Emblica officinalis improves glycemic status and oxidative stress in STZ induced type 2 diabetic model rats

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Emblica officinalis (E. officinalis) fruit on normal and type 2 diabetic rats.@*METHODS@#Type 2 diabetes was induced into the male Long-Evans rats. The rats were divided into nine groups including control groups receiving water, type 2 diabetic controls, type 2 diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide (T2GT) and type 2 diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of fruit pulp of E. officinalis. They were fed orally for 8 weeks with a single feeding. Blood was collected by cutting the tail tip on 0 and 28 days and by decapitation on 56 day. Packed red blood cells and serum were used for evaluating different biochemical parameters.@*RESULTS@#Four weeks administration of aqueous extract of E. officinalis improved oral glucose tolerance in type 2 rats and after 8 weeks it caused significant (P<0.007) reduction in fasting serum glucose level compared to 0 day. Triglycerides decreased by 14% but there was no significant change in serum ALT, creatinine, cholesterol and insulin level in any group. Furthermore, reduced erythrocyte malondialdehyde level showed no significant change (P<0.07) but reduced glutathione content was found to be increased significantly (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The aqueous extract of E. officinalis has a promising antidiabetic and antioxidant properties and may be considered for further clinical studies in drug development.

Association of Age with Thyroid Hormone Status and Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD).

Background: Aging is associated with increased prevalence of thyroid function abnormalities including hypothyroidism. A meta-analysis showed an increased prevalence and incidence of cardiovascular mortality only in a relatively younger population. Objective: To compare the thyroid function status in IHD patients of different age groups. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out on 31 IHD subjects aged 35-59 years (Group B1) and 19 IHD subjects aged 60-85 years (Group B2) in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2009 to June 2010. For comparison 24 healthy subjects aged 35-59 years (Group A1) and 26 with age 60-85 years (Group A2) were studied. The IHD subjects were selected from coronary care unit of cardiology department and OPD of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka. Serum FT3, FT4 and TSH of all subjects were measured by radioimmunoassay. Statistical analysis was done by unpaired Student’s ‘t’ test. Results: The mean ± SD of FT3 and FT4 were significantly lower and TSH was significantly higher in Group B1 IHD patients than that of Group A1 healthy subjects, but no difference was found between Group A2 and Group B2 and between Group B1 and Group B2. Conclusion: Thyroid hormone levels are significantly lower in younger IHD population (age 35-59 years) than the age-matched normal controls.

Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Status in Preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia is the most common and major medical complication of pregnancy with a high incidence of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. During pregnancy abnormally increased lipid peroxidation and free radical formation as well as significantly decreased antioxidants production in maternal blood may lead to pathogenesis of preeclampsia. So, we designed this study as little information is known about lipid peroxidation and antioxidant level in preeclampsia. Objectives: To assess the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level as a lipid peroxidation product and vitamin E (antioxidant) level in women with preeclampsia as well as in normal pregnancy and to compare the values. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 60 women aged from 25 to 35 years in the department of Biochemistry, Budi Kemuliaan Maternity Hospital (BKMH) in Jakarta during the period April to July 2004. Twenty were normal pregnant women and 20 were preeclamptic patients. For comparison age matched 20 apparently healthy nonpregnant women were included in the study. The study subjects were selected from outpatient department (OPD) of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of BKMH in Jakarta. Serum MDA (lipid peroxidation product) level was measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay (TBRAS) method and vitamin E was estimated spectroflurometrically. Data were analyzed by unpaired Student’s t test between the groups by using SPSS version 12. Results: The mean serum MDA levels were significantly higher in normal pregnancy and also in preeclampsia than that of nonpregnant control group women (p<0.001). Again the serum MDA levels were significantly higher in preeclampsia than that of normal pregnant women (p<0.001). The serum vitamin E levels were significantly lower in preeclampsia and also in normal pregnancy than that of nonpregnant control women (p<0.001). Moreover, the serum vitamin E levels were significantly lower in preeclampsia compared to that of normal pregnancy which was also statistically significant (p<0.001) Conclusion: As in preeclamptic group level of oxidation product is high and antioxidant level is low, it can be assumed that in preeclampsia, serum antioxidants are excessively utilized to counteract the cellular damage mediated by free radicals production and deficient antioxidants as well as increased lipid peroxidations may be the important factors in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Study of Thyroid Hormone Status in Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD).

Background: Thyroid dysfunction especially hypothyroidism is cardiovascular risk factor because of its association with elevated serum total and LDL cholesterol. Objective: To assess the association of thyroid hormone levels with IHD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 50 IHD subjects aged 35 to 85 years (Group B), in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from of July 2009 to June 2010. For comparison 50 age, sex, and BMI matched apparently healthy subjects (Group-A) were also studied. The study subjects were selected from coronary care unit (CCU) of Cardiology Department & OPD of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka. Serum FT3, FT4 and TSH were assessed by radio-immuno assay. Statistical analysis was done by student’s unpaired ‘t’ test and chi-square test as applicable. Result: The mean ±SD of serum FT3 and FT4 were significantly lower and serum TSH was significantly higher in IHD patients than that of healthy subjects (p<0.05). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism occurs in patients suffering from IHD.

Clausenolide-1-methyl ether from Clausena heptaphylla W&A / Clausenolido-1-metil éter de Clausena heptaphylla W & A

From the stem bark of Clausena heptaphylla, the limonoid clausenolide-1-methyl ether (1) was isolated. The structure of the compound was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic studies, including 2D NMR and MS measurements and by comparison with spectroscopic and physical data from the literature. This is the first report of occurrence of clausenolide-1-methyl ether (1) in Clausena heptaphylla.

El limonoíde clausenolido-1-metil eter (1) fue aislado de corteza de Clausena heptaphylla. La estructura del compuesto fue determinada por metodos espectroscópicos, incluyendo 2D RMN, espectrometría de masas (EM) y comparación de los datos espectroscópicos y constantes físicas con los publicados en la literatura. Este es el primer informe del aislamiento de clausenolido-1-metil eter (1) de Clausena heptaphylla.

Comparison of ABO and Rh-D Blood Group Systems between the Garo Tribal People of Mymensingh and General People of Dhaka City.

Background: The distribution pattern of ABO and Rh-D blood group in our country including the tribal people is not fully established as elaborated and large scale studies have not been carried out on it. Therefore this study was designed to observe the distribution pattern of ABO and Rh-D blood groups among the Garo tribes of Mymensingh and general people of Dhaka city. Objectives: To determine and to compare the distribution pattern of ABO and Rh-D blood groups among the Garo tribal people of Mymensingh and general people of Dhaka city and to compare this distribution between this two groups. Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2008 to June 2009. After proper ethical consideration total 900 Garo people of Mymensingh and 784 general people of Dhaka city were included in this study. The Garo localities and the general people of Dhaka city were selected by systematic random sampling. ABO and Rh-D blood groups were determined by the antigen antibody agglutination test of slide method. Chi square statistical analyses were done to compare the results of ABO blood group systems between the Garo people and general people of Dhaka city. Results: This study revealed that there are significant variations in the distribution of ABO and Rh-D blood groups between the Garo tribal people of Mymensingh and the general people of Dhaka city. In this study it was observed that blood group ‘A’ was apparently predominant in Garo population, while blood group ‘B’ was predominant in general population (p<0.001), blood group ‘AB’ and ‘O’ were almost similar in both groups. Rh typing of the participants reveals that majorities of both groups were Rh positive. Rh negative persons are rare in both populations, but it is extremely rare in the Garo population (0.9%). Conclusion: From the findings of the present study it can be concluded that distribution of ABO and Rh-D blood groups varies between the Garo tribal people and the general people of Dhaka city.