Long stick exercise to improve muscular strength and flexibility in sedentary individuals

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of long stick exercise training on the strength and flexibility of sedentary individuals. An observational prospective study was conducted at the Prince of Songkla University. Eighty-five subjects who did not engage in any regular physical activity for at least three months before the study. A long stick exercise program was taught by a master for 45 minutes, at least three times weekly, for three months. Handgrip strength, back-leg strength, and flexibility were measured at the beginning of the program as a baseline, and at one, two, and three months of training. The subjects had increased back-leg strength and flexibility. Median back-leg strength increased from the baseline by 0.07 kg/weight, 0.19 kg/weight, and 0.21 kg/weight, at one, two, and three months, respectively (p< 0.05). Median flexibility (sit-and-reach test) improved from the baseline by 4.34 cm, 4.71 cm, and 5.56 cm, at one, two, and three months, respectively (p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in handgrip strength.     

The specificity of serum uridine 5′-phosphogalactose: Glycoprotein galactosyl transferase activity in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Serum galactosyl transferase activity was measured in patients with ovarian cancer, non-ovarian cancer, inflammation and infection, miscellaneous control patients and a normal group. Patients with cancer had widely dispersed results, high and low results being recorded. The majority of patients with inflammation and infection had elevated results. Differences in methodology and selection of clinical material make it difficult to compare results from different groups of workers. We conclude that it is not possible at present to decide on the usefulness of serum galactosyl transferase measurements in the investigation of ovarian cancer.     

Development of starch/chitosan expandable films as a gastroretentive carrier for ginger extract-loaded solid dispersion

Gastroretentive expandable films were developed to provide controlled release of ginger extract (GE) for treatment of gastric diseases. The dosage form consisted of ginger extract solid dispersion (GE-SD) loaded in a starch/chitosan composite film, which was subsequently folded and inserted into a hard gelatin capsule. GE-SD was prepared by solvent evaporation using an optimum weight ratio of 1:1 for GE and PVP K30. Expandable films containing GE-SD were prepared by solvent casting combinations of chitosan and either rice-, glutinous rice - or pregelatinized maize starch with glycerin incorporated as a plasticizer. The optimized film formulation prepared from glutinous rice starch, exhibited tensile strength of 5.4 N/cm² and high expansion in simulated gastric fluid (SGF), resulting in a 2.8-fold increase in area. The films resulted in sustained release of up to 90% of the content of 6-gingerol during 8 h exposure to SGF. Furthermore, the 6-gingerol released from the film displayed dose-dependent cytotoxic activity against AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.     

Inhibitory Effect of Phenylbutanoid‐rich Zingiber cassumunar Extracts on Nitric Oxide Production by Murine Macrophage‐like RAW264.7 Cells

Four phenylbutanoids, (E)‐4‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)but‐3‐en‐l‐ol (I), (E)‐4‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)but‐3‐en‐l‐yl acetate (II), (E)‐1‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)butadiene (III) and (E)‐3‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐[(E)‐3,4‐dimethoxystyryl]cyclohex‐1‐ene (IV), isolated from Zingiber cassumunar, were used as standard markers for quantitative determination and preparation of phenylbutanoid‐enriched Z. cassumunar extracts (PZEs). A reversed‐phase HPLC method was established for the simultaneous determination of the phenylbutanoids in Z. cassumunar extracts. Systematic extraction studies to maximize phenylbutanoid content revealed that hexane was the most appropriate solvent for extraction. A one‐step purification of the hexane crude extract of Z. cassumunar, using silica gel vacuum chromatography, provided the PZEs. The content of phenylbutanoids in the PZEs was up to 48.3% w/w dry weight. The anti‐inflammatory activity of PZEs via inhibition of nitric oxide production by murine macrophage‐like RAW264.7 cells was stronger than those of the four individual phenylbutanoids, the crude hexane extract and the essential oil of Z. cassumunar. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Successful treatment of refractory erythrodermic psoriasis with traditional Thai herbal medicine

BackgroundThai herbal formulations have been used traditionally in Thailand for the treatment of psoriasis. However, there is still a lack of scientific data supporting the effects of Thai herbal formulations in psoriasis treatment.ObjectivesThis study aimed to demonstrate the therapeutic effects of Thai herbal formulations for the treatment of erythrodermic psoriasis.Materials and methodsAll Thai herbal formulations (haematic tonic, lymphatic treatment, skin treatment) were obtained from a traditional Thai medicine doctor, Mr. Somporn Chanwanitsakul. The effects of Thai herbal formulations in a patient with erythrodermic psoriasis were assessed for four weeks. Primary outcome, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and secondary outcome, safety data and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) measurements were evaluated at baseline and four weeks. Then, in vitro biological activities (antioxidant, anti-microbial, cytotoxic effects, and anti-inflammatory) of Thai herbal formulations were determined to promote the therapeutic effects.ResultsThai herbal formulations were safe and effective in the treatment of erythrodermic psoriasis and had a modest positive impact on the DQLI of the patient. In addition, in vitro studies have shown that all Thai herbal formulations revealed remarkable anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potential to support their therapeutic activities. However, the Thai herbal formulations possessed weak intrinsic antibacterial activities against all tested bacterial strains (MIC and MBC E. coli, S. aureus, S. pyogenes, P. aeruginosa: > 256 µg/ml).ConclusionThe findings indicated that successful treatment of erythrodermic psoriasis with Thai herbal formulations was involved in their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. They could be considered as an alternative treatment for refractory erythrodermic psoriasis.