Postprandial hypoglycemic effect of mulberry leaf (Morus alba L.) was compared in two animal models: Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a spontaneous non-obese animal model for type II diabetes, and their counterpart control Wistar rats. First, the effect of a single oral administration of mulberry leaf aqueous extract (MLE) on postprandial glucose responses was determined using maltose or glucose as substrate. With maltose-loading, MLE reduced peak responses of blood glucose significantly in both GK and Wistar rats (P < 0.05), supporting the inhibition of α-glucosidase by MLE in the small intestine. With glucose-loading, MLE also significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations, measured at 30 min, in both animal models (P < 0.01), proposing the inhibition of glucose transport by MLE. Next, dried mulberry leaf powder (MLP) was administered for 8 weeks by inclusion in the diet. By MLP administration, fasting blood glucose was significantly reduced at weeks 4 and 5 (P < 0.05), but then returned to values that were similar to those of the control at the end of experimental period in GK rats. Insulin, HOMA-IR, C-reactive protein, and triglycerides tended to be decreased by MLP treatment in GK rats. All other biochemical parameters were not changed by MLP administration in GK rats. Collectively, these findings support that MLE has significant postprandial hypoglycemic effect in both non-obese diabetic and healthy animals, which may be beneficial as food supplement to manage postprandial blood glucose. Inhibitions of glucose transport as well as α-glucosidase in the small intestine were suggested as possible mechanisms related with the postprandial hypoglycemic effect of MLE.
Antihypertensive effect of the culture filtrates from Bacillus subtilis natto (CFB) associated with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) as well as fibrinolytic and anti-thrombotic activity was examined. By using the spontaneously hypertensive rats fed with a high-cholesterol diet (0.5% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid), biomarkers related to the RAS were measured after 11 week-administration of CFB in the diet at 1 or 2% levels. Systolic blood pressure was significantly attenuated by CFB at both levels. Plasma renin activity was significantly suppressed by CFB, and protein expression of renin in kidney also showed tendency of decrease by administration of CFB, although not statistically significant. Renal angiotensin II concentrations were decreased, whereas plasma angiotensin II concentrations showed no differences among groups. Whole blood clotting and euglobulin clot lysis time showed insignificant changes, but downward tendencies by CFB supplementation. Although further study is necessary to clearly elucidate the related mechanism, taken together, these findings support the hypothesis that CFB could be potentially used as dietary supplement to suppress hypertension.
stages unfortunately 30% of patients with advanced ovarian cancer present pleural effusion at the time of initial diagnosis, that has been associated with worse disease-free survival and overall survival. Description A 48-year-old women who present a 3-month history of bloating and abdominal pain. Tomography of the abdomen and chest showing left pleural effusion with bilateral adnexal masses, peritoneal carcinomatosis and a ca 125 of 1753. The patient was given 4 chemotherapy cycles with partial imaging and serological response. Control images showed persistence of pleural effusion in the left hemithorax that was previously compromised by adenocarcinoma, so it was decided to perform left thoracoscopy to define secondary pleural involment. The main finding during thoracoscopy is evidence of a 5 cm lesion at the level of the left diaphragmatic peritoneum with full full thickness infiltration with no other lesiones in pleura cavity. The patient was taken to a complete abdominal cytoreduction by laparotomy with an adequate clinical evolution pending the restart of chemotherapy. Conclusion/Implications It is important to mention that metastatic involvement of pleural effusion has a high correlation with pleural involvement. The main prognostic factor for overall survival in ovarian cancer is complete cytoreduction, thats why we must establish the areas affected by this neoplasm and define the possibility of undergoing surgery. Video asisted thoracoscopy is a low-morbidity procedure that allows us to evaluate pleural and mediastinal involvement in patients with pleural effusion.
Description A 34-year-old IB1 FIGO stage squamous cell cervical cancer underwent a combined robotic laparoscopic-vaginal radical trachelectomy with enclosed colpotomy and without manipulator. After spontaneous pregnancy, she underwent a laparoscopic free needle cerclage. The pregnancy progressed with preterm amniotic membranes rupture and fetal loss at 19 weeks. Another spontaneous pregnancy occurred and an elective abdominal cerclage with Mersilene double suture by robotic-assisted laparoscopic technique was done. Ultrasonographically, the internal os, the endocervix, and the gestational sac were maintained under visualization throughout the procedure. At the same time, two robotic needle holders drove two needles symmetrically, passing from the posterior to the anterior portion of the cervical isthmus junction perpendicularly to the uterine axis and a blockage suture sequencing knots were made on the remaining cervix. Another identical suture was performed caudally. At 31 weeks, asymptomatic premature cervical dilatation was noted, and the patient was hospitalized. C-section was performed at 33 weeks and two days, and a healthy male infant was born. Conclusion/ImplicationsThe cervix is a fundamental structure for the development and the maintenance of a pregnancy. Different from patients with cervical incompetence, where there is data sustaining cervix cerclage, the literature is poor on the maintenance of pregnancy in post trachelectomy patients. This was a case report of a favorable evolution of pregnancy after cerclage in a patient with surgical removal of the cervix as cancer treatment.
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