The Effect of Pluchea indica (L.) Less. Tea on Blood Glucose and Lipid Profile in People with Prediabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: Diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia are currently increasing dramatically, and conventional medicine in the treatment of them has limited efficacies and serious adverse effects. Pluchea indica (L.) Less. tea (PIT) is widely consumed as a health-promoting drink in Southeast Asia. This study aimed to investigate whether P. indica tea has antidyslipidemic and antihyperglycemic effects and toxicity in humans. Design: A randomized clinical trial. Setting/Location: Nakhonratchasima, Thailand. Participants: Forty-five participants with prediabetes. Interventions: Participants were randomized to receive placebo tea, 1.5 g of PIT, and 1.5 g Camellia sinensis tea (green tea, CST) once daily for 12 weeks. Outcome Measurements: The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and complete blood count (CBC) before and after treatment were investigated. Results: The results showed that PIT significantly ameliorated hyperglycemia and significantly lower serum TG (109.22 ± 5.21 mg/dL) and LDL-C (122.20 ± 3.67 mg/dL) than placebo (145.56 ± 8.18 and 142.07 ± 8.58 mg/dL, respectively) (p < 0.05). Moreover, PIT exhibited serum TG (109.22 ± 5.21 mg/dL) significantly lower than CST (124.38 ± 4.70 mg/dL) (p < 0.05). In addition, the serum HDL-C of PIT (57.56 ± 3.05 mg/dL) was significantly higher than the placebo (46.44 ± 2.47 mg/dL) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the toxicity testing showed that no significant difference in BUN, creatinine, ALT, ALP, and CBC of PIT-treated group compared with the placebo (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that PIT may ameliorate hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in prediabetes people. It may not be toxic to the kidney, liver, and blood. So, PIT has the potential to develop to be a health-promoting tea or herbal medicine for hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia prevention.

Pluchea indica (L.) Less. Tea Ameliorates Hyperglycemia, Dyslipidemia, and Obesity in High Fat Diet-Fed Mice.

Pluchea indica (L.) Less. (P. indica) tea has been used for a health-promoting drink, especially in Southeast Asia. The effect of P. indica tea (PIT) on amelioration of hyperglycemia; dyslipidemia that was total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG); and obesity in high fat diet-induced (HFD) mice was investigated. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) displayed that PIT at 400 and 600 mg/kg orally ameliorated hyperglycemia with a dose-dependent manner compared to the untreated group. Moreover, PIT at these dosages exhibited significantly lower TC, LDL-C, TG, and perigonadal fat weight in HFD treated mice compared to HFD mice (P < 0.05) with a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, HDL-C was higher than in the HFD group, but not a significant difference (P > 0.05). The PIT chemical analysis results demonstrated that PIT contained total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4-CQ), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQ), 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,4-CQ), 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-CQ), 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4,5-CQ), beta-caryophyllene, and gamma-gurjunene that may play an important role in inhibiting hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. Also, histological analysis expressed that the mean area and amount of perigonadal fat adipocytes of PIT treated groups were significantly lower and higher than the HFD group (P < 0.05), respectively. The toxicity test of PIT at 600 mg/kg/day in mice showed that serum creatinine, alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and complete blood count (CBC) levels of HFD and PIT treated groups were not significantly different compared to the normal control diet group (NCD) (P > 0.05). These results suggest that PIT does not become toxic to the kidney, liver, and blood. In conclusion, PIT has the potential to develop into healthy food supplement or medicine for the prevention and treatment of hyperglycemic, hyperlipidemic, and obese patients.

Nutritional Status among Schoolchildren in the Risk Areas of Liver Fluke Infection, Surin Province, Thailand.

Background: Opisthorchis viverrini is endemic in the Lower Mekong Basin, including Thailand, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Cambodia, and central Vietnam. This figure indicates that it is a serious public health problem in Thailand, particularly in northeastern and northern region. Objective: To survey the nutritional status among schoolchildren including the association between nutritional status and related O. viverrini infection that is reported in their living areas. Material and Method: A cross-sectional survey of nutritional status among schoolchildren was conducted in the rural communities of Surin province, Thailand, between September 2013 and July 2014. Nutritional evaluations, Socio-economic, and family information were collected through questionnaires. Four hundred sixty two children aged between 6 to 14 years were enrolled. Pearson correlation test and multiple logistic regression were used in this study. Results: Most respondents who answered the questionnaire were mother (37.23%), and followed by children (34.41), female (51.73%), and age rank older than 9 to 12 years old (41.99%). Schoolchildren were evaluated for weigh for age, which resulted in normal weight (60.82%), wasting (8.01%), underweight (7.58%), obesity (2.38%), and overweight (1.95%). Height for age was divided into normal height (60.17%), stunting (0.74%), slightly short (4.76%), tall (3.46%), and slightly tall (2.6%). Weight for height was divided into appropriate (54.11%), thin (10.82%), slightly thin (8.02%), obesity (2.38%), and morbid obesity (1.73%). Children were not infected with O. viverrini in this study even if 15.8% of them consumed undercooked particularly cyprinoid fish. Children with slightly underweight was statistically significant associated with O. viverrini infection (Adjust R square = 0.445, p<0.05). The equation for prediction of liver fluke infection among schoolchildren who had slightly underweight is Y = -0.508 + 0.517 X(12) and Z = 0.694 X(12). Conclusion: The present study indicates that stunting, underweight and wasting children were found in high infectious areas of O. viverrini. Slightly underweight was associated with infection. Therefore, implementation of nutrient in this group is urgently required. Furthermore, health education for children and relative family should be encouraged for further campaign in this province.

The Effect of the Arm Swing on the Heart Rate of Non-Athletes.

BACKGROUND: The Arm Swing Exercise (ASE) is a style of alternative medicine. The ASE normally follows the pattern of swing forward 30 degrees and then swing backward 60 degrees for each swing. It is thought that practicing the ASE can improve musculoskeletal performance. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were: 1) to compare the difference in mean number of arm swings, heart rates and energy expenditures between the groups, 2) To examine the effect of basic characteristics and number of arm swing on heart rates and energy expenditures in Thai people. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This practice attracted researchers to study the benefits of the ASE in various groups. The ASE pattern was modified to swing forward 90 degrees and swing backward 60 degrees in this research study. The ASE was performed in three age groups of Thai people without diseases: 1) 18-25 years old, n = 25 2) 26-35 years old, n = 25 and 3) 36-55 years old, n = 25 sample of all cases were drawn from volunteers. The instrument utilized was heart rate monitor. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANO VA, correlation and multiple regression. RESULTS: The findings revealed that Thai people's mean heart rates, number of arm swings and energy expenditures were significantly different in each group at p-value = 0.05 (F = 5.757, 5.250 and 3.196, p-value = 0.005, 0.007 and 0.47, respectively) with statistical significance at p-value = 0.05 in each group. The basic characteristics in the population groups found that body weight, age and number of arm swings affected heart rate (t = 2.5 75, 2.341 and 2.058, p-value = 0.012, 0.022 and 0.043, respectively). CONCLUSION: Although ASE is a light intensity exercise, if done 30 minutes every day, ASE will improve efficacy of the cardiovascular system.

Nutritional Status among Rural Community Elderly in the Risk Area of Liver Fluke, Surin Province, Thailand.

Thailand is becoming an aging society, this presenting as a serious problem situation especially regarding health. Chronic diseases found frequently in the elderly may be related to dietary intake and life style. Surin province has been reported as a risk area for liver fluke with a high incidence of cholangiocarcinma especially in the elderly. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the nutritional status and associated factors among elderly in Surin province, northeast of Thailand. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 405 people aged 60 years and above, between September 2012 and July 2014. The participants were selected through a randomized systematic sampling method and completed a pre-designed questionnaire with general information, food recorded, weight, height, waist circumference, and behavior regarding to food consume related to liver fluke infection. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. The majority of participants was female (63.5%), age between 60-70 years old (75.6%), with elementary school education (96.6%), living with their (78.9%), and having underlying diseases (38.3%). Carbohydrate (95.3%) was need to improve the consumption. The participants demonstrated under-nutrition (24.4%), over-nutrition (16.4%), and obesity (15.4%). Elderly had a waist circumference as the higher than normal level (34.0%). Gender, female, age 71-80 years old, elementary school and underlying diseases were significantly associated with poor nutritional status. The majority of them had a high knowledge (43.0%), moderate attitude (44.4%), and moderate practice (46.2%) regarding food consumption related to liver fluke infection. In conclusion, these findings data indicated that elderly age group often have an under- or over-nutritional status. Carbohydrate consumption needs to be improved. Some elderly show behavior regarding food consumption that is related to liver fluke infection hat needs to be improved, so that health education pertaining good nutrition is required.

Community-based cross-sectional study of carcinogenic human liver fluke in elderly from Surin province, Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Opisthorchis viverrini infection is a serious public-health problem in Southeast Asia. It is associated with a number of hepatobiliary diseases and the evidence strongly indicates that liver fluke infection is the etiology of cholangiocarcinoma. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine Opisthorchis viverrini infection in elderly people in Surin province, Northeastern Thailand. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 333 elderly in 17 districts of Surin province, during one year period from January to December 2011. O. viverrini infection was determined using Kato's Thick Smear technique and socio-demographic were collected using predesigned semi-structured questionnaires, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 333 elderly including 116 males and 217 females were selected from different study sites. Overall intestinal parasitic infection was 16.2%, predominantly in O. viverrini (9.91%) and followed by Strongyloides stercolaris (4.80%) and hookworm (1.50%), respectively. The O. viverrini infection was found higher in males (13.8%) than females (7.83%), and frequently in elderly 60-70 year old with 14.2%. Chi-square testing indicated that education and occupation were significantly associated with O. viverrini infection (P value = 0.02). The distribution of O. viverrini infection was found in 11 districts which was covered 64.7% of the studies areas. The highest prevalence was found in Thatum with 39.1%, and followed by Sangkha (24.0%), Buachet (21.1%), Samrong Thap (19.1%), Si Narong (15.0%), and Ratanaburi (13.3%) districts. CONCLUSION: This findings stress that O viverrini is still a problem in Thailand. We confirmed, for the first time, the high endemicity of human O. viverrini infections in elderly in Surin province of Thailand, underlying the fact that mass treatment and health education are urgently required.

Carcinogenic human liver fluke: current status of Opisthorchis viverrini metacercariae in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Opisthorchis viverrini infection is a serious public-health problem in Southeast Asia. It is associated with a number of hepatobiliary diseases and the evidence strongly indicates that liver fluke infection is the etiology of cholangiocarcinoma. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate Opisthorchis viverrini metacercarial infection in cyprinoid fish collected from 32 districts of Nakhon Ratchasima province, Northeastern Thailand during one year period from February 2010 to February 2011. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, data being collected with pepsin-HCl digestion and stereomicroscope, respectively. Analysis was performed using SPSS Windows Version 12.0. RESULTS: A total of 640 Cyprinidae family fish including 5 species were collected from different study sites, and investigated for O. viverrini metacercariae. The infection rate was 12.3% (79/640), predominantly in Cyclocheilichthys armatus, C. repasson, Puntioplites proctzysron, Hampala macrolepitota and Hampala dispar, respectively. The prevalence of O. viverrini metaceria in Nakhon Ratchasima area was 78.1%, predominantly in Sida and KiaKham Thale So. CONCLUSION: This findings stress that natural fish species in rural communities are still a source of O viverrini infection and put local people at risk, therefore public awareness and prevention campaigns are urgently required.