Regulation of Apolipoprotein A-1 and Apolipoprotein B100 Genes by Thymoquinone Rich Fraction and Thymoquinone in HEPG2 Cells.

Thymoquinone (TQ) rich fraction (TQRF) extracted from Nigella sativa seeds using a supercritical fluid extraction technique was prepared. The regulatory effects of TQRF at 80 µg/mL and commercial TQ at 2 µg/mL on apolipoprotein B100 (Apo B100) and apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo A-1) genes in the presence or absence of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25OH), were investigated in human HepG2 cell line using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Incubating HepG2 cells in 10% human lipoprotein deficient serum (HLPDS) for 24 h in the presence of 2 µg/mL 25OH showed a significant increase in Apo B100 mRNA expression level by twofold compared to the control cells; on the other hand, no significant change in Apo A-1 mRNA level was observed. When cells were incubated with HLPDS in the absence of 25OH and treated with TQRF and TQ, the mRNA level of Apo B100 was down-regulated by 70 and 49%, respectively, in TQRF and TQ treated cells compared to untreated cells. Apo A-1 gene was up-regulated by four- and twofold in TQRF and TQ treated cells, respectively, compared to that observed in untreated cells. The present study clearly shows that TQRF and TQ are effective in regulating Apo A-1 and Apo B100 genes that influence cholesterol metabolism in HepG2 cells

Should the development of orthopaedic trauma nursing be a priority in low to middle income countries? A scoping review

Background: Traumatic orthopaedic injuries are responsible for 5.8 million deaths every year, with 90% occurring in Low to Middle Income Countries. Approximately six times as many people are injured due to trauma than those who die of it. Nursing is an under-utilised resource in global trauma care and little research exists into the availability or training of skilled orthopaedic nurses in Low to Middle Income Countries. Objectives: This scoping review aims to summarise and critique the existing body of research to identify if the development. And in some cases, establishment, of trauma and orthopaedic nursing should be a priority in low resource settings. The review also aims to identify any barriers to the advancement of the speciality, and any existing solutions to support nurses training and development. Methodology: A scoping literature search was conducted, searching four databases (ProQuest, Medline, CINHAL and SOLAR) with key words and phrases to identify current literature. Results: Eleven papers were identified. Key themes include the need to prioritise nursing education in Low to Middle Income Countries and upskill and utilise the nursing workforce to provide care to trauma patients. Conclusions: Significant investment in the development of orthopaedic nursing is needed in Low to Middle Income Countries to reduce morbidity and mortality and retain the local nursing workforce

Effect of Carnitine and herbal mixture extract on obesity induced by high fat diet in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity-associated type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing throughout the world. It is generally recognized that natural products with a long history of safety can modulate obesity.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>To investigate the development of obesity in response to a high fat diet (HFD) and to estimate the effect of L-carnitine and an Egyptian Herbal mixture formulation (HMF) (consisting of T. chebula, Senae, rhubarb, black cumin, aniseed, fennel and licorice) on bodyweight, food intake, lipid profiles, renal, hepatic, cardiac function markers, lipid Peroxidation, and the glucose and insulin levels in blood and liver tissue in rats.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>White male albino rats weighing 80-90 gm, 60 days old. 10 rats were fed a normal basal diet (Cr), 30 rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks during the entire study. Rats of the HFD group were equally divided into 3 subgroups each one include 10 rats. The first group received HFD with no supplement (HFD), the 2^ndgroup HFD+L-carnitine and the third group received HFD+HMF. Carnitine and HMF were administered at 10^thweek (start time for treatments) for 4 weeks.</p> <p>Body weight, lipid profile & renal function (urea, uric acid creatinine) ALT & AST activities, cardiac markers, (LDH, C.K-NAC and MB) the oxidative stress marker reduced glutathione (GSH), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) catalase activity, in addition to glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance in serum & tissues were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data showed that feeding HFD diet significantly increased final body weight, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, & LDL concentration compared with controls, while significantly decreasing HDL; meanwhile treatment with L-carnitine, or HMF significantly normalized the lipid profile.</p> <p>Serum ALT, urea, uric acid, creatinine, LDH, CK-NAC, CK-MB were significantly higher in the high fat group compared with normal controls; and administration of L-carnitine or herbal extract significantly lessened the effect of the HFD. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and high insulin resistance (IR) significantly increased in HFD in comparison with the control group. The treatment with L-carnitine or HMF improved the condition. HFD elevated hepatic MDA and lipid peroxidation associated with reduction in hepatic GSH and catalase activity; whereas administration of L-carnitine or herbal extract significantly ameliorated these hepatic alterations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HFD induced obesity associated with a disturbed lipid profile, defective antioxidant stability, and high values of IR parameters; this may have implications for the progress of obesity related problems. Treatment with L-carnitine, or HMF extract improved obesity and its associated metabolic problems in different degrees. Also HMF has antioxidant, hypolipidaemic insulin sensitizing effects. Moreover HMF might be a safe combination on the organs whose functions were examined, as a way to surmount the obesity state; and it has a distinct anti-obesity effect.</p

Medicinal plants in traumatic brain injury: Neuroprotective mechanisms revisited

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most prevalent health problem affecting all age groups, and leads to many secondary problems in other organs especially kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and heart function. In this review, the search terms were TBI, fluid percussion injury, cold injury, weight drop impact acceleration injury, lateral fluid percussion, cortical impact injury, and blast injury. Studies with Actaea racemosa, Artemisia annua, Aframomum melegueta, Carthamus tinctorius, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Crocus sativus, Cnidium monnieri, Curcuma longa, Gastrodia elata, Malva sylvestris, Da Chuanxiong Formula, Erigeron breviscapus, Panax ginseng, Salvia tomentosa, Satureja khuzistanica, Nigella sativa, Drynaria fortune, Dracaena cochinchinensis, Polygonum cuspidatum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Rheum tanguticum, Centella asiatica, and Curcuma zedoaria show a significant decrease in neuronal injury by different mechanisms such as increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, suppressing nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB), interleukin 1 (IL‐1), glial fibrillary acidic protein, and IL‐6 expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of medicinal plants in central nervous system pathologies by reviewing the available literature

Settling Velocities Of Fibers In Air.

PhDMechanical engineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/183924/2/6505898.pd