Cerebroprotective Potential of Hesperidin Nanoparticles Against Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion Reperfusion Injury in Rats and In silico Approaches

Neurotoxicity Research - Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (C I/R) accelerates neuronal injury through the overproduction of reactive oxygen species due to mitochondrial dysfunction. Hesperidin has...     

Neuroprotective effect of ginger on anti-oxidant enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ginger on oxidative stress markers in the mitochondrial fractions of cerebral cortex (CC), cerebellum (CB), hippocampus (HC) and hypothalamus (HT) of diabetic rats. Diabetes exacerbates neuronal injury induced by hyperglycemia mediated oxidative damage. A marked decrease in anti-oxidant marker enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), reduced glutathione (GSH) and increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed in the diabetic rats. Decreased activities of anti-oxidant enzymes in diabetic rats were augmented on oral administration of ginger. Moreover, ginger administration depleted the MDA level, which was earlier increased in the diabetic rats. These results suggest that ginger exhibit a neuroprotective effect by accelerating brain anti-oxidant defense mechanisms and down regulating the MDA levels to the normal levels in the diabetic rats. Thus, ginger may be used as therapeutic agent in preventing complications in diabetic patients.     

Efficacy of ethanolic extract of ginger on kidney lipid metabolic profiles in diabetic rats

The present study was carried out to investigate the antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of ginger in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Forty two male wistar rats were divided into seven groups and treatment was given as stated in experimental protocol. The two doses (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg bw) of ginger on blood glucose levels in diabetic rats were studied and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and tissue lipids like total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and phospholipids (PL) were estimated in the kidney tissue of diabetic rats. The effects were compared with glibenclamide, a reference standard. Diabetic rats showed a significant increase in kidney MDA, TG, TC and PL levels. Treatment with ginger and glibenclamide resulted in a significant diminution of blood glucose levels. Oral administration of ginger for 30 days to diabetic rats decreased the levels of MDA, TC, TG and PL. The decreased lipid peroxides and tissue lipids clearly showed hypolipidemic effect of ginger apart from its antidiabetic property. Our study suggests that phytochemicals and other bioactive compounds present in ginger may play an important role in suppressing the elevated tissue lipids in diabetic rats. Hence, ginger may be useful in the treatment of diabetes.     

Overseas experience of the neonatal nurse practitioner role: lessons for Australia

The Nurse Practitioner role is currently being implemented in most Australian states. This model of practice has existed overseas, predominantly in North America,for many years. The experiences of those countries can help inform the implementation of the role in Australia. This paper reviews the overseas literature concerning one practice context, that of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. The scope of the role, issues surrounding educational preparation, impact of the role on health outcomes, and factors identified as facilitating and constraining the role, are all discussed. The implications for the Australian context are highlighted.     

Deoxyribonucleic Acid Barcoding of Some Indian Coelogyninae (Orchidaceae)

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Subtribe Coelogyninae (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) comprises of 16 genera. The present study is undertaken...     

Doctors' and nurses' perceptions of interdisciplinary collaboration in the NICU, and the impact of a neonatal nurse practitioner model of practice

Background. The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration has been attested to by a number of authors. Some have suggested that Nurse Practitioners (NPs) may be able to improve collaboration between doctors and nurses, but this assertion does not appear to have been researched. Aims and objectives. To investigate doctors’ and nurses’ perceptions of interdisciplinary collaboration in two neonatal intensive care units, and to assess the impact of a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) practice model on these perceptions. The study was conducted as part of a larger project to develop a NNP model of practice. Design. Survey, pre‐ and post‐intervention. Methods. Medical and nursing staff in both units were surveyed before and after introduction of the NP model of practice. The instrument consisted of 25 statements relating to nurse–doctor interactions, with which respondents indicated their level of agreement on a five‐point Likert scale. The Mann–Whitney U‐test was used to compare scores for individual items and for overall collaboration between various groups of staff, and between the first and second surveys. Results. Significant differences between the responses of nurses and doctors were found on both surveys. Areas of disagreement chiefly concerned doctors’ behaviour and their attitudes towards nurses, rather than nurses’ behaviour or environmental factors. Doctors consistently reported a higher degree of collaboration than did nurses. Few differences were found between first and second surveys. Conclusions. Results suggest that problems in nurse–physician interactions exist in both units. No impact of the NNP role, as established in this project, on interdisciplinary collaboration could be demonstrated. Further research in this area is warranted.