Role of the serotonergic pathway in uterotonic activity of Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. - An in vitro and in vivo study.

Background: Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. has been used as a traditional medicine in inducing abortion in many countries.

Potent tocolytic activity of ethyl acetate fraction of Ananas comosus on rat and human uteri.

The aim of this study was to investigate the tocolytic properties of Ananas comosus extract in rat and human uterine tissue in vitro and in the rat in vivo. Organ bath technique was employed to perform functional studies in vitro. The PhysioTel transmitter was implanted in SD rats to measure the changes in intrauterine pressure (IUP) in vivo.

Endothelial colony forming cells from human umbilical cord blood improved severe erectile dysfunction in obese type II diabetic rats.

Aim: To investigate the effect of intracavernous injection of human umbilical cord blood derived endothelial colony forming cells (HUCB ECFCs) on erectile dysfunction (ED) in Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rat model.

Methods: Erectile function was assessed by cavernous nerve electrostimulation in ZDF rats aged 20-28 weeks. Following confirmation of severe ED at the age of 28 weeks, 21 ZDF rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: 1 million ECFCs, 2 million ECFCs, and phosphate buffered saline (PBS).

Differential impact of aging and gender on lipid and lipoprotein profiles in a cohort of healthy Chinese Singaporeans.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of age and gender on lipid and lipoprotein profiles and the burden of dyslipidemia in a cohort of healthy Chinese Singaporean.

Methods: A total of 1 775 healthy Chinese, 536 men and 1 239 women aged between 30 and 70 years old were involved in the present study.

Results: Gender differences in all lipid and lipoprotein levels were clearly evident.

Interactions among age, adiposity, bodyweight, lifestyle factors and sex steroid hormones in healthy Singaporean Chinese men.

Aim: To examine the inter-relationships among age, lifestyle factors, anthropometric parameters, percent body fat and steroid hormone parameters in 531 healthy Singaporean Chinese men aged between 29 and 72 years old.

Methods: Various lifestyle parameters were quantified through a survey, and testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured using established methods. Anthropometric parameters were collected and computed, and percent body fat (Siri) was measured using the DEXA scanner.