Chemical Constituents Based Approach for the Management of Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: A number of complexities in compliance with long-term diabetes have been elicited. It has become a global concern without any convincing medicinal, therapeutical methodology. Both hyperglycaemia and oxidative pressure are major notable parts that play a significant role in the initialization of diabetic inconvenience. Natural medications have gained a lot of attention in recent years as expected restorative specialists in the prevention and treatment of diabetic complications due to their many objectives and less poisonous outcomes. This survey means to evaluate the accessible information on therapeutic spices for constriction and the executives of diabetic complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bibliographic investigation was accomplished by checking old-style course books and papers, directing overall bases of logical information (SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, Google Scholar, NISCAIR,) to recapture accessible distributed writing. For the assessment of plants with the potential in calming diabetic complications, several inclusion models rely on the numerous medicinal spices as well as their crucial mixes. Furthermore, several models, including plants, have been considered, each of which has a suitable impact on increasing oxidative pressure in diabetes. RESULTS: Different therapeutic plants/plant withdrawals containing alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, and phytosterol-type synthetic constituents were uncovered that are profitable in the administration of diabetic complexities. Results may be attributed to the improvement of oxidative pressure, constant hyperglycemia, and twitch of different metabolic pathways related to the pathogenesis of diabetic confusions. CONCLUSION: An optimistic approach for new medication terminology to treat diabetic confusion is screening compound competitors from homegrown medication. Investigation of the activity of different plant extracts as well as their potency profile and to determine their job in the treatment of diabetic inconveniences must be there. In addition, an ideal rat model which imitates human diabetic complications ought to be created.

Unravelling the Therapeutic Potential of Nano-Delivered Functional Foods in Chronic Respiratory Diseases.

Chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract is one of the most concerning public health issues, as it can lead to chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), some of which are more detrimental than others. Chronic respiratory diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis. The conventional drug therapies for the management and treatment of CRDs only address the symptoms and fail to reverse or recover the chronic-inflammation-mediated structural and functional damage of the respiratory tract. In addition, the low efficacy and adverse effects of these drugs have directed the attention of researchers towards nutraceuticals in search of potential treatment strategies that can not only ameliorate CRD symptoms but also can repair and reverse inflammatory damage. Hence, there is a growing interest toward investigating the medicinal benefits of nutraceuticals, such as rutin, curcumin, zerumbone, and others. Nutraceuticals carry many nutritional and therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, and anti-obesity properties, and usually do not have as many adverse effects, as they are naturally sourced. Recently, the use of nanoparticles has also been increasingly studied for the nano drug delivery of these nutraceuticals. The discrete size of nanoparticles holds great potential for the level of permeability that can be achieved when transporting these nutraceutical compounds. This review is aimed to provide an understanding of the use of nutraceuticals in combination with nanoparticles against CRDs and their mechanisms involved in slowing down or reversing the progression of CRDs by inhibiting pro-inflammatory signaling pathways.

Triphenylphosphonium functionalized Ficus religiosa L. extract loaded nanoparticles improve the mitochondrial function in oxidative stress induced diabetes.

The present study was aimed to enhance the mitochondrial function in oxidative stress-induced diabetes. To achieve this, Ficus religiosa L. extract loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (ETNPs) were prepared and functionalized by using triphenylphosphonium. Developed nanoparticles demonstrated desired quality attributes with sustained release for up to 24 h and excellent storage stability for up to 180 days at 40 ± 2°C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity. In vitro cytotoxicity assessment showed no toxicity of ETNPs. Interestingly, oral administration of ETNPs to diabetic rats demonstrated improved mitochondrial function by normalizing the mitochondrial morphology, intracellular calcium ion concentration, complexes I, II, IV, and V activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and antioxidant levels. Further, reduction in apoptotic markers viz. cytochrome-C, caspase-3, and caspase-9 was observed following the ETNP treatment. Moreover, significant reduction in blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin while significant improvement in plasma insulin was observed as compared to the diabetic group following the treatment with developed formulation. Furthermore, histopathology studies confirmed the safety of the developed formulation and thus, data in hand collectively suggest that proposed strategy can be effectively used to improve the mitochondrial function in oxidative stress-induced diabetes along with better control over blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin.

Vitamin A nutrition among East Timor refugee children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Children age 6 to 72 months, living in refugee camps are at increased risk of developing vitamin A deficiency (VAD), resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Due to poverty, often this population group has limited access to foods containing vitamin A from animal-based food sources and do not commonly consume available foods containing beta-carotene. To date, there is a paucity of data on vitamin A intake in young refugee children. To determine vitamin A intake in children ages 6 to 72 months at refugee camps in East Timor. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A cross sectional study was carried out among children ages 6 to 72 months at refugee camps near Dili, East Timor. A detailed vitamin A intake questionnaire was ascertained from the primary caretaker, and the criteria and indicator cut off values suggested by World Health Organization (WHO) were used to classify the populations' vitamin A risk. RESULTS: Although animal sources of vitamin A were limited due to costs, all 89 children commonly consumed fruit containing vitamin A sources more than 3 times a week. Most children (69.7%) had been breast fed regularly, while 30.3% combined with bottle milk. 80.9% of children received vitamin A supplementation. CONCLUSION: Children in East Timor refugee camps have adequate vitamin A intake.

Chemotherapeutic and targeted biological agents for metastatic bladder cancer: a comprehensive review.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 73 510 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed and 15 000 deaths will result this year. The paper summarizes the clinical evidence for the use of platinum-based, non-platinum-based and new targeted biological agents, while reporting the future directions in the treatment of metastatic bladder cancer. For cisplatin-base regimens, the combination of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (M-VAC) has been the mainstream treatment for both advanced and metastatic bladder cancers. It showed significant improvement in the complete response rate and overall survival time in comparison with single-agent cisplatin. For cisplatin-ineligible patients, namely patients with renal impairment, symptomatic cardiac disease and poor performance status, alternative therapies consisting of paclitaxel, gemcitabine and carboplatin were shown to be of benefit. Pemetrexed and vinflunine have also shown effectiveness, with small but demonstrable overall survival benefits. Gemcitabine-based doublet therapies (combined with paclitaxel, docetaxel, irinotecan, oxaliplatin or epirubicin) have all been shown to be effective and well-tolerated. Several new targeted therapies, such as gefetinib, sorafenib and lapatinib, have received attention in recent years; however, their effectiveness as single agents in a relapse setting have not been optimal and more studies are warranted.

Hepatoprotective activity of leaves of Zanthoxylum armatum DC in CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Zanthoxylum armatum DC (Rutaceae) is extensively used in indigenous system of medicine as a tonic, carminative, stomachic and anthelmintic. In the present study, the hepatoprotective activity of the leaves ethanolic extract of Z. armatum (EEZA) was evaluated in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg registered a significant decrease in the levels of serum glutamyl oxalacetic acid transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamyl pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), and serum bilurubin (SBLN) and liver inflammation, which was supported by histopathological studies on liver, thus exhibited a significant hepatoprotective activity. The phytochemical screening of defatted ethanolic extract showed the presence of sterols, alkaloids, flavonoids, and reducing sugars.

Pharmacognostical studies on Zanthoxylum armatum leaves.

The present study deals with the Pharmacognostical investigations on the leaves of Zanthoxylum armatum along with fluorescence characteristics ash and extractive values with an aim to identify and differentiate if from its possible adulterants and / or substitutes.

Metastatic chest wall malignant schwannoma responding to sorafenib: case report and literature review.

Malignant schwannomas or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) represent approximately 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Metastatic disease from chest wall MPNST is very rare. We present a case of a major clinical response to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sorafenib in a patient with metastatic MPNST. A 42-year-old female with a prior history of neurofibromas developed MPNST, which later metastasized to the lungs and brain. She was initially placed on sorafenib with significant clinical response to lung metastases. MPNST show high levels of Ras activity and hence these tumors are promising targets for TKIs. Studies are ongoing and the results are eagerly awaited regarding the responses to these medications and whether they can positively impact on the natural history of this disease.