Antihyperglycemic activity and antioxidant role of Terminalia arjuna leaf in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Context: Terminalia arjuna Roxb. (Combretaceae), commonly known as Arjuna, is a large tree grown throughout the Indian peninsula and used traditionally for several medicinal purposes.

Objective: To evaluate antihyperglycemic and antioxidant role of methanol extract of T.

Osazone anion radical complex of rhodium(III).

One electron paramagnetic parent osazone complex of rhodium of type trans-Rh(L(NHPh)H(2))(PPh(3))(2)Cl(2) (1), defined as an osazone anion radical complex of rhodium(III), trans-Rh(III)(L(NHPh)H(2)(•-))(PPh(3))(2)Cl(2), 1((t-RhL•)), with a minor contribution (∼2%) of rhodium(II) electromer, trans-Rh(II)(L(NHPh)H(2))(PPh(3))(2)Cl(2), 1((t-Rh•L)), and their nonradical congener, trans-[Rh(III)(L(NHPh)H(2))(PPh(3))(2)Cl(2)]I(3) ([t-1](+)I(3)(-)), have been isolated and are substantiated by spectra, bond parameters, and DFT calculations on equivalent soft complexes [Rh(L(NHPh)H(2))(PMe(3))(2)Cl(2)] (3) and [Rh(L(NHPh)H(2))(PMe(3))(2)Cl(2)](+) (3(+)). 1 is not stable in solution and decomposes to [t-1](+) and a new rhodium(I) osazone complex, [Rh(I)(L(NHPh)H(2))(PPh(3))Cl] (2). 1 absorbs strongly at 351 nm due to MLCT and LLCT, while [t-1](+) and 2 absorb moderately in the range of 300-450 nm, respectively, due to LMCT and MLCT elucidated by TD-DFT calculations on 3((t-RhL•)), [t-3](+), and Rh(I)(L(NHPh)H(2))(PMe(3))Cl (4).

Effect of hydrodynamic interaction on polymeric tethers.

Weak bonds are ubiquitous in biological structures. They often act as adhesive contacts within an extended structure, for example, the internal bonds in a folded protein or a DNA/RNA loop. They also act as linkers between two structures, for example, a protein grafted in a cell membrane or a protein linking the cell membranes of two neighboring cells.

Water-soluble Fraction of Abelmoschus esculentus L Interacts with Glucose and Metformin Hydrochloride and Alters Their Absorption Kinetics after Coadministration in Rats.

This study was done to investigate the effects of water-soluble fraction (WSF) of the fruits of Abelmoschus esculentus L (okra/lady's fingers) on absorption of oral glucose as well as metformin from the gastrointestinal tract in the Long Evans rats. WSF of A. esculentus significantly (P < 0.

Tissue adhesive in ophthalmology.

Tissue adhesive in ophthalmology is commonly used for corneal wound and restricted for superficial closure. Only synthetic adhesive available is butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. However, if it gets between the wound margins it inhibits healing by forming impervious barrier.

Recovery of anoikis in Src-transformed cells and human breast carcinoma cells by restoration of the SIRP α1/SHP-2 signaling system.

Src kinase dysregulation contributes to cancer progression but mechanistic understanding for this contribution remains incomplete. Signal regulatory protein α1 (SIRPα1) is a tumor suppressor that is constitutively suppressed in v-Src-transformed cells, where restoration of SIRPα1 expression inhibits anchorage-independent growth. In this study, we investigated the role of the protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP-2) in SIRPα1 activity.

Phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of NBS-encoding genes in Rutaceae fruit crops.

The nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) genes are the largest class of disease resistance genes in plants. However, our understanding of the evolution of NBS-LRR genes in Rutaceae fruit crops is rather limited. We report an evolutionary study of 103 NBS-encoding genes isolated from Poncirus trifoliata (trifoliate orange), Citrus reticulata (tangerine) and their F(1) progeny.

Molecular analysis and expression of a floral organ-relative F-box gene isolated from 'Zigui shatian' pummelo (Citrus grandis Osbeck).

F-box proteins are a large family of eukaryotic proteins that contained a conserved motif of approximately 40 amino acids. They play an important role in the processing of degradation of cellular regulatory proteins. In this study we isolated a full-length of cDNA encoding a putative F-box protein from Citrus grandis Osbeck CV 'Zigui shatian' pummelo and designated as CgF-box.

A computationally efficient approach for 2D-3D image registration.

2D-3D image registration has become an important tool in many clinical applications such as image-guided surgery and the kinematic analysis of bones in knee and ankle joints. A limitation of this approach is the need to recalculate the voxel values in the 3D volume for every iteration of the registration procedure. In this paper we propose a new 2D-3D image registration algorithm which uses the projected 2D data from the original 3D CT volume.

Cushing's syndrome and chronic venous ulceration--a clinical challenge.

Cushing's syndrome is a condition caused by high levels of glucocorticoids, or most commonly as a result of prolonged exposure to exogenous steroids. Clinical features include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, skin atrophy, immune suppression and delayed wound healing. We report a patient with iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome, in whom long-term topical steroid therapy was used to treat varicose eczema, which contributed to the development of type 2 diabetes, morbid obesity, sleep apnoea and chronic wound sepsis.

Unsymmetrical diimine complexes of iron(II) and manganese(II): synthesis, structure and photoluminescence of an isomer.

Two bis(unsymmetrical diimine) complexes of (L(NO(2))(ϕ1))(L(NO(2))(ϕ2))M(II)Cl(2) family with M = Fe and Mn, are reported (L(NO(2))(ϕ) = (E)-3-nitro-N-(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)aniline; ϕ = dihedral angle between the diimine unit including pyridine ring and the phenyl ring planes). Pure tcc-(L(NO2)(33.6))(L(NO2)(79.

Redox-active ionic-liquid-assisted one-step general method for preparing gold nanoparticle thin films: applications in refractive index sensing and catalysis.

We describe a general one-step facile method for depositing gold nanoparticle (GNP) thin films onto any type of substrates by the in situ reduction of AuCl(3) using a newly designed redox-active ionic liquid (IL), tetrabutylphosphonium citrate ([TBP][Ci]). Various substrates such as positively charged glass, negatively charged glass/quartz, neutral hydrophobic glass, polypropylene, polystyrene, plain paper, and cellophane paper are successfully coated with a thin film of GNPs. This IL ([TBP][Ci]) is prepared by the simple neutralization of tetrabutylphosphonium hydroxide with citric acid.

Protein kinase D1 suppresses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition through phosphorylation of snail.

Cancer cells undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as a program of increased invasion and metastasis during cancer progression. Here, we report that a novel regulator of EMT in cancer cells is protein kinase D1 (PKD1), which is downregulated in advanced prostate, breast, and gastric cancers. Ectopic reexpression of PKD1 in metastatic prostate cancer cells reversibly suppressed expression of mesenchyme-specific genes and increased epithelial markers such as E-cadherin, whereas small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of PKD1 increased expression of mesenchyme markers.

Simulation studies on hydrogen sorption and its thermodynamics in covalently linked carbon nanotube scaffold.

Carbon nanotubes are potential hydrogen storage materials because of their large surface area and high sorbate-surface interaction energy due to the curvature effect. However, single walled carbon nanotubes bundle up tightly, so most of their surface areas become inaccessible for adsorption. As a solution, spacer molecules can be used to hold the tubes at a distance from each other in a scaffolded structure.

Age-related oxidative decline of mitochondrial functions in rat brain is prevented by long term oral antioxidant supplementation.

A combination of antioxidants (N-acetyl cysteine, α-lipoic acid, and α-tocopherol) was selected for long term oral supplementation study in rats for protective effects on age-related mitochondrial alterations in the brain. Four groups of rats were chosen: young control (6-7 months); aged rats (22-24 months); aged rats (22-24 months) on daily antioxidant supplementation from 18 month onwards and young rats (6-7 months) on daily antioxidant supplementation from 2 month onwards. The brain mitochondrial functional parameters, status of antioxidant enzymes and accumulation of oxidative damage markers were measured in the four groups of rats.

Cloning, overexpression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of CheY3, a response regulator that directly interacts with the flagellar 'switch complex' in Vibrio cholerae.

Vibrio cholerae is the aetiological agent of the severe diarrhoeal disease cholera. This highly motile organism uses the processes of motility and chemotaxis to travel and colonize the intestinal epithelium. Chemotaxis in V.

Antioxidant and free-radical-scavenging effects of fruits of Dregea volubilis.

This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant potential of petroleum ether (60-80°C), chloroform, and methanol extract of the fruits of Dregea volubilis Benth (Asclepiadaceae). The different antioxidant assays, including total antioxidant activity, reducing power, free radical, super oxide anion radical, nitric oxide scavenging, lipid peroxidation, and total phenolic content were studied. The extracts exhibited potent total antioxidant activity that increased with increasing amount of extract concentration, which was compared with standard drug vitamin C at different concentrations as extracts.

Reduced total testosterone concentrations in young healthy South Asian men are partly explained by increased insulin resistance but not by altered adiposity.

Objective: To compare ethnic differences in total, free and bioavailable testosterone amongst young healthy South Asian and Caucasian men.

Design And Subjects: Cross-sectional study of 134 healthy men (age 20-40 years) of South Asian (n = 67) or Caucasian (n = 67) origin, recruited from hospital staff and students working in Newport, UK. Subjects were excluded if they had a fasting plasma glucose >5.

Association between HER-2/neu over-expression and clinico-pathologic parameters of breast cancer in northern Malaysia.

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest cancer affecting women world wide. Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer related mortality in Asian countries. Management of breast cancer depends on several tumour-related and patient related factors.

Association of carcinoma breast: grade and estrogen progesterone receptor expression.

Objective: To determine the association between histological grade of tumour and estrogen progesterone receptors (ER/PR) expression in unselected invasive carcinoma of breast in Malaysian patients.

Study Design: An observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Advanced Medical and Dental Institute and Hospital, Kepala Batas, from year 2002 to 2007.

Extragonadal germ cell tumour.

We report a rare case of extragonadal germ cell tumour in a 55-year-old man. He presented with a painless mass in right inguinal region, a few days after hernioplasty for right direct inguinal hernia, which caused diagnostic difficulties and treatment problems.

Protein kinase D1 inhibits cell proliferation through matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 secretion in prostate cancer.

We and others previously showed that protein kinase D1 (PKD1) is downregulated in several cancers including prostate; interacts with E-cadherin, a major cell adhesion epithelial protein; and causes increased cell aggregation and decreased motility of prostate cancer cells. In this study, we show that PKD1 complexes with beta3-integrin, resulting in activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase-ERK pathway, which causes increased production of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, that is associated with shedding of soluble 80 kDa E-cadherin extracellular domain. Interestingly, decreased cell proliferation following PKD1 transfection was rescued by MMP-2 and MMP-9 inhibitors and augmented by recombinant MMP-2 (rMMP-2) and rMMP-9 proteins, suggesting an antiproliferative role for MMPs in prostate cancer.

Type I interferon-sensitive recombinant newcastle disease virus for oncolytic virotherapy.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an avian paramyxovirus, is tumor selective and intrinsically oncolytic because of its potent ability to induce apoptosis. Several studies have demonstrated that NDV is selectively cytotoxic to tumor cells but not normal cells due to defects in the interferon (IFN) antiviral responses of tumor cells. Many naturally occurring strains of NDV have an intact IFN-antagonistic function and can still replicate in normal human cells.