decrease expression of sFas. Treatment with Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor or EZH2 knockdown decreases the levels of EZH2, RBM5 and sFas, thereby enhancing Fas-mediated apoptosis. This is the first report showing functional regulation of Fas repression by its antisense RNA. Our results reveal new therapeutic targets in lymphomas and provide a rationale for the use of EZH2 inhibitors or ibrutinib in combination with chemotherapeutic agents that recruit Fas for effective cell killing.

Space-time analysis of the Air Quality Model Evaluation International Initiative (AQMEII) Phase 1 air quality simulations

This study presents an evaluation of summertime ozone concentrations over North America (NA) and Europe (EU) using the database generated from Phase 1 of the Air Quality Model Evaluation International Initiative (AQMEII). The analysis focuses on identifying temporal and spatial features that can be used to stratify operational model evaluation metrics and to test the extent to which the various modeling systems can replicate the features seen in the observations. Using a synoptic map typing approach, it is demonstrated that model performance varies with meteorological conditions associated with specific synoptic-scale flow patterns over both eastern NA and EU. For example, the root mean square error of simulated daily maximum 8-hr ozone was twice as high when cloud fractions were high compared with when cloud fractions were low over eastern NA. Furthermore, results show that over both NA and EU the regional models participating in AQMEII were able to better reproduce the observed variance in ambient ozone levels than the global model used to specify chemical boundary conditions, although the variance simulated by almost all regional models is still less that the observed variance on all spatiotemporal scales. In addition, all modeling systems showed poor correlations with observed fluctuations on the intraday time scale over both NA and EU. Furthermore, a methodology is introduced to distinguish between locally influenced and regionally representative sites for the purpose of model evaluation. Results reveal that all models have worse model performance at locally influenced sites. Overall, the analyses presented in this paper show how observed temporal and spatial information can be used to stratify operational model performance statistics and to test the modeling systems' ability to replicate observed temporal and spatial features, especially at scales the modeling systems are designed to capture.

IMPLICATIONS

The analyses presented in this paper demonstrate how observed temporal and spatial information can be used to stratify operational model performance and to test the modeling systems' ability to replicate observed temporal and spatial features. Decisions for the improvement of regional air quality models should be based on the information derived from only regionally representative sites.

Effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field in prevention of spinal cord injury-induced osteoporosis

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field (MF) on spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced osteoporosis in rats. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 24) were equally divided into sham, SCI, and SCI+MF groups. Complete transection of spinal cord (thoracic 11 vertebra) was surgically performed under anesthesia, whereas in the sham group only laminectomy was done. Post-SCI day 1, rats were either exposed (2 h/d × 8 wk) to ELF-MF (17.96 micro-Tesla, 50 Hz; SCI+MF group) or sham exposed (SCI group). Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score was recorded weekly. All the rats were sacrificed 8 wk post-SCI; tibia and femur bones were isolated for the analysis of bone mineral content (BMC; total calcium [Ca], phosphorus [P], carbon [C]), bone mineral density (BMD), and biochemical status (osteocalcin, collagen I, alkaline phosphatase). The BBB score decreased post-SCI, which partially recovered after ELF-MF. In SCI rats, there was a statistically significant decrease in BMC, Ca, P, C, BMD, and biochemical level in both the bones as compared with the sham group, which was attenuated in SCI+MF rats except the C content. Electron microscopic study revealed the enhancement of microstructural composition and compactness in cortical and trabecular parts of treated bones. The results suggest that the chronic (2 h/d × 8 wk) ELF-MF exposure (17.96 micro-Tesla, 50 Hz) to SCI rats is effective in attenuating SCI-induced osteoporosis.

Progression of chronic kidney disease in a multi-ethnic community cohort of patients with diabetes mellitus

AIMS

Ethnicity is a risk factor for the prevalence of severe chronic kidney disease among patients with diabetes. We studied the effect of ethnicity on progression of chronic kidney disease in people with diabetes managed in community settings.

METHODS

A 5-year retrospective, community-based cohort study of 3855 people with diabetes mellitus of white, black or South Asian ethnicity with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of < 60 ml min⁻¹ 1.73 m⁻² was undertaken. From 135 general practices in east London, all cases with at least 3 years clinical data were included. Using repeated-measures analysis, the annual decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated. Comparisons between the rate of decline in the three main ethnic groups, with and without proteinuria at baseline, were made.

RESULTS

The annual adjusted decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate for this cohort was 0.85 ml min⁻¹ 1.73 m⁻². The rate of chronic kidney disease progression was significantly greater in South Asian groups (-1.01 ml min⁻¹ 1.73 m⁻²) compared with white groups (-0.70 ml min⁻¹ 1.73 m⁻²) (P = 0.001). For those with proteinuria at baseline, the annual decline was greater at 2.05 ml min⁻¹ 1.73 m⁻², with both South Asian and black groups having a significantly faster rate of decline than white groups.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease managed in primary care, the annual decline of renal function is less than previously thought and approximates the age-related annual decline of 1 ml min⁻¹ 1.73 m⁻². Patients with proteinuria and those of South Asian and Black ethnicity need additional monitoring as they are at greater risk of rapid chronic kidney disease progression.

Iron oxide nanoparticles and magnetic field exposure promote functional recovery by attenuating free radical-induced damage in rats with spinal cord transection

BACKGROUND

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) can attenuate oxidative stress in a neutral pH environment in vitro. In combination with an external electromagnetic field, they can also facilitate axon regeneration. The present study demonstrates the in vivo potential of IONPs to recover functional deficits in rats with complete spinal cord injury.

METHODS

The spinal cord was completely transected at the T11 vertebra in male albino Wistar rats. Iron oxide nanoparticle solution (25 μg/mL) embedded in 3% agarose gel was implanted at the site of transection, which was subsequently exposed to an electromagnetic field (50 Hz, 17.96 μT for two hours daily for five weeks).

RESULTS

Locomotor and sensorimotor assessment as well as histological analysis demonstrated significant functional recovery and a reduction in lesion volume in rats with IONP implantation and exposure to an electromagnetic field. No collagenous scar was observed and IONPs were localized intracellularly in the immediate vicinity of the lesion. Further, in vitro experiments to explore the cytotoxic effects of IONPs showed no effect on cell survival. However, a significant decrease in H2O2-mediated oxidative stress was evident in the medium containing IONPs, indicating their free radical scavenging properties.

CONCLUSION

These novel findings indicate a therapeutic role for IONPs in spinal cord injury and other neurodegenerative disorders mediated by reactive oxygen species.

Repetitive auditory stimulation at a critical prenatal period modulates the postnatal functional development of the auditory as well as visual system in chicks (Gallus domesticus)

The extrinsic sensory stimulation plays a crucial role in the formation and integration of sensory modalities during development. Postnatal behavior is thereby influenced by the type and timing of presentation of prenatal sensory stimuli. In this study, fertilized eggs of white Leghorn chickens during incubation were exposed to either species-specific calls or no sound. To find the prenatal critical period when auditory stimulation can modulate visual system development, the former group was divided into three subgroups: in subgroup A (SGA), the stimulus was provided during embryonic day (E)10 to E16, in SGB E17- hatching, and in SGC E10-hatching. The auditory and visual perceptual learning was recorded at posthatch day (PH) 1-3, whereas synaptic plasticity (evident from synaptophysin and PSD-95 expression), was observed at E19, E20, and PH 1-3. An increased number of responders were observed in both auditory and visual preference tests at PH 1 following stimulation. Although a decrease in latency of entry and an increase in total time spent were observed in all stimulated groups, it was most significant in SGC in auditory preference and in SGB and SGC in visual preference test. The auditory cortex of SGC and visual Wulst of SGB and SGC revealed higher expression of synaptic proteins, compared to control and SGA. A significant inter-hemispheric and gender-based difference in expression was also found in all groups. These results indicate facilitation of postnatal behaviour and synaptogenesis in both auditory and visual systems following prenatal repetitive auditory stimulation, only when given during prenatal critical period of development.

Exposure to ELF- magnetic field promotes restoration of sensori-motor functions in adult rats with hemisection of thoracic spinal cord

Clinically effective modalities of treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI) still remain unsatisfactory and are largely invasive in nature. There are reports of accelerated regeneration in injured peripheral nerves by extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) in the rat. In the present study, the effect of (50 Hz), low-intensity (17.96 μT) magnetic field (MF) exposure of rats after-hemisection of T13 spinal cord (hSCI) was investigated on sensori-motor and locomotor functions. Rats were divided into hSCI (sham-exposed) and hSCI+MF (MF: 2 h/d X 6 weeks) groups. Besides their general conditions, locomotor function by Basso, Beattie, and Brenahan (BBB) score; motor responses to noxious stimuli by threshold of tail flick (TTF), simple vocalization (TSV), tail flick latency (TFL), and neuronal excitability by H-reflex were noted. It is found that, in the hSCI+MF group, a statistically significant improvement over the hSCI control group was noted in BBB score from post-SCI wk2 and TFL and TTF by post-hSCI wk1 and wk3, respectively. Correspondingly, TSV gradually restored by post-hSCI wk5.The threshold of H-reflex was reduced on ipsilateral side vs. contralateral side in hSCI and hSCI+MF group. A complete bladder control was dramatically restored on post-hSCI day4 (vs. day7 of hSCI group) and the survival rate was 100% in the hSCI+MF group (vs. 90% of hSCI group). The results of our study suggest that extremely low-frequency (50 Hz), low-intensity (17.96 μT) MF exposure for 2 h/d x 6wks promotes recovery of sensori-motor behavior including locomotion and bladder control both in terms of temporal pattern and magnitude in hemisection injury of (T13) spinal cord rats.

Survey of instructions to authors in Indian and British Dental Journals with respect to ethical guidelines

BACKGROUND

Publication can become a symbol of presenting how meticulously a person has followed ethical principles in research. It is the duty of the investigators or authors to carefully read the instructions to authors and generate data with honesty and genuineness. In fulfillment of the basic requisite to publish, clearly defined instructions to authors should be provided by the journal.

AIMS

To assess the pattern of instructions regarding the ethical requirements given to authors in Indian Dental Journals and tried to compare the same with British Dental Journals.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey of 'instructions for authors,' for analysis of guidelines on ethical processes, was done.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Instructions to authors of Indian and British Dental Journals indexed in PubMed were reviewed for guidelines with regard to seven key ethical issues.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Descriptive statistics were used and results were expressed in percentages as well as numbers.

RESULTS

Of the 10 Indian Dental Journals, 7 (70%) cited ethical guidelines such as International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, Committee on Publication Ethics, Indian Council of Medical Research guidelines whereas out of 27 British Dental Journals, 16 (59.25%) cited these. Protection of human subjects such as approval from an institutional/independent ethics committee, obtaining informed consent and maintenance of confidentiality of patient records was covered with 8 (80%) Indian and 19 (70.3%) British Dental Journals. Four (40%) Indian and 13 (48.1%) instructed about animals welfare. Nine (90%) of the Indian and 25 (92.5%) British Dental Journals required declaration of conflicts of interest by authors. Publication issues and authorship/contributorship criteria were specified by all 10 Indian and 25 (92.5%) and 24 (88.8%) British journals respectively. 6 (60%) of Indian and 11 (40.75%) of British Journals explained about data management, in case of clinical trials.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant proportion of Indexed Indian and British Dental Journals did not provide adequate instructions to authors regarding ethical issues.

Methane and hydrogen positivity on breath test is associated with greater body mass index and body fat

CONTEXT

Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract with methanogenic archaea (methanogens) significantly affects host metabolism and weight gain in animal models, and breath methane is associated with a greater body mass index (BMI) among obese human subjects.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to characterize the relationship between methane and hydrogen on breath test (as a surrogate for colonization with the hydrogen requiring methanogen, Methanobrevibacter smithii), body weight, and percent body fat in a general population cohort.

DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

This was a prospective study (n = 792) of consecutive subjects presenting for breath testing.

SETTING

The study was conducted at a tertiary care center.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

BMI and percent body fat were measured.

RESULTS

Subjects were classified into 4 groups based on breath testing: normal (N) (methane <3 ppm and hydrogen <20 ppm at or before 90 minutes); hydrogen positive only (H+) [methane <3 ppm and hydrogen ≥20 ppm); methane positive only (M+) (methane ≥3 ppm and hydrogen <20 ppm), or methane and hydrogen positive (M+/H+) (methane ≥3 ppm and hydrogen ≥20 ppm]. There were significant differences in age but not in gender across the groups. After controlling for age as a confounding variable, M+/H+ subjects had significantly higher BMI than other groups (N: 24.1 ± 5.2 kg/m(2); H+: 24.2 ± 4.5 kg/m(2); M+: 24.0 ± 3.75 kg/m(2); M+/H+: 26.5 ± 7.1 kg/m(2), P < .02) and also had significantly higher percent body fat (N: 28.3 ± 10.0%; H+: 27.5 ± 9.0%; M+: 28.0 ± 8.9%; M+/H+; 34.1 ± 10.9%, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of both methane and hydrogen on breath testing is associated with increased BMI and percent body fat in humans. We hypothesize that this is due to colonization with the hydrogen-requiring M smithii, which affects nutrient availability for the host and may contribute to weight gain.