Evaluation of antidepressant effect of aqueous extract of Psidium guajava leaves on Wistar albino rats

Background: Depression is one of the common mental disorder prevalent worldwide. Use of herbal medicines in the treatment of depression is becoming popular because of adverse effects of existing non herbal drugs. In this study Psidium guajava leaf aqueous extract is screened for antidepressant activity in Wistar albino rats.Methods: Wistar albino rats of both sex were used. After performing acute toxicity study, dose of test drug was fixed to 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg. Test and standard drugs were administered for 10 days orally. Standard drug used was Imipramine. Antidepressant activity was assessed using forced swim test and tail suspension test.Results: Statistical analysis was done by one way ANOVA followed by Tukey Kramer. Aqueous extract of Psidium guajava leaves showed significant antidepressant activity. Both Psidium guajava aqueous extract (PGAE)-100mg/kg and 200mg/kg showed antidepressant effect but compared to 100mg/kg dose of PGAE, 200mg/kg showed significant antidepressant activity.Conclusions: From this study it can be concluded that aqueous extract of Psidium guajava leaves has antidepressant activity

Preclinical evaluation of antidepressant activity of aqueous extract of Piper betle leaves in Swiss albino mice

Background: There is a growing demand for alternative medicines derived from indigenous plants having natural antioxidants and neuroprotective actions for the treatment of many behavioural disorders such as anxiety and depression. This study was designed to screen antidepressant activity of aqueous extract of Piper betle L. leaf (betel leaf) in Swiss albino mice.Methods: Swiss albino mice of both sexes weighing 25-30grams were used in the present study. Piper betle leaves aqueous extract (PBAE) was administered to the animals at a dose of 100, 200mg/kg body weight orally for 14 days. On the 14th day, after 1 hour of PBAE administration, experiments on force swim test (FST) and tail suspension (TST) were carried out for studying the level of depression. In FST and TST, time of immobility was noted for a period of 5 minutes.Results: Data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey Kramer’s multiple comparison test at P = 0.05. The results were represented as Mean±SE. PBAE at a dose of 100mg/kg has shown significant antidepressant activity, as evidenced by decrease in the immobility time in both the screening tests of depression.Conclusions: Present results demonstrated that PBAE possess potent antidepressant property. The exact mechanism(s) related to the active compound(s) in Piper betle leaf extract have to be elucidated in future studies

New insights of RA-V cyclopeptide as an autophagy inhibitor in human COLO 320DM cancer cell lines

Colon cancer is the leading cause for the malignancy in the gastrointestinal tract. Autophagy is a self-degradation process of the unnecessary, injured and aged organelles and proteins in the cell, which is followed by recovering of degraded products. Apoptosis is a programmed cell death which is characterized by membrane blebbing, chromosome condensation and nuclear fragmentation. Apoptosis and autophagy can occur frequently in a cell, predominantly in a series preceding apoptosis through autophagy by the formation of autophagosomes. In current research, the impact of autophagy inhibition and apoptosis activation were found to be the targeted strategies to treat colon cancer. This study is focused on the apoptotic potential of RA-V, a natural cyclopeptide through the inhibition of protective autophagy in colon cancer cells. Growth inhibitory properties were observed in the RA-V treated (125 μM) colo 320DM cells using cell viability assay. RA-V induced apoptosis of colo 320DM cells at the maximum concentration of 125 μM, which was observed using DAPI and Annexin - PI staining methods. In this study we also examined the mechanistic role of RA-V (125 μM) incolo 320DM cells in the presence of Rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) and chloroquine (autophagy inhibitor) using MDC and AO staining methods

Provable Routing Analysis of Programmable Photonics

Programmable photonic integrated circuits (PPICs) are an emerging technology recently proposed as an alternative to custom-designed application-specific integrated photonics. Light routing is one of the most important functions that need to be realized on a PPIC. Previous literature has investigated the light routing problem from an algorithmic or experimental perspective, e.g., adopting graph theory to route an optical signal. In this paper, we also focus on the light routing problem, but from a complementary and theoretical perspective, to answer questions about what is possible to be routed. Specifically, we demonstrate that not all path lengths (defined as the number of tunable basic units that an optical signal traverses) can be realized on a square-mesh PPIC, and a rigorous realizability condition is proposed and proved. We further consider multi-path routing, where we provide an analytical expression on path length sum, upper bounds on path length mean/variance, and the maximum number of realizable paths. All of our conclusions are proven mathematically. Illustrative potential optical applications using our observations are also presented

Characterisation and correlates of stunting among Malaysian children and adolescents aged 6–19 years

Daniel Reidpath - ORCID: 0000-0002-8796-0420 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8796-0420Background Despite emerging evidence regarding the reversibility of stunting at older ages, most stunting research continues to focus on children below 5 years of age. We aimed to assess stunting prevalence and examine the sociodemographic distribution of stunting risk among older children and adolescents in a Malaysian population. Methods We used cross-sectional data on 6759 children and adolescents aged 6–19 years living in Segamat, Malaysia. We compared prevalence estimates for stunting defined using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) references, using Cohen's κ coefficient. Associations between sociodemographic indices and stunting risk were examined using mixed-effects Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Results The classification of children and adolescents as stunted or normal height differed considerably between the two references (CDC v. WHO; κ for agreement: 0.73), but prevalence of stunting was high regardless of reference (crude prevalence: CDC 29.2%; WHO: 19.1%). Stunting risk was approximately 19% higher among underweight v. normal weight children and adolescents (p = 0.030) and 21% lower among overweight children and adolescents (p = 0.001), and decreased strongly with improved household drinking water sources [risk ratio (RR) for water piped into house: 0.35, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.30–0.41, p < 0.001). Protective effects were also observed for improved sanitation facilities (RR for flush toilet: 0.41, 95% CI 0.19–0.88, p = 0.023). Associations were not materially affected in multiple sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Our findings justify a framework for strategies addressing stunting across childhood, and highlight the need for consensus on a single definition of stunting in older children and adolescents to streamline monitoring efforts.https://doi.org/10.1017/gheg.2019.1

The Use of Different International References to Assess Child Anthropometric Status in a Malaysian Population

Daniel Reidpath - ORCID: 0000-0002-8796-0420 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8796-0420Objective To assess the prevalence of child underweight, overweight, and obesity in a Malaysian population according to 3 international references because classification of anthropometric status may differ according to the reference used to express body mass index (BMI). Study design We assessed data from 6414 children aged 6-18 years, collected by the South East Asia Community Observatory. Child underweight, overweight, and obesity were expressed according to 3 internationally used BMI references: World Health Organization 2007, International Obesity Task Force 2012, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000. We assessed agreement in classification of anthropometric status among the references using Cohen's kappa statistic and estimated underweight, overweight, and obesity prevalence according to each reference using mixed effects Poisson regression. Results There was poor to moderate agreement between references when classifying underweight, but generally good agreement when classifying overweight and obesity. Underweight, overweight, and obesity prevalence estimates generated using the 3 references were notably inconsistent. Overweight and obesity prevalence estimates were higher using the World Health Organization reference vs the other 2, and underweight prevalence was up to 8.5% higher and obesity prevalence was about 4% lower when using the International Obesity Task Force reference. Conclusions The choice of reference to express BMI may influence conclusions about child anthropometric status and malnutrition prevalence. This has implications regarding strategies for clinical management and public health interventions.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.07.049190pubpu

The Use of Different International References to Assess Child Anthropometric Status in a Malaysian Population

Daniel Reidpath - ORCID: 0000-0002-8796-0420 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8796-0420Objective To assess the prevalence of child underweight, overweight, and obesity in a Malaysian population according to 3 international references because classification of anthropometric status may differ according to the reference used to express body mass index (BMI). Study design We assessed data from 6414 children aged 6-18 years, collected by the South East Asia Community Observatory. Child underweight, overweight, and obesity were expressed according to 3 internationally used BMI references: World Health Organization 2007, International Obesity Task Force 2012, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000. We assessed agreement in classification of anthropometric status among the references using Cohen's kappa statistic and estimated underweight, overweight, and obesity prevalence according to each reference using mixed effects Poisson regression. Results There was poor to moderate agreement between references when classifying underweight, but generally good agreement when classifying overweight and obesity. Underweight, overweight, and obesity prevalence estimates generated using the 3 references were notably inconsistent. Overweight and obesity prevalence estimates were higher using the World Health Organization reference vs the other 2, and underweight prevalence was up to 8.5% higher and obesity prevalence was about 4% lower when using the International Obesity Task Force reference. Conclusions The choice of reference to express BMI may influence conclusions about child anthropometric status and malnutrition prevalence. This has implications regarding strategies for clinical management and public health interventions.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.07.049190pubpu

Anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk factors in parents and child obesity in Segamat, Malaysia

Daniel Reidpath - ORCID: 0000-0002-8796-0420 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8796-0420Background There is little evidence regarding risk factors for child obesity in Asian populations, including the role of parental anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk factors. We examined the relation between parental risk factors and child obesity in a Malaysian population. Methods We used data from health and demographic surveillance conducted by the South East Asia Community Observatory in Segamat, Malaysia. Analyses included 9207 individuals (4806 children, 2570 mothers and 1831 fathers). Child obesity was defined based on the World Health Organization 2007 reference. We assessed the relation between parental anthropometric (overweight, obesity and central obesity) and cardiometabolic (systolic hypertension, diastolic hypertension and hyperglycaemia) risk factors and child obesity, using mixed effects Poisson regression models with robust standard errors. Results We found a high burden of overweight and obesity among children in this population (30% overweight or obese). Children of one or more obese parents had a 2-fold greater risk of being obese compared with children of non-obese parents. Sequential adjustment for parental and child characteristics did not materially affect estimates (fully adjusted relative risk for obesity in both parents: 2.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.82, 3.10, P < 0.001; P for trend < 0.001). These associations were not modified by parental or child sex. We found no consistent evidence for associations between parental cardiometabolic risk factors and child obesity. Conclusions Parental obesity was strongly associated with child obesity in this population. Further exploration of the behavioural and environmental drivers of these associations may help inform strategies addressing child obesity in Asia.https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyx11446pubpub

Anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk factors in parents and child obesity in Segamat, Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: There is little evidence regarding risk factors for child obesity in Asian populations, including the role of parental anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk factors. We examined the relation between parental risk factors and child obesity in a Malaysian population. METHODS: We used data from health and demographic surveillance conducted by the South East Asia Community Observatory in Segamat, Malaysia. Analyses included 9207 individuals (4806 children, 2570 mothers and 1831 fathers). Child obesity was defined based on the World Health Organization 2007 reference. We assessed the relation between parental anthropometric (overweight, obesity and central obesity) and cardiometabolic (systolic hypertension, diastolic hypertension and hyperglycaemia) risk factors and child obesity, using mixed effects Poisson regression models with robust standard errors. RESULTS: We found a high burden of overweight and obesity among children in this population (30% overweight or obese). Children of one or more obese parents had a 2-fold greater risk of being obese compared with children of non-obese parents. Sequential adjustment for parental and child characteristics did not materially affect estimates (fully adjusted relative risk for obesity in both parents: 2.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.82, 3.10, P < 0.001; P for trend < 0.001). These associations were not modified by parental or child sex. We found no consistent evidence for associations between parental cardiometabolic risk factors and child obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Parental obesity was strongly associated with child obesity in this population. Further exploration of the behavioural and environmental drivers of these associations may help inform strategies addressing child obesity in Asia