Static aspects of accommodation: age and presbyopia

AbstractAlthough the progressive reduction in accommodative amplitude with increased age is well documented, little is known about several other aspects of static or steady-state accommodation to provide a comprehensive assessment of changes related to age and presbyopia. Static components of accommodation (tonic accommodation, depth-of-focus, slope of the stimulus/response function, and accommodative controller gain) were assessed objectively using an infrared (IR) optometer in 30 human subjects aged 21–50 years; depth-of-focus was also determined psychophysically as was accommodative amplitude. Tonic accommodation and the amplitude of accommodation decreased with increased age, whereas the subjective depth-of-focus increased; the other parameters remained unchanged. The decrease in tonic accommodation and amplitude of accommodation was attributed to biomechanical factors, whereas the increase in subjective depth-of-focus was believed to result from increased tolerance to defocus related to the gradual onset of presbyopia. Constancy of the objective depth-of-focus suggested absence of age effects on the neurologic control of reflex accommodation, whereas the lack of systematic change in slope and controller gain provided support for the Hess–Gullstrand theory of accommodation and presbyopia

Hepatoprotective Potentials Of Hibiscus rosasinensis Petal anthocyanin Extracts Against Carbon tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Damage in Wistar Rats.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is haloalkane that possesses a hepatotoxic effect. Material and Methods: The impact of anthocyanin fractions obtained from Hibiscus rosasinensis petal on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced acute liver damage in wistar rats was studied using a combination of alanine transferase (ALT) activity value and liver: body weight gain ratio as indices. Results: CCl4 treatment significantly increased both ALT value and the liver: body weight gain ratio at the 1% probability level when compared with the control values. Conclusion: Pre-treatment with the anthocyanin fractions reduced the levels of these markers and hence, the degree of liver damage, though with varying potentials. The lead precipitated, non slimy red fraction possessed the greatest protective property on the rat liver when compared with the other anthocyanin fractions so tested. Keywords: Anthocyanin, carbon tetrachloride, alanine transferase, Hibiscus rosasinensis, liver damage.Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 3 (1) 2008: pp. 33-3

Antidiabetic Potential of the Aqueous Leaf Extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on Streptozotocin (STZ) Induced Diabetes in Wistar Rat Hepatocytes

Abstract: Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has been reported to exhibit hypoglycaemic property and hence recommended traditionally for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, the effect of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf extract on the biochemical complication of Streptozotocin (STZ) induced-diabetes is yet to be scientifically verified. Body weight changes, blood glucose and serum lipids were assessed as indicators of diabetes severity and complication in this present study. 60 mg/kg body weight of STZ was administered to male Wistar rats intraperitoneally once as a single dose. In a dose dependent manner (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg), the aqueous leaf extract were administered orally (by intubation) as single daily dose for a routine period of 21 days. Relative to the control, STZ treatment significantly increased (p<0.05) blood glucose from 90.61±5.9 mg/dL (Control) to 237.70±18.7 mg/dL (STZ group alone). Results further indicated that Cnidoscolus aconitifolius treated group significantly (p<0.05) decreased blood glucose level in a dose dependent manner when compared with STZ induced diabetic group. Coupled with the loss in body weight and disturbed lipid homeostasis (serum total-cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and TAG) in the diabetic group, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius significantly (p<0.05) returned the changes in body weight and lipid profile close to control values. Serum lipids were significantly (p<0.05) decreased except for serum HDL-cholesterol that was increased by the extract when compared with the STZ treated group. The findings obtained from this study suggest that in STZ-induced diabetic rats, aqueous leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius may be effective for the treatment of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Africapitalism: The marketisation of philanthrocapitalism and neoliberalism in African entrepreneurial philanthropy

Despite increased interests in marketisation of philanthrocapitalism research worldwide, the arguments emphasise ‘what’ instead of 'how’ and ‘why’ philanthropic philosophy happens across Africa. To address this gap, 51 Tony Elumelu Foundation participants’ narratives are focused on to draw on an Africapitalism framework highlighting chasms within and between western neoliberalism frameworks and philanthrocapitalism’s marketisation. By framing this paper using philanthrocapitalism discourse, the authors critically examined the activities of African philanthropists and the effects of their neoliberal adoption on recipients. Semi structured interview analysis produced three key ideologies demonstrating ‘what’, ‘how’ and ‘why’ philanthrocapitalism is marketised, namely utopianism and the illusion of a better socioeconomic tomorrow; neoliberalism and a culture of dominance; social investment and marketisation of benevolence. These thematic paradoxes were used to create an additional four-aspect Africapitalism framework contributing to ‘what’, ‘how’ and ‘why’ philanthrocapitalism is marketised in Africa, its impacts, challenges, and solutions. Contributions, limitations and implications for research are articulate

Dapagliflozin, Inflammation and Left Ventricular Remodelling in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Background and AimsSodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have beneficial effects in heart failure (HF), including reverse remodelling, but the mechanisms by which these benefits are conferred are unclear. Inflammation is implicated in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) and there are some pre-clinical data suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors may reduce inflammation. There is however a lack of clinical data. The aim of our study was to investigate whether improvements in cardiac remodelling caused by dapagliflozin in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were associated with its effects on inflammation.MethodsWe measured C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 10 (IL-10) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in plasma samples of 60 patients with T2D and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) but without symptomatic HF from the DAPA-LVH trial in which participants were randomised dapagliflozin 10mg daily or placebo for 12 months and underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) at baseline and end of treatment. The primary analysis was to investigate the effect of dapagliflozin on inflammation and to assess the relationships between changes in inflammatory markers and LV mass and global longitudinal strain (GLS) and whether the effect of dapagliflozin on LV mass and GLS was modulated by baseline levels of inflammation.ResultsFollowing 12 months of treatment dapagliflozin significantly reduced CRP compared to placebo (mean difference of -1.96; 95% CI -3.68 to -0.24, p=0.026). There were no significant statistical changes in other inflammatory markers. There were modest correlations between improvements in GLS and reduced inflammation (NLR (r=0.311), IL-1β (r=0.246), TNF-α (r=0.230)) at 12 months.ConclusionsDapagliflozin caused a significant reduction in CRP compared to placebo. There were correlations between reductions in inflammatory markers including IL-1β and improvements in global longitudinal strain (but not reduced LV mass). Reductions in systemic inflammation might play a contributory role in the cardiovascular benefits of dapagliflozin

Phytochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Ethanolic Seed Extracts of Chrysophyllum albidum (African Star Apple)

Phytochemical and antibacterial properties of ethanolic extract of the seeds of African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) were investigated. The phytochemical result revealed the presence of saponins, carbohydrates, flavonoids, quinones, cardiac glycosides, fatty acids and terpenoids. The antibacterial activity was studied using agar well diffusion method at different concentrations against six pathogenic bacterial strains, three Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus varians and Bacillus cereus) and three Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris). Significant inhibitory activities were exhibited by the ethanolic seed extracts for all test organisms except Bacillus cereus. Zone of inhibition of the crude ethanolic extract was correlated with that of a standard antibiotic Gentamicin, for antibacterial activity. The results indicated a notable inhibition of the bacterial growth

Late gadolinium enhancement and adverse outcomes in a contemporary cohort of adult survivors of tetralogy of Fallot

Objective: Myocardial fibrosis has been associated with poorer outcomes in tetralogy of Fallot, however only a handful of studies have assessed its significance in the current era. Our aim was to quantify the amount of late gadolinium enhancement in both the LV and RV in a contemporary cohort of adults with surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot, and assess the relationship with adverse clinical outcomes. Design: Single centre cohort study Setting: National tertiary referral center Patients: One hundred fourteen patients with surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot with median age 29.5 years (range 17.5-64.2). Prospective follow-up for mean 2.4 years (SD 1.29). Interventions: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was performed, and late gadolinium enhancement mass was estimated for the LV using the 5-SD remote myocardium method, and for the RV using a segmental scoring system. Cohort characterization was determined through the use of a computerized database. Outcome measures: Survival analysis from time of scan to first adverse event, defined as an episode of atrial arrhythmia, sustained ventricular arrhythmia, hospitalization with heart failure, or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator insertion. Results: Eleven patients experienced an adverse outcome in the follow-up period, although there were no deaths. LV late gadolinium enhancement was associated with adverse outcomes in a univariate model (P = .027). However, when adjusted for age at scan the significant variables included NYHA class (P = .006), peak oxygen uptake (P = .028), number of prior sternotomies (P = .044), and higher indexed RV and LV end diastolic volumes (P = .002 and P < .001), but not RV or LV late gadolinium enhancement. Conclusions: Formal quantification of late gadolinium enhancement is not currently as helpful in ascertaining prognosis compared to other, more easily assessed parameters in a contemporary cohort of tetralogy of Fallot survivors, however assessment particularly of the LV holds promise for the future