Marker Based In-vitro Antioxidant Potential,Microscopy and Validated High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic Method for Saffron

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - In vitro antioxidant potential of methanolic extract of saffron and crocetin was assessed along with...     

Lack of immunological or molecular evidence for a role of mouse mammary tumor retrovirus in primary biliary cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Recent observations, including a pilot clinical trial, have suggested that a human mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) causes primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). We attempted to confirm such data. METHODS: We obtained sera from 101 patients (53 with PBC and 48 controls), fixed liver sections from 10 patients (8 PBC and 2 controls), fresh liver specimens (6 PBC and 6 controls), and fresh peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) (10 PBC and 10 controls). We studied sera for reactivities against 3 different strains of MMTV virions, MMTV(C3H), MMTV(FM), and MMTV(LA), including goat polyclonal antibodies against MMTV virions, gp52, and p27 as positive controls. We stained liver specimens using polyclonal antibodies against MMTV and gp52 and further examined tissue samples and PBLs for specific MMTV genome sequences. RESULTS: By Western blot analysis, no detectable reactivity in any of the PBC sera against any of the 3 MMTV strains or MMTV gp52 or p27 was observed. However, viral proteins were recognized by our control positive polyclonal antibodies. We note that 13%-60% of PBC sera presented low reactivity against 2 proteins of approximately 57 and 74 kilodaltons. Such reactivity is related to the trace amounts of mitochondrial antigens in the virus preparations derived from murine mammary tumor tissue. No detectable immunohistochemical or molecular evidence for MMTV was found in the liver specimens or PBLs. CONCLUSIONS: We were unable to recapitulate the data on this specific retroviral etiology of PBC and suggest that such data could be the result of contamination.     

Serum measures of iron status and HFE gene mutations in patients with hepatitis B virus infection

Aim: We tested associations between HFE mutations and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We also explored measures of total body iron status and their association with chronic HBV infection. Methods: Serum measures of iron status and HFE mutations (C282Y, H63D, and S65C) were assessed in 344 Iranian patients with chronic HBV infection (214 asymptomatic carriers, 130 patients with chronic progressive liver disease [CPLD]) and 302 controls. Results: Frequencies of HFE mutations did not differ between patients with chronic HBV infection and controls (C282Y: P=0.9, H63D: P= 0.8, S65C: P=0.9). By logistic regression, advanced hepatic fibrosis was associated with HFE H63D mutation (OR=13.1, P=0.006; 95% CI=2.0-84.1). Higher levels of serum ferritin and transferrin saturation were observed in patients with CPLD than in healthy controls (P=0.0001 and 0.01, respectively, adjusted for age and sex). None of the serum iron measures was related to liver fibrosis stage or necroinflammatory grade. Conclusion: Serum iron measures are associated with chronic progressive hepatitis B. Carriage of HFE mutations is not associated with the presence of chronic HBV infection or values of serum iron measures in this population, although HFE H63D is associated with more advanced hepatic fibrosis.     

A case of CLL that was successfully treated resulted in the immediate development of AML from a coexistent myeloid line that had been suppressed

An 83 year‐old Caucasian male presented to the emergency room with confusion and lethargy. A complete blood count revealed lymphocytosis, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. A bone marrow examination revealed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), along with a small population of abnormal immature myeloid cells. Chemotherapy for CLL was started. After one cycle, repeat bone marrow examination revealed normalization of the lymphocyte count and a proliferation of the previously noted myeloid population, consistent with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This report presents the microscopic, immunophenotypic, and cytogenetic evidence to document the development of AML after one cycle of chemotherapy for CLL.     

Emblica officinalis improves glycemic status and oxidative stress in STZ induced type 2 diabetic model rats

Objective:To evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Emblica officinalis(E.officinalis)fruit on normal and type 2 diabetic rats.Methods:Type 2 diabetes was induced into the male Long-Evans rats.The rats were divided into nine groups including control groups receiving water,type 2 diabetic controls,type 2 diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide(T2GT)and type 2diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract of fruit pulp of E.officinalis.They were fed orally for8 weeks with a single feeding.Blood was collected by cutting the tail tip on 0 and 28 days and by decapitation on 56 day.Packed red blood cells and serum were used for evaluating different biochemical parameters.Results:Four weeks administration of aqueous extract of E.officinalis improved oral glucose tolerance in type 2 rats and after 8 weeks it caused significant(P0.007)reduction in fasting serum glucose level compared to 0 day.Triglycerides decreased by 14%but there was no significant change in serum ALT,creatinine,cholesterol and insulin level in any group.Furthermore,reduced erythrocyte malondialdehyde level showed no significant change(P0.07)but reduced glutathione content was found to be increased significantly(P0.05).Conclusions:The aqueous extract of E.officinalis has a promising antidiabetic and antioxidant properties and may be considered for further clinical studies in drug development.     

Enhanced dissolution of valsartan-vanillin binary co-amorphous system loaded in mesoporous silica particles

The study was aimed to prepare a co-amorphous system of valsartan (VAL) with vanillin (VAN) for improving its solubility and dissolution followed by its confinement in mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) to stabilise the co-amorphous system and prevent its recrystallization. Amorphous VAL and VAN were obtained through quench-cooling and VAL/VAN binary co-amorphous system (VAL/VAN-CAS) was prepared through solvent evaporation technique. The particle size and morphology of VAL/VAN-CAS-MSPs were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and solid-state characterisation was performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The in vitro dissolution was investigated by dialysis bag diffusion method. SEM analysis revealed irregular shaped VAL/VAN-CAS-MSPs with a size range of 5–25?μm, while outcomes of DSC and XRPD confirmed the formation of VAL/VAN-CAS. The in vitro dissolution profiles demonstrated a significantly increased dissolution in first 60?minutes from VAL/VAN-CAS (～68%) and VAL/VAN-CAS-MSPs (～76%) compared to powder VAL (～25%).