Influence of various diet regimens on deterioration of hepatic function and hematological parameters following carbon tetrachloride: a potential protective role of natural honey

The objective was to assess the effects of commercial regular diet as control, total food restriction with honey, commercial regular diet with dextrose, or total food restriction with dextrose, on blood variables after carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration. Sprague Dawley albino rats were divided into four groups, 10 rats each; Group 1 rats were on commercial regular diet, Group 2 rats were on commercial regular diet with 50% dextrose, Group 3 rats were on total food restriction with 50% dextrose, and Group 4 rats were on total food restriction with 50% honey. Rats in all the groups were i.m. administered CCL4 (2.4 mL kg b. wt.-1). Blood tests including ALT, AST, serum albumin, serum protein, BUN, blood glucose (BG), hemoglobin (Hb), and white blood cell (WBC) were performed before CCl4 administration and repeated after 48 and 96 h of post-injection. In Group 1, CCl4 caused significant elevation in AST and ALT, and decrease in BS, WBC, and BUN; lower elevation in AST and ALT at 48 h and decreased AST and ALT at 96 h were obtained when dextrose was added to commercial regular diet (Group 2). Using dextrose alone (Group 3), though there was significant elevation of AST and ALT and decrease in BUN and WBC as compared to baseline values, significant decrease in ALT, AST, and BUN as compared to control was obtained. During absolute honey feeding (Group 4), elevation in AST and ALT obtained, following CCl4 administration was significantly less than the values obtained in all other groups; with lower elevation in AST and ALT as compared to baseline values. Honey increased serum albumin, serum protein, BG, and caused lower reduction in Hb. Conclusively, exclusive honey feeding (50% concentration) significantly modifies and ameliorates biochemical and hematological changes obtained after CCl4 injection.     

The free energy of a reaction coordinate at multiple constraints: a concise formulation

The free energy as a function of the reaction coordinate (rc) is the key quantity for the computation of equilibrium and kinetic quantities. When it is considered as the potential of mean force, the problem is the calculation of the mean force for given values of the rc. We reinvestigate the PMCF (potential of mean constraint force) method which applies a constraint to the rc to compute the mean force as the mean negative constraint force and a metric tensor correction. The latter allows for the constraint imposed to the rc and possible artefacts due to multiple constraints of other variables which for practical reasons are often used in numerical simulations. Two main results are obtained that are of theoretical and practical interest. First, the correction term is given a very concise and simple shape which facilitates its interpretation and evaluation. Secondly, a theorem describes various rcs and possible combinations with constraints that can be used without introducing any correction to the constraint force. The results facilitate the computation of free energy by molecular dynamics simulations.