Hypolipidemic activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of Cyperus scariosus Linn. root in guinea pigs fed with a high cholesterol diet

Lipid-lowering and antioxidant activities of a hydroalcoholic extract of Cyperus scariosus Linn. root（HCS） were evaluated in guinea pigs fed with a high cholesterol diet. Serum lipid profile（total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and HDL-C）, atherogenic indices and serum enzymes（ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, and CK-MB） were performed in each group at 0 days and at the end of 60 days. Histological study of liver and kidney was done in groups 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7. The total phenolic and flavonoid content in HCS and its antioxidant activity were evaluated by the DPPH assay. Both doses of HCS decreased serum lipid profile and atherogenic indices（P 〈 0.05）. HCS has lipid lowering, immunosuppressive and antioxidant properties, and mays have value in atherosclerosis prevention. The higher dose of HCS also reduced serum AST, ALP, and LDH levels and rosuvastatin increased AST and ALP levels（P 〈 0.05）. Histology of the liver showed decreased lipid accumulation and improvement in hepatocytes in HCStreated animals. The antioxidant activity of HCS may be responsible for its lipid lowering and cytoprotective action. HCS had significant lipid lowering and antioxidant activity, which; may be due to the phenolic compounds. HCS may be a safe and cost effective alternative to current statin therapy for patients with dyslipidaemia.     

Profile of women substance users seeking treatment at tertiary care treatment center in India: A retrospective chart review study

Introduction: Among substance users, women represent a small, unique subpopulation. Studying their socio-demographic and substance-use profile helps us understand their concerns and formulate management strategies. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective chart review, all the available records of outpatient treatment seekers at National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ghaziabad, from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015 were screened. Data from the women substance users were entered into a specially designed MS Excel format and analyzed. Results: In these 5 years, 217 women (mean age 36.75 ± 11.84 years) sought treatment. Majority were married (75.6%), housewife (53.5%), educated (59.4%), from an urban background (70.0%). Most common primary substance used was opioid (61.3%), including heroin (30.0%) and pentazocine (16.1%). About 20.3% reported injectable opioid use. The mean duration of opioid use was 5.44 ± 4.68 years. History of prior treatment seeking was reported by 4.6% and no prior significant abstinence attempts by 77.4%. Discussion and Conclusion: Majority of female treatment seekers, are young, married urban women and seek treatment for opioid use, particularly heroin (as opposed to pentazocine, suggested by previous studies). Prior treatment seeking and abstinence rates are low. Data indicates the need of specialized services for this population.     

Status of serum magnesium in type 2 diabetes mellitus with particular reference to serum triacylglycerol levels

Magnesium (Mg) is the fourth most abundant cation in the body and the second most common intracellular cation. The association between hypomagnesemia and insulin resistance (IR) in diabetes mellitus has been documented earlier. However, we wanted to study whether the extracellular status of magnesium (Mg) could be a biochemical mediator between hypertriacylglycerolemia and diabetes mellitus.AimsTo find out the probable association among HbA1c, triacylglycerol (TG) and magnesium levels – a predictor of vascular complications in T₂DM.Materials and methodsThirty patients who had attended the diabetic clinics during the period of this study were included. All the samples were analysed for glucose, TG, Mg, and HbA1c. For statistical analysis, SPSS 17 package was used.ResultsSerum TG (236.67*, 195.06) and HbA1C (9.97*, 8.57) levels were independently compared between the two groups and were significantly high in group A subjects (Mg < 1.2 mg/dl) as compared to group B subjects (Mg > 1.2 mg/dl) (*p-value < 0.05), respectively.Discussion and conclusionHypertriacylglycerolemia was pronounced in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with accompanying hypomagnesemia. This compared well with that of the glycemic control. Low Mg levels, high TG levels in association with enhanced HbA1c levels could thus serve as a reliable biochemical indicator of insulin status and action without resorting to the usage of criteria for insulin sensitivity and resistance.     

Somatostatin inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion via two receptors subtypes: an in vitro study of pancreatic islets from somatostatin receptor 2 knockout mice

Somatostatin (SST) potently inhibits insulin and glucagon release from pancreatic islets. Five distinct membrane receptors (SSTR1-5) for SST are known, and at least two (SSTR2 and SSTR5) have been proposed to regulate pancreatic endocrine function. Our current understanding of SST physiology is limited by the receptor subtype selectivity of peptidyl SST analogs, making it difficult to assign a physiological function to an identified SST receptor subtype. To better understand the physiology of SSTRs we studied the in vitro effects of potent subtype-selective nonpeptidyl SST analogs on the regulation of pancreatic glucagon and insulin secretion in wild-type (WT) and in somatostatin receptor 2 knockout (SSTR2KO) mice. There was no difference in basal glucagon and insulin secretion between islets isolated from SSTR2KO and WT mice; however, potassium/arginine-stimulated glucagon secretion was approximately 2-fold higher in islets isolated from SSTR2KO mice. Neither SST nor any SSTR-selective agonist inhibited basal glucagon or insulin release. SST-14 potently inhibited stimulated glucagon secretion in islets from WT mice and much less effectively in islets from SSTR2KO mice. The SSTR2 selective analog L-779,976 inhibited glucagon secretion in islets from WT, but was inactive in islets from SSTR2KO mice. L-817,818, an SSTR5 selective analog, slightly reduced glucagon release in both animal groups, whereas SSTR1, -3, and -4 selective analogs were inactive. SST and L-817,818 inhibited glucose stimulated insulin release in islets from WT and SSTR2KO mice. L-779,976 much less potently reduced insulin secretion from WT islets. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that SST inhibition of glucagon release in mouse islets is primarily mediated via SSTR2, whereas insulin secretion is regulated primarily via SSTR5.