Metformin protects PC12 cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury

Oxidative stress has a causative role in ischemic reperfusion-induced cell death. Evidence has shown that metformin is capable to reduce ischemic reperfusion injuries. The current study investigated the effect of metformin on ischemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by evaluation of Bcl-2 family proteins expression. Cells were exposed to a time-dependent in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) injury and then treated with metformin. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins. Moreover, the number of apoptotic cell death was evaluated by TUNEL assay. Our results showed that metformin attenuated ROS generation, downregulated pro-apoptotic BAX expression, and upregulated expression of the Bcl-2 protein in the PC12 cells. Moreover, metformin reduced cell death under OGD/R condition which was confirmed by lower apoptotic cell death in the TUNEL assay. These findings suggest that neuroprotective effect of metformin on OGD/R-induced cell death is possibly mediated by inhibition of ROS-induced apoptosis pathway.     

The effects of grape seed extract on glycemic control,serum lipoproteins,inflammation, and body weight: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to analyze the effects of grape seed extract (GSE) on glycemic control and serum lipoproteins, inflammation and body weight. Two independent authors systematically searched online databases including EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception until May 30, 2019. Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool was applied to assess the methodological quality of included trials. The heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using Cochrane's Q test and I‐square (I²) statistic. Data were pooled using a random‐effects model and weighted mean difference (WMD) was considered as the overall effect size. Fifty trials were included in this meta‐analysis. Pooling effect sizes from studies demonstrated a significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (WMD): ?2.01; 95% confidence interval (CI): ?3.14, ?0.86), total cholesterol (TC; WMD: ?6.03; 95% CI: ?9.71, ?2.35), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (WMD: ?4.97; 95% CI: ?8.37, ?1.57), triglycerides (WMD: ?6.55; 95% CI: ?9.28, ?3.83), and C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations (WMD: ?0.81; 95% CI: ?1.25, ?0.38) following GSE therapy. Grape seed did not influence HbA1c, HDL cholesterol levels, and anthropometric measurements. This meta‐analysis demonstrated that GSE intake significantly reduced FPG, TC, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and CRP levels.     

Giant Asian honeybee or Bambara stings causing myocardial infarction,bowel gangrene and fatal anaphylaxis in Sri Lanka: a case series

The sting of Giant Asian honeybee (Apis dorsata) or Bambara in Sinhala and Karunge Kulavi in Tamil is a common environmental hazard in Sri Lanka known to cause immediate allergic reactions, which could be fatal in sensitized individuals. We reported myocardial infarction, bowel gangrene and fatal anaphylaxis in a prospectively proven case series and the association of these uncommon complications with delayed removal of stingers from the patients' skin.     

Evaluation of the use of digital images for a national prostate core external quality assurance scheme

Harnden P, Coleman D, Moss S, Kodikara S, Griffin N R & Melia J

(2011) Histopathology 59 , 703–709 Evaluation of the use of digital images for a national prostate core external quality assurance scheme Aims: To evaluate the use of virtual images as an alternative to glass slides to expand the number of participants in the External Quality Assurance Scheme for prostatic biopsies. Methods and results: Benign and neoplastic cases, previously circulated as glass slides, were selected to include cases that had demonstrated a high level of agreement (n = 10) and a lesser degree of agreement (n = 10). Whole slide virtual images were circulated to 68 pathologists; 51 responses were returned. The levels of agreement for the primary diagnosis and for Gleason grading of cancers were analysed using kappa statistics. Responses for glass slides versus images were compared for the 24 pathologists for whom data were available. Levels of agreement for diagnostic categories using virtual slides were moderate to substantial, comparable to those found using glass slides. The level of agreement for Gleason grades 8–10 was substantial, but for lower grades was fair or moderate, poorer than for the glass slide circulation. Conclusions: Circulation of virtual images of biopsy material is a suitable alternative to glass slide‐based schemes for the evaluation of diagnostic consistency. The majority of participants agreed that the ability to evaluate limited diagnostic material outweighed the disadvantages of a virtual system.     

Effect of Cd and Pb Pollutions on Physiological Growth: Wavelet Neural Network (WNN) as a New Approach on Age Determination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coenobita scaevola</Emphasis>

Environmental pollution of aquatic ecosystems leads to an interference in several fundamental biochemical and physiological functions. In this study the interference of Cd and Pb pollutions on the physiological growth and subsequently on the age determination was investigated. The hermit crab, Coenobita scaevola (C.s) was selected as a bioaccumulator in this study. The direct and indirect age determination methods were carried out using annual band counts and carapace length, respectively. The results showed that, there was very low correlation (R²?<?0.5) between direct and indirect age determination. Wavelet Neural Network (WNN) was applied to take into account the environmental effects such as the accumulation of Cd and Pb elements in the C.s’ tissues. It was observed that WNN successfully enhanced the growth rate model and estimated the C.s’ age (R²?>?0.95). In addition, it was concluded that the environmental pollution had interaction with the growth physiology such as weight and length.     

Idiopathic early ovarian aging: is there a relation with premenopausal accelerated biological aging in young women with diminished response to ART?

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics - To evaluate whether young women with idiopathic early ovarian aging, as defined by producing fewer oocytes than expected for a given age over...     

Osteoporosis and Cardiovascular Risk Among Premenopausal Women in Sri Lanka

We examined the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and cardiovascular risk in a group of premenopausal women selected from the Southern province of Sri Lanka. One hundred six previously healthy premenopausal volunteers (aged 30–54 yr) were recruited by open invitations. Subjects with previous history of diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy, chronic renal or liver disease, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease, endocrine diseases, or prolonged inflammatory conditions were excluded. Subjects who were taking medications that can affect bone density, blood sugar, serum lipids, or blood pressure (BP) were also excluded. Women with the history of previous fractures were not excluded. BMDs in the spine, hip, and total body (TB) were measured using a Hologic Discovery scanner (Hologic Inc, Bedford, MA). BP, fasting glucose, and fasting lipids were also measured. Independent of body mass index (BMI) and age, TB bone mineral content (BMC) and spine BMD showed inverse and significant correlations with total cholesterol (TC), low density cholesterol, and the ratio between TC and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (r ranged from ?0.24 to ?0.27, p < 0.05 for all). The highest mean lipid levels were seen among the women in the lowest third of spine BMD, whereas women in the upper third of spine BMD had the lowest lipid levels. The number of women with metabolic syndrome in the 3 tirtiles of spine BMD was not significantly different. Fasting glucose or BP had no association with either BMD or BMC. In conclusion, our data demonstrates an association, independent of age and BMI, between BMD and BMC or lipid levels among previously healthy, premenopausal women. This may explain the high cardiovascular risk seen in women with osteoporosis in old age.     

Constructing a hybrid molecule with low capacity of IgE binding from Chenopodium album pollen allergens

Allergen specific immunotherapy is the only remedy to prevent the progression of allergic diseases. Nowadays, using of recombinant allergens with reduced IgE-binding capacity is an ideal tool for allergen immunotherapy. Therefore, in this study we focused on a hybrid molecule (HM) production with reduced IgE reactivity from Chenopodium album pollen allergens. By means of genetic engineering, a head to tail structure of the three allergens of the C. album pollen was designed. The resulting DNA construct coding for a 46kDa HM was inserted into an expression vector and expressed as hexahistidine tagged fusion protein in Escherichia coli. IgE reactivity of the HM was evaluated by western blotting, inhibition ELISA and in vivo skin prick test and its immunogenic property was tested by proliferation assay. The recombinant HM was expressed and purified by nickel-affinity chromatography. Comparison of the recombinant HM with a mixture of three recombinant allergens, as well as natural allergens in the whole C. album pollen extract via immunological experiments revealed that it has a much lower potential of IgE reactivity. Furthermore, in vivo skin prick tests showed that it has a significantly lower potency to induce cutaneous reactions than the mixture of recombinant wild type allergens and whole extract while, it had been preserved immunogenic properties. Our results have demonstrated that assembling three allergens of C. album in a hybrid molecule can reduce its IgE reactivity.