Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

91-97

Authors: Yue-Nan Li, Feng-Ying Huang, Wen-Li Mei, Hao-Fu Dai, Jun-Li Guo, Guang-Hong Tan, Peng Zhou

To investigate possible mechanism of toxicarioside A in HS-5 bone stromal cells. Methods: HS-5 bone stromal cells were cultured in media supplemented with various concentrations of toxicarioside A or control DMSO (not treatment). Endoglin and TGF-毬 were detected by Northern and Western blot analysis and quantified in a standard method. Downstream molecules of endoglin and TGF-毬 (Smad1, Smad2 and their active phosphorylated counterparts, pSmad1 and pSmad2) were also detected and quantified by Western blot analysis. In addition, cell proliferation assay and small interfering RNA (siRNA) against endoglin were used to certificate the function of endolgin in the HS-5 cells. Results: Compared with the not treated (0 毺g/mL ) or DMSO treated control HS-5 cells, HS-5 cells treated with toxicarioside A were found significant attenuation of endolgin and TGF-毬 expression. Significant inhibition of cell proliferation was also found in the HS-5 cells treated with toxicarioside A. ALK1-related Smad1 and ALK5-related Smad2 were decreased in HS-5 cells treated with toxicarioside A. In addition, phosphorylated Smad1 (pSmad1) and Smad2 (pSmad2) were also found attenuation in toxicarioside A-treated HS-5 cells. RNA interference showed that blockage of endoglin by siRNA also decreased Smad1 and Smad2 expression in HS-5 cells. Conclusions: Our results indicate that toxicarioside A can influence bone marrow stromal HS-5’s function and inhibit HS-5 cell proliferation by alteration of endoglin-related ALK1 (Smad1) and ALK5 (Smad2) signaling.

103-106

Authors: Samuel Jacob Inbaneson, Ravikumar Sundaram, Palavesam Suganthi

To identify the possible antiplasmodial compounds from leaf, stem, root and flower extracts of Ocimum canum (O. canum), Ocimum sanctum (O. sanctum) and Ocimum basilicum (O. basilicum). Methods: The O. canum, O. sanctum and O. basilicum were collected from Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu and the extraction was carried out in ethanol. The filter sterilized extracts (100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125 毺g/mL) of leaf, stem, root and flower extracts of O. canum, O. sanctum and O. basilicum were tested for antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum). The potential extracts were also tested for their phytochemical constituents. Results: The leaf extract of O. sanctum showed excellent antiplasmodial activity (IC50 35.58 毺g/mL) followed by leaf extract of O. basilicum (IC50 43.81 毺g/mL). The leaf extract of O. canum, root extracts of O. sanctum and O. basilicum, the stem and flower extracts of all the three tested Ocimum species showed IC50 values between 50 and 100 毺g/mL. Statistical analysis reveals that, significant antiplasmodial activity (P<0.01) was observed between the concentrations and time of exposure. The chemical injury to erythrocytes was also carried out and it shows that, there were no morphological changes in erythrocytes by the ethanolic extract of O. canum, O. sanctum and O. basilicum. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity might be due to the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, triterpenoids, proteins, resins, steroids and tannins in the ethanolic extracts of tested plants. Conclusions: The ethanolic leaf extracts of O. sanctum possess lead compounds for the development of antiplasmodial drugs.

110-112

Authors: Luciana C Silva, Fernando PP Vicentine, Fernando AM Herbella

To describe high resolution manometry features of a population of symptomatic patients with Chagas’ disease esophagopathy (CDE). Methods: Sixteen symptomatic dysphagic patients with CDE [mean age (54.81依13.43) years, 10 women] were included in this study. All patients underwent a high resolution manometry. Results: Mean lower esophageal sphincter (LES) extension was (3.02依1.17) cm with a mean basal pressure of (15.25依7.00) mmHg. Residual pressure was (14.31依9.19) mmHg. Aperistalsis was found in all 16 patients. Achalasia with minimal esophageal pressurization (type 1) was present in 25% of patients and achalasia with esophageal compression (type 2) in 75%, according to the Chicago Classification. Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) mean basal pressure was (97.96依54.22) mmHg with a residual pressure of (12.95依6.42) mmHg. Conclusions: Our results show that LES was hypotensive or normotensive in the majority of the patients. Impaired relaxation was found in a minority of our patients. Aperistalsis was seen in 100% of patients. UES had impaired relaxation in a significant number of patients. Further clinical study is needed to investigate whether manometric features can predict outcomes following the studies of idiopathic achalasia..

117-120

Authors: Behnaz Akhoundi, Mehdi Mohebali, Gholam-Hossein Edrissian, Mohammad-Bagher Eslami, Hossein Keshavarz, Hossein Malekafzali, Mohammad-Bagher Rokni

To prepare and evaluate a glycerol-preserved antigen from an Iranian strain of Leishmania infantum (L. infantum) for use in glycerol-preserved direct agglutination tests (GP-DAT) as an alternative to freeze dried direct agglutination tests (FD-DAT) that use freeze-dried antigen. Methods: Glycerol-preserved DAT antigen was prepared and stored at different temperatures. We tested antigen stored at 4 曟, 22-37 曟 and 50 曟 over a period of 365 days. Seven hundred twenty-nine serum samples were collected from different geographical zones of Iran from 2007-2009, and 80 of these samples were pooled to produce sera. Each pooled serum contained 10 sera. All positive and negative pooled sera were separately tested for anti-L. infantum antibodies with GP-DAT, FD-DAT and formaldehyde-fixed direct agglutination test (FF-DAT) antigens; tests were performed on both human and dog sera over a period of 12 months. Results: There was strong agreement between the results obtained using GP-DAT and FD-DAT antigens stored at 22-37 曟 for 12 months for both human (100%) and dog (100%) pooled sera. The direct agglutination test results were highly reproducible (weighted kappa: GP=0.833, FD=0.979 and FF=0.917). Conclusions: Because GP-DAT antigen is highly stable over a range of temperatures and is easy to transport in the field, this type of antigen may be particularly useful in areas with endemic visceral leishmaniasis.

126-129

Authors: Akuodor Godwin Christian, Amos Grace Mfon, Essien Augustine Dick, Essien David-Oku, Akpan Joseph Linus, Ezeokpo Basil Chukwuma

To investigate the antimalarial activity of ethanol extract of Aspilia africana (A. africana) leaf. Methods: The ethanol extract of A. africana leaf (100-400 mg/kg) was screened for blood schizonticidal effect against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) in mice both in early and established models of antimalarial studies. Results: The leaf extract exhibited significant (P<0.05) antiplasmodial activity in 4-day early infection and in established infection tests with a considerable mean survival time comparable to that of standard drug, chloroquine (10 mg/kg). Conclusions: The findings show that ethanol extract of A. africana leaf possesses potent antiplasmodial activity which justify the use in ethnomedicine and can be developed in malaria therapy.

136-141

Authors: Muhammad Taher, Deny Susanti, Mohamad Fazlin Rezali, Farah Syahidah Ahmad Zohri, Solachuddin Jauhari Arief Ichwan, Suhaib Ibrahim Alkhamaiseh, Farediah Ahmad

To study the chemical constituents of stembark of Garcinia malaccensis (G. malaccensis) together with apoptotic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Methods: Purification and structure elucidation were carried out by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, respectively. MTT and trypan blue exclusion methods were performed to study the cytotoxic activity. Antibacterial activity was conducted by disc diffusion and microdilution methods, whereas antioxidant activities were done by ferric thiocyanate method and DPPH radical scavenging. Results: The phytochemical study led to the isolation of 毩,毬-mangostin and cycloart-24-en-3毬-ol. 毩-Mangostin exhibited cytotoxic activity against HSC-3 cells with an IC50 of 0.33 毺M. 毬- and 毩-mangostin showed activity against K562 cells with IC50 of 0.40 毺M and 0.48 毺M, respectively. 毩-Mangostin was active against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Bacilus anthracis (B. anthracis) with inhibition zone and MIC value of (19 mm; 0.025 mg/mL) and (20 mm; 0.013 mg/mL), respectively. In antioxidant assay, 毩-mangostin exhibited activity as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation. Conclusions: G. malaccensis presence 毩- and 毬-mangostin and cycloart-24-en-3毬-ol. 毬-Mangostin was found very active against HSC-3 cells and K562. The results suggest that mangostins derivatives have the potential to inhibit the growth of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. In addition, 毩-and 毬-mangostin was found inhibit the growth of Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria and also showed the activity as an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation.

147-150

Authors: I Maxwell Ezeja, Ihechiluru I Ezeigbo, Kelechi G Madubuike, Nkiru E Udeh, Iheanacho A Ukweni, Stella C Akomas, Daniel C Ifenkwe

To investigate the antidiarrheal activity of the methanol leaf extract of Pterocarpus erinaceus in vivo. Methods: The methanol leaf extract of Pterocarpus erinaceus was evaluated using different doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) orally for antidiarrheal activity using castor oil-induced diarrhea, charcoal meal transit time and castor oil-induced enteropooling in different groups of albino Wistar mice. The activity of the extract at different doses were compared to diphenoxylate (5 mg/kg) and atropine sulphate (3 mg/kg) which were used as standard reference drugs and also to the distilled water administered negative control group of mice. Results: The extract at the doses used caused a significant (P< 0.01) reduction in the wet faeces passed by the mice in the castor oil-induced diarrhea, decreased the distance travelled by the charcoal meal by up to 54.8% and also caused a dose dependent and significant (P< 0.001) reduction in the intraluminal fluid accumulation in the castor oil-induced enteropooling. Conclusions: Our results indicate that Pterocarpus erinaceus extract produced significant antidiarrheal activity and the action may attribute to inhibition of gastrointestinal movement and fluid secretion.

157-161

Authors: Yi-Peng Ding, Hong-Xia Yao, Xiao-Lan Tang, Hai-Wu He, Hui-Fang Shi, Li Lin, Min Li, Shan Chen, Jing Chen, Hai-Jiao Wang

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of bronchial asthma in the Li ethnic group in Hainan, China. Methods: This study employed a stratified random sample design using custom-designed questionnaires. Subjects with asthma-like symptoms were first identified by two rounds of surveys and then confirmed by respiratory physicians using pulmonary function test, bronchial dilation test and challenge test. Demographic data, information on family history of asthma, history of allergies, smoking habits, domestic cooking fuel and other potential risk factors were collected. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate risk factors for asthma. Results: The prevalence of asthma in the Li ethnic group was 3.38%, much higher than the national average level in China. Aging, agriculture industry (the rubber industry in particular), rural residence, family history of asthma, history of allergies, cold air, inhalation of dust and irritant gases, smoking, domestic cooking fuel and living environment were associated with increased risk of asthma. Conclusions: The high prevalence of asthma in the Li ethnic group highlights the importance of asthma prevention and treatment in this population. Risk factors indentified in this study warrant special attention. Elevating public awareness about asthma in local communities will benefit the prevention of the disease.

165-168

Authors: Zhuo-Ri Li, Xian-Hai Mao, Xiao-Xuan Hu, Sheng-Dan Nie, Yong-Zhong Shi, Hua Xiang, Jian-Hui Yang, Ou-De Cao

Liver failure is the end stage of hepatopathy with unfavorable prognosis. In two patients with liver failure, viable primary human hepatocytes, obtained from resected liver tissue of patients with hepatolithiasis, were transplanted into the spleen by interventional therapy through femoral arterial cannula. After transplantation, the patients’ clinical symptoms and liver function were significantly improved. However, their bilirubin increased within six days following transplantation. One suffered from hepatic coma and give up treatment and the other patient died forteen days after transplantation. It is technically safe to treat liver failure by intrasplenic transplantation of adult hepatocytes and the clinical efficacy has been confirmed. How to make transplanted hepatic cells proliferate and functionally survive is the key point to maintain continuous improvement of the recipient’s hepatic function.