A comparison of GlideScope videolaryngoscope with Macintosh laryngoscope for laryngeal views

Objective：To describe the use of the GlideScope in comparison with direct laryngoscopy for elective surgical patients requiring tracheal intubation. Methods：Two hundred patients, ASA Ⅰ - Ⅱ scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia requiring orotracheal intubation were selected. Information was collected identifying the patient demographics and airway assessment features （Mallampati oropharyngeal scale, thyromenta distance and mouth opening）. In a random crossover design, after induction of anesthesia and neuromuscular block, the laryngoscopes were inserted in turn, and the views of the glottis at laryngoscopy （Cormack and Lehane scores） were compared. The tracchea was intubated using either the standard Macintosh laryngoscope or GlideScope after the second grading at laryngoscopy was done. Complications associated with intubating were recorded. Results： There were 200 patients including 107 males and 93 females, with mean age being 52±13 years, height 164.8±11.3 cm, weight 64.0±11. 5 kg, thyromental distance 6. 9± 1.1 cm, and mouth opening 5.7±0.5 cm. There was a significant association between the preoperative view of the oropharynx （Mallampati score） and the view of the glottis at laryngoscopy for both the direct Macintosh laryngoscope （P〈0. 001） and the GlideScope （P〈0. 001）. Among 200 patients, 106 patients had the same C＆L grade, 91 of remaining patients showed improvement in the C＆L grade （P〈0. 001 ） obtained with GlideScope compared with the direct Macintosh laryngoscope. 3 of remaining patients showed better view of the glottis（C＆L grade） with the direct Macintosh laryngoscope （grade 1） than with GlideScope （grade 2）. There were no cases of failure to be intubated. There were no cases of dental or mucosal injury in all patients. Conclusion： GlideScope videolaryngoscope yielded comparable or superior laryngeal view compared with Macintosh laryngoscope. The new type of laryngoscope may have potential advantages for managing the d     

Facial-Skin Hyperpigmentation： Histological and Computer Geometric Assessment

Hyper-pigmentation is a common, acquired dermatological skin-disorder manifesting and identifiable as irregular brown or greyish-brown facial discolouration, and sometimes referred to as melanosis, melasma or hypermelanosis. Purpose and Objective： To identify the site of melanin deposition in skin-layers regarding facial hyper-pigmentation, based on a histological study of full-thickness skin-facial biopsies in aged Caucasian-cadavers. Hypothesis： Recalcitrant hyper-pigmentation, is chiefly characterised by hyper-melanosis restricted to the dermal-layer of the integument. Method： The histological features of facial hyper-pigmentation and solar-lentigenes were evaluated in a pilot-study of 5-randomly selected Caucasian-cadavers with pigmentation （15 facial biopsies）, ranging in age between 75 and 102 years （mean 77-years）. Selection-criteria included, both genders, age 〉 75, focal and confluent hyper-pigmented lesions, involving sun-exposed areas of skin （centrifacial, scalp, malar, mandibular and cervical）. Study groups included （Grp-1： Control skin-histology in otherwise normal aged, human-cadavers; Grp-2： Histology of pigmented facial skin-lesions in man; Grp-3： Comparative histological skin-controls in non-human primates）. No obvious hepatic disease was evident in the cohort studied. Twenty-five histological controls were obtained from non-pigmented areas. Histological evaluation of full-thickness skin-biopsies （including the lesion, edge and peri-]esion skin）, was under a Leitz~-light-microscope, and staining included H＆E, Masson-trichrome, Masson-fontana, Alcian-blue and Verhoef technology. Histological-scoring used was on histological deposition of melanin in skin-layers： epidermal, dermal, mixed, and indeterminate melanin-deposition （score 1-4）. Controls included cadaveric skin-biopsies of human races of colour and non-human primate, Cercopethicus Aethiops （latter is known to have predominantly dermal-melanin deposition）. Pigmented and non-pigmented areas were compared in both species. Results： The majority of clinically visible individual and confluent areas of hyper-pigmentation studied were maeroscopically present on the forehead, frontal scalp in hair-receded cadavers, molar and temporal zones. Histologically, documented features of age-related changes without pigment were present in almost all the embalmed cadaver-skins, with a melanin-score of 1. Computer enhanced skin geometry and biometrics confirmed the presence of an aged-skin, pigmentation and features of solar damage. The human embalmed-tissue was well preserved and minimal autolytic changes were present. Special stains of full-thickness biopsies （Masson-Fontana）, showed that melanin in the subhuman-primate is lodged in the deep dermis （reticular dermis）, within the extra-cellular matrix （ECM） and superficial to the hypodermal adipose-tissue （melanin-score 3）. Fifteen pigmented lesions studied in five （5） aged-cadavers （forehead, molar and mandibular areas） all showed predominantly epidermal-deposition of melanin in the basal, suprabasal and stratum corneum with tiny focal areas of dermal melanosis in single-cell macrophages in the papillary-dermis but not reticular-dermis （melanin-score 2）. A melanin-deposition localization ratio of epidermis to dermis was approximately 98 to 2% in cadavers with hyper-pigmentation. Conclusion： The skin-strata localization of the melanin with regards hyper-pigmentation of the face and forehead in this aged, human adult Caucasian, cadaveric-study, was predominantly in the epidermis and sparse in the papillary dermis.     

Purification and characterization of keratinase from a new Bacillus subtilis strain

The aim of this study was to purify and characterize a keratinase produced by a new isolated Bacillus subtilis KD-N2 strain. The keratinase produced by the isolate was purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation, Sephadex G-75 and DEAE （diethylaminoethyl）-Sepharose chromatographic techniques. The purified enzyme was shown to have a molecular mass of 30.5 kDa, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （SDS-PAGE） analysis. The optimum pH at 50 ℃ was 8.5 and the optimum temperature at pH 8.5 was 55 ℃. The keratinase was partially inactivated by some metal ions, organic solvents and serine protease inhibitor phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride （PMSF）. Sodium dodecyl sulfate （SDS） and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid （EDTA） had positive effect on the keratinase activity. Reducing agents including dithiothreitol （DTT）, mercaptoethanol, L-cysteine, sodium sulphite, as well as chemicals of SDS, ammonium sulfamate and dimethylsulfoxide （DMSO） stimulated the enzyme activity upon a feather meal substrate. Besides feather keratin, the enzyme is active upon the soluble proteins ovalbumin, bovine serum albumin （BSA）, casein and insoluble ones as sheep wool and human hair. Calf hair, silk and collagen could not be hydrolyzed by the keratinase.     

Apolipoprotein B100 quality control and the regulation of hepatic very low density lipoprotein secretion

Apolipoprotein B （apoB） is the main protein component of very low density lipoprotein （VLDL） and is necessary for the assembly and secretion of these triglyceride （TG）-rich particles. Following release from the liver, VLDL is converted to low density lipoprotein （LDL） in the plasma and increased production of VLDL can therefore play a detrimental role in cardiovascular disease. Increasing evidence has helped to establish VLDL assembly as a target for the treatment of dyslipidemias. Multiple factors are involved in the folding of the apoB protein and the formation of a secretion-competent VLDL particle. Failed VLDL assembly can initiate quality control mechanisms in the hepatocyte that target apoB for degradation. ApoB is a substrate for endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation （ERAD） by the ubiquitin proteasome system and for autophagy. Efficient targeting and disposal of apoB is a regu- lated process that modulates VLDL secretion and partitioning of TG. Emerging evidence suggests that significant overlap exists between these degradative pathways. For example, the insulin-mediated targeting of apoB to autop- hagy and postprandial activation of the unfolded protein response （UPR） may employ the same cellular machinery and regulatory cues. Changes in the quality control mechanisms for apoB impact hepatic physiology and pathology states, including insulin resistance and fatty liver. Insulin signaling, lipid metabolism and the hepatic UPR may impact VLDL production, particularly during the postprandial state. In this review we summarize our current understanding of VLDL assembly, apoB degradation, quality control mechanisms and the role of these processes in liver physiology and in pathologic states.     

Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia affecting patients today. Disease prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, and is associated with often catastrophic and costly consequences, including heart failure, syncope, dementia, and stroke. Therapies including anticoagulants, anti-arrhythmic medications, devices, and non-pharmacologic procedures in the last 30 years have improved patients＂ functionality with the disease. Nonetheless, it remains imperative that further research into AF epidemiology, genetics, detection, and treatments continues to push forward rapidly as the worldwide population ages dramatically over the next 20 years.     

Rab proteins implicated in lipid storage and mobilization

Abnormal intracellular accumulation or transport of lipids contributes greatly to the pathogenesis of human diseases. In the liver, excess accumulation of triacylglycerol （TG） leads to fatty liver disease encompassing steatosis, steatohepatitis and fibrosis. This places individuals at risk of developing cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma or hepatic decompensation and also contributes to the emergence of insulin resistance and dyslipidemias affecting many other organs. Excessive accumulation of TG in adipose tissue contributes to insulin resistance as well as to the release of cytokines attracting leucocytes leading to a pro-inflammatory state. Pathological accumulation of cholesteryl ester （CE） in macrophages in the arterial wall is the progenitor of atherosclerotic plaques and heart disease. Overconsumption of dietary fat, cholesterol and carbohydrates explains why these diseases are on the increase yet offers few clues for how to prevent or treat individuals. Dietary regimes have proven futile and barfing surgery, no realistic alternatives are at hand as effective drugs are few and not without side effects. Overweight and obesity-related diseases are no longer restricted to the developed world and as such, constitute a global problem. Development of new drugs and treatment strategies are a priority yet requires as a first step, elucidation of the molecular pathophysiology underlying each associated disease state. The lipid droplet （LD）, an up to now over- looked intracellular organelle, appears at the heart of each pathophysiology linking key regulatory and metabolic processes as well as constituting the site of storage of both TGs and CEs. As the molecular machinery and mechanisms of LDs of each cell type are being elucidated, regulatory proteins used to control various cellular processes are emerging. Of these and the subject of this review, small GTPases belonging to the Rab protein family appear as important molecular switches used in the regulation of the intracellular trafficking and storage of lipids.     

Surgical treatment of IIIb-T4 lung cancer invading left atrium and great vessels

Background IIIb-T4 non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） is commonly considered a contraindication to surgery, although chemo-radiotherapy also achieves a poor survival rate. We reviewed our experience with T4 NSCLC patients who underwent surgery to explore the indications and prognostic factors of surgical treatment of lung cancer invading the left atrium and great vessels. Methods We investigated a cohort of 105 patients, 79 men and 26 women, who underwent surgery from May 1996 to July 2008. Their pathological staging was T4No-2M0. The median age was 59 years, ranging from 36 to 75 years. Patients were grouped based on invading sites： tumors invading the left atrium （LA group）, tumors invading the superior vena cava （SVC group）, and tumors invading the intrapericardial pulmonary artery （PA group）. Patients were further characterized based upon the type of operation, complete resection and incomplete resection groups, and on the lymph node pathological status, No, N1 and N2 groups. We calculated the overall five-year survival rate. Results All patients received resection of primary lesions, with partial resection of the left atrium in the LA group （n=-25）, angioplasty of superior vena cava in the SVC group （n=-23） and intrapericardial ligation of the pulmonary artery in the PA group （n=57）. Complete resection was possible in 77 patients （73.3%）. The overall survival rate of the 105 patients was 41.0% at 5 years; 36.0% for the LA group, 34.8% for the SVC group and 45.6% for the PA group. Pathological N status significantly influenced the overall 5-year survival rate; 61.5% for No, 51.1% for the N1 and 11.8% for the N2 groups （N2 group versus No group, P 〈0.0001, N2 versus N1 group, P〈0.0001）. Surgical resection also influenced survival; 49.4% for the complete resection group and 17.9% for the incomplete resection group （P 〈0.0001）. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that pathological N status was a significant independent predictor of prognosis. Conclusions Pathological N status is a significant independent predictor for survival of patients with IIIb-T4 lung cancer invading the left atrium and great vessels. The completeness of resection has a significant influence on the overall 5-year survival rate. Surgery for T4 lung cancer may be effective in patients without mediastinal lymph node involvement.     

Effect of Dietary Oleic Acid and Palmitic Acid on Cerebellum Histological Changes and Sensorimotor Coordination in Rat

Lipids are important constituents of the neuronal membrane. Also, kinds of fatty acids were supplied in the diet can affect the brain growth and the onset of myelinogenesis. So, in this study, the effect of oleic acid and palmitic acid on sensorimotor coordination and cerebellum histological changes was investigated. In present study, 9 groups （10 rats in each group） of Wistar immature rats were used. One group kept as control with similar environmental conditions to other groups. Four groups of rats were fed with diet containing 10% palmitic acid for 1 to 4 weeks respectively. Four groups of rats were fed with diet containing 10% oleic acid for 1 to 4 weeks respectively. After maturation （age at 90 weeks）, the rats were tested for motor activity task by using Rota rod based on standard method and then the whole cerebellum were removed and samples were fixed in bouin for routine paraffin embedding method. The results showed that sensorimotor coordination was significantly （p 〈 0.01） increased in rats fed with oleic acid for 4 weeks. The sensorimotor coordination was significantly （p 〈 0.01, p 〈 0.5） increased in groups received palmitic acid for 1 and 2 weeks. Also, diameter of cerebellum was significantly （p 〈 0.001, p 〈 0.5） changed with oleic acid for 4 weeks and palmitic acid for 2 weeks. The diameter of molecular layer of cerebellum was significantly （p 〈 0.001, p 〈 0.5） changed with oleic acid for 2 and 4 weeks. Thus, palmitic and oleic acid can improve function of tissue of cerebellum in rat.     

Water Extract of Liuwei Dihuang Reduces Weight Gain and Visceral Fat in Obese Rats

The present study was conducted to determine the effect and mechanism of action of Liuwei Dihuang （LWDH） on weight gain and visceral fat deposition in male obese-prone CD rats. The rats were divided into three groups and fed a high-fat diet （60 kcal% from fat）. Two treatment groups received 600 （WE600） or 1200 （WEI200） mg/kg/d LWDH water extract dissolved in water by gavage feeding once a day for l0 weeks. The control rats were gavaged with the vehicle. Daily food intake and weekly body weight were recorded. Energy metabolism was measured using an indirect calorimeter during week 8 of the treatment. At the end of the study, rats were sacrificed. Immediately, visceral fat pads were dissected and weighed. Serum was collected for the measurement of blood lipids and hormones. It was found that WEI200 lowered body weight after 3 weeks of treatment and the effect was maintained throughout the remaining study period. WE1200 also lowered visceral fat mass, serum leptin, plasma free fatty acids and cholesterol, respectively. The energy expenditure was increased by WE1200 in both the light and dark periods. Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and fat oxidation were increased in both light and dark periods, whereas carbohydrate oxidation increased only in the light period in the WE1200 group. Rats in the WE600 showed lower serum free fatty acids and leptin levels, while showing no effect on the other parameters compared to the control. These results demonstrated potential of using LWDH water extract to treat obesity and its related complications. The effect may be attributable to the increase of energy expenditure, decrease of food intake and improvement of leptin sensitivity.     

HGF percutaneous endocardial injection induces cardiomyocyte proliferation and rescues cardiac function in pigs

Objective：To investigate the effect of cardiomyocyte proliferation induced by human hepatocyte growth factor（HGF）in pigs with chronic myocardial infarction（CMI）.Methods：A steerable,deflectable 7F catheter incorporating a 27-guage needle was advanced percutaneously to the left ventricular myocardium of 18 pigs with CMI.Pigs were randomized（1：1：1）to receive adenoviral vector HGF（total dose,1×10^10 genome copies）,which was administered as five injections into the infarcted myocardium（total,1.0 mL）,or saline,or Ad-null（control groups）.Injections were guided by Ensite NavX left ventricular electroanatomical mapping.HGF and cyclin proteins were detected by western blot and immunoprecipitation analysis.Histological and immunohistochemical analysis determined proliferating cardiomyocytes.Myocardial perfusion and cardiac function were estimated by Gated-Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography（G-SPECT）.Results：Western blot analyses showed that HGF were predominantly expressed in the infarct core and border in the myocardium of the infarcted heart.G-SPECT analysis indicated that the HGF group had better cardiac function and myocardial perfusion four weeks after the injection of Ad-HGF than before the injection of Ad-HGF.After treatment there were more proliferating cardiomyocytes in the HGF group compared to either of the control groups.Furthermore,the HGF group myocardial samples expressed higher levels of p-Akt,cyclin A,cyclin E,cyclin D1,cdk2,cdk4 than those in the control groups.Conclusion：The over-expression of HGF activates pro-survival pathways,induces cardiomyocyte proliferation,and improves the perfusion and function of the porcine CMI heart.     

The Influence of Hyperoxygenated Solution for High Altitude Hemorrhagic Shock Rabbits＇ Resuscitational Effects and Plasma Endothelin and Nitric Oxide Release

Objective： In order to seek further simple, convenient and effective prevantive and treated measure as well as first-aid method on hemorrhagic shock in high altitude; Methods： The oxygenated hypertonic hypercolloid solution for high altitude hemorrhagic shock rabbits＇ resuscitation at kunlun mountain pass transport oil pump station of altitude 4700 m in high altitude field was observed; Results： This oxygenated hypertonic hypercolloid solution can rise the blood pressure and intraventricular pressure, picked up going up speed of intraventricular pressure in isovolumetric contraction phase and going clown speed of intraventricular pressure in isovolumetric relaxation phase on rabbits with hemorrhagic shock in high altitude, raise survival time and survival rate of shock animal, improve obvious pulmonary and kidney function of shock animal, no any adverse reaction,its effect superiorer obvious than the effect of isomotic solution plus vitamin C and naloxone, the experiment was still further demonstrated that the oxygenated hypertonic hypercol｜oid solution infused can reduce obvious the plasma the level ofendothelin （E-f）, raise the plasma the level of nitric oxide（NO）, maintenance the equilibrium of ET and NO ratio of intrakidney, the results showed that oxygenated solution infusion can influence the vascular endotheliocytes and other ceils on resease of ET and No; Conclusion： The resuscitation effect of oxygenated hypertonic bypercolloid solution on rabbits with hemorrhagic shock in high altitude field was better than other antishock solution.     

Transcranial Doppler for detection of changes in ophthalmic artery blood flow

The ophthalmic artery （OA） is a main branch of the internal carotid artery （ICA）. Severe internal carotidartery stenosis or occlusion may not only affect the blood supply to the brain, but may also cause OA insufficiency, leading to ocular ischemia. Therefore, research on the hemodynamic changes in the OA in patients with ICA stenosis or occlusion has increasingly attracted more ophthalmologists＇ attention.1 Transcranial Doppler （TCD） is simple and noninvasive, has been widely used in the inspection of cerebrovascular disease,     

Discussion of Glasser＇s ＂Quality World＂ among Medical Students Benefited Group Dynamics

Purpose： The aim of this study is to analyze the Glasser＇s ＂Quality World＂ as it is discussed among the medical students and to see if there is any relationship between it and their academic/creativity scores. It also seeks if this discussion is of any benefit to the group dynamics. Methods： Participants were 205 medical students, 4 to 7 students were allocated as a group. They were asked to fill an open answer to 4 categories of＂Quality World＂ （the people we most want to be with, the things we most want to own or experience, the idea or system of belief that govern much of our behavior, and the places we most want to visit or live） and discuss them in an open forum. Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking were performed to the students. They answered the Likert scale question whether discussing the ＂Quality World＂ with peers benefited the group dynamics or not. Results： Among 205 students, 50.2% wanted to be with adoring people; followed by entertainers and artists （18%）, 51.7% wanted to own material wealth; spiritual values were second in importance （21%）, 27.3% considered family, friends, and lovers most valuable; followed by happiness （21%）, 52.2% wished for an overseas trip; trip to the mountains, seas, or deserts was next in importance （14.1%）. Most of the respondents answered that discussing ＂Quality World＂ benefited their group dynamics. Conclusion： We suggest that discussing Glasser＇s ＂Quality World＂ might be a useful tool to gain understanding among the health personnel in small group activities and increase group dynamics.     

The cardioprotection induced by lipopolysaccharide involves phos- phoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and high mobility group box 1 pathways

Objective： The mechanisms by which lipopolysaccharide （LPS） pretreatment induces cardioprotection following ischaemia/reperfusion （I/R） have not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/Akt and high mobility group box 1 （HMGBxl） signaling plays an important role in LPS-induced cardioprotection. Methods： In in vivo experiments, age- and weight- matched male C57BL/10Sc wild type mice were pretreated with LPS before ligation of the left anterior descending coronary followed by reperfusion. Infarction size was examined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Akt, phospho-Akt, and HMGBxl were assessed by immunoblotting with appropriate primary antibodies. In situ cardiac myocyte apop- tosis was examined by the TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL） assay. In an in vitro study, rat cardiac myoblasts （H9c2） were subdivided into two groups, and only one was pretreated with LPS. After pretreatment, the cells were transferred into a hypoxic chamber under 0.5% 02. Levels of HMGBxl were assessed by immunoblot. Results： In the in vivo experiment, pretreatment with LPS reduced the at risk infarct size by 70.6% and the left ventricle infarct size by 64.93% respectively. Pretreatment with LPS also reduced cardiac myocytes apoptosis by 39.1% after ischemia and reperfusion. The mechanisms of LPS induced cardioprotection involved increasing PI3K/Akt activity and decreasing expression of HMGBxl. In the in vitro study, pretreatment with LPS reduced the level of HMGBxl in H9c2 cell cytoplasm following hypoxia. Conclusion： The results suggest that the cardioprotection following I/R induced by LPS pretreatment involves PI3K/Akt and HMGBxl pathways.     

Position and complications of pedicle screw insertion with or without image-navigation techniques in the thoracolumbar spine：a meta-analysis of comparative studies

Computer-navigated pedicle screw insertion is applied to the thoracic and lumbar spine to attain high insertion accuracy and a low rate of screw-related complications.However,some in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that no advantages are gained with the use of navigation techniques compared to conventional techniques.Additionally,inconsistent conclusions have been drawn in various studies due to different population characteristics and methods used to assess the accuracy of screw placement.Moreover,it is not clear whether pedicle screw insertion with navigation techniques decreases the incidence of screw-related complications.Therefore,this study was sought to perform a meta-analysis of all available prospective evidence regarding pedicle screw insertion with or without navigation techniques in human thoracic and lumbar spine.We considered in vivo comparative studies that assessed the results of pedicle screw placement with or without navigation techniques.PubMed,Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched.Three published randomized controlled trials（RCTs） and nine retrospective comparative studies met the inclusion criteria.These studies included a total of 732 patients in whom 4,953 screws were inserted.In conclusion,accuracy of the position of grade I,II,III and IV screws and complication rate related to pedicle screw placement were significantly increased when navigation techniques were used in comparison to conventional techniques.Future research in this area should include RCTs with well-planned methodology to limit bias and report on validated,patient-based outcome measures.     

Metabolic regulation by protein tyrosine phosphatases

Obesity and the metabolic syndrome and their associated morbidities are major public health issues, whose prevalence will continue to increase in the foreseeable future. Aberrant signaling by the receptors for leptin and insulin plays a pivotal role in development of the metabolic syndrome. More complete molecular-level understanding of how both of these key signaling pathways are regulated is essential for full characterization of obesity, the metabolic syndrome, and type lI diabetes, and for developing novel treatments for these diseases. Phosphorylation of proteins on tyrosine residues plays a key role in mediating the effects of leptin and insulin on their target cells. Here, we discuss the molecular methods by which protein tyrosine phosphatases, which are key physiological regulators of protein phosphorylation in vivo, affect signaling by the leptin and insulin receptors in their major target tissues.     

Wild Plants＇ Use Behaviour in Meru,Kenya

Ethnobotanical record derived from the interaction between the Meru people and their wild plants reveals a high degree of dependency on medicinal and non-medicinal uses of these plants. The dependency is punctuated by the availability of various plant species growing in the region which humans have interacted with for generations. Indeed environment favourable for equatorial forests where temperatures favour growth of various species of plants help to make this region a pharmacy in waiting. Five hundred and sixty seven plant specimens collected in three districts of the greater Meru region have been reported to be used to heal a wide range of diseases and also fulfil other non-medicinal needs as they provide food, fuel and materials among others. Data collected through structured interviews from respondents in the region reveal significant factors that play major roles in the lives of the people thus influencing their social and cultural behaviour.     

Cardiac Marker Troponin in Dubai Marathon Runners

Professional marathoners demonstrate abnormal rises in cardiac biomarkers and a spectrum of alterations in a 12-lead ECG （electrocardiogram）. Such alterations are likely the consequence of athletic conditioning and represent another potential component of the athletic heart syndrome. It remains unclear, however, whether the exercise induced change in ECG or the increase in cardiac biomarkers in obviously healthy athletes is of any consequence. Abnormal levels of cardiac biomarkers in marathon runners may inevitably lead to a misdiagnosis. One hundred healthy marathon runners were enrolled in this study during Dubai Marathon, Jan. 2010. ECGs were conducted and blood samples were collected 30 min before and less than 30 minutes after the race. A baseline renal function was obtained on these samples and a level of cTnT （cardiac Troponin T） was measured. 13% （7/52） exhibited ECG abnormalities before and 17% （9/52） after the race. There were no abnormal troponin levels before the race but levels increased by an average of 14.28% after the race. This was not related to changes on the ECG. Only one participant with an abnormal troponin level also had an abnormal pattern on ECG. Diagnostic biochemical tests are prone to changes following exercise. An increase in the cardiac biomarker Troponin T may be transient following marathon run. No correlation between the ECG pattern and a raised Troponin T has been found.     

Sedative, Cognitive Impairment and Anxiolytic Effects of Acute Mitragyna Speciosa in Rodents

Mitragyna speciosa, a plant from Rubiaceae family, was reported to have an opium-like effect and their coca-like stimulative ability to combat fatigue and enhance tolerance to hard work. There are lack of information regarding to the effect of Mitragyna speciosa on cognitive and behavioural performances. Therefore the project was conducted to observe the effect of Mitragyna speciosa on cognitive behavior of rats and mice. Mitragyna speciosa in methanol extract form and aqueous extract form with same dosage distributions were used; 10 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg. Four tests were conducted to observe the behavioural changes of the animal namely locomotor, cognitive performances, anxiety and rotarod performance. Results showed that all dosage of treatment reduced locomotor and impaired cognitive performance significantly. Study showed that Mitragyna speciosa induce sedative effect in dose dependant manner. Interestingly, Mitragyna speciosa increased the time spent in open arm of plus maze indicating low anxiety level of the rodent, As conclusion, Mitragyna speciosa caused sedative effect, impairment in working memory, and possess anxiolytic properties.     

Preliminary studies on the chemical characterization and antioxidant properties of acidic polysaccharides from Sargassum fusiforme

In order to investigate the antioxidant properties of the polysaccharides from the brown alga Sargassumfusiforme, the crude polysaccharides from S.fusiforme （SFPS） were extracted in hot water, and the lipid peroxidation inhibition assay exhibited that SFPS possessed a potential antioxidant activity. Hence, two purely polymeric fractions, SFPS- 1 and SFPS-2 were isolated by the column of DEAE （2-diethylaminoethanol）-Sepharose Fast Flow, with their molecular weights of 51.4 and 30.3 kDa determined by high performance gel permeation chromatography （HPGPC）. They were preliminarily characterized using chemical analysis in combination of infrared （IR） and nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） spectroscopies and found to contain large amounts of uronic acids and 13-glycosidical linkages. The antioxidant activities of these two SFPS fractions were evaluated using superoxide and hydroxyl radical-scavenging assays. The results show that the antioxidant ability of SFPS-2 was higher than that of SFPS-1, probably correlating with the molecular weight and uronic acid content.