Hypoglycemic effects of date seed extract. Possible mechanism of action, and potential therapeutic implications

To investigate the possible mechanism, by which an extract from date seeds exert its hypoglycemic effect. This study was performed at the Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May to December 2012. Eighty rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 received no treatment. Group 2 received daily ingestions of 10 ml of date seed extract for 8 weeks. Animals of groups 3 and 4 were made diabetic by streptozotocin injection, and were given daily subcutaneous injections of 3 IU/day of insulin for 8 weeks. Group 4 received, in addition, daily ingestions of 10 ml of seed extracts. Rats were sacrificed, and the sera were separated for estimation of serum C-peptide levels. Pancreatic tissues were processed for histological study of the islet cells, immunohistochemical study for insulin secretion and image analysis for insulin quantification. Mean serum C-peptide level was significantly higher in group 4 compared to group 3. Pancreatic islets from rats of group 3 showed weak immunoreactivity for insulin, while those of group 4 showed strong immunoreactivity in some hypertrophied beta cells. Immunopositive cells were detected in the wall of interlobular ducts and in centroacinar cells of pancreas only in group 4. Quantification of insulin immunoreactivity showed a marked reduction in islet size and extent of insulin immunoreactivity in diabetic compared to control groups. Date seed extracts may stimulate endogenous insulin secretion through extra-islet sources

Radiate ligament shortening and idiopathic scoliosis

To investigate the possible role of radiate ligament in idiopathic scoliosis. This study was designed as a case-control study adapted to cadavers. Eighteen human cadavers, 12 males and 6 females of Caucasian race, with a mean age of 55 years were studied at the Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from November 2010 to February 2012. Among the studied subjects, 15 were with normal spines, and 3 were scoliotic. The upper and lower bands of radiate ligaments were identified and measured. All cadavers were examined grossly. Scoliotic cadavers were also examined radiologically. The present study revealed that the mean of the lengths of the upper bands of radiate ligaments, on the concave side, in each scoliotic cadaver showed a highly significant shortening compared with that of the upper bands of the corresponding segments in cadavers with normal spines, while no significant change was detected when comparing those of the lower bands to normal values. The study suggested a possible relationship between radiate ligament shortening and the etiology of idiopathic scoliosis

diaphyseal nutrient foramina in human long bones: a detailed anatomical study

The aim of the present work was to study the diaphyseal nutrient foramina in human upper and lower limb long bones, as regards their number, position, size and direction. The study was performed in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The material of the present study consisted of 600 adult human long bones of both sexes. For each bone, the number, position, size, and direction of their nutrient foramina were studied. Results showed that, with the exception of femur, the majority of the nutrient foramina in all bones studied were single in number and secondary in size. Most of the nutrient foramina were concentrated in the middle third of the shaft of bone, with the exception of tibia in which nutrient foramina were predominantly observed in its proximal third. Nutrient foramina were mostly located on the anterior surface of the shaft of the bones of upper limb and on the posterior surface of the shaft of the bones of lower limb. Although the direction of nutrient foramina followed the growing end theory, variations in the direction in some fibulae were noticed. The results of this study provides a more detailed description of the diaphyseal nutrient foramina in the long bones of the limbs and disclose some lacking information that could be useful references for orthopedic surgeon's

Origin of vertebral artery: a study performed on 45 adult cadavers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of the origin of vertebral artery after a cadaver demonstrated abnormal origins for this artery. Vertebral arteries were studied in 45 adult cadavers. Two cases [4.5%] of anomalous origins of left vertebral artery were identified. In both cases, the left vertebral artery originated from the aortic arch between left common carotid and left subclavian arteries. One of them contained, in addition, a second left vertebral artery arising from the left subclavian artery. To the best of author's knowledge, this is the first report of two left vertebral arteries in one case having separate origins and courses. Three cases [6.7%] showed variation in the point of entry in vertebral transverse processes. In all three cases, the left vertebral entered the transverse foramen of fifth cervical vertebra; in one out of the three cases, the right artery entered the transverse foramen of fifth cervical vertebra [2.2% of all cases]. The possible embryologic mechanism and clinical importance of such cases were discussed

Normal knee angles in the adult Saudi population

To study knee angles in the adult Saudi population and compare their values to the published data from other populations. Antero-posterior bilateral radiographs of 333 normal knees of 120 males and 213 females, with age range of 18-65 years, were studied retrospectively at King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 2009 to December 2009. Tibiofemoral [TFA], lateral distal femoral [LDFA], and lateral proximal tibial [LPTA] angles were measured and the mean of each angle was calculated. The relationship between each angle and age, gender, and side of the body was tested, and compared with the international figures. The mean for TFA in Saudis was 174.41 degrees, LDFA was 90.07 degrees and LPTA was 89.42 degrees. All angles were not significantly related to gender. Significant relations existed between TFA and side of the body, and between LDFA and age. Variations in means and ranges of knee angles between the Saudi and other populations were determined. A significant difference existed between means of TFA, LDFA, and LPTA of Saudis and those of Caucasians, between mean of TFA of Saudis and that of Chinese, and between mean of LPTA of Saudi males and that of Chinese males. The means of TFA of selected age groups in Saudis differed significantly when compared to those in the corresponding age groups in Japanese and Australian Caucasians. Knee angles are like many other skeletal angles that may have ethnic variation between different populations. The study reinforces the need for reference values of knee angles in a given population

Hypoglycemic effect of an extract from date seeds on diabetic rats

To investigate the efficacy of an aqueous extract from date seeds on diabetic rats. The study was performed in the Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between November 2008 and December 2009. Eighty adult albino rats were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was used as healthy control. Group 2 was given daily ingestions of 10 ml of the date seed extract. Animals of groups 3 and 4 were made diabetic by injection of streptozotocin. Diabetic rats of group 3 received daily subcutaneous injections of 3 IU/day of insulin for 8 weeks while group 4 received ingestions of 10 ml of extract in addition to insulin. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured once weekly. Glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] was also estimated. There is a significant change in the mean blood glucose levels between group 3 and group 4 from week 2. The mean blood glucose levels of group 4, every 2 consecutive weeks, showed a significant decrease until week 6. The HbA1c was significantly lower in group 4 compared to group 3. The hypoglycemic effect of date seed extract combined with insulin, decreases the blood glucose level significantly toward normal when compared to the effect of insulin administered as a single drug for treatment of diabetes