Rats fed a galactose-rich diet have been used for several years as a model for diabetes to study, particularly in the eye, the effects of excess blood hexoses. This study sought to determine the utility of galactosemia as a model for oxidative stress in extraocular tissues by examining biomarkers of oxidative stress in galactose-fed rats and experimentally-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: experimental control; streptozotocin-induced diabetic; insulin-treated diabetic; and galactose-fed. The rats were maintained on these regimens for 30 days, at which point the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase, as well as levels of lipid peroxidation and reduced and oxidized glutathione were determined in heart, liver, and kidney. This study indicates that while there are some similarities between galactosemic and diabetic rats in these measured indices of oxidative stress (hepatic catalase activity levels and hepatic and renal levels of oxidized glutathione in both diabetic and galactosemic rats were significantly decreased when compared to normal), overall the galactosemic rat model is not closely parallel to the diabetic rat model in extra-ocular tissues. In addition, several effects of diabetes (increased hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity, increased superoxide dismutase activity in kidney and heart, decreased renal and increased cardiac catalase activity) were not mimicked in galactosemic rats, and glutathione concentration in both liver and heart was affected in opposite ways in diabetic rats and galactose- fed rats. Insulin treatment reversed/prevented the activity changes in renal and cardiac superoxide dismutase, renal and cardiac catalase, and hepatic glutathione peroxidase as well as the hepatic changes in lipid peroxidation and reduced and oxidized glutathione, and the increase in cardiac glutathione. Thus, prudence should be exercised in the use of experimentally galactosemic rats as a model for diabetes until the correspondence of the models has been more fully characterized.

Two of the models used in current diabetes research include the hypergalactosemic rat and the hyperglucosemic, streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. Few studies, however, have examined the concurrence of these two models regarding the effects of elevated hexoses on biomarkers of oxidative stress. This study compared the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase and the concentrations of glutathione, glutathione disulfide, and thiobarbituric acid reactants (as a measure of lipid peroxidation) in liver, kidney, and heart of Sprague-Dawley rats after 60 days of either a 50% galactose diet or insulin deficiency caused by streptozotocin injection. Most rats from both models developed bilateral cataracts. Blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin A(1c) concentrations were elevated in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Streptozotocin diabetic rats exhibited elevated activities of renal superoxide dismutase, cardiac catalase, and renal and cardiac glutathione peroxidase, as well as elevated hepatic lipid peroxidation. Insulin treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats normalized altered markers. In galactosemic rats, hepatic lipid peroxidation was increased whereas glutathione reductase activity was diminished. Glutathione levels in liver were decreased in diabetic rats but elevated in the galactosemic rats, whereas hepatic glutathione disulfide concentrations were decreased much more in diabetes than in galactosemia. Insulin treatment reversed/prevented all changes caused by streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Lack of concomitance in these data indicate that the 60-day galactose-fed rat is not experiencing the same oxidative stress as the streptozotocin diabetic rat, and that investigators must be cautious drawing conclusions regarding the concurrence of the effects of the two animal models on oxidative stress biomarkers.

Two of the models used in current diabetes research include the hypergalactosemic rat and the hyperglucosemic, streptozotocininduced diabetic rat. Few studies, however, have examined the concurrence of these two models regarding the effects of elevated hexoses on biomarkers of oxidative stress. This study compared the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase and the concentrations of glutathione, glutathione disulfide, and thiobarbituric acid reactants (as a measure of lipid peroxidation) in liver, kidney, and heart of Sprague-Dawley rats after 60 days of either a 50% galactose diet or insulin deficiency caused by streptozotocin injection. Most rats from both models developed bilateral cataracts. Blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin A 1c concentrations were elevated in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Streptozotocin diabetic rats exhibited elevated activities of renal superoxide dismutase, cardiac catalase, and renal and cardiac glutathione peroxidase, as well as elevated hepatic lipid peroxidation. Insulin treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats normalized altered markers. In galactosemic rats, hepatic lipid peroxidation was increased whereas glutathione reductase activity was diminished. Glutathione levels in liver were decreased in diabetic rats but elevated in the galactosemic rats, whereas hepatic glutathione disulfide concentrations were decreased much more in diabetes than in galactosemia. Insulin treatment reversed/prevented all changes caused by streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Lack of concomitance in these data indicate that the 60-day galactose-fed rat is not experiencing the same oxidative stress as the streptozotocin diabetic rat, and that investigators must be cautious drawing conclusions regarding the concurrence of the effects of the two animal models on oxidative stress biomarkers.

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that continues to infect many people worldwide. Though its mortality rate is low, long convalescent periods associated with brucellosis translate into reduced socio-economic capacity of the people affected. Human brucellosis is mostly transmitted from animals. In Kenya, the prevalence of the disease has increased recently, along with the increased hawking of unpasteurized milk. The extent of the risk such raw milk poses to human health with respect to brucellosis is unknown. This study investigates the possibility of brucellosis being transmitted through unprocessed milk sold by hawkers in Eldoret municipality. Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, 130 samples of unpasteurized pooled milk from hawkers and 14 pasteurized milk samples were collected from shops in selected estates using cluster and simple random sampling techniques. All samples were subjected to the Brucella Milk Ring Test (MRT) for screening. A milk consumption questionnaire was administered to households in the selected estates to establish their milk sources and consumption patterns. Data analysis involved comparing computed percentages of different variables. Results: A high proportion of households (77.5%) consume unpasteurized milk from hawkers. However, no antibody to Brucella was detected in any of the milk samples collected. Conclusion: We find no evidence that hawked milk in Eldoret is responsible for transmitting brucellosis to consumers. More research in the potential transmission of brucellosis through milk consumption is recommended.