Alloxan (2, 4, 5, 6-tetraoxypyrimidine; 2, 4, 5, 6-pyrimidinetetrone) is a toxic glucose analogue, which selectively destroys insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells and causes a non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), when administered to animal species. In this study, the protective effects of Rubus ellipticus fruit on glucose tolerance test and an alloxan induced diabetes were evaluated. An effort was also made to investigate the acute toxicity (LD50) of the extracts and the qualitative presence of phytoconstituents in the extracts. Male wistar albino rats of either sex (weighing 150-200 g) were studies for glucose tolerance test and alloxan induced diabetes. Pet.ether, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Rubus ellipticus fruit were selected for anti-diabetic activity. Blood glucose levels were estimated at different time intervals on 1st, 4th, 7th and 15th day of the treatment with Rubus ellipticus extracts and glibenclamide. These levels were compared with these of the diabetic control group. Phytochemical analysis of Rubus ellipticus fruit revealed the presence of flavonoids, carbohydrates, steroids, tannins and phenolic compounds. In acute toxicity study, no toxic neurological and behavioral symptoms were observed for the titled plant extracts up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg. All the extracts of Rubus ellipticus fruit exhibited significant anti-diabetic effect in both the experimental models of diabetes mellitus. The results justified the traditional use of fruits in the treatment of diabetes.

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Munchausen syndrome is a psychiatric disorder, characterized by intentional self-induction of a disease or injury, feigned or aggravated symptoms meant to attract or increase attention and medical care as that of an ill patient. Certain clinical presentation imposes multiple, costly, occasionally invasive diagnostic procedures, as well as receiving needless conservative or even surgical treatment. By their own actions and exposure to unnecessary medical procedures, the patients with Munchausen syndrome expose themselves to a great risk of serious unintended complications, permanent disability or death. We present a clinical case of a patient with brittle course of type 1 diabetes. Frequent hypoglycemic episodes required multiple hospital admissions. Recurrent hypoglycemias were registered two weeks after discontinuing insulin therapy. The patient was well educated about her disease and denied to have injected herself. No insulin injection device was found despite active search, leading to a variety of supplementary medical investigations. Finally, a hidden insulin pen was found. Although not that rare, the diagnosis of Munchausen Syndrome is a difficult one especially when evaluating "credible" patients with no physical marks that may lead to a suspicion of the syndrome. They require careful consideration by the medical staff in order to find the causes/motivation in these patients, which would respectively give better chances for appropriate actions.

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Diabetes is attaining epidemic proportions across the world. The most prevalent treatment strategy for diabetes focuses on the control of postprandial blood glucose which is found to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, insulin delivery routes have undergone a radical change. The subcutaneous route may not necessarily succeed in providing satisfactory postprandial hyperglycemic management. The ultimate goal of exogenous insulin regimen in diabetics is to closely and correctly imitate the physiological profile observed in non-diabetics. Over the last decade, many routes including pulmonary, nasal, rectal, transdermal, buccal and ocular have been studied for insulin delivery to achieve the therapeutic insulin levels using non-invasive drug delivery systems. Recently the buccal route has been evaluated for safe, simple, fast and flexible insulin delivery. The objective of this review is to provide an update on various promising approaches that have been explored for buccal delivery of insulin. The buccal insulin spray has provided an alternative form of insulin to the patient as well as to the physician.

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The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the aqueous extract of Urtica dioica (UD) on glycemic status, body weight and lipidemic status in type 2 diabetic model rats. The mature and fresh leaves of UD were collected from the mountain range of Assam, in India. Type 2 diabetes was induced in 48 hour old male Long Evans pups by a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection of Streptozotocin (STZ). Experiments for chronic effects were done with continuous feeding of aqueous extract for 28 days at a dose of 1.25 g/kg body weight, in type 2 diabetic male rats. Serum glucose was estimated by GOD- POD method. Serum triglycerides and cholesterol were measured by enzymatic-colorimetric method. The aqueous extract showed significant effect on lowering of fasting serum glucose levels on the 28th day (13.7 ±2.6 mmol/l in control vs 7.1 ± 1.0 mmol/l in the treated group, p = 0.01). Body weights was increased in both the groups, after 28 days, although there was significant decrease in the body weight of the treated group in comparison to the control group (175 ± 8 g in control vs in 168 ± 9 g in the treated group on 0 day, p = ns; 193 ± 26 g in control vs in 180 ± 25 g in the treated group on the 28th day, p=0.002). Beneficial effects were observed on the lipids; cholesterol levels were significantly lowered in the extract treated group, after 28 days, in comparison with the 0 day value of the same group (p<0.05). Triglyceride and LDL values were lower in extract treated group, although the values were not statistically significant. The results obtained in this study suggest that UD has anti- hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic activity in type 2 diabetic model rats.

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Recent reports have suggested the possible beneficial role of 3-hydroxy-3 methyl glutaryl Coenzyme-A (HMGCo-A) reductase inhibitors (Statins) in the management of osteoporosis. The aim of this work was to study the effect of statins; simvastatin and pravastatin, on bone mineral density (BMD) of dyslipidemic postmenopausal females with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) having osteoporosis. Thirty postmenopausal dyslipidemic type 2 diabetes females with no history of any disease or drug that can affect bone metabolism, were included in this study and classified into 2 groups. Group I received simvastatin 40 mg daily and group II received pravastatin 40mg daily, both for 6 months. Both, serum osteocalcin (a marker of bone formation) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) (a marker of bone resorption) were measured. Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to assess BMD at 2 sites; the forearm (peripheral site) and the second & third lumbar vertebrae (axial site). Serum levels of osteocalcin and the BMD revealed significant increase and the urinary levels of DPD revealed significant decrease after 6 months of simvastatin therapy in group I, with mild change in the same parameters in group II, after 6 months of pravastatin administration. Yet these differences did not reach statistical significance. Our results confirmed the beneficial role of simvastatin in type 2 diabetes women with osteoporosis. However, further studies are needed to recognize the best effective dose as well as the possibility of using statins in combination with other currently used drugs in the treatment of osteoporosis.

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