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HOSPITAL- AND COMMUNITY- BASED SURVEILLANCE OF ZIKA AND DENGUE VIRUSES IN INDONESIA
Get PDFBackground: Zika virus remained silent for few decades after its first recognition in 1947. Recently, Zika drew global attention due to the outbreak in Pacific island and Latin Americas. The concern was escalating given the shared vector of Zika and dengue with possible deleterious complications. Surabaya as one of the largest cities in Indonesia with high mobility of people is endemic to dengue. This study was aimed to detect Zika infection during dengue outbreaks in Surabaya.
Materials and Methods: This was a surveillance study involving patients visiting 4 public hospitals and 8 primary health care centres (PHCs). Patients were recruited if they were suspected to have dengue infection based on WHO guidelines (1997). The recruitment was based on the attendance of the patients at the healthcare facilities until the maximum quota was fulfilled. Dengue serological diagnostic confirmation was based on non-structural protein 1 (NS1) and/or immunoglobulin M (IgM) detection. Zika virus infection was examined using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.
Results: Between February and April 2016, 100 patients consented to participate in this study - 54 females and 46 males. Furthermore, 55 patients were recruited from PHCs and the other 45 patients were from hospitals. Median age was (median (IQR)) 28.6 (14.6) years (range15 to 65 years). Of 100 patients examined, there was no Zika infection detected, but 11 patients were identified to have positive dengue infection with varying clinical and laboratory presentations.
Conclusion: Serosurveillance of Zika and dengue infection in Surabaya City found no evidence of Zika infection among those presented to healthcare facilities
EMODIN DOWNREGULATES CELL PROLIFERATION MARKERS DURING DMBA INDUCED ORAL CARCINOGENESIS IN GOLDEN SYRIAN HAMSTERS
Get PDFBackground: Cell-cycle disruption is the major characteristic features of neoplastic transformation and the status of cell-cycle
regulators can thus be utilized to assess the prognostic significance in patients with cancer. The PCNA, cyclin D1, CDK4, CDK6
and survivin expression in the buccal mucosa was utilized to evaluate the Emodin efficacy on abnormal cell proliferation during
7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced oral carcinogenesis in golden Syrian hamsters.
Materials and methods: Topical application of DMBA, three times a week for 14 weeks, on the hamsters' buccal pouches
developed well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.
Results: Cyclin D1 and PCNA over-expression and up-regulation of CDK4, CDK6 and survivin were noticed in the buccal
mucosa of hamsters treated with DMBA alone. Emodin administration (50mg/kg b.w) orally to hamsters treated with DMBA
down-regulated the expression of cell proliferation markers in the buccal mucosa.
Conclusions: The anti-cell proliferative role of Emodin is owing to its modulating efficacy on cell-cycle markers towards the
tumor suppression during DMBA induced oral carcinogenesis
IN VIVO AND IN VITRO ANTILEISHMANIAL EFFECTS OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT FROM BARK OF BURSERA APTERA
Get PDFBackground: Cutaneous leishmaniasis lacks effective and well-tolerated treatments. The current therapies mainly rely on
antimonial drugs that are inadequate because of their poor efficacy. Traditional medicine offers a complementary
alternative for the treatment of various diseases. Additionally, several plants have shown success as anti-leishmanial agents.
Therefore, we sought to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo activity of MEBA against Leishmania mexicana.
Materials and Methods: Methanolic extract of B. aptera was obtained by macetration, after we determined in vitro antileishmanial
activity of MEBA by MTT assay and the induced apoptosis in promastigotes by flow cytometry. To analyze the
in vivo anti-leishmanial activity, we used infected mice that were treated and not treated with MEBA and we determined the
levels of cytokines using ELISA. The phytochemical properties were determined by CG-MS and DPPH assay.
Results: We determined of LC50 of 0.408 mg/mL of MEBA for in vitro anti-leishmanial activity. MEBA induced apoptosis
in promastigotes (15.3% ± 0.86). Treated mice exhibited smaller lesions and contained significantly fewer parasites than
did untreated mice; in addition, we found that IFN-γ and TNF-α increased in the sera of MEBA-treated mice. GC-MS
analysis showed that podophyllotoxin was the most abundant compound. Evaluation of the activity by DPPH assay
demonstrated an SC50 of 11.72 μg/mL.
Conclusion: Based on the above data, it was concluded that MEBA is a good candidate in the search for new antileishmanial
agents
CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A HYPOGLYCEMIC EXTRACT FROM CUCURBITA FICIFOLIA BOUCHE THAT INDUCES LIVER GLYCOGEN ACCUMULATION IN DIABETIC MICE.
Get PDFBackground: The aqueous extract of Cucurbita ficifolia (C. ficifolia) fruit has demonstrated hypoglycemic effect,
which may be attributed to some components in the extract. However, the major secondary metabolites in this fruit
have not yet been identified and little is known about its extra-pancreatic action, in particular, on liver carbohydrate
metabolism. Therefore, in addition to the isolation and structural elucidation of the principal components in the aqueous
extract of C. ficifolia, the aim of this study was to determine whether or not the hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous
extract of Cucurbita ficifolia (C. ficifolia) fruit is due to accumulation of liver glycogen in diabetic mice.
Materials and Methods: The aqueous extract from fruit of C. ficifolia was fractionated and its main secondary
metabolites were purified and chemically characterized (NMR and GC-MS). Alloxan-induced diabetic mice received
daily by gavage the aqueous extract (30 days). The liver glycogen content was quantified by spectroscopic method and
by PAS stain; ALT and AST by spectrometric method; glycogen synthase, glycogen phosphorylase and GLUT2 by
Western blot; the mRNA expression of GLUT2 and glucagon-receptor by RT-PCR; while serum insulin was quantified
by ELISA method. A liver histological analysis was also performed by H&E stain.
Results: Chemical fingerprint showed five majoritarian compounds in the aqueous extract of C. ficifolia: p-coumaric
acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, salicin, stigmast-7,2,2-dien-3-ol and stigmast-7-en-3-ol. The histological analysis showed
accumulation of liver glycogen. Also, increased glycogen synthase and decreased glycogen phosphorylase were
observed. Interestingly, the histological architecture evidenced a liver-protective effect due the extract.
Conclusion: Five compounds were identified in C. ficifolia aqueous extract. The hypoglycemic effect of this extract
may be partially explained by liver glycogen accumulation. The bioactive compound responsible for the hypoglycemic
effect of this extract will be elucidated in subsequent studies
SURVEY OF DENTAL STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE REGARDING ORIENTAL MEDICINE/COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO JAPANESE DENTAL SCHOOLS
Get PDFBackground: The present study aimed to examine the impact of “curricula for undergraduate education in oriental
medicine (OM)/complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)” on student awareness of OM. A questionnaire survey
was conducted involving the Nagasaki University School of Dentistry (NUSD), a university that implements education
in OM as part of its undergraduate curriculum, and Tokyo Dental College (TDC), which does not teach OM.
Materials and methods: The third- and fifth-year students of both NUSD and TDC underwent the anonymous
questionnaire survey, which included questions regarding their knowledge of OM and CAM, interests in these subjects,
and their opinions on the necessity of teaching OM in the undergraduate dental education, and the results were
collected for analysis.
Results: Whereas 33% of 5th year NUSD students had knowledge of OM/CAM was 33%, only 10% of 5th year TDC
students reported knowledge on the subject. 69% of 5th year NUSD students interested in OM/CAM, while 5th year
TDC students who interest them were only 45%. Although 77% of 5th year NUSD students were in favor of OM
education implemented in the Faculty of Dentistry, the percentages of TDC students of that were smaller (46% in 3rd
year and 48% in 5th year). Whereas 26% of 5th year TDC students did not recognize the necessity of oriental medicine
education, only one 5th year NUSD student (2%) did not so.
Conclusion: Introduction of education in OM in the undergraduate dental education program helps students to increase
their interests in dental clinical applications
INHIBITORY EFFECT OF CHITOSAN OLIGOSACCHARIDE ON HUMAN HEPATOMA CELLS IN VITRO
Get PDFBackground: Chitosan oligosaccharide, the degradation products of chitin, was reported to have a wide range of
physiological functions and biological activities. In this study, we explored the inhibitory effect of Chitosan
oligosaccharide on human hepatoma cells
Materials and Methods: MTT assay was applied to detect cell viability of the human hepatoma cells treated with
Chitosan oligosaccharide. Flow cytometric analysis was used to investigate the apoptosis of the human hepatoma cells
treated with Chitosan oligosaccharide. We employed western blot to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in
the apoptosis.
Results: Our data indicated that chitosan oligosaccharide dose-dependently inhibited the growth of hepatoma cells and
induced apoptosis. On the molecular level, chitosan oligosaccharide decreased Bcl-2 and increased Caspase-3
expression which may be related to the apoptosis of hepatoma cells.
Conclusion: Our results provide an experimental basis for the clinical development of Chitosan oligosaccharide as a
novel anti-hepatoma drug
EFFECTS OF WHOLE BODY VIBRATION INTERVENTION ON HANDGRIP STRENGTH OF BRAZILIAN HEALTHY SOLDIERS
Get PDFBackground: Whole body vibration (WBV) exercises have been investigated as an alternative and complementary
method to traditional resistance programs for fitness improvements in healthy subjects. Active militaries must have a
high fitness level and have to improve some physical abilities to accomplish some specific tasks in Army, as climb
ropes, climb walls and pull up.
Materials and methods: Seven young and healthy soldiers from Brazilian Army were exposed to mechanical vibration
in a push-up position, with different frequencies, as 25 (first session), 30 (second session), 35 (third session), 40 (fourth
session) and 45 Hz (fifth session). The WBV intervention consisted of five WBV sessions over a consecutive two and a
half-weeks period of time. A WBV session consisted of twenty bouts, each one with 10- second vibration, interspersed
with 10 seconds of passive rest and 4 minutes pause after the first 10 bouts. Handgrip strength was measured, as
proposed by American Society of Hand Therapists – ASHT, before and after the session using 25 Hz of frequency and
45 Hz of frequency (1st and 5th sessions).
Results: No significant results were found between groups.
Conclusion: Intervention of WBV exercises with 25 and 45 Hz of frequency applied by hands of healthy and young
soldiers had no significant results. Further investigations should focus on the efficacy of WBV in the improvement of
handgrip strength of young and healthy people
PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ONION EXTRACT AGAINST EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNESUPPRESSION IN WISTAR RATS: BIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR STUDY
Get PDFBackground: The wrong use of drugs results in disturbances in the immunity that affect human health. These drugs
have side effects that may lead to death because of lake of immunity. Human beings need to use natural products to
strength the immune system and avoid such side effects. Of these products is the onion that used to strength the
immune system. This study was conducted to study the protective effect of onion extract on immune-suppressed rats
and its impact on the expression level of cytokines, acute phase proteins and antioxidants compared to both control and
immune suppressed groups.
Materials and Methods: Forty rats were divided into four groups (10 per group) control group (CNT), immunesuppressed
group (DEXA) injected with dexamethasone at a dose of 5 mg per kg intraperitoneally (IP) twice daily for 3
days, onion extract administered group (OE) given orally at a dose of 500 mg per kg for 4 weeks. Group 4 (y), was
given onion extract for a week then immune-suppressed with DEXA for 3 days then continued with OE for 3 weeks.
Serum and RNA were extracted for examining the biochemical and genetic changes.
Results: Injection of dexamethasone decreased number of leukocytes with increase in the number of neutrophils and
the decrease of all other types of white blood cells. Moreover, a decrease in antioxidant levels such as catalase, super
oxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) with an increase in the level malondialdehyde (MDA). In
parallel, a decrease in serum levels of cytokines, such as TNF and IL-6, together with immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM),
were reported in DEXA injected rats that were ameliorated by prior administration of OE. Gene expression analysis
revealed that dexamethasone suppressed gene expression of antioxidants together with IL-1 and 8 while increased IL-
10 mRNA expression. All of these changes have been normalized to the normal level by OE administration to DEXA
injected rats.
Conclusion: The present findings clearly emphasize the medical importance of onions as immune-stimulants at genetic
and cellular levels, and that they are good for human health
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ESSENTIAL OIL AND EVALUATION OF ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE TOXICITY OF DOREMA AMMONIACUM D. DON. OLEO-GUM-RESIN IN RATS
Get PDFBackground: Dorema Ammoniacum is a perennial herb which has been used in Persian Traditional Medicine for different indications, including gastrointestinal disorders and sciatica. Despite numerous medicinal uses, there is a lack of toxicological studies on Dorema Ammoniacum; therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate its possible toxic effects as well as the determining chemical composition of its essential oil.
Materials and Methods: Acute toxicity study was performed by administration of single increasing geometric doses of oleo-gum-resin solution (1250, 2500, and 5000 mg/kg) to Wistar rats. For sub-acute toxicity study, repeated doses of oleo-gum-resin solution (100, 200 and 500 mg/kg) were administered orally to rats for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment, histopathological studies, hematological assessments, and biochemical parameters were performed.
Results: GC-MS was performed to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil. Acute toxicity results demonstrated no mortality, and the Median Lethal Dose (LD50) was greater than 5000 mg/kg. Sub-acute treatment did not show any significant changes in biochemical and hematological parameters at any doses compared to the control group. Histopathological analysis of the organs revealed varying effects. At the level of the liver, vacuolar degeneration and mild inflammation at 200 and 500 mg/kg doses were observed. At the level of kidney, congestion of glomeruli and a widening of the urinary space at 500mg/kg were observed compared to the control group. The principle components of the essential oil were Cuperene (14.31%) and β-Funebrene (12.74%).
Conclusion: The results suggest that the acute administration of the oleo-gum-resin of D. Ammoniacum is not accompanied with signs of toxicity; however, its administration over the long term might associate with renal toxicity and hepatotoxicity