Changes in some female reproductive parameters of Albino wistar rats by hydroethanol leaf extract of fleurya aestuans

Background: This study investigated the effects of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Fleurya aestuans (FA) on some female reproductive hormones in female albino wistar rats.Methods: Thirty-two (32) rats weighing 120 to 200g were grouped into four of eight rats each. After two weeks of acclimatization, group 1 served as the control group. Groups 2, 3 and 4 served as the test groups and were orally administered with (75, 150 and 300) mg/kg body weight of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Fleurya aestuans (FA) respectively, for 42 days. The animals were allowed access to water and feeds ad libitum. At the end of treatment, the animals were properly sedated and blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture. The blood samples were centrifuged and serum obtained was used to determine the concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen and progesterone using the ELISA method. Also, the ovaries of each rat were harvested and fixed for histological studies. Raw data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.Results: The hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of F. aestuans significantly (P<0.05) increased serum concentrations of FSH and LH in all test groups. Whereas, estrogen and progesterone increased significantly (P<0.05) in test Groups 2 (75mg/kg) and 3 (150mg/kg) but were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in test Group 4 (300mg/kg). Histological examination of the ovaries showed only primary follicles in Groups 1 and 4, while, Graafian follicle and corpus luteum were seen in groups 2 and 3. This suggests that the hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Fleurya aestuans contains possible biologically active properties that may be potent in enhancing serum concentrations of FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone but may be ineffective at a higher dose.Conclusions: The current study showed that hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Fleurya aestuans promotes fertility in females and suggests that caution be taken in the quantity of this extract consumed if to be considered for fertility enhancement purposes in females

Clinical features and outcomes of elderly hospitalised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure or both

Background and objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) mutually increase the risk of being present in the same patient, especially if older. Whether or not this coexistence may be associated with a worse prognosis is debated. Therefore, employing data derived from the REPOSI register, we evaluated the clinical features and outcomes in a population of elderly patients admitted to internal medicine wards and having COPD, HF or COPD + HF. Methods: We measured socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics, severity and prevalence of comorbidities, clinical and laboratory features during hospitalization, mood disorders, functional independence, drug prescriptions and discharge destination. The primary study outcome was the risk of death. Results: We considered 2,343 elderly hospitalized patients (median age 81&nbsp;years), of whom 1,154 (49%) had COPD, 813 (35%) HF, and 376 (16%) COPD + HF. Patients with COPD + HF had different characteristics than those with COPD or HF, such as a higher prevalence of previous hospitalizations, comorbidities (especially chronic kidney disease), higher respiratory rate at admission and number of prescribed drugs. Patients with COPD + HF (hazard ratio HR 1.74, 95% confidence intervals CI 1.16-2.61) and patients with dementia (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.06-2.90) had a higher risk of death at one year. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed a higher mortality risk in the group of patients with COPD + HF for all causes (p = 0.010), respiratory causes (p = 0.006), cardiovascular causes (p = 0.046) and respiratory plus cardiovascular causes (p = 0.009). Conclusion: In this real-life cohort of hospitalized elderly patients, the coexistence of COPD and HF significantly worsened prognosis at one year. This finding may help to better define the care needs of this population

Examining Suicide Protective Factors Among Black College Students

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the nascent literature on resilience and suicidality among Black Americans by examining factors that may predict less suicidal behavior among this population. The authors hypothesized that reasons for living, life satisfaction, and religious awareness would account for unique variance in suicidal thoughts and behavior among Black Americans, above the variance accounted for by depressive symptoms. They also hypothesized that reasons for living and religious awareness would be stronger inverse predictors among Black women than Black men. Results indicated that both depression and life satisfaction were stronger predictors of suicidal behavior among Black men. Among women, only reasons for living was a significant inverse predictor of suicidal thoughts and behavior. More frequent reasons for living moderated the relationship between depression and suicidal thoughts and behavior among Black women. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

Changes in some female reproductive parameters of albino wistar rats by hydroethanol leaf extract of fleurya aestuans

Background: This study investigated the effects of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Fleurya aestuans (FA) on some female reproductive hormones in female albino wistar rats.Methods: Thirty-two (32) rats weighing 120 to 200g were grouped into four of eight rats each. After two weeks of acclimatization, group 1 served as the control group. Groups 2, 3 and 4 served as the test groups and were orally administered with (75, 150 and 300) mg/kg body weight of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Fleurya aestuans (FA) respectively, for 42 days. The animals were allowed access to water and feeds ad libitum. At the end of treatment, the animals were properly sedated and blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture. The blood samples were centrifuged and serum obtained was used to determine the concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen and progesterone using the ELISA method. Also, the ovaries of each rat were harvested and fixed for histological studies. Raw data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.Results: The hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of F. aestuans significantly (P&lt;0.05) increased serum concentrations of FSH and LH in all test groups. Whereas, estrogen and progesterone increased significantly (P&lt;0.05) in test Groups 2 (75mg/kg) and 3 (150mg/kg) but were significantly (P&lt;0.05) decreased in test Group 4 (300mg/kg). Histological examination of the ovaries showed only primary follicles in Groups 1 and 4, while, Graafian follicle and corpus luteum were seen in groups 2 and 3. This suggests that the hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Fleurya aestuans contains possible biologically active properties that may be potent in enhancing serum concentrations of FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone but may be ineffective at a higher dose.Conclusions: The current study showed that hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Fleurya aestuans promotes fertility in females and suggests that caution be taken in the quantity of this extract consumed if to be considered for fertility enhancement purposes in females

Nanopatterns of molecular spoked wheels as giant homologues of benzene tricarboxylic acids

Molecular spoked wheels with D3h and Cs symmetry are synthesized by Vollhardt trimerization of C2v-symmetric dumbbell structures with central acetylene units and subsequent intramolecular ring closure. Scanning tunneling microscopy of the D3h-symmetric species at the solid/liquid interface on graphite reveals triporous chiral honeycomb nanopatterns in which the alkoxy side chains dominate the packing over the carboxylic acid groups, which remain unpaired. In contrast, Cs-symmetric isomers partially allow for pairing of the carboxylic acids, which therefore act as a probe for the reduced alkoxy chain nanopattern stabilization. This observation also reflects the adsorbate substrate symmetry mismatch, which leads to an increase of nanopattern complexity and unexpected templating of alkoxy side chains along the graphite armchair directions. State-of-the-art GFN-FF calculations confirm the overall structure of this packing and attribute the unusual side-chain orientation to a steric constraint in a confined environment. These calculations go far beyond conventional simple space-filling models and are therefore particularly suitable for this special case of molecular packing

Photosynthetic machinery under salinity stress: Trepidations and adaptive mechanisms

Chloroplasts and photosynthesis are the physiologically fateful arenas of salinity stress. Morphological and anatomical alterations in the leaf tissue, ultrastructural changes in the chloroplast, compromise in the integrity of the three-layered chloroplast membrane system, and defects in the light and dark reactions during the osmotic, ionic, and oxidative phases of salt stress are conversed in detail to bring the salinity-mediated physiological alterations in the chloroplast on to a single platform. Chloroplasts of salt-tolerant plants have evolved highly regulated salt-responsive pathways. Thylakoid membrane remodeling, ion homeostasis, osmoprotection, upregulation of chloroplast membrane and stromal proteins, chloroplast ROS scavenging, efficient retrograde signalling, and differential gene and metabolite abundance are the key attributes of optimal photosynthesis in tolerant species. This review throws light into the comparative mechanism of chloroplast and photosynthetic response to salinity in sensitive and tolerant plant species

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe