Cardioprotective Role of Syzygium cumini Against Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress in H9C2 Cardiac Myocytes

Diabetic patients are known to have an independent risk of cardiomyopathy. Hyperglycemia leads to upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that may contribute to diabetic cardiomyopathy. Thus, agents that suppress glucose-induced intracellular ROS levels can have therapeutic potential against diabetic cardiomyopathy. Syzygium cumini is well known for its anti-diabetic potential, but its cardioprotective properties have not been evaluated yet. The aim of the present study is to analyze cardioprotective properties of methanolic seed extract (MSE) of S. cumini in diabetic in vitro conditions. ROS scavenging activity of MSE was studied in glucose-stressed H9C2 cardiac myoblasts after optimizing the safe dose of glucose and MSE by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide. 2′,7′-dichlorfluorescein diacetate staining and Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis confirmed the suppression of ROS production by MSE in glucose-induced cells. The intracellular NO and H₂O₂ radical–scavenging activity of MSE was found to be significantly high in glucose-induced cells. Exposure of glucose-stressed H9C2 cells to MSE showed decline in the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymes and collagen content. 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, propidium iodide and 10-N-nonyl-3,6-bis (dimethylamino) acridine staining revealed that MSE protects myocardial cells from glucose-induced stress. Taken together, our findings revealed that the well-known anti-diabetic S. cumini can also protect the cardiac cells from glucose-induced stress.     

The Impact of a Culinary Coaching Telemedicine Program on Home Cooking and Emotional Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic enforced social restrictions with abrupt impacts on mental health and changes to health behaviors. From a randomized clinical trial, we assessed the impact of culinary education on home cooking practices, coping strategies and resiliency during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (March/April 2020). Participants (n = 28) were aged 25–70 years with a BMI of 27.5–35 kg/m². The intervention consisted of 12 weekly 30-min one-on-one telemedicine culinary coaching sessions. Coping strategies were assessed through the Brief Coping with Problems Experienced Inventory, and resiliency using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Home cooking practices were assessed through qualitative analysis. The average use of self-care as a coping strategy by the intervention group was 6.14 (1.66), compared to the control with 4.64 (1.69); p = 0.03. While more intervention participants had high (n = 5) and medium (n = 8) resiliency compared to controls (n = 4, n = 6, respectively), this difference was not significant (p = 0.33). Intervention participants reported using home cooking skills such as meal planning and time saving techniques during the pandemic. The key findings were that culinary coaching via telemedicine may be an effective intervention for teaching home cooking skills and promoting the use of self-care as a coping strategy during times of stress, including the COVID-19 pandemic.     

MiR-145 functions as a tumor-suppressive RNA by targeting Sox9 and adducin 3 in human glioma cells

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly being recognized as being involved in cancer development and progression in gliomas.

Methods

Using a model cell system developed in our lab to study glioma progression comprising human neuroglial culture (HNGC)–1 and HNGC-2 cells, we report here that miR-145 is one of the miRNAs significantly downregulated during malignant transformation in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In a study using tumor samples derived from various glioma grades, we show that expression of miR-145 is decreased in a graded manner, with GBM patients showing lowest expression relative to lower-grade gliomas (P < .05) and normal brain tissues (P < .0001). Functional studies involving ectopic expression of miR-145 in glioma cells had a negative impact on cell proliferation and tumor development, as well as invasion and induced apoptosis, providing further support to the concept that inactivation of miR-145 is important for glioma disease pathogenesis. More notably, these growth-suppressive effects of miR-145 are mediated through its target proteins Sox9 and the cell adhesion-associated molecule adducin 3 (ADD3).

Results

Inhibiting Sox9 and ADD3 rescued effects of miR-145 loss. Interestingly, miR-145 loss in glioma cells led to overexpression of molecules involved in cell proliferation, like cyclin D1, c-myc, and N-myc, as well as enhanced expression of cell adhesion- and invasion-related molecules N-cadherin and E-cadherin, an effect which was again restored upon miR-145 overexpression in glioma cells. The miR-145 promoter was methylated at its cytosine–phosphate–guanine (CpG) islands in the glioma cell lines studied.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that miR-145 has a tumor-suppressive function in glioblastoma in that it reduces proliferation, adhesion, and invasion of glioblastoma cells, apparently by suppressing the activity of oncogenic proteins Sox9 and ADD3. Reduced levels of miR-145 may lead to neoplastic transformation and malignant progression in glioma due to unregulated activity of these proteins.     

Comparison of administration of single dose ceftriaxone for elective caesarean section before skin incision and after cord clamping in preventing post-operative infectious morbidity

Purpose

To compare the efficacy of ceftriaxone before skin incision and after cord clamping in preventing post-operative infectious morbidity and neonatal outcome in elective caesarean section and to determine the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis before skin incision on neonatal outcome.

Methods

Our study was a randomised controlled trial conducted among 874 women undergoing elective caesarean section from October 2010 to July 2012. These women were randomly categorised into two groups with 437 women in each group. Group 1 received single dose of ceftriaxone 1 g intravenously 15–45 min before skin incision. Group 2 received the antibiotic after cord clamping. Primary outcome measures were maternal post-operative infectious morbidities like surgical site wound infection, febrile morbidity, endometritis, urinary tract infections and neonatal sepsis. Results were analysed using Chi-square test and unpaired t test.

Results

Surgical site wound infection occurred in 3 women in group 1 (0.7 %) and 6 women in group 2 (1.4 %). Fever occurred in 9 women in group 1 (2.1 %) and 5 in group 2 (1.1 %) with the p value of 0.419, not statistically significant. Urinary tract infection occurred in 9 women in group 1 (2.1 %) and 7 women in group 2 (1.6 %) with the p value of 0.801. None of the women in either group developed endometritis. About 20 neonates [10 neonates (2.3 %) in group 1 and 10 neonates (2.3 %) in group 2] required NICU admission after caesarean delivery. The reasons for admission were respiratory distress, prematurity and congenital anomaly. About 0.9 % of neonates in group 1 and 1.8 % in group 2 developed neonatal sepsis with positive blood culture (p = 0.388).

Conclusion

Timing of administration of prophylactic antibiotics for elective caesarean section either before skin incision or after cord clamping did not have significant difference in the occurrence of post-operative infectious morbidity. No adverse neonatal outcome was observed in women who received the antibiotic before skin incision.     

Efficacy, User Acceptability, Tolerability, and Cycle Control of a Combined Contraceptive Vaginal Ring: The Indian Perspective

Objective

To assess the contraceptive efficacy, user acceptability, cycle control, and tolerability of a combined contraceptive vaginal ring for up to 13 cycles.

Materials and Methods

Healthy women coming to the OPD for contraceptive advice were enrolled in this one-year study. Each ring was used for three weeks followed by a one-week ring-free period.

Results

A total of 184 women started treatment forming the intent to treat population. Subjects were followed for 13 cycles. Compliance was good with 99 % of cycles in full compliance with specified criteria. In the intent to treat population, no pregnancies occurred giving a Pearl Index of 0. The mean incidence of withdrawal bleeding was 99 % in all cycles. There was 0.16 % incidence of intermenstrual bleeding and 2 % incidence of early withdrawal bleeding. The ring was well tolerated with a low incidence of adverse events.

Conclusion

The ring is an effective contraceptive that is convenient, well tolerated with excellent cycle control, and highly acceptable to users.     

Elucidation of thrifty features in adult rats exposed to protein restriction during gestation and lactation

Since the introduction of the thrifty phenotype hypothesis, the potential traits of thrift have been described in increasingly broad terms but biochemical and behavioral evidence of thrift has not been well demonstrated. The objective of our studies was to use a rodent model to identify features of thrift programmed by early life protein restriction. Robust programming of thrifty features requires a thrifty nutritional environment during the entire window of developmental plasticity. Therefore, pregnant rats were exposed to a low protein diet throughout the window of developmental plasticity spanning the period of gestation and lactation and its effects on energy acquisition, storage and expenditure in the adult offspring were examined. Maternal protein restriction reduced birth weight and produced long term reductions in body and organ weights in the offspring. Low protein offspring demonstrated an increased drive to seek food as evidenced by hyperphagia that was mediated by changes in plasma leptin and ghrelin levels. Hyperphagia was accompanied by increased efficiency in converting caloric intake into body mass. The higher feed efficiency was mediated by greater insulin sensitivity. Energy expenditure of low protein offspring in locomotion was not affected either in the light or dark phase. However, low protein offspring exhibited higher resting and basal metabolic rates as evidenced by higher core body temperature in the fed and fasted states. The increased thermogenesis was not mediated by thyroid hormones but by an increased sympathetic nervous system drive as reflected by a lower areal bone mineral density and bone mineral content and lower plasma adiponectin and triglyceride levels. Elevated thermogenesis in the low protein offspring possibly offsets the effects of hyperphagia, minimizes their chances of weight gain, and improves survivability. This constellation of metabolic features in the low protein offspring will maximize survival potential in a post natal environment of nutritional scarcity and constitute a thrifty phenotype.