Cerebellar Scholars’ Challenging Time in COVID-19 Pandemia

Novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV2, has caused pandemic of highly contagious disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with epicenters in China, Italy,     

Inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes associated with type 2 diabetes and antioxidative properties of some edible seeds in vitro

This study sought to evaluate the antioxidant properties and effects of some edible wild seeds [Afzelia africana Sm. (AFZ), Cyperus esculentus L. (CYP), Eleusine coracana Gaertn. (ELE), Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill. (IRV), Monodora myristica Dunal. (MON) and Parinari curatellifolia Planch. ex Benth. (PAR)] on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. The phenolic content and antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts of the seeds as typified by 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl (OH) radicals scavenging abilities and inhibition of Fe²⁺-induced malondialdehyde (MDA) production in rat’s pancreas in vitro were also assessed. ELE had significantly (p < 0.05) higher total phenol content than the other seeds; however, AFZ had the highest flavonoid content. The extracts scavenged DPPH· and OH· in a dose-dependent manner with aqueous extracts of PAR having the highest DPPH· scavenging ability, while extracts from IRV had the highest OH· scavenging ability and inhibition of Fe²⁺-induced MDA production in rat’s pancreas. Furthermore, all the extracts inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities in a dose-dependent manner. The α-amylase inhibitory effect of MON (IC₅₀ = 0.48 mg/mL) was comparable to that of acarbose (IC₅₀ = 0.40 mg/mL), while the α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of AFZ (IC₅₀ = 0.45 mg/mL) was comparable to that of acarbose (IC₅₀ = 0.39 mg/mL). The results suggest the potential use of the seeds in the dietary management of blood glucose levels associated with type 2 diabetes.

     

Pharmacy in transition: A work sampling study of community pharmacists using smartphone technology

Introduction

The nature of community pharmacy is changing, shifting from the preparation and distribution of medicines to the provision of cognitive pharmaceutical services (CPS); however, often the provision of traditional services leaves little time for innovative services. This study investigated the time community pharmacists spend on the tasks and activities of daily practice and to what extent they are able to implement CPS-related services in daily practice.

Knowledge of the Brain Death Concept in Dominican Immigration Residents in Spain and Florida

The Latin American population has a double way of immigration, one toward the United States by proximity and another toward Spain by sociocultural affinity. This population increase is affecting organ donation and transplantation in receiving countries.