Incretin effect of Urena lobata leaves extract on structure and function of rats islet ß-cells.

This study aims to determine the incretin effects of Urena lobata leaves extract on the structure and function of rats islet ß-cells. This study utilizes male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into 2 control group and 3 test group (n = 5). Diabetic rats were induced with High Fructose Diet (HFD) and single dose intraperitoneal streptozotocin 25 mg/kg bw. Aqueous leaves extract of U. lobata was prepared by decoction methods and administrated orally with doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg bw for 4 weeks then incretin effect was evaluated by measuring serum GLP-1, insulin, and blood glucose levels. Histology of islet ß-cells was evaluated using photomicroscopy by analyzing size, shape, and number. Data were analyzed using ANOVA test followed by LSD test and p ≤ 0.05 is considered significant. Oral administration of aqueous extract U. lobata leaves at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight were able to prolong GLP-1 bioavailability by 3-fold, 5-fold, and 7-fold respectively when compared to the diabetic group whereas blood glucose level were decreased about 30%, 35%, and 40% respectively (p < 0.05). Extract at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw also increased insulin level by 4-fold and 8-fold respectively compared to the diabetic group and the islet ß-cells were repaired. The active compound in U. lobata leaves extract are suggested to prevent degradation of GLP-1 by inhibition of DPP-4 activity. Aqueous extract of U. lobata also improved the structure and function of islet ß-cells by increasing of GLP-1 bioavailability.

Seroepidemiologic evidence for murine and scrub typhus in Malang, Indonesia.

Indonesian military personnel stationed in Malang, East Java were among troops deployed to central Cambodia as part of the United Nations' Transition Authority Cambodia peace-keeping operation in 1992. Predeployment blood samples obtained from a cohort of Indonesian soldiers indicated a high prevalence of antibodies to antigens of Rickettsia typhi or Orientia (formerly Rickettsia) tsutsugamushi, the etiologic agents for murine and scrub typhus, respectively. To evaluate the potential risk of these rickettsial diseases in the Malang area, a subsequent seroepidemiologic survey was conducted. This study involved civilian personnel residing within one of three Malang kelurahans (neighborhoods) representing urban, suburban, and rural communities. The heads-of-households from 197 homes completed a detailed epidemiologic survey. In addition, blood samples were collected from 464 individuals residing within the households surveyed. Examination of civilian blood samples disclosed that 34.7% and 1.3% of the study participants were seroreactive to R. typhi and O. tsutsugamushi, respectively. These results were similar to those obtained earlier from the military samples. In addition, assessment of 78 blood samples obtained from peridomestic rodents trapped from within or near the households surveyed showed that 28 were reactive to R. typhi antigens and four were reactive to O. tsutsugamushi antigens. These data indicate that military and civilian personnel living in the Malang area of East Java are at risk of infection with rickettsiae that are antigenically indistinguishable from those that cause murine and scrub typhus.