Gingerols infusion and multi-step process optimization for enhancement of color, sensory and functional profiles of candied mango.

Presence of pungent gingerols in ginger oleoresin makes it an ideal natural flavoring candidate for the food industry. The study reports its incorporation for synergistic enhancement of flavor and nutraceutical portfolio of candied mango. The process is systematically optimized at bench-scale for gingerols infusion and subsequent candying treatment in a range of hypo and hypertonic osmotic solutions for critical transport properties. After that, optimization of the drying process and the scale-up study was conducted with a 200 folds increase in the batch size. Collated effects of multistep optimization resulted in 85.6, 76.8, 60.2% retention in ß-carotene, total phenolics, Vitamin C, respectively, along with minor color difference and significant improvement in sensory scores over fresh mango. Mass transfer and quality parameters were comparable in both scales, implying excellent repeatability and scalability of the process. Compared with a similar commercial product, substantial improvement in quality characteristics along with 376.7% reduction in overall processing time was achieved.

Evaluation of amentoflavone isolated from Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) on production of inflammatory mediators in LPS stimulated rat astrocytoma cell line (C6) and THP-1 cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cnestisferruginea (CF) Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) is a shrub widely used in traditional African medicine for the treatment of various psychiatric illness and inflammatory conditions. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of amentoflavone isolated from methanolic root extract of CF on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory cascade of events associated to the oxidative and nitrative stress, and TNF-α production in rat astrocytoma cell line (C6) and human monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1), respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat astrocytoma cells (C6) were stimulated with LPS (10µg/ml) alone and in the presence of different concentrations of amentoflavone (0.1-3µg/ml) for 24h incubation period. Nitrite release, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced-glutathione (GSH) in C6 cells were estimated; while the TNF-α level was estimated in THP-1 cell lysate. In vivo analgesic activity was evaluated using mouse writhing and hot plate tests while the anti-inflammatory effect was investigated using carrageenan-induced oedema test. RESULTS: LPS (10µg/ml) significantly (P<0.05) stimulated C6 cells to release nitrite, ROS, MDA, and TNF-α generation while GSH was down regulated in comparison to control. However, amentoflavone significantly (P<0.05) attenuated nitrite, ROS, MDA and TNF-α generation and also up regulated the level of GSH. Amentoflavone per se did not have any significant effect on C6 and THP-1 cells. Amentoflavone (6.25-50mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) reduced number of writhes and also increase pain threshold in hot plate test. It produced time course significant (P<0.05) decrease in oedema formation in rodents. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Findings in this study demonstrate the anti-neuroinflammatory and antinoceptive effects of amentoflavone which may suggest its beneficial roles in neuroinflammation associated disorders.

The Cytotoxic Effects of Low Intensity Visible and Infrared Light on Human Breast Cancer (MCF7) cells.

A concept of using low intensity light therapy (LILT) as an alternative approach to cancer treatment is at early stages of development; while the therapeutic effects of LILT as a non-invasive treatment modality for localized joint and soft tissue wound healing are widely corroborated. The LEDs-based exposure system was designed and constructed to irradiate the selected cancer and normal cells and evaluate the biological effects induced by light exposures in visible and infrared light range. In this study, human breast cancer (MCF7) cells and human epidermal melanocytes (HEM) cells (control) were exposed to selected far infrared light (3400nm, 3600nm, 3800nm, 3900nm, 4100nm and 4300nm) and visible and near infrared wavelengths (466nm, 585nm, 626nm, 810nm, 850nm and 950nm). The optical intensities of LEDs used for exposures were in the range of 15µW to 30µW. Cellular morphological changes of exposed and sham-exposed cells were evaluated using light microscopy. The cytotoxic effects of these low intensity light exposures on human cancer and normal cell lines were quantitatively determined by Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxic activity and PrestoBlue™ cell viability assays. Findings reveal that far-infrared exposures were able to reduce cell viability of MCF7 cells as measured by increased LDH release activity and PrestoBlue™ assays. Further investigation of the effects of light irradiation on different types of cancer cells, study of possible signaling pathways affected by electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and in vivo experimentation are required in order to draw a firm conclusion about the efficacy of low intensity light as an alternative non-invasive cancer treatment.

Efficacy of two multimodal treatments on physical strength of occupationally subgrouped male with low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: Some occupations are more prone to low back pain (LBP) due to their static work postures and work place design. Multidisciplinary pain programs have shown their effectiveness in the management of LBP in general population but which treatment and which segment of the population will be benefited more was not investigated yet. This study determines the effect of two treatment protocols on five occupationally subgrouped male LBP patients. METHODS: A total of 102 occupational male, 20-40 yrs of age, with sub-acute or chronic nonspecific LBP were randomized and treated either with conventional treatment a combination of two electrotherapy (ultrasound and short wave diathermy) and one exercise therapy (lumbar strengthening exercises) or dynamic muscular stabilization techniques (DMST) an active approach of stabilizing training. At the end of the treatment, subjects of both the groups were further stratified in five subgroups on the basis of their occupation. The pain was the primary outcome measure while physical strength [back pressure changes (BPC) and abdominal pressure changes (APC)] the secondary. RESULTS: The Pain, BPC and APC of all subgroups improved significantly (P < 0.01) in the both treatments but more in DMST. For each variable, improvement in subgroups differed within and between the treatments. Overall improvement in all assessed variables were evident on Desk workers followed by Shop keepers the most while BPC of Movement job, APC of Others and Pain of Sedentary and Shop keepers improved the least. CONCLUSIONS: Study concluded that for the management of occupational LBP, DMST is more effective than conventional treatment. The Pain of Sedentary and Shopkeepers and physical strength of Movement job and Others may need more clinical attention. Findings of this study may be helpful in the management of occupational LBP.

Antistress effects of bacosides of Bacopa monnieri: modulation of Hsp70 expression, superoxide dismutase and cytochrome P450 activity in rat brain.

The antistress effect of bacosides of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri, BBM), dissolved in distilled water, was -studied in adult male Sprague Dawley rats by administering oral doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days. In half of the animals treated with 20 or 40 mg/kg of BBM, stress was given 2 h after the last dose. Stress was also administered to the animals treated with distilled water alone. BBM, at both doses, did not induce a significant change in the expression of Hsp70 in any brain region studied while stress alone produced a significant increase in the Hsp70 expression in all the brain regions. A significant decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was evident in the hippocampus with the lower dose of BBM and in animals given stress alone, while an increase in the activity of SOD was observed in the brain regions with the higher dose of BBM. An increase in the activity of cytochrome P450 (P450) dependent 7-pentoxyresorufin-o-dealkylase (PROD) and 7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD) was observed in all the brain regions after exposure to stress alone and with both doses of BBM although the magnitude of induction of P450 expression was less with a higher dose of BBM. Interestingly, stress when given to the animals pretreated with BBM for 7 days resulted in a decrease in Hsp70 expression in all the brain regions with a significant decrease occurring only in the hippocampus. Likewise the activity of SOD was found to be further reduced in all the brain regions in the animals treated with the lower dose of BBM followed by stress. However, when stress was given to the animals pretreated with the higher dose of BBM, a significant increase in the enzyme activity was observed in the cerebral cortex and in the rest of the brain while the activity of SOD was reduced to a much greater extent in the cerebellum and in the hippocampus. Likewise, the activity of P450 enzymes was found to be restored to almost control levels in the animals given stress and pretreated with the higher dose of BBM, while a lesser degree of induction, compared with animals treated with BBM or stress alone, was observed in the animals pretreated with the lower dose of BBM and given stress. The data indicate that BBM has potential to modulate the activities of Hsp70, P450 and SOD thereby possibly allowing the brain to be prepared to act under adverse conditions such as stress.

Male reproductive effects of solvent and fuel exposure during aircraft maintenance.

Few studies have addressed the effects of mixed, low-level exposures to complex mixtures on a man's reproductive potential. In this prospective study, each subject was evaluated before first exposure and at 15 and 30 weeks after exposures had begun. A total of 50 men working on aircraft maintenance at an Air Force installation were included in the study. In addition, eight unexposed men were concurrently sampled. Industrial hygiene (IH) sampling and expired breath samples were collected for jet fuel as measured by total napthas, benzene--a component of jet fuel, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, methyl ethyl ketone, xylenes, toluene, and methylene chloride. Sperm production, structure, and function (sperm concentration, sperm motion, viability, morphology, morphometrics, and stability of sperm chromatin) were evaluated. Exposures were low. All mean IH measures were below 6 ppm, which is less than 10% of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard for all chemicals except benzene. Sheet metal workers had the highest mean breath levels for both total solvents (24 ppb) and fuels (28.3 ppb). For most sperm measures, mean values remained in the normal range throughout the 30 weeks of exposure. When jobs were analyzed by exposure groups, some adverse changes were observed. The paint shop group had a significant decline in motility of 19.5% at 30 weeks. Internal dose measures, however, did not show a significant association with spermatogenic changes.

The effect of succimer therapy in lead intoxication using postural balance as a measure: a case study in a nine year old child.

Postural balance testing was used as a measure of the effect of therapy on a 9 year old boy with high lead levels. Following therapy with CaEDTA and succimer, the patient's postural sway responses were comparable to a low-lead (< 10 micrograms/dL) comparison group for 3 out of 4 tests which rely relatively less on the higher centers for balance. This improvement in postural balance may be attributable to the combined influence of pharmacologic and age associated maturational effects. This case study provides suggestive evidence that while chelation therapy can reduce PbB levels quickly, it can also modify gross neuromotor function manifested by postural balance characteristics.

Attenuation in rat brain nitric oxide synthase activity in the coarctation model of hypertension.

The correlation of brain nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity with renal hypertension has been investigated in rats. NOS activity was measured by oxyhaemoglobin and by conversion of radioactive arginine to citrulline. There was significant elevation of blood pressure (54% increase) along with left ventricular hypertrophy (26% greater than the control) 8 weeks after coarctation. The brain NOS activity was also significantly reduced in coarctated animals (45% of the control value). Treatment with captopril (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor) or centhaquin (centrally acting antihypertensive agent) led to significant reduction of left ventricular hypertrophy and a marked recovery in the brain NOS activity (to 92% and 135% of the control, respectively). Nifedipine (a calcium channel blocker) also brought about normalization of blood pressure but the left ventricular hypertrophy was not prevented. The brain NOS activity in the nifedipine treated group also showed a significant trend of recovery (to 73% of the control NOS activity). The results suggested that there is an inverse correlation between brain NOS activity and blood pressure level.

Nifedipine in migraine and tension headache: a randomised double blind crossover study.

Nifedipine was evaluated in the prophylaxis of 28 patients each of migraine and tension headache using a double blind cross over design with random allocation to drug or placebo group. The duration of the trial was 3 months with a 2 week run-in period and 2 week wash-oat period separating two treatment periods of 4 weeks each. A satisfactory response was obtained in 71.4% of migraineurs (p < 0.001) and 28.6% of patients with tension headache (p = N.S). Minor side effects were observed in 5 patients. Nifedipine is a useful agent for the management of migraine as it reduces frequency and severity of pain but the drug cannot be recommended for tension headache.

Incentive spirometry to prevent acute pulmonary complications in sickle cell diseases.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the incidence of thoracic bone infarction in patients with sickle cell diseases who were hospitalized with acute chest or back pain above the diaphragm and to test the hypothesis that incentive spirometry can decrease the incidence of atelectasis and pulmonary infiltrates. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized trial in 29 patients between 8 and 21 years of age with sickle cell diseases who had 38 episodes of acute chest or back pain above the diaphragm and were hospitalized. Each episode of pain was considered to be an independent event. At each hospitalization, patients with normal or unchanged chest radiographs on admission were randomly assigned to treatment with spirometry or to a control nonspirometry group. Each patient in the spirometry group took 10 maximal inspirations using an incentive spirometer every two hours between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. and while awake during the night until the chest pain subsided. A second radiograph was obtained three or more days after admission, or sooner if clinically necessary, to determine the incidence of pulmonary complications. Bone scanning was performed no sooner than two days after hospital admission to determine the incidence of thoracic bone infarction. RESULTS: The incidence of thoracic bone infarction was 39.5 percent (15 of 38 hospitalizations). Pulmonary complications (atelectasis or infiltrates) developed during only 1 of 19 hospitalizations of patients assigned to the spirometry group, as compared with 8 of 19 hospitalizations of patients in the nonspirometry group (P = 0.019). Among patients with thoracic bone infarction, no pulmonary complications developed in those assigned to the spirometry group during a total of seven hospitalizations, whereas they developed during five of eight hospitalizations in the nonspirometry group (P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic bone infarction is common in patients with sickle cell diseases who are hospitalized with acute chest pain. Incentive spirometry can prevent the pulmonary complications (atelectasis and infiltrates) associated with the acute chest syndrome in patients with sickle cell diseases who are hospitalized with chest or back pain above the diaphragm.

Effect of age on P300 wave.

30 healthy elderly males (mean age 77.4 +/- 4.3 yrs) were subjects in this study. Equal number of young males (mean age 22 +/- 3.5 years) and middle aged subjects (mean age 46 +/- 3.2 years) served as control. P300 wave was estimated using a Neuropack 4 model of Nihon Kohden EMG machine. We observed a significantly increased latency, poorly defined and non reproducible P300 wave in 90% old subjects while in young the latency was in normal limits and the wave was well defined and reproducible. We presume P300 could serve as a future potential marker of the neurophysiological basis of aging.

Role of endogenous cyclo(His-Pro) in cold-induced hypothermia in the desert rat (Mastomys natalensis).

Central administration of exogenous cyclo(His-Pro) (CHP) is known to produce hypothermia in rodents. In the present study, we examined the role of endogenous CHP in cold-induced hypothermia in the desert rat, Mastomys natalensis. The results of these studies show that a rise in hypothalamic CHP content accompanied a decrease in rectal temperature during cold exposure. Immunoneutralization of endogenous CHP resulted in a significant decline in cold-induced hypothermia. In addition, central administration of cyclo(Ala-Gly), a structural analogue of CHP, also led to a decrease in cold-induced hypothermia. The results of these studies show that changes in endogenous CHP levels may affect body temperature regulation.

Placental transfer and fetal distribution of 3H-retinoic acid in rats.

The placental transfer of 3H-retinoic acid in vitamin A deprived and vitamin A supplemented pregnant female rats was studied on 20th day of gestation and compared with 3H-retinyl acetate. Radiolabelled compounds were administered to pregnant mothers orally in groundnut oil six hours before sacrifice. The distribution of radioactivity of the two compounds was studied in maternal intestine, liver and plasma and fetal brain, heart liver lung and placenta. The transfer of 3H-retinoic acid across placenta was restricted as compared to that of 3H-retinyl acetate which may explain the reason why retinoic acid does not support fetal growth.