Immunomodulatory Effects of Dietary Polyphenols

Functional and nutraceutical foods provide an alternative way to improve immune function to aid in the management of various diseases. Traditionally, many medicinal products have been derived from natural compounds with healing properties. With the development of research into nutraceuticals, it is becoming apparent that many of the beneficial properties of these compounds are at least partly due to the presence of polyphenols. There is evidence that dietary polyphenols can influence dendritic cells, have an immunomodulatory effect on macrophages, increase proliferation of B cells, T cells and suppress Type 1 T helper (Th1), Th2, Th17 and Th9 cells. Polyphenols reduce inflammation by suppressing the pro-inflammatory cytokines in inflammatory bowel disease by inducing Treg cells in the intestine, inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and induction of apoptosis, decreasing DNA damage. Polyphenols have a potential role in prevention/treatment of auto-immune diseases like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis by regulating signaling pathways, suppressing inflammation and limiting demyelination. In addition, polyphenols cause immunomodulatory effects against allergic reaction and autoimmune disease by inhibition of autoimmune T cell proliferation and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1, interferon-γ (IFN-γ)). Herein, we summarize the immunomodulatory effects of polyphenols and the underlying mechanisms involved in the stimulation of immune responses.     

The effect of cardiovascular morbidity on clinical response provided by tadalafil in patients with erectile dysfunction

We aimed to investigate the association between erectile dysfunction and severity of cardiovascular morbidity and to assess clinical responses to tadalafil of patients in different cardiovascular risk groups. Between November 2019 and August 2020, a total of 258 male patients aged 45–70 years with ED were included. They were divided into three groups according to the Framingham risk score: low-risk (n: 86, 33.3%), intermediate-risk (n: 103, 39.9%) and high-risk (n: 69, 26.8%). At admission, all domains of the International Index of Erectile Function score were worse in high-risk group compared to other risk groups (p < .001). After a 12-week follow-up, a more significant improvement was observed in all domains of erectile function in all risk groups, but high-risk group had lower sexual scores (p < .001). The lowest rate for complete responsiveness to tadalafil was observed in the high-risk group (37.7%). The rate of failure in complete responsiveness was found to be 4.127 times greater with higher Framingham score and 3.102 times greater with higher erectile dysfunction severity at admission. Our preliminary findings show that more severe sexual disorders are observed in high-risk patients with cardiovascular morbidity. Individualised treatment may be important in high-risk group since they may benefit less from tadalafil, and failure in complete responsiveness can be more common in this group.     

Microsurgical versus endoscopic trans-sphenoidal approaches for clivus chordoma: a pooled and meta-analysis

Neurosurgical Review - Chordoma is a rare slow-growing neoplastic bone lesion. However, they show an invasive local growth and high recurrence rate, leading to an overall survival rate of 65% at 5...     

Synthesis of sulphonic acids and sultam derivatives

Reaction of propane-1,3-sultone with amines gave N-substituted aminosulphonic acids2a?i. Dehydration of2a?c with POCl₃ gave the corresponding sultams3a?c. Propane-1,3-sultone1 reacted with tertury amines to give the betaiene salts4–11. 2,4-Dimethyl-1,3-butadiene-1,4-sultone12 condensed with amines to give N-substituted-2,4-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene-1,4-sultams13a and13b. The reaction of3a, 13a with hydrazine hydrate gave acid hydrazides3d or13c. Compounds3d, 13c reacted with isocyanates to yield urea derivatives14a?c, 15a?c.     

Anthropometric measurements and body composition of selected national athletes

This study was conducted to determine the anthropometric measurements and body composition of selected national athletes. A total of 84 male athletes from 10 different types of sports and 24 female athletes from 5 types of sports were studied. The height and body weight of subjects were measured using the SEGA weighing balance with height attachment. Skinfold thickness measurements were taken using the Harpenden Calipers at 4 sites (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac). Percentage of body fat was calculated from the sum of 4 measurements of skinfold thickness. Based on body mass index (BMI), most of the male (68 subjects or 81%) and female (19 subjects or 79%) athletes were classified as normal. The percentage average body fat for both male and female athletes were 13.8 ± 4.5% and 24.7 ± 5.3%, respectively. The male and female athletes also had lower percentage of body fat when compared to non-athletes, however these athletes had slightly higher percentage of body fat when compared to those in selected countries.     

Effect of isolation rearing on 5-HT agonist-induced responses in the rat

Rats were reared from weaning (21 days of age) either in isolation or in social groups of five for 30 days and were then tested for spontaneous locomotor activity and 7 days later for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) agonist-induced behaviour. Isolation-reared animals displayed locomotor hyperactivity when placed in a novel environment. 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) (2 mg/kg IP) and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propyl-amino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) (0.32 mg/kg SC) elicited various components of the 5-HT behavioural syndrome in both groups of animals, with forepaw treading and flat body posture being significantly more pronounced in isolation-reared animals. 1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) (2.5 mg/kg IP), a 5-HT₂ selective agonist, produced a significantly greater number of back muscle contractions in isolation-reared animals but there was no difference between the two groups in the number of wet-dog shakes produced. Forepaw treading and flat body posture are thought to be mediated by 5-HT_1A receptor activation, and stimulation of this receptor by either 5-MeODMT or 8-OH-DPAT produced greater responding in isolation-reared rats, suggesting supersensitivity of the post-synaptic 5-HT_1A receptor. Wet-dog shakes are thought to be mediated by 5-HT₂ and other (none-5-HT) receptors while back muscle contractions have been shown to be mediated by 5-HT₂ receptors, indicating that there is also an increase in 5-HT₂ receptor responsiveness in the socially-isolated animals. In general, the results indicate post-synaptic 5-HT receptor supersensitivity in isolation-reared rats and these receptor changes may be involved in the behavioural profile observed in such rats.     

TREATMENT OF PALMOPLANTER HYPERHIDROSIS BY IONTOPHORESIS

Twenty-seven patients with idiopathic palmoplanter hyperhidrosis were treated with Iontotherapy over a one year period. In twenty-four cases there was a good response but maintenance therapy was required every 3-4 weeks.KEY WORDS: Iontophoresis, Palmoplanter hyperhidrosis     

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Malaysia

Despite advancements in endoscopy and pharmacology in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease the overall mortality has remained constant at 10% for the past four decades. The aim of this study was to determine the age, gender, racial distribution, incidence and causes of endoscopically diagnosed cases of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding to summarise treatments undertaken and to report their outcome. A prospective study of UGI bleeding in 128 patients was performed in two surgical wards of Kuala Lumpur Hospital, involving both elective and emergency admissions. The study group comprised of 113 (88.2%) males and 15 (11.7%) females. The mean age was 51.9 years (range 14 to 85 years) and 37.5% (48 of 128 patients) were older than 60 years. The Indian race was over-represented in all disease categories. Smoking (50.1%), alcohol consumption (37.5%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (17.2%), traditional remedies (5.5%), anti-coagulants (2.3%) and steroids (0.8%) were among the risk factors reported. Common presenting symptoms and signs included malaena (68.8%), haematemesis (59.4%) and fresh per rectal bleeding (33.6%). The commonest causes of UGI bleeding were duodenal ulcer (32%), gastric ulcer (29.7%), erosions (duodenal and gastric) (21.9%), oesophageal varices (10.9%) and malignancy (3.9%). UGI bleeding was treated non-surgically in 90.6% of cases. Blood transfusions were required in 62.6% (67/107) of peptic ulcer disease patients. Surgical intervention for bleeding peptic ulcer occurred in around 10% of cases and involved under-running of the bleeding vessel in most high risk duodenal and gastric ulcer patients. The overall mortality from bleeding peptic ulcer disease was 4.7%. Six patients died from torrential UGI haemorrhage soon after presentation, without the establishment of a cause. Active resuscitative protocols, early endoscopy, more aggressive interventional therapy, early surgery by more senior surgeons, increasing intensive care unit beds and more active participation of multidisciplinary teams in co-ordinating management are among remedial measures advocated. Broader educational preventive strategies should target the causes of UGI bleeding.