Medicinal parasitic plants on diverse hosts with their usages and barcodes

Medicinal properties of parasitic plants were investigated by means of ethnobotanical study in some areas of northeastern Thailand. Important traditional usages are: Scurrula atropurpurea nourishes blood, Dendrophthoe pentandra decreases high blood pressure, and Helixanthera parasitica treats liver disease. Their systematics were also determined. The research is based on findings obtained from 100 parasite–host pairs. Of these, eight parasitic species were recorded; they are members of two families, viz. family Loranthaceae, namely D. lanosa, D. pentandra, H. parasitica, Macrosolen brandisianus, M. cochinchinensis and S. atropurpurea, and family Viscaceae, namely Viscum articulatum and V. ovalifolium. In addition, each parasitic species is found on diverse hosts, indicating non-host-parasitic specificity. Species-specific tagging of all species studied was carried out using the rbcL and psbA-trnH chloroplast regions. These tag sequences are submitted to GenBank databases under accession numbers JN687563–JN687578. Genetic distances calculated from nucleotide variations in a couple of species of each genus, Dendrophthoe, Macrosolen, and Viscum, were 0.032, 0.067 and 0.036 in the rbcL region, and 0.269, 0.073 and 0.264 in the psbA-trnH spacer region, respectively. These variations will be used for further identification of incomplete plant parts or other forms such as capsule, powder, dried or chopped pieces.     

A comparison of socio-behavioral risk factors between HIV-infected and non-infected older adults in Northern Thailand

There is a shift in the demographic profile of people living with HIV toward older age groups. The current study compares alcohol use, smoking, and physical exercise between HIV-infected and non-infected older adults recruited in 12 community hospitals in Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand. Participants in the two groups were 50 years and above, matched by age and gender. The sample included 364 participants in each of the groups. Older adults living with HIV were less likely to report drinking alcohol in the past year (AOR, 0.55; CI, 0.34–0.89, P?=?0.015) and more likely to report being currently engaged in physical activities (AOR, 2.58; CI, 1.77–3.76, P?<?0.001). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of “current smoking status”. Older adults living with HIV were healthier than their non-infected counterparts in terms of the socio-behavioral risks.     

Haplotype associations of the major histocompatibility complex with psoriasis in Northeastern Thais

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the distributions of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) at class I and II loci that may contribute to the genetic susceptibility to psoriasis patients in the north-eastern Thai population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the allelic frequencies of HLA class I and II by using the polymerase chain reaction-amplification refractory mutation system (PCR-ARMS) technique and polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP), respectively, in 140 north-eastern Thais with psoriasis that were sudivided into two groups: one with age at onset < 40 years (type I psoriasis; 95 cases) and the other with age at onset > 40 years (type II psoriasis; 45 cases). Three hundred healthy unrelated north-eastern Thais were used as controls. RESULTS: HLA-A*01, -A*0207, -A*30, -B*08, -B*13, -B*4601, -B*57, -Cw*01, -Cw*0602, and -DRB1*07 were positively associated with type I psoriasis, whereas HLA-A*24, -A*33, and -Cw*04 were negatively associated with type I psoriasis with statistical significance when compared to the controls. The Cw*0602 allele showed the strongest correlation with this type. In addition, the frequencies of HLA-A*0207, -A*30, -Cw*01, and -DRB1*1401 were significantly increased in type II psoriasis. HLA-A*207, -B*4601, -Cw*01, -DRB1*09, -DQB1*0303 (AH46.1), HLA-A*01-B*57-Cw*0602-DRB1*07-DQB1*0303 (AH57.1), and HLA-A*30, -B*13, -Cw*0602, -DRB1*07, and -DQB1*02 (AH13.1) were identified as high-risk major histocompatibility complex (MHC) halotypes for psoriasis patients in the early onset group in north-eastern Thais. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates not only the differential association between HLA markers and types of psoriasis according to age at onset, but also a newly found high-risk and a protective haplotype in Thai psoriasis patients.     

Preparation of single donor platelet with low antibody titers for all patients

Platelet concentrates from ABO-identical donors are the components of choice for patients. However, since inventories are generally insufficient and because there is usually a relative abundance of group O donors, perfect matches are not always possible. It is therefore the accepted practice for platelets to be transfused out of the ABO group when ABO-identical platelets are unavailable. Notwithstanding, the transfusion of platelets containing high titers of antibodies to the antigens on the red blood cells of the patient can cause clinically significant hemolysis. The way to improve the safety of group O platelets has focused on defining a safe level of antibodies or reducing the volume of incompatible plasma. In the current study, 107 group O single donor platelets (SDP) were modified after collecting the platelet pellet in a bag. The AB plasma was added instead of the donor's own plasma. The direct agglutination titers of anti-A/anti-B in the original group O SDPs' plasma were performed by doing a gel test, resulting in from 1:4 to 1:1024. The prevalence of high titers (i.e., at least 1:64 in our study) was relatively high, ～63% for anti-A and 78% for anti-B. The titer of residual anti-A/anti-B in the modified SDPs ranged from negative to 1:8. In most of the modified SDPs anti-A/anti-B could not be detected in the plasma (58.9% and 52.3%, respectively). The results indicate that our modified SDPs have very low titers; that is, acting as a universal SDP which is safe for all ABO patients. This modified SDP form is a more convenient way to overcome the risk from incompatible plasma or loss of platelets during the process of volume reduction and can help effectively manage our inventory.     

The detection of residual gasoline for forensic soil investigation in arson

The cause of an arson fire is difficult to investigate. Detection of gasoline residue can provide important information to link evidence with an arson scene. Soil can be taken as physical evidence from an arson scene and also used to indicate the presence of gasoline residue. Since each soil has different characterisation details, this study was undertaken to present an effective method for soil sampling. Gasoline permeability in soil is affected by soil type. This study investigates the permeation of gasoline into four different soil types and determines the optimum soil depth for gasoline detection. The effect of burning duration and the time between extinguishing the fire and taking the sample were also investigated. The studied soils were collected from various soil series in Thai Northern region. The results indicate that soil structure, burning duration and sampling period are important factors that have a significant effect on residual gasoline detection in each of the soil series studied. The key finding of this study was that the optimum depth for all studied soil series was 5 cm below the surface. These findings have implications for crime scene investigators carrying out soil evidence investigation at an arson scene.     

Fresh dried plasma: A solution for the shortage of blood products in developing countries

Summary The availability of blood products for replacement therapy of hemophilia and allied disorders is still a formidable problem in most developing countries which consist of 80% of the world population. Fresh dried plasma (FDP) is a lyophilized form of fresh frozen plasma which can be stored at 4 °C, whereas fresh frozen plasma must be stored at −20 °C. A large-scale production of FDP from single units of fresh frozen plasma was achieved by the National Red Cross Blood Center in Thailand. This paper describes the method of preparation, biochemical and blood coagulation properties of FDP during one-year storage as well as its clinical usefulness. A batch of 179 bottles of FDP stored at 4 °C for one week, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months was studied in order to determine the biochemical and blood coagulation parameters. FDP has pH higher than that of fresh frozen plasma, but its value is within the safety range for infusion. Electrolyte and protein levels were comparable with those of fresh frozen plasma. Coagulant activities of factors I, II, V, VII, VIII, IX and X were about 10% lower than those of fresh frozen plasma; however, they are in the acceptable therapeutic range and all were stable during storage at 4 °C for up to one year. Over 4,000 bottles of FDP were used with good clinical and laboratory response and no serious side effects were observed in the treatment of bleeding in blood coagulation disorders and home care therapy of hemophilia. This work was supported by a grant from the World Federation of Hemophilia and by Ramathibodi Research Grant Project 2525/1.     

Screening of plants acting against Heterometrus laoticus scorpion venom activity on fibroblast cell lysis

The aqueous extracts of 64 plant species, listed as animal- or insect-bite antidotes in old Thai drug recipes were screened for their activity against fibroblast cell lysis after Heterometrus laoticus scorpion venom treatment. The venom was preincubated with plant extract for 30 min and furthered treated to confluent fibroblast cells for 30 min. More than 40% efficiency (test/control) was obtained from cell treatment with venom preincubated with extracts of Andrographis paniculata Nees (Acanthaceae), Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn. (Lecythidaceae), Calamus sp. (Palmae), Clinacanthus nutans Lindau (Acanthaceae), Euphorbia neriifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae), Ipomoea aquatica Forssk (Convolvulaceae), Mesua ferrea L. (Guttiferae), Passiflora laurifolia L. (Passifloraceae), Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. (Labiatae), Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae), Rumex sp. (Polygonaceae) and Sapindus rarak DC. (Sapindaceae), indicating that they had a tendency to be scorpion venom antidotes. However, only Andrographis paniculata and Barringtonia acutangula extracts provided around 50% viable cells from extract treatments without venom preincubation. These two plant extracts are expected to be scorpion venom antidotes with low cytotoxicity.     

Ring B aromatic norpimarane glucoside from a Xylaria sp

A novel 20-norpimarane glucoside, xylopimarane (1), together with the known sphaeropsidin C (2) and clonostachydiol (3), was isolated from the fungus Xylaria sp. BCC 4297. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxicity to cancer cell lines KB, MCF-7, and NCI-H187 with respective IC(50) values of 1.0, 13, and 65 μM.     

Predictors of health-related quality of life among older adults living with HIV in Thailand: results from the baseline and follow-up surveys

ABSTRACT

The current longitudinal study consisted of baseline and follow-up surveys among older adults living with HIV (OALHIV) in Thailand. The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study HIV (MOS-HIV) questionnaire. We performed multiple linear regression analysis to document correlates of HRQoL at baseline and the predictors of the changes in HRQoL at follow-up. Of the 364 participants recruited at baseline; 327 (89.9%) completed the follow-up survey. The mean (SD) Physical Health Summary (PHS) and Mental Health Summary (MHS) scores were respectively 49.8 (7.3) and 53.2 (6.4). There was a significant increase in the mean score of most of the MOS-HIV domains, ranging between 1.3 for the PHS and 26.9 for the energy/fatigue dimension. In contrast, the mean score significantly decreased by 4.1 and 10.3 points, respectively for the cognitive and social functioning. Female gender was a predictor of the decline in social (β?=??11.37; P?=?0.031) and cognitive (β?=??8.05; P?=?0.002) functioning at follow-up, while being married was related to an increase of in the score of energy/fatigue (vitality) (β?=?5.98; P?=?0.011) at follow-up. Physical exercise was associated with an increase in social functioning (β?=?9.38; p?=?0.042). Overall the HRQoL of OALHIV improved or was maintained over time.     

In‐vitro and in‐vivo antivenin activity of 2‐[2‐(5,5,8a‐trimethyl‐2‐methylene‐decahydro‐naphthalen‐1‐yl)‐ethylidene]‐succinaldehyde against Ophiophagus hannah venom

Objectives Curcuma zedoaroides A. Chaveerach & T. Tanee, locally known as Wan‐Paya‐Ngoo‐Tua‐Mia, is commonly used in the North‐Eastern part of Thailand as a ‘snakebite antidote’. The aim of this study was to isolate the active compound from the rhizome of C. zedoaroides, to determine its structure and to assess its antagonistic activity in vitro and in vivo against King cobra venom. Methods The active compound was obtained from C. zedoaroides by extraction with acetone followed by purification using column chromatography; its X‐ray structure was determined. Its inhibition of venom lethality was studied in vitro in rat phrenic nerve‐hemidiaphragms and in vivo in mice. Key findings The acetone extract of the Curcuma rhizomes contained a C20 dialdehyde, [2‐(5,5,8a‐trimethyl‐2‐methylene‐decahydro‐naphthalen‐1‐yl)‐ethylidene]‐succinaldehyde, as the major component. The isolated curcuma dialdehyde was found active in vitro and in vivo for antivenin activity against the King cobra venom. Using isolated rat phrenic nerve‐hemidiaphragm preparations, a significant antagonistic effect on the inhibition of neuromuscular transmission was observed in vitro. Inhibition on muscle contraction, produced by the 4 μg/ml venom, was reversed by 2–16 μg/ml of Curcuma dialdehyde in organ bath preparations over a period of 2 h. Mice intraperitoneally injected with 0.75 mg/kg venom and dialdehyde at 100 mg/kg had a significantly increased survival time. Injection of Curcuma dialdehyde (100 mg/kg) 30 min before the subcutaneous injection of the venom resulted in a 100% survival time after 2 h compared with 0% for the control group. Conclusions The in vitro and in vivo evaluation confirmed the medicinal use of traditional snake plants against snakebites. The bioactivity is linked to an isolated molecule and not a result of synergistic effects of a mixture. The active compound was isolated and the structure fully elucidated, including its stereochemistry. This dialdehyde is a versatile chemical building block and can be easily obtained from this plant source.