Pollution, Toxicity and Carcinogenicity of Organic Dyes and their Catalytic Bio-Remediation

Water pollution due to waste effluents of the textile industry is seriously causing various health problems in humans. Water pollution with pathogenic bacteria, especially Escherichia coli (E. coli) and other microbes is due to the mixing of fecal material with drinking water, industrial and domestic sewage, pasture and agricultural runoff. Among the chemical pollutants, organic dyes due to toxic nature, are one of the major contaminants of industrial wastewater. Adequate sanitation services and drinking quality water would eliminate 200 million cases of diarrhea, which results in 2.1 million less deaths caused by diarrheal disease due to E. coli each year. Nanotechnology is an excellent platform as compared to conventional treatment methods of water treatment and remediation from microorganisms and organic dyes. In the current study, toxicity and carcinogenicity of the organic dyes have been studied as well as the remediation/inactivation of dyes and microorganism has been discussed. Remediation by biological, physical and chemical methods has been reviewed critically. A physical process like adsorption is cost-effective, but can't degrade dyes. Biological methods were considered to be ecofriendly and cost-effective. Microbiological degradation of dyes is cost-effective, eco-friendly and alternative to the chemical reduction. Besides, certain enzymes especially horseradish peroxidase are used as versatile catalysts in a number of industrial processes. Moreover, this document has been prepared by gathering recent research works related to the dyes and microbial pollution elimination from water sources by using heterogeneous photocatalysts, metal nanoparticles catalysts, metal oxides and enzymes.

A Rare Case of Insulinoma: A Case Report

Insulinoma is a rare variety of endocrine neoplasm and is usually benign, solitary, and small in size. The hallmark of this disorder is high endogenous insulin secretion resulting in development of symptoms of hypoglycemia. Insulinomas account for 60% of islet cell tumors (ICT) of the pancreas. Ninety percent (90%) of the insulinomas measure less than 2cm. Early localization of the disease is essential to prevent lethal hypoglycemia. Here we report a case of insulinoma in a 28 year old female who subsequently underwent distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy on February 2017 in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Experimentation and Predictive Models for Properties of Concrete Added with Active and Inactive SiO₂ Fillers

Cement is one of the main constituents of concrete material and it is one of the main sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the environment. Fillers within a range of 5–7% from different sources can be used as a replacement of cement without compromising the properties of concrete or even tailoring for required property. This paper investigates the influence of inactive silica filler and silica fume on the mechanical- and durability-related properties of concrete with different strengths. The investigated mechanical properties focused on compressive strength at different ages up to 400 days, while the durability-related properties focused on porosity and rapid chloride ion penetrability (RCPT). Two types of ultrafines, namely quartz ultrafine and silica fume, were used. Concrete mixtures with four different water/binder ratios (0.25, 0.30, 0.35, 0.40) were prepared for various dosages of quartz ultrafine (0%, 5%, 8%, 10%, 15%, 25%, and 35%) and different dosages of silica fume (0%, 8%, 10%, and 12%). The results revealed that the compressive strength and durability related properties of concrete with different dosages of ultrafines and silica fume were significantly affected; however, there was a negative impact of ultrafine filler on the compressive strength after replacement of more than 8% of ultrafines. The strength relationships for the concrete with different water-to-cement ratio were assessed and certain modifications were proposed for ultrafines and silica fume. Predictive models were proposed for predicting the compressive strength of concrete in terms of RCPT and porosity for different levels of replacements of ultrafines and silica fume.

Prevalence of clinical and subclinical caprine mastitis of northern region in Bangladesh

Mastitis is a multifactorial and infectious disease of the udder of dairy animals. Infected animals suffer from pain and fever and causing damage in udder and changes in milk. The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of clinical and sub-clinical caprine mastitis associated with bacterial pathogens during the period from January to June, 2017. A total of 120 lactating goats were randomly selected from different villages of Dinajpur district and 240 milk samples from each udder half were aseptically collected. The udders were examined and screened for the evidence of clinical and subclinical mastitis by clinical examination of udders and examining milk samples. Subclinical mastitis was detected by California Mastitis Test (CMT). Milk samples of all clinical and subclinical mastitis goats were cultured in/on bacteriological media for isolation and characterization of responsible bacterial pathogens. The overall prevalence of clinical and subclinical mastitis in goats was found to be 11.67% and 38.75%, respectively. Bacteriological examination of mastitic milk samples of caprine revealed Staphylococcus spp. (32.5%) as the major pathogen followed by Escherichia coli (22.5%), Pseudomonas spp. (12.5%), Klebsiella spp. (12.5%) and Bacillus spp. (5%). Results of this study indicated that about 50% of caprine udder were infected with mastitis (38.75%), which may render lowering milk production and mortality of goats and kids. It needs to screen milk sample of lactating goats by CMT, identify mastitic goats with infected bacteria, evaluate antibiotic sensitivity and design control strategy accordingly.Progressive Agriculture 29 (2): 127-138, 2018

Rational Use of Antibiotics in Surgical Practice

Abstract not availableBangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.16(4) 2017 p.483-486

Hospital Acquired Thrombosis (HAT) Prevention in an Acute Hospital; A Single Centre Cross-Sectional Study

Evidence based guidelines are effective in reducing incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) which is associated with morbidly, mortality and economic burden. This study aimed to identify the proportion of inpatients who had a VTE risk assessment (RA) performed and who received thromboprophylaxis (TP), in Cork University Hospital. There was no structured RA tool at the time; information was obtained from medical and drug charts to ascertain if a RA was performed. Patients were then RA by researchers and stratified as per NICE guidelines and the proportion who received TP was calculated. One thousand and nineteen inpatients were screened. Risk was documented in 24% of cases. TP was prescribed in 43.2% of inpatients. Following application of a RA tool >80% were at high risk of VTE with low risk of bleeding with TP prescription in 46.3% of inpatients. A national collaborative effort should be encouraged to develop a standardized approach for safe RA of inpatients and prescription of TP for prevention of HAT.

Incidence of Hospital Acquired Thrombosis (HAT) in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. In spite of guidelines, VTE prophylaxis continues to be underutilised, and hospital acquired thrombosis (HAT) continues to be a problem. This study was conducted to estimate the incidence of HAT in a tertiary referral centre and to examine whether VTE risk assessment and thromboprophylaxis (TP) were implemented. Patients 18 years and above, with a radiologically-confirmed acute VTE during the study period of 15 weeks were included. Acute VTE was diagnosed in 100 patients and HAT was diagnosed in 48. There were 12,024 admissions over the study period, therefore the incidence of HAT was 0.4%. TP was prescribed in only 35% of patients, and 65% did not receive any or appropriate TP. Hospitals without active implementation of a formal risk assessment tool and TP policy are likely to continue to have increased incidence of HAT.

Fowl adenovirus: history, emergence, biology and development of a vaccine against hydropericardium syndrome

The poultry industry has emerged as one of the largest and fastest growing public sectors in the developed and developing countries. Unfortunately, this industry is under a major threat from diseases that are viral (Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease, influenza, hydropericardium syndrome), bacterial (colibacillosis, pasteurellosis, salmonellosis, mycoplasmosis), parasitic (coccidiosis, histoplasmosis) or nutritional (dyschondroplasia, osteoporosis). Among these diseases, hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) is one of the important emerging diseases occurring in the specific areas of the world where broilers (chickens) are reared under intensive conditions. HPS was first observed in 1987 at Angara Goth, an area near Karachi, Pakistan, where broilers are raised. Since then, HPS has been reported in many countries of the world. From these reported cases, an adenovirus that was either isolated from or visualized electron microscopically in the liver of affected broilers has been implicated in the syndrome. The syndrome has been reproduced by inoculation of isolated fowl adenovirus (FAdV) strains, and hence, the syndrome is also called infectious hydropericardium syndrome. To our knowledge, HPS has not been observed in humans, so it is not considered a zoonotic disease, but it is of economic importance and causes huge losses to the poultry industry. Efforts have been made to develop conventional vaccines against this disease, which were formulated from infected liver homogenate. Formalin-inactivated liver organ vaccines have failed to protect the poultry industry. Hence, there is a dire need to develop a suitable vaccine to combat this disease. Currently, recombinant vaccine candidates are being developed by using molecular biology and biotechnological approaches for the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including HPS. Therefore, it is suggested that the immunogenicity of these recombinant proteins should be evaluated for their use as subunit vaccines.

Venous Thromboembolism - Risk Assessment Tool and Thromboprophylaxis Policy: A National Survey

Venous Thromboembolic (VTE) events in hospitalised patients are associated with significant mortality and morbidity and a major economic burden on the health service. It is well established in the literature that active implementation of a mandatory risk assessment tool and thromboprophylaxis policy reduces the incidence of hospital associated thrombosis (HAT). This study examines the utilization of a VTE risk assessment tool and thromboprophylaxis (TP) policy in Irish hospitals that manage acute admissions. A national survey was distributed to forty acute hospitals throughout Ireland. The response rate was 78% (31/40). The results showed that only 26% (n=8/31) of acute hospitals in Ireland have a local implemented TP policy. Six (75%) of these eight had a risk assessment tool in conjunction with the TP policy. All respondents who did not report to have a TP policy and risk assessment tool agreed that they should implement VTE prevention policy at their hospital. Based on the data from this survey and evidence from the effectiveness of the VTE prevention programme introduced in the United Kingdom, there is a need for a national risk assessment and thromboprophylaxis policy in Ireland. This change in practice would have the potential to prevent or reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with hospital acquired thrombosis.

Influence of temperature and reaction time on the conversion of polystyrene waste to pyrolysis liquid oil

This paper aims to investigate the effect of temperature and reaction time on the yield and quality of liquid oil produced from a pyrolysis process. Polystyrene (PS) type plastic waste was used as a feedstock in a small pilot scale batch pyrolysis reactor. At 400°C with a reaction time of 75min, the gas yield was 8% by mass, the char yield was 16% by mass, while the liquid oil yield was 76% by mass. Raising the temperature to 450°C increased the gas production to 13% by mass, reduced the char production to 6.2% and increased the liquid oil yield to 80.8% by mass. The optimum temperature and reaction time was found to be 450°C and 75min. The liquid oil at optimum conditions had a dynamic viscosity of 1.77mPas, kinematic viscosity of 1.92cSt, a density of 0.92g/cm³, a pour point of -60°C, a freezing point of -64°C, a flash point of 30.2°C and a high heating value (HHV) of 41.6MJ/kg this is similar to conventional diesel. The gas chromatography with mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that liquid oil contains mainly styrene (48%), toluene (26%) and ethyl-benzene (21%) compounds.

Investigating potential roles of extruded flaxseed and α-tocopherol acetate supplementation for production of healthier broiler meat

The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of extruded flaxseed (EFS) and α-tocopherol acetate (ATA) for the enhancement of polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio (PUFA) over saturated fatty acids (SFA) in broiler meat as a source of healthier meat. A total of 96 one-d-old Cobb 550 broilers were randomly divided into 8 treatments with three replicates having 4 birds in each. EFS (extruded at 155°C) at 100, 150 and 200 g/kg alone and in combination with ATA at 200 mg/kg were supplemented through normal feed from the third week onward. During the 6-week growth period, body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and mortality were recorded. At slaughter, weight of liver, heart and kidney and fat content in breast and leg meat were measured. Fatty acid profiles in breast and leg meat were developed to estimate the PUFA to SFA ratio. The results revealed that FI and FCR changed significantly in all groups and BWG increased in all the supplemented groups. The weight of liver, kidney and heart increased more in the supplemented group containing the maximum level of EFS with ATA compared with single supplementation of EFS. The fat content in breast and leg meat decreased as the inclusion level of EFS increased. The level was low in leg meat compared with breast meat. Mortality decreased in all supplemented groups. The PUFA to SFA ratio was significantly higher in leg meat (3.23) compared with breast meat (1.81) and the study therefore indicates that ATA and EFS supplementation could be used to improve the PUFA to SFA ratio in broiler meat.

Revascularization Of Late-Presenting Acute Limb Ischaemia And Limb Salvage

BACKGROUND

Late-presenting acute limb ischaemia represents a challenging vascular emergency. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome in patients following revascularization and management of existing or impending reperfusion injury of ischaemic limbs over a 12-year period (2002-2014).

METHODS

Routine procedural codes were used to label consecutive patients admitted 72 hours following onset of symptoms for surgical revascularization of an acutely ischaemic limb. Data collected included demography, clinical presentation, synchronous morbidities, procedural specifics and outcomes of surgical management of all patients.

RESULTS

The study sample included 206 patients, (117 male and 89 female, average age =49.4±14.6 years) presenting with a diagnosis of acute limb ischemia. The most frequent cause of acute thromboembolic limbs was cardiac disease (n=148). Femoral artery exploration with embolectomy was the most common procedure and was used for aortic, iliac, infrainguinal and distal occlusion. Thirty-four patients required additional vascular surgery due to failure of revascularization by embolectomy. Fasciotomy was performed in 45.6% of cases for existing or impending compartment syndrome when the patient presented very late. Surgical site infection occurred in 8.25% of cases, repeat embolectomy was required in 10.68% of cases; amputation in 13.1% and mortality was 5.8%. Predictors of morbidity and mortality included age of the patient, time of presentation and specific comorbidities. The 5-year amputation-free and survival estimate was 80%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that late revascularization of acute leg ischaemia improves blood supply to the limb, thereby reducing the number of amputations. The results suggest that revascularization is clinically warranted, even one week following the onset of acute ischaemia. Additional surgical procedures including fasciotomy further reduce the morbidity and mortality.

Liraglutide in diabetes mellitus: More facts and findings

Liraglutide exert favorable effects on most of the diabetes associated cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and this study was designed to further explore the benefits of liraglutide by observing its effect on plasma sialic acid (PSA) in diabetic rats. A total of 30 streptozotocin induced (50 mg/Kg; i.p.) diabetic rats were randomized into vehicle treated (1 ml/Kg s.c, twice daily) group I, liraglutide treated groups II and III (30 μg/Kg and 150 μg/Kg, twice daily respectively) and studied for 6 weeks. Liraglutide treated groups showed significant reductions in fructosamine levels (p≤0.05) from baseline. Between groups comparison revealed significant difference (p≤.05) at the end point. Similarly, at week 6, liraglutide treated groups showed significantly low levels of PSA compared to baseline (p<0.03 and p<0.005 for group II and III respectively) and control group I (p<0.002 and p<0.001 for group II and III respectively). However, the difference was non-significant between groups II and III (p<0.09). Other parameters including glucose tolerance, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), blood lipids, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and body weight also improved by liraglutide with the group III showing greater improvement. The study concludes that liraglutide produce favourable effects on PSA and may bea useful choice in protecting against diabetes associated CV complications.

Molecular cloning, expression and characterization of 100K gene of fowl adenovirus-4 for prevention and control of hydropericardium syndrome

Fowl adenovirus-4 is an infectious agent causing Hydropericardium syndrome in chickens. Adenovirus are non-enveloped virions having linear, double stranded DNA. Viral genome codes for few structural and non structural proteins. 100K is an important non-structural viral protein. Open reading frame for coding sequence of 100K protein was cloned with oligo histidine tag and expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein. Nucleotide sequence of the gene revealed that 100K gene of FAdV-4 has high homology (98%) with the respective gene of FAdV-10. Recombinant 100K protein was expressed in E. coli and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Immunization of chickens with recombinant 100K protein elicited significant serum antibody titers. However challenge protection test revealed that 100K protein conferred little protection (40%) to the immunized chicken against pathogenic viral challenge. So it was concluded that 100K gene has 2397 bp length and recombinant 100K protein has molecular weight of 95 kDa. It was also found that the recombinant protein has little capacity to affect the immune response because in-spite of having an important role in intracellular transport & folding of viral capsid proteins during viral replication, it is not exposed on the surface of the virus at any stage.

Impact of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor-human leukocyte antigens ligand incompatibility among renal transplantation

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene shows a high degree of polymorphism. Natural killer cell receptor gets activated once they bind to self-human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) with specific ligand. KIR gene and HLA ligand incompatibility due to the presence/absence of KIR in the recipient and the corresponding HLA ligand in the allograft may impact graft survival in solid organ transplantation. This study evaluates the effect of matches between KIR genes and known HLA ligands. KIR genotypes were determined using sequence specific primer polymerase chain reaction. Presence of certain KIR in a recipient, where the donor lacked the corresponding HLA ligand was considered a mismatch. The allograft was considered matched when both KIR receptor and HLA alloantigen reveald compatibility among recipient and donor. The data revealed better survival among individuals with matched inhibitory KIR receptors and their corresponding HLA ligands (KIR2DL2/DL3-HLAC2, KIR3DL1-HLABw4). On the contrary, no adverse effect was seen for matched activating KIR receptors and their corresponding HLA ligands. One of the activating gene KIR2DS4 showed risk (P = 0.0413, odds ratio = 1.91, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-3.57) association with renal allograft rejection. We conclude that the presence of inhibitory KIR gene leads to better survival; whereas activating motifs show no significant role in renal allograft survival.

Cellular and genomic toxicity produced by UV light in Chinese hamster ovary cells

UVB and UVC toxicity was detected in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell lines AA8, UV5 and XEM2 (a V79-derived cell line expressing rat P450 1A1). Unlike FICZ-HPLC assay that showed induction of CYP1A1 enzyme activity after 20 minutes and 2 hour UVC exposure, the EROD assay showed no difference in cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) activity after exposure to different doses of UVB and UVC light. Different cytotoxic and mutagenic effect of photo lesions induced by UVC and UVB light was investigated with the DRAG and HPRT assays, comparing the wild type cell line AA8 and the Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) deficient cell line UV5. DRAG assay showed a significant difference in UV induced cytotoxicity between UVC and UVB reflecting the larger energy and toxic effect of UVC along with significant difference in UV induced toxicity between AA8 and UV5 cell lines. This was further validated through the HPRT assay, which also showed a significant difference in UVC (5 J/m(2)) induced mutagenic effect between these cell lines. In addition, HPRT assay showed the mutagenic effect of photosensitizer, acetophenone. These results show that UVB and UVC generate serious damage through photo products on DNA, and might induce the metabolic activity of CYP1A1.

In vitro biological activity of decoction of Joshanda

Joshanda is a polyherbal product, commonly practicing in inflammation of upper respiratory tract as tea. The present study was conducted to find out its antimicrobial, phytotoxic, leishmanicidal and cytotoxic activities. The decoction of the product showed profound activity against Gram positive tested pathogens especially S. aureus 36.5 mm zone of inhibition at 8.0 μg/ml. However, it was inactive against C. albicans. Closed correlation was observed between two methods in terms of results. It had potent phytotoxic activity (75%). However, it was devoid of any activity leishmanicidal and cytotoxic activity. Phytochemical studies of Joshanda showed the presence of various pharmacologically active groups.

Medical Ethics/professionalism and Concept of Holistic Curriculum in a Medical School

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v13i1.17371 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 13 No. 01 January2014: 5-7

Comparative study of the effect of ethanolic extract of Swietenia mahagoni seeds with rosiglitazone on experimentally induced diabetes mellitus in rats

The study was performed to compare the blood glucose lowering effect of Swietenia mahagoni seeds with an oral antidiabetic drug, rosiglitazone in experimentally induced diabetic rats. Twentyfour healthy Long Evans Norwegian strain of rats were included in the study and divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) comprising 6 rats each. Group A (control group) received standard rat food for 14 days. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal administration of alloxan 120 mg/kg body weight in Group B, C and D. Group B was given standard food for 10 days and considered as diabetic control. Group C and D were treated with ethanolic extract of Swietenia mahagoni seeds 1000 mg/kg and rosiglitazone 10 mg/kg orally respectively. Administration of ethanolic extract of Swietenia mahagoni seeds in group C and rosiglitazone in group D produced a significant reduction in blood glucose level as compared to diabetic control (group B). Histological examination of pancreas showed destruction of beta cells in Islets of pancreas in group B whereas retaining of islets and few degranulations of beta cells of pancreas found in group C and group D. The observations and results of the present study provide information that ethanolic extract of Swietenia mahagoni seeds has hypoglycaemic effect in experimentally induced diabetic rats which requires further investigation.

Huge mesenteric liposarcoma

Primary mesenteric liposarcoma is extremely rare and is treated by aggressive surgical management i.e. wide excision with adequate margins (in the absence of distant metastases). We report a case of huge slow-growing primary mesenteric liposarcoma in a 52-year-old man, who presented with gross abdominal distension. He was anaemic with pre-operative imaging demonstrating a well-encapsulated huge solid tumour filling the whole abdomen, abutting the anterior abdominal wall without any evidence of distance metastasis or ascites. The patient underwent successful resection of the tumour which weighed 22 kilograms. Histopathology confirmed a well-differentiated liposarcoma with rare mitoses. The patient received full eight cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. After five years of clinical and imaging follow-up, there was no evidence of metastasis or recurrence of the disease.

S-adenosylmethionine, a methyl donor, up regulates tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in colorectal cancer

DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic mechanism in regulating the expression of genes controlling crucial cell functions in cancer development. Gene silencing via CpG island methylation/demethylation in the promoter region is one of the mechanisms by which different genes are inactivated/activated in human cancers. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) is known to antagonize matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and to suppress tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. TIMP-2 expression has been found to be both upregulated and downregulated in various cancers. The inconsistent TIMP-2 expression and unclear epigenetic regulation lead us to investigate its role in colorectal cancer in the presence of a methylating agent. Highly invasive human colorectal cells SW-620 were treated with the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and its effect was evaluated by cell proliferation, cell cycle, invasion and migration assay. The ability of SAM to down regulate a panel of activated prometastatic, angiogenesis and growth- and cell cycle-regulatory genes was evaluated using end-point and real-time PCR. Treatment of SW-620 with SAM diminished cell proliferation and altered cell cycle kinetic G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. An in vitro matrigel invasion assay of SAM-treated cells showed a significant reduction in the invasive potential compared to untreated SW-620 cells. Treatment of SW-620 cells with SAM resulted in activation of TIMP-2 and inhibition of the expression of genes such as MMP (MMP-2, MT1-MMP), urokinase plasminogen activator, and vascular endothelial growth factors. The level of expression of tumor suppressor and apoptotic genes was not significantly higher compared to the untreated control. No changes in the levels of expression of genes (growth and cell cycle regulator), such as TGF-β, Smad2, Smad4, and p21 were observed. Our data support the hypothesis that TIMP-2, along with other prometastatic genes, is hypomethylated and expressed differently in colorectal cancer. Further in-depth analysis is warranted to confirm the promoter region CpG methylation pattern of the TIMP-2 gene.

Hyperglycaemia is associated with impaired vasa vasorum neovascularization and accelerated atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein-E deficient mice

OBJECTIVE

A direct correlation between blood glucose levels and the microvascular complications of diabetes is well established. However, the effects of hyperglycaemia on the vasa vasorum, a microvascular network which surrounds and supplies the walls of large arteries, is not known. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of hyperglycaemia on the vasa vasorum and to examine correlations between these effects and the development of atherosclerosis in a mouse model.

METHODS

The micro- and macrovascular effects of hyperglycaemia were examined in streptozotocin-injected apolipoprotein-E deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice. Retina and aortic sinus were isolated from hyperglycaemic mice and normoglycaemic controls at 5-20 weeks of age. Retinal and vasa vasorum microvessel densities were quantified and correlated to atherosclerotic lesion development. The expression levels of pro-angiogenic factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 were examined.

RESULTS

In normoglycaemic ApoE(-/-) mice atherogenesis is associated with vasa vasorum expansion, which likely corresponds to the increasing blood supply demands of the thickening artery wall. In hyperglycaemic ApoE(-/-) mice there is no significant neovascularization of the vasa vasorum, despite the fact that lesions are significantly larger. This defect may result from a localized deficiency in VEGF.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are the first evidence that hyperglycaemia alters the structure of the vasa vasorum. Such microvascular changes directly correlate, and may contribute to, the development and progression of atherosclerosis in hyperglycaemic ApoE-deficient mice.