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Stroke is the most significant cause of disability worldwide. Despite mounting data supporting memory deficit after stroke, dysfunction and treatment effect mechanisms remain unknown. Phenolics can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. There is, however, a scarcity of research on the therapeutic potential of the phenolics fraction of Tetrapleura tetraptera (PTT) fruit against ischemic stroke-induced abnormalities in hippocampal tissue. The rats were divided into five groups: Group I, vehicle; group II, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)+vehicle; group III, I/R+50 mg/kg minocycline (MNC); group IV, I/R+100 mg/kg PTT; and group V, I/R+200 mg/kg PTT. Ischemia was induced via bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion. PTT and MNC were intraorally administered daily for 7 days. Neurodegenerative changes, cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) pyramidal cell count, levels of oxidative stress indicators, and memory functions were assessed. Rats treated with PTT, as well as MNC compared to untreated I/R rats, showed a substantial ( P <0.05) rise in catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione levels, as well as decreased lipid peroxidation and improved memory. I/R resulted in histoarchitectural distortions, a marked decrease ( P <0.05) in the intensity of the Nissl substance, and a striking decrease ( P <0.05) in the number of pyramidal cells in the CA1 and CA3. PTT and MNC-treated groups showed significant attenuation in all the above parameters. Taking together, these findings revealed that PTT attenuated oxidative stress, histologic alterations and substantially restored memory impairment in the I/R rat model.

Abstract: The burden of avoidable blindness from corneal disease is significantly higher where access to specialist eye care, the cost of treatment and the treatment infrastructure including eye banking, are beyond the reach of the impoverished masses. Corneal transplantation in children is challenging: it is more technically complex; patients often require multiple examinations under general anaesthesia to optimize treatment outcomes. There is also the increased risk of several complications including graft dehiscence, infection, rejection, and inappropriate patient or caregiver care. However, when successful, it restores vision. We present a report of our initial experience with penetrating keratoplasty in 2 children with blinding corneal disease in Uyo, Nigeria. Corneal transplantation history was retrieved and data (including data on age, sex, aetiology of corneal disease, indications for corneal transplantation, pre-operative and post-operative visual acuity and intraocular pressure measurements) was extracted for this report. Both patients had standard penetrating keratoplasty performed by one surgeon, under general anaesthesia. Case one was a 10-year-old male presenting with profound visual impairment from congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy. His best corrected post-operative visual acuity was 6/24. Case two was a 3-year-old male with vision loss due to a corneal leucoma following treated herpes simplex keratitis. Post-operatively, his best corrected visual acuity improved to 6/12. Corneal graft tissue remained clear at more than 3 years of follow-up. Although amblyopia was a notable co-morbidity, corneal transplantation significantly improved their vision. Corneal banking services are advocated for in resource-limited settings where the magnitude of corneal blindness is greatest., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice.)

Type 2 diabetes occurs as a result of insulin resistance and dysfunction in insulin signaling. Controlling hyperglycemia and activation of insulin signaling are important in the management of type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of genistein and Momordica charantia L. fruit (MCF) on oxidative stress, markers of inflammation, and their role in proglucagon and insulin receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) expression by real-time PCR in diabetic rats. Thirty-five albino rats were divided into 7 groups ( n  = 5). Group I (non-diabetic) and group II (diabetic control) were treated with distilled water, and groups III and IV received 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg lyophilized MCF, respectively. Groups V and VI received 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg genistein, respectively, while group VII received 500 mg/kg metformin. The administration lasted for 28 days. MCF and genistein significantly reduced interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels, which were elevated in the serum of diabetic rats. Treatment with MCF and genistein significantly increased the expression of proglucagon mRNA in the small intestine and insulin receptor mRNA in the liver of diabetic rats. In conclusion, MCF and genistein ameliorate type 2 diabetes complications by preventing the loss of insulin-positive cells, inhibiting IL-1β and TNF-α, and upregulating proglucagon and insulin receptor mRNA expression. Novelty: MCF and genistein have an inhibitory effect on diabetic induced IL-1β and TNF-α production. MCF and genistein upregulate proglucagon and insulin receptor mRNA expression.

Purpose: The present study was aimed at evaluating the role of Momordica charantia L. fruit and Genistein on beta cell, insulin resistance/sensitivity and lipid profile in type 2 diabetic rats., Methods: Thirty-five (35) albino rats were divided into seven (7) groups of 5 rats each comprising of five (5) non-diabetic and thirty (30) diabetic rats. Groups 1 and 2 served as the normal control and diabetic control groups respectively and received distill water, groups 3 and 4 received Mormodica charantia L. at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg respectively . Groups 5 and 6 received Genistein at 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg respectively while group 7 received Metformin at 500 mg/kg the experiment lasted for four weeks. All the rats were euthanized at the end of the fourth week., Results: Lipid profile, glucose and insulin levels were determined from the analysis of serum parameters and the histology of the pancreas. A significant reduction ( p  < 0.05) in blood glucose levels was noticed in rats that received Momordica charantia L. (MC) and genistein when compared with diabetic control rats. A significant decrease ( p  < 0.05) in cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels were also noted in rats that received MC and Genistein when compared with the diabetic control rats. MC and Genistein significantly increased ( P  < 0.05) serum insulin level compared to the diabetic control rats. MC and Genistein significantly decreased ( p  < 0.05) homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) level compared with the diabetic control group. Pancreas of rats that received MC and Genistein showed regenerating beta-cells., Conclusion: Momordica charantia L. fruit and Genistein were able to enhance beta cell function and prevent lipid accumulation and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in the publication, (© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.)