Anti-Hyperlipidemic Activity of Aerial Parts of Delonix Elata on High Cholesterol Diet Induced Hyperlipidemia in Rats

INTRODUCTION: Obesity:Obesity is a term applied to excess body weight with an abnormally high proportion of body fat. Thermodynamically speaking, imbalance between energy intake (feeding) and energy expenditure (physical activity) leads to obesity (Pilch & Bergenhem, 2006). Obesity has emerged as one of the major health concerns in the 21st century. The morbidity and mortality associated with obesity continue to increase and is one of the leading causes of preventable death (Barness, Opitz & Gilbert- Barness, 2007). Development of obesity is, however, more complicated than that; sedentary life style, genetic factors, medical illness, microbiological aspects, social factors and neurobiological mechanisms are also involved (Sugerman, 2005; Bleich & Cutler, 2008). Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion adults overweight - at least 300 million of them clinically obese - and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability. Often coexisting in developing countries with under-nutrition, obesity is a complex condition, with serious social and psychological dimensions, affecting virtually all ages and socioeconomic groups (Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity And Health, WHO 2003). Increased consumption of more energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods with high levels of sugar and saturated fats, combined with reduced physical activity, have led to obesity rates that have risen three-fold or more since 1980 in some areas of North America, the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, Australia and China. The obesity epidemic is not restricted to industrialized societies; this increase is often faster in developing countries than in the developed world (Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity And Health, WHO 2003). A growing public health concern is that the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6–19 is up to 16.5% in the USA (Hedley et. al, 2004) and has also increased in Europe, Asia, Africa and South American countries (Antipatis & Gill, 2001 ). Despite increased attention given to overweight and obesity by every major body concerned with public health, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (National Task Force, 1994) the Centers for Disease Control the United States Department of Agriculture (Freedman King & Kennedy, 2001) and the World Health Organization (WHO, 2000) primary and secondary prevention efforts have generally been disappointing. AIM & OBJECTIVE: The Goal of the present study is to investigate Anti- hyperlipidemic activity of aerial parts of Delonix elata on high cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemia in rats. The following objectives were set to achieve the goal of the present study 1. To perform the phytochemical evaluation of ethanolic extracts of aerial parts of Delonix elata [EEDE]. 2. To perform the acute toxicity studies of ehanolic extracts of Delonix elata on mice. 3. To investigate the biochemical estimations of various doses of Delonix elata on lipid profile ( TC, TG, HDL, LDL, VLDL) and kidney parameters urea, uric acid and creatinine in all the groups. 4. To investigate the effect of various doses of Delonix elata on antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH and catalase) in all the groups 5. Histopathology studies of heart. SUMMARY : The aim of the study is to evaluate the antihyperlipidemic activity of the ethanolic extract of aerial part of Delonix elata in cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemic rats. Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into five groups of six each. Group-I served as normal control. Groups II to V were given 5% cholesterol diet for 3 months to induce hyperlipidemia, and for last 28 days were administered either: 0.5ml water/saline for Group- I; cholesterol diet (5%) for Group-II; Standard drug Rosuvastatin (20mg/kg body weight) for Group-III; EEDE at 250 mg/kg bodyweight for Group-IV and 500mg/kg body weight for Group-V. The effects of EEDE on Body Weight, serum lipid profile, kidney parameters and anti oxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, GSH and catalase) were assessed and compared. Cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemic rats showed an significant (P<0.001) increase in the plasma concentration of Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), Low-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), Very Low- Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c), Body weight and kidney parameters; it decrease in High Density Lipoproteins Cholesterol (HDL-c) and antioxidant enzymes when compared to normal control rats. Co-administration of EEDE and standard drug Rosuvastatin with cholesterol diet caused a significant decrease (p<0.001) in the concentration of serum TC, VLDL, TG, body weight and kidney parameters; increase in the HDL-C and antioxidant enzymes when compared with cholesterol fed control rats. The result suggests lipid lowering effects of Delonix elata which serves as a new potential natural product for preventing hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSION: In this conclusion, the findings of the study suggest that Delonix elata is a potent for antihypercholesterolemic, antihypertriglycerolemic drug lowering LDL, VLDL and increasing HDL levels in all the High cholesterol diet treated groups. The mechanism has point towards inhibiting cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis. Aerial parts of Delonix elata proved to be effective at higher doses (500mg/kg) and Rosuvastatin standard drug shows better results in decrease TC, TG, LDL and VLDL levels and increase the HDL levels compare to hyperlipidemia rats. The urea, creatinine and uric acid levels are decreased with EEDE compare to the hyperlipidemia rats. In hyperlipidemic rats, the increases of antioxidant enzymes- SOD, CAT and GSH due to the free radical mechanism which could be reduces with help of EEDE groups. Therefore, it can be recommended for further investigation to reveal the exact mechanism for hyperlipidemia activity

The plasma nitric oxide and homocysteine levels and their association with insulin resistance in South Indian women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Background: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exhibit features of the metabolic syndrome apart from low-grade chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction and may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Nitric oxide (NO) and Homocysteine (Hcy) are important plasma markers of endothelial dysfunction, an early marker of atherosclerosis. There are no Indian studies on NO and Hcy levels in women with PCOS and their association with Insulin Resistance (IR). Therefore the present study is to estimate plasma levels of NO and Hcy in south Indian women with PCOS and association with insulin resistance.Methods: 104 women with PCOS and 95 healthy age matched control subject were enrolled in the study. Standard physical methods and Chemiluminescent Immunoassay technique were employed for estimation of Anthropometric parameter and plasma sex hormones respectively. Fasting insulin, glucose, NO and Hcy were measured by standard methods. Insulin resistance was evaluated by using Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA- IR)Results: Women with PCOS had significantly higher insulin resistance (P<0.01), Hcy (p<0.05) and lower NO levels (P<0.05), IR was positively correlated with Hcy (r= 0.610, p<0.01) and negatively correlated with NO (r= -0.285; p<0.01)Conclusions: Our data revealed that South Indian women with PCOS had elevated IR and homocyeteine and lowered NO levels

A novel method of staining acid-fast bacilli in sputum containers

Background & objectives: Making centrifuged deposit smears from sputum to detect acid-fast bacilli (AFB) is considered hazardous. We carried out this study to stain the centrifuged deposits with carbol-fuchsin in sputum containers and to decolourize and counterstain their smears made on glass slides. Methods: The centrifuged deposits of 180 sputum samples from pulmonary tuberculosis patients were used for making smears (initial deposit smears) and staining by Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) method for the detection of AFB. Each of the sputum deposit was then treated with one ml of 1 per cent carbol-fuchsin and a smear made between 2 to 3 h was then decolourized and counterstained by the same procedures followed in ZN method (2 h stained deposit smear). The coded initial deposit smears and the corresponding 2 h stained deposit smears were read by the same readers and the results compared. Results: One hundred and fifty (70 positive and 80 negative) 2 h stained deposit smears were compared with initial deposit smears and the difference was not statistically significant. Interpretation & conclusion: Centrifuged deposits of sputum in sputum containers can be stained by carbol-fuchsin within 2-3 h and their smears made subsequently on glass slides can then be decolourized and counterstained by the procedures followed in ZN method for detection of AFB by light microscopy

Assessment of panel slides prepared by phenol ammonium sulphate and NALC methods for proficiency testing

BACKGROUND: Existing methods for the preparation of panel slides necessitate handling high-grade acid-fast bacilli positive sputum samples. OBJECTIVE: To compare panel slides prepared using the phenol ammonium sulphate sediment (PhAS) method with those prepared using the N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC) method in proficiency testing. METHODS: Pooled sputum specimens of known smearpositives and -negatives were divided into two parts: one part was used for preparing panel slides using the NALC method and the other using PhAS, a non-hazardous method. Respectively 413 and 384 smears of different grades were prepared in three batches using the PhAS and NALC methods. Smear grade and quality were recorded by 121 microscopists during proficiency testing in different states. Agreement between reference and reported results was analysed using the kappa test. RESULTS: The overall agreement was 96% for the PhAS method and 91% for the NALC method. There were 37 errors using the NALC method compared to 21 for the PhAS method (P < 0.223). Smear quality was equally good in both methods; however, the cell count was s ignificantly higher in the PhAS than in the NALC method. CONCLUSION: The PhAS method, a non-hazardous procedure with good-quality smears, may be further explored for the preparation of panel slides

Describing the profile of diagnostic features in autistic adults using an abbreviated version of the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO-Abbreviated)

The rate of diagnosis of autism in adults has increased over recent years; however, the profile of behaviours in these individuals is less understood than the profile seen in those diagnosed in childhood. Better understanding of this profile will be essential to identify and remove potential barriers to diagnosis. Using an abbreviated form of the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders, comparisons were drawn between the profile of a sample of able adults diagnosed in adulthood and the profile of a sample of able children. Results revealed both similarities and differences. A relative strength in non-verbal communication highlighted a potential barrier to diagnosis according to DSM-5 criteria for the adult sample, which may also have prevented them from being diagnosed as children

Information visualization #1 : movie visualization

Information Visualisation is an exciting field of information technology. It has applications in various fields and areas of our daily lives and scientific research. Static information visualisations and interactive ones serve different purposes and audiences. This project aims to explore what information visualisation is, specific methods of visualisation and its applications. It will also explore some methods of measuring how effective an instance of information visualisation is to its users. The date this project focuses on is on data from movies. An interactive visualisation is made using Tableau and is evaluated against some of these measures of effectiveness. Further suggestions are made and the project is concluded.Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Engineering

Strategic Management Analysis – Apple Watch

Apple smartwatch strategy is analyzed in this paper in comparison to its competitors like Samsung and Pebble. The features, cost, market share and sales of smartwatches are compared. The position of Apple smart watch in the technology adoption lifecycle is identified based on the sales. This paper also discusses the Porter’s five-force model and SWOT analysis as applied to Apple’s smart watch. Strength and weakness are analyzed for Apple smart watch and opportunities and threats in comparison to its competitors. The goal of this paper is to identify the position of Apple smartwatch in the smartwatch industry

A Study about the Life of the Great Mahakavi Bharathi

There is no doubt that the name Mahakavi Bharathi is very popular among us Tamil people and other countries today. He was a master at breaking down grammatical definitions. He is a poet of song, a guardian of reason according to the wishes of the lay people, 'Pappa paattu Bharathi to toddlers, a poet of wisdom, and a thinker who has an indelible place in the mind in the name of mundaasu kavi. Bharthi was the one who voiced emotional thoughts to all the people of the world. Bharthi means extreme confidence, and the songs of Bharthi are like a mantra. It can bind us. It is knockable. His song is in such a way that it gives confidence so that one does not give up whenever one feels tired. Bharathiyar's devotion to the Vedas and the Upanishads was well known. This nation fully knows that the Mahakavi had an unwavering devotion to God, but before such devotion took root in him, he was engaged in an atheistic argument with his grandfather and won the debate. He was equal to him in performing so many miracles. Bharti was multilingual. He also compares Tamil with other languages he knows. He enjoys thinking that his mother tongue, Tamil, is the sweetest and best language. It is the story of an incomparable poet with a sense of nationalism and social Tamilness. This article presents the ideas of lifestyle, Tamil work, social work, and women's emancipation