Heart failure (HF) is a physiological state in which cardiac output is insufficient to meet the needs of the body. It is a clinical syndrome characterized by impaired ability of the left ventricle to either fill or eject blood efficiently. HF is a disease of multiple aetiologies leading to progressive cardiac dysfunction and it is the leading cause of deaths in both developed and developing countries. HF is responsible for about 73,000 deaths in the UK each year. In the USA, HF affects 5.8 million people and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. Cardiac remodelling (CD), which plays an important role in pathogenesis of HF, is viewed as stress response to an index event such as myocardial ischaemia or imposition of mechanical load leading to a series of structural and functional changes in the viable myocardium. Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes are a family of serine/threonine kinases. PKC is a central enzyme in the regulation of growth, hypertrophy, and mediators of signal transduction pathways. In response to circulating hormones, activation of PKC triggers a multitude of intracellular events influencing multiple physiological processes in the heart, including heart rate, contraction, and relaxation. Recent research implicates PKC activation in the pathophysiology of a number of cardiovascular disease states. Few reports are available that examine PKC in normal and diseased human hearts. This review describes the structure, functions, and distribution of PKCs in the healthy and diseased heart with emphasis on the human heart and, also importantly, their regulation in heart failure.

This study investigated the beneficial effects and mechanism of action of the juice of Momordica charantia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus in rats. Diabetes mellitus was associated with significant (p < 0.01) time course reductions in body weight, plasma insulin and the number of insulin positive cells per islet and significant (p < 0.01) time course elevation in blood glucose and osmolarity and systolic blood pressure compared to age-matched healthy controls. Oral intake of M. charantia juice by STZ-induced diabetic rats partially reversed all the diabetes-induced effects measured. Daily oral administration of M. charantia juice to STZ-induced diabetic rates significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the Na+- and K+-dependent absorptions of glucose by the brush border membrane vesicles of the jejunum compared to the responses obtained in STZ-induced diabetic rat. Either insulin (100 MM) or the fruit juice lyophilised extract (5 microg x ml(-1)) can stimulate 14C-D-glucose uptake in L6 myotubes. These effects were completely blocked by wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. High concentrations (10-200 microg x ml(-1)) of M. charantia juice extract inhibited 14C-D-glucose uptake in L6 myotubes compared to the control response. The effect of M. charantia treatment was also investigated on myelinated fibre abnormalities in the tibial nerve of STZ-induced diabetic and control rats. The results show that diabetes was associated with significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the mean cross-sectional myelinated nerve fibres, axonal area, myelin area and maximal fibre area compared to end controls. Treatment of STZ-induced diabetic rats with M. charantia juice normalised the structural abnormalities of peripheral nerves. The results indicate that M. charantia can exert marked beneficial effects in diabetic rats, and moreover, it can regulate glucose uptake into jejunum membrane brush border vesicles and stimulate glucose uptake into skeletal muscle cells similar to the response obtained with insulin.

The fruit of Momordica charantia (family: Cucurbitacea) is used widely as a hypoglycaemic agent to treat diabetes mellitus (DM). The mechanism of the hypoglycaemic action of M. charantia in vitro is not fully understood. This study investigated the effect of M. charantia juice on either 3H-2-deoxyglucose or N-methyl-amino-a-isobutyric acid (14C-Me-AIB) uptake in L6 rat muscle cells cultured to the myotube stage. The fresh juice was centrifuged at 5000 rpm and the supernatant lyophilised. L6 myotubes were incubated with either insulin (100 nM), different concentrations (1-10 microg ml(-1)) of the juice or its chloroform extract or wortmannin (100 nM) over a period of 1- 6 h. The results were expressed as pmol min(-1) (mg cell protein)(-1), n = 6-8 for each value. Basal 3H-deoxyglucose and 14C-Me-AIB uptakes by L6 myotubes after 1 h of incubation were (means +/- S.E.M.) 32.14 +/- 1.34 and 13.48 +/- 1.86 pmol min(-1) (mg cell protein)(-1), respectively. Incubation of L6 myotubes with 100 nM insulin for 1 h resulted in significant (ANOVA, p < 0.05) increases in 3H-deoxyglucose and 14C-Me-AIB uptakes. Typically, 3H-deoxyglucose and 14C-Me-AIB uptakes in the presence of insulin were 58.57 +/- 4.49 and 29.52 +/- 3.41 pmol min(-1) (mg cell protein(-1)), respectively. Incubation of L6 myotubes with three different concentrations (1, 5 and 10 microg ml(-1)) of either the lyophilised juice or its chloroform extract resulted in time-dependent increases in 3H-deoxy-D-glucose and 14C-Me-AIB uptakes, with maximal uptakes occurring at a concentration of 5 microg ml(-1). Incubation of either insulin or the juice in the presence of wortmannin (a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor) resulted in a marked inhibition of 3H-deoxyglucose by L6 myotubes compared to the uptake obtained with either insulin or the juice alone. The results indicate that M. charantia fruit juice acts like insulin to exert its hypoglycaemic effect and moreover, it can stimulate amino acid uptake into skeletal muscle cells just like insulin.

Traditional medicines, derived from plants, could present alternative treatment strategy for cancer therapy. One such plant is Momordica charantia (MC) which possesses anti-carcinogenic properties. This study investigated the anticancer effect of an ethanol extract of MC fruit, Kuguacin-J (K-J), an isolated compound from the leaves of MC and cisplatin, either alone or combination on healthy MCF-10A mammary cells and compared with breast cancer MCF-7 and MDAMB-231 cell lines. Cell viability was tested using 8 μg/mL and 80 μg/mL doses of MC extract, K-J and cisplatin individually or combined for 24 and 48 hours. Caspase-3- activity was measured in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells using established methods. The results revealed that MC extract and K-J had no effect on healthy MCF-10A cell viability as compared to cisplatin which induced dose and time-dependent cell death. Similarly, treatment of MCF-7 cells with cisplatin induced cell death at high concentration at both the time points, while MC extract and K-J only induce MCF-7 cell death at high dose after 48 hours only. During combination therapy, both doses of cisplatin enhanced MCF-7 cell death when combined with MC extract or K-J after 24 and 48 hours. In MDAMB-231 cells, the three drugs, either alone or combined, evoked significant cell death at both the doses and time points. All three drugs, at high dose, elicited significant increase in caspase-3- activity in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells as compared to untreated cells. The results revealed that either MC extract or K-J alone or combined with cisplatin, can elicit significant increase in cell death and caspase–3-activity in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231cells as compared to untreated cells.

Overweight is a major global health problem currently affecting almost 2 billion people worldwide. An additional 800 million are obese. These figures showed that 40% of the global adult population aged 18 years, and over are overweight while 14% are obese. What is now worrying is that more than 40 million children worldwide, as young as 5 years of age are either overweight or obese. Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29 kg/m 2 are considered to be overweight while obesity is the term used when the BMI is 30 kg/m 2 and over. Obesity is an imbalance between calorie intake and calorie expenditure. In general, obesity can be caused by excessive eating and reduced physical activity. Obesity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes mellitus, respiratory and liver dysfunctions, sleep apnea, chronic inflammation, compromised immune system, renal failure, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases and others. Obesity is also a major risk factor for coronavirus disease 19 , which can induce severe cases of pneumonia and sepsis or acute respiratory distress syndrome. In many cases, Covid-19 causes severe and long-lasting damage to the lungs and other vital organs of the body resulting in death. This review describes the cellular and biochemical mechanism(s) whereby obese patients become susceptible to Covid-19 infection. It also outlines how obesity on its own can affect the lungs, which in turn become more compromised in cases of Covid-19 disease resulting in the imminent death of the patient.

Chronic diseases (CDs), including hypertension, obesity and diabetes, are responsible for a large number of global deaths annually. This is due to current life style habits, including sedentary life style, smoking, excess alcohol intake, sugar and fast-food consumption, genetic factors, stress and others. This study investigated the effect of daily consumption of bitter gourd/melon (Momordica charantia) combined with life style changes to reduce body weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SDBP), blood glucose and lipid levels in the body. The study recruited 32 obese male (16) and female ( 16) subjects with an average age of 42 years (±4.5 years) and the majority of them had secondary education. They were divided into four groups (4 men and 4 women per group). Group 1 (diet only) was asked to reduce daily food intake and avoided snaking or binging for 6 weeks. Group 2 (diet and bitter melon) did the same as group 1 but combined with the consumption of 20 g of bitter melon juice (vol/weight) daily for 6 weeks. Group 3 (diet, exercise and bitter melon) did the same as group 1 but combined with daily exercise involving walking, stretching or bicycle riding or a combination for 30 min plus the consumption of 20 g of bitter melon daily for 6 weeks. Group 4 (diet and exercise) did the same as group 1 plus daily exercise involving walking, stretching or bicycle riding or a combination for 30 min Initially, at week 1 the subjects were weighed and their height and SDBP taken. Blood samples were taken for the measurements of fasting blood glucose (FBG), HBA1c, total cholesterol and triglyceride. Their BMI and blood pressure were measured weekly over 6 weeks and another blood sample for each subject was taken at the end of week 6 for analysis as in week one for comparison. The results

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the level of knowledge regarding self-care and awareness as well as long-term complications among type 2 diabetic patients in Guyana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and West Demerara Regional Hospital Guyana during the period September 2020 and December 2020. Results: A total of 200 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who met the inclusion criteria were recruited via advertisement and telephone interviews. The data revealed about 66.5% of participants were deemed to have good knowledge with men accounting for the majority. Diabetic foot and hypertension were commonly seen among participants with complications. Significant association was noted with barrier level of patients with the level of education (p=0.001), ethnicity (0.006) and insurance plan (0.03). Adherence to self-care showed statistically significant association with patient’s level of education (p<0.0001), marital status (0.02), employment status (p<0.0001), insurance plan (0.01) and persons living with multiple persons in the household (p<0.0001). Statistically, significant association was also noted among patient’s self-health feeling with level of education (0.004), employment status (p<0.0001), insurance plan (0.01) and persons living with multiple persons in the household (p<0.0001). There was no statistical difference between the hospital clinics neither between the groups of participants. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study highlighted gaps in the knowledge of the disease and patient care. Therefore, efforts should be made to enhance patient care by scheduling regular educational sessions and having services such as counselling available to patients.

Traditional medicines, derived from plants, could present alternative treatment strategy for cancer therapy. One such plant is Momordica charantia (MC) which possesses anti-carcinogenic properties. This study investigated the anticancer effect of an ethanol extract of MC fruit, Kuguacin-J (K-J), an isolated compound from the leaves of MC and cisplatin, either alone or combination on healthy MCF-10A mammary cells and compared with breast cancer MCF-7 and MDAMB-231 cell lines. Cell viability was tested using 8 μg/mL and 80 μg/mL doses of MC extract, K-J and cisplatin individually or combined for 24 and 48 hours. Caspase-3- activity was measured in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells using established methods. The results revealed that MC extract and K-J had no effect on healthy MCF-10A cell viability as compared to cisplatin which induced dose and time-dependent cell death. Similarly, treatment of MCF-7 cells with cisplatin induced cell death at high concentration at both the time points, while MC extract and K-J only induce MCF-7 cell death at high dose after 48 hours only. During combination therapy, both doses of cisplatin enhanced MCF-7 cell death when combined with MC extract or K-J after 24 and 48 hours. In MDAMB-231 cells, the three drugs, either alone or combined, evoked significant cell death at both the doses and time points. All three drugs, at high dose, elicited significant increase in caspase-3- activity in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells as compared to untreated cells. The results revealed that either MC extract or K-J alone or combined with cisplatin, can elicit significant increase in cell death and caspase–3-activity in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231cells as compared to untreated cells.