Plantago major treatment enhanced innate antioxidant activity in experimental acetaminophen toxicity

Objective: To determine the effect of Plantago major (P. major) extract on the liver injury following acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity. Methods: The male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 38) were randomly divided into normal control (n = 6) and experiment (n = 32) groups. The latter was subdivided into four groups and induced with APAP (1. 000 mg/kg) per oral, followed by P. major extract and N-acetylcysteine orally to the respective groups for six days. Results: On the seventh day, the serum bilirubin, liver enzymes and tissue malondialdehyde were increased in APAP groups whereas the total protein in serum, tissue superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels were reduced. The plant extract treatment reduced the histological deteriorations such as aggregation of hepatocellular cords, formation of binucleated cells and vacuolisation of the cells with scanty cytoplasm. It also revealed significant reduction of malondialdehyde and increased level of superoxide dismutase and glutathione. The findings in the extract treated groups were comparable to the group treated with N-acetylcysteine. Conclusions: In conclusion, P. major can enhance innate antioxidant activity and ameliorate the APAP-induced liver injury.

High C reactive protein associated with increased pulse wave velocity among urban men with metabolic syndrome in Malaysia

To determine the association between carotid femoral pulse wave velocity [PWV[CF]]; augmentation index [AI]; and high-sensitivity C reactive protein [hs-CRP] with metabolic syndrome [MetS], and to determine the influence of ethnicity on PWV[CF] and AI, and the association between high hs-CRP and increased PWV, and AI in MetS. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from September 2009 to September 2011. Three hundred and eighty men [Chinese and Malays] were recruited from the study. The PWV[CF] and AI were measured by Vicorder [SMT Medical, Wuerzburg, Germany]. The hs-CRP level was also determined. We defined MetS using the International Diabetes Federation [IDF] and harmonized criteria. Malays had higher AI compared to the Malaysian Chinese. Patients with MetS had higher PWV[CF] [IDF criteria: 8.5 [8.3-8.7] versus 8.2 [8.0-8.4] m/s, p=0.03; harmonized criteria: 8.5 [8.4-8.7] versus 8.2 [8.0-8.4] m/s, p=0.007] and hs-CRP [IDF criteria: 0.9 +/- 2.0 versus 0.4 +/- 1.1 mg/L, p=0.0007; harmonized criteria: 0.8 +/- 1.9 versus 0.4 +/- 1.1 mg/L, p=0.002] compared to non-MetS. In subjects with MetS, those with high hs-CRP [>3mg/L] had higher PWV[CF]. Augmentation index values were significantly higher in Malays compared with Malaysian Chinese. Metabolic syndrome was associated with increased PWV[CF] and hs-CRP. Patients with MetS and high hs-CRP were associated with higher PWV[CF]. The measurement of hs-CRP reflects the degree of subclinical vascular damage in MetS

Complex pattern of a variant hepatic artery

Liver transplantation is the only solution for end-stage liver diseases. The common hepatic artery (CHA) arises from the coeliac trunk (CT), and the right (RHA) and left hepatic (LHA) arteries are its terminal branches. An abnormal arterial pattern would influence the surgical outcome. The anterior layer of the lesser omentum of a female cadaver was cleaned to identify the CHA, which was traced backwards for its origin and toward the porta hepatis for its terminal branches. In this case, the replaced RHA originated from the CT and ran posterior to the portal vein and the common bile duct. The replaced LHA arose from the left gastric artery. The CHA originated from the CT and branched out as the middle hepatic and gastroduodenal arteries. The replaced RHA and LHA with alteration in relation to the neighbouring structures is a complex and rare variant. Knowledge of this uncommon arterial anomaly is beneficial for hepatobiliary surgeons.

effects of piper sarmentosum water extract on the expression and activity of 11beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in the bones with excessive glucocorticoids

Long-term glucocorticoid therapy causes secondary osteoporosis leading to pathological fractures. Glucocorticoid action in bone is dependant upon the activity of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme [11beta-HSD1]. Piper sarmentosum is a local herb that possesses the ability to inhibit 11-betaHSD1 enzyme activity. We aimed to determine the effects of Piper sarmentosum water extract on 11-betaHSD1 expressions and activity in the bones of glucocorticoid-treated adrenalectomized rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats [200-250 g] were used. Twenty-four animals were adrenalectomized and received intramuscular injection of dexamethasone [120 microg/kg/day]. They were simultaneously administered with either Piper sarmentosum water extract [125 mg/kg/day], GCA [120 mg/kg/day] or distilled water as vehicle by oral gavage for two months. Eight animals were sham-operated and given vehicle daily, i.e. intramuscular olive oil and oral distilled water. Following two months treatment, dexamethasonetreated adrenalectomized rats had significantly lower 11beta-HSD1 dehydrogenase activity and higher 11beta-HSD1 expression in the femoral bones compared to the sham-operated and baseline group. The rats supplemented with Piper sarmentosum water extract had significantly higher 11beta-HSD1 dehydrogenase activity and lower 11beta-HSD1 expression in the bones. The results showed that Piper sarmentosum water extract had the ability to prevent glucocorcoticoid excess in the bones of glucocorticoid-treated adrenalectomized rats through the local modulation of 11beta-HSD1 expression and activity, and may be used as prophylaxis for osteoporosis in patients on long-term glucocorticoid treatment