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Adipose-resident Tregs protect against systemic inflammation and metabolic disease by limiting expansion of pro-inflammatory cells, preserving insulin sensitivity and maintaining glucose tolerance. Although their basic markers and roles have been studied, less is known about the transcriptional machinery regulating their differentiation and function. B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1) is a transcriptional regulator known to be involved in development, polarization, and maintenance of various immune cells including CD4+ T cells. Using Blimp-1 reporter mice, we discovered that Blimp-1 is constitutively expressed in a subset of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) Tregs, and that Blimp-1+ VAT Tregs are phenotypically distinct from their Blimp-1-counterparts. We also found that Treg-specific Blimp-1 deletion led to altered differentiation and function of VAT and inguinal adipose tissue Tregs. Surprisingly, during diet-induced obesity, Blimp-1 Treg deficient mice gained less weight, had reduced body fat percentage, and exhibited improved insulin sensitivity compared to wild type mice. Furthermore, this was accompanied by upregulation of thermogenic genes such as Ucp1, Prdm16 and Dio2 in inguinal adipose tissue, and increased overall fatty acid oxidation. It has previously been shown that IL-10 can induce thermogenesis. Therefore, we repeated these experiments utilizing mice with Treg-specific deletion of IL-10 and found that they phenocopied the Blimp-1 Treg deficient mice. Based on these results, we hypothesize that cross-talk between Tregs and adipocytes via a Blimp-1-IL-10 axis suppresses thermogenesis, and that absence of Blimp-1+ Tregs is metabolically protective during diet-induced obesity.

Ca2Fe2O5 (CFO) is a potentially viable material for alternate energy applications. Incorporation of nitrogen in Ca2Fe2O5 (CFO-N) lattice modifies the optical and electronic properties to its advantage. Here, the electronic band structures of CFO and CFO-N were probed using Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The optical bandgap of CFO reduces from 2.21 eV to 2.07 eV on post N incorporation along with a clear shift in the valence band of CFO indicating the occupation of N 2p levels over O 2p in the valence band. Similar effect is also observed in the bandgap of CFO, which is tailored upto 1.43 eV by N+ ion implantation. The theoretical bandgaps of CFO and CFO-N were also determined by using the Density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The photoactivity of these CFO and CFO-N was explored by organic effluent degradation under sunlight. The feasibility of utilizing CFO and CFO-N samples for energy storage applications were also investigated through specific capacitance measurements. The specific capacitance of CFO is found to increase to 224.67 Fg−1 upon N incorporation. CFO-N is thus found to exhibit superior optical, catalytic as well as supercapacitor properties over CFO expanding the scope of brownmillerites in energy and environmental applications.

In this paper a new control strategy is used for a variable parameter two-link manipulator. A Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) calculates a necessary control input to decrease the tracking error between output of the system and a reference trajectory. The reference trajectory is generated from desired value of system output. The parameter estimator estimates the parameter of two link manipulator for control purpose. The effectiveness of the NMPC controller is tested with numerical simulations and shown better results when compared existing methods.

At present, wifi is one of the genuine prerequisites for everyone. There are a large number of SOC'S out there however ESP8266 Wi-Fi module is an independent System on-chip (SOC) with coordinated TCP/IP convention stacks that can give any microcontroller access to a Wi-Fi network. Here we deauthenticate the customer to interface with internet. The deauthentication assault, is utilized to separate gadgets from their WiFi organize. Nobody appears to think about this immense defenselessness in the authority 802.11 WiFi norms. In any case, this paper is to teach individuals to refresh there Wifi from 802.11 to 802.11w due to the powerlessness of 802.11 WiFi guidelines since it is effectively deauthenticated utilizing ESP8266.

Here, we tested a hypothesis that vitamin A and/or its metabolic pathways are involved in the high-fructose-mediated alteration in adipose tissue biology. For this purpose, weanling male Wistar rats were provided with one of the following diets: control (C), control with vitamin A deficiency (C-VAD), high fructose (HFr), and HFr with VAD (HFr-VAD) for 16 weeks, except that half of the C-VAD diet-fed rats were shifted to HFr diet (C-VAD(s)HFr), after 8-week period. Compared with control, feeding of HFr diet significantly increased the triglyceride content (P ≤ .01) and thus adipocyte size (hypertrophy) (P ≤ .001) in visceral adipose depot; retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (RPWAT) and these changes were corroborated with de novo lipogenesis, as evidenced by the increased glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity (P ≤ .01) and up-regulation of lipogenic pathway transcripts, fructose transporter, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 A1. On the contrary, the absence of vitamin A in the HFr diet (HFr-VAD) failed to exert these changes; however, it induced adipocyte hyperplasia. Further, vitamin A deficiency-mediated changes were reversed by replenishment, as evident from the group that was shifted from C-VAD to HFr diet. In conclusion, vitamin A and its metabolic pathway play a key determinant role in the high-fructose-induced triglyceride accumulation and adipocyte hypertrophy of visceral white adipose depot. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Here, we report the metabolic impact of high-fructose feeding under vitamin A-sufficient and vitamin A-deficient conditions. Feeding of high-fructose diet induced triglyceride accumulation and adipocyte hypertrophy of the visceral white adipose depots. These changes corroborated with augmented expression of vitamin A and lipid metabolic pathway genes. Contrarily, absence of vitamin A in the high-fructose diet did not elicit such responses, while vitamin A replenishment reversed the changes exerted by vitamin A deficiency. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the role of vitamin A and its metabolic pathway in the high-fructose-induced triglyceride synthesis and its accumulation in visceral adipose depot and thus provide a new insight and scope to understand these nutrients interaction in clinical conditions.

Abstract. The liver is the main site of lipid metabolism and vitamin A storage. Dietary factors are known to affect liver function, thereby leading to metabolic abnormalities. Here, we assessed the impact of long-term feeding of a high-fat diet on hepatic vitamin A status and lipid metabolism. For this purpose, 14 male and 14 female 35-day-old mice (strain C57BL/6J) were each divided into 2 groups of 7 animals and fed either a stock diet or a high-fat (HF) diet for 26 weeks. In addition to increased body weight/weight gain, the HF diet induced hypertriglyceridemia in both (p

This paper presents a boost DC-DC converter topology with non - isolated high gain and output midpoint, to boost the voltage obtained from solar photovoltaic panels. The three-level boost converter is coupled to the output port of the single-switch quadratic boost converter to derive the proposed converter topology. The voltage gain of the proposed converter is greater than that of the classical boost converter. The voltage stress on the switches of the proposed converter is equal to half of the converter output voltage. Static analysis, operating modes, experimental waveforms in continuous current conduction and discontinuous current conduction modes are shown. A 520 W prototype converter was implemented in the laboratory and its results are presented.

The role of sexual dimorphic adipose tissue fat accumulation in the development of insulin resistance is well known. However, whether vitamin A status and/or its metabolic pathway display any sex- or depot (visceral/subcutaneous)-specific pattern and have a role in sexual dimorphic adipose tissue development and insulin resistance are not completely understood. Therefore, to assess this, 5 weeks old Wistar male and female rats of eight from each sex were provided either control or diabetogenic (high fat, high sucrose) diet for 26 weeks. At the end, consumption of diabetogenic diet increased the visceral fat depots (p, Highlights • Role of vitamin A and its metabolic pathway on sexual dimorphic fat accumulation and insulin resistance was studied. • Consumption of diabetogenic diet caused insulin resistance, but not associated with sexual-dimorphic fat deposition. • Vitamin A accumulation displayed a sex- and fat depot-specific pattern without altering its metabolic pathway genes. • However, the lipid droplet proteins and secretome of the adipose depots displayed sex- and/or depot-specific pattern.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases associated with an altered lifestyle, besides genetic factors. The control and management of NAFLD mostly depend on lifestyle modifications, due to the lack of a specific therapeutic approach. In this context, we assessed the effect of carrot juice on the development of high fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. For this purpose, male weanling Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, fed either a control (Con) or high fructose (HFr) diet of AIN93G composition, with or without carrot juice (CJ) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, plasma biochemical markers, such as triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and β-hydroxy butyrate levels were comparable among the 4 groups. Although, the liver injury marker, aspartate aminotransferase, levels in plasma showed a reduction, hepatic triglycerides levels were not significantly reduced by carrot juice ingestion in the HFr diet-fed rats (HFr-CJ). On the other hand, the key triglyceride synthesis pathway enzyme, hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), expression at mRNA level was augmented by carrot juice ingestion, while their protein levels showed a significant reduction, which corroborated with decreased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), particularly palmitoleic (C16:1) and oleic (C18:1) acids. Notably, it also improved the long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6) content of the liver in HFr-CJ. In conclusion, carrot juice ingestion decreased the SCD1-mediated production of MUFA and improved DHA levels in liver, under high fructose diet-fed conditions. However, these changes did not significantly lower the hepatic triglyceride levels.

Background: Adipose tissue, an endocrine organ, plays a vital role not only in energy homeostasis, but also in the development and/or progression of various metabolic diseases, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), via several factors and mechanisms, including inflammation. This study tested, whether carrot juice administration affected the adipose tissue development and its inflammatory status in a high fructose diet-induced rat model. For this purpose, male weanling Wistar rats were divided into four groups and fed either control or high fructose diet of AIN-93G composition with or without carrot juice ingestion for an 8 week period.; Results: Administration of carrot juice did not affect the adiposity and cell size of visceral fat depot; retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (RPWAT), which was corroborated with unaltered expression of genes involved in adipogenic and lipogenic pathways. However, it significantly reduced the high fructose diet-induced elevation of plasma free fatty acid (FFA) (P ≤ 0.05), macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) (P ≤ 0.01) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (P ≤ 0.05) levels.; Conclusion: Carrot juice administration attenuated the high fructose diet-induced elevation of levels of circulatory FFA and pro-inflammatory mediators; MCP1 and hsCRP without affecting the adiposity and cell size of visceral fat depot; RPWAT. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background: Cesarean section is one of the widely performed surgical procedures across the world. Cesarean section is associated with increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality, despite remarkable improvements in the safety. The objective of the present study is to study the cesearean section in the context of various indications, parity, intraoperative complications, post-operative morbidity, and perinatal morbidity among multigravidae undergoing cesarean section for first time. Methods: The present study was carried out at Yenepoya medical college hospital. All multigravidas who had delivered vaginally once or more and who underwent primary caesarean sections for the first time during time period of August 2015-May 2016 were included in study and various factors are analyzed. Results: In our study most of primary cesearean sections were in second paras who constituted 50%, followed by 4/> paras constituting 29.54%, and it was observed that incidence in third paras was 20.45%. 75% of the patients underwent emergency cesearean section and 25% had elective ceserean section. The most common indication for cesearean in our study was observed to be fetal distress accounting for 25% of the cases, 2nd most common being malpresentations (19.31%), non-progress of labor constituting 11.36% of cases. Intra operative complications were noted in 6.81% of cases, most common complication being extension of uterine incision extension of uterine incision. Conclusions: Complications may occur in women who previously had a normal vaginal delivery requiring interventions in the form of caesarean section and is not uncommon. Though to a small extent, they are contributing to rise is total caesarean section rates seen. There are many cases where a caesarean becomes mandatory for her. The fact that a multipara who has had one or more vaginal deliveries should be regarded as an optimistic historical fact, not as diagnostic-criteria for spontaneous delivery of the pregnancy at hand. A parous woman needs good obstetric care to improve maternal and neonatal outcome and still keeping caesarean section to a lower rate.

Boiling—a process widely used for its good heat transferability—is limited by a phenomenon known as critical heat flux (CHF). Our experiments revealed a new CHF mechanism that is different from previously believed theories; we refer to it as “sonneting CHF.” At CHF, the flow pattern changes from bubbly flow to slug/churn flow and then to an unusual reverse annular flow, leading to a significant rise in the heater surface temperature. The reverse annular flow, however, does not sustain but breaks down into a chaotic flow pattern, resulting in unprecedented quenching of the heater surface. The flow pattern shortly reverts back to bubbly flow; this entire process repeats for a few cycles, where the heater surface temperature rises and falls with amplitudes increasing in each cycle until the heater trips. The maximum removal-surface heat flux is significantly higher than the CHF. This new understanding will enable flexible and innovative boiling systems for several energy applications.

Metal gold nanoparticles are of great interest due to their unique physico-chemical properties and their potential to be used as nano-probes in biosensors, drug delivery, and therapeutic applications. Currently, many capping agents are used for metal gold nanoparticles, such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and tri-sodium citrate that have been reported to be toxic and hinders biological applications. To address this issue, we report, for the first time, the use of taurine as a stable non-cytotoxic capping agent for synthesizing gold nanoparticles by using an in situ wet-chemical method. This facile method resulted in monodisperse gold nanospheres with a high yield and stability. Monodisperse gold nanospheres with average diameters of 6.9 nm and 46 nm were synthesized at a high yield with controlled morphology. Temperature played a critical role in determining the size of the taurine-capped gold nanoparticles. The subtle changes in the reaction parameters had a tremendous effect on the final size of nanoparticles and their stability. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by using optical spectroscopy, a ZetaSizer, a NanoSight, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photon Spectroscopy (XPS) and Electron Microscopy to understand their physico-chemical properties. Taurine was explored as a capping and stabilizing agent for gold nanospheres, which were evaluated for their toxicity responses towards human liver carcinoma cells (HepG2) via MTT assay.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common thyroid malignancy and frequently metastasizes to regional lymph nodes. Occasionally, metastatic lymph nodes are palpable without the evidence of primary tumour. Papillary thyroid carcinoma of lateral neck cyst is a rare condition. It may arise from thyroid primary which underwent cystic degeneration or true malignant transformation of ectopic thyroid tissue. Herein, we reported two cases with preoperative diagnosis of benign lateral neck cyst but postoperative histopathological results showed primary papillary thyroid carcinoma. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the neck in both cases showed no significant thyroid lesion. However, the patient in Case 2 was subjected for total thyroidectomy and histopathological results showed the origin of primary tumour. In conclusion, thorough investigations including total thyroidectomy are indicated in cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma of lateral neck cyst. This practice is to ensure that this type of thyroid cancer can be detected earlier because it has a very good prognosis if treated earlier.

Previously, we reported that vitamin A deficiency resulted in the reduction of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) levels, which corroborated with attenuation of high fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. Here, we aimed at assessing the effect of vitamin A deficiency on SCD1, MUFA levels and their impact on pancreas’ structure and functions. Male weanling Wistar rats fed one of the four diets, namely control (Con), vitamin A-deficient (VAD), highfructose (HFr) and vitamin A-deficient diet with highfructose (VADHFr) for 16 weeks period. Compared to the control, feeding of VAD diet (alone or with HFr) resulted in pancreatic intra-islet vessel dilation and reduced plasma insulin, glucagon and C-peptide levels, however, glucose levels decreased only in VADHFr group. In line with plasma levels, VAD diet-fed animals displayed lower immunostaining for insulin and glucagon, which corroborated with increased apoptotic staining observed in the islet regions, possibly due to increased cellular stress, as indicated by high immunostaining for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and CCAAT/Enhancer-binding protein homologues protein (CHOP). On the other hand, it significantly decreased the SCD1 protein, which corroborated with reduced MUFA levels, particularly, oleic acid (C18:1), when compared to the control and HFr groups. In conclusion, chronic vitamin A deficiency altered the structure and functions of pancreas by diminishing the islet cells, possibly by inducing cellular stress-mediated apoptosis and decreasing SCD1-mediated oleic acid (C18:1) synthesis. Thus, the data suggest that unlike liver, the reduction in SCD1 and MUFA levels in the pancreas exerts deleterious effects on its functions and perturb the overall cellular metabolism.

Fibroadenomas are benign solid tumors which occur most frequently in child bearing age with 68% occurrence in adolescents. Giant fibroadenomas are uncommon variants of fibroadenomas usually presenting in adolescents characterized by massive and rapid enlargement of bre ast tissue which may be quite alarming to the young girls. We present a case of giant fibroadenoma diagnosed by FNAC in the 14 yr adolescent who presented with large unilateral left breast enlargement which grew rapidly over a period of 10 months.

The maximum power point tracking based on fuzzy logic controller of photovoltaic power generation is proposed based on perturbation and observation MPPT method. The real time adjustment of fuzzy logic controller gives a stable and smooth operation of solar power generation with maximum output. The proposed method of fuzzy controller is simulated using MATLAB/Simulink and results are presented.

Useful yields from resonance ionization mass spectrometry can be extremely high compared to other mass spectrometry techniques, but uranium analysis shows strong matrix effects arising from the tendency of uranium to form strongly bound oxide molecules that do not dissociate appreciably on energetic ion bombardment. We demonstrate a useful yield of 24% for metallic uranium. Modeling the laser ionization and ion transmission processes shows that the high useful yield is attributable to a high ion fraction achieved by resonance ionization. We quantify the reduction of uranium oxide surface layers by Ar+ and Ga+ sputtering. The useful yield for uranium atoms from a uranium dioxide matrix is 0.4% and rises to 2% when the surface is in sputter equilibrium with the ion beam. The lower useful yield from the oxide is almost entirely due to uranium oxide molecules reducing the neutral atom content of the sputtered flux. We demonstrate rapid isotopic analysis of solid uranium oxide at a precision of

Novel and cost-effective metal–insulator semiconductor field-effect transistor (MISFET) devices were fabricated using non-toxic tin mono sulfide (SnS) as the active layer sandwiched between aluminium and silver contacts with an unintentionally grown aluminium sulfide (Al2S3) interface layer. MISFET devices exhibit a high turn-on voltage of 5.13 V and excellent rectifying diode characteristics. These devices also show a high rectification factor of 1383 at a bias voltage of 6 V and series resistance of 3.4 MΩ, along with a very low leakage current of ∼10−9 A@−10 V. The overall results reveal that it could be possible to fabricate cost-effective and non-toxic MISFET devices by using SnS as an active layer for various power-electronic applications.

System reliability analysis has a significant influence on making decision and defining requirements for future operations. Performing a reliability assessment for a complex system is challenging due to varied performance of different sub systems. European Railway Traffic Management System/ European Train Control System (ERTMS/ETCS) is a similar complex system addressed in the thesis for developing a reliability model and its assessment. In order to implement the modelling of ERTMS/ETCS, an existing line operating on ERTMS level 2 is chosen as case study from Bane NOR. Since all the railway projects are implemented according to the railway standards, a general overview of these standards and the importance of RAMS is elaborated. A literature review is then performed to identify suitable methods for reliability modelling practiced in general railways and ERTMS. On performing a thorough assessment of the literature, a multi formalism modelling approach is proposed for modelling the Østfoldbanen Østre Linje (ØØL) ERTMS pilot line as a case study. As a part of multi formalism modelling, different conventional methods are applied initially and then simulations are performed using software programs to assess reliability. Primarily reliability block diagram method is used to model the ØØL line in Relysim software with a combination of single station and bidirectional (BiDi) section, and then 1000 simulations are conducted to assess ØØL ERTMS infrastructure. It is estimated from Relysim results that this model has the potential to determine the performance of the infrastructure. From Relysim model it is deduced that predominant infrastructure failures that cause delays are due to partial interlocking fail, maintenance and track fracture, followed by failure of balise, axle counters and points. Later a software developed by DNV GL called TRAIL is used for modelling, in which a usage based model is implemented at first based on the historical data of delays in 2016. The data is distributed to all stations and BiDi sections and simulated for 100 annual runs. Secondly, a time-based model is developed in TRAIL with inputs as infrastructure, reliability parameters, system dependency, timetable, routes etc. and again performed 100 annual simulations to estimate the reliability and punctuality. From TRAIL models simulation, reliability and availability of ERTMS infrastructure present at stations and BiDi sections of ØØL pilot line is estimated along with the sections criticality. Additionally, the overall availability and punctuality of the train services operating on the ØØL pilot line is also measured. The time based model in TRAIL is found to be more practical due to the fact that it considers all the constraints and the model is validated by comparing its results with usage based model results. Since all the models are developed with several assumptions and some uncertainty, suggestions are given for further research to Bane NOR and TRAIL in light of reliability modelling of ERTMS/ETCS.

Abnormal glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, obesity and dyslipidemia are all potent cardiovascular risk factors that cluster in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Metabolic abnormalities in PCOS women cannot be explained by presence of obesity alone. The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance and correlation of insulin resistance with serum lipid profile in South-Indian women with PCOS. In this prospective case control study, a total of 45 PCOS women were recruited. All patients underwent oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with blood samples at 0 and 2nd hour. Fasting insulin and lipid profiles were also measured in each case. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glycemia (IFG), type 2 diabetes mellitus and normal glucose tolerance was found to be 24.44 % (11/45), 4.44 % (2/45), 2.22 % (1/45) and 68.9 % (31/45) respectively. PCOS women had significantly higher serum total cholesterol (P = 0.002), triglycerides (P

Leptospirosis is a severe spirochetal zoonosis in the world. It is considered an occupational disease of persons engaged in agriculture, sewage works, forestry, and animal slaughtering. A study was conducted with an objective of assessing the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in and around Vellore district, Tamil Nadu. The study was based on the signs and symptoms of the patients reporting fever in Vellore Municipal Clinic (Urban Malarial Scheme). Blood samples were collected from 129 patients. Animal studies were conducted from 24 rodents captured form the market place of the Vellore municipality. In the ZET (Zonal Entomological Team, Vellore) Laboratory the sera were examined by macroscopic slide agglutination test (MSAT). In the MAST, totally 10 positive leptospiral cases from human beings and 10 positive leptospiral cases from rats (Rattus rattusandRattus norvegicus) were found out. Then both positive cases of leptospiral vials were labeled, sealed, and sent to the Leptospirosis Research Laboratory, Madhavaram, Chennai, for further serovars examination. Among the various serovars identifiedautumnaliswas more prevalent. Our findings showed that the age groups between 15 and 55 years showed more susceptibility. Particularly the adults were more infected. The majority of seropositive individuals in the cases had only subclinical infection. Rodents were abundant and contributed to enzootic and endemic prevalence of leptospirosis.

In this study, Departure from Nucleate Boiling (DNB) is investigated in vertical tubes under high pressure and high mass flux conditions using two-fluid Eulerian approach coupled with improved wall boiling model. It is essential to determine the near wall void fraction accurately in order to predict DNB. After accessing the theoretical and experimental basis of the correlations used for bubble departure diameter and nucleation site density, existing correlations are recalibrated to capture the phenomena at high pressure conditions. Sensitivity analysis is performed to analyze the impact of boiling and momentum closures. The effect of mass flux, inlet temperature, and exit quality on DNB is studied. The proposed model predicted DNB within 15%. This result indicates that CFD is a promising tool for predicting DNB.

Background & objectives: Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is a key lipogenic enzyme responsible for endogenous synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and plays a key role in various pathophysiology, including fatty liver diseases. In this experimental study the impact of vitamin A deficiency was assessed on SCD1 regulation in relation to kidney biology, under high fructose (HFr) diet-fed condition in rats. Methods: Forty male weanling (21 day old) Wistar rats were divided into four groups control, vitamin A-deficient (VAD), HFr, VAD with HFr consisting of eight rats each, except 16 for the VAD group. The groups received one of the following diets: control, VAD, HFr and VAD with HFr for 16 wk, except half of the VAD diet-fed rats were shifted to HFr diet, after eight week period. Results: Feeding of VAD diet (alone or with HFr) significantly reduced the kidney retinol (0.51, 0.44 μg/g vs. 2.1 μg/g; P