α-glucosidase inhibitors isolated from Mimosa pudica L.

The aim of the study was to isolate digestive enzymes inhibitors from Mimosa pudica through a bioassay-guided fractionation approach. Repeated silica gel and sephadex LH 20 column chromatographies of bioactive fractions afforded stigmasterol, quercetin and avicularin as digestive enzymes inhibitors whose IC50 values as compared to acarbose (351.02 ± 1.46 μg mL−1) were found to be as 91.08 ± 1.54, 75.16 ± 0.92 and 481.7 ± 0.703 μg mL−1, respectively. In conclusion, M. pudica could be a good and safe source of digestive enzymes inhibitors for the management of diabetes in future

Determinants of intima-media thickness in the young: the ALSPAC Study

Objectives: This study characterized the determinants of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in a large (n > 4,000) longitudinal cohort of healthy young people age 9 to 21 years. Background: Greater cIMT is commonly used in the young as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, but its evolution at this age is still poorly understood. Methods: Associations between cardiovascular risk factors and cIMT were investigated in both longitudinal (ages 9 to 17 years) and cross-sectional (ages 17 and 21 years) analyses, with the latter also related to other measures of carotid structure and stress. Additional use of ultra-high frequency ultrasound in the radial artery at age 21 years allowed investigation of the distinct layers (i.e., intima or media) that may underlie observed differences. Results: Fat-free mass (FFM) and systolic blood pressure were the only modifiable risk factors positively associated with cIMT (e.g., mean difference in cIMT per 1-SD increase in FFM at age 17: 0.007 mm: 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.004 to 0.010; p < 0.001), whereas fat mass was negatively associated with cIMT (difference: −0.0032; 95% CI: 0.004 to −0.001; p = 0.001). Similar results were obtained when investigating cumulative exposure to these factors throughout adolescence. An increase in cIMT maintained circumferential wall stress in the face of increased mean arterial pressure when increases in body mass were attributable to increased FFM, but not fat mass. Risk factor−associated differences in the radial artery occurred in the media alone, and there was little evidence of a relationship between intimal thickness and any risk factor. Conclusions: Subtle changes in cIMT in the young may predominantly involve the media and represent physiological adaptations as opposed to subclinical atherosclerosis. Other vascular measures might be more appropriate for the identification of arterial disease before adulthood

Chronic kidney disease and valvular heart disease: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies conference

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for valvular heart disease (VHD). Mitral annular and aortic valve calcifications are highly prevalent in CKD patients and commonly lead to valvular stenosis and regurgitation, as well as complications including conduction system abnormalities and endocarditis. VHD, especially mitral regurgitation and aortic stenosis, is associated with significantly reduced survival among CKD patients. Knowledge related to VHD in the general population is not always applicable to CKD patients because the pathophysiology may be different, and CKD patients have a high prevalence of comorbid conditions and elevated risk for periprocedural complications and mortality. This Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) review of CKD and VHD seeks to improve understanding of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of VHD in CKD by summarizing knowledge gaps, areas of controversy, and priorities for research

Long-term outcome of chronic dialysis in children

As the prevalence of children on renal replacement therapy (RRT) increases world wide and such therapy comprises at least 2% of any national dialysis or transplant programme, it is essential that paediatric nephrologists are able to advise families on the possible outcome for their child on dialysis. Most children start dialysis with the expectation that successful renal transplantation is an achievable goal and will provide the best survival and quality of life. However, some will require long-term dialysis or may return intermittently to dialysis during the course of their chronic kidney disease (CKD). This article reviews the available outcome data for children on chronic dialysis as well as extrapolating data from the larger adult dialysis experience to inform our paediatric practice. The multiple factors that may influence outcome, and, particularly, those that can potentially be modified, are discussed

Extraction of omega 3 fatty acids from sardine byproducts using supercritical carbon dioxide

Sardine generally processed as canned fish, and in consequence of a lot of solid wastes are generated as by-products which could be good sources of fish oil. Omega-3 fatty acid compositions of total lipids extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) from sardine fish by-product (head, skin and viscera) were determined and the results were compared with Soxhlet extraction. SC-CO2 extraction was performed at optimized condition at a temperature of 60 0C, the pressure of 35 Mpa and flow rate of 3 ml min-1. Highest yield were obtained from the skin (42.5%) followed by the head (22.4%) and the viscera (9.6%) which is closer to that of the yield of Soxhlet extraction method where 44%, 23% and 11% (on dry basis) oil were yielded from skin, head and viscera, respectively. Saturated fatty acid was dominant in corporate with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid in all organs and the difference of extracted fatty acids between SC-CO2 and Soxhlet methods were non-significant. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was characteristically major PUFA accounting 19.8% in head, 15.4% in skin and 13.6% in viscera of the total fatty acids. Total oil extracted by SC-CO2 had lower free fatty acid content than the oil extracted by Soxhlet method. Thus, SC-CO2 could be the effective method for extracting omega-3 PUFA rich fish oil from sardine by-products

α-glucosidase inhibitors isolated from <i>Mimosa pudica</i> L.

<p>The aim of the study was to isolate digestive enzymes inhibitors from <i>Mimosa pudica</i> through a bioassay-guided fractionation approach. Repeated silica gel and sephadex LH 20 column chromatographies of bioactive fractions afforded stigmasterol, quercetin and avicularin as digestive enzymes inhibitors whose IC₅₀ values as compared to acarbose (351.02 ± 1.46 μg mL⁻¹) were found to be as 91.08 ± 1.54, 75.16 ± 0.92 and 481.7 ± 0.703 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. In conclusion, <i>M. pudica</i> could be a good and safe source of digestive enzymes inhibitors for the management of diabetes in future.</p> <p>Antidiabetic active principles (stigmasterol, quercetin, avicularin) isolated from neglected weed <i>Mimosa pudica</i></p