Effects of Portulaca oleracea L. seeds in treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus patients as adjunctive and alternative therapy

Ethnpharmacological relevance: To investigate antidiabetic activity of purslane seeds on type-2 diabetic subjects and to provide scientific basis for the clinical use of Portulaca oleracea (PO).

Materials and methods

A thirty subject with type-2 diabetes divided into two groups, to receive 5 g of PO seeds twice daily while in the second group, their participants receive 1500 mg of metformin/day. All participants were requested to report the effects of treatments on diabetic manifestations, their weights, body mass index (BMI), adverse effects, fasting and post-prandial blood glucose during treatment schedule. Blood samples from participants before and after treatment were taken for serum separation, which are used for measurement of serum lipids, liver enzymes, total and direct bilirubin, albumin, and insulin.

Results

It showed a significant decrease in serum levels of triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (T_C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL_C), liver alanine-, aspartate- and gamma glutamyl transaminase (ALT, AST, and GGT), total and direct bilirubin, fasting and post-prandial blood glucose, insulin, body weight and BMI while a significant increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL_C) and albumin but non-significant change of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in PO seeds treated subjects. Metformin (M) group has the same results of PO group except in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL_C), LDL_C, and ALP levels had a different pattern.

Conclusions

PO seeds could be effective and safe as adjuvant therapy for Type-2 diabetic subjects. These results demonstrated that PO seeds possessed notable hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic and insulin resistance reducer effects; possibly due to its contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides.     

纤维粘连蛋白基因多态性与尘肺易感性的研究

目的 探讨纤维粘连蛋白(FN)4个基因位点多态性与尘肺发病的关系.方法 以确诊的128例汉族男性Ⅰ期尘肺患者作为病例组,选择与病例组年龄相差不超过5岁、同性别、同民族、开始接尘时间及累积接尘工龄相差不超过2年、在同一车间或同一采掘工作面工作的非尘肺接尘工人为对照.采Ⅲ聚合酶链反应-限制性片断长度多态件分析(PCR-RLFP)的方法 检测FN基因HaeⅢb、Msp Ⅰ、HindⅢ、Taq Ⅰ b位点的基因型.结果 病例组携带Msp Ⅰ野牛基因型(CC)频率和等位基C的分布频率分别为10.9%和41.8%,明显高于对照组(分别为3.9%和31.2%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).病例组携带HaeⅢb野生基因型(AA)的频率为24.2%,明显高于对照组(17.9%),差异行统计学意义(P<0.05);病例组HaeⅢbA等位基因频率为51.9%,明显高于对照组(42.2%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).病例组和对照组Taq Ⅰb位点基因型和Hind Ⅲ位点基因型的分布频率比较,筹异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).病例组同时携带Msp Ⅰ cc和HaeⅢbAA基因型的频率明显高于对照组,差异行统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 携带FN Msp Ⅰ cc和Hae Ⅲ b AA基冈型的接尘工人患尘肺的危险性增加,同时携带这2种基因型的接尘工人更易患尘肺.未发现FN Taq Ⅰ b和HindⅢ位点基因多态性与尘肺易感性有关.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of dipstick haematuria and proteinuria in screening Schistosoma haematobium infection among school children in upper Egypt

This study aimed at evaluation of validity and reliability of dipstick haematuria and proteinuria in screening school children for Schistosoma haematobium infection. It included a random sample of 400 school children aged 6-15 years in rural area of Fayoum Governorate, upper Egypt. Urine samples of the studied children were tested parasitologically by urine filtration technique as a reference test and semiquantitatively for haematuria and proteinuria using urine reagent strips as screening tests. Results of the study revealed that haematuria was a better indicator for Schistosoma haematobium infection than proteinuria, as it was more sensitive (85.5% 73.4%, respectively), specific (94.4% 82.9%, respectively) and reliable (kappa=92% 80%, respectively). Moreover, it had stronger relationship with intensity of infection (r=0.88 & 0.67, respectively). A combination of different grades of haematuria and proteinuria did not significantly increase either sensitivity or specificity. Dipstick haematuria could be a valuable technique in screening rural Egyptian school children who are at risk of urinary schistosmiasis.     

硫酸锌对高脂喂养载脂蛋白E基因敲除小鼠主动脉基质金属蛋白酶-9和CD40表达的影响

目的探讨硫酸锌对高脂喂养载脂蛋白E（ApoE）基因敲除小鼠血脂和氧化低密度脂蛋白（oxLDL）水平,及主动脉中基质金属蛋白酶9（MMP-9）和细胞分化抗原40（CD40）mRNA表达的影响。方法 AopE基因敲除小鼠连续14周喂饲高脂饲料,同时分别给予小鼠浓度为2.5、25 mmol/L硫酸锌水溶液作为低剂量组和高剂量组。测定小鼠血脂和oxLDL水平,并测定主动脉中MMP-9和CD40 mRNA表达水平。结果低剂量组和高剂量组小鼠血清中甘油三酯和oxLDL水平明显低于动脉粥样硬化（AS）模型组（P〈0.01）。低剂量组和高剂量组小鼠主动脉MMP-9 mRNA和CD40 mRNA水平与AS模型组没有差异。结论补充硫酸锌降低了AS模型动物的甘油三酯和oxLDL水平,具有潜在的抗AS作用,但对主动脉MMP-9和CD40 mRNA表达无影响。     

Toxicity of the Red Sea pufferfish Pleuranacanthus sceleratus "El-Karad"

The pufferfish Pleuranacanthus sceleratus (El-Karad) represents serious public health problems, because of its responsibility for many incidents in Egypt, especially in the Suez Gulf. In the present study, samples of this fish were collected monthly and the toxins were extracted from gonads, liver, digestive tract, muscles, and skin, then purified and identified using TLC and electrophoresis. The alkaline hydrolyzates of these toxins were also detected using UV absorption and GC-mass spectra of their trimethylsilyl derivatives.     

应用荧光DDRT-PCR初探低剂量的ECPs诱导细胞适应性反应的机理

[目的]用荧光DDRT-PCR技术寻找低剂量环境化学污染物(ECPs)过氧化氢(H_2O_2)、甲醛(FA),三氯乙烯(TCE)诱导细胞适应性反应差异表达的基因,为进一步研究低剂量的环境化学污染物(ECPs)诱导机体的生物学效应及其机理提供科学依据。[方法]依据H_2O_2、FA、TCE对细胞毒性的剂量反应关系,建立适应性反应的模型。然后用荧光DDRT-PCR寻找对照组、低剂量组、高剂量组,适应性反应组差异表达的基因,并鉴定和验证部分差异表达的基因。[结果]按照对照组、低剂量组、高剂量组、适应性反应组处理细胞后,DDRT-PCR结果显示各处理组与对照组比较:H_2O_2有60个差异条带、FA有61个,TCE有52个。选择差异比较明显的条带进行2次PCR,然后通过进一步克隆、测序、同源性比较发现一些已知基因如BCL-2、EIF3S5、NDUFS4、RPS10等。[结论]低剂量环境化学污染物诱导机体的适应性反应可能有维持细胞稳态、抗氧化系统、DNA损伤修复级激活细胞信号分子等过程的参与。     

食管鳞癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的变化

目的研究食管鳞癌患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群的变化特点。方法采用流式细胞技术，对108例食管鳞癌患者（食管鳞癌组）术前检测其外周血T淋巴细胞亚群水平，并与50例健康献血者（对照组）对比，分析食管鳞癌患者T淋巴细胞亚群的变化特点。结果（1）与对照组比较，食管鳞癌组患者外周血CD3^＋ 、NK细胞水平差异无统计学意义（P=0．890；P=0．320）；CD4^＋和CD8^＋水平显著增高（P=0．001；P〈0．001），由于CD8^＋增高的程度大于CDZ增高的程度，使得CDgCDs~较对照组降低（P〈0．001）。（2）早期食管鳞癌患者外周血CD4^＋/CD8^＋低于对照组，但差异无统计学意义（P=0．112）；中晚期食管鳞癌患者CDgCDs~进一步降低，与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．001），但与早期食管鳞癌患者相比，差异无统计学意义（P=0．218）。（3）有淋巴结转移食管鳞癌患者CD4^＋和CD4^＋/CD8^＋均低于无淋巴结转移患者（P均〈0．001），CD8^＋和NK细胞均高于无淋巴结转移患者，差异均有统计学意义（P=0．002；P=0．005）。结论食管鳞癌患者存在免疫功能低下，随着肿瘤的进展免疫功能进一步受到削弱；监测CD4^＋/CD8^＋的变化可作为食管鳞癌病情进展的标志之一。     

Effect of spatial attention on human sensorimotor integration studied by transcranial magnetic stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: Recent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies showed that the sensory input can decrease the motor cortex excitability (afferent inhibition). To clarify the effect of attention on sensorimotor integration, we investigated the effect of spatial attention on afferent inhibition. METHODS: Right median nerve electrical stimulation followed, at variable delays (10-300 ms), by TMS over the left motor cortex was applied to 9 subjects, during 3 conditions; spatial attention to the right and left hand, and control (no attention) tasks. RESULTS: Inhibition of the motor evoked potential occurred at inter-stimulus interval of 20 and 100 ms, which was more was marked during spatial attention to the right than to the left hand. CONCLUSIONS: Enhancement of the afferent inhibition induced by spatial attention to the stimulated side is likely to reflect the interaction between attention and sensorimotor integration. SIGNIFICANCE: The spatial attention may modulate the sensorimotor integration studied by afferent inhibition of the MEP.     

Ankle: surface coil MR imaging at 1.5 T

High-field surface coil magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained of 12 ankles: two from healthy volunteers, seven from patients, and three from fresh cadavers. The cadaver ankles were sectioned in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes for direct comparison with the MR images. Plain film confirmation of pathologic conditions was obtained in all patients, and five underwent arthroscopy or surgery, or both. MR imaging provided excellent delineation of ligaments and cartilaginous structures in all cases.