METHODS: In assessing the safety of DC resin methanol extract, acute and sub-acute oral toxicity tests performed following OECD guidelines 423 and 407, respectively, with slight modifications. In acute oral toxicity test, DC resin methanol extract administered to female Sprague Dawley rats by oral gavage at a single dose of 300 and 2000 mg/kg body weight. Rats observed for toxic signs for 14 days. In sub-acute oral toxicity test, DC resin methanol extract administered to the rats by oral gavage at 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg body weight daily up to 28 days to male and female Spradgue Dawley rats. The control and high dose in satellite groups were also maintained and handled as the previous groups to determine the late onset toxicity of DC resin methanol extract. At the end of each test, hematological and biochemical analysis of the collected blood were performed as well as gross and microscopic pathology.

RESULTS: In acute oral toxicity, no treatment-related death or toxic signs were observed. It revealed that the DC resin methanol extract could be well tolerated up to the dose 2000 mg/kg body weight and could be classified as Category 5. The sub-acute test observations indicated that there are no treatment-related changes up to the high dose level compared to the control. Food consumption, body weight, organ weight, hematological parameters, biochemical parameters and histopathological examination (liver, kidney, heart, spleen and lung) revealed no abnormalities. Water intake was significantly higher in the DC resin methanol extract treated groups compared to the control.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the cardiovascular effects of a butanolic fraction of Gynura procumbens in rats.

METHODS: Anaesthetized rats were given intravenous bolus injections of butanolic fraction at doses of 2.5-20 mg/kg in vivo. The effect of butanolic fraction on vascular reactivity was recorded in isolated rat aortic rings in vitro.

RESULTS: Intravenous administrations of butanolic fraction elicited significant (p < 0.001) and dose-dependent decreases in the mean arterial pressure. However, a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the heart rate was observed only at the higher doses (10 and 20 mg/kg). In isolated preparations of rat aortic rings, phenylephrine (1 × 10⁻⁶ M)- or potassium chloride (8 × 10⁻² M)-precontracted endothelium-intact and -denuded tissue; butanolic fraction (1 × 10⁻⁶ - 1 × 10⁻¹ g/ml) induced similar concentration-dependent relaxation of the vessels. In the presence of 2.5 × 10⁻³ and 5.0 × 10⁻³ g/ml butanolic fraction, the contractions induced by phenylephrine (1 × 10⁻⁹-3 × 10⁻⁵ M) and potassium chloride (1 × 10⁻² - 8 × 10⁻² M) were significantly antagonized. The calcium-induced vasocontractions (1 × 10⁻⁴-1 × 10⁻²M) were antagonized by butanolic fraction concentration-dependently in calcium-free and high potassium (6×10⁻² M) medium, as well as in calcium- and potassium-free medium containing 1×10⁻⁶ M phenylephrine. However, the contractions induced by noradrenaline (1 × 10⁻⁶ M) and caffeine (4.5 × 10⁻² M) were not affected by butanolic fraction.

METHODS: Derived from the randomized SPIRR-CAD trial, plasma leptin were measured by the Human Leptin DuoSet ELISA at baseline in 539 patients (including 115 (21.3 %) women and 424 (78.7 %) men) and in 373 participants after 18-months follow up (T3). RDM was based on the clinical course from baseline to follow-up assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). Multivariate binary logistic regression models identified predictors for heightened leptin at T3.

OBJECTIVES: To document the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the multiracial population of Malaysia, and to describe the clinical features and management of these patients.

SETTING: Busy city centre general hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, over a 1-month period.

SUBJECTS: One-thousand four hundred and thirty-five acute medical admissions, of whom 40 patients (2.8%) had AF.

RESULTS: Of 1435 acute medical admissions to Kuala Lumpur General Hospital over the 4-week study period, 40 had AF (21 male, 19 female; mean age 65 years). Of these, 18 were Malay, 16 Chinese and six Indian. Nineteen patients had previously known AF (seven with paroxysmal AF) and 21 were newly diagnosed cases. The principal associated medical conditions were ischaemic heart disease (42.5%), hypertension (40%) and heart failure (40%). Dyspnoea was the commonest presentation, whilst stroke was the cause of presentation in only two patients. Investigations were under-utilised, with chest X-ray and echocardiography in only 62.5% of patients and thyroid function checked in 15%. Only 16% of those with previously diagnosed AF were on warfarin, with a further three on aspirin. Anticoagulant therapy was started in 13.5% of patients previously not on warfarin, and aspirin in 8%. Records of contraindications to warfarin were unreliable, being identified in only 25%. For those with known AF, 58% were on digoxin. For new onset AF, digoxin was again the most common rate-limiting treatment, initiated in 38%, whilst five patients with new onset AF were commenced on amiodarone. DC cardioversion was not used in any of the patients with new onset AF.