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IMMEDIATE RESPONSE GAIN IN HANDGRIP STRENGTH WITH ACUPUNCTURE: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
Get PDFBackground: Muscle strength is an important component for performing different daily tasks and has significant effect on health. Grip strength can be considered as one of the parameters of the overall strength state of the individuals. This study aimed to evaluate immediate response of the capacity to gain handgrip strength after the application of acupuncture. Materials and Methods: The study was experimental, quantitative, and partially blind clinical trial with a control group. Sample consisted in 73 healthy volunteers of both sexes, not athletes, with average age 35 ± 10.01 years, which were divided by deterministic allocation with sequential alternation in three groups: acupuncture (GACP n=24), sham acupuncture (Gsham n=25) and control (GCRT n=24). Calibrated mechanical manual dynamometer and needles 0.25 x 40mm were used. The handgrip test was performed in all groups, in both hands. Average measures were used for statistical analysis, a procedure done before and after the intervention. GACP received needles in TE5 (Waiguan), ST36 (Zusanli) and GB34 (Yanglingquan). The Gsham received superficial needles placed out of the acupoints. Results: GACP showed a significant strength gain of 4.78 Kgf (p = 0.005), Gsham showed a non-significant gain of 1.13 Kgf (p = 0.370) and GCRT that did not receive acupuncture intervention showed a non-significant reduction of handgrip strength average of about 1.97 Kgf (p = 0.210). Conclusion: Acupuncture in a single intervention was able to promote an immediate significant average gain strength response in handgrip of 4.78 Kg
EFFECT OF CONSUMPTION OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA AND AZADIRACHTA INIDCA PRENATALLY AND POSTNATALLY ON MILK CREAMATOCRIT AND EARLY GROWTH OF OFFSPRING
Get PDFBackground: Aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. (HS) and Azadirachta indica A. juss (AI) are widely used in Nigeria for medicinal purposes and have been shown to affect postnatal growth of offspring. Breast milk creamatocrit is a simple accurate inexpensive technique and useful measure of lipid and energy content of breast milk. No data has shown effects of these extracts on breast milk creamatocrit and early postnatal growth of offspring. This study was designed to investigate effects of HS and AI on breast milk creamatocrit and early postnatal growth of offspring.
Materials and Methods: 40 pregnant rats weighing 150-200g were used for this study. They were divided into control, HS and AI groups. These groups were subdivided into two of low and high doses. Administration was by gavage and commenced on day 1 of pregnancy and ended on postnatal day 21. Litter weight and length were recorded at birth, postnatal days 7-21. Breast milk was collected from 4 dams in each group at postnatal days 7-21 for milk creamatocrit.
Results: Results showed that aqueous extract of HS and AI caused progressive increase in milk creamatocrit during lactation. This increase peaked greatly in the third week of lactation. There was also a progressive increase in BMI of pups in extract treated group that became significantly greater at weaning.
Conclusion: In conclusion, consumption of aqueous extracts of HS and AI during pregnancy and lactation may accelerate the postnatal growth of the offspring through mechanisms that may depend on increased breast milk creamatocrit
RETRACTION: ANANAS SATIVA INCREASES LONGEVITY THROUGH OXIDATIVE STRESS RESISTANCE IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER
No full textBackground: Ageing is the major risk factor for most non-communicable diseases. It occurs as a result of free radical damage to macromolecules in the cell, coupled with environmental stress assaults. In the quest to identify new anti-ageing bioactive compounds from natural products, and despite the therapeutic values of Ananas sativa, its anti-ageing activity has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen the crude, methanol fruit extract of Ananas sativa (MEAS) and its fractions, for anti-ageing bioactivity in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster w1118 wild type flies.
Materials and Methods: Flies reared on food supplemented with 5, 10, and 20mg/ml fruit pulp and juice extract were assayed for longevity, fertility and stress resistance according to established protocols. Phytochemical composition and scavenging activity of extract on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH) were equally evaluated. The crude extract anti-ageing activity was assayed through a successive bioassay-guided fractionation approach, with different extraction solvents; n-Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl acetate and Acetone.
Results: There was a dose-dependent effect of the fruit extract on lifespan, fertility and oxidative stress resistance, with a unique information on the anti-ageing bioactivity of Ananas sativa. The IC50 values of the fruit extract and Ascorbic acid positive control in the free radical scavenging activity were 248.15μg/ml and 81.51μg/ml respectively. However, the bioactive fraction obtained from the Ethylacetate fraction F1, did not exhibit oxidative stress resistant effect in the model organism.
Conclusion: The methanol fruit extract of Ananas sativa possesses anti-ageing bioactivity through oxidative stress resistance
RISK FACTORS OF VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS IN DERMATO-VENEREOLOGY OUTPATIENTS CLINIC OF SOETOMO GENERAL HOSPITAL, SURABAYA, INDONESIA
Get PDFBackground: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) is one-third of vaginitis case. About 75% of women will have at least one episode of VVC. Complication of VVC can be unfavorable to impact the patient’s quality of life. Knowing its risk factors can prevent someone suffering from pathological VVC and its sequelae. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors of VVC.
Materials and Methods: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted by total sampling to 213 medical records of VVC patients from 869 fluor albus patients in Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Division, Dermatology and Venereology Outpatient Clinic in Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, East-Java, Indonesia in 2011 to 2013.
Results: In 2011, 69 cases (22.77%) from 303 fluor albus patients, in 2012 69 cases (22.69%) from 304 fluor albus patients, and in 2013 75 cases (28.63%) from 262 fluor albus patients. As many as 180 (84.50%) of the patients were sexually active age group, which was 15-44 years old. Mostly patients were married (69.48%). As many as 167 (78.40%) sexual partners were patient’s husband. About 95 (44.13%) patients presented with recurrent VVC. Risk factors are previous STIs 74 (34.74%), vaginal douching (27.70%), pre-martial sexual intercourse (5.63%), other STIs (3.29%), diabetes mellitus (2.34%), gestation (1.88%), other fluor albus infections (0.94%), pantyliner (0.47%), and STIs in sexual partner (0,47%).
Conclusion: Avoiding and/or managing risk factors is important to prevent VVC and its complications
PREVALENCE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPP. AMONG ASYMPTOMATIC HEALTHY EXPATRIATE WORKERS IN SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Get PDFBackground: Epidemiological data on Cryptosporidium infections in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is scarce.
Therefore, the main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species among a
community of expatriates in Sharjah, UAE working in different sectors, including the food industry, house maids and
other domestic occupations.
Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty four stool samples were collected from asymptomatic individuals
presenting to the Sharjah Municipality Public Health Clinic (SMPHC) for screening of intestinal parasites for work
permission purposes between 2009 and 2011. Demographic information such as age, sex, and country of origin was
collected. Genomic DNA extracted from the stool samples were tested for Cryptosporidium species using real-time
PCR (qPCR).
Results: Twenty-six individuals (19.4%) were positive for Cryptosporidium sp. by PCR. The infection rate was found
to be highest in Afghan nationals (33%; 3/9) compared with the rest of the study population; yet, no significant
association existed between nationality and infection rate. Moreover, no association was observed between infection
rate and gender (χ2 = 2.439; P = 0.118), nor infection rate and age group (χ2 = 1.219; P = 0.544).
Conclusion: Infection by Cryptosporidium sp. was common in the study group, and further studies are needed within
the native Emirati population before any conclusions can be made about foreigners potentially transmitting the parasite.
Furthermore, data provided in this study could help determine its public and veterinary significance particularly in
outbreaks in the country
QUANTIFICATION OF XYLOPIC ACID AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC FINGERPRINT EVALUATIONS OF THE DRIED FRUITS OF XYLOPIA AETHIOPICA FROM FOUR AFRICAN COUNTRIES
Get PDFDunal) A. Rich, (herein called XYA), family Annonaceae, commonly known as “Guinea pepper”, “Ethiopian pepper” or “Negro pepper”, are widely used in traditional African medicines to treat a wide array of diseases including malaria, fungal infections, rheumatism, arthritis, etc. Scientific investigations have ascribed the following activities to the fruits of XYA; anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, analgesic, anti-nociceptive, anti-proliferative, spermatogenic and neuropharmacological effects. The main active principle reported is xylopic acid (XA), a kaurene diterpene. This study aimed to develop and validate a simple HPLC/UV (high performance liquid chromatography – ultraviolet detection) analytical method for the quantification of XA that can be reproduced in poor-resource settings where advanced analytical detection techniques such as HPLC-MS are unavailable.
Materials and Methods: Thus in this study, a simple C18 solid-phase extraction (SPE) column-pretreatment ─ HPLC/UV analytical procedure was developed for the quantification of XA in the dried fruits of XYA from four African countries, Benin, Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria. The samples of XYA from the four countries were assessed for similarities using chromatographic fingerprinting.
Results: The HPLC method was validated for linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision and accuracy. The samples of XYA from Cameroon were found to have the highest average content of XA while those from Benin had the lowest average content of XA.
Conclusion: Using the chromatographic fingerprint evaluation, the similarities of the samples from the four countries to the reference chromatogram was in the order: Benin > Cameroon > Nigeria > Ghana.
Key words: Xylopia aethiopica, xylopic acid, C1
IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY AND CYTOTOXICITY SCREENING OF DRY CRUDE EXTRACTS FROM BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA PLANTS
Get PDFBackground: Antifungal multidrug resistance has been reported worldwide and has stimulated investigations of plant
species for the treatment of candidiasis. In particular, in vitro antifungal activities and cytotoxicity of dry extracts from
Ceasalpinia ferrea (tul.) Martius, Brosimum acutifolium Huber, and Salacia impressifolia (Miers) A.C. Smith were
evaluated.
Materials and Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum fungicide (MFC) values were
established according to the protocol M27-A2 of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Subsequent
evaluations were performed using strains of Candida albicans from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)
10231, clinical isolated Candida albicans, Candida glabrata (CCT) 0728, Candida krusei (FTI) CCT 1517, and
Candida guilliermondii (CCT) 1890. Morphological changes were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), and cytotoxicity was evaluated in murine L929 fibroblast cells after treatment with plant extracts.
Results: MIC values indicated antifungal potential of all three extracts against the main fungi that causes candidiasis.
Conclusion: In particular, C. ferrea showed promising antimicrobial potential against all strains. Hence, future studies
are warranted to investigate pharmacologically active compounds from this extract that could be used as prototypes for
drug development and/or as a source of raw pharmaceutical materials for the treatment of candidiasis
TWO C-GLYCOSIDE FLAVONES FROM CORN (ZEA MAYS) SILK
Get PDFBackground: Corn silk, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine in China, has been used to remedy nephritis, hepatitis,
measles, hyperglycemia, tumor, etc. In this study, flavonoid monomers in corn silk were isolated and identified. This
study could serve as a basis for determining the curative effects of these monomers on human diseases.
Method: Corn silk flavonoids were extracted using 80% (v/v) ethanol and isolated by repeated polyamide column and
Toyopearl HW-40 column chromatography. Corn silk flavonoids were identified by UV spectroscopy, liquid
chromatography/mass spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Results: Two C-glycoside flavones, namely, ax-4″-OH-3′-methoxymaysin and a 3′-methoxymaysin isomer, were
isolated from corn silk and identified.
Conclusion: The two C-glycoside flavones were successfully isolated from corn silk and identified. This study is the
first to report 3′-methoxymaysin in corn silk
IN VITRO STUDIES ON HEME OXYGENASE-1 AND P24 ANTIGEN HIV-1 LEVEL AFTERHYPERBARIC OXYGEN TREATMENTOFHIV-1 INFECTED ON PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS (PBMCS)
Get PDFBackground: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a protein secreted by immune cells as a part of immune response
mechanism.HO-1 can be induced by variety agents that causingoxidative stress, such as exposure to 100% oxygenat2,4
ATA pressure.It plays a vital role in maintaining cellular homeostasis.This study was conducted to identify the effect of
hyperbaric oxygen exposure in cultured ofPBMCthat infected by HIV-1.
Material and Methods: Primary culture of PBMCs were isolated from 16 healthy volunteers and HIV-1 infected MT4
cell line by co-culture. The PBMCs were aliquoted into two wells as control group and treatment group. The 16
samples of HIV-1 infected PBMCwere exposed to oxygen at 2,4 ATA in animal hyperbaric chamber forthree times in
30 minutes periods with 5 minutes spacing period, that called 1 session.
The Treatment done on 5 sessions within 5 days. 16 samples of HIV-1 infected PMBCs that have no hyperbaric
treatment became control group.The supernatant were measured the HO-1 production by ELISA andmRNA expression
of HO-1 by real time PCR and the number ofantigen p24 HIV-1by ELISA.
Results: The result showed that there was no increasing of HO-1 at both mRNA level and protein level, there was a
decreasing number of antigen p24 HIV-1 at the treatment group. In addition, hyperbaric exposure could not increase
the expression of HO-1, more over the viral replication might be reduced by other mechanism.
Conclusions: Hyperbaric oxygen could increases cellular adaptive response of PBMCs infected HIV-1 through
increased expression of proteins that can inhibit HIV viralreplication
DETERMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING DENGUE INCIDENCE IN SLEMAN DISTRICT, YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA
Get PDFBackground: Dengue is a disease related to the environment that spreads rapidly. Prevention movement is considered ineffective; therefore, a more efficient early warning system is required. It is required strongly correlated variables to as predictor in early warning system. This study aims to identify the environmental conditions associated with dengue.
Materials and methods: This ecological study was conducted on five sub-districts selected based on the trend of the incidence. Data land cover and elevation obtained using GIS. Climate data were obtained from Meteorology and Climatology and Geophysics Agency of Yogyakarta.
Results: There were 1.150 dengue cases from 2008-2013 obtained from District Health Office. The spatial pattern is clustered in all sub-districts (Z-score 0.05). There is no effect of climate parameters in sporadic dengue areas (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: It is concluded that dengue in Sleman is clustered and associated with the environment parameter, even though it does not have close correlation. High elevated and small building area is consistent with the lower dengue cases. Humidity and rainfall affect dengue, but temperature does not affect dengue