Atif Akbar

Creatine monohydrate supplementation for 10 weeks mediates neuroprotection and improves learning/memory following neonatal hypoxia ischemia encephalopathy in female albino mice

Currently there are no uniform standard treatments for newborn suffering from cerebral hypoxia-ischemia (HI) and to find new and effective strategies for treating the HI injury remains a key direction for future research. Present study was designed to demonstrate that optimal dose (1 or 3%) of creatine monohydrate (Cr) for the treatment of neonatal HI in female albino mice. On postnatal day 10, animals were subjected to left carotid artery ligation followed by 8% hypoxia for 25 minutes. Following weaning on postnatal day 20, mice were divided into three treatments on the basis of diet supplementation (Normal rodent diet, 1% and 3% creatine supplemented diet) for 10 week. A battery of neurological tests (Rota rod, open field and Morris water maze) was used to demonstrate effect of Cr supplementation on neurofunction and infarct size following HI. Open field test results indicated that Cr supplementation had significantly improved locomotory and exploratory behavior in subjects. It was observed that Cr treated mice showed better neuromuscular coordination (rota rod) and improved spatial memory (Morris Water Maze test). A significant affect of creatine supplementation in reducing infarct size was also observed. Post hoc analysis of post hoc multiple comparisons revealed that mice supplemented with 3% Cr for 10 weeks performed better during Morris water maze test while 1% Cr supplementation improved the exploratory behavior and gain in body weight than control group indicating that Cr supplementation has the potential to improve the neurofunction following neonatal brain damage. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Brain and Memory.

Effect of GABAB receptor antagonist (CGP35348) on learning and memory in albino mice.

The present study was designed to demonstrate the potential effect of CGP 35348 (GABAB receptor antagonist) on the learning, memory formation, and neuromuscular coordination in albino mouse. Mice were intrapertoneally injected with 1 mg CGP 35348/mL of distilled water/Kg body weight, while the control animals were injected with equal volume of saline solution. A battery of neurological tests was applied following the intrapertoneal injections. Results of rota rod indicated that CGP 35348 had no effect on neuromuscular coordination in both male (P = 0.528) and female (P = 0.125) albino mice. CGP 35348 treated females demonstrated poor exploratory behavior during open filed for several parameters (time mobile (P = 0.04), time immobile (P = 0.04), rotations (P = 0.04), and anticlockwise rotations (P = 0.038)). The results for Morris water maze (MWM) retention phase indicated that CGP 35348 treated male mice took shorter latency to reach the hidden platform (P = 0.04) than control indicating improved memory. This observation was complemented by the swim strategies used by mice during training days in MWM as CGP 35348 treated males used more direct and focal approach to reach the platform as the training proceeded.

Effect of creatine monohydrate supplementation on learning, memory and neuromuscular coordination in female albino mice.

Background Research findings made over the last few years have highlighted the important role of creatine (Cr) in health and disease. However, limited information is available regarding the effect of Cr supplementation on cognation. Present study was designed to determine the effect of variable doses of Cr (1% and 3%) on selected parameters of female albino mice behaviour. Methods Following weaning, on 20th postnatal day, female albino mice were divided into three groups on the basis of dietary supplementation. Control group were was fed with normal rodent diet, whereas treated groups received diet supplemented with 1% and 3% Creatine monohydrate (Ssniff, Germany) for 10 weeks. Morris water maze (MWM), Rota rod and open field (OF) tests were carried out at the end of diet supplementation for neurofunctional assessment in all the groups. Results Data analysis showed that Cr supplementation did not affect the muscular activity and during rota rod test as well as locomotor and exploratory behaviour during OF test. Results of MWM probe trial indicated that mice supplemented with 3% Cr had significantly more entries in platform area than other two treatments (p=0.03) indicating improved spatial memory. Body weight remained unaffected (p>0.05) when compared between three experimental treatments. Conclusion Female mice supplemented with 3% Cr showed improved spatial memory than mice fed on 1% Cr-supplemented diet and mice on normal rodent diet.

Effect of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation on Various Hematological and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Male Albino Mice following Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia Encephalopathy

Background. Present study was designed to report the effect of 2% creatine monohydrate supplementation for 8, 12 and 15 weeks on hematology and serum biochemical profile of male albino mouse following hypoxic ischemic insult on postnatal day 10. Methods. 66 Blood samples (2% creatine monohydrate supplemented (N = 34) and unsupplemented (N = 32)) were analyzed for various hematological (blood glucose, packed cell volume, total WBC count, total RBC count) and serum biochemical parameters (cholesterol, AST, ALT, HDL, LDL, total protein, triglycerides). Results. ALT had higher concentrations in mice feeding on normal diet for 8 (P > 0.01) and 12 weeks (P > 0.01) following asphyxia and in 12 weeks treatment without asphyxia (P = 0.006) when compared with the creatine supplemented mice. LDL (P = 0.011) and cholesterol (P > 0.01) had higher concentrations in mice on normal diet for 12 weeks following hypoxia ischemia. Cholesterol (P > 0.01) in 12 and glucose (P = 0.006) in 15 week treatment group had significantly lower concentrations in creatine supplemented male albino mice when compared with untreated group following hxpoic-ischemic insult. Conclusion. We concluded that creatine supplementation following hypoxic ischemic insult helps in maintain the normal blood chemistry.

A sustainable quality assessment model for the information delivery in E-learning systems

Purpose E-learning is becoming mainstream due to its accessibility, state-of-the-art learning, training ease and cost effectiveness. However, the poor quality of e-learning systems is one of the major causes of several failures reported. Moreover, this arena lacks well-defined quality assessment measures. Hence, it is quite difficult to measure the overall quality of an e-learning system effectively. Design/methodology/approach A pragmatic mixed-model philosophy was adopted for this study. A systematic literature review was performed to identify existing e-learning quality models and frameworks. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with e-learning experts following empirical investigations to identify the crucial quality characteristics of e-learning systems. Various statistical tests like Principal Component Analysis, Logistic Regression, Chi-square and Analysis of Means were applied to analyze the empirical data. These led to an adequate set of quality indicators that can be used by higher educatio...

Some New Augmented Fractional Box-Behnken Designs

ABSTRACT The augmented Box–Behnken designs are used in the situations in which Box–Behnken designs (BBDs) could not estimate the response surface model due to the presence of third-order terms in the response surface models. These designs are too large for experimental use. Usually experimenters prefer small response surface designs in order to save time, cost, and resources; therefore, using combinations of fractional BBD points, factorial design points, axial design points, and complementary design points, we augment these designs and develop new third-order response surface designs known as augmented fractional BBDs (AFBBDs). These AFBBDs have less design points and are more efficient than augmented BBDs.