IntroductionStudies have shown that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increase the brain burden of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and also create vitamin B12 deficiency. However, these two phenomena have deleterious effect on cognition and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Since the use of PPIs has increased tremendously for the last few years, it is of great public health importance to investigate the cognitive impact of PPIs. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of neuropsychological association of each PPI with different cognitive functions.MethodsSixty volunteers of either gender were recruited and divided randomly into six groups: five test groups for five classes of PPIs and one control group. All the groups participated in the five computerized neuropsychological tests (nine subtests) of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery twice: at the beginning of the study and 7 days thereafter.ResultsWe found statistically and clinically significant impairment in visual memory, attention, executive function, and working and planning function. One-way analysis of variance findings showed that all PPIs had a similar negative impact on cognition. However, paired-samples t tests indicated that omeprazole showed significant (p < 0.05) results in seven subtests; lansoprazole and pantoprazole showed significant results in five subtests; and rabeprazole showed significant results in four subtests. Among five classes of PPIs, esomeprazole showed comparatively less impact on cognitive function with significant results in three subtests.ConclusionsThe present study reveals for the first time that different PPIs have varying degrees of influence on different cognitive domains and have associations with AD. These findings should be considered when balancing the risks and benefits of prescribing these medications. A study done for a longer period of time with a larger sample size might yield better results.

Direct extraction of DNA from natural environment and clinical samples has become a useful alternative for the phylogenetic identification and in situ detection of individual microbial cells without cultivation. In this study, three different Gram positive microorganisms (B. cereus, B. subtilis, and S. aureus) were chosen for genomic DNA extraction. High salt SDS (Sodium Dodesyl Sulfate) based extraction method was followed to extract genomic DNA with addition of three different lysis protocols to observe the effect of proteinase-K on total genomic DNA yield, lysis steps were carried with SDS, SDS with 3 l proteinase-K and SDS with 6l proteinase-K. High molecular weight intact DNA bands were observed only for Bacillus subtilis when the extraction procedure was carried out in presence of SDS, SDS with proteinase-K (3l) and SDS with increased amount of proteinase-K (6l). In presence of SDS and increased amount of proteinase-K (6l) the mean value of DNA concentration for Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus were found to be 1.530.15, 1.360.10 and 1.650.10 g/l respectively. However, in absence of proteinase-K, the mean values of DNA concentration were found to be decreased (1.280.10, 1.340.15, 1.230.10 g/l for B. cereus, B. subtilis, and S. aureus respectively) for all these stains. Although in case of B. subtilis the overall effect of proteinase-K was not found to be significant in terms of DNA concentration and DNA band intensity, however, for B. cereus, and S. aureus sharp decrease in total extracted DNA concentration was observed suggesting the increased lysis effect of proteinase-K on the thick peptidoglycan layer of Gram-positive cell wall such as B. cereus, and S. aureus.

The purpose of this study was to judge the antioxidant activity and brine shrimp lethality bioassay followed by phytochemical screening of five different extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves. Preliminary Phytochemical screening of the crude extracts of Moringa oleifera leaf revealed the presence of different kind of chemical groups such as Flavonoids, tannin, Saponin, alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrate and Triterpenoids. The leaf exhibited significant DPPH free radical scavenging activity with highest IC 50 value showed by chloroform extract with a value of 47.481 µg/ml followed by ethanol and methanol having value of 62.09 and 68.321 respectively as opposed to that of the scavenging effects of ascorbic acid and BHT of 5.698 and 8.816 respectively. Dried leaf of Moringa oleifera were subjected to brine shrimp lethality bioassay and the LC 50 values of methanol, ethanol, petroleum ether, n-hexane and chloroform were found to be 0.747µg/ml, 0.712 µg/ml, 1.632 µg/ml, 2.163 µg/ml and 0.633 µg/ml respectively. The data obtained in the present study suggests that the extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves have potent antioxidant activity against free radicals and significant cytotoxic activity that can be used in disease prevention.

Alprazolam is used as an anxiolytic drug for generalized anxiety disorder and it has been reported to produce sedation and anterograde amnesia. In the current study, we randomly divided 26 healthy male volunteers into two groups: one group taking alprazolam 0.5 mg and the other taking placebo daily for two weeks. We utilized the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) software to assess the chronic effect of alprazolam. We selected Paired Associates Learning (PAL) and Delayed Matching to Sample (DMS) tests for memory, Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP) for attention, and Choice Reaction Time (CRT) for psychomotor performance twice: before starting the treatment and after the completion of the treatment. We found statistically significant impairment of visual memory in one parameter of PAL and three parameters of DMS in alprazolam group. The PAL mean trial to success and total correct matching in 0-second delay, 4-second delay, and all delay situation of DMS were impaired in alprazolam group. RVP total hits after two weeks of alprazolam treatment were improved in alprazolam group. But such differences were not observed in placebo group. In our study, we found that chronic administration of alprazolam affects memory but attentive and psychomotor performance remained unaffected.

Studies have shown that Allium sativum L. (AS) protects amyloid-beta peptide-induced apoptosis, prevents oxidative insults to neurons and synapses, and thus prevent Alzheimer's disease progression in experimental animals. However, there is no experimental evidence in human regarding its putative role in memory and cognition. We have studied the effect of AS consumption by healthy human volunteers on visual memory, verbal memory, attention, and executive function in comparison to control subjects taking placebo. The study was conducted over five weeks and twenty volunteers of both genders were recruited and divided randomly into two groups: A (AS) and B (placebo). Both groups participated in the 6 computerized neuropsychological tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) twice: at the beginning and after five weeks of the study. We found statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in several parameters of visual memory and attention due to AS ingestion. We also found statistically nonsignificant (p > 0.05) beneficial effects on verbal memory and executive function within a short period of time among the volunteers. Study for a longer period of time with patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases might yield more relevant results regarding the potential therapeutic role of AS.

The present study aimed to provide information about the common cancer types and respective predisposing risk factors among the Bangladeshi cancer patients from different cancer hospitals located in Dhaka city. A survey is conducted to establish a relationship between common cancer types and predisposing risk factors. A nationwide representative sample of 610 Bangladeshi cancer patients were asked about their medical history, life-style, eating habit and genetic risk factors in relation to cancer prevention, as a part of omnibus survey. Interviews were conducted with 610 subjects (339 men and 271 women). Among the male, the leading cancers were lung (76 patients), followed by mouth and oropharynx (66 patients), stomach (41 patients) etc. Among the female, breast cancer (64 patients) ranked the topmost position, followed by cervix (48 patients), ovary (37 patients), mouth and oropharynx (34 patients). Among 11 risk factors among men candidates, the attributable fraction of cancer causing by tobacco smoking was considered highest (68.14%), followed by betel leaf (67.55%). For most risk factors, attributable fraction responses were higher in women than in men. 14 risk factors among women cancer patients, the attributable fraction of cancer causing by viral and bacterial diseases (39.10%) was highest, followed by obesity (37.10%) and then chronic disease (37.03%) excluding food habit. Our results suggest that awareness of the attributable fraction of cancer causes in the Bangladeshi cancer patient tends to be dominated by tobacco smoking, food habit, cancer causing infection, men and women hygiene, and reproductive history among females rather than genetic factors.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sjps.v4i2.10439  S. J. Pharm. Sci. 4(2) 2011: 35-41

Objectives: In case of Bangladeshi population, no report is observed till now showing the genetic variations of RAD51 (rs1801320) and XRCC2 (rs3218536) genes polymorphism having association with colorectal cancer risk. For this reason the aim of this study is to ascertain their interrelation with colorectal cancer occurrence in Bangladeshi population. Materials and Methods: A case control study was conducted where 200 colorectal cancer patients and 200 healthy volunteers were figured for this research using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: Here, in case of RAD51 (rs1801320), G/C heterozygous genotype was found significant (p=0.037; OR=1.64; 95% CI=1.03 to 2.6). On the other hand, G/G genotype was not found statistically significant (p=0.423; OR=1.61; 95% CI=0.49 to 5.22) and significance was observed for GC+GG (p=0.030; OR=1.63; 95% CI=1.05 to 2.55). In case of XRCC2 (rs3218536), C/T heterozygous genotype was remarked statistically significant (p=0.033; OR=1.60; 95% CI=1.04 to 2.46). The T/T genotype was not recorded statistically significant (p=0.237; OR=1.65; 95% CI=0.72 to 3.76) but significance found for CT+TT (p=0.027; OR=1.61; 95% CI=1.05 to 2.45). Moreover, it is found that the risk factor of developing CRC is observed in G/C, C/T heterozygote and GC+GG, CT+TT (heterozygote+ mutant) in RAD51 (rs1801320) and XRCC2 (rs3218536) respectively although no significance is observed in case of G/G and T/T mutant. Conclusions: So, the association of RAD51 (rs1801320) and XRCC2 (rs3218536) genes polymorphism with colorectal cancer risk is observed in Bangladeshi population.

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