The aqueous extract of
Bauhinia purpurea (Fabaceae) exhibited antiulcer activity, which could be associated with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and the presence of saponins.
...Bauhinia purpurea (Fabaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat various ailments, including ulcers. In order to establish pharmacological properties of the leaf of
Bauhinia purpurea, studies were performed on antiulcer activity of the plant's aqueous extract.
The
Bauhinia purpurea aqueous extract (BPAE) was prepared in the doses of 100, 500 and 1000
mg/kg. Antiulcer activity of BPAE was evaluated by absolute ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer, and pyloric ligation models. Acute toxicity was also carried out.
BPAE, at the dose of 5000
mg/kg, did not cause any signs of toxicity to rats when given orally. Oral administration of BPAE exhibited antiulcer activity (
p
<
0.05) in all models used. However, the dose-dependent activity was observed only in the absolute ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Histological studies supported the observed antiulcer activity of BPAE. In pyloric ligation assay, BPAE increased the gastric wall mucus secretion.
The BPAE exhibits antiulcer activity, which could be due to the presence of saponins or sugar-free polyphenols, and, thus, confirmed the traditional uses of
Bauhinia purpurea in the treatment of ulcers.
The concept of contact guidance utilizes the phenomenon of anchorage dependence of cells on the topography of seeded surfaces. It has been shown in previous studies that cells were guided to align ...along the topographical alignment of the seeding substrate and produced enhanced amounts of oriented extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we aimed to apply this concept to a three-dimensional full silk fibroin (SF) hybrid scaffold system, which comprised of knitted SF and aligned SF electrospun fibers (SFEFs), for ligament tissue engineering applications. Specifically, knitted SF, which contributed to the mechanical robustness of the system, was integrated with highly aligned SFEF mesh, which acted as the initial ECM to provide environmental cues for positive cellular response. Mesenchymal stem cells seeded on the aligned hybrid scaffolds were shown to be proliferative and aligned along the integrated aligned SFEF, forming oriented spindle-shaped morphology and produced an aligned ECM network. Expression and production of ligament-related proteins were also increased as compared to hybrid SF scaffolds with randomly arranged SFEFs, indicating differentiative cues for ligament fibroblasts present in the aligned hybrid SF scaffolds. Consequently, the tensile properties of cultured aligned constructs were significantly improved and superior to the counterpart with randomly arranged SFEF. These results thus show that the aligned hybrid scaffold system is promising for enhancing cell proliferation, differentiation, and function for ligament tissue engineering applications.
Abstract Objectives To investigate association between quality of life (QoL) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) control, with the secondary aim of assessing QoL using generic and ...anticoagulation-specific, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale (DASS). Study design This study assessed anticoagulation related QoL at three time intervals in two groups of patients on long-term warfarin therapy. Methods Data of 326 randomly sampled patients (163 patients each in DASS and SF-12 groups) who had been on warfarin therapy for at least one year at anticoagulation clinics were analysed. QoL was assessed at three time intervals: at the start, six months and one year of warfarin therapy. Indications and target INR ranges and subjects INR values were recorded. Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR) was estimated for four subject subgroups, based on target ranges of INR for clustered indications. Results Of the total, 43% of the subjects were aged between 50 and 64 years, and 51% were female. DASS assessed subjects older than 35 years perceived significant decrease in overall mean scores of anticoagulation related QoL, whilst all SF-12 assessed subjects perceived an increase in QoL. The mean percentage days in range for all INR target range subgroups did not exceed more than 60% but there was only a weak correlation (Rs = 0.104, P > 0.05) between INR control and overall QoL. Conclusion Malaysian urban outpatients on warfarin treatment longer than one year report a significant overall decrease in QoL, as measured using a validated condition-specific instrument. These patients appeared to adapt well to lifestyle limitations imposed by long-term anticoagulation.
Airway remodeling decreases lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition is increased in remodeled airways and drives cellular processes of ...proliferation, migration, and inflammation. We investigated the role of cigarette smoke in altering the ECM deposited from human lung fibroblasts. Lung fibroblasts isolated from patients with COPD or other lung disease were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and 5 ng/ml transforming growth factor-β1 for 72 hours; in some experiments, inhibitors of signaling molecules were added. Deposition of perlecan, fibronectin, and elastin were measured by ELISA, as was release of IL-8 and IL-13. Unstimulated fibroblast cells were reseeded onto deposited matrix and assessed for proliferation and cytokine release. CSE (5%) increased deposition of fibronectin and perlecan from only COPD fibroblasts. Fibronectin and perlecan deposition was attenuated by addition of the NF-κB inhibitor, BMS-345541, and the signal transduction and activator of transcription-1/3 inhibitor, pyridone 6, respectively. CSE (5%) increased IL-8 release from COPD fibroblasts more than non-COPD fibroblasts. This increase was attenuated by BMS-345541. Matrix deposited after 5% CSE stimulation increased proliferation of fibroblasts, but did not alter cytokine release. ECM produced from COPD fibroblasts after CSE exposure has proproliferative effects. Thus, the ECM in patients with COPD may create an environment that promotes airway remodeling.
Entropy generation during chemical reactions can cause significant irreversibility in chemical engines. These irreversibilities reduce the exergy of the fuel resource preventing potential work ...production. Understanding the cause of these irreversibilities and developing strategies for reducing them is critical for increasing engine efficiency. All chemical engines can be separated into two categories depending on how they manage the chemical reaction: restrained and unrestrained. A fuel cell with an electric motor is an example of a restrained engine design. Restrained engines have the potential to operate near the reversible limit, with no entropy generation from the chemical reaction. Combustion engines are unrestrained engines, which means the engine design has a built-in irreversibility due to the way it conducts the chemical reaction. This paper defines the requirements necessary to build restrained chemical engines, which helps to identify fundamental strategies for increasing efficiency in both engine designs as well as trade-offs between the two options.
► There are two natural limits for performing the chemical reaction in a chemical engine: restrained and unrestrained. ► The requirements necessary to build a restrained chemical engine are discussed in general terms. ► The criteria for improving the efficiency of restrained and unrestrained chemical engines are highlighted.
Abstract The Center for Sustainable Small-owners (CSS) was established to improve the livelihoods of Independent Smallholder (ISH) of oil palm ensuring ethical and responsible production of oil palm ...with commitments to no deforestation, no new plantation on peatlands, and no exploitation (NDPE) in the supply chain. CSS has a two-pronged approach i.e. improving livelihoods through yield intensification while sourcing responsibly ensuring ethical and sustainable oil palm production and ensuring sustainability through certification and compliance while empowering communities through farmer associations to safeguard their interests. This study focuses on livelihood improvement. It quantifies an increase in yield and profitability with farmer-implementation of good agricultural practice (GAP) and dissemination of these GAPs across the wider ISH community. This is operationalized by establishing Learning Farms (LeFa) in two tiers, with tier one comprising Core LeFa where appropriate GAP are implemented by the participating ISH and improved yield and farm profit are compared to respective control of Check farms. To facilitate diffusion of the GAP knowledge from tier one to the wider ISH community, tier two comprising of Primary LeFa which do not have matching control farms are used. After three years of GAP implementation, the cumulative revenue for the longest running LeFa cohort is found to be 41% higher than the corresponding Check farm group. There was an additional return of 239% on every additional unit spent on core farms compared to Check farms.
Abstract
Context: Different parts of Muntingia calabura L. (Elaeocarpaceae), or "kerukup siam" in Malay, have been reported to possess medicinal value, supported by a number of scientific studies.
...Objective: To gather all information related to the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical compositions, and pharmacological activities of M. calabura and present them as a comprehensive and systematic review article.
Materials and methods: Literature has been retrieved from a number of databases (e.g., Pubmed, Science Direct, Springer Link, etc.). General web searches were also carried out using Google and Yahoo search engines by applying some related search terms (e.g., Muntingia calabura, phytochemical, pharmacological, extract, and traditional uses). The articles related to agriculture, ecology, and synthetic work and those using languages other than English or Malay have been excluded. The bibliographies of papers relating to the review subject were also searched for further relevant references.
Results and discussion: The literature search conducted using the above-mentioned Internet search engines only lead to the identification of 36 journals published as early as 1987. From the articles reviewed, M. calabura possessed various pharmacological activities (e.g., cytotoxic, antinociceptive, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory), which supported the folklore claims and could be attributed to its phytoconstituents.
Conclusion: Muntingia calabura possesses remarkable medicinal value, which warrants further and in-depth studies. Therefore, this review paper is presented to help guide researchers to plan their future studies related to this plant in the hope of isolating potential leads for future drug development.
This study examined three types of leisure activities (playing cards/mahjong, watching TV/listening to the radio, and participation in social activities) among the older segment of the Chinese ...population, and the effects of these activities in preventing the feelings of loneliness. Data came from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), conducted in 2005, 2008, and 2011. The males, those who were educated, the young-old (aged between 65 and 74 years), urban dwellers, and living in institutions were more likely to participate in all three activities frequently. Frequent or occasional participation in these three activities was negatively associated with feelings of loneliness. The longitudinal study from 2005 to 2011 showed that respondents who frequently played cards/mahjong at baseline were less likely to feel persistent loneliness at the end of the 2011 wave. Instead, frequently watching TV/listening to the radio in 2008 was associated with lower odds in feeling persistent loneliness at the end of 2011. Hence, active participation in playing cards/mahjong and TV/radio entertainment can be effective treatment intervention against persistent loneliness among older Chinese. For the Chinese, a leisure activity steeped in a nation's culture and heritage, such as playing mahjong, may be used as an intervention strategy to prevent and alleviate chronic loneliness among older adults.
•Females, the oldest-old (85+), and those living in rural areas are more likely to report chronic loneliness.•Older males more likely to participate frequently in leisure activities compared to older females.•Frequent game of cards/mahjong and TV/radio entertainment are associated with lesser feelings of loneliness.
Abstract
This is the first of a two-part study that examines, from the exergy management standpoint, the fundamental thermodynamic requirements for maximizing internal combustion (IC) engine cycle ...efficiency. The optimal cycle is shown to comprise three distinct engine architectural elements — reactant preparation, combustion, and work extraction from the products — each of which can be analysed separately. This study shows, based on dynamical system optimization, that it is the equilibrium thermodynamics (specifically, the constant-internal energy—volume (UV) product state at the end of combustion) and not chemical kinetics (i.e. reactions taking place during combustion) that ultimately dictates the amount of exergy destroyed due to combustion. The strategy for minimizing this destruction term reduces to carrying out reactions at the highest possible internal energy state — following what may be called the ‘extreme state’ principle — so as to minimize the corresponding constant-UV entropy change from reactants to equilibrium products. The extreme state principle remains unaltered when system inhomogeneity (from fuel vaporization and mixing with air) and heat loss are accounted for. Based on this optimal combustion strategy, the companion paper examines the remaining elements of the engine cycle (reactant preparation and work extraction) so as to improve overall cycle efficiency.
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