Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

85-89

Authors: Yasir Waheed

More than 10 million people are suffering from hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Pakistan. The available treatment option is a combination of interferon and ribavirin. Treatment response is linked with several factors and also induces a number of side effects. We searched in Pubmed, Pak Medi Net and Google Scholar for the articles presenting the effect of interferon plus ribavirin therapy on HCV patients from Pakistan, their side effects and future prospects. The major prevalent HCV genotype in Pakistan is 3. Conventional interferon alpha plus ribavirin showed sustained virological response of 54%–64% while pegylated interferon alpha plus ribavirin showed sustained virological response of 58%–75%. IL–28B CC genotype is linked with better sustained virological response. Studies on patients with HCV genotype 3 infections showed no correlation between treatment response and interferon sensitivity determining region mutations. Interferon therapy is linked with a number of side effects like thyroid dysfuncton, haematological disorders, weight loss, gastrointestinal tract side effects and neuropsychiatric side effects. Unusual side effects of clubbing of fingers and seizures were also observed in a couple of patients. Interferon alpha plus ribavirin therapy showed better response rate in HCV genotype 3 patients from Pakistan with number of side effects. A couple of interferon free therapies are light of hope for the patients living with HCV.

94-97

Authors: Ladawan Sariya, Phirom Prompiram, Siriporn Tangsudjai, Kanaporn Poltep, Tatiyanuch Chamsai, Chalisa Mongkolphan, Kamolphan Rattanavibul, Verachai Sakdajivachareon

Objective To detect and characterize Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci) in asymptomatic feral pigeons in central Thailand. Methods A total 814 swabs from the trachea and cloacae of 407 non–clinical feral pigeons in central Thailand were collected and tested for the presence of C. psittaci. Results A 10.8% of feral pigeons in the sample group were positive as determined by nested PCR primer specific to C. psittaci. The outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene of positive samples exhibited amino acid identity of C. psittaci ranging from 71 to 100% and were grouped in genotype B. Exceptionally, BF1676–56 isolate was closely related to Chlamydia avium with 99% identification of the 16S ribosomal (r) RNA gene. Conclusions This is the first report on C. psittaci isolated from asymptomatic feral pigeons in Thailand, which provides knowledge for the disease status in pigeon populations in Thailand.

104-111

Authors: Jorge E. Wong-Paz, Juan C. Contreras-Esquivel, Raúl Rodríguez-Herrera, María L. Carrillo-Inungaray, Lluvia I. López, Guadalupe V. Nevárez-Moorillón, Cristóbal N. Aguilar

Objective To determine the extraction suitable conditions of total phenolic content (TPC) by heat–reflux system, antioxidant activities and HPLC characterization of the aqueous–ethanolic extracts of Jatropha dioica (J. dioica) (Dragon's blood), Flourensia cernua (F. cernua) (Tar bush), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (E. camaldulensis) (Eucalyptus) and Turnera diffusa (T. diffusa) (Damiana). Methods TPC was evaluated by the well–known colorimetric assay using Folin–Ciocalteu reagent. The antioxidant activities were assayed by three methods based on scavenging of DPPH, ABTS and by lipid oxidation inhibition. The chemical composition of the extracts obtained was subject to HPLC analysis. Results TPC in the plant extracts ranged from 2.3 to 14.12 mg gallic acid equivalents/g for J. dioica and E. camaldulensis, respectively. The plant extracts of F. cernua, E. camaldulensis and T. diffusa showed similar strong antioxidant activities on scavenging of DPPH and lipid oxidation inhibition. In contrast, J. dioica extracts had lowest potential antioxidant in three assays used. HPLC assay showed the presence of several phenolic compounds in the extracts used. Conclusions The results obtained suggest that F. cernua, E. camaldulensis and T. diffusa are potential sources to obtain bioactive phenolic compounds with high antioxidant properties which can be used in the factories as antioxidant agents or for treatments in diseases.

120-126

Authors: Shahabeddin Sarvi, Ahmad Daryani, Mohammad Taghi Rahimi, Mohsen Aarabi, Azar Shokri, Ehsan Ahmadpour, Azadeh Mizani, Mahdi Sharif

Objective To analyze and review the overall seroprevalence rate of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in cattle from Iran. Methods In the current study, data collection (published and unpublished papers, abstracts of national scientific congresses and dissertations) using particular terms was carried out systematically on the following electronic databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Ebsco, Science Direct, Scopus, Magiran, Irandoc, IranMedex and SID (Scientific Information Database). Results A total of 22 studies since 1983 to 2012 reporting the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in cattle from different regions of Iran met our eligibility criteria. The pooled proportion of toxoplasmosis, using random effect model, among cattle in Iran from over the 30–year period was estimated 18.1% (95% CI: 9.9% to 28.2%). Conclusions This study firstly establishes a crude seroprevalence rate of Toxoplasma infection in cattle which can lead us to understand the condition of cattle toxoplasmosis, which have to take into accounted for an appropriate and effective prevention and controls. Secondly, it compares and discusses elaborately the role of risk factors including sex, age and breed in the epidemiology of the disease. Thus, it determines gaps and drawbacks in the prior studies which are greatly useful to design more accurate investigations in the future.

132-136

Authors: Xue-Mei Liu, Yi Feng, Ai-Min Li

Objective To observe effect of granulocyte colony–stimulating factor (G–CSF) and restructure human thrombopoietin on hypoxic–ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in new born rats. Methods A total of 60 neonatal SD rats were selected and divided into 4 groups, with 15 in each group. Group A served as control group. Rats of Groups B–D were prepared for HIBD model by ligation of left common carotid artery combined with hypoxia method. Rats of Group A were only completed with free left common carotid artery without ligation and hypoxia operation. After HIBD model preparation, Group B was administrated with subcutaneous injection of normal saline for placebo treatment; Group C was administrated with cervical subcutaneous injection of 0.5 μg/10 g granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G–CSF) for 5 d (Once a day); Group D was administrated with intraperitoneal injection of 15 U/10 g recombinant human thromobopoietin (rhTPO) for treatment. After modeling for 7, 14 and 21 d, 5 rats were sacrificed in each group, respectively. Brain quality damage (%) conditions of experimental animals in each group were compared in different time points, and cerebral histopathological changes of each group were observed. Expression of nestin in rats of each group was detected by immunohistochemical method. Results After modeling for 7, 14 and 21 d, brain quality damages (%) of Groups B, C and D were significant higher than that of in Group A (P<0.05), while brain quality damage (%) degree of Group B was the highest in different time points, followed by Groups D and C, respectively. It was significant different compared among groups (P<0.05). The histopathological observation showed that degrees of brain damages in Groups C and D were significant lower than that of in Group B. After modeling for 7, 14 and 21 d, nestin positive cell populations in Groups B, C, and D were significant higher than Group A (P<0.05). Nestin cell populations of Group C in different time points were significant higher than Groups B and D (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in nestin positive cell populations in the above time points between Groups B and D (P>0.05). Conclusions Both G–CSF and TPO can protect the nervous system of HIBD neonatal rats. G–CSF can promote the proliferation and differentiation of neural precursor cells to decrease the degeneration and necrosis of nerve cell. TPO can obviously ameliorate morphology index of HIBD rats. Through regulating ratio of TIMP–1 and MMP–9, TPO can maintain the integrity of blood brain barrier to relieve the occurrence of brain damage.

142-146

Authors: Min Ni, Xiao-Lei Shi, Zhi-Gang Qu, Hong Jiang, Zi-Qian Chen, Jun Hu

Objective To explore the effect and molecular mechanism of SPHK1 in the invasion and metastasis process of non–small–cell lung cancer cells (A549). Methods Recombinant retrovirus was used to mediate the production of A549/vector, A549/SPHK1, A549/scramble, and A549/SPHKl/RNAi that stably expressed or silenced SPHK1. The invasion and migration capacities of A549 cells overexpressing or silencing SPHK1 were determined using Transwell invasion assay and scratch wound repair experiment. The protein and mRNA expression levels of E–cadherin, fibronectin, vimentin in A549/vector, A549/SPHK1, A549/scramble, A549/SPHK1/RNAi were detected with Western blot (WB) and quantitative PCR (QPCR) methods, respectively. Results Transwell invasion assay and scratch wound repair experiments showed that over–expression of SPHK1 obviously enhanced the invasion and migration capacities of A549 cells. WB and QPCR detection results showed that, the expression of E–cadherin (a molecular marker of epithelial cells) and fibronectin, vimentin (molecular markers of mesenchymal cells) in A549 cells was upregulated after overexpression of SPHK1; while SPHK1 silencing significantly reduced the invasion and metastasis capacities of A549 cells, upregulated the expression of molecular marker of epithelial cells, and downregulated the expression of molecular marker of mesenchymal cells. Conclusions SPHK1 promotes epithelial mesenchymal transition of non–small–cell lung cancer cells and affects the invasion and metastasis capacities of these cells.

153-156

Authors: Hong-Min Wang, Guo-Xing Li, Han-Song Zheng, Xue-Zhi Wu

Objective To study the protective effect of resveratrol on lens epithelial cell apoptosis in diabetic cataract rat. Methods A total of 84 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: 12 in Group A (control group), 24 in Group B (diabetic cataract group), 24 in Group C (therapeutic–dose of resveratrol group) and 24 in Group D (low–dose of resveratrol group). Rats in Group B–D were given with 60 mg/kg streptozotocin through intraperitoneal injection. Rats in Group C were given with 100 mg/kg resveratrol and rats in Group D were given with 20 mg/kg resveratrol. The caspase–3 expression levels and apoptosis ratios of LEC among each group were observed; the degrees of lens opacity in Group B–D after 12 weeks were compared. Results There were significant differences in caspase–3 expression levels, apoptosis ratios of LEC among groups at 4 w, 8 w and 12 w (P<0.05). After 12 weeks, in Group B the degree of lens opacity was as follow: 0 (0.00%) in grade I, 3 (37.50%) in grade II, 2 (25.00%)in grade III, 2 (25.00%)grade IV, and 1 (12.50%) in grade V; in Group C: 2 (25.00%)in grade I, 4 (50.00%) in grade II, 2 (25.00%)in grade III, 0 (0.00%)grade IV, and 0 (0.00 %) in grade V; in Group D: 1 (12.50%)in grade I, 4 (50.00%) in grade II, 2 (25.00%) in grade III, 1 (12.50%) grade IV, and 0 (0.00%) in grade V. The difference among Group B–D was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions Resveratrol has protective effect on lens epithelial cell apoptosis in diabetic cataract rat, and the effect is relative to its dose.

162-168

Authors: Xiao-Xi Liu, Yan Shi

Objective To investigate effects of herbal compound Yi Tang Kang on the spleen deficiency metabolic syndrome. Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: the normal control group and the MS spleen deficiency syndrome group. The control group rats were fed with standard diet and water, while MS spleen deficiency syndrome group with high fat diet and low dose intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin, which swam to the endurance limit. After 12 weeks, the MS spleen deficiency syndrome group was randomly divided into two groups, with 13 rats in each group. Rats in model group were fed with high fat diet and continuouly administered with daily saline, and rats in intervention group with high fat diet were trated with traditional Chinese medicines Yi Tang Kang by gavage, 2 mL/200 g at the same time every day. 10 weeks later, the expression of serum proteomics was investigated through abdominal aortic puncture and separation of serum, using isotope labeling technique, high performance liquid chromatography and four bar–Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Results After treatment with traditional Chinese medicine yitangkang, in the model group, important carboxylesterase and retinal guanylate cyclase 2 precursor were upregulated. As for intervention group, these indesxes were raised, but immunoglobulin IgG, carnitine acetyltransferase, tubulin beta –5, and Gan Lu sugar binding protein C were down–regulated. At the same time, some new biological active substances, such as protein tyrosine kinase, beta glucosidase were also found. Conclusions Traditional Chinese medicines Yi Tang Kang could regulate glucose and lipid metabolism in rats with spleen deficiency syndrome.