Pharmacological basis for medicinal use of Ziziphyus nummularia (Rhamnaceae) leaves in gastrointestinal disorders

Purpose: To explore the pharmacological basis for the folkloric use of Ziziphus nummularia for treating diarrhea and gastrointestinal spasm.Methods: Ziziphus nummularia crude extract (Zn.Cr) was investigated for  antidiarrheal activity (50, 100 and 300 mg/kg) in terms of reduction diarrhea  droppings as well as for antisecretory activity (300 and 1000 mg/kg) in castor-oil induced model in mice. The effect of the extract on potassium chloride (KCl, 80 mM)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum tissues were was also  examined. Furthermore, the antiulcer properties of the extract was assessed in an ethanol-induced gastrointestinal ulcer model.Results: Zn.Cr (50 – 1000 mg/kg) exhibited protective effect against castor  oil-induced diarrhea (p <0.05, p < 0.01 vs saline group) and intestinal fluid  accumulation (p < 0.001 vs. castor oil group) in mice. In isolated rabbit jejunum model, Zn.Cr concentration-dependently (0.01, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1 and 3 mg/mL) caused relaxation of spontaneous and KCl-induced contractions, similar to  verapamil. Calcium antagonistic effect was indicated, as pretreatment of intestinal tissues with Zn.Cr (0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL) produced a rightward shift in Ca2+ concentration-response curves, with suppression of maximum contraction. In ethanol-induced gastric ulceration assay, Zn.Cr (300 and 1000 mg/kg) caused52.5 and 93.6 % inhibition, respectively (p < 0.001 vs. saline group).Conclusion: These results reveal that Ziziphus nummularia possesses anti-diarrheal, anti-secretory, anti-spasmodic and anti-ulcer actions, mediated possibly through voltage-gated Ca2+channel blockade.Keywords: Ziziphus nummularia, Anti-diarrheal, Anti-secretory, Anti-spasmodic, Anti-ulce

Beef, Casein, and Soy Proteins Differentially Affect Lipid Metabolism, Triglycerides Accumulation and Gut Microbiota of High-Fat Diet-Fed C57BL/6J Mice

Consumption of dietary protein at recommended levels is considered a potential strategy to promote satiety and weight management, but how protein from different dietary sources effect the obesity development, lipid metabolism, and gut microbiota is not known. This study focused on the effects of beef, casein, and soy protein diet on lipid metabolism, triglycerides accumulation, and microbial diversity in colon of C57BL/6J mice, which were given either low-fat diets (LFD, 12% Kcal) or high-fat diets (HFD, 60% Kcal) for 12 weeks. Body and liver weight increased significantly in mice fed a beef protein HFD (HFB), whereas reduced cumulative energy intake was seen in a soy protein HFD (HFS) group. HFB-fed mice showed signs of impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance along with a significant elevation in the concentration of triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, IL1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and leptin in serum. HFB also enhanced lipid accumulation in liver with increased activity of genes important for lipogenesis and hepatic cholesterol metabolism. A 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that HFD, regardless of proteins, significantly enhanced the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes in colonic microbiota. However, HFB not only reduced the abundance of Akkermansia, compared with LFD independent of proteins, but also decreased the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria such as Anaerotruncus, Butyricicoccus, and Lactobacillus (P < 0.05) compared with HFS and HFC. In conclusion, consumption of HFB does not only affect the gut microbiota composition but also increases the problems related to metabolic syndromes like dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and triglycerides accumulation in liver, which lead to systemic inflammation and its associated comorbidities, for example, impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance

Management of an extensive frontal pyocoele using an external approach: a case report

Pyocoeles of the paranasal sinuses are pus-filled cavities seen in the sinuses and develop from the infection of the mucocoeles. Pyocoeles most commonly form in the frontal sinus. Endoscopic Sinus Surgery is currently the mainstay of the treatment. We present the case of an 85-year-old female who presented to the ENT OPD of Jinnah Hospital/AIMC, Lahore, in October 2017 with complaints of progressive symptoms of intractable left frontal pain, double vision, and an associated swelling below the medial half of the left eyebrow. A CT scan was done and a diagnosis of extensive frontal pyocele was made. She was treated successfully with an external approach and remained without any complications till 13-month follow-up after surgery; exceptional cosmetic results were achieved. We wish to bring attention to the possibility of an external approach being used as a primary intervention, if deemed appropriate

A 28 GHz Broadband Helical Inspired End-Fire Antenna and Its MIMO Configuration for 5G Pattern Diversity Applications

In this paper, an end-fire antenna for 28 GHz broadband communications is proposed with its multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) configuration for pattern diversity applications in 5G communication systems and the Internet of Things (IoT). The antenna comprises a simple geometrical structure inspired by a conventional planar helical antenna without utilizing any vias. The presented antenna is printed on both sides of a very thin high-frequency substrate (Rogers RO4003, εr = 3.38) with a thickness of 0.203 mm. Moreover, its MIMO configuration is characterized by reasonable gain, high isolation, good envelope correlation coefficient, broad bandwidth, and high diversity gain. To verify the performance of the proposed antenna, it was fabricated and verified by experimental measurements. Notably, the antenna offers a wide −10 dB measured impedance ranging from 26.25 GHz to 30.14 GHz, covering the frequency band allocated for 5G communication systems with a measured peak gain of 5.83 dB. Furthermore, a performance comparison with the state-of-the-art mm-wave end-fire antennas in terms of operational bandwidth, electrical size, and various MIMO performance parameters shows the worth of the proposed work

Slotted Antenna Array with Enhanced Radiation Characteristics for 5G 28 GHz Communications

This paper presents a 1 × 4 linear antenna array working at 28 GHz for 5G communication systems. The proposed array employs four rectangular slotted antenna elements fed by a 1 × 4 T-power divider. An artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) layer is placed below the array for increasing the radiation intensity and improving overall array gain. The measured impedance bandwidth of the proposed array with (|S11| < −10 dB) is extended from 25.36 to 26.03 GHz (with a bandwidth of 0.67 GHz) and from 26.75 to 28.81 GHz (with a bandwidth of 2.06 GHz). The proposed array design exhibits a measured gain value that varies between 11.8 dBi and 13.1 dBi within the operating bands and reaches 13.1 dBi at 28 GHz. The proposed array achieves a radiation efficiency of 83.05%, and a front-to-back ratio ranging between 15 and 20 dB across the operating frequency band. The array is fabricated and tested with good matching between the simulated and tested outcomes. The improved performance of the array makes it a suitable candidate for 5G new radio (NR) communications

A 28 GHz Broadband Helical Inspired End-Fire Antenna and Its MIMO Configuration for 5G Pattern Diversity Applications

In this paper, an end-fire antenna for 28 GHz broadband communications is proposed with its multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) configuration for pattern diversity applications in 5G communication systems and the Internet of Things (IoT). The antenna comprises a simple geometrical structure inspired by a conventional planar helical antenna without utilizing any vias. The presented antenna is printed on both sides of a very thin high-frequency substrate (Rogers RO4003, εr&nbsp;= 3.38) with a thickness of 0.203 mm. Moreover, its MIMO configuration is characterized by reasonable gain, high isolation, good envelope correlation coefficient, broad bandwidth, and high diversity gain. To verify the performance of the proposed antenna, it was fabricated and verified by experimental measurements. Notably, the antenna offers a wide −10 dB measured impedance ranging from 26.25 GHz to 30.14 GHz, covering the frequency band allocated for 5G communication systems with a measured peak gain of 5.83 dB. Furthermore, a performance comparison with the state-of-the-art mm-wave end-fire antennas in terms of operational bandwidth, electrical size, and various MIMO performance parameters shows the worth of the proposed work

Image_1_Perilla frutescens seed meal as a fat substitute mitigates heterocyclic amine formation and protein oxidation and improves fatty acid profile of pan-fried chicken patties.JPEG

Fatty acid profile, protein and fatty acid oxidation and flavor profile of pan-fried chicken patties formulated with various levels of Perilla frutescens seed meal (PSM) as a fat substitute was investigated in this study. The formation of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) in the chicken patties was also evaluated. The results showed that pan-fried patties formulated with 20% PSM (PSM4) had the highest ranges of oleic acid and ΣMUFA content and ΣPUFA/ΣSFA ratio. Low to medium levels of PSM (PSM1, 2, and 3 corresponding to 5, 10, and 15% of PSM, respectively) reduced the content of lipid peroxidation products, while high level (PSM4) increased it. All levels of PSM were also found to be effective against elevation in carbonyl content relative to the control. Moreover, the PSM effectively inhibited HCA formation in the chicken patties. The total contents of HCAs in PSM1, PSM2, PSM3, and PSM4 samples were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the control sample, corresponding to 31.9, 46.1, 57.2, and 44.8% inhibition, respectively. PSM4, however, had no or very little effect on the formation of PhIP, 4,8-DiMeIQx and AαC, despite a strong inhibitory effect on MeIQx formation. These findings not only support the promising potential of PSM for application as a fat substitute to improve the fatty acid profile and reduce the content of harmful by-products in heat-processed chicken, but also highlight that appropriate addition level is a critical factor in optimizing the functional capacity of this natural agent.</p