Anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-diabetic evaluation of ethanolic leaf extract of Catharanthus roseus alone and in combination therapy

The use of plants in disease treatment is cost effective and relatively safe. This study was designed to investigate anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-diabetic activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Catharanthus roseus alone and in combination therapy in hyperlipidemic & diabetic mice. Eight groups comprising five mice each were used. Group A was hyperlipidemic control, group B, C, D received atorvastatin (20 mg/kg), leaf extract (200 mg/kg) and leaf extract in combination with atorvastatin (200 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) orally for 15 days. Group E was diabetic control. Group F, G, H received sitagliptin (40 mg/kg), leaf extract (200 mg/kg) and extract in combination with sitagliptin (200 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) orally for 7 days. Blood cholesterol levels were measured at 1st, 5th, 10th and 15th day and fasting blood sugar levels were measured at 2, 12, 24, 72 and 168 hours during treatment. One-way ANOVA with tukey- kramer multiple comparison test was used. The chemical characterization of ethanolic extract of Catharanthus roseus leaves showed presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids. Ethanolic extract of Catharanthus roseus has significant anti-hyperlipidemic & anti-diabetic effects (p<0.05, p<0.01) when compared with control but had not cause significantly increase in anti-hyperlipidemic effects of atorvastatin. While significantly increased the antidiabetic effect of sitagliptin (p<0.05)

Relations between cigarette smoking and chronic diseases of Chinese adults in 2013 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To explore the relations between the prevalence of multiple chronic diseases and cigarette smoking behavior in the Chinese adults.Methods Based on the results from the 2013 Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (NCD Surveillance),176 534 Chinese residents aged 18 years and above,covering 298 counties (districts) in 31 provinces,was randomly recruited,using the multi-stage stratified clustering sampling method.Information on demographics,cigarette smoking (status,quantity and period) was obtained through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires.Anthropometric data and blood samples were collected and properly stored for analysis.Results In total,175 386 adults were included for statistical analyses,with 42.7％ as males and 57.3％ as females.The prevalence rates of hypertension,high total cholesterol and high triglycerides were 30.4％,7.2％ and 18.0％ in male smokers,35.6％,14.0％,10.3％ and 15.9％ in female smokers respectively,which were all higher than those in the respective non-smokers.Male smokers were found under lower risk on hypertension,but 19％ higher on total glycerides when compared with non-smokers of the same sex (OR=1.19,95％CI:1.10-1.30),when multiple risk factors were under control.Male current smokers with more than 20 cigarettes per day have 41％ (OR=1.41,95％CI:1.28-1.55) higher risk of high TG than non-smokers.Female smokers presented 40％ (OR=1.40,95％CI:1.15-1.70) higher risk in high glycerides than the non-smokers.Specifically,women smoking longer than 20 years have 60％(OR=l.60,95％ CI:1.31-1.95) higher risk of high TG than women smoking less than 20 years.Conclusions Prevalence rates of certain chronic diseases were seen higher in smokers of both genders.People with longer history of smoking or being heavier smokers,appeared at advanced risk on developing chronic diseases.

Relations between cigarette smoking and chronic diseases of Chinese adults in 2013 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To explore the relations between the prevalence of multiple chronic diseases and cigarette smoking behavior in the Chinese adults.Methods Based on the results from the 2013 Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (NCD Surveillance),176 534 Chinese residents aged 18 years and above,covering 298 counties (districts) in 31 provinces,was randomly recruited,using the multi-stage stratified clustering sampling method.Information on demographics,cigarette smoking (status,quantity and period) was obtained through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires.Anthropometric data and blood samples were collected and properly stored for analysis.Results In total,175 386 adults were included for statistical analyses,with 42.7％ as males and 57.3％ as females.The prevalence rates of hypertension,high total cholesterol and high triglycerides were 30.4％,7.2％ and 18.0％ in male smokers,35.6％,14.0％,10.3％ and 15.9％ in female smokers respectively,which were all higher than those in the respective non-smokers.Male smokers were found under lower risk on hypertension,but 19％ higher on total glycerides when compared with non-smokers of the same sex (OR=1.19,95％CI:1.10-1.30),when multiple risk factors were under control.Male current smokers with more than 20 cigarettes per day have 41％ (OR=1.41,95％CI:1.28-1.55) higher risk of high TG than non-smokers.Female smokers presented 40％ (OR=1.40,95％CI:1.15-1.70) higher risk in high glycerides than the non-smokers.Specifically,women smoking longer than 20 years have 60％(OR=l.60,95％ CI:1.31-1.95) higher risk of high TG than women smoking less than 20 years.Conclusions Prevalence rates of certain chronic diseases were seen higher in smokers of both genders.People with longer history of smoking or being heavier smokers,appeared at advanced risk on developing chronic diseases.

Relationship Of Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Nutritional Status, And Red Meat Intake To Blood Cholesterol Level Among Staff In Universiti Sains Malaysia

@#The main objective of the study was to determine the factors associated with blood cholesterol level among staff in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The study was a cross-sectional. One-hundred staff between 23 and 59 years of age were recruited in this study using convenient sampling at USM Health Campus. A questionnaire which includes sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and red meat intake was used in the study. Anthropometric and biochemical assessment were measured. Blood cholesterol level was divided into two categories which were known as healthy range (<5.2mmol/L) and slight risk/high risk range (≥5.2mmol/L). The gender distribution of respondents for this study comprised of 40 male and 60 female. The age group (18 to 39) years and (40 to 59) years had a total of 40.3% and 63.2% of slightly risk or high risk blood cholesterol respectively; with the significant association between age group and blood cholesterol level (χ²=4.916,p=0.027). Besides, normal BMI group had 66.7% of respondents achieved healthy blood cholesterol level whereas underweight, overweight and obese group had 39.7% achieved healthy blood cholesterol with the significant association between BMI and blood cholesterol level (χ²=7.112,p=0.008). Moreover, daily or weekly intake of red meat showed that 65.0% of total respondents had a healthier blood cholesterol level compared to 51.0% of monthly, rarely, or none red meat intake group which achieved healthy blood cholesterol level. The result also showed a significant association between red meat intake and blood cholesterol (χ²=5.229, p=0.022), which indicating less red meat consumption is linked to high level of blood cholesterol level. Therefore, further investigation and future studies are needed to gain a clearer understanding of the association between these variables and blood cholesterol level.

Relationship Of Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Nutritional Status, And Red Meat Intake To Blood Cholesterol Level Among Staff In Universiti Sains Malaysia

The main objective of the study was to determine the factors associated with blood cholesterol level among staff in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The study was a cross-sectional. One-hundred staff between 23 and 59 years of age were recruited in this study using convenient sampling at USM Health Campus. A questionnaire which includes socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, and red meat intake was used in the study. Anthropometric and biochemical assessment were measured. Blood cholesterol level was divided into two categories which were known as healthy range (<5.2mmol/L) and slight risk/high risk range (≥5.2mmol/L). The gender distribution of respondents for this study comprised of 40 male and 60 female. The age group (18 to 39) years and (40 to 59) years had a total of 40.3% and 63.2% of slightly risk or high risk blood cholesterol respectively; with the significant association between age group and blood cholesterol level (χ²=4.916,p=0.027). Besides, normal BMI group had 66.7% of respondents achieved healthy blood cholesterol level whereas underweight, overweight and obese group had 39.7% achieved healthy blood cholesterol with the significant association between BMI and blood cholesterol level (χ²=7.112,p=0.008). Moreover, daily or weekly intake of red meat showed that 65.0% of total respondents had a healthier blood cholesterol level compared to 51.0% of monthly, rarely, or none red meat intake group which achieved healthy blood cholesterol level. The result also showed a significant association between red meat intake and blood cholesterol (χ²=5.229, p=0.022), which indicating less red meat consumption is linked to high level of blood cholesterol level. Therefore, further investigation and future studies are needed to gain a clearer understanding of the association between these variables and blood cholesterol level.

ß-glucanos: ¿qué tipos existen y cuáles son sus beneficios en la salud? / ß-glucans: what types exist and what are their health benefits?

ß-glucans are glucose polymers (polysaccharides) of high molecular weight naturally present in the cell wall of various living organisms such as bacteria, yeasts, fungus and plants (mainly cereals like barley and oat). ß-glucans are GRAS and are currently used as texturing agents by the food industry. Furthermore, scientific evidence suggest that, depending on their physicochemical structure and source, their intake would be associated with health promoting effect such as the decrease of plasma cholesterol and the improvement of the glycemic index of the ß-glucan-containing foodstuffs. Accordingly, a health claim related with the intake of cereal ß-glucans and plasma cholesterol improvement has been accepted by the FDA in U.S.A. and by the EFSA in the E.U. For this reason, ß-glucans are increasingly used in the world for the development of functional foods. However, the effect of yeast ß-glucans on immune system stimulation is still discussed.

Los ß-glucanos son polímeros de glucosa (polisacáridos) de elevado peso molecular que se encuentran en forma natural en la pared celular de diversos organismos vivos como bacterias, levaduras, hongos y plantas (cereales como avena y cebada). Los ß-glucanos son inocuos y actualmente son utilizados por las empresas de alimentos como agentes texturizantes. Además, antecedentes científicos sugieren que, dependiendo de su estructura fisicoquímica y de su origen, su consumo se asociaría a efectos beneficiosos para la salud del ser humano como la disminución de la concentración plasmática de colesterol total y la reducción del índice glicémico de los alimentos que lo incluyen. Un mensaje de salud sobre consumo de ß-glucanos de cereales y disminución del colesterol ha sido aceptado tanto por la FDA de EE.UU. como por la EFSA de la U.E. Por esta razón los ß-glucanos están siendo utilizados cada vez más para el desarrollo de alimentos funcionales en varios países del mundo. Sin embargo, el efecto de los ß-glucanos de levadura sobre la estimulación de la respuesta inmune aún está en discusión.

The Family's Role in Assisting Hypercholesterolemia Individuals to Controlling Serum Cholesterol Level

High serum cholesterol level increases the risk of stroke and coronary heart diseases. Family has an important role to maintain and to reach a normal cholesterol level in the blood. The aim of this research was to explore the role of family in monitoring and maintaining serum cholesterol level among hypercholesterolemia individuals.Seven participants were involved in this study that determined based on saturated data. Sampling procedure used snowball sampling method. Data was collected by interview, participant observation, documentation study, and literature review. Data analysis was done with thematic analysis steps.The research results showed three themes. First, family role in controlling cholesterol level was memorized the routine check. Second, family had a role to limit the intake of high cholesterol food. Third, family could join the individuals to participate in exercise.This study provided information about family’s role in controlling hypercholesterolemia individual’s serum cholesterol level. It also provided addition of knowledge to nurses in the care of individuals with hypercholesterolemia. This research confirmed that family’s role in assisting hypercholesterolemia individuals is very important to increase the health level among community in developing countries.