Phytochemical and Pharmacological Screening for Antidiabetic Activity of Salvia aegyptiaca L. Ethanolic Leaves Extract

Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder of carbohydrate, fat, and protein, which results in high levels of glucose in the body after a meal or fasting. This disease is caused by the absence or reduction of insulin secretion. Accordingly, diabetes is usually classified into two types, Type 1(IDDM) and Type II (NIDDM). The aim of the present study is to carry the phytochemical analysis and antidiabetic activity of Salvia aegyptiaca Lethanolic leaves extract. Phytochemical study was carried out by standard methods, shows the presence of various phytochemical constituents such as, phenols, flavonoids, steroids, proteins, glycosides, carbohydrates, lipids, alkaloids, tannins and terpenoids, while saponins shown to be absent. Antidiabetic activity of Salvia aegyptiaca Lwere carried out in both normoglycemic and diabetic induced rats. Normoglycemic animal group were fed with ethanolic leaves extract of Salvia aegyptiaca Lat a dose of 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg alone for 14days, showed decrease in blood glucose level. In diabetic animal group the rats were made diabetic by intraperitoneal(i.p) injection of 100 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate, then followed by administration of ethanolic leaves extract of Salvia aegyptiaca(250mg/kg and 500mg/kg) and standard Tolbutamide (50mg/kg,p.o) for14 days. The results of the diabetic induced group also showed decrease in glucose levels. The results of thecurrent investigation demonstrate that various phytochemical present in Salvia aegyptiaca Lethanolic leaves extracts, might be responsible for antidiabetic effect, due to its known antioxidant property

Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase expression in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

The methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) gene is a tumour suppressor gene, located on chromosome 9p21, 100 kb telomeric of the p15 and p16 genes, which are often deleted in tumor cells. The role of MTAP protein expression in the genesis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is currently not known. In a previous study we have shown the frequent occurrence of allelic imbalance/loss of heterozygosity (AI/LOH) in cutaneous SCCs using AI/LOH markers flanking the p15, p16, and MTAP genes and demonstrated reduction in p15 and p16 protein expression in comparison to normal human skin. The present study is a continuation to our previous studies, aimed at determining possible roles played by MTAP protein expression in the genesis of cutaneous SCC. The expression of MTAP protein was detected using immunohistochemical approach in 109 micro array cutaneous SCC and 20 normal human skin tissue samples. The expression of MTAP was not significantly different in the cutaneous SCC cases as compared with normal human skin. This may indicate that MTAP protein expression does not contribute to the genesis of cutaneous SCC.

An evaluation of the intensive care unit resources and utilization in Trinidad / Una evaluación de los recursos y la utilización de las unidades de cuidados intensivos en trinidad

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate resources and utilization of Intensive Care Units in Trinidad and Tobago. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study to evaluate Intensive Care Units (ICU) of three public and two private hospitals in Trinidad with respect to their infrastructure, process of care and patient outcome. Structure of ICUs was assessed by interviews and personal observations. A Cost Block Model was used to determine the expenditure for ICUs. The process of ICU was assessed by Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS-28). For outcome evaluation, two prognostic scoring systems namely Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II) and Paediatric Index of Mortality-2 (PIM-2) were used RESULTS: The total number of ICU beds was 27. The overall bed occupancy was 66.2%. One hundred and eighteen patients consecutively admitted to ICU during a two-month period were enrolled for process and outcome evaluation. The overall median age of patients was 44 years [Interquartile range (IQR) 25, 59]. The mean cost per patient in the public hospitals was TT $64,746 compared to $77,000 in a private hospital. The average total daily TISS per patient was 27.01 +/- 5.4 (SD). The median length of stay was five days (IQR 2, 9). The overall predicted mortality was 32.9%, the observed mortality was 29.7% and thus the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 0.9. CONCLUSIONS: The overall bed availability in ICUs with respect to Trinidad and Tobago's population and case-mix is low compared to developed countries, although the process of ICU care is comparable. Outcome of patients was good in terms of risk-adjusted mortality. The study highlights the need to further increase bed-strength and optimize the resource utilization of ICUs in Trinidad and Tobago.

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar los recursos y su utilización en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos en Trinidad y Tobago. DISEÑO Y MÉTODOS: Se trata de un estudio prospectivo observacional con el propósito de evaluar las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos de tres hospitales públicos y dos privados en Trinidad, con respecto a su infraestructura, proceso de cuidado y respuesta clínica (resultado) del paciente. La estructura de las UCIs fue evaluada mediante entrevistas y observaciones personales. Un modelo de bloques del costo fue usado a fin de determinar los gastos en relación con las UCIs. El proceso de la UCI fue evaluado mediante el Sistema de Puntuación de Intervención Terapéutica (TISS-28). Para la evalua-ción del resultado clínico, se utilizaron dos sistemas de puntuación pronóstica, a saber, la puntuación simplificada de fisiología aguda (SAPS II) y el Índice Pediátrico de Mortalidad (PIM2). RESULTADOS: El número total de camas de UCI fue 27. La ocupación general de las camas fue de 66.2%. Los ciento dieciocho pacientes ingresados consecutivamente en la UCI durante un período de dos meses, fueron incorporados a la evaluación del proceso y los resultados. La edad mediana general de todos los pacientes fue de 44 años y el rango intercuartil (IQR) 25,59. El costo medio por paciente en los hospitales públicos fue TT $64 746 en comparación con $ 77 000 en un hospital privado. Según el TISS, el total promedio diario por paciente fue 27.01 ± 5.4 (SD). El tiempo mediano de estadía fue de 5 días (IQR 2, 9). La mortalidad general anticipada fue de 32.9%, la mortalidad observada fue de 29.7%, y por consiguiente la razón de mortalidad estandarizada (SMR) fue 0.9. CONCLUSIONES: La disponibilidad total de camas en las UCIs con respecto a la población y la casuística de Trinidad y Tobago, es baja en comparación con los países en desarrollo, aunque el proceso de cuidado de las UCIs es comparable. El resultado clínico de los pacientes fue bueno en términos de la...

Parental perception of fever in children

Fever is a common medical problem in children, parents have been shown unrealistic fears of harmful effects of fever in their children. Resulting in inappropriate management of fever in their children. The objective of this study was to survey parents about their knowledge and attitude concerning fever in their children. The study involved random selection of parents who brought their febrile children to emergency department or out-patient clinics of five teaching and non teaching hospitals in Baghdad from first of October to end of December 2002. Parents of 400 febrile children were interviewed using a standard questionnaire to obtain sociodemographic information and current knowledge of fever. Approximately 69% of the respondents were female, 68% their age was in the range of 21-35 years. Seventy seven percent of parents had two or more children. More than 70% of parents demonstrated a poor understanding of definition of fever, maximum temperature of untreated fever and threshold temperature requiring antipyretics. Twenty seven percent of parents considered temperature less than 38.0 c° to be fever, another 27% did not know, the definition of fever, 61% felt that temperature of less than 40,0 c° could be dangerous to a child, and 27% could not define high fever. Another 28% believed that if left untreated, temperature could rise to 42.0 c° or higher, but 39% could not provide an answer, and about 60% did not know the minimum temperature for administering antipyretics. And 60% did not know the minimum temperature for bathing, or sponging. Approximately 93% of parents demonstrated fear of consequent body damage from fever, including convulsion, brain damage, coma, blindness and even death. Parental misconception about fever reflects the lack of active health education. Health professionals have apparently not done enough to educate parents on this common medical problem and its consequences

The effect of infection of hatched blastocyst bovine embryos with border disease and bovine viral diarrhea viruses.

The effect of infection with teratogenic viruses at early stages of pregnancy is not fully understood. This study aimed to look at the effect of infection with teratogenic viruses such as bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and border disease virus (BDV), on early stage embryos at the hatched blastocyst stage. BVDV and BDV are known to cross the placenta of infected mothers and lead to congenital defects and death of developing fetuses. This study can be a good model for better understanding the effects of other teratogenic viruses such as Rubella virus in humans.

Dialysis arthropathy in Iraqi patients

Thirty consecutive patients receiving maintenance heamodialysis [fifteen males, fifteen females] were interviewed and examined to analyze their musculoskeletal problems. Twenty-four patients had musculoskeletal complaints, the commonest being arthralgia in 17, bone pain in 15, muscle weakness in 13, and muscle cramps in 12 patients. Proximal myopathy was detected in five patients, limitation of joints movement in 4 and joint swelling in 3 patients. No single patient had evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome. Radiographic abnormalities of renal osteodystrophy were found in ten patients and there was periarticular calcification in 6; no patient had gout or calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease