Potential of Moringa oleifera root and Citrus sinensis fruit rind extracts in the treatment of ulcerative colitis in mice

Context: The plant Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae), commonly known as the drumstick tree, is an indigenous species in India. This species has been of interest to researchers because traditionally its roots are reported in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Traditionally it is reported that Citrus sinensis Linn (Rutaceae) fruit rind when combined with M. oleifera will increase the efficacy of the plant in the treatment of UC. Objective: The present work was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of M. oleifera root alone and in combination with C. sinensis fruit rind in the treatment of UC. Materials and methods: Ethanol and aqueous extracts of M. oleifera roots (100 and 200?mg/kg, body weight) were screened alone and in equal combination with ethanol extract of C. sinensis fruit rind, i.e., 50?mg/kg each of C. sinensis and M. oleifera for their activity on acetic acid-induced UC in mice. Results: Treatment with combination of extracts of M. oleifera root and C. sinensis fruit rind (50?mg/kg, each) showed less ulceration and hyperemia than individual extract (200?mg/kg) in histopathological observation. Acetic acid increased myeloperoxidase (MPO) level in blood and colon tissue to 342?U/mL and 384?U/mg, respectively. Combination of ethanol extract of M. oleifera root with C. sinensis fruit rind extract significantly (p?相似文献   

Contrasting effects of linaclotide and lubiprostone on restitution of epithelial cell barrier properties and cellular homeostasis after exposure to cell stressors

Background

Linaclotide has been proposed as a treatment for the same gastrointestinal indications for which lubiprostone has been approved, chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. Stressors damage the epithelial cell barrier and cellular homeostasis leading to loss of these functions. Effects of active linaclotide on repair of barrier and cell function in pig jejunum after ischemia and in T84 cells after treatment with proinflammatory cytokines, interferon-?? and tumor necrosis factor-?? were examined. Comparison with effects of lubiprostone, known to promote repair of barrier function was carried out.

Results

In ischemia-damaged pig jejunum, using measurements of transepithelial resistance, ³H-mannitol fluxes, short-circuit current (Cl^? secretion) and occludin localization, active linaclotide failed to effectively promote repair of the epithelial barrier or recovery of short-circuit current, whereas lubiprostone promoted barrier repair and increased short-circuit current. In control pig jejunum, 1???M linaclotide and 1???M lubiprostone both caused similar increases in short-circuit current (Cl^? secretion). In T84 cells, using measurements of transepithelial resistance, fluxes of fluorescent macromolecules, occludin and mitochondrial membrane potential, active linaclotide was virtually ineffective against damage caused by interferon-?? and tumor necrosis factor-??, while lubiprostone protected or promoted repair of epithelial barrier and cell function. Barrier protection/repair by lubiprostone was inhibited by methadone, a ClC-2 inhibitor. Linaclotide, but not lubiprostone increased [cGMP]_i as expected and [Ca²⁺]_i and linaclotide depolarized while lubiprostone hyperpolarized the T84 plasma membrane potential suggesting that lubiprostone may lead to greater cellular stability compared to linaclotide. In T84 cells, as found with linaclotide but not with lubiprostone, transepithelial resistance was slightly but significantly decreased by guanylin, STa and 8-bromo cGMP and fluorescent dextran fluxes were increased by guanylin. However the physiological implications of these small but statistically significant changes remain unclear.

Conclusions

Considering the physiological importance of epithelial barrier function and cell integrity and the known impact of stressors, the finding that lubiprostone, but not active linaclotide, exhibits the additional distinct property of effective protection or repair of the epithelial barrier and cell function after stress suggests potential clinical importance for patients with impaired or compromised barrier function such as might occur in IBS.     

Fulminating septicemia due to persistent pan-resistant community-acquired metallo-β-lactamase (IMP-1)-positive Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii is considered as an emerging nosocomial pathogen and is renowned for its multi-drug resistance. We report a case of community-acquired pan-resistant A. baumannii caused fulminating septicemia. The treatment failure led to death. The A. baumannii strain isolated from blood, pus, urine and tracheal aspirate was confirmed by 16S r-RNA sequence homology and found positive for metallo-β-lactamase IMP-1, and was found to be a strong biofilm producer. The isolate was only susceptible (moderately) to colistin.     

Cardiac amyloidosis: a practical approach to diagnosis and management

Cardiac amyloidosis, the primary determinant of prognosis in systemic amyloidoses, is characterized by infiltration of myocardium by amyloid protein resulting in cardiomyopathy and conduction disturbances. Cardiac involvement is primarily encountered in immunoglobulin (AL) and transthyretin-associated (hereditary/familial and senile) amyloidoses. Although the latter variants could be indolent, untreated AL amyloidosis with clinical cardiac involvement is a rapidly fatal disease. The management decisions of cardiac amyloidosis are based on the underlying cause. Although treatment of senile systemic amyloidosis is largely supportive, the therapeutic approaches for AL amyloidosis include chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplantation, and, rarely, cardiac transplantation. The familial variant is potentially curable with a liver ± cardiac transplantation. This narrative review outlines a practical approach to these challenging diagnoses in the face of rapidly evolving management strategies.     

Photoinduced electron transfer from semiconductor quantum dots to metal oxide nanoparticles

Quantum dot-metal oxide junctions are an integral part of next-generation solar cells, light emitting diodes, and nanostructured electronic arrays. Here we present a comprehensive examination of electron transfer at these junctions, using a series of CdSe quantum dot donors (sizes 2.8, 3.3, 4.0, and 4.2 nm in diameter) and metal oxide nanoparticle acceptors (SnO(2), TiO(2), and ZnO). Apparent electron transfer rate constants showed strong dependence on change in system free energy, exhibiting a sharp rise at small driving forces followed by a modest rise further away from the characteristic reorganization energy. The observed trend mimics the predicted behavior of electron transfer from a single quantum state to a continuum of electron accepting states, such as those present in the conduction band of a metal oxide nanoparticle. In contrast with dye-sensitized metal oxide electron transfer studies, our systems did not exhibit unthermalized hot-electron injection due to relatively large ratios of electron cooling rate to electron transfer rate. To investigate the implications of these findings in photovoltaic cells, quantum dot-metal oxide working electrodes were constructed in an identical fashion to the films used for the electron transfer portion of the study. Interestingly, the films which exhibited the fastest electron transfer rates (SnO(2)) were not the same as those which showed the highest photocurrent (TiO(2)). These findings suggest that, in addition to electron transfer at the quantum dot-metal oxide interface, other electron transfer reactions play key roles in the determination of overall device efficiency.