Piper sarmentosum enhances fracture healing in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats: a radiological study.

Introduction: Osteoporotic fractures are common during osteoporotic states. Piper sarmentosum extract is known to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Objectives: To observe the radiological changes in fracture calluses following administration of a Piper sarmentosum extract during an estrogen-deficient state.

Fatigue experienced by patients receiving maintenance dialysis in hemodialysis units.

The fatigue that is observed in patients who are undergoing dialysis is usually associated with an impaired quality of life. The present cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2009 in three hemodialysis units in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In this study, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and Depression Anxiety and Stress Score 21 were used to determine the level of fatigue, depression, anxiety, and stress of patients who were undergoing dialysis.

Bedside teaching in undergraduate medical education: issues, strategies, and new models for better preparation of new generation doctors.

Bedside teaching is a vital component of medical education. It is applicable to any situation where teaching is imparted in the presence of patients. In teaching in the patients' presence, learners have the opportunities to use all of their senses and learn the humanistic aspect of medicine such as role modeling, which is vital but difficult to communicate in words.

A rare case of diplopodia and syndactyly: anatomical and surgical considerations.

Diplopodia is a rare congenital disorder that has not been extensively discussed in textbooks, and case reports appear to be the main source of information. Although the exact cause of diplopodia remains unknown, the presence of extra digits as well as metatarsals and tarsals allows it to be differentiated from pedal polydactyly. Syndactyly refers to the congenital fusion of the digits.

Changes in the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and c-reactive protein following administration of aqueous extract of piper sarmentosum on experimental rabbits fed with cholesterol diet.

Background: Inflammation process plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Hypercholesterolemia is one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Piper sarmentosum (P.

Modulation of oxidative stress by Chlorella vulgaris in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats.

Purpose: Chlorella vulgaris (CV), a fresh water alga has been reported to have hypoglycemic effects. However, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of CV in diabetic animals have not been investigated to date. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of CV in inflammation and oxidative damage in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

A case of hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state with involuntary movements - diagnostic dilemma and clinical considerations.

Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) is a medical emergency which needs immediate medical intervention. A 37-year-old Chinese woman with a history of hypertension attended the Emergency Department. She had a two-day history of involuntary movement, i.

Anomalous superior thyroid artery.

The variations in the pattern of distribution of superior thyroid artery assume paramount importance for neck surgeons, in view of its vital topographical relationship to the external laryngeal nerve. In this study, we report an unusual variation in the arterial supply of the thyroid gland, which was detected during a routine dissection of an adult male cadaver. The right superior thyroid artery was absent whereas the left superior thyroid artery took origin from the left common carotid artery and showed a dominant pattern of distribution supplying the superior aspect of both the left and right lobes of the thyroid gland.

Association of elevated blood pressure and impaired vasorelaxation in experimental Sprague-Dawley rats fed with heated vegetable oil.

Background: Poor control of blood pressure leads to hypertension which is a major risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to explore possible mechanisms of elevation in blood pressure following consumption of heated vegetable oil.

Methods: Forty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into six groups: Group I (control)--normal rat chow, Group II--fresh soy oil, Group III--soy oil heated once, Group IV--soy oil heated twice, Group V--soy oil heated five times, Group VI--soy oil heated ten times.

Accessory renal vessels at the upper and lower pole of the kidney: a cadaveric study with clinical implications.

The renal artery is known to exhibit variations in its number and position. The present study was performed on 50 cadaveric kidneys to observe the topographical anatomy of the accessory renal arteries (ARA) entering the upper or lower poles of the kidney. Out of 50 kidney cadaveric specimens (irrespective of sex) studied, 2 kidneys (4%) showed the presence of ARA.

Aqueous extract of Piper sarmentosum decreases atherosclerotic lesions in high cholesterolemic experimental rabbits.

Background: Piper sarmentosum (P.s) has flavonoid component in its leaves which has antioxidative effect. To date, its effect on atherosclerosis has not been studied histologically.

The effect of eurycoma longifolia Jack on spermatogenesis in estrogen-treated rats.

Introduction: There is little data concerning the ability of Eurycoma longifolia Jack (EL) to reverse the inhibitory effects of estrogen on testosterone production and spermatogenesis. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of EL on testicular histology and sperm count in estrogen-treated male rats.

Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into four groups of six rats each.

An 11-year-old girl presenting with chronic knee pain: a case report with diagnostic dilemma.

Discoid meniscus is the commonest anatomical aberration of the knee joint, among rare cases such as bilateral separated lateral meniscus, accessory lateral meniscus, partial deficiency of the lateral meniscus and double-layered lateral meniscus. An 11-year-old girl presented with history of chronic pain in her right knee for the last 6 months. The problem disturbed her involvement in the sport activities at school.

A case of disproportionate macrodactyly or a mild form of Proteus syndrome? An interesting case.

We present a 20-year-old Malay male whom we believe has Proteus syndrome, a rare congenital disorder of asymmetrical overgrowth of body tissues. There are fewer than 100 confirmed cases reported worldwide thus the clinical presentation and histopathological findings are of significance. Our patient presented with an overgrown right small finger and subcutaneous purplish pigmentation over his left upper arm and chest since birth.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis using PAX8- and PPARG-specific probes reveals the presence of PAX8-PPARG translocation and 3p25 aneusomy in follicular thyroid neoplasms.

At the present time, the differentiation between follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and adenoma can be made only postoperatively and is based on the presence of capsular or vascular invasion. The ability to differentiate preoperatively between the malignant and benign forms of follicular thyroid tumors assumes greater importance in any clinical setting. The PAX8-PPARG translocation has been reported to occur in the majority of FTC.

Fresh soy oil protects against vascular changes in an estrogen-deficient rat model: an electron microscopy study.

Objective: To observe the effects of consuming repeatedly heated soy oil on the aortic tissues of estrogen-deficient rats.

Methods: Thirty female Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g) were divided equally into five groups. One group served as the normal control (NC) group.

Development and evaluation of 'neck pain and functional limitation scale': a validation study in the Asian context.

Background: There is a paucity of literature on validated outcome measurement tools for evaluation of neck pain and related disability in the Asian context.

Aim: The main aim of the present study was to design a new tool called neck pain functional limitation scale (NPFLS) for measuring disability related to neck pain and observe its reliability, concurrent validity and criterion validity.

Setting And Design: This study was performed at the institutional hospital.

Toxic effects of Litsea elliptica Blume essential oil on red blood cells of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Litsea elliptica Blume leaves have been traditionally used as medicinal herbs because of its antimutagenicity, chemopreventative and insecticidal properties. In this study, the toxic effects of L. elliptica essential oil against Sprague-Dawley rat's red blood cells (RBCs) were evaluated.