Evaluation of Soluble CD90: Potential for Diagnostic Significance in Endometriosis Patients.

Background: Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating gynecologic disorder, driven by endocrine and immune dysfunctions, which lead to poor endometrial differentiation and attenuated fertility. Escape from immune surveillance and involvement of inflammatory mechanisms appear to be factors in disease progression. Current diagnostic guidelines for endometriosis still lack an efficient biomarker. Here, we report a study on two previously unexplored factors as potential biomarkers for endometriosis. Methods: A case-control study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of serum CD90 and CD83 levels in endometriosis patients (cases validated by surgical and histological examination) compared to healthy controls. Serum was collected from age-matched females and analyzed by ELISA. Results: Comparison of endometriosis patients to the control group showed significantly elevated levels of serum CD90 (1160 ± 856 pg/mL vs. 334 ± 228 pg/mL; ∗∗∗∗ p < 0.0001). A threshold value of 479.4 pg/mL was defined based on the control results, and the diagnostic efficiency of the test was estimated. The obtained sensitivity (70.4%), specificity (92.9%), positive predictive value (90.5%), and negative predictive value (76.5%) rated the test as one with promising diagnostic potential. In contrast, the analysis of serum CD83 levels showed comparable values in both groups, suggesting no association with patient status. Conclusion: Elevated soluble CD90 in human serum is associated with endometriosis, which suggests its putative clinical significance as a biomarker in screening and/or diagnosis of the disease.

Effect of Byrsocarpus Coccineus (Connaraceae) Aqueous Leaf Extract on Pancreatic Islets Volume in Type 2 Diabetic Male Wistar Rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a devastating illness associated with alterations in the pancreatic islet of Langerhans and the islet volume constitutes a significant variable in diabetic investigations. This study investigates the volume of pancreatic islets in type 2 diabetic rats following treatment with aqueous extract Byrsocarpus coccineus leaves. Twenty-five male Wistar rats weighing between 100-120g were divided into five groups. Group 1 served as the normal control given distilled water while type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced by a high fat diet feeding for five weeks and a single dose of streptozotocin (35mg/kg, i.p.) in groups 2,3,4 and 5. After confirmation of diabetes, animals in groups 2,3,4 and 5 were administered normal saline, 50 mg/kg metformin, 800 mg/kg Byrsocarpus coccineus leaves leaf extract (BCLE) and 400 mg/kg BCLE respectively for 21 days. The pancreas was harvested, fixed in neutral buffered formalin and processed for stereological and histological analysis. Isotropic uniform random samples were obtained with the orientator grid. Serial sections were cut with a rotatory microtome and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. Pancreatic islet volumes were measured with the aid of a Cavalieri estimator grid. The result showed significant (p<0.05) increase in the blood glucose level of the diabetic control group, when compared to the normal control. But blood glucose levels from groups 4 and 5 were significantly (p<0.05) decreased when compared to the diabetic control. Pancreatic islet volume estimations showed a significant decrease in the diabetic control group when compared to the normal control (p<0.05), while pancreatic islet volumes in groups 3, 4 and 5 were significantly increased when compared to the diabetic control group (p<0.05). In a likewise manner the histology of the pancreas of the diabetic control shows damaged pancreatic islet cells and surrounding tissue that was reduced in all the treated group. In conclusion the aqueous extract of Byrsocarpus coccineus has shown an anti- hyperglycaemic effect in the experimental rats and increased the volumes of the pancreatic islet cells as well as ameliorated the pathological changes in the pancreas.

Impact of Air Pollution and Outdoor Temperature on the Rate of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations.

BACKGROUND: Environmental pollution can be one of the main risk factors for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). AIM: To study the relationship between air pollution, outdoor temperature and exacerbations of COPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: COPD patients (n=1432) were followed up for one year. The levels of particulate matter up to 10 µm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and outside temperatures were collected from the Environmental Agency database. RESULTS: A total of 309 acute COPD exacerbations (AECOPD) were recorded in the analysis. The daily mean concentrations of PM10 were found to correlate significantly with the daily mean concentrations of NO2 and SO2 (ρ 0.34 and ρ 0.49, respectively; p=0.0001). The negative correlations between the daily mean temperature and the daily mean levels of PM10, NO2 and SO2 were also significant (ρ -0.44, ρ -0.11, and ρ -0.37, respectively; p=0.0001). The daily number of AECOPD correlated with the mean levels of PM10 in the previous six days (ρ 0.14; p=0.02) and the lower outdoor temperature (ρ -0.2; p=0.001). The negative correlation between the daily number of AECOPD and the mean daily temperature was stronger in days with levels of PM10 above 50 µg/m3 (ρ -0.3 p=0.02 vs. ρ -0.18 p= 0.01). CONCLUSION: Lower daily mean temperatures were associated with the levels of air pollutants. The level of PM10 correlated with the levels of the other air pollutants. The daily number of AECOPD was found to correlate weakly, but signifi cantly with the mean level of PM10 in the previous six days.

PRELIMINARY GASTROINTESTINAL STUDIES OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF INDIGOFERA PULCHRA WILLD IN RODENTS.

In this study, the effect of the methanol extract of Indigofera pulchra Willd. (Papillionaceae) was investigated against castor oil induced diarrheoa. Its effects on perfused isolated rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum were also evaluated. The extract produced a dose-dependent protection against the castor oil-induced diarrheoa in mice with the highest protection (100%), obtained at 200 mgkg-1 comparable to that of loperamide (5 mgkg-1), a standard antidiarrhoeal drug. The extract (0.4 - 6.4 mgml-1) produced a concentration relaxation of the rabbit jejunum. However, no observable effect was noticed when the guinea pig ileum was treated. The extract blocked the contractile effect of acetylcholine (2 × 10-8 gml-1) and histamine (4 × 10-7 gml-1) on both rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins and steroids. The intraperitoneal median lethal dose (LD50) value for the extract was found to be 2154.0 mgkg-1. The results obtained revealed that the extract possesses pharmacologically active compounds with gastrointestinal relaxant and antidiarrhoeal activities and may possibly explain the use of the plant in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorder.

Stilbenoids in lianas of Gnetum parvifolium.

Five new stilbene dimers were isolated from the lianas of Gnetum parvifolium in addition to known stilbenoids. The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, including long-range coupling and nuclear Overhauser effect experiments, in NMR spectrum. Among the isolates, 2b-hydroxyampelopsin F showed potent inhibitory activity in the Maillard reaction.

[Flavonoids and anthraquinone from Dioscorea bulbifera L].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Dioscorea bulbifera. METHOD: Column chromatography with silica gel was employed for the isolation and purification of constituents. The structures were elucidated by UV, IR, MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR analyses. RESULT: Three compounds were obtained and elucidated as 3,7-dimethoxy-5,4'-dihydroxyflavone; 3,7-dimethoxy-5,3',4'-trihydroxyflavone and emodin. CONCLUSION: These compounds were separated from D. bulbifera for the first time.