Volume 3 Issue 2
Authors: Akhilesh Verma; Alpana Singh
Abstract: The acceptance of low-sugar foods is gaining momentum due to increased awareness of the nutritional and health benefits. Hence, sensorily acceptable low-calorie herbal health tea sweetened with stevia was developed, optimized and assessed for various quality parameters. Herbal tea was optimized as 14.81% Stevia leaves, 8.67% lemongrass leaves, 46.29% Arjuna bark, 9.25% cinnamon and 20.98% Safflower petals. It is recommended that 1.62 g of the tea formulation is appropriate to make 100 ml of tea infusion. The herbal tea formulation contains 9.87-10.99% protein, 21.90-22.55% ash, 42.0-44.7% carbohydrates, 56.75-69.36 mg/100 g P, 259-291 mg/100 g Ca, 22.19-25.88 mg/100 g Fe, 0.80-1.14 mg/100 g Cu, 0.94-0.99 mg/100 g Zn, 3.58-6.63 mg/100 g Mn and 26.4-34.32 mg/100 g ascorbic acid. Bright, sparkling and clear infusion of brown colour with pleasant aroma and taste was obtained from the optimized herbal tea formulation. Microbial quality of the product packed in aluminum foil bag was well for up to 3 months of storage at ambient temperature.
Keywords: Herbal Tea; Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana); Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius); Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna); Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicumsss); Lemongrass (Cymbopogan flexuosus).
Authors: Kristie A; Stephen S; David A
Abstract: Objective: To develop a simple and reliable rat model for the induction of aconitine-induced ventricular arrhythmias and then to test calcium chloride and magnesium sulfate as potential antidotes. Methods: Male Wistar rats were subjected to a dosing study to determine the amount of aconitine that was required to consistently induce ventricular tachycardia. Calcium chloride and magnesium sulfate were tested in two separate experiments for their ability to reverse the cardiac toxicity of the aconitine. All animals had medications infused through their jugular veins and were continually monitored for Heart Rate (HR) and rhythm. The primary endpoint was cessation of the ventricular dysrhythmia as measured by heart rate. T-tests were utilized to compare the mean heart rates (beats per min ± standard deviation) between groups. Results: An induction dose of 625 µg/kg of aconite was found to consistently induce sustained ventricular tachycardia. Calcium chloride infusions ranging from 10 mg/kg to 330 mg/kg failed to halt the aconitine-induced ventricular dysrhythmia and also led to shortened survival times. Magnesium sulfate with dosing range from 5 mg/kg to 150 mg/kg also failed to halt the aconitine-induced ventricular dysrhythmias but did not affect the survival times. Conclusion: A simple rat model for the induction of ventricular dysrhythmias from aconitine toxicity was developed. Calcium chloride and magnesium sulfate were not found to be effective in reversing this toxicity.
Keywords: Aconitine; Ventricular tachycardia; Chinese traditional medicine
Authors: Izmil Haikal Zainol; Suhana Samat; Wan Iryani Wan Ismail
Abstract: The availability of and wide access to fat-rich foods in modern times have been pinpointed as key to the development of the current obesity pandemic, aside from reduced physical activity and genetic factors. Obesity is closely related to increases in adiposity as well as adipocyte hypertrophy, which in turn makes sufferers susceptible to insulin resistance. In the case of obesity, adipocytes increase the plasma concentration of free fatty acids, resulting in insulin resistance. This hinders protein transporter GLUT4 translocation in the insulin-signalling pathway. In addition, recent findings revealed that activation of the M1 macrophage is also one of the mechanisms contributing to insulin resistance. The adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) also releases pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, MCP-1 and PAI. Together with the attenuation of adipocytokines derived from the hypertrophy adipocytes, including adiponectin and leptin, it is fundamental to insulin resistance development in obese individuals. A natural product tested for treating obesity is honey; previous in vivo studies suggest that honey might play a role in monitoring weight gain, and therefore could be instrumental in controlling the obesity pandemic facing the world.
Keywords: Adipocytokines; Free Fatty Acids; Honey; Insulin Resistance; Insulin Signalling Pathway; Macrophages; Obesity
Authors: H. Nugessur; M. F. Mahomoodally
Abstract: Increased serum α-amylase level has been reported in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients undergoing haemodialysis even in the absence of pancreatic disease. Nonetheless, conflicting results and explanations for such increase persist in literatures. To this effect, the main endeavour of this study was to evaluate status of serum α-amylase in CRF patients, currently on hemodialysis (pre-dialysis and post-dialysis) and to delineate any correlations between urea, creatinine and α-amylase level in the same sub-groups. Fifty chronic renal failure patients, aged between 20-80 years undergoing routine haemodialysis, were recruited in the study. Blood samples were collected from each patient weekly for one month in which serum α-amylase, urea and creatinine levels were determined. Paired differences were evaluated with the paired samples t –test and statistical significance of the variables was established at the level p < 0.05. Linear regression models were also tested for any relationship between pre-dialysis and post-dialysis samples. The major finding of this study was the significant decrease (p < 0.05) in serum urea and creatinine levels in post-dialysis samples and a significant increase (p < 0.05) in post-dialysis serum α-amylase levels. However, there was no direct correlation between serum α-amylase and urea in both pre-dialysis (R = 0.09) and post-dialysis (R = -0.13) samples or creatinine in pre-dialysis (R = 0.26) and post-dialysis (R = 0.16) samples. This present study tends to show that serum α-amylase had a poor correlation with both urea and creatinine in pre-dialysis and post-dialysis samples. The obtained data corroborates to some extent with results of previous cross-sectional studies, to the effect that there is a significant increase that occurs in serum α-amylase and a significant decrease in both serum urea and creatinine in post-dialysis samples. Possible mechanisms for this increase are discussed herein.
Keywords: Dialysis; Serum; α-Amylase; Creatinine; Urea; Chronic Renal Failure
Authors: Gustav K. von Schulthess; David A. Scheiner; Katharina M. Rentsch; Thomas F. Hany; Irene A. Burger
Abstract: Objectives: Vaginal tampons can be contaminated with urine in up to 40% of women after voiding only once during FDG PET/CT examinations. Although this might not represent a general population, we believe that urinary contamination of vaginal tampons could be a general problem and lead to discomfort and infections. In this study we hypothesize that basal sealing of vaginal tampons can prevent this contamination. Methods: FDG used for oncology imaging is secreted over the kidneys and accumulates in urine. To assess the new silicon coated tampons we prospectively included 20 women referred to FDG PET/CT in an oncology setting. All women were provided a vaginal tampon with a coated base. 50 minutes after FDG injection, just before imaging, all patients were asked to void. Vaginal tampons were analyzed for creatinine concentration and FDG activity. Results were compared with published data of 62 women with normal vaginal tampons to compare urine contamination. Results: Two out of twenty coated vaginal tampons were creatinine positive and had increased FDG activity. This was a significant reduction of FDG activity and thus urinary contamination, compared to the contamination rate of 40% in regular vaginal tampons (p=0.025). Conclusion: Urinary contamination of vaginal tampons can be prevented or reduced with a silicon coated base, this could increase comfort and hygiene.
Keywords: Artifact; FDG-PET/CT; Vaginal Tampon; Silicon Coating; Urinary Contaminatio