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Objective: To assess the antidiabetic effect of Opuntia dillenii seed oil on rats with diabetes mellitus. Methods: A rat diabetes model was established by intraperitoneal injection of rats with 50 mg/kg streptozotocin. Thirty albino Wistar rats were divided into five groups: the diabetic control group and normal control group were treated only with distilled water, two diabetic groups received 1 and 2 mL/kg of oil per day, respectively, for 30 days and one diabetic group received 2 mg/kg of glibenclamide. In addition, blood glucose was determined weekly. Body weight, average daily food, water intake and urinary volume of each animal were determined before and after the treatment period. After the treatment period, hepatic glycogen was determined using the anthrone reagent, and glycosuria, total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and uric acid were estimated using common clinical diagnostic kits. Results: Oral intake of the oil at 1 and 2 mL/kg for the diabetic animals significantly diminished blood glucose, glycosuria, total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and uric acid, accompanied by a noticeable elevation in the amount of hepatic glycogen in comparison with the diabetic control group. Similarly, Opuntia dillenii seed oil significantly increased the food intake and decreased the urinary volume per day in treated rats of the same groups in comparison with the period before the treatment intervention and attenuated body weight loss in the diabetic rats. Moreover, this effect of the oil was dose dependent. On the other hand, the oil did not affect their need for water. Conclusions: The results show that Opuntia dillenii seed oil has a very important antidiabetic effect on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Hence, we suggest it as a preventive control of diabetes mellitus.
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OBJECTIVE@#This study aims to evaluate the vasodilatory effect of Chenopodium ambrosioides on the isolated rat aorta, and to explore its mechanism of action.@*METHODS@#The vasorelaxant effect and the mode of action of various extracts from the leaves of C. ambrosioides were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Wistar rats. In addition, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions were analyzed, using thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques, for their polyphenolic content.@*RESULTS@#The various active extracts of C. ambrosioides at four concentrations (10, 10, 10 and 1 mg/mL) relaxed the contraction elicited by phenylephrine, in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect seems to be endothelium-dependent, since the vasodilatory effect was entirely absent in denuded aortic rings. The vasorelaxant effect of the methanol fraction (MF) of C. ambrosioides at 1 mg/mL was also inhibited by atropine and tetraethylammonium. This effect remained unchanged by Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride and glibenclamide. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed that the leaves of C. ambrosioides are rich in phenolic and flavonoid derivatives.@*CONCLUSION@#These results suggest that the MF of C. ambrosioides produces an endothelium-dependent relaxation of the isolated rat aorta, which is thought to be mediated mainly through stimulation of the muscarinic receptors, and probably involving the opening of Ca-activated potassium channels.
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Objective: To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Opuntia dillenii seed oil (ODSO) on CCl
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Aim: To study the cytomorphometric analysis of cells in the cytologic smears from buccal mucosal cells of diabetic and hypertensive patients. Materials and Methods: Smears were collected from clinically normal mucosa of 30 diabetes and 30 hypertensive patients and 30 healthy controls. Smears were stained using papanicolauo method. Cell diameter, nuclear diameter, cell area, nuclear area and nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio was obtained for each patient.Results: Compared to normal it was found that there were significant changes in diameter of cells (P<0.01), nucleus diameter (P<0.01), cell area(P<0.01) and nuclear area (P<0.001) in diabetes patients but not in hypertensive patients (P>0.01). Conclusion: Diabetes produces definite cytomorphometric changes in buccal mucosal cells. This research area is worthy for further exploration for public health implications.
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Development of new antispasmodic agents and minimally traumatic techniques has led to a revival of the use of Radial Artery [RA] in coronary artery bypass surgery. The ultrasonic activated scalpel [Harmonic Scalpel] has been increasingly used in harvesting arterial conduits. We began to use it for RA harvest with the impression that harvest spasm might be less for the new technique In a prospective randomized study, the harmonic scalpel is used to harvest the RA [group H; 21 patients] in comparison with conventional technique using the electrocautery [group C; 20 patients]. Both groups are compared for the harvest time, frequency of spasm, use of hemoclips, free blood flow [immediately after harvesting and after use of topical vasodilator] and incidence for reoperation for bleeding. The use of harmonic scalpel significantly reduced the harvest time, and the need for hemoclips. It also increased significantly the free blood flow from the conduit. It reduced the incidence of spasm [but without statistical significance]. The incidence of reoperation for bleeding was not significantly different between both techniques. Ultrasonic dissection using the harmonic scalpel provides atraumatic, fast, spasm-free RA harvest with minimal use of hemoclips. Long-term patency rates, however, need to be evaluated
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Humans , Male , Female , Radial Artery , Spasm , Hemorrhage , Reoperation , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Thirty four [34] medicolegal autopsies on strangulation deaths were conducted during 7 years period [1993 to 2000] in the department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Chandka Medical College, Larkana. The prevalence of fracture of Hyoid bone in strangled cases was found 14.7%. This percentage was lower than most of the reported studies except one study carried out in USA where the incidence was found in 11.8% cases. The fracture of hyoid bone was noted very high in mannual strangulation [50%] and was more common in the age groups above 40 years