Beneficial Effects of 6-Gingerol on Fatty Pancreas Disease in High-Fat High-Fructose Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome Rat Model

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effects of 6-gingerol (6-G) in overcoming fatty pancreas disease of high-fat high-fructose (HFHF) diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. The healthy-control group (normal diet, n = 5) received a standard diet. The HFHF group (HFHF; n = 20) received an HFHF diet and a single-dose intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (22 mg/kgBW) at week 8. Metabolic syndrome-confirmed rats received 6-G at doses of 50 (6-G 50, n = 5), 100 (6-G 100, n = 5), and 200 (6-G 200, n = 5) mg/kgBW, respectively, for 8 weeks. All rats were killed at week 16. Pancreatic tissue and blood samples were obtained for histological and amylase analysis.

RESULTS

The serum amylase, MDA, mRNA of TNF-α, and IL-6 significantly increased, whereas GPx decreased in the HFHF group as compared with the normal diet group, respectively. Rats in the HFHF group showed pancreatic lipid accumulation and a decreased mean number of α- and β-cells in the pancreas. Meanwhile, all rats in 6-G at all dose groups showed improvement in all parameters and histopathological scores for lipid accumulation.

CONCLUSIONS

6-Gingerol could attenuate pancreatic lipid accumulation and improve the cell number of α- and β-cells in the pancreas, leading to improvements in fatty pancreas disease.

Development of rat metabolic syndrome models: A review

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become a global problem. With the increasing prevalence of MetS worldwide, understanding its pathogenesis and treatment modalities are essential. Animal models should allow an appropriate representation of the clinical manifestations of human conditions. Rats are the most commonly used experimental animals for the study. The development of a proper MetS model using rats will contribute to the successful application of research findings to the clinical setting. Various intervention methods are used to induce MetS through diet induction with various compositions, chemicals, or a combination of both. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of several studies on the development of rat MetS models, along with the characteristics of the clinical manifestations resulting from each study.

Evaluation of a comprehensive home-based midwifery programme in South Kalimantan, Indonesia

We report the findings of an evaluation of a programme in three districts in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, which consisted of the training, deployment and supervision of a large number of professional midwives in villages, an information, education and communication (IEC) strategy to increase use of village midwives for birth, and a district-based maternal and perinatal audit (MPA). Before the programme, the midwives had limited ability to manage obstetric complications, and 90% of births took place at home. Only 37% were attended by a skilled attendant. By 1998-99, 510 midwives were posted in the districts and skilled attendance at delivery had increased to 59%. Through in-service training, continuous supervision and participation in the audit system midwives also gained confidence and skills in the management of obstetric complications. Despite this, the proportion admitted to hospital for a caesarean section declined from 1.7 to 1.4% and the proportion admitted to hospital with a complication requiring a life-saving intervention declined from 1.1% to 0.7%. The strategy of a midwife in every village has dramatically increased skilled birth attendance, but does not yet provide specialized obstetric care for all women needing it. The high cost of emergency obstetric interventions may well be the most important obstacle to the use of hospital care.

Liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometric determination of amprenavir (agenerase) in serum/plasma of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infected patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy

A selective assay method for quantitation of amprenavir (agenerase) in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infected patient serum or plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) is described. Amprenavir and an internal standard (reserpine) are extracted by liquid-liquid extraction and chromatographically separated by a reversed-phase C18-analytical column. The triple quadrupole LC-MS-MS system is operated in the positive-ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring is used for drug quantitation. The method has been validated over the range of 0.05-10.0 microg/ml. The RSDs for the intra-day and inter-day determinations ranged from 5.3 to 6.1% and from 4.7 to 6.2%, respectively. The average assay accuracy at two different concentrations ranged from 96.0 to 103.0% and the extraction recovery of amprenavir was 90.8%. The lower limit of quantitation was 0.05 microg/ml. Using a short microbore column, the analysis was completed in less than 5 min.

Assessment of age-dependent immunity to malaria in transmigrants

Sixty-six Javanese transmigrants moving from Java, an area of very low malaria transmission, to Irian Jaya, an area of high malaria transmission, were monitored to evaluate the effects of exposure to malaria transmission and age on resistance to infection and the induction of humoral immunity. The risk of acquiring Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia was not statistically greater in children (5-15 years of age) than in adults (> 15 years of age) during the first 14 months of exposure. However, during the cross-sectional survey at 14 months of exposure. children did have significantly higher P. falciparum asexual blood-stage parasite densities. Serum antibody titers to R32LR, a peptide containing sequences from the P. falciparum circumsporozoite repeat region, and MSP19, a proteolytic fragment of merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) from P. falciparum, were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Exposure for both six and 14 months produced statistically significant increased antibody titers to both R32LR and MSP-1; no age-dependent difference in antibody titers was observed. In this population, exposure to malaria transmission induced antibodies to antigens associated with immunity to malaria. In addition, we noted an age-dependent difference in the parasitemia density of P. falciparum.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of midazolam in rat brain

A high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of midazolam in rat brain is described. Midazolam and the internal standard halazepam were extracted with toluene and analyzed isocratically on a reversed-phase column with a mobile phase consisting of methanol, acetonitrile and potassium phosphate buffer. Detection was monitored by ultraviolet absorption at 240 nm. The standard curves were linear over the range of 25-350 ng midazolam per 50 mg brain tissue. The day-to-day coefficient of variation ranged from 1.7 to 6.9%. The limit of quantification was 80 ng/g brain tissue. The method is rapid, simple and reproducible for brain analysis.

Treatment of experimental status epilepticus with the GABA uptake inhibitor, tiagabine

The potential clinical efficacy of tiagabine for control of status epilepticus was evaluated in an experimental model. Tiagabine was administered to cobalt-lesioned rats in which status epilepticus was induced by injection of homocysteine thiolactone. Tiagabine was effective in controlling status epilepticus in this model; the median effective dose for control of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in the model was 8.3 mg/kg. Tiagabine administration produced an abnormal, hypo-reactive behavioral state which was accompanied by an EEG pattern of high-amplitude, frontally dominant, rhythmic, 3-5-Hz spike-wave activity. This EEG and behavioral syndrome could be reproduced by administration of tiagabine to normal, non-epileptic rats. The exact nature of this syndrome remains unclear, but whether it is an epileptic or encephalopathic phenomenon, further study is clearly required before this drug should be considered for use in the treatment of human status epilepticus.

Malaria vaccine study site in Irian Jaya, Indonesia: Plasmodium falciparum incidence measurements and epidemiologic considerations in sample size estimation

Malaria epidemiologic and entomologic studies were performed during both the high transmission and low transmission seasons to characterize the Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission at a proposed malaria vaccine trial site in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. The study population consisted of two subsets: native Irianese men with lifelong exposure to malaria and transmigrants who arrived from a nonmalarious area 2.5 years before the start of the study. All subjects received a radical cure for malaria and were then monitored weekly by blood film. Both P. falciparum malaria attack rates and incidence densities were calculated; transmigrants had a significantly higher rate (P = 0.003) than the Irianese during the low transmission season study (20-weeks long) but not during the high transmission season study (12-weeks long). Lack of exposure-induced immunity left the transmigrants at a minimum 17-25% greater relative risk of becoming parasitemic compared with the Irianese during the low transmission season study. During the high transmission season study, 50% of the transmigrants were P. falciparum positive by week 6 and 50% of the Irianese by week 9. During the low transmission season, 50% of the transmigrants were positive by week 10 and 43% of the Irianese were positive by week 17. Entomologic studies showed that Anopheles koliensis was the predominant vector (> 98% of anopheline catch). Entomologic inoculation rates for P. falciparum were 0.018 and 0.39 infective bites/person/night for the low and high transmission seasons, respectively. New P. vivax cases represented between 16% and 42% of all initial malaria cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of lorazepam in rat brain using liquid/liquid and solid-phase extraction in combination with high performance liquid chromatography

A method for the determination of lorazepam in rat brain is described using liquid/liquid and solid-phase extraction, followed by high performance liquid chromatography. After addition of chlordiazepoxide as the internal standard, 100 mg brain tissue was homogenized and incubated with alkaline protease. Lorazepam and chlordiazepoxide were extracted three times with toluene. After treatment through a C18-Bond Elut column, lorazepam and chlordiazepoxide were analyzed isocratically on a reversed-phase column with a mobile phase consisting of methanol +0.025 M sodium phosphate buffer (66:34, v/v). The eluted drugs were monitored by their absorption at 240 nm. The sensitivity limit of this method was 10 ng of lorazepam per 100 mg of brain tissue sample. The standard curve was linear over the range of 20 to 200 ng lorazepam. The coefficient of variation for day-to-day precision established by 21 replicate analyses was 4.5 to 13.6%.

Brain amino acid concentration changes during status epilepticus induced by lithium and pilocarpine

Amino acid concentrations were measured in specific structures from the brains of rats decapitated before and during the course of status epilepticus induced by lithium and pilocarpine, with the stages of status defined by the electroencephalographic (EEG) pattern displayed. Early status was marked by discrete seizures on EEG, mid status by continuous spiking, and late status by periodic epileptiform discharges. Aspartate levels were lower than control levels in most regions prior to the onset of status. The decline continued and reached statistical significance in different regions at times from early to late status. Glutamate concentrations were typically higher than control just prior to status onset and then decreased in a manner similar to aspartate, but with less percentage change. gamma-Aminobutyric acid increased during status, with the earliest statistically significant differences observed in mid status. These changes were observed in most forebrain structures studied, but the largest percentage changes in excitatory amino acid concentration were found in substantia nigra, where they fell to less than half of control.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of selected amino acids in rat brain by precolumn derivatization with phenylisothiocyanate

We describe here a simple, sensitive, selective and reproducible assay method for quantitative determination of aspartate, glutamate, serine, glutamine, glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid in rat brain using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The method is based upon formation of phenylthiocarbamyl derivatives of the amino acids. Good resolution of the six amino acids and the internal standard norvaline is achieved within 40 min. Other amino acids which have been reported to be present in rat brain do not interfere with the analysis. Standard curves for each of the amino acids exhibited good linearity (r greater than 0.9993) over the range 0.5-20 nmol. The coefficient of variation for the intra-day and inter-day determinations ranged from 0.4% at the highest to 11% at the lowest concentration limit. Storage of whole brains at -0 degrees C for up to 8 weeks did not affect mean concentrations of the six amino acids.

Determination of lorazepam in plasma of patients during status epilepticus by high-performance liquid chromatography

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of lorazepam in human plasma has been developed. The method was used to analyze plasma samples obtained from patients who were treated with 0.1 mg/kg of intravenous lorazepam during status epilepticus. The detection limit for lorazepam was 5 ng/ml. None of the most commonly used antiepileptic drugs interfere with this lorazepam analysis.

Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of carbamazepine and its principal metabolites in human plasma and urine

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determination of carbamazepine and the 10,11-epoxide, 10,11-dihydroxy, and 2-hydroxy metabolites of carbamazepine. The chromatographic system involves the use of a 18C-microsorb, reversed-phase column with acetonitrile/water (28:72) as the mobile phase. Detection and quantitation are monitored by ultraviolet absorption at 212 nm. The compounds are extracted from 250 microliters of plasma or from 100 microliters urine with methyl-t-butyl ether and 0.1 M sodium hydroxide; 2-methylcarbamazepine is added as internal standard. If phenytoin and/or phenobarbital are present in plasma or urine samples, it is necessary to use 1.0 M sodium hydroxide. The limits of quantitation for carbamazepine and its metabolites are 10 ng/ml.

Pharmacokinetics of nafimidone in patients with chronic intractable epilepsy

Nafimidone is a new antiepileptic drug which may be effective in partial onset seizures. We studied the pharmacokinetics of nafimidone and its metabolite, nafimidone alcohol, in 12 patients already taking phenytoin and/or carbamazepine. The half-life of nafimidone was 1.34 +/- 0.48 hours after a 100mg single dose and 1.69 +/- 0.91 hours after a 300mg single dose. However, the half-life of nafimidone alcohol increased from 2.84 +/- 0.72 hours after a 100mg single dose to 4.22 +/- 1.09 hours after a 300mg single dose (p less than 0.02). The clearance of nafimidone was 43.56 +/- 22.11 L/h/kg after a 100mg single dose and 35.51 +/- 28.93 L/h/kg after the 300mg single dose. The respective apparent volumes of distribution of nafimidone after single 100 and 300mg doses were 80.78 +/- 46.11 L/kg and 71.01 +/- 36.86 L/kg. After short term (9 to 10 weeks) and long term (127 to 152 weeks) maintenance therapy on nafimidone 600mg per day the half-life of nafimidone alcohol was 2.23 +/- 0.36 hours and 2.16 +/- 0.60 hours, respectively. No nafimidone could be detected in urine but from 4 to 7% of the daily nafimidone dose was recovered as nafimidone alcohol. Thus, it appears that over 90% of the administered dose of nafimidone is metabolised by pathways other than glucuronidation of nafimidone alcohol and urinary excretion.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of nafimidone and its major metabolite nafimidone alcohol in human plasma and urine

A rapid, sensitive and selective method for the determination in plasma and urine of nafimidone, a new antiepileptic drug, and its major metabolite, nafimidone alcohol, has been developed which uses a high-performance liquid chromatographic system and a fluorescence detector for nafimidone or ultraviolet detector for nafimidone alcohol. The detection limits for nafimidone and nafimidone alcohol are 5.0 and 12.5 ng/ml, respectively.

Biomedical survey in Irian Jaya (West Irian), Indonesia

A biomedical survey was conducted in several areas of Irian Jaya, Indonesia in July 1972 in association with an investigation of reports of a cholera outbreak. Stool specimens, blood smears and sera were collected and examined for evidence of parasitic as well as other infectious diseases. A total of 114 stools were examined and the most commonly found intestinal parasites were Trichuris trichiura (94%), Ascaris lumbricoides (74%), hookworm (58%), Entamoeba coli (15%), Endolimax nana (8%), Entamoeba histolytica (7), Entamoeba hartmanni (4%), Giardia lamblia (3%) and Chilomastix mesnili (3%). A total of 513 blood smears were examined and Wucheria bancrofti microfilariae were detected in 4% and malaria in 4% (Plasmodium falciparum 3%, Plasmodium vivax 2%). The malaria and filarial positive individuals lived in Beeuw, Waigeo and Arar, Sorong. These parasitic infections were not detected in people from Biak City and Sburia, Biak. Sera were collected from 357 persons and significant antibody titers were found for Entamoeba histolytica (4%) Toxoplasma gondii (7%), Influenza A2 Hong Kong 68 (65%), Influenza B Taiwan 68 (78%), Japanese encephalitis virus (87%) and Dengue 1 virus (79%).

The prevalence of entamoeba histolytica and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Central Java, Indonesia

Sera collected from people living along the slopes of Mt. Merapi and Mt. Merbabu (900-1900 m) in Boyolali Regency, Central Java, Indonesia were tested by indirect hemagglutination tests for antibodies to Entamoeba histolytica and Toxoplasma gondii. A total of 695 sera from 439 males and 256 females, 2 to 75 years of age were tested for amoebiasis and 17.6% had positive antibody titers of 1:128 or greater. The prevalence of antibodies was the same for males and females and increased with age. The seropositivity rate for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among 438 males and 255 females was 2% at titers of 1:256 or greater. The prevalence was higher in females (2.7%) than in males (1.6%), and was highest in the oldest age groups.