1 The Effects of Cymbopogon Citratus (Lemon grass) on the Blood Sugar Level, Lipid Profiles and Hormonal Profiles of Wistar Albino Rats, Adegbegi J. Ademuyiwa, Ogunyemi Y. Olamide and Oyebiyi O. Oluwatosin
The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of extracts of Cymbopogon citrates on the blood sugar level, lipid profiles and hormonal profiles of normal rats. Oral administration of ethanolic and aqueous extract of C. citrates at a doses of 200 mg/kg body weight, for a period of 30 days, caused a significant (p0.05) higher for all treated rats as compared against control. Findings in this study showed that this plant has citrates emic properties and did not exert oxidative damage to the heart and the various hormonal profiles as well as its relative safety and possible use for weight gain. Keywords: Blood glucose, Cymbopogon citrates, Hypoglycaemic, Medicinal plants, Oxidative damage
2 The use of 5-FU pharmacogenomics from paraffin blocks in patients with breast cancer receiving fluorouracil therapy, Libor Stanek, Vocka Michal, Musil Zdenek, Petruzelka Lubos, Jedkova Petra, Kohoutova Milada, Springer Drahomíra and Assoc. Prof. Tesarova Petra
The pyrimidine analog 5-fuorouracil (5-FU) is a cytostatic drug that is widely used for the treatment of many solid carcinomas including breast cancer. More than 80 – 85% of administered 5-FU is quickly metabolized in the liver through a series of metabolic steps involving an enzyme dihydropirimidine dehydrogenase (DPD). Patients with low DPD activity (approximately 2-4% of population) cannot effectively inactivate 5-FU which leads to high and sometimes even lethal toxicity. DPD is encoded by the DPYD gene. The mutant allele DPYD*2a is caused by a congenital mutation in the splicing sequence of intron 14 (IVS14+1G>A) of the DPYD gene. Patients with the IVS14+1G>A mutation produce a non-functional enzyme DPD and, when treated with 5-FU, toxic metabolites are accumulated in their bodies and it may lead to severe toxic reactions. Detection of the IVS14+1G>A mutation should be considered the important factor of toxicity prediction prior to the beginnig of 5-FU therapy. In our study the IVS14+1G>A mutation was detected using the certified kit PGX-5FU StripAssay (ViennaLab Diagnostics), which combines in vitro PCR and reversible hybridization. DNA was isolatated from paraffin blocks, not from blood, which accelerated the whole process of diagnostic analysis. 40 female patients with histologically verified breast cancer (Grade I.-III.), who were treated in the Department of Oncology, (First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and General University Hospital in Prague), participated in this pilot study. DPYD genotyping was performed in all patients. One patient was a carrier of the IVS14+1G>A mutation in a heterozygous state and no patient was a carrier of homozygous mutation. On the basis of molecular analysis and symptom-atology the heterozygous patient received only a minimum effective dose of 5-FU. Keywords: 5-Fluorouracil, Breast carcinoma, DPYD, FFPET, Pharmacogenomics, Toxicity
3 The effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and static stretching techniques on jumping performance and flexibility in non-athletic individuals , Asisst. Prof. Saltan Asuman, PT, PhD, Asisst. Prof. Tütün Yümin, Eylem, PT, PhD and Assoc. Prof. Bakar Ye?im, PT, PhD
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of chronic period static and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching techniques on flexibility and jumping performance in non-athletic individuals. Randomized trial, two groups PNF (n=45) and Static stretching (n=51). Range of Motion (RoM) values were taken before and after the program to test the vertical and long jump performance and the flexibility of individuals. A standing long jump (also referred to as a broad jump) and vertical jump test were used to measure the power in lower extremities. All subjects completed one of the two stretching protocols. A significant difference was found between the values of pre and post-stretching long board and vertical jumps in the static and PNF stretching group (p=0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between long board (p=0.740) and vertical jumping values (p=0.328) (the post stretching scores minus the pre stretching scores). The results suggest that jumping performances and flexibilities of individuals may be increased as a consequence of regularly and continually performed static and PNF stretching exercises. The study presents different training pogramme to literatüre. Keywords: Long Board Jump, Muscle Stretch Exercises, Range of Motion, Vertical Jump
4 NGAL, IL-18, and KIM-1 in urine for early assessment of the risk of developing acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, Julieta Hristova, Antoaneta Dimitrova, Georgi Tsaryanski, Kamen Tzatchev and Gencho Nachev
Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL), Kidney Injury Molecule 1 (KIM-1), and interleukin 18 (IL-18) in urine are sensitive quantitative markers for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI). The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the role of uNGAL, uKIM-1, and uIL-18 for early assessment of renal function. Measurement of structural markers during the first hour’s afterextracorporeal circulation (ECC) in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) allows detection of AKI much earlier than measurement of serum creatinine (48 hours following surgery). Early diagnosis and risk stratification of developing AKI are critical for adequate therapy. Results were presented as ratios to creatinine in urine allowing better comparability and reliability for variations of instant samples were compensated. Results of thereceiver-operator-characteristic curve (ROC) analysis of uNGAL/uCreat, uKIM-1/uCreat, anduIL-18/uCreat 2 – 6 hours post-ECC demonstrated highest area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for uKIM-1/uCreat- 0.85 (95% CI 0.75 – 0.95, p
5 Co-Administration of Tamoxifen and Letrozole: Does it Increase Endometrial Thickness and Pregnancy Rate in Cases of Ovulation Induction? , Dr. Nisreen Khaled Aref MD  
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of co-administration of tamoxifen and letrozole as a novel protocol to increase pregnancy rates in ovulation induction. A trial conducted among 171 infertile women who were eligible for ovulation induction. Women randomized into two groups. Group A given letrozole 2.5 mg tablet daily and tamoxifen 10 mg twice daily started from the 3rd day of menstrual cycle for 5 days while for patients in group B letrozole only used. When at least one dominant follicle found, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin injection administrated intramuscularly. After 24 hours of the timed intercourse, all patients received vaginal progesterone daily. The mean number of mature follicles ≥ 18 mm was significantly higher in group A (2.6 ± 0.3 ) when compared to group B (1.5 ± 0.7 ) .Endometrial thickness was higher in group A (8.9 ± 1.4 mm versus 7.3 ± 1.2 mm in group B). As regarding pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate (21 and 19 % respectively) in-group A while (8 and 7 % respectively) in group B. Co-administration of tamoxifen with letrozole has valuable effect on increasing endometrial thickness resulted in increased pregnancy rates. Keywords: Endometrial Thickness, Letrozole, Ovulation Induction, Tamoxifen