Hypoglycemic and other related effects of Boswellia glabra in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

The hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extract of the leaves and roots of Boswellia glabra was examined using alloxan-induced diabetic rats. A single oral administration of Boswellia glabra leaf and root extract decreased the blood glucose level. The continued use of leaf and root extract for 28 days produced significant hypoglycemic effects; also there was a decrease in serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea and creatinine levels and enzyme activities (alkaline phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase). Ultra structural studies of beta cell of alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with root extract showed numerous granulated sacs in comparison to rats treated with leaf extract. Thus, rats treated with root extract showed less degranulated sacs and more number of filled secretory granules in comparison to diabetic rats. Thus the use of aqueous extract of Boswellia glabra increased the synthesis of secretory granules in the beta-cell.

Newborn screening in Singapore.

Neonatal screening in Singapore for G6PD deficiency started in 1965. Screening for congenital hypothyroidism started in 1981 as a pilot research program and by 1990, it became nationwide. Screening for congenital hypothyroidism is by the measurement of TSH in the cord serum with recall of those exceeding the 99th percentile, by about 3-4 days of life. Treatment is usually started within a week of life. Over 400,000 newborns have been screened and the screening rate has been about 99.95%. The incidence rate is about 1 in 3,000. G6PD activity in the cord blood is measured using semi-quantitative rapid screening tests. Those identified are physically protected from environmental triggers by keeping them in hospital for a variable period of time. Parents are counseled. Data obtained from 22,830 newborns from the National University Hospital revealed incidence rates of 1.62% in all newborns, 3.15% in males and 0.11% in females. The Chinese and Malay males had a higher (3.94% and 2.95%) incidence respectively when compared to the Indian males with (0.66% incidence). The application of the preventive measures has resulted in no report of kernicterus in the last 20 years. Our efforts are now focused on minimizing the recall rate in the case of hypothyroidism screening, reducing the period of stay in hospital in those with G6PD deficiency and considering the introduction of a PKU screening program in Singapore.

effect of an aqueous extract of ambrosia maritima on glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes in the liver of normal and alloxan-diabetic rats

Ambrosia maritima [Damsissa] is one of the herbs commonly used in Egyptian folk medicine for treatment of diabetes. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of oral administration of an aqueous extract of damsissa herb on the activities of enzymes involved in hepatic glucose metabolism. One week after the administration of the herbal extract at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/Kg body weight, hepatic glucokinase [GK] and pyruvate kinase [PK] activities were found to be significantly elevated in both normal and alloxan-diabetic rats, whereas hepatic glucose -6-phosphates [Glc-6-Pase] activity was significantly reduced. These alterations in the activities of these enzymes were paralleled with significant decrease in serum glucose in all experimental animals treated with the herbal extract. These observations suggest that the aqueous extract of Ambrosia maritima herb exerts its hypoglycemic effect by increased utilization of glucose as confirmed by the increased activities of hepatic glycolytic enzymes GK and PK, and decrease in its synthesis as confirmed by the decreased activity of Glc-6-Pase

Studies on the mechanism of the hyperglycemic action of hydrochlorothiazide

To investigate the mechanism of hydrochlorothiazide induced hyperglycemia and to determine the reversibility of this hyperglycemic action, the effects of hydrochlorothiazide [5 and 10 mg/kg body weight] alone or with potassium supplementation [1.8 mg potassium bicarbonate / kg body weight] on serum glucose, serum insulin, liver glycogen and liver glucose-6-phosphatase activity were' studied. Also, potassium concentration in serum and urine was evaluated. Comparison of obtained data revealed the occurrence of a significant increase in serum glucose concentration, a significant decrease in serum insulin and in liver glycogen and a non significant increase in glucose-6-phosphatase activity at the two different doses of the drug. Moreover, serum potassium level showed significant decrease at the two doses with significant increase of this ion in the urine at dose of 10 mg. Following potassium supplementation, these metabolic disturbances seemed to be improved. A reduction in serum glucose and elevations in both serum insulin and liver glycogen were observed. The Liver glucose -6-phosphatase tended to decrease and the potassium concentration in both serum and urine tended to increase. These changes reached the significant level with liver glycogen and potassium concentration in the serum and urine at the two different doses and with serum glucose and insulin in addition to liver glucose -6- phosphatase activity at the 5 mg dose

Valores de aldolasa, glucosa-6-fosfatasa y lactato dehidrogenasa en trabajadores expuestos a plaguicidas / Values of aldolase, glucose-6-phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase in workers expose

Se realizó el estudio en 62 operadores y ayudantes de fumigación de diferentes Empresas de Cultivos Varios de la Provincia La Habana, expuestos a distintos tipos de plaguicidas durante 1 a 20 años, y como control en 37 trabajadores no expuestos a plaguicidas. Se les realizó exámenes clínicos y análisis de laboratorio clínico. Se determinaron las enzimas aldolasa, lactato dehidrogenasa y glucosa-6-fosfatasa en suero. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en los valores de lactato dehidrogenasa y glucosa-6-fosfatasa entre la muestra y el control. Los valores de aldolasa de la muestra fueron: 4.02 ñ 2,48 mUI y en el grupo control fueron de 6,85 ñ 2,54 mUI, los cuales fueron significativos para p<0,05