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Eucalyptus is used against skin ailments in Ayurvedic medicine, however, its efficacy against dermatotropic viruses is unknown. The present study reported the antiviral efficacy of E. robusta leaves methanolic extract against buffalo pox-virus (BPXV). Phytochemical analysis of the test extract was performed by GC-MS. The antiviral efficacy of the extract was assessed by cytotoxicity assay, attachment assay, virus entry assay, and budding assay using the Vero cell line. Further, viral DNA was quantified using the qPCR technique. Eucalyptol was found to be the major biomolecule in phytochemical analysis. Other phytoconstituents identified were β-pinene, borneol, alpha phellandrene, ocatdec-9-enoic acid, vaccenic acids, etc. Significant inhibition of BPXV was achieved at 10 µg/ml (non-cytotoxic concentration), however, the virucidal action was not produced even at 100 µg/ml. Virus attachment assay as well as a relative number of viral DNA copies did not differ significantly between extract-treated and vehicletreated groups. Albeit, data mined from viral yield was found to be significantly reduced following treatment with extract in viral entry assay. Application of extract at 36 hours post-infection (hpi) reduced almost 70 % of viral titer. Based on the above findings, it may be conferred that the herbal test extract showed potential activity against dermatotropic virus (BPVX), especially through targeting viral entry and budding. Thus, Eucalyptus robusta leaf extract may be bio-prospected as a naive congener against such viruses.

Abstract Inhibition of Notch signaling in macrophages is known to reduce inflammation, however, its role in regulating vascular hyporeactivity in sepsis is unknown. Thus we aimed to evaluate the effect of sepsis on vascular Notch signaling. Polymicrobial sepsis was induced by caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in mice. mRNA expressions of Notch receptors (Notch1,3) and ligands (Jag1, Dll4), and downstream effector genes (Hey1, MLCK, MYPT1) were assessed by RT-qPCR. Protein level of activated Notch (NICD) was assessed by Western blot and immuno-histochemistry. Isometric tension in isolated aortic rings was measured by wire myography.CLP down-regulated aortic expression of Notch3, Jag1 and Dll4 as compared to control mice. Additionally, the protein level of NICD was found to be lesser in aortic tissue sections from CLP mice. Expression of Hey1 and MLCK were attenuated whereas MYPT1 expression was increased in septic mouse aorta. DAPT pretreatment did not improve CLP-induced vascular hyporeactivity to NA, CaCl2 and high K+ (80 mM), rather significantly attenuated the aortic response to these vasoconstrictors in control mice. Treatment with 1400 W reversed attenuated Notch3 (but not Jag1 and MLCK) expression in septic mouse aorta. In conclusion, sepsis significantly attenuated the Notch (especially Notch3) signaling in mouse aorta along with reduction in contractile gene expression and vasoconstriction response. Further, iNOS/NO pathway was involved in sepsis-induced down-regulation of Notch3 receptor. Thus systemic inhibition of Notch signaling during sepsis may have serious impact on sepsis-induced vascular hyporeactivity.

Aims. We aimed to determine whether plasma advanced glycation end products or oxidation products (AGE/oxidation-P) predict altered renal function and/or preeclampsia (PE) in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. Methods. Prospectively, using a nested case-control design, we studied 47 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, of whom 23 developed PE and 24 did not. Nineteen nondiabetic, normotensive pregnant women provided reference values. In plasma obtained at ~12, 22, and 32 weeks’ gestation (visits 1, 2, and 3; V1-V3), we measured five AGE products (carboxymethyllysine (CML), carboxyethyl-lysine (CEL), methylglyoxal-hydroimidazolone (MGH1), 3-deoxyglucosone hydroimidazolone (3DGH), and glyoxal-hydroimidazolone (GH1)) and four oxidation products (methionine sulfoxide (MetSO), 2-aminoadipic acid (2-AAA), 3-nitrotyrosine (3NT), and dityrosine (DT)), by liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Clinical outcomes were “estimated glomerular filtration rate” (eGFR) at each visit and onset of PE. Results. In diabetic women, associations between AGE/oxidation-P and eGFR were found only in those who developed PE. In this group, CEL, MGH1, and GH1 at V2 and CML, CEL, MGH1, and GH1 at V3 were inversely associated with contemporaneous eGFR, while CEL, MGH1, 3DGH, and GH1 at V2 were inversely associated with eGFR at V3 (all p

Abstract Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common skin diseases of dogs. Defects in the skin barrier and overproduction of inflammatory cytokines may be the pathogenesis of canine AD. Therefore, the present study was aimed to quantify the gene expression of certain skin barrier proteins and inflammatory cytokines in dogs with AD. Eleven dogs with AD and three healthy dogs were included in the present study. The skin barrier proteins, namely Filaggrin (FLG) and Involucrin (IVL), gene expression was quantified by Real-time PCR in the lesional skin tissues of the atopic dogs and normal skin of the healthy dogs. In addition to the skin proteins, the gene expressions of the interleukin (IL)-13, IL-31, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were also quantified in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of these dogs. Compared to the healthy dogs, significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) FLG gene expression and significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower expression of the IVL gene were quantified in the skin of atopic dogs. Further, the dogs with AD revealed significantly higher expression of TNF-α (P ≤ 0.01), IL-31 (P ≤ 0.05), and IL-13 (P ≤ 0.05) as compared to the healthy dogs. The findings of our present study evidently suggest significantly increased and decreased expressions of FLG and IVL genes, respectively, which may be responsible for disruption of the skin barrier in dogs with AD. While, the over-expressions of TNF-α, IL-31, and IL-13 genes might be attributed to the clinical pathology and manifestations of AD in dogs. However, further studies are warranted to substantiate our hypothesis about pathogenesis and clinical manifestation of AD in dogs by including a large number of animals.

Heather Ulrich1,4, Benjamin Snyder1,Satish K Garg1,2,31Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes; 2Department of Medicine; 3Pediatrics; 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USAAbstract: Normalization of blood glucose is essential for the prevention of diabetes mellitus (DM)-related microvascular and macrovascular complications. Despite substantial literature to support the benefits of glucose lowering and clear treatment targets, glycemic control remains suboptimal for most people with DM in the United States. Pharmacokinetic limitations of conventional insulins have been a barrier to achieving treatment targets secondary to adverse effects such as hypoglycemia and weight gain. Recombinant DNA technology has allowed modification of the insulin molecule to produce insulin analogues that overcome these pharmacokinetic limitations. With time action profiles that more closely mimic physiologic insulin secretion, rapid acting insulin analogues (RAAs) reduce post-prandial glucose excursions and hypoglycemia when compared to regular human insulin (RHI). Insulin glulisine (Apidra®) is a rapid-acting insulin analogue created by substituting lysine for asparagine at position B3 and glutamic acid for lysine at position B29 on the B chain of human insulin. The quick absorption of insulin glulisine more closely reproduces physiologic first-phase insulin secretion and its rapid acting profile is maintained across patient subtypes. Clinical trials have demonstrated comparable or greater efficacy of insulin glulisine versus insulin lispro or RHI, respectively. Efficacy is maintained even when insulin glulisine is administered post-meal. In addition, glulisine appears to have a more rapid time action profile compared with insulin lispro across various body mass indexes (BMIs). The safety and tolerability profile of insulin glulisine is also comparable to that of insulin lispro or RHI in type 1 or 2 DM and it has been shown to be as safe and effective when used in a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). In summary, insulin glulisine is a safe, effective, and well tolerated rapid-acting insulin analogue across all BMIs and a worthy option for prandial glucose control in type 1 or 2 DM.Keywords: glycemic control, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), rapid-acting insulin analogues, type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin glulisine, body mass index (BMI)

AbstractObjective:This study evaluated the accuracy and safety of two continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, the SEVEN®(DexCom™, San Diego, CA) and the Navigator®(Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA), with the YSI laboratory measurements of blood glucose (blood glucose meter manufactured by YSI, Yellow Springs, OH), when worn concurrently in adults with type 1 diabetes.Design and Methods:Fourteen subjects with type 1 diabetes, 33 ± 6 (mean ± SD) years old, were enrolled in this study. All subjects wore both sensors concurrently over three consecutive 5-day CGM sessions (15-day wear). On Days 5, 10, and 15, subjects participated in an 8-h in-clinic session where measurements from the CGM systems were collected and compared with YSI measurements every 15 min. At the end of Day 5 and 10 in-clinic sessions, the sensors were removed, and new sensors were inserted for the following CGM session despite the SEVEN system's recommended use for up to 7 days.Results:The mean absolute relative difference (ARD) for the two CGM devices versus YSI was not different: 16.8 and 16.1 for SEVEN and Navigator, respectively (P 0.38). In the hypoglycemic region (YSI value <80 mg/dL), the mean ARD for SEVEN was lower than for Navigator (21.5 vs. 29.8, respectively; P 0.001). The data analyses were similar when compared with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) values. Thirteen additional Navigator replacement devices were issued compared to two for the SEVEN. A total of three versus 14 skin reactions were reported with the SEVEN and Navigator insertion area, respectively.Conclusions:Glucose measurements with the SEVEN and Navigator were found to be similar compared with YSI and SMBG measurements, with the exception of the hypoglycemic range where the SEVEN performed better. However, the Navigator caused more skin area reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackground:Management of type 1 diabetes could be significantly improved with the availability of computerized insulin algorithms for home use.Methods:This was a 1-year open label randomized control trial involving 123 adult subjects with type 1 diabetes (hemoglobin A1c values 7.5–11) assigned to either the insulin guidance software (ACCU-CHEK®[Roche, Indianapolis, IN] Advisor) for personal data assistant (experimental group) or the control group. The primary aim of the study was to see if subjects using insulin dosing advisor software will improve glucose control over 1 year. The principal end point was an improvement in A1c at 6 and 12 months by ≥0.4.Results:Baseline demographics were similar in the two groups. Mean A1c was 8.54 ± 0.11 in the control group and 8.42 ± 0.11 (P 0.4265) in the experimental group. The mean A1c was significantly lower from 3 to 12 months in the experimental group (P< 0.02). A1c reduction of ≥0.6 was maintained at 12 months in the experimental group. Also, a significantly higher number of subjects achieved A1c <7.5 in the experimental group from 3 to 9 months. Within target range glycemia (70–150 mg/dL) was higher in the experimental group at 3–9 months without any change in insulin dose or weight. Above target range glycemia was lower in the experimental group throughout the study. Frequency of testing per day was higher in the experimental group. Nocturnal hypoglycemia was not different between groups; however, the experimental group experienced more severe hypoglycemic events.Conclusions:This is the first report that shows improved glycemic control can be maintained over 12 months in patients with type 1 diabetes by using Advisor with no change in insulin dose and weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]