No abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine platelet aggregation during Ramadan fasting. A group of 20 healthy non-smoking male volunteers were studied, whose mean age was [21 (SD 2.4) years range 19-24]. The average fast was about 15 h. Venous blood samples were taken on 4 different days; 1 day before Ramadan (day 0), then on the 1st, 14th and 28th day of Ramadan. On each of these 4 days, blood samples were taken at 4 p.m. (1 h before the evening meal). Body mass index and platelet count did not change during fasting. Bleeding and coagulation time had increased significantly by the end of Ramadan fasting (P < 0.05, P < 0.005 respectively), but these changes remained within physiological limits. Ramadan fasting induced a reduction in platelet sensitivity to adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) and collagen on days 14 (P < 0.05) and 28 (P < 0.05, P < 0.005 respectively). However, adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation decreased only on day 28 (P < 0.05). This study indicated that Ramadan fasting led to a decrease in the platelet responses of different aggregating agents (ADP, adrenaline and collagen) in vitro. It also led to an increase in bleeding and coagulation time.

No abstract

Resveratrol was not effective in improving liver carbohydrate metabolism relative to gliclazide, a drug widely used to treat diabetes. Dose-response profile of resveratrol remains indeterminate and additional studies may be necessary to determine effective dosing in diabetes.

Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), has been identified in the rat and human gastrointestinal tract. Ghrelin has been proposed to play a role in gastric acid secretion. Nitric oxide (NO) was shown as a mediator in the mechanism of ghrelin action on gastric acid secretory function. However, there is a little knowledge about this topic. We have investigated the role of ghrelin in gastric acid secretion and the role of NO as a mediator. Wistar albino rats were used in this study. The pyloric sphincter was ligated through a small midline incision. By the time, saline (0.5 ml, iv) was injected to the control group, ghrelin (20 μg/kg, iv) was injected to the first experimental group, ghrelin (20 μg/kg, iv) + L-NAME (70 mg/kg, sc) was injected to the second group and L-NAME (70 mg/kg, sc) was administered to the third group. The rats were killed 3 h after pylorus ligation; gastric acid secretion, mucus content and plasma nitrite levels were measured. Exogenous ghrelin administration increased gastric acid output, mucus content and total plasma nitrite levels, while these effects of ghrelin were inhibited by applying L-NAME. We can conclude that ghrelin participates in the regulation of gastric acid secretion through NO as a mediator.