AIM Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinaemia and disturbances in glucose metabolism can be produced in normal rats by feeding them a fructose-enriched diet. Metformin, an antidiabetic drug, enhances insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. Previous studies have shown that metformin improves insulin sensitivity in fructose-fed rats. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of metfo...

We hypothesized that AA-2414, a novel thromboxane receptor blocker with antioxidant properties, would inhibit peroxide-induced vasoconstriction in the isolated perfused human placental cotyledon. In study 1, placental cotyledons (n = 5) were perfused serially for 20- min intervals with control KrebsRinger-bicarbonate (KRB) buffer, t-butyl hydroperoxide (Px; 100 microM), KRB buffer, and KRB buff...

Effects of pre-treatment with the alcoholic extract of I. tinctoria (500 mg/kg body wt/day, p.o. for 21 days) on liver antioxidant defense system during acute hepatitis induced by D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/endotoxin (LPS extracted by phenol water method from E. coli serotype 0111.B4; 300 mg and 30 micrograms/kg body wt/day, i.p., 18 hr before the assay) were investigated on the activities of enz...

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been shown to repair cell membranes and, thus, inhibit free radical production in in vitro and in vivo models. We hypothesized that PEG and newly developed organic nitrate forms of PEG (PEG-NO) could repair endothelial dysfunction in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the hamster cheek pouch visualized by intravital fluorescent microscopy. After treatments, we ev...