Apolipoprotein E—associated risk for Alzheimer's disease in the African-American population is genotype dependent

As a part of our ongoing study on Alzheimer's disease (AD) in elderly African Americans, we obtained clinical assessment and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype data on 288 individuals (including 60 with AD). The ApoE σ4 allele frequency was significantly increased in AD patients compared with controls. The age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for AD in σ4 homozygotes was 4.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71–13.64) compared with the σ3/σ3 genotype, but the OR for AD with the σ3/σ4 genotype did not reach significance (1.20; 95% CI, 0.58–2.45). These findings suggest that the association between ApoE σ4 and AD is weaker in African Americans than in whites.     

Hypoglycaemic Activity of Nauclea Latifolia Sm. (Rubiaceae) in Experimental Animals

Aqueous, ethanolic and hexane extracts of the leaves of Nauclea latifolia (Rubiaceae) were assessed for their fasting blood glucose lowering effect in normoglycaemic and streptozotocin - diabetic rats. Wistar strain albino rats were given different doses of the extracts after 18 hrs fast and their blood glucose measured at 0,1,2,4 and 6 hours after treatment. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts significantly lowered the fasting blood glucose levels of the STZ-diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner. The highest dose administered (400mg/kg) lowered the fasting blood glucose of the diabetic rats by 31.7% (aqueous) and 36.1% (ethanolic) extracts. The aqueous extract did not significantly lower the glucose levels of normoglycaemic rats (maximum 6.6%), nor was any significant decrease seen in the rats administered with the hexane (maximum of 4.0% for normoglycaemic and 2.4% for diabetics) extract. The hypoglycaemic and antihyperglycaemic potentials of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts were comparable to that of glibenclamide (1mg/kg).These results further support the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.     

13C NMR relaxation studies of poly(vinyl alcohol) and its derivatives

Spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) have been measured by ¹³C NMR for poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl benzoate), poly(vinyl cinnamate) and poly(vinyl acetate) in dimethyl sulfoxide as a function of temperature and concentration. As expected, T₁ increases with increasing temperature and decreases with increasing polymer concentration. The influence of the microstructure (tacticity) of the polymers on the relaxation times is negligible. T₁ for the methine carbon of the polymer main chain is observed to serve as a measure of the rigidity and/or mobility of the chain. Assuming isotropic motion of the polymer chains, the activation energies for the protonated carbons were determined using the calculated correlation times.     

Berberine modulates crucial erectogenic biomolecules and alters histological architecture in penile tissues of diabetic rats

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid, found in several plants. Diabetes induces erectile dysfunction (ED) via reduction in some hormones and enzymes implicated in sexual function. This study aimed to investigate the role of berberine on crucial biomolecules linked to penile function in diabetic rats. Sixty-three (63) adult male rats were used and distributed into nine groups (each = 7). Group I–IV normal rats administered with citrate buffer (pH 4.5), sildenafil citrate (SD, 5.0 mg/kg), 50 and 100 mg/kg of berberine, respectively, via oral gavage. Rats in groups V–IX were diabetic rat with ED treated with buffer, SD, 50 and 100 mg/kg of berberine, and acarbose (25 mg/kg ACA) respectively. The result revealed that histological architecture in penile tissues were altered in diabetic groups treated with berberine, sildenafil citrate and acarbose when compared to the diabetic control group. Treatment with berberine, increased testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in diabetic rat with ED. Also, reduced prolactin level and acetylcholinesterase, angiotensin-1 converting enzyme, adenosine deaminase and arginase activities were observed in berberine treated diabetic rat with ED. Molecular docking analysis revealed that berberine had strong binding affinities for these enzymes. Thus, berberine could represent a potential therapeutic agent for diabetes-induced ED.     

Low cardiac output complicating pericardiectomy for pericardial tamponade

Neoplastic involvement of the pericardium resulting in an effusion and subsequent tamponade is an emergency requiring prompt decompression, generally safely accomplished by subxiphoid pericardiectomy. However, the current case report describes a patient with florid pericardial tamponade who underwent surgical decompression with transient hemodynamic improvement, who then rapidly developed progressive, heart failure and death. This paradoxical response to pericardial decompression, similar to that seen occasionally with pericardiectomy in constrictive pericarditis, may be more frequent than currently appreciated. Its cause may relate to the sudden removal of the chronic external ventricular support from the effusion resulting in ventricular dilatation and failure.