Effect of Ethanolic Leaves Extract of Moringa oleifera on Blood Glucose Levels of Streptozocin-Induced Diabetics and Normoglycemic Wistar Rats

Abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the hypoglycemic effect of Moringa oleifera [family: Moringaceae] ethanolic extract in normal (normoglycemic) and STZ induced diabetic Wistar rats. In one set of experiment, graded doses of the leaves extract (250 and 500 mg/kg i.p.) were separately administered to groups of fasted normal and fasted STZ diabetic rats. The hypoglycemic effect of the ethanolic leaves extract was compared with that of insulin 6 i.u/kg in fasted normal and STZ diabetic rats. Following treatment, relatively moderate to high doses of Moringa oleifera (250 and 500 mg/kg i.p.) produced a dose-dependent, significant reduction (p<0.05) in blood glucose levels of fasted STZ diabetic rats only. A significant decrease in the blood glucose levels after 1-7 h of administration with the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg was observed in the STZ diabetic group when compared to control. As regards to the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg for the fasted normal rats, there was significant increase in the blood glucose levels when compared to control. In conclusion the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Moringa oleifera possesses hypoglycemic activity in STZ induced diabetic Wistar rats only

Three Novel Mutations in the PHEX Gene in Chinese Subjects with Hypophosphatemic Rickets Extends Genotypic Variability

Mutations in the phosphate-regulating endopeptidase homolog, X-linked, gene (PHEX), which encodes a zinc-dependent endopeptidase that is involved in bone mineralization and renal phosphate reabsorption, cause the most common form of hypophosphatemic rickets, X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH). The distribution of PHEX mutations is extensive, but few mutations have been identified in Chinese with XLH. We extracted genomic DNA and total RNA from leukocytes obtained from nine unrelated Chinese subjects (three males and six females, age range 11–36 years) who were living in Taiwan. The PHEX gene was amplified from DNA by PCR, and the amplicons were directly sequenced. Expression studies were performed by reverse-transcription PCR of leukocyte RNA. Serum levels of FGF23 were significantly greater in the patients than in normal subjects (mean 69.4 ± 18.8 vs. 27.2 ± 8.4 pg/mL, P < 0.005), and eight of the nine patients had elevated levels of FGF23. Germline mutations in the PHEX gene were identified in five of 9 patients, including novel c.1843 delA, donor splice site mutations c.663+2delT and c.1899+2T>A, and two previously reported missense mutations, p.C733Y and p.G579R. These data extend the spectrum of mutations in the PHEX gene in Han Chinese and confirm variability for XLH in Taiwan

Immune Responses of Healthy Subjects to a Single Dose of Intramuscular Inactivated Influenza A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1) Vaccine after Priming with an Antigenic Variant

Results. On day 28 after a single dose, the geometric mean titer (GMT) of hemagglutination-inhibition antibody in primed subjects was 64.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 37.8 -108.5), with 68% responding (4-fold increase in antibody level to a titer of 1:40). In contrast, H5-naive subjects who received two 90-g doses had a day 56 (28 days after the second dose) GMT of 27.7 (95% CI,, with only 43% responding. Conclusions. This study suggests that priming can result in immune responses to a single dose of an antigenically variant strain of H5N1 influenza virus and could be a useful strategy for pandemic control. Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00240903

Immunomagnetic capture of Bacillus anthracis spores from food

Food is a vulnerable target for potential bioterrorist attacks; therefore, a critical mitigation strategy is needed for the rapid concentration and detection of biothreat agents from food matrices. Magnetic beads offer a unique advantage in that they have a large surface area for efficient capture of bacteria. We have demonstrated the efficient capture and concentration of Bacillus anthracis (Sterne) spores using immunomagnetic beads for a potential food application. Magnetic beads from three different sources, with varying sizes and surface chemistries, were functionalized with monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies from commercial sources and used to capture and concentrate anthrax spores from spiked food matrices, including milk, apple juice, bagged salad, processed meat, and bottled water. The results indicated that the Pathatrix beads were more effective in the binding and capture of anthrax spores than the other two bead types investigated. Furthermore, it was observed that the use of polyclonal antibodies resulted in a more efficient recovery of anthrax spores than the use of monoclonal antibodies. Three different magnetic capture methods, inversion, the Pathatrix Auto system, and the new i CropTheBug system, were investigated. The i CropTheBug system yielded a much higher recovery of spores than the Pathatrix Auto system. Spore recoveries ranged from 80 to 100% for the i CropTheBug system when using pure spore preparations, whereas the Pathatrix Auto system had recoveries from 20 to 30%. Spore capture from food samples inoculated at a level of 1 CFU/ml resulted in 80 to 100% capture for milk, bottled water, and juice samples and 60 to 80% for processed meat and bagged salad when using the i CropTheBug system. This efficient capture of anthrax spores at very low concentrations without enrichment has the potential to enhance the sensitivity of downstream detection technologies and will be a useful method in a foodborne bioterrorism response.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye