Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

Ya-Ping Li

Authors: 220-223

Objective To investigate the expression and potential roles of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 6 (GRK6) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Methods Immunohistochemistry and Western blot was performed to determine GRK6 expression in 73 HCC samples. And the correlation with clinicopathological features was also analyzed. Results GRK6 expression was significantly higher in HCC than that in normal hepatic tissue. GRK6 was positively correlated with proliferation marker Ki-67, clinical stage, metastasis and survival time. Conclusions Our results suggested that GRK6 overexpression plays an important role in HCC. Monitoring the expression of GRK6 maybe helpful in early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.

176-179

Authors: G Renugadevi, T Ramanathan, priya R Shanmuga, P Thirunavukkarasu

Objective To investigate the studies on effects of Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) (Burm.f.) and Andrographis lineata (A. lineata) nees (Family: Acanthaceae) extracts against two mosquitoes Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) (Say.) and Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) (Linn.). Methods The aqueous and petroleum ether extracts of two plant species, A. paniculata and A. lineate were examined against the larvae of A. aegypti (L.) and Cx. quinquefasciatus with gradually increasing concentration ie. from 50 to 200 ppm of solvent extracts and to test their activity in combination with each other. Results In a 24 h bioassay experiment with plant extracts, highest mortalities were recorded at 200 ppm of concentrations for leaves of A. lineta and A. paniculata individually. For combination effect, only 150 ppm of the mixture of solvent extracts of petroleum ether: aqueous (1:1) extracts showed 100% mortality after 24 h of exposure. Conclusions The results show that, insecticides of plant combination is ecofriend and has better larvicidal activity compared to individual extracts.

188-194

Authors: Uma Chidambaram, Vanitha Pachamuthu, Suganya Natarajan, Bhakkiyalakshmi Elango, Suriyanarayanan, Kunga Mohan Ramkumar

Objective To determine the phenolic content in Codariocalyx motorius root extract and to evaluate its antioxidant properties using various in vitro assay systems. Methods The antioxidant activity was evaluated based on scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anions, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, reducing power and by inhibition of lipid peroxidation which was estimated in terms of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Results The root extract of the Codariocalyx motorius (C. motorius) exhibited potent total antioxidant activity that increased with increasing amount of extract concentration, which was compared with standard drug such as quercetin, butylated hydroxytoluene, tocopherol at different concentrations. The different concentrations of the extracts showed inhibition on lipid peroxidation. In addition, the extracts had effective reducing power, free radical scavenging, super oxide anion scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, lipid peroxidation, and total phenolic content depending on concentration. High correlation between total phenolic contents and scavenging potential of different reactive oxygen species (r2=0.831–0.978) indicated the polyphenols as the main antioxidants. Conclusions Codariocalyx motorius (C. motorius) root possess the highly active antioxidant substance which can be used for the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases.

200-204

Authors: M. Tolulope Olaleye, Afolabi C. Akinmoladun, Olamide O. Crown, Katty E. Ahonsi, A.O. Adetuyi

Objective To investigate the restorative effect of Pterocarpus erinaceus (P. erinaceus) and homopterocarpin, an isoflavonoid isolated from it, on indomethacin-induced disruption in gastric homeostasis in rats. Methods Adult rats were divided into five groups and fasted for 48 h before treatment. Group 1 received olive oil (vehicle), group 2 received 25 mg/kg indomethacin while groups 3–5 received cimetidine (100 mg/kg), homopterocarpin (25 mg/kg) and P. erinaceus ethanolic stem bark extract (100 mg/kg) respectively. After 1 h, all the groups except group 2 were administered 25 mg/kg of indomethacin. One hour later, the rats were sacrificed and the ulcer index and other gastroprotective indices were evaluated. Results Indomethacin caused significant injury to the stomach of the rats as reflected in the ulcer indices (9.0±1.4) as compared with that of control (2.0±0.0). Equally, there were significant increases in gastric acid concentration and malondialdehyde level in the stomachs of the ulcerated animals compared with the control. However mucus content, reduced gluthatione level and gastric pH were significantly reduced in the ulcerated animals compared with the control. Pretreatment with either Pterocarpus bark extract or homopterocarpin reversed the effects of indomethacin on the evaluated parameters. Conclusions These results indicate that both homopterocarpin and Pterocarpus extract offered gastroprotection against indomethacin-induced ulcer by antioxidative mechanism and the modulation of gastric homeostasis. The results also suggest that homopterocarpin might be responsible for, or contribute to the antiulcerogenic property of P. erinaceus.

212-215

Authors: Dina Abdulla Muhammad Zaglool, Amr Mohamed, Yousif Abdul Wahid Khodari, Mian Usman Farooq

Objective To evaluate the validity of Crypto-Giardia antigen rapid test (CA-RT) in comparison with the conventional modified Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast (MZN-AF) staining method for the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis. Methods Fifteen preserved stool samples from previously confirmed infections were used as positive controls and 40 stool samples from healthy people were used as negative control. A total of 85 stool samples were collected from suspected patients with cryptosporidiosis over 6 months during the period from January till June, 2011. The study was conducted in the department of parasitology, central laboratory, Alnoor Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. All samples were subjected to CA-RT and conventional MZN-AF staining method. Validation parameters including sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), accuracy index (AI), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were evaluated for both tests. Results Out of 15 positive controls, CA-RT detected 13 (86.7%) while MZN-AF detected 11(73.3%) positive cases. However, CA-RT detected no positive case in 40 normal controls but MZN-AF detected 2(5%) as positive cases. Based on the results, the SN, SP, AI, PPV and NPV were high in CA-RT than MZN-AF staining method, ie., 86.7% vs. 73.3%, 100% vs. 95%, 96.4% vs. 89.1%, 100% vs. 84.6% and 95.2% vs. 90.5%, respectively. Out of a total of 85 suspected specimens, CA-RT detected 7(8.2%) but MZN-AF detected 6(7.1%) cases as positive. Conclusions CA-RT immunoassay is more valid and reliable than MZN-AF staining method.

224-227

Authors: Jun Zhu

Objective To probe into the influences of Chinese herbal compound on the growth and metabolism of weight-bearing bones of tail-suspended rats. Methods Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group (eight), tail-suspended control group (eight) and Chinese medicine treatment group (eight) according to their weights. No treatment was done for the blank control group. Double distilled water lavage was performed daily for the tail-suspended control group. On the basis of the tail-suspended rat model, the rats were given Chinese herbal compound lavage every day in Chinese medicine treatment group. This compound includes mulberry, Poria cocos and barbary wolfberry, etc. The test cycle was four weeks. The rats were killed after the experiment. The right femoral bone was taken out for the physical measurements, and the left femoral bone was for the three-point bending test. The influences of Chinese herbal compound on femoral bone growth and biomechanical properties of simulated weightlessness rats were observed. Results (1) After simulated weightlessness (tail-suspension), compared with the blank control group, all the physiological indexes of rat femoral bone decreased in tail-suspended group and Chinese medicine treatment group (P<0.05). The strength and rigidity of rat femoral bone decreased in tail-suspended group (P<0.01). The maximum load and rigidity coefficient also decreased with the increasing toughness coefficient in the control group (P<0.01). (2) After the countermeasure of Chinese herbal compound, each biomechanical indexes showed the tendency of increasing in Chinese medicine treatment group, and theses indexes were close to those of the blank control group (P<0.05), which indicated that the bone loss caused by simulated weightlessness was improved. Conclusions Chinese herbal compound for tonifying kidney could effectively prevent the bone loss and have some enhancements on the bone biomechanical properties.

232-236

Authors: Yu-Hong Xia, Li Yao, Zhan-Xin Zhang

Objective To explore the relationship between IL-1β, IL-1Ra gene polymorphism and the occurrence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) infertility. Methods A total of 59 PCOS infertility cases visiting the reproductive center of our hospital from Mar. 2010 to Mar. 2012 and 56 healthy women were selected. ELISA method was used for the detection of IL-1β, IL-1Ra levels, and the levels of serum supersensitivity C reaction protein (US-CRP), insulin (FINS), follicule-stimulating hormone (FSH) and fasting blood-glucose (FBG) were detected. PCR analysis technology was adopted to detect the gene polymorphism of the 511 site of IL-1β and the second introne of IL-1Ra. Results The levels of IL-1β, IL-1Ra, US-CRP, FINS and FBG in blood serum of patients in PCOS group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The level of FSH in PCOS group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). The genotypic frequency of T/T, the 511 site of IL-1β in PCOS group was 42.37%, significantly higher than 12.50% in control group (P<0.01). The frequency of T allele was also significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.01). The genotypic frequency of I/V, the second introne of IL-1Ra in PCOS group was 20.34%, signiciantly higher than 3.57% in control group (P<0.05). The frequency of V allele in PCOS group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). Conclusions T allele of the 511 site of IL-1β gene and V allele of the second introne of IL-1Ra gene might be the genetic basis of the rising of IL-1β, IL-1Ra and US-CRP levels in blood serum of PCOS patients, and are associated with the infertility occurrence of PCOS patients.

242-245

Authors: Yu-Cai Zhang

Objective To explore a rapid diagnostic method in neonatal sepsis and bacterial meningitis. Methods The primers were designed and synthesized based on 16S rRNA gene of Staphylococcus aureus. Four specimens of Staphylococcus aureus, 16 specimens of coagulase-negative Staphylococci, 2 specimens of Enterococci, 3 specimens of Streptococcus, 1 specimen of Micrococcus, 3 specimens of Escherichia coli, 4 specimens of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 3 specimens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 2 specimens of Enterobacter cloacae, and 5 specimens of Acinetobacter were tested by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. A total of 118 clinical specimens of sepsis and non-sepsis were collected and detected with both LAMP assay and blood culture. Results By designing primers specific for Staphylococcus aureus, specimens containing different kinds of pathogens were carried out by LAMP assay, and our data showed LAMP technology for the specific detection of Staphylococcus aureus in samples was successfully established. All clinical specimens of sepsis and non-sepsis were tested by both blood cultures and LAMP, and our data showed that compared wit blood culture method, the LAMP technology showed significantly high detection rate (P <0.01). Conclusions As a quick and easy detection of Staphylococcus aureus, the LAMP technology was successfully established, laid the foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of children Staphylococcus aureus sepsis, and showed great promotion and application value.

249-250

Authors: Sunny Garg, Richik Tripathi, Kamlakar Tripathi

Leishmaniasis affects both the visceral and cutaneous tissues in body. Oral Mucosal involvement in leishmaniasis is rare and is often overlooked. We present a case 17 year old boy from the north east region of Bihar who has a history of visceral leishmaniasis one year back, came to the department of oral surgery for treatment of persistent oral ulcers. Oral examination did not give any diagnostic information while systemic examination revealed enlarged spleen and low grade fever. Patient was screened for leishmaniasis by rK39 based immunochromatographic strip test which came to be positive. Biopsy of the ulcer as well as splenic and bone marrow aspirate confirmed the presence of leishmaniasis. Patient was administered Amphotericin B for 20 days following which significant clinical and haematological improvement followed.