BACKGROUND: The root of the plant Rosa rugosa has been reported to have an anti- hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effect in experimental animals. But its definite anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic substance has not yet been identified. In this study, we found the hydrolysable tannins of the hot water extract of the Rosa rugosa root had those effects, and named it as Rosanin. And its mode of actions were evaluated. METHODS: Three groups of streptozotocin-injected rats and two groups of buffer-injected control rats were given 10 mg/Kg/ml of Rosanin, or glibenclamide, or water by nasogastric tubes for three weeks. Blood sugar, insulin, triglyceride and GLUT4 mRNA levels were checked in the fasting state. Liver, kidney and pancreatic specimens were observed by light microscopy. RESULTS: All the water-treated, glibenclamide-treated and Rosanin-treated diabetic rats had significantly higher blood sugar levels compared to that of normal control rats (p< 0.001, p< 0.001 and p< 0.05, respectively); but Rosanin-treated diabetic rats had significantly lower blood sugar level compared to those of glibenclamide-treated and water-treated diabetic rats (p< 0.05 and p< 0.001, respectively). In the Northern blot analysis from the experimental rats' hind limb skeletal muscle RNA, all the diabetic rats showed variously decreased levels of GLUT4 mRNA compared to those of normal control rats. The water-treated diabetic group showed a 66% decline (p< 0.001); the glibenclamide-treated diabetic group led with a 2% decline; and the Rosanin-treated diabetic group revealed a 23% decline (p< 0.05). All three groups of diabetic rats had significantly lower insulin levels compared to that of normal control rats (p< 0.01), but glibenclamide-treated diabetic rats and Rosanin-treated diabetic rats had significantly higher insulin level compared to that of water-treated diabetic rats (p< 0.05, each). Furthermore, Rosanin treatment significantly decreased plasma blood triglyceride levels of streptozotocin-injected diabetic rats compared to water-treated and glibenclamide-treated, streptozotocin-injected diabetic rats (p< 0.05 and p< 0.01, respectively). The light microscopic observation of pancreatic specimens of the Rosanin-treated diabetic group showed more intact islet cells than the water-treated diabetic groups. Liver specimens of the Rosanin-treated diabetic group showed a normal appearance, but those of the water-treated diabetic groups showed severe spotty hepatic necrosis and many regenerating hepatic cells. CONCLUSION: Rosanin has an anti-hyperglycemic effect. This effect is due, in part, through the enhancement of the GLUT4 mRNA expression, the stimulation of insulin secretion in hyperglycemia, and through the preservation of pancreatic beta cells from the destructory damages of the streptozotocin. Further, it has anti-hypertriglyceridemic and hepatotoxicity-relieving effects in streptozotocin-injected diabetic animals. Abbreviations : Rosanin, the high molecular weight hydrolysable tannins of the hot water extract of the Rosa rugosa root; has an average molecular weight of about 830,000; it mainly consists of D-glucose units linked by the 1-->4 gulcoside bonds and phenolic acids, such as ellagic and gallic acid1).
Abbreviations ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Blotting, Northern ; Extremities ; Fasting ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative* ; Glucose* ; Glyburide ; Hepatocytes ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Insulin ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; Islets of Langerhans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Microscopy ; Molecular Weight ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Necrosis ; Phenol ; Plants ; Plasma ; Rats* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; Rosa* ; Streptozocin ; Tannins ; Triglycerides ; Water

PURPOSE: The trinucleotide repeat expansion in the 3' untanslated resion of the gene is known to be the cause of myotonic dystrophy which is one of most common neurodegenerative disorder manifested by myotonia, cataract, mental retardation and even respiratory distress in neonates. The hereditary pattern of myotonic dystrophy shows more severe symptoms and shows earlier onset with successive generations and congenital cases, the most severe form of myotonic dystrophy,. Occurs by maternal transmission. This genetic transmission mode does not follow Mendelian genetic trait. To find the molecular genetic abnormalities of Korean myotonic dystrophy patients, we investigated the general distribution of myotonic dystrophy alleles and compared the results with referred patients. METHODS: During an 8 month study, from June 1995 to February 1996, 5 patients were referred with presumed diagnosis of myotonicdystrophy. Among these patients, four cases were confirmed to have the disease by clinical and electrophysiological findings. We included family members of the studied probands and 50 normal blood donor DNAs were included as controls. The DNAs of the enrolled cases were evaluated by Southern blot. Subsequently, copy numbers of the repeats were determined using PCR amplification. RESULTS: (1) Two peaks were found in the distribution of trinucleotide repeats in the normal Korean population. One peak had 5 copies and the other had 11 to 13 copies. The highest number of copies was 27. (2) Of the referred cases, 4 pedigrees showed typical expanded repeats. (3) The minimum expanded copy number was 55 and we were able to detect the expanded band only by PCR in 2 cases. In other cases, expaded bands were visible by Southern blotting. (4) There were trend of earlier onset of the disease, progressive worsening symptoms and larger expanded bands with successive generations. CONCLUSION: We established the methodology for myotonic dystrophy DNA diagnosis using Southern blot and PCR amplification based on the normal Korean allele distribution. These methods might be useful in genetic counselling and detection of minimally affected myotonic dystrophy patients.
Alleles ; Blood Donors ; Blotting, Southern ; Cataract ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intellectual Disability ; Molecular Biology ; Myotonia ; Myotonic Dystrophy* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion* ; Trinucleotide Repeats*

OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical characteristics of proper robot-assisted gait training group using exoskeletal locomotor devices in non-ambulatory subacute stroke patients. METHODS: A total of 38 stroke patients were enrolled in a 4-week robotic training protocol (2 sessions/day, 5 times/week). All subjects were evaluated for their general characteristics, Functional Ambulatory Classification (FAC), Fugl-Meyer Scale (FMS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. Statistical analysis were performed to determine significant clinical characteristics for improvement of gait function after robot-assisted gait training. RESULTS: Paired t-test showed that all functional parameters except MMSE were improved significantly (p<0.05). The duration of disease and baseline BBS score were significantly (p<0.05) correlated with FAC score in multiple regression models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that a baseline BBS score of '9' was a cutoff value (AUC, 0.966; sensitivity, 91%-100%; specificity, 85%). By repeated-measures ANOVA, the differences in improved walking ability according to time were significant between group of patients who had baseline BBS score of '9' and those who did not have baseline BBS score of '9' CONCLUSION: Our results showed that a baseline BBS score above '9' and a short duration of disease were highly correlated with improved walking ability after robot-assisted gait training. Therefore, baseline BBS and duration of disease should be considered clinically for gaining walking ability in robot-assisted training group.
Classification ; Gait Disorders, Neurologic ; Gait* ; Humans ; Physical Therapy Modalities ; Rehabilitation ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke* ; Walking

The study is a pioneering effort to determine the mineral, nutritional, and phytochemical composition and phenolic content and to determine the free radical scavenging activity of Gigantochloa levis (Blanco) Merr, a native bamboo species (locally known as "bolo") in the Philippines. Proximate analysis showed that air-dried G. levis leaves contain 15.8% ash, 22.6% crude protein, 1.2% crude fat, 29.3% crude fiber, and 19.7% total sugar. Phytochemical tests indicated the presence of diterpenes, triterpenes, saponins, phenols, tannins, and flavonoids in both the ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts, while phytosterols were only detected in the ethanolic extract. Folin-Ciocalteu assay determined the total phenolic content in gallic acid equivalents (GAE) to be 85.86 ± 3.71 and 32.32 ± 1.01 mg GAE/100 g dried sample for the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. The total phenolic content in quercetin equivalents (QE) was 74.44 ± 3.11 and 29.43 ± 0.85 mg QE/100g dried sample for the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. The radical scavenging activity of the different solvent fractions containing varying concentrations of the extract was determined using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The ethyl acetate and 1-butanol fractions were found to have the highest radical scavenging activity. Mineral analysis via Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) of the ash of G. levis leaves showed that Si is the major component, followed by K and Mg. These results point to the potential of G. levis leaves as a source of minerals and bioactive compounds with medicinal value.
1-Butanol ; Diterpenes ; Ethanol ; Flavonoids ; Gallic Acid ; Minerals ; Phenol* ; Phenols ; Philippines ; Phytosterols ; Quercetin ; Saponins ; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission ; Tannins ; Triterpenes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical features that could serve as predictive factors for improvement in gait speed after robotic treatment. METHODS: A total of 29 patients with motor incomplete spinal cord injury received 4-week robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) on the Lokomat (Hocoma AG, Volketswil, Switzerland) for 30 minutes, once a day, 5 times a week, for a total of 20 sessions. All subjects were evaluated for general characteristics, the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), the Lower Extremity Motor Score (LEMS), the Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC), the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury version II (WISCI-II), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Spinal Cord Independence Measure version III (SCIM-III) every 0, and 4 weeks. After all the interventions, subjects were stratified using the 10MWT score at 4 weeks into improved group and non-improved group for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The improved group had younger age and shorter disease duration than the non-improved group. All subjects with the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale level C (AIS-C) tetraplegia belonged to the non-improved group, while most subjects with AIS-C paraplegia, AIS-D tetraplegia, and AIS-D paraplegia belonged to the improved group. The improved group showed greater baseline lower extremity strength, balance, and daily living function than the non-improved group. CONCLUSION: Assessment of SCIM-III, BBS, and trunk control, in addition to LEMS, have potential for predicting the effects of robotic treatment in patients with motor incomplete spinal cord injury.
Gait* ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Lower Extremity ; Paraplegia ; Quadriplegia ; Rehabilitation ; Robotics ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord* ; Spinal Injuries ; Walking