15 research outputs found
Providing a setup and opportunities for better training of postdoctoral research fellows in an academic environment
Thousands of young researchers come from different parts of the world
every year to take up postdoctoral (postdoc) research fellowship
positions in the developed countries. In the US alone, there were
48,601 postdocs in the year 2005 working in different labs in the
fields of science, health and engineering. Many pursue this option for
lack of other alternatives. Expectedly, these individuals face a lot of
difficulties in making this transition from being a student to becoming
an employee of an institution. Many institutions are prepared to make
this transition and period of stay easy for their fellows while others
are not equipped at all. The presence of a postdoc office (established
by an institution) or an association (formed by the fellows) can be of
immense help to postdocs. Additionally, the availability of
institutional professional development and leadership programs can also
help to nurture and polish postdoc fellows into future faculty members
and valuable members of the community at large. To name a few, these
professional development programs can focus on communication and
presentation skills, medical education, teaching and learning,
bioethics and mentorship. There is an urgent need to address some or
all of these issues so that better training environment and
opportunities are available to this group of postdoc fellows
Cardiovascular and airway relaxant activities of peony root extract
Paeonia emodi (peony) is a well known plant used medicinally to treat hypertension, palpitations, and asthma. Despite its popularity, there are few reports in the scientific literature examining its use in such conditions. We prepared a 70% ethanolic extract of peony root (Pe.Cr) and applied it to segments of guinea pig atria and trachea and rat aorta suspended separately in tissue baths. Activity against arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation was measured in human platelet-rich plasma. Airway relaxant effect was evaluated against acetylcholine (ACh)-induced airway contraction in mouse lung slices loaded with fluo-4. Pe.Cr (0.3–10 mg/mL) showed an atropine-resistant negative inotropic effect in atria. In rat aorta, an endothelium-independent vasodilatory effect (0.3–10 mg/mL) was seen in phenylephrine- and high-K+-induced contractions. Pe.Cr (0.01–1 mg/mL) also inhibited AA-induced platelet aggregation. In isolated trachea, Pe.Cr (0.3–10 mg/mL) relaxed carbachol- and histamine-induced contractions independently of β-adrenergic receptors. In mouse lung slices, Pe.Cr (0.3–1 mg/mL) inhibited ACh-induced airway narrowing and oscillations of intracellular Ca2+ in airway smooth muscle cells. The results showed cardiosuppressant, vasodilatory, antiplatelet, and tracheal and airway relaxant activities of peony, providing potential justification for its medicinal use in different hyperactive cardiovascular and respiratory disorders
Muscarinic, Ca(++) antagonist and specific butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of dried ginger extract might explain its use in dementia
Ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale) has been used for centuries to treat dementia in South Asia. This study was undertaken to possibly justify its use. A 70% aqueous/methanolic extract of dried ginger (Zo.Cr) was used. Zo.Cr tested positive for the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, secondary amines, phenols, alkaloids and saponins. When tested on isolated rat stomach fundus, Zo.Cr showed a spasmogenic effect (0.03-5.00 mg mL(-1)), it relaxed the tissue at concentrations \u3e= 5 mg mL(-1). The stimulant effect was resistant to blockade by hexamethonium and methysergide, but sensitive to atropine, indicating activity via muscarinic receptors. In atropinized (0.1 mu M) preparations, Zo.Cr (0.3-3.0 mg mL(-1)) relaxed high K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions, indicating Ca(++) antagonism in addition to the muscarinic effect. This possible Ca(++) antagonist activity was investigated in Ca(++)-free conditions, with the inhibitory effect of the extract tested against contractions induced by externally administered Ca(++). Zo.Cr (0.1-0.3 mg mL(-1)), similar to verapamil (0.03-0.10 mu M), shifted the contractions induced by externally administered Ca(++) to the right, thus suggesting an inhibitory interaction between Zo.Cr and voltage-operated Ca(++) channels. Zo.Cr (0.1-3.0 mu g mL(-1)) also potentiated acetylcholine peak responses in stomach fundus, similar to physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor. Zo.Cr, in an in-vitro assay, showed specific inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) rather than acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Different pure compounds of ginger also showed spasmolytic activity in stomach fundus, with 6-gingerol being the most potent. 6-Gingerol also showed a specific anti-BuChE effect. This study shows a unique combination of muscarinic, possible Ca(++) antagonist and BuChE inhibitory activities of dried ginger, indicating its benefit in dementia, including Alzheimer\u27s disease