Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

Faunal data and envenomation emergency first aid of cone snails (Conus spp.) in Qeshm Island, the Persian Gulf
Khoobdel M, Dehghani H, Tavana AM, Ghasemi M, Dakhteh SM, Hesni MA and Rezaie-Atagholipour M
To investigate the fauna of a highly venomous marine species group, the cone snails (Family Conidae), in the shores of Qeshm Island, of evaluating the possibility of envenomation in the area and summarize recommendations for emergency first aid.
Development of a mouse model of arecoline-induced oral mucosal fibrosis
Wen QT, Wang T, Yu DH, Wang ZR, Sun Y and Liang CW
To develop a BALB/c mouse model of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) induced by arecoline and to exhibit an accumulation of collagen and angiogenesis changes.
Regulating effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on bronchial asthma smooth muscle proliferation and apoptosis as well as inflammatory factor expression through ERK1/2 signaling pathway
Zhang T, Liao JY, Yu L and Liu GS
To study the influence of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on bronchial asthma (BA) smooth muscle proliferation and apoptosis as well as inflammatory factor expression and its molecular mechanism.
Expression of vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein in central nervous system development of rats
Luo H, Wu XQ, Zhao M, Wang Q, Jiang GP, Cai WJ and Luo MY
To investigate the distribution and contents of vimentin (Vim) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivities in the central nervous system (CNS) of normal newborn, adult and aged rats.
Reverse effect of curcumin on CDDP-induced drug-resistance via Keap1/p62-Nrf2 signaling in A549/CDDP cell
Shen J, Chen YJ, Jia YW, Zhao WY, Chen GH, Liu DF, Chen YY, Zhang C and Liu XP
To assess the effect of curcumin on CDDP-induced drug resistance and explore the underlying molecular mechanism through Nrf2 system and autophagy pathway.
Electrophysiological changes of autonomic cells in left ventricular outflow tract in guinea pigs with iron deficiency anemia complicated with chronic heart failure
Fan L, Chen LF and Fan J
To investigate the electrophysiological changes of autonomic cells in left ventricular outflow tract in guinea pigs with iron deficiency anemia complicated with chronic heart failure.
Some pathogenic characters of paratyphoid Salmonella enterica strains isolated from poultry
Bertelloni F, Tosi G, Massi P, Fiorentini L, Parigi M, Cerri D and Ebani VV
To investigate some pathogenic characters of Salmonella enterica strains isolated from poultry.
Antibiofilm activity of α-mangostin extracted from Garcinia mangostana L. against Staphylococcus aureus
Phuong NTM, Van Quang N, Mai TT, Anh NV, Kuhakarn C, Reutrakul V and Bolhuis A
To isolate α-mangostin (AMG) from the peels of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.), grown in Vietnam, and to investigate antibiofilm activity of this compound against three Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains, one of which was methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and the other two strains were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA).
Pharmacological evaluation of smooth muscle relaxant and cardiac-modulation potential of Phyla nodiflora in ex-vivo and in-vivo experiments
Abdur Rahman HM, Ahmed K, Rasool MF and Imran I
To investigate the pharmacological basis of its uses of Phyla nodiflora (P. nodiflora) for the treatment of anomalies predominantly by smooth muscle containing tissues such as gastrointestinal/vascular/broncho spasm and cardiovascular modulation.
Natural compounds and extracts from Mexican medicinal plants with anti-leishmaniasis activity: An update
Gutiérrez-Rebolledo GA, Drier-Jonas S and Jiménez-Arellanes MA
Leishmaniasis is considered as an emerging, uncontrolled disease and is endemic in 98 countries. Annually, about 2 million cases of cutaneous and 500000 cases of visceral-type leishmaniasis are recorded and 60000 persons died from the disease. In Mexico, cutaneous leishmaniasis is known as chiclero's ulcer and is reported in 22 states, it is considered as a health problem. For its treatment, pentavalent antimonial drugs are administered. These drugs cause severe side effects, are costly. Drug-resistant cases have been reported and have been developing for over 70 years. One alternative to the drugs that are currently available is to find active molecules in medicinal plants. Dihydrocorynantheine, corynantheine and corynantheidine are active against Leishmania major, while harmane, pleiocarpin, buchtienin, luteolin and quercetin are active against Leishmania donovani. In Mexico, about 20 medicinal plants have been evaluated against Leishmania mexicana, among which the most active are Tridax procumbens, Lonchocarpus xuul and Pentalinon andrieuxii. From these plants, active compounds with IC ≤ 30 μg/mL or μM have been isolated, such as 3(S)-16,17-didehydrofalcarinol or Oxylipin, cholestra-4,20,24-trien-3-one or pentalinosterol, 24-methylcholest-4-24(28)-dien-3-one, cholest-4-en-3-one, 6,7-dihydroneridie-none, neridienone, cholest-5,20,24-trien-3β-ol, and isocordoin. Today, only pentalinonsterol has been synthesized and assayed in the visceral leishmaniasis experimental model using BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania donovani. Liposome formulation of this compound administered by intravenous route at 2.5 mg/kg showed a significant reduction of parasite load in mouse liver and spleen.
Comparative molecular docking studies of lupeol and lupenone isolated from Pueraria lobata that inhibits BACE1: Probable remedies for Alzheimer's disease
Koirala P, Seong SH, Jung HA and Choi JS
To discover lead lupane triterpenoid's potential isolated from Pueraria lobata roots against β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), which serve as a rate limiting step in amyloid beta (Aβ) production altering the course of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, enzyme kinetics study and molecular docking were conducted to establish the inhibition type and structure activity relationship.
Antioxidants: Friend or foe?
Sarangarajan R, Meera S, Rukkumani R, Sankar P and Anuradha G
Reactive oxygen species are the intermediates that are formed during the normal metabolic process which are effectively neutralized by the antioxidant system of the body. Any imbalance in this neutralization process causes oxidative stress which has been implicated as one of the cause in diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disorders, cancer etc. Research has enabled the use of antioxidants as therapeutic agents in the treatment of various diseases. Literature also puts forth the negative effects of using antioxidants in the treatment of diseases. This review is a compilation of both the beneficial and detrimental effects of use of antioxidants in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and oral diseases.
Rescue effects of aqueous seed extracts of Foeniculum vulgare and Carum carvi against cadmium-induced hepatic, renal and gonadal damage in female albino rats
Abdel-Wahab A, Hashem Abdel-Razik AR and Abdel Aziz RL
To investigate the protective effects of aqueous seed extracts of fennel "Foeniculum vulgare" (FVE) and caraway "Carum carvi" (CCE) on liver, kidney and reproductive organs in female rats against cadmium chloride (CC) intoxication.
Phytochemical analysis and biological activities of Hertia cheirifolia L. roots extracts
Majouli K, Hamdi A and Hlila MB
To test the antioxidant, antimicrobial and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the roots extracts from Hertia cheirifolia (H. cheirifolia) L.
Bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) activity of Streptococcus macedonicus MBF10-2 and its synergistic action in combination with antibiotics
Grazia SE, Sumayyah S, Haiti FS, Sahlan M, Heng NCK and Malik A
To characterize the bacteriocin-like inhibitory-substances (BLIS) activity of Streptococcus macedonicus MBF10-2 [named BLIS(MBF10-2)], a bacteriocinogenic strain isolated from an Indonesian tofu byproduct.
Polyphenolic content, in vitro antioxidant activity and chemical composition of extract from Nephelium lappaceum L. (Mexican rambutan) husk
Hernández C, Ascacio-Valdés J, De la Garza H, Wong-Paz J, Aguilar CN, Martínez-Ávila GC, Castro-López C and Aguilera-Carbó A
To determinate the recovery of total polyphenolic compounds content, in vitro antioxidant activity and HPLC/ESI/MS characterization of extract from Nephelium lappaceum L. (Mexican rambutan).
Influence of light intensity and water content of medium on total dendrobine of Dendrobium nobile Lindl
Li JL, Zhao Z, Liu HC, Luo CL and Wang HL
To ascertain the influence of light intensity and water content of medium on the total dendrobine of Dendrobium nobile (D. nobile).
An atypical case of disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania peruviana in the valleys of Ancash-Peru
Espinoza-Morales D, Lucchetti Rodríguez A, Silva-Caso W, Suarez-Ognio L, Pons MJ and Del Valle Mendoza J
We present an atypical case of disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Sihuas district, located in the Andean valleys of Ancash-Peru. A 62-year-old man with no particular medical history presented multiple lesions located on the inferior abdomen, lumbar region and the right anterior thigh. Histological analysis found leishmanial amastigotes in the lesion sample, the Montenegro reaction was positive for Leishmania spp, and the polymerase chain reaction was positive for Leishmania peruviana. In conclusion, the atypical presentation of this disease may be related to the presence of an uncommon parasite strain or host immune deficiencies. The molecular identification of the etiology for disseminated leishmaniasis, will allow a better understanding of the presentation and proper treatment, as well as associated risk factors.
Effect of taurine on immune function in mice with T-cell lymphoma during chemotherapy
Dong JF, Zheng XQ and Rui HB
To observe the effect of taurine on immune function in mice with T-cell lymphoma during chemotherapy.
Glypican-3-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced by human leucocyte antigen-A*0201-restricted peptide effectively kill hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro
Zeng JZ, Liu Y, Huang F, He ZH, Sun H, Lu YD, Lei JH and Luo RC
To investigate potential human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A2-restricted epitope peptides of glypican-3 (GPC3) and determine the cytotoxicity of peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.
Gender disparity in COVID-19: Role of sex steroid hormones
Lipsa A and Prabhu JS
The emerging pandemic of COVID-19 caused by the novel pathogenic human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused significant morbidity and mortality across the globe, prompting the scientific world to search for preventive measures to interrupt the disease process. Demographic data indicates gender-based differences in COVID-19 morbidity with better outcome amongst females. Disparity in sex-dependent morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients may be attributed to difference in levels of sex steroid hormones -androgens and estrogens. Evidence suggests that apart from the regulation of viral host factors, immunomodulatory and cardioprotective roles exerted by estrogen and progesterone may provide protection to females against COVID-19. Exploring the underlying mechanisms and beneficial effects of these hormones as an adjuvant to existing therapy may be a step towards improving the outcomes. This article aims to review studies demonstrating the role of sex steroidal hormones in modulating SARS-CoV-2 host factors and summarize plausible biological reasons for sex-based differences seen in COVID-19 mortality.