Keywords: heart rate variability/exercise/diabetes/hypertension/deep breathing Tohoku

-Lead is known to disrupt the biological systems by altering the molecular interactions, cell signaling, and cellular function. Exposure to even low levels of lead may have potential hazardous effects on brain, liver, kidneys and testes. The efficacy of Etlingera elatior (torch ginger) to protect hepatotoxicity induced by lead acetate was evaluated experimentally in male Sprague -Dawley rats. Rats were exposed to lead acetate in drinking water (500 ppm) for 21 days and the effects of concurrent treatment with extract of E. elatior on hepatic lipid hydroperoxides (LPO), protein carbonyl content (PCC), total antioxidants (TA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione STransferase (GST) levels and histopathological changes in liver were evaluated. There was a significant decrease in TA and other antioxidant enzymes (p < 0.05) and increase in LPO and PCC (p < 0.05) with lead acetate ingestion. Concurrent treatment with E. elatior extract significantly reduced the LPO and PCC (p < 0.05) in serum and increased the antioxidant enzyme levels (p < 0.05) in the liver. Significant histopathological changes were seen in hepatic tissue with chronic lead ingestion. Treatment with E. elatior significantly reduced these lead-induced changes in hepatic architecture. E. elatior has also reduced the blood lead levels (BLL). Thus, there has been extensive biochemical and structural alterations indicative of liver toxicity with exposure to lead and E. elatior treatment significantly reduced these oxidative damage. Our results suggest that E. elatior has a powerful antioxidant effect against lead-induced hepatotoxicity.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of synovial tissues in joints, leading to progressive destruction of cartilage and joints. The disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs currently in use have side-effects. Thus, there is an urgent need for safe anti-inflammatory therapies for RA. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the flavonoid quercetin on arthritis in mice immunized with type II collagen (CII). An arthritis model was established in C57/BL6 mice by intradermal administration of chicken CII mixed with Freund's complete adjuvant. Quercetin (30 mg/kg orally) and methotrexate (0.75 mg intraperitoneally twice a week) were administered to investigate their protective effects against collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), 3, and 9 were detected to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of quercetin. The mRNA expression of MMP3, MMP9, CCL2, and TNF-α was also measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Quercetin significantly alleviated joint inflammation by reducing the levels of circulating cytokines and MMPs. There was a significant decrease in the expression of TNFα and MMP genes in the ankle joints of arthritic mice. A significant reduction in the levels of knee-joint inflammatory mediators were observed with combined quercetin and methotrexate treatment. Thus, quercetin has the potential to prevent joint inflammation and could be used as an adjunct therapy for RA patients who have an inadequate response to anti-rheumatic monotherapy.

SummaryBackground: Reduced heart rate variability is associated with an unfavorable prognosis in patients with ischemic heart disease and diabetes. Whether change in breathing pattern can modify the risk factor in these patients has not been definitely proved.