A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study on Respiratory Health and Spirometry-Assessed Pulmonary Function Among Textile Workers in Tamil Nadu, India.

Introduction The textile industry is one of the largest economic activities. Still, the laborers involved in it are exposed to various health-damaging air pollutants, putting them at risk of health issues including morbidities of the respiratory system. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pulmonary function parameters of the workers involved in textile manufacturing-related jobs. Methodology A cross-sectional study was carried out among adult individuals who had been working in textile manufacturing-related jobs as their main work. The details such as sociodemographic, clinical, workplace conditions, and smoking habits were collected, as well as chest auscultation and lung spirometry using a hand-held spirometer. The participants who had normal and abnormal lung function patterns were statistically analyzed for potential influencing factors. Results The findings of the study conducted from 95 eligible participants identified that the pulmonary function parameters assessed by spirometry were in the abnormal range among 84 (88%) participants. Around 72 (82%) of them had a restrictive pattern, and six (6%) had both restrictive and obstructive (mixed) patterns of lung disease. Smokers and those who lacked cross-ventilation and/or fresh source of air in the workplace were more likely to have abnormal lung function. Participants who had their workplace and residence as same had significantly 6.44 (95% CI: 1.24, 33.36) times higher odds of having abnormal lung function in spirometry. Conclusion As workers involved in household-run textile manufacturing jobs are found to be at a higher risk of developing abnormal lung function, using personal protective equipment, following occupational safety measures, and improving the working environment to acceptable standards are essential to safeguard the respiratory health of laborers in such unorganized sectors.

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome Secondary to Constipation in an Adult Patient With Cerebral Palsy.

The majority of patients with constipation can often be treated conservatively with laxatives, suppositories, or enemas in mild cases. However, endoscopic decompression or surgical intervention may be required in some instances. Abdominal compartment syndrome as a result of constipation is rarely seen in the literature. We report a case of faecal impaction, which led to abdominal compartment syndrome in an adult patient with cerebral palsy. With increasing life expectancy, such cases may be increasingly encountered in the adult population. Severe complications of constipation should not be overlooked, especially in this at-risk population. Early recognition of abdominal compartment syndrome is key in its management.

Response of Anaerobic Protozoa to Oxygen Tension in Anaerobic System.

The effect of oxygen on anaerobic protozoa was studied in anaerobic batch reactors inoculated with sludge and protozoa cultures. Among the protozoa genera, Metopus, Brachonella, Plagiopyla, Trepomonas, and Vanella were more sensitive to oxygen compared to other genera. Protozoa genera Menoidium, Rhynchomonas, Cyclidium, Spathidium, and Amoeba were found to survive under aerobic conditions, and the growth rate was slightly higher or similar to anaerobic condition. O2 tension resulted in the loss of free and endosymbiotic methanogens in anaerobic system, while methanogens were observed inside the protozoan cysts. Survival of anaerobic protozoa declined considerably when the O2 tension exceeded 1% atm. sat. and showed chemosensory behavior in response to O2 exposure. Superoxide dismutase activity was detected in survived protozoa cells under O2 tension. Facultative anaerobic protozoa with SOD activity can provide a mechanism to overcome possible occurrence of oxygen toxicity in the treatment of wastewater in anaerobic reactor.

Apoptosis in angiotensin II-stimulated hypertrophic cardiac cells -modulation by phenolics rich extract of Boerhavia diffusa L.

Herein, we investigated the effects of B. diffusa (BDE), a well-known cardiotonic edible medicinal plant against apoptosis in Angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated hypertrophic cardiac cells (H9c2). The cells were analyzed for viability, markers of hypertrophy, apoptosis, and the expression of various proteins related to apoptosis. Ang II (100 nM for 48 h)-exposed H9c2 cells treated with BDE (75 µg/ml) showed a significant reduction in apoptosis (58.60%↓) compared to Ang II-alone treated cells. BDE treatment significantly reduced the up-regulation of Bax and cytosolic cytochrome-C caused by Ang II as well as reduced the degree of Ang II- induced down-regulation of Bcl-2. A reduction in caspase-3 activity (33.77%↓) and down-regulation of TNF-α was also observed in BDE treated cells stimulated with Ang II. Furthermore, the up-regulation of phospho-p38 MAPK was attenuated by BDE treatment. Bioactive components in the extract were identified as boeravinone B, quercetin, kaempferol, and caffeic acid as evident from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Overall, our study shows that B. diffusa is effective in attenuating apoptosis in cardiac cells, which is a major contributor to sudden cardiac death in addition to its nutraceutical properties.

Isolation and identification of α-glucosidase and protein glycation inhibitors from Stereospermum colais.

Stereospermum colais (family Bignoniaceae) is a well-known pharmacologically potent medicinal plant reported in traditional systems of medicine. Phytochemical investigation of the roots of S. colais resulted in the isolation of seven compounds, and the metabolites were screened for its α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition and anti-glycation property. The compounds identified were ß-sitosterol (1), 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl undecanoate (2), 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl pentadecanoate (3), 5α-ergosta-7,22-dien-3ß-ol (4), ursolic acid (5), lapachol (6), and pinoresinol (7). Ursolic acid, lapachol, and pinoresinol possessed IC50 values of 119.01, 130.29, and 125.62 nM, respectively, compared to standard ascorbic acid with an IC50 value of 201.01 nM. The other compounds failed to show the activity. Results of the current study showcased the possible exploration of this medicinal plant for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in line with the development of phytopharmaceutical industry.

Comparative chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activities of essential oil isolated from the leaves of Cinnamomum tamala and Pimenta dioica.

Cinnamomum tamala Nees and Eberm (tejpat) and Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr (pimento) leaves are commonly used for flavouring food and widely used in pharmaceutical preparations because of their hypoglycemic, carminative and stimulant properties. In this study, we compared the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of tejpat and pimento essential oils by employing various in vitro methods. GC and GC-MS analyses were done to find out the chemical composition, and the main constituent identified in tejpat and pimento leaf oils was eugenol. Both the oils showed significant radical scavenging activity against DPPH and superoxide radicals with a potent metal chelating activity and were compared with that of standard compound, eugenol. Among the two oils, tejpat oil showed better activity in terms of antioxidative potential.

In vitro studies to assess the antidiabetic, antiperoxidative, and radical scavenging potential of Stereospermum colais.

CONTEXT: Stereospermum colais (Buch.-Ham. ex Dillw.) Mabberley (Bignoniaceae), which has traditional medicinal properties, is distributed all over deciduous forests. In spite of its many uses, the antidiabetic, antiperoxidative and radical scavenging activities of this species have not been assessed, and its chemical composition is scarcely known. OBJECTIVE: Antidiabetic, antiperoxidation, xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition, and radical scavenging activities of acetone and methanol extracts of Stereospermum colais roots were investigated. Protective effects of Stereospermum colais root extract in stabilizing sunflower oil was also examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protective effect of acetone (ASC) and methanol (MSC) extracts of Stereospermum colais root for the potential inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes were studied by in vitro method. Glycation inhibitory activity was also studied to inhibit the production of glycated end products. RESULTS: Compared with acarbose, ASC showed a strong inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase (IC(50) 61.21 µg/mL) and a moderate inhibitory activity against α-amylase (IC(50) 681.08 µg/mL). Glycation inhibitory activity of Stereospermum colais root extracts by using an in vitro glucose-bovine serum albumin (BSA) assay was also done and compared with standard gallic acid. ASC also shows high XO inhibition potential, free radical scavenging activities, and low p-anisidine value indicates the high medicinal potency of Stereospermum colais root. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the extract of Stereospermum colais may be interesting for incorporation in pharmaceutical preparations for human health, since it can suppress hyperglycaemia, and or as food additives due to its antiradical efficiency.

Zingiber officinale extract exhibits antidiabetic potential via modulating glucose uptake, protein glycation and inhibiting adipocyte differentiation: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), a perennial herbaceous plant is native to Southern Asia. Study was aimed to evaluate antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of ginger extract and its characterization. Possible mode of action to elicit antidiabetic activity was also evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ethyl acetate extract of ginger (EAG) was evaluated for its antioxidant activity in terms of DPPH radical scavenging potential with an IC50 value of 4.59 µg/ml. Antidiabetic activity of EAG was evaluated by estimating antiglycation potential (IC50 290.84 µg/ml). HPLC profiling of EAG revealed the presence of phenolic components, gingerol and shoagol as major constituents. After determining sub-toxic concentration of EAG (50 µg/ml), efficacy of extract to enhance glucose uptake in cell lines were checked in L6 mouse myoblast and myotubes. EAG was effective at 5 µg/ml concentration in both cases. Antibody based studies in treated cells revealed the effect of EAG in expressing Glut 4 in cell surface membrane compared to control. CONCLUSION: The antidiabetic effect of ginger was experimentally proved in the study and has concluded that the activity is initiated by antioxidant, antiglycation and potential to express or transport Glut4 receptors from internal vesicles.

Inhibitory potential of ginger extracts against enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes, inflammation and induced oxidative stress.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) continues to be used as an important cooking spice and herbal medicine around the world. Gingerols, the major pungent components of ginger, are known to improve diabetes, including the effect of enhancement against insulin sensitivity. In the current study, ginger sequentially extracted with different solvents-namely, hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, 70% methanol-water and water-were screened to determine the variations in phenolic-linked active constituents. The potential of these extracts to inhibit key enzymes relevant to type 2 diabetes and inflammation was studied. Phenolic compounds-namely, gingerols and shoagols-were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Ethyl acetate extract showed higher activity compared with other extracts. These studies indicate that ginger has very good potential for α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition relevant for type 2 diabetes management and cyclooxygenase inhibition for inflammation.