Ellagic Acid Administration Reverses Colchicine- Induced Dementia in Rats

The late-onset sporadic type of Alzheimer’s disease is characterised by chronic oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction. Ellagic acid is a naturally occurring polyphenol known to possess robust antioxidant property. In the present study, memory enhancing potential of ellagic acid has been explored against ICV colchicine induced dementia in rats. Colchicine (15μg/rat) was administered to Wistar rats (200g) through intracerebroventricular (ICV) route by using stereotaxic apparatus. ICV colchicine induces Alzheimer’s disease like changes in the brain such as rampant free radical production, neuroinflammation and selective neurodegeneration in hippocampus and cortex by acting as an antitubulin agent (mitotic poison). Ellagic acid (17.5 and 35 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered to rats for 25 successive days. Morris water maze and elevated plus maze paradigms were utilized to assess the spatial memory of rats. Oxidative stress biomarkers along with TNF-α were also measured in brain of rats. Ellagic acid prevented the ICV colchicine triggered cognitive deficits as evident by a significant (p<0.05) reduction in mean escape latency during acquisition trial and increased (p<0.05) time spent in target quadrant during probe trial in Morris water maze test, and reduction (p<0.05) in transfer latency in elevated plus maze test. Furthermore, both the doses of ellagic acid attenuated ICV colchicine induced rise in brain TBARS as well as TNF-α and simultaneously enhanced the GSH content.Ellagic acid prevented the brain of rodents from dementing effects of colchicine by attenuating the oxidative damage

EFFECT OF DIETARY FACTORS AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS ON SERUM CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS LEVELS IN CKD PATIENTS ON TREATMENT IN A TERTIARY CARE SETTING IN NORTH INDIA

Objective: The control of phosphorus and calcium metabolism is one of the objectives in treatment protocol for CKD patients. The levels of these minerals in serum are affected by dietary patterns and nutritional status of the patients. India being a large country, diet patterns vary from one state to another. Thus, we suspect a close association between dietary intake and alterations in homeostasis of calcium and phosphorus in CKD patients. Therefore, we conduct this study to describe the effect of dietary factors and nutritional status on serum calcium and phosphorus levels in CKD patients on treatment in a tertiary care setting in North India. Methods: In the present study 330 CKD patients coming to dialysis unit, were recorded with detailed Medical history as well as baseline demographic data. Also, biochemical analysis of serum albumin corrected, calcium, phosphorus, and serum albumin of all cases were done using fully automated equipment. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software. Results: Majority (58.2 %) of the study patients were vegetarians with a mean value of BMI (Mean±SD=23.75±4.70 kg/m2). A negative but significant correlation was found between corrected calcium and phosphorus with 0.05 level of confidence interval (r=-0.149, p= 0.007). Conclusion: It was found that the well-nourished patients were more likely to be hyperphosphatemic as compared to poorly nourished patients, but statistically the values were found to be nonsignificant (Statistically p-value was not less than 0.05).                  Peer Review History: Received 23 November 2019;   Revised 12 December 2019; Accepted 1 January, Available online 15 January 2020 Academic Editor: Dr. Ali Abdullah Al-yahawi, Al-Razi university, Department of Pharmacy, Yemen, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dina Abd Elfattah Eldakhs, Pharos university (PUA), Egypt, [email protected] Dr. Mohammad Tauseef, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chicago State University, [email protected]  Similar Articles: NEW ERA OF MEDICINE: ROLE OF NUTRACEUTICALS IN TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF VARIOUS DISEASE

ALTERATIONS IN PARATHORMONE, CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS LEVELS IN CKD PATIENTS ON MAINTENANCE HAEMODIALYSIS IN A HOSPITAL SETTING IN PUNJAB.â€

Objective: Many people who have severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) will eventually develop kidney failure and will require dialysis. The controlof parathormone (PTH), phosphorus, and calcium metabolism is one of the objectives in an adequate dialysis protocol. Therefore, we conductedthis study to describe alterations in PTH, calcium, and phosphorous homeostasis in patients with CKD on hemodialysis in our center. Our study alsoaimed to find an association between hormonal and biochemical abnormalities in CKD patients, who have been on hemodialysis for ≥5 months andcomparing the results obtained with that recommended by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines.Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional observational study. The study population of 330 patients (>18 years) on maintenancehemodialysis coming to dialysis Unit of Department of Medicine of Gian Sagar Hospital, Ramnagar (Patiala), over a period of 3 years (2012-2015),were enrolled in the study. Each patient was considered only once for the study. In addition, biochemical analysis of serum intact PTH (iPTH), correctedcalcium, phosphorus, total alkaline phosphatase (tALP), serum creatinine, blood urea, serum albumin, and hemoglobin of all cases was done usingfully automated equipment. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS statistical software, version 17.Results: The study population of 330 patients comprised adults, mainly illiterate (54.5%) predominantly belonging to the rural (66.4%) strata witha mean age of 52.67±15.05 (range: 25-98 years). The abnormality in the laboratory profile of the patients was found to be hyperparathyroidism in40.3% as compared to hypoparathyroidism in 33.5% and normal iPTH levels in 26.2%. Hypocalcaemia was detected in 50.6% and hyperphosphatemiain 62.1% of the patients. There was statistically significant association of serum iPTH, with corrected calcium and phosphorus (P=0.032 and P=0.035,respectively). Corrected calcium was also significantly associated with phosphorus (P=0.001) and tALP (P=0.007).Conclusion: We showed in the present study that disorders of mineral metabolism are common in hemodialysis patients and that only a smallproportion adheres to the targets as advised in the KDIGO guidelines for bone metabolism and disease in CKD. We demonstrated that these disordersare associated with important negative clinical outcomes, such as increased all-cause lack survival, more muscle and bone problems. Our findings,therefore, support a strict control of mineral metabolism in dialysis patients. Further research and progress in this area are required to establish amore rational approach with a view toward improving patient outcomes.Keywords: Parathormone, Calcium, Phosphorus, Hemodialysis.Â

Nanotopography reveals metabolites that maintain the immunomodulatory phenotype of mesenchymal stromal cells

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells that are of considerable clinical potential in transplantation and anti-inflammatory therapies due to their capacity for tissue repair and immunomodulation. However, MSCs rapidly differentiate once in culture, making their large-scale expansion for use in immunomodulatory therapies challenging. Although the differentiation mechanisms of MSCs have been extensively investigated using materials, little is known about how materials can influence paracrine activities of MSCs. Here, we show that nanotopography can control the immunomodulatory capacity of MSCs through decreased intracellular tension and increasing oxidative glycolysis. We use nanotopography to identify bioactive metabolites that modulate intracellular tension, growth and immunomodulatory phenotype of MSCs in standard culture and during larger scale cell manufacture. Our findings demonstrate an effective route to support large-scale expansion of functional MSCs for therapeutic purposes

Attitude of girls in Western Rajasthan towards menstrual cycle: A less explored domain

The menstrual cycle has been the subject of many traditional tales, myths and mystery. Myth and mystery have long enveloped the truth about menstruation. The mere mention of the topic has been tabooed in the past and even to this day the cultural and social influences appear to be hurdle for advancement of knowledge on the subject. It is customary for some girls to restrict their activities during the periods as per their belief, social customs and religion. The present study was carried out on 600 unmarried healthy college going girls between the age of 18 to 23 years from Jodhpur (Western Rajasthan), during the period from Dec 2005 to May 2007 to study the attitudes of women towards menstrual cycle along with the socio-cultural beliefs and practices in their region. It was observed that 40.2% girls accepted menstruation as a normal physiological event, 20.5% considered it as a necessary evil, 19.7% considered it to be a troublesome due to physical discomforts, 18.8% indicated their disliking to menstruation and 0.8% considered it to be a bad omen due to family beliefs. Also restrictions are mostly observed in orthodox Hindu, Muslim and Christian families whereas the girls belonging to Sikh families are more liberated in this regard. Almost all Hindu(97.4%),Muslim(100%)and about two third (66.7%)of the Christian girls, who participated in this study were restricted in one way or other during the menstrual period.It is high time that these regressive attitudes and practices are done away with so that women can contribute to make India a truly progressive nation

Impact of the Charge Ratio on the In Vivo Immunogenicity of Lipoplexes

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York. Purpose: The present study investigated the immunogenic potential of different cationic liposome formulations with a DNA plasmid encoding Pfs25, a malaria transmission-blocking vaccine candidate. Methods: Pfs25 plasmid DNA was complexed with cationic liposomes to produce lipoplexes at different charge ratios of the cationic lipid head group to the nucleotide phosphate (N:P). The formation of lipoplexes was visualized by Cryogenic-TEM. Confocal microscopy of lipoplexes formed with GFP encoding plasmid DNA, and flow cytometry was used to determine their in vitro transfection capability. Two different lipoplex formulations using plasmid DNA encoding Pfs25 were evaluated for in vivo immunogenicity after intramuscular administration in Balb/c mice. Immune sera were analyzed by ELISA. Results: The results demonstrated that the cationic liposome-mediated DNA immunization with an N:P charge ratio of 1:3 (anionic lipoplexes) is more effective than the use of naked plasmid DNA alone. No antibody response was observed when lipoplexes with a higher N:P charge ratio of 10:3 (cationic lipoplexes) were used. Trehalose was added to some lipoplex formulations as a cryoprotectant and adjuvant, but it did not yield any further improvement of immunogenicity in vivo. Conclusions: The results suggest that Pfs25 plasmid DNA delivered as lipoplexes at a charge ratio of 1:3 elicited strong immunogenicity in mice and may be improved further to match the immune responses of DNA vaccines administered by in vivo electroporation