The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacies of crude yam (Dioscorea batatas) powder (PY), water extract of yam (EY), and allantoin (the active constituent of yam) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with respect to glucose, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc), lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress. For this purpose, 50 rats were divided into five groups: normal control (NC), diabetic control (STZ), and STZ plus treatment groups (STZ + PY, STZ + EY, and STZ + allantoin). After treatment for one-month, there was a decrease in blood glucose: 385 ± 7 in STZ, 231 ± 3 in STZ + PY, 214 ± 11 in STZ + EY, and 243 ± 6 mg/dL in STZ + allantoin, respectively. There were significant statistical differences (p < 0.001) compared to STZ (100%): 60% in STZ + PY, 55% in STZ + EY, and 63% in STZ + allantoin. With groups in the same order, there were significant decreases (p < 0.001) in HbAlc (100% as 24.4 ± 0.6 ng/mL, 78%, 75%, and 77%), total cholesterol (100% as 122 ± 3 mg/dL, 70%, 67%, and 69%), and low-density lipoprotein (100% as 29 ± 1 mg/dL, 45%, 48%, and 38%). There were also significant increases (p < 0.001) in insulin (100% as 0.22 ± 0.00 ng/mL, 173%, 209%, and 177%), GLP-1 (100% as 18.4 ± 0.7 pmol/mL, 160%, 166%, and 162%), and C-peptide (100% as 2.56 ± 0.10 ng/mL, 129%, 132%, and 130%). The treatment effectively ameliorated antioxidant stress as shown by a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in malondialdehyde (100% as 7.25 ± 0.11 nmol/mL, 87%, 86%, and 85%) together with increases (p < 0.01) in superoxide dismutase (100% as 167 ± 6 IU/mL, 147%, 159%, and 145%) and reduced glutathione (100% as 167 ± 6 nmol/mL, 123%, 141%, and 140%). The results indicate that yam and allantoin have antidiabetic effects by modulating antioxidant activities, lipid profiles and by promoting the release of GLP-1, thereby improving the function of β-cells maintaining normal insulin and glucose levels.

The in vitro and in vivo findings of this study demonstrated that the NSSE has protective effects against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and metabolic disturbances by improving antioxidant activities and suppressing both lipid peroxidation and ROS generation.

No abstract

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of surgical decompression and rehabilitation therapy in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH).Materials and Methods:After surgery, physiotherapeutic rehabilitation was performed by a combination of electrotherapy, infrared therapy, training for standing, deep tendon reflex, and aquatic treadmill exercise. A total of 186 dogs were selected from the hospital records and included in two groups: the rehabilitated group (RG, n = 96) and non-rehabilitated group (NRG, n = 90). Dogs in each group were subdivided into three groups based on a pre-operative clinical severity grading system and those in grades 2–4 were included in this study. Post-operative neurologic functions, unassisted standing, walking, and the success rate of both groups were evaluated and comparedResults:Overall, 86.46% (83/96) of dogs had a successful neurologic outcome in the RG group, which was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than the NRG group 52.22% (47/90). Interestingly, the success rate differed when the preoperative grading system was considered. The success rates of grades 2, 3, and 4 were 97.14% (34/35), 97.33% (42/45), and 43.75% (7/16), respectively, in the rehabilitated groups, whereas in the non-rehabilitated groups, success rates were 82.35% (28/34), 51.85% (14/27), and 17.24% (5/29), respectively. The differences in success rates among the groups according to grading were 14.79%, 41.48%, and 26.51%, respectively, indicating that the proposed rehabilitation therapy is remarkably advantageous for increasing the success rate.Conclusion:Rehabilitation therapy after surgical decompression of thoracolumbar IVDH improves neurologic functions and increases the success rate, especially when the preoperative pathological condition is severe.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of ventral slot decompression and rehabilitation therapy in dogs with cervical intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH). Surgical decompression was performed in dogs with IVDH using the ventral slot procedure. After surgery, physiotherapeutic rehabilitation consisted of a combination of electrotherapy, infrared therapy and mechanical massage; treadmill exercise was started when the animal could stand up. A total of 58 dogs were selected from the hospital and included in two groups: rehabilitated group (RG, n = 34) and non-rehabilitated group (NRG, n = 24). Dogs of each group were subdivided into five groups based on a pre-operative clinical grading system. Grade 1 designated spinal pain only, grade 2 designated ambulatory paraparesis, grade 3 designated non-ambulatory paraparesis, grade 4 designated paraplegia with deep-pain perception intact and grade 5 designated paraplegia without deep-pain perception. Post-operative changes of both groups were evaluated and compared, including time until unassisted standing and walking after surgery and the success rate. Overall, 79.41% (27/34) of dogs had a successful neurologic outcome in the RG group, which was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher than the NRG group 62.50% (15/24). Interestingly, the success rate differed when the preoperative grading system was considered. The success rates of grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were 100% (9/9), 100% (7/7), 75% (3/4), 53.85% (7/13) and 100% (1/1), respectively, in the rehabilitated groups, whereas in the non-rehabilitated groups success rates were 100% (5/5), 83.33% (5/6), 60.00% (3/5), 28.57% (2/7) and 0% (0/1), respectively. The differences in success rates between the two groups according to grading were 0, 16.67, 15, 25.57 and 100%, respectively. The proposed rehabilitation therapy after surgical decompression of cervical IVDH can improve the success rate when the preoperative pathological condition is severe.