Anti-angiogenic and toxicity effects of Derris trifoliata extract in zebrafish embryo

Introduction: Derris trifoliata has been traditionally used as folk for the treatment of , rheumatic joints, diarrhoea, and dysmenorrhea, and rotenoids isolated from the plant have shown to exhibit anti-cancer properties. This study aimed to assess the toxicity effects and antiangiogenic activity of extract of Derris trifoliata on zebrafish embryo model. Materials and Methods: Zebrafihs embryos were treated with aqueous extract of Derris Trifoliata to evaluate its effects on angiogenesis and zebrafish-toxicity. Angiogenic response was analyzed using whole-mount alkaline phosphatase (AP) vessel staining on 72 hours post fertilization (hpf) zebrafish embryos. Results: 1.0 mg/ml concentration was toxic to zebrafish embryos and embryos exposed to concentrations at 0.5 mg/ml and below showed some malformations. Derris trifoliata aqueous extract also showed some anti-angiogenic activity in vivo in the zebrafish embryo model wereby at high concentration inhibited vessel formation in zebrafish embryo. Conclusions: The anti-angiogenic response of extract of Derris trifoliata in zebrafish in vivo model suggest its therapeutic potential as anti-cancer agent

Edible bird’s nest, a valuable glycoprotein source: current research prospects and challenges in Malaysia

Edible bird’s nest (EBN) is a salivary secretion of swiftlets which consist of protein and carbohydrate rich glycoproteins. This natural ingredient is very valuable, nutritional and medically valuable. The EBN industry have grown rapidly and benefited the Malaysian economy, hence, it is viewed seriously and it is actively supported by the government. This review discusses the progress and development of EBN industry as well as the R&D activities and endeavours especially that which involves deriving peptides with biological activities from EBN and its by-product sources. Many studies have documented the therapeutic properties of EBN such as antiaging, antiviral, antioxidant, and antihypertensive. Studies have also been conducted to produce glycoprotein hydrolysates from EBN through enzymatic hydrolysis, and findings showed that these bioactive peptides increase solubility as well as antioxidant and antihypertensive activities. Enzymatic hydrolysis breaks long protein chains at specific sites and releases amino acids and small peptides with lower molecular weights. The EBN hydrolysates produced can improve bioactivity and overcome insolubility and low absorption of EBN prepared and consumed through traditional means. Further studies need to be carried out to optimise EBN glycoprotein hydrolysates production as well as maximising their bioavailability and efficacy in the human gastrointestinal system. In addition, EBN by-products produced during EBN cleaning process should be fully utilised to recover the high-value glycoproteins, while reducing pollution and wastage. By enhancing R&D activities of EBN, bioactive glycopeptides produced from EBN may become an important functional food ingredient for various uses and innovative value-added products in the future

Polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity in organically and conventionally grown vegetables

Objective: To evaluate the polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of ethanol some organically and conventionally grown leafy vegetables. extracts of Methods: The ethanol extracts of kailan (Brassica alboglabra), bayam (Amaranthus spp.) and sawi (Brassica parachinensis) were tested for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (uTsFiCn)g, and total anthocyanin content (TAC) and the antioxidant capacity of the extracts measured 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. Results: In TPC test, sawi extract showed the highest phenolic content while bayam contained tohrgea lneiacsatl lpyh gernoowlnic scaownit eenxtt rafocrt bshoothw eodrg tahnei chailglhy easnt dfl acvoonnvoeindt icoonnatlelny t,g rwohwinle toyrpgeasn. iIcna lTlyF Cg rtoewstn, ckoaniltaenn te xotfr athcet schoonwveedn titohnea llelya sgt rfolwavno ntyopide sc oonf tveengte atambolen ge xatlrl atcytpse ws aosf tvheeg ehtiagbhleesst. Tinh ek afllaiavno naonidd itnhcer eleaassetd iwn itsha wthi.e Fionrc r2e,a2s-idnigp hcoenncyel-nt1r-aptiiocnr yolfh yedacrahz yelx trraadcitc. aAl lls ccaovnevnegnitniogn aaclltyi vgirtyo,w tnh ev eagcettiavbitlye extracts showed higher antioxidant activity compared to their organically grown counterparts. cEoxntrvaecnttsi oonfa lcloyn gvreonwtnio knaailllayn g arnodw no rsgaawniic sahlloyw gerdow tnh es ahwigi.h est percentage inhibition followed by There were no correlation between TPC, TcFoCrr,e TlaAtCio ann bde ItCw2e5 eonf both organically and conventionally grown vegetables. However, there was a relatively similar poTlyApCh aenndo l ICco25n otfe ncto nbveetnwteioenna ollryg agnroicwanll yv eagnedta bcloen veexntrtaiocntsa. lTlyh eg rroewsunl tvse sgheotawbelde aecxttirvaicttys .c Homowpaerveedr, ttoh teh ceo onrvgeanntiicoanlalyll yg rgorwonw ne xvteragcettsa.bles extracts generally have higher antioxidant Conclusions: These results suggested that the different types of agricultural practice had a significant contribution to the polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in the vegetables

Diabetes prevalence and awareness in adults in the Balcova district in Turkey

Background/aim: To determine the prevalence and awareness of diabetes and to evaluate associated factors in a population aged 30 and over in the Balcova district of Izmir, Turkey

Znaczenie wyjściowych wartości pośrednich wskaźników zapalenia w prognozowaniu odpowiedzi na terapię resynchronizującą serca

Background: In many cardiovascular diseases (CVD), white blood cell counts with differentials are used to predict adverse events. Both platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are studied in various CVDs. Aim: The role of inflammatory condition assessed using routine laboratory tests in cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) response has not been investigated thoroughly. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association of NLR, PLR, and relative lym­phocyte count (L%) with response to CRT. Methods: A total of 157 patients (76.4% male; mean age 58.7 ± 11.8 years) who underwent CRT implantation at our tertiary referral hospital were retrospectively analysed. Results: Among included patients, a total of 50 (31.8%) patients were defined as “non-responders”. Median NLR and PLR were significantly higher in the non-responder group (p < 0.001), and median L% was significantly lower in the non-responder group (p < 0.001). Also, median NLR was significantly higher in patients with New York heart Association (NYHA) class II–III when compared to patients with NYHA class I after six months of CRT implantation (p < 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively). Correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between paced QRS duration and NLR (p = 0.031) and a negative correlation between paced QRS duration and L% (p = 0.002). In addition, both NLR and L% showed significant correlations with post-procedural NYHA functional classes (p < 0.001; p = 0.008, respectively). Patients with PLR > 173.09 had a 2.9‑fold and NLR > 3.45 had a 12.2-fold increased risk of CRT nonresponse, respectively. Conclusions: In the current study non-responders to CRT had higher NLR and PLR and lower L%, which may support the deleterious effects of baseline inflammatory condition in advanced heart failure.Wstęp: W wielu chorobach sercowo-naczyniowych w prognozowaniu zdarzeń niepożądanych wykorzystywano liczbę białych krwinek oraz ich wzór odsetkowy. W badaniach dotyczących różnych chorób sercowo-naczyniowych oceniano zarówno stosunek liczby płytek do liczby limfocytów, jak i stosunek liczby neutrofili do liczby limfocytów. Cel: Dotychczas nie zbadano dokładnie wpływu stanu zapalnego ocenianego przy użyciu rutynowych badań laboratoryjnych na odpowiedź na terapię resynchronizującą serca (CRT). Dlatego też celem niniejszej pracy była ocena zależności między stosunkiem liczby neutrofili do liczby limfocytów (NLR), stosunkiem liczby płytek do liczby limfocytów (PLR) i względną liczbą limfocytów (L%) a odpowiedzią na CRT. Metody: Retrospektywną analizą objęto łącznie 157 chorych (76,4% mężczyzn; średnia wieku 58,7 ± 11,8 roku), którym wszczepiono CRT w szpitalu trzeciego stopnia referencyjności. Wyniki: Ogółem 50 (31,%) uczestników badania uznano za osoby nieodpowiadające na terapię. Mediany NLR i PLR były istotnie wyższe (p < 0,001), a mediana L% — znamiennie niższa (p < 0,001) w grupie, w której nie stwierdzono odpowiedzi na terapię. Ponadto po 6 miesiącach od implantacji CRT mediana NLR była istotnie wyższa u chorych w II–III klasie niewy­dolności serca wg NYHA niż u pacjentów w klasie I wg NYHA (odpowiednio: p < 0,001; p = 0,004). W analizie korelacji wykazano dodatnią zależność między czasem trwania wystymulowanego zespołu QRS a NLR (p = 0,031) i ujemną zależność między czasem trwania wystymulowanego zespołu QRS a L% (p = 0,002). Zarówno NLR, jak i L% wykazywały istotną korelację z klasą czynnościową wg NYHA po zabiegu (odpowiednio: p < 0,001; p = 0,008). U chorych, u których PLR wynosiło > 17,09, ryzyko braku odpowiedzi na CRT było 2,9-krotnie większe, a w przypadku wartości NLR > 3,45 ryzyko to zwiększało się 12,2-krotnie. Wnioski: W niniejszym badaniu brak odpowiedzi na CRT wiązał się z wyższymi wartościami NLR i PLR oraz niższymi wartościami L%, co potwierdza szkodliwy wpływ obecności stanu zapalnego na przyszłą skuteczność terapii resynchronizującej, przed wszczepieniem CRT u osób z zaawansowaną niewydolnością serca

Health-related quality of life and perceived health status of Turkish population

Purpose; This study was conducted to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and perceived health status of the Turkish population

Assessment of the New 2012 EULAR/ACR Clinical Classification Criteria for Polymyalgia Rheumatica: A Prospective Multicenter Study

WOS: 000380854200011PubMed ID: 26834222Objective. To assess the performance of the new 2012 provisional European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/ American College of Rheumatology (ACR) polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) clinical classification criteria in discriminating PMR from other mimicking conditions compared with the previous 5 diagnostic criteria in a multicenter prospective study. Methods. Patients older than 50 years, presenting with new-onset bilateral shoulder pain with elevated acute-phase reactants (APR), were assessed for the fulfillment of the new and old classification/diagnostic criteria sets for PMR. At the end of the 1-year followup, 133 patients were diagnosed with PMR (expert opinion) and 142 with non-PMR conditions [69 rheumatoid arthritis (RA)]. Discriminating capacity, sensitivity, and specificity of the criteria sets were estimated. Results. Discriminating capacity of the new clinical criteria for PMR from non-PMR conditions and RA as estimated by area under the curve (AUC) were good with AUC of 0.736 and 0.781, respectively. The new criteria had a sensitivity of 89.5% and a specificity of 57.7% when tested against all non-PMR cases. When tested against all RA, seropositive RA, seronegative RA, and non-RA control patients, specificity changed to 66.7%, 100%, 20.7%, and 49.3%, respectively. Except for the Bird criteria, the 4 previous criteria had lower sensitivity and higher specificity (ranging from 83%-93%) compared with the new clinical criteria in discriminating PMR from all other controls. Conclusion. The new 2012 EULAR/ ACR clinical classification criteria for PMR is highly sensitive; however, its ability to discriminate PMR from other inflammatory/noninflammatory shoulder conditions, especially from seronegative RA, is not adequate. Imaging and other modifications such as cutoff values for APR might increase the specificity of the criteria