Zerumbone significantly improved immunoreactivity in the synovium compared to Channa striatus extract in monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced knee osteoarthritis in rat

The main aim of this study was to compare the immunoreactivity of some osteoarthritis related neuropeptides following oral administration of two natural remedies that is Channa striatus extract and zerumbone against monosodium iodoacetate induced knee osteoarthritis changes in the rat’s synovial membrane. Assay of PGE2 and PGF2α in the serum were performed to evaluate their role during osteoarthritis events and post oral application of the treatment. Forty rats were divided equally into four groups. Rats in the first and second groups were received channa extract and zerumbone, respectively. Rats in the third group were treated with celecoxib, whereas the fourth group was treated with normal saline. Evaluation of immunoreactivity of the following neuropeptides: Protein gene product 9.5, calcitonin gene related peptide and neuropeptide Y in the synovial membranes was implemented with the aid of both histopathology and immunohistochemistry approaches. Results revealed lower pathology score in both first and second groups accompanied with markedly improved immunoreactivity in zerumbone treated groups compared to channa extract group. Significant different concentrations of PGE2 but not PGF2α were detected within studied groups. Both remedies significantly improved the immunoreactivity which appeared more apparent in the group treated with zerumbone. Prostaglandin E2 has a role in osteoarthritis development and regulation

Chondroprotective Effect of Zerumbone on Monosodium Iodoacetate Induced Osteoarthritis in Rats

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate chondroprotective effect of zerumbone, a purified compound of Zingiber zerumbet Smith against monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) induced knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the rat. The effect on the articular cartilage was examined and compared with celecoxib (Celebrex®), a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID). Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n=10 for each). All animals were injected with MIA intraarticularly in their right knee joints to induce OA. Rats from first and second groups were treated with zerumbone in a same dose but with two different concentrations. Rats in the third group were treated with celecoxib and served as positive control whereas the fourth group were treated with corn oil and served as negative control. Evaluation of OA changes in the knees was assessed with the aid of both radiography and histopathology score. Macroscopic as well as microscopic examinations revealed curative effect of zerumbone in a dose dependent manner on the osteoarthritic knee joints. Apart from this, our data also revealed very poor anti-OA property of celecoxib. We concluded that oral administration of zerumbone in a dose of 2 mL kg-1 b.wt. of 0.4% w/v diluted with corn oil for a period of 4 weeks has some chondroprotective effects

Horizontal axis wind turbine performance analysis

The present work uses the method of Blade Element Momentum Theory as suggested by Hansen. The method applied to three blade models adopted from Rahgozar S. with the airfoil data used the data provided by Wood D. The wind turbine performance described in term of the thrust coefficient CT, torque coefficient CQ and the power coefficient Cp . These three coefficient can be deduced from the Momentum theory or from the Blade element Theory(BET). The present work found the performance coefficient derived from the Momentum theory tent to over estimate. It is suggested to used the BET formulation in presenting these three coefficients. In overall the Blade Element Momentum Theory follows the step by step as described by Hansen work well for these three blade models. However a little adjustment on the blade data is needed. To the case of two bladed horizontal axis wind turbine, Hansen’s approach works well over if the blade radius is RB the calculation should start from r = 0.1RB

Slower alpha rhythm associates with poorer seizure control in epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: Slowing and frontal spread of the alpha rhythm have been reported in multiple epilepsy syndromes. We investigated whether these phenomena are associated with seizure control. METHODS: We prospectively acquired resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) in 63 patients with focal and idiopathic generalized epilepsy (FE and IGE) and 39 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects (HS). Patients were divided into good and poor (≥4 seizures/12 months) seizure control groups based on self-reports and clinical records. We computed spectral power from 20-sec EEG segments during eyes-closed wakefulness, free of interictal abnormalities, and quantified power in high- and low-alpha bands. Analysis of covariance and post hoc t-tests were used to assess group differences in alpha-power shift across all EEG channels. Permutation-based statistics were used to assess the topography of this shift across the whole scalp. RESULTS: Compared to HS, patients showed a statistically significant shift of spectral power from high- to low-alpha frequencies (effect size g = 0.78 [95% confidence interval 0.43, 1.20]). This alpha-power shift was driven by patients with poor seizure control in both FE and IGE (g = 1.14, [0.65, 1.74]), and occurred over midline frontal and bilateral occipital regions. IGE exhibited less alpha power shift compared to FE over bilateral frontal regions (g = -1.16 [-0.68, -1.74]). There was no interaction between syndrome and seizure control. Effects were independent of antiepileptic drug load, time of day, or subgroup definitions. INTERPRETATION: Alpha slowing and anteriorization are a robust finding in patients with epilepsy and might represent a generic indicator of seizure liability

Knowledge Management practices in Malaysian Higher Learning Institutions: a review on selected cases

This article underlines the fact that Malaysian Higher Learning Institutions are seriously geared in approaching its academic excellence status, becoming an international education hub attracting students from different parts of the world..

Knowledge Management practices in Malaysian Higher Learning Institutions: a review on selected cases

This article underlines the fact that Malaysian Higher Learning Institutions are seriously geared in approaching its academic excellence status, becoming an international education hub attracting students from different parts of the world..

Transcranial focused ultrasound-mediated neurochemical and functional connectivity changes in deep cortical regions in humans

Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is an emerging non-invasive technique for focally modulating human brain function. The mechanisms and neurochemical substrates underlying TUS neuromodulation in humans and how these relate to excitation and inhibition are still poorly understood. In 24 healthy controls, we separately stimulated two deep cortical regions and investigated the effects of theta-burst TUS, a protocol shown to increase corticospinal excitability, on the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and functional connectivity. We show that theta-burst TUS in humans selectively reduces GABA levels in the posterior cingulate, but not the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. Functional connectivity increased following TUS in both regions. Our findings suggest that TUS changes overall excitability by reducing GABAergic inhibition and that changes in TUS-mediated neuroplasticity last at least 50 mins after stimulation. The difference in TUS effects on the posterior and anterior cingulate could suggest state- or location-dependency of the TUS effect—both mechanisms increasingly recognized to influence the brain’s response to neuromodulation

Collagenase and sodium iodoacetate-induced experimental osteoarthritis model in Sprague Dawley rats.

The objective of this study was to apply and compare two different experimental osteoarthritis (OA) methods in the rat, namely: Collagenase induced OA (CO) and Monosodium iodoacetate induced OA (MIA) models. The assessment of OA development and progression were performed through three different periods (2, 4 and 6 weeks). Intra-articular injection of either 4 mg joint-1 CO type II or 3 mg joint-1 MIA, were administered to the adult male Sprague Dawley rats, into their right knee joints. Evaluation of OA changes in the knees was achieved with both histopathology score system and radiography approach. Gross results revealed earliest changes such as swelling and redness of the right knee joints of all rats injected with either CO or MIA. Joint dissection revealed distinct thickening of the joint capsule in MIA-injected rats than in CO group. Present finding revealed early development of radiographical as well as histopathological changes in MIA injected group. However, both OA injected groups resulted in a chronic joint degeneration, measured by cellular changes, matrix degradation, subchondral changes and marginal osteophyte formation. Present findings showed significantly higher histopathological score in MIA injected group than those of CO in each of the three selected periods for OA induction. In conclusion, present results demonstrated that MIA can induce OA changes in a shorter period of time than CO in the Sprague Dawley rat. Radiography approach could be a useful tool to evaluate osteoarthritic changes in the knee joints

PGP 9.5- immunoreactivity in the ovary at different stages of oestrous cycle in rats

The reproductive process in female mammals is characterized by cyclic alteration in the female tract. During the oestrous cycle, the primordial follicle will be developed into the Graafian follicle before the ovulation and it takes place under the influence of hormonal control. This work was carried out to study the general pattern of innervation in the ovary at different stages of the oestrous cycle. Twenty-four adult female Sprague Dawley rats were used to perform the goal of the study. These rats were sacrificed after the detection of their cycle stage by vaginal smears and the ovaries were fixed and section using a frozen cryostat. Detection of nerve fibers was done using the immunohistochemistry technique. The results from this study showed that there is innervation in the ovary throughout the oestrous cycle indicated by the presence of PGP 9.5-immunoreactive nerve fibres. The number of nerve fibres found during each stage of the oestrous cycle significantly varies; the nerve fibre count during the oestrus stage was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the nerve fibre count at proestrus, metestrus, and diestrous stage. In conclusion, immunohistochemistry PGP 9.5 marker was a useful approach and indicator for nerve fibers distribution in organs which can be changed with different physiological conditions

Effects of Andrographis paniculata and Orthosiphon stamineus Supplementation on in-vivo Rumen Fermentation Parameters and Microbial Population in Goats Fed Urea-treated Rice Straw

Four fistulated Boer cross-bred bucks with 25 kg average body weight was used to test the effects of dietary treated rice straw supplemented with A. paniculata and O. stamineus on in-vivo rumen parameters and microbial population in goats. The study was conducted in 4 periods (4 x 4 Latin square design), where each period was for a duration of 22 d; 10 dof adaptation period, 5 dof sampling and 7 dof change-over. The animals were fed once daily at 0800 (3% body weight) with 60% of urea-treated rice straw and 40 % of one of four concentrate diets: T1-basal diet + 1% A. paniculata, T2-basal diet + 1% O. stamineus, T3-basal diet + 0.5% of A. paniculata and 0.5% O. stamineus (AO) and T4-basal diet without supplementation of herbs. Clean water was provided ad libitum and the animals were individually penned. Rumen contents were sampled at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 12 hafter the onset feeding and the pH was recorded. Rumen pH, VFA's, concentration of ammonia and microbial population in the rumen fluid were measured. The mean rumen pH was the highest (P<0.05) at 2 h in T3 after the onset feeding while the mean concentration (mg/L) of ammonia in the rumen fluid was the lowest at 6 and 12 h in T2 (P<0.05). The molar proportion of valerate was higher (P<0.05) at 6 h in T1. Meanwhile, the acetate to propionate ratio was affected by time where it was significantly higher at 12 h in T3. Significant reduction of total protozoa, methanogens, F. succinogens and R. albus number was observed in the herb-supplemented groups (P<0.05). The results suggest that urea-treated rice straw with herbs supplementation can be fed to goats without impairing their performance. However, further study could be done by increasing the supplementation of herbs in order to observe more effective results