PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA FRUIT EXTRACT AMELIORATES ALTERED BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES MELLITUS ALBINO RATS

Objective: Consistent projections have indicated a steady increase in the global burden of diabetes mellitus. Given the increased cost in conventional management of the condition in addition to reported side effects and cost of orthodox management, attention is shifting to the use of alternative methods such as plants materials with dual benefits as food and medicine. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the effect of date palm fruit on some biochemical parameters in streptozotocin-induced wistar rats. Methods: Animals were divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each (I as normal control, II as diabetic control and 3-5 as extract-treated groups) maintained for 14 d. At the end of the treatment, the animals were fasted overnight, then sacrificed and blood samples collected for analysis of biochemical parameters (including blood glucose, blood lipids and enzymes). Results: The results show that treatment of diabetic animals with extract of date palm fruit show a significant (P<0.05) reduction in glucose levels in groups II–V compared to group I. Similar positive effects were observed in the levels of lipids and enzymes in treated groups compared to diabetic control group II. A GC-MS analysis of the fraction of the fruit extract revealed some bioactive compounds that may be responsible for the effects exhibited in the study. Conclusion: These findings which demonstrate the ameliorative effect on hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, further support the use of date palm fruit as a nutraceutical agent

Online Pharmaceutical Management System

Pharmaceutical practices have evolved over time to become fully encompassed in all aspects of pharmacy itself. Such practices include: dispensing of drugs, consultation, drug regulation, and the sale of these drugs. The community pharmacies and hospital pharmacies have key roles to play in the pharmaceutical practices. For the community pharmacies in Sub- Saharan Africa, a strict approach to the sale and dispensation of drugs is not normally the case, due to the fact that laws governing pharmaceutical practices have not been fully enforced. On the part of the hospital pharmacies, there is a more controlled approach to the dispensing of drugs, as the prescriptions are readily available from the in-house doctors. There is a need for these practices to be fully enforced, and a management system introduced to the fray. With software such as the Online Pharmaceutical Management System, which provides a platform has been provided to help with drug regulation, as well as providing ease to all parties involved. The methodology used in the implementation of the software is the Incremental Model of System Development Life Cycle, which allows room for scalability as time goes on. Creating an Online Pharmaceutical Management System would help in pharmaceutical practices for all parties involved. It is eminent that the system provides a safe, secure and verified platform for all parties which help to bridge the communication gap and provide legitimate drugs. Therefore, if all recommendations are strictly adhered to, there will be strict monitoring and regulation of how drugs are circulated and a decrease in the spread of fake drugs

Exposure to Ionizing Radiation Triggers Prolonged Changes in Circular RNA Abundance in the Embryonic Mouse Brain and Primary Neurons

The exposure of mouse embryos in utero and primary cortical neurons to ionizing radiation results in the P53-dependent activation of a subset of genes that is highly induced during brain development and neuronal maturation, a feature that these genes reportedly share with circular RNAs (circRNAs). Interestingly, some of these genes are predicted to express circular transcripts. In this study, we validated the abundance of the circular transcript variants of four P53 target genes (Pvt1, Ano3, Sec14l5, and Rnf169). These circular variants were overall more stable than their linear counterparts. They were furthermore highly enriched in the brain and their transcript levels continuously increase during subsequent developmental stages (from embryonic day 12 until adulthood), while no further increase could be observed for linear mRNAs beyond post-natal day 30. Finally, whereas radiation-induced expression of P53 target mRNAs peaks early after exposure, several of the circRNAs showed prolonged induction in irradiated embryonic mouse brain, primary mouse cortical neurons, and mouse blood. Together, our results indicate that the circRNAs from these P53 target genes are induced in response to radiation and they corroborate the findings that circRNAs may represent bioma

Evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and potentially toxic metals in commonly consumed pasta products available in the Nigerian markets

Background: Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and potentially toxic metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn) were determined in three batches of eight types of commonly consumed pasta products (A - H) available in Nigeria. This was done in order to evaluate the health hazards associated with unguarded consumption of the products. Methods: A gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) was used to identify and quantify the levels of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Soxhlet-extracted fractions of powdered pasta product samples using n-hexane, while Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) was also used to quantify the levels of the metals in the acid digested pasta samples. Results: The recovery results (%R>90) confirmed the efficiency of the adopted analytical procedures. Levels of PAHs detected in the samples ranged between below detection limit (BDL) and 17.18 μg g-1 with total PAHs (μg g-1) occurring in the order: F > H > D > C > E > A > G > B. Potentially toxic metal concentrations (µg g-1) in the various pasta samples were of the order: Cd ˂ Cu ˂ Zn ˂ Mn, while Co and Pb were BDL in all the pasta samples. Conclusion: The pasta samples contained PAHs and potentially toxic metals at levels that could not cause immediate health infection but which could threaten the health of the consumers over prolonged regular consumption

Exposure to Ionizing Radiation Triggers Prolonged Changes in Circular RNA Abundance in the Embryonic Mouse Brain and Primary Neurons

The exposure of mouse embryos in utero and primary cortical neurons to ionizing radiation results in the P53-dependent activation of a subset of genes that is highly induced during brain development and neuronal maturation, a feature that these genes reportedly share with circular RNAs (circRNAs). Interestingly, some of these genes are predicted to express circular transcripts. In this study, we validated the abundance of the circular transcript variants of four P53 target genes (Pvt1, Ano3, Sec14l5, and Rnf169). These circular variants were overall more stable than their linear counterparts. They were furthermore highly enriched in the brain and their transcript levels continuously increase during subsequent developmental stages (from embryonic day 12 until adulthood), while no further increase could be observed for linear mRNAs beyond post-natal day 30. Finally, whereas radiation-induced expression of P53 target mRNAs peaks early after exposure, several of the circRNAs showed prolonged induction in irradiated embryonic mouse brain, primary mouse cortical neurons, and mouse blood. Together, our results indicate that the circRNAs from these P53 target genes are induced in response to radiation and they corroborate the findings that circRNAs may represent biomarkers of brain age. We also propose that they may be superior to mRNA as long-term biomarkers for radiation exposure.status: publishe

Exposure to ionizing radiation triggers prolonged changes in circular RNA abundance in the embryonic mouse brain and primary neurons

The exposure of mouse embryos in utero and primary cortical neurons to ionizing radiation results in the P53-dependent activation of a subset of genes that is highly induced during brain development and neuronal maturation, a feature that these genes reportedly share with circular RNAs (circRNAs). Interestingly, some of these genes are predicted to express circular transcripts. In this study, we validated the abundance of the circular transcript variants of four P53 target genes (Pvt1, Ano3, Sec14l5, and Rnf169). These circular variants were overall more stable than their linear counterparts. They were furthermore highly enriched in the brain and their transcript levels continuously increase during subsequent developmental stages (from embryonic day 12 until adulthood), while no further increase could be observed for linear mRNAs beyond post-natal day 30. Finally, whereas radiation-induced expression of P53 target mRNAs peaks early after exposure, several of the circRNAs showed prolonged induction in irradiated embryonic mouse brain, primary mouse cortical neurons, and mouse blood. Together, our results indicate that the circRNAs from these P53 target genes are induced in response to radiation and they corroborate the findings that circRNAs may represent bioma

<i>Buchholzia coriacea</i> Leaves Attenuated Dyslipidemia and Oxidative Stress in Hyperlipidemic Rats and Its Potential Targets <i>In Silico</i>

The study aimed to investigate how the solvent extract of Buchholzia coriacea (BCE), a widely known hypolipidemic agent, could contribute to hyperlipidemia treatment and identify the potential bioactive compounds. We studied Wistar albino rats, dividing them into seven groups: the normal control, normal rats treated with 400 mg/kg.b.wt of BCE (NRG group), the hyperlipidemic control (HPC group), hyperlipidemic rats treated with atorvastatin, a standard control drug (SC group), as well as 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg.b.wt of BCE extract respectively (T1, T2, T3 groups). The potential compounds that functioned in BCE extract were analyzed by in silico binding to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FASN). The binding affinities and drug-like properties of the compounds were determined using virtual screening and absorption distribution metabolism excretion and toxicity prediction analysis. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, and 44 chemical compounds in the leaf extract of BCE. BCE significantly reduced the levels of triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, atherogenic coefficient, atherogenic index, and coronary risk index, while enhancing the levels of high-density lipoprotein and cardioprotective index in comparison to the HPC group. The BCE reduced malondialdehyde quantities, which exhibit high levels in HPC. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities as well as glutathione levels, which are otherwise reduced in HPC, were increased upon the BCE treatment. Among the identified BCE compounds, lupenone and 2,7-dimethylnaphthalene exhibited the highest binding affinities to ACC and FASN, suggesting that these two compounds might be the bioactive BCE components displaying hypolipidemic properties. BCE is found to be beneficial in blocking hyperlipidemia through the modulation of lipid profile, the protection of cardiovascular function, as well as the suppression of oxidative stress. BCE may be a natural source for exploring novel drugs for the treatment of dyslipidemia