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⢠COVID-19 caused extensive economic recession and Trinidad is no exception. Whilst lockdown slowed the spread of COVID-19, it also resulted in the closure of schools and retrenchment of workers. ⢠Therefore, it was imperative that the parental population be investigated to determine the impact of this pandemic on their livelihood, since challenges they encountered impacted the quality of education received by their children. ⢠Many families faced financial constraints in purchasing electronic devices and internet connectivity to facilitate their children's online learning. This overwhelming stress coupled with lack of technological competence had the possibility of increasing the prevalence of psychiatric disorders such as generalized anxiety and depression
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Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Criança , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Idoso , Trinidad e Tobago , COVID-19 , Ansiedade , Educação a Distância , Depressão , Equipamentos e Provisões , Recessão Econômica , Transtornos MentaisRESUMO
⢠Postpartum depression (PPD) is a debilitating mental disorder which affects 13% of females, usually after giving birth. ⢠Predisposing factors increase the possibility of mothers acquiring PPD, some of which include lack of support, prior PPD, a history of mood changes with menstrual cycles or oral contraceptives, a family history and mental illness. ⢠This illness can have long-term effects on a child causing the behavioural, cognitive and academic development to be impaired. ⢠Currently, there are no screening techniques at the hospitals in Trinidad. Therefore, we have designed this study to assess the risk factors and concerns of PPD and to increase public awareness of PPD.
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Humanos , Feminino , Adulto , Trinidad e Tobago , Depressão Pós-Parto , Mães , Região do Caribe , Atenção à Saúde , História , Transtornos MentaisRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To develop a novel sex independent anthropometric index, termed as angle index, related to type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Case-control. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 121 participants and were divided into two groups. One group had no form of diabetes and served as controls (n=50). The other group had the condition of type 2 diabetes (n=71). 31% (n=37) of the subjects were male and 69% (n=84) were female. 62% (n=75) of the subjects were of East Indian ethnicity, 28% (n=34) were of African ethnicity and 10% (n=12) were of mixed ethnicity. SETTING: Participants of the study were from the island of Trinidad, located in the Caribbean. Patients in the study were selected at random from hospital records. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: It was hypothesised that the mean angle index of patients with type 2 diabetes would be higher than the mean angle index of patients without type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Patients with type 2 diabetes had a significantly higher angle index value as compared with controls (p<0.001). Angle index was the superior sex independent anthropometric index in relation to type 2 diabetes (area under the curve=0.72; p<0.001) as compared with other sex independent variables. Angle index correlated with glycated haemoglobin (rs=0.28, p=0.003) and fasting blood glucose (rs=0.31, p=0.001) levels. Patients with type 2 diabetes were four times more likely to have an angle index greater than 184° (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.8 to 9.9) as compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Angle index was a superior sex independent index for discriminating between patients with and without type 2 diabetes, as compared with waist circumference, abdominal volume index, conicity index, blood pressure readings, triglyceride levels and very low-density lipoprotein levels.
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Antropometria/métodos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/metabolismo , Obesidade Abdominal/diagnóstico , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Povo Asiático , População Negra , Pressão Sanguínea , Estudos de Casos e Controles , VLDL-Colesterol , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/epidemiologia , Feminino , Hemoglobinas Glicadas/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Obesidade Abdominal/epidemiologia , Medição de Risco , Triglicerídeos , Trinidad e Tobago , Umbigo , Circunferência da Cintura , Relação Cintura-QuadrilRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was designed to investigate medical students' perceptions of small group teaching effectiveness in a hybrid curriculum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive survey was conducted at the School of Medicine, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine where we collected the data from 195 undergraduate students. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 25 items was used to measure students' perception on the effectiveness of problem-based learning (PBL) with regard to learning experience, teamwork, confidence, communication skills, and role of the tutor. Statistical analyses included mean and standard deviation for the description of each item; t-test to compare the mean scores for gender and class year, and one-way analysis of variance between groups for age group comparisons. RESULTS: The students overall perceptions of small group teaching effectiveness showed that the PBL sessions were beneficial to their learning process (mean: 3.63 ± 0.46). Students have positive perceptions toward small group effectiveness, particularly in learning experience (mean: 3.98 ± 0.63) and teamwork (mean: 3.67 ± 0.58). The mean scores, measuring teamwork, for 2nd year students was significantly higher than that for 1st year students (3.76 ± 0.55 and 3.55 ± 0.60 respectively, P = 013). A similar significant trend was observed between 2nd year and 1st year students on communication skills (3.48 ± 0.67 and 3.29 ± 0.55, respectively, P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: PBL is an effective small group teaching method for medical students. Faculty development and students' training programs are required before implementing PBL.
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BACKGROUND: Abnormal lipid profiles are a characteristic feature of persons with chronic conditions in which the diabetic populations are recognized as the dominant group, regardless of gender and ethnicity worldwide. This study was conducted to identify and evaluate the abnormalities of serum lipid profiles in both nondiabetic and diabetic persons. METHODS: This study was a case-control investigation conducted between 2013 and 2015. The study enrolled 266 patients from the North Central and South West Regional Health Authorities of Trinidad. Of the 266 patients recruited, 126 were diabetic and 140 were nondiabetic. RESULTS: Our study observed that dyslipidemia was present among the nondiabetic populations as the nondiabetics had 55 women and 20 men with high cholesterol, 22 women and 14 men with high triglyceride (TG), 30 women and 25 men with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), 42 women and 21 men with high low-density level-cholesterol (LDL-C), 13 women and 8 men with high very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and also 30 women and 11 men with body mass index (BMI) over 30 kg/m2. We also observed that diabetic women had significantly lower TGs (P = 0.019) and higher HDL-C (P = 0.001) and LDL (P = 0.003) when compared with the diabetic men. In addition, the nondiabetic females also had higher HDL-C (P = 0.045) when compared to their male counterparts. Both diabetic and nondiabetic women exhibited significantly higher BMI of P = 0.000. A negative correlation was obtained among TGs and HDL (r = -0.356, n = 83, P = 0.001) and a positive correlation was observed among LDL and HDL (r = 0.230, n = 86, P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: This study observed the incidences in the abnormalities of serum lipid profiles in both nondiabetic and diabetic persons. It also presents the high occurrence of nondiabetic women with dyslipidemia as they presented with high cholesterol, high TG, low HDL-C, and high VLD-L with BMI over 30 kg/m2.
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INTRODUCTION: Diabetes Mellitus, obesity and dyslipidaemia are metabolic disorders characterized by similar risk factors, complications and outcomes including stroke, insulin resistance, MI and even death. Studies have indicated that impoverished and low income areas of developing countries are more prone to increasing obesity which when uncontrolled can lead to diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia. AIM: The study was aimed to compare the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, obesity and dyslipidaemia in high and low income groups of North and South Trinidad, to determine factors that contribute to its prevalence and to observe any associations between the three aforementioned diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 participants who visited the two major hospitals at south and north Trinidad where the mean differences between fasting glucose, lipid profile, BMI, waist and hip ratio and blood pressure of both diabetic and non-diabetic participants were obtained via questionnaires and then analysed using SPSS. RESULTS: Residents of south Trinidad showed a higher proportion of persons with diabetes and dyslipidaemia at 68.6% and 52% when compared to 28.6% and 27% respectively for the north population. Those from north Trinidad showed a higher prevalence of obesity at 45.9% with higher income levels. About 17.3% participants smoked or were exposed to cigarettes in north compared to 9.8% of participants whom smoked or were exposed to cigarettes in south. North had 2% of alcohol consumed daily and 3.9% consumed alcohol daily in south. In north, 21.4% of participants were stressed when compared to 18.6% from south. CONCLUSION: A significant correlation was established between cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides which lead to the conclusion that obesity is caused by dyslipidaemia. Also, our study concluded that stress and dyslipidaemia are income related.
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Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common but commonly missed diagnosis. Tendon xanthomas are a physical sign strongly suggestive of FH. Physicians must identify tendon xanthomas, apply validated clinical scoring such as the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network criteria and offer cascade screening. This approach will increase recognition of FH.
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OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to compare albuminuria measured by conventional 24-hour urine collection and by spot urine albumin and by determining ACR, in a spot sample of urine. METHODS: A first morning spot sample and 24 hour urine samples were collected from 64 subjects, irrespective of the prevailing pathology. The urinary albumin and creatinine in both the spot and 24 hour urine samples was analyzed using the fully automated chemistry analyzer. RESULTS: Of the 64 participants studied the 24 hour albumin varied from 30-3000 gm, the interquartile range 450-2814 mg. The sensitivity and specificity of the spot urine sample was 81.3% (95% CI 70.9-91.7) and 83.3% (95% CI 76.6-92). CONCLUSION: ACR did not provide any advantage over microalbumin measurement alone and in fact there was satisfactory agreement between the two measurements. ACR in addition requires a higher laboratory effort therefore in a low resource setting microalbumin measurement alone is the more convenient screening method in routine clininical practice especially in the developing world.
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AlbuminasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk for both diabetes and coronary artery disease, which insulin resistance alone does not satisfactorily explain. We propose an additional and complementary underlying mechanism of glucocorticoid resistance. RESULTS: Using acanthosis nigricans (AN) and skin vasoconstrictor (SVC) response to topically applied beclomethasone dipropionate as markers of insulin and glucocorticoid resistance, respectively, we compared anthropometric, biochemical, pro-inflammatory markers and the SVC response in subjects with AN in two studies: STUDY 1 was used to compare subjects with AN (Grade 4, n = 32), with those without AN (n = 68) while STUDY 2 compared these responses among a cross-section of diabetic patients (n = 109) with varying grades of AN (grade 0, n = 30; grade 1, n = 24; grade 2, n = 18; grade 3, n = 25; grade 4, n = 12). FINDINGS: In both studies there was an inverse relationship between AN Grade 4 and the SVC response, (P < 0.001). In STUDY 1, AN Grade 4 was associated with age, waist circumference, BMI, fasting blood glucose, plasma lipids and hs-CRP (P < 0.05). SVC was an independent predictor of CRP and those with combined AN and a negative SVC response, CRP levels were highest. In Study 2 when the SVC response in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus with varying degrees of AN was studied, it showed that for any degree of AN, the SVC response is more likely to be negative and was independent of gender and ethnicity. CONCLUSION: An absent SVC response represents a new biomarker for the metabolic syndrome and the exaggerated inflammatory response, which characterizes the metabolic syndrome, may be an outcome of deficient glucocorticoid action in vascular tissue.
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Acantose Nigricans/tratamento farmacológico , Acantose Nigricans/fisiopatologia , Resistência a Medicamentos/fisiologia , Glucocorticoides/uso terapêutico , Resistência à Insulina/fisiologia , Síndrome Metabólica/fisiopatologia , Acantose Nigricans/epidemiologia , Adulto , Beclometasona/uso terapêutico , Proteína C-Reativa/metabolismo , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Comorbidade , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Resistência à Insulina/etnologia , Masculino , Síndrome Metabólica/epidemiologia , Síndrome Metabólica/etnologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pele/irrigação sanguínea , Vasoconstrição/fisiologia , Índias OcidentaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The obesity and hypertension have become the causes for the development type 2 diabetes. There is a limited study done on the contribution of body mass index (BMI) to blood pressure (BP) in the Caribbean population. Aim of our study was to determine the associations between lipid profile, BMI, adiponectin, and BP in Trinidadian type 2 diabetic patients with regards to age and ethnicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cohort study comprised of 266 subjects (85 males and 181 females) attending primary and tertiary healthcare settings in central Trinidad. Of which, 126 diabetic subjects were matched with 140 non-diabetic subjects. Along with clinical history and anthropometry, adiponectin and lipid profile were measured in fasting blood samples. RESULTS: The diabetic group had higher triglycerides, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), and BP values which were statistically significant (P < 0.05) when compared to non-diabetic subjects. The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and adiponectin were lower in diabetic subjects. HDL-c showed significant changes for ethnicity (P = 0.013) and gender (P = 0.043). The mean adiponectin concentrations were found to be significantly different among the ethnic groups (P = 0.001). Systolic pressure varied significantly with age (P = 0.018). As age increased, BP also increased. Ethnic groups had a significant difference in diastolic pressure (P = 0.027). East Indians had the highest mean diastolic pressure (80.74 ± 10.29) when compared to all other ethnic groups. CONCLUSION: HDL-cholesterol, low levels of adiponectin, and varied BP are associated in Trinidadian type 2 diabetic subjects with regards to age, gender, and ethnicity.
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Índice de Massa Corporal , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/etnologia , Adiponectina/sangue , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Pressão Sanguínea , Estudos de Casos e Controles , HDL-Colesterol/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/fisiopatologia , Feminino , Humanos , Lipase/sangue , Lipoproteínas VLDL/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Trinidad e Tobago/epidemiologiaRESUMO
AIMS: To determine the relationship between plasma adiponectin levels and obesity, inflammation, blood lipids and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetics (T2DM) and non-diabetics in a patient population in Trinidad. METHODS: A cohort study of a total of 126 type 2 diabetic (42 males and 84 females) and 140 (43 males and 97 females) non-diabetic public clinic attendees were assessed between December 2008 and July 2009. Along with clinical history and anthropometry, adiponectin, TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, lipid profile, glucose, and insulin were measured in fasting blood samples and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. RESULTS: Diabetics had higher (p<0.05) glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides (TG), VLDL and systolic blood pressure than non-diabetics, but lower (p<0.05) HDL and adiponectin levels. Adiponectin levels were lower (p<0.05) in obese than in non-obese individuals regardless of diabetic status. There were significant gender differences in HDL, LDL and TG. Among non-obese persons, adiponectin correlated negatively with triglycerides (r=-0.280; adiponectin), IL-6 (r=-0.216; p<0.005), HOMA-IR (r=-0.373; p=000) and positively correlated with HDL (r=0.355; p=0.000). Diabetic status (p=0.025), TNF-α (p=0.048) and BMI (p=0.027) were identified as useful predictors of adiponectin by multiple linear regression methods. In addition binary logistic regression analysis found glucose (p=0.001) and adiponectin (p=0.047) to be useful indicators of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin decreases with increasing adiposity and insulin resistance. Adiponectin and TNF-α appear to be related to differences in the insulin mediated glucose turnover.
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Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Plasma , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Obesidade , Adiponectina , Insulina , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
The extract of K. pinnata was evaluated for its wound healing activity by using excision wound model in rats. On day 11, animals treated with the ethanolic leaf extract exhibited 86.33% reduction in the wound area, compared to petroleum jelly treated control (69.36%) and the mupirocin treated standard (85.49%). The hydroxyproline content of extract treated animals was higher, as compared to control and the standard groups. Histological analysis was also consistent with the proposal that K. pinnata leaf extract exhibits significant wound healing potential. The increased rate of wound contraction and hydroxyproline content in the extract treated animals supports the claims made by traditional healers of the benefits obtained from the medicinal use of K. pinnata.
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Ratos , Animais , Hidroxiprolina , Cicatrização , Kalanchoe , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether elevated levels of troponin T are associated with altered lipid profile. METHODS: Data were collected from 205 patients each of whom presented elevated troponin T levels. RESULTS: 195 patients presented with suspected myocardial infarction, 10 patients did not. Of which 68 had medium, 107 high and 20 presented with very high troponin T levels. The proportions were significantly different (p = 0.000215). Regression analysis showed that troponin T level was a useful quadratic predictor of total cholesterol (p = 0.000), triglycerides (p = 0.003), and low density cholesterol (p = 0.000); and a useful linear predictor of TC/HC ratio (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of myocardial infarction is associated with elevated troponin T levels; troponin T is positively correlated with total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and TC/HC ratio and negatively correlated with HDL. TC/HC ratio was not found to be a useful predictor of the likelihood of MI.
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Lipídeos/sangue , Infarto do Miocárdio/sangue , Infarto do Miocárdio/epidemiologia , Troponina T/sangue , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Biomarcadores/sangue , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Infarto do Miocárdio/diagnóstico , Prevalência , Medição de Risco , Fatores de Risco , Estatística como Assunto , Trinidad e Tobago/epidemiologiaRESUMO
AIMS: Primary care management of diabetes was examined using the Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC) guidelines. METHODS: We retrospectively examined a cross-section of 646 type 2 people with diabetics over 12 months with 1st visit between 1997 and 2005. RESULTS: There were more women (65.8%) than men (34.2%) with age range between 29 and 89 years. Blood pressure and weight were evaluated in >95% of patients at each centre. Waist circumference and BMI were not measured at any time and HbA(1)c was infrequently measured (1.6-7%) over the 12 months. Information on family history (87.5%), smoking and alcohol (78.1%), exercise (21.4%), socioeconomic status (19.4%) and education (0.3%), and fasting blood sugar (97.2%), lipid profile (51.8%) and serum creatinine (37.9%) were assessed at the 1st visit. At follow-up patients were advised on treatment compliance (47.2%), diet (34.2%), exercise (18.5%) and rarely on home monitoring of blood glucose (0.3%). Peripheral sensations, pedal pulses (6%), visual acuity (3.3%), fundoscopy (12.1%) and ECG (3.9%) were scarcely examined at the annual visit. CONCLUSIONS: Current management of diabetes in primary care in Trinidad falls short of Caribbean guideline recommendations. The CHRC and Ministry of Health should jointly educate caregivers of diabetes to implement the guidelines, with annual audits to identify shortfalls in management.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/terapia , Atenção Primária à Saúde/normas , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Glicemia/metabolismo , Cuidadores , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/psicologia , Dieta para Diabéticos , Feminino , Hemoglobinas Glicadas/metabolismo , Humanos , Hipoglicemiantes/uso terapêutico , Estilo de Vida , Masculino , Anamnese , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cooperação do Paciente , Educação de Pacientes como Assunto , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
AIM: To determine and study the relationship between adiponectin and inflammatory markers in obese, non-obese, type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic Trinidadians. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study comprised of 133 subjects of Trinidadians. Anthropometric indices were measured and adiponectin, inflammatory marker levels, lipid profiles and glucose were measured in fasting blood samples. RESULTS: Adiponectin levels were significantly lower (P = 0.003) in diabetics (n = 60) than non diabetics (n = 73). No correlation between adiponectin and inflammatory markers was found. Adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with BMI adjusting for age and diabetic status, and gender (beta = -0.200, P = 0.020; beta = -0.235, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: No correlation exists between adiponectin and inflammatory markers. Adiponectin levels are lower in type 2 diabetic Trinidadians than in non-diabetics and decreases with increasing adiposity, using BMI as the marker.
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Adiponectina/sangue , Biomarcadores/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/sangue , Inflamação/sangue , Obesidade/sangue , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Antropometria , Proteína C-Reativa/metabolismo , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Interleucina-6/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Trinidad e Tobago , Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/sangue , Adulto JovemRESUMO
AIM: The rheological properties of erythrocytes are impaired in diabetes mellitus, especially because of changes in their membrane lipid composition.The aim of this study was to determine and examine the relationship between red blood cell (RBC) membrane and serum lipid composition in type II diabetes subjects with and without nephropathy. METHODS: Trinidadian subjects aged 18-65 years were recruited for the study regardless of gender and ethnicity. Fasting blood samples were collected from 60 subjects of whom 20 were healthy individuals, 20 had type II diabetes without complications, and 20 were type II diabetics with nephropathy. Weight, height, waist/hip ratio, and blood pressure were recorded. All the blood samples were analysed to determine the serum lipid concentration, membrane lipid composition and plasma glucose concentration. RESULTS: The body mass index and the systolic blood pressure of the diabetics (28.17 +/- 4.98 kg/m2, 153.21 +/- 22.10 mmHg) and those with nephropathy (25.87 +/- 4.68, 158.60 +/- 22.49 mmHg) were higher when compared with controls (24.67 +/- 5.18, 119.15 +/- 13.03 mmHg). The diabetic (175.89 +/- 102.73 microg/mgprotein) and diabetic nephropathy (358.80 +/- 262.66) subjects showed significantly higher levels of RBC membrane cholesterol compared with controls (132.27 +/- 66.47). The membrane phospholipids, protein and Na+/K+ATPase concentrations were altered in diabetics and diabetic nephropathy patients when compared with controls. The trends of increased serum cholesterol and decreased high-density lipoprotein in diabetics and diabetic nephropathy patients were noted as compared with controls but they are not significant as expected. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly higher in diabetics when compared with diabetic nephropathy and control subjects.
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Humanos , Membrana Eritrocítica , Fosfolipídeos , Proteínas , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
AIM: The objective of this study is to correlate microalbumin and sialic acid levels with anthropometric variables in type 2 diabetic patients with and without nephropathy. METHODS: This study was a case control study and included 108 Trinidadian subjects (aged 15-60 years) of which 30 were healthy individuals, 38 had type 2 diabetes, and 40 were of type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy. Blood pressure and waist to hip ratio were recorded. Fasting venous blood samples and urine samples were collected from all the subjects. Blood samples were analysed for the glucose, C-reactive protein, and sialic acid. Urine sample was analysed for microalbumin and sialic acid. RESULTS: Urinary microalbumin was higher among diabetic subjects (28.9 +/- 30.3 mg/L) compared with controls (8.4 +/- 10.2 mg/L) and was significantly higher in diabetic patients with nephropathy (792.3 +/- 803.9 mg/L). Serum sialic acid was higher in subjects with diabetic nephropathy (71.5 +/- 23.3 mg/dL) compared to diabetics (66.0 +/- 11.7 mg/dL) and controls (55.2 +/- 8.3 mg/dL). Increased microalbumin and sialic acid were correlated with other cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and waist to hip ratios (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: From these results it can be concluded that the increased microalbumin and sialic acid were strongly correlated with hypertension and waist to hip ratios in Trinidadian type-2 diabetic patients. Measurement of sialic acid, microalbumin, and waist to hip ratio along with the blood pressure is recommended for all type 2 diabetic patients to reduce the cardiovascular risk.
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Humanos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Ácidos Siálicos , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) is one of the most important traditional Polynesian medicinal plants. The primary indigenous use of this plant appears to be of the leaves, as a topical treatment for wound healing. The ethanol extract of noni leaves (150 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) was used to evaluate the wound-healing activity on rats, using excision and dead space wound models. Animals were randomly divided into two groups of six for each model. Test group animals in each model were treated with the ethanol extract of noni orally by mixing in drinking water and the control group animals were maintained with plain drinking water. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, time until complete epithelialization, granulation tissue weight and hydoxyproline content. On day 11, the extract-treated animals exhibited 71 per cent reduction in the wound area when compared with controls which exhibited 57 per cent. The granulation tissue weight and hydroxyproline content in the dead space wounds were also increased significantly in noni-treated animals compared with controls (P < 0.002). Enhanced wound contraction, decreased epithelialization time, increased hydroxyproline content and histological characteristics suggest that noni leaf extract may have therapeutic benefits in wound healing.
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Morinda , Cicatrização , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
Hibiscus rosa sinensis (H rosa sinensis), a plant product, has been used for the treatment of a variety of diseases as well as to promote wound healing. The wound-healing activity of the ethanol extract of H rosa sinensis flower was determined in rats, using excision, incision, and dead space wound models and is presented in this report. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups of 6 each in all the models. Test group animals in each model were treated with the ethanol extract of H rosa sinensis orally by mixing in drinking water (120 mg kg(-1) day(-1)), and the control group animals were maintained with plain drinking water. Healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialization, tensile strength (skin breaking strength), granulation tissue weight, and hydroxyproline content. The antimicrobial activity of the flower extract against selected microorganisms that infect the wounds was also assessed. Animals treated with the extract exhibited an 86% reduction in the wound area compared with controls, who exhibited a 75 per cent reduction. The extract-treated animals were found to epithelize their wounds significantly faster than controls (P < .002) and have shown significantly higher skin-breaking strength than controls (P < .002). The dry and wet weight of granulation tissue and hydroxyproline content were also increased significantly when compared with controls. The reported observations suggest H rosa sinensis aids wound healing in the rat model.
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Ratos , Humanos , Hibiscus , Cicatrização , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE. Colon cancer is the most common malignancy found in the developed countries. Cancer initiation and progression is known to be associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species, formed in excess in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of the study was to assess the levels of protein thiols and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in patients with colon cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Serum samples were obtained from 60 subjects (M and F, mean age 50ñ15 years), 30 of which were from colon cancer patients and 30 from healthy individuals. All the serum samples were analyzed for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), protein thiols and TBARS. RESULTS. The levels of protein thiols were significantly lower in colon cancer patients (p<0.001) than in the healthy controls. The TBARS levels in colon cancer patients were moderately high (p<0.05) in comparison with those of the controls. CONCLUSIONS. Low levels of protein thiols and elevated TBARS of colon cancer patients support the hypothesis that colon cancer is associated with reactive oxygen species. Therefore protein thiols and TBARS may serve as additive non-invasive biochemical markers of oxidative stress in colon cancer and this hypothesis needs to be further investigated.