Amylase Research Articles

Association between serum amylase levels and CD4 cell counts in newly diagnosed people living with HIV: A case-control study.

Serum amylase is a direct reflection of pancreatic injury. Several clinical studies have indicated that antiretroviral therapy may be the main cause of increased serum amylase in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). However, other probable causes including direct human immunodeficiency virus infection, opportunistic infections and neoplasms, alcohol abuse, and use of illicit drugs, which can also affect pancreatic amylase levels were not considered in these studies. In our study, we collected clinical data from newly diagnosed PLWH who had not received antiretroviral therapy, and examined the association between serum amylase levels and CD4 cell counts. Between November 2018 and September 2021, a total of 344 newly diagnosed PLWH and 344 healthy controls were recruited at Ningbo Yinzhou No 2 Hospital. Serum amylase levels, CD4 cell counts and other clinical features were measured. Relationships between serum amylase levels and clinical parameters were evaluated using correlation analysis. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors. Newly diagnosed PLWH had lower CD4 cell counts and higher serum amylase levels than healthy controls (P < .05). Serum amylase levels were negatively correlated with CD4 cell counts (r = -0.506, P < .001). In multiple linear regression analyses, CD4 cell counts (β = -0.327, 95% confidence interval = -0.051--0.022, P < .001) were independently associated with serum amylase levels. CD4 cell counts were independently associated with serum amylase levels in newly diagnosed PLWH. Thus, close monitoring of serum amylase may be significant in preventing opportunistic infections of PLWH, since low CD4 cell counts are associated with an increased risk of opportunistic infections.

A comparative evaluation of resting state proxies of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity in adolescent major depression.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction, characterized by decreased parasympathetic (PNS) and increased sympathetic (SNS) activity. Although findings on reduced PNS activity in adult MDD have been replicated in adolescents, comprehensive studies assessing PNS and SNS proxies in underage patients with MDD are scarce. Proxies of resting PNS (heart rate variability (HRV) and SNS activity (skin conductance response [SCR] and salivary alpha amylase [sAA], as well as mixed activity (heart rate [HR]) were collected in adolescents with MDD (n = 29) and non-depressed controls (n = 29). Primary analyses addressed differences between groups and correlations with depression severity. Patients with MDD showed significantly decreased HRV (g = -0.87; 95% CI [-1.39; -0.35]) and increased HR (g = 0.66; 95% CI [0.14; 1.18]). Proxies of pure SNS activity showed no significant differences between groups. HR (positive) and HRV (negative) were significantly correlated with self- and clinician-rated depression severity. Alterations of ANS activity are evident in adolescent MDD, but characterized by decreased PNS activity only. We found no evidence for altered SNS activity. Findings suggest that ANS dysfunction early in the course of MDD might be predominantly driven by decreased PNS activity.

Ultra-brief training in cognitive reappraisal or mindfulness reduces anxiety and improves motor performance efficiency under stress

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives We examined the effects of ultra-brief training in mindfulness and cognitive reappraisal on affective response and performance under stress. We hypothesized that one or both types of training would decrease affective responding and improve performance, and that these effects might be moderated by acute stress induction. Design We manipulated training (mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, control) between subjects and level of stress (low, high) within subjects in a 3 × 2 mixed factorial design. Method: Participants (N = 112, ages 18–35) completed two sessions on different days. In each session, they received mindfulness or cognitive reappraisal training or listened to a control script prior to a low- or high-stress simulated hostage situation. We measured motor performance efficiency (proportion of shots that hit hostile and hostage targets), affective responding (self-reported anxiety, salivary cortisol and alpha amylase, and autonomic physiology), and physical activity. Results Compared to control instructions, ultra-brief training in cognitive reappraisal or mindfulness reduced subjective anxiety and increased performance efficiency. There were few effects of training on other measures. Conclusion Ultra-brief training in cognitive reappraisal or mindfulness prior to a stressful task may be both helpful and harmful; effects are preliminary and subject to boundary conditions.

Search for the reference intervals of total and pancreatic Amilase activity in horses

This article presents the results of statistical processing of a data array based on the results of a study of two biochemical parameters - total and pancreatic amylase. The relevance of this study lies in the fact that a test system for determining the activity of pancreatic amylase in animals has been developed and introduced into clinical practice relatively recently. In this regard, there are no data in the literature on reference intervals for this indicator in horses. First, each sample was evaluated for normal distribution. After that, statistical outliers were removed from each dataset using Tukey's method. The 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles were then calculated in the remaining data set. Their values were the boundaries of the reference intervals. Based on the results of the studies, normative limits were set for total amylase - from 13.5 to 135.0 IU / l and pancreatic amylase - from 8.5 to 40.2 IU / l. The indicator of pancreatic amylase activity is a rare biochemical marker, especially in horses, so the results of the studies carried out in this article can be used as reference material in the formation of forms of biochemical results, as well as in the detection of cases of pathological processes in the pancreas.

Alpha amylase inhibitor as an Anti-diabetic potential from medicinal plants: A Review

Alpha amylases cleave the starch like molecules and led to increase in blood sugar level in diabetic patients then in order to manage it the inhibition action is carried out by their inhibitors. The α-amylase inhibitors catalyses the process of endo-hydrolysis of α (1→ 4) glycosidic linkage present in starch which ultimately led to decrease in the starch hydrolysis process. It also affects the carbohydrate absorption in the intestine. In 1945, the first alpha amylase inhibitor was reported from beans. It has already been isolated from various plant species namely, Hibiscus sabdariffa.L, Geranium pratense L and Cedrus libani A. Rich with inhibition percentage of 100, 43 and 31 respectively. The studies have already been reported on inhibitors and their interactions with human pancreatic alpha amylases are made .In-vitro and in vivo tests has already been done by various researchers which showed a significant drop in blood sugar level of a normoglycemic mice after an extract from the leaves of Bersama abbyssinica was tested for its potential effect as anti-diabetic.

Effects of Carbohydrase Supplementation on Growth Performance, Intestinal Digestive Enzymes and Flora, Glucose Metabolism Enzymes, and glut2 Gene Expression of Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × E. lanceolatus♂) Fed Different CHO/L Ratio Diets.

An optimal carbohydrate-to-lipid (CHO: L) ratio facilitates fish growth and protein conservation, and carbohydrase promotes nutrient absorption. Therefore, an 8-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of carbohydrase supplementation on growth performance, intestinal digestive enzymes and flora, glucose metabolism enzymes and glut2 gene expression in juvenile hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀× Epinephelus lanceolatus♂) fed different CHO: L ratios diets. L, M, and H represent CHO:L ratios of 0.91, 1.92 and 3.91, respectively. LE, ME, and HE represent CHO:L ratios of 0.91, 1.92, 3.91, respectively, supplemented with the same ratio of carbohydrase. Results showed that weight gain rate (WGR) and specific growth rate (SGR) reached a maximum in group M and were significantly enhanced by carbohydrase (p < 0.05). Crude lipid content decreased significantly with an increase in the dietary CHO:L ratio (p < 0.05). Significant increases in the trypsin (TRY) and amylase (AMS) activities and significant decreases in the lipase (LPS) activity were observed with increasing dietary CHO:L ratio, and the former two were significantly promoted by carbohydrase (p < 0.05). The content of liver and muscle glycogen increased significantly with the increasing dietary CHO:L ratio but decreased significantly after carbohydrase supplementation (p < 0.05). The glucokinase (GK), pyruvate kinase (PK), Phosphate 6 fructokinase-1 (PFK-1) and phosphoenolpyruvate kinase (PEPCK) activities increased significantly with increasing dietary CHO:L ratio (p < 0.05). Glut2 mRNA expression decreased significantly in liver and increased significantly in intestine with increasing dietary CHO:L ratio (p < 0.05). By linear discriminant analysis (LDA), the abundance of Alistipe was significantly higher in Group ME than in Group M. These results suggested that hybrid grouper can only moderately utilize dietary carbohydrate and lipid in diet, and a certain amount of high glycemic lipids occurred when fed with high-carbohydrate diets. By the weight gain for basis, the supplementation of carbohydrase in Group H with amylase, glycosylase, and pullulanase in a 1:1:1 ratio effectively lowered glycemic lipids, promoted the growth of grouper, digestive enzymes activities and carbohydrate metabolic enzyme, and glut2 gene expression in intestine, effectively balancing the negative effects of high-carbohydrate diet and improving the utilization of carbohydrate.

Comparing and contrasting different herbal products intended for the management of obesity approved in the Palestinian markets

BackgroundThe use of conventional medical therapies has proven to have many setbacks and safety concerns that need further improvement. However, herbal medicine has been used for over 2000 years, and many studies have proven the use of herbs to be effective and safe. This article discussed the efficacy of different herbal products used in the management of obesity. To evaluate the efficacy of seven herbal-based weight loss products currently available on the Palestinian market, using in vitro assays to screen for antioxidants, anti-amylase, and anti-lipase effects for each product.MethodPancreatic lipase and salivary amylase inhibitory activities, as well as antioxidant analysis, were tested in vitro on a variety of herbal products. Then the IC50 was measured for each test.ResultsThe anti-lipase assay results, IC50 values in (μg/mL) of each of the seven products (Product A, product B, product C, product D, product E, product F, and product G) were 114.78, 532.1, 60.18, 53.33, 244.9, 38.9, and 48.97, respectively. The IC50 value for orlistat (Reference) was 12.3 μg/ml. On the other hand, the IC50 value for alpha amylase inhibition of the seven products (Product A, product B, product C, product D, product E, product F, and product F) were 345.93, 13,803.84 (Inactive), 73.79, 130.91, 165.95, 28.18, and 33.11 μg/ml respectively, while acarbose (Reference) was 23.38 μg/ml. The antioxidant activity (IC50 values) for the seven products (Product A, product B, product C, product D, product E, product F, and product F) were 1258.92, 707.94, 79.43, 186.20, 164.81, 17.53, and 10.47 μg/ml respectively. While the IC50 value for Trolox was 2.70 μg/ml.ConclusionIt can be concluded that the seven products showed varied anti-lipase, anti-amylase, and antioxidant effects. However, products F and G showed superiority in all categories.

Candidate Biological Markers for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common psychiatric condition associated with a high risk of psychiatric comorbidity and impaired social/occupational functioning when not promptly treated. The identification of biological markers may facilitate the diagnostic process, leading to an early and proper treatment. Our aim was to systematically review the available literature about potential biomarkers for SAD. A search in the main online repositories (PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, PsychInfo, etc.) was performed. Of the 662 records screened, 61 were included. Results concerning cortisol, neuropeptides and inflammatory/immunological/neurotrophic markers remain inconsistent. Preliminary evidence emerged about the role of chromosome 16 and the endomannosidase gene, as well as of epigenetic factors, in increasing vulnerability to SAD. Neuroimaging findings revealed an altered connectivity of different cerebral areas in SAD patients and amygdala activation under social threat. Some parameters such as salivary alpha amylase levels, changes in antioxidant defenses, increased gaze avoidance and QT dispersion seem to be associated with SAD and may represent promising biomarkers of this condition. However, the preliminary positive correlations have been poorly replicated. Further studies on larger samples and investigating the same biomarkers are needed to identify more specific biological markers for SAD.

Study on the Resolving Phlegm Effect of D-Limonene in Mice with Spleen Deficiency and Phlegm-Dampness Syndrome

Objective: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, spleen deficiency and phlegm-dampness syndrome (SDPDS) are caused by abnormal water metabolism in the body because of spleen dysfunction. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the efficacy of D-limonene (DL) in resolving phlegm in mice with SDPDS from the perspective of regulating the level of aquaporin 3 (AQP3). Methods: The model of SDPDS was induced in mice using the multifactor modeling method, which combines internal and external dampness. An artificial climate box was used to create a humid environment, whereas the irregular diet was caused by different feeding methods on odd-even days. The mice were divided into blank control, model group, DL low-dose, DL high-dose, and positive groups. The mice were modeled and treated for 7 day. Levels of gastrin and amylase (AMS) in the serum, mucus secretion in the trachea, and AQP3 in the tissue near the gastric cardia. Results: DL significantly reduced mucus secretion in the trachea (P &lt; 0.001). It also increased the level of AMS in the serum (P &lt; 0.01) and decreased the level of AQP3 in the gastric tissue (P &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: Mice with SDPDS exhibited disturbed water metabolism and significantly increased AQP3 levels. DL can restore the levels of AQP3 and plays an important role in resolving phlegm. This study may also help expand the efficacy of natural drugs containing DL and improve the utilization of natural drug resources.

ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА КОНЦЕНТРАЦІЙ АМІЛАЗИ У ГРУП ДОНОРІВ ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД ТИТРІВ АНТИ-SARS-CoV-2 IgG У ПЛАЗМІ КРОВІ

COVID-19 is a disease of the respiratory system; however, some patients experience multiorgan complications, including those of the digestive system. Many studies have focused on liver, bile duct and stomach dysfunctions during the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Currently, it is known that COVID-19 leads to changes in amylase concentration in the blood, which may be a prognostic factor for pancreatic damage; however, information regarding these clinical cases is limited. Our study aimed to determine the potential changes in total amylase, pancreatic amylase and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the blood of the donor groups with different titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG. Donor groups with titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG 10 ± 3 and 95 ± 5 Index (S/C) were characterized by an increase in total and pancreatic amylase concentrations compared to the donor group with titer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG 0 Index (S/C). We assumed that multiorgan dysfunction developed through the acute inflammatory reactions caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection. In particular, this may lead to pancreatic complications. To confirm this, we analyzed the CRP concentration in the donor group with the changes in amylase concentration compared to the donor group with titer 0 Index (S/C). The results obtained may be useful in medical practice for diagnosing complications in the post-COVID-19 period and for preventing the development of pancreatic dysfunction during the development of an algorithm for the treatment of COVID-19.

In Vitro Evaluation of Alpha-amylase Inhibition, Antioxidant Potential and Phytochemical Analysis of Acacia Modesta

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, which affects insulin secretion. Among several approaches to treat diabetes, controlling postprandial hyperglycemia is an effective way to manage diabetes type II. In this regard, medicinal plants are considered the best source of new chemical entities with fewer side effects. This study aims to evaluate the alpha-amylase inhibitory potential of Acacia modesta ethanol and aqueous extracts in correlation with its antioxidant potential and develop an anti-diabatic drug against the alpha-amylase enzyme that can control the post-prandial hyperglycemia. We used the starch-iodine color change method for α-amylase, a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay for determining the antioxidant potential and determined different phytochemicals, including phenols, flavonoids, and tannins by spectrophotometry. The results indicated that the gum of A. modesta possesses potent α-amylase inhibitory potential with IC 50 values of 100.4 ± 0.04 µg/mL in ethanol and 91.8 ± 0.05 µg/mL in the aqueous extract, which was approximately 3-folds higher compared to standard acarbose (286.8 ± 0.04 µM). The antioxidant activity was also higher in gum compared to any other part. As for phytochemical analysis, this plant possesses higher amounts of tannins and phenols, while flavonoids are in lesser amounts. The gum of A. modesta shows a dual mode of action, i.e., antioxidant and amylase inhibitor, which makes it a better candidate for diabetes management. The novelty is that, to our knowledge, this study is the first to report the anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties of A. modesta using pancreatic amylase as a drug target from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Keywords: Acacia modesta , alpha-amylase, flavonoids, tannins, antioxidant. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.50.2.30

Salivary biomarkers and burning mouth syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature

Introduction: Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is defined by a burning sensation or intraoral dysesthesia without obvious causal lesion. Despite the development of research, diagnostic aids for this syndrome are non-existent and treatments are partially ineffective. Some studies have shown changes in salivary composition, viscosity or flow in patients with BMS. The evaluation of the salivary biochemical characteristics of patients with BMS could then help to better understand the pathogenesis of this disease. The objective of this meta-analysis is to perform a qualitative and quantitative synthesis of the literature concerning the salivary biomarkers present in patients with BMS in comparison to healthy subjects. Materials and methods: The PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched to identify articles corresponding to the defined inclusion criteria. Review Manager 5.4.1 software was used to perform the quantitative analysis. Results: The quantitative analysis included 15 articles and found a significant increase in salivary concentrations of cortisol and immunoglobulin A (IgA) with a standardized mean difference SMD = 0.53 and a 95% confidence interval CI [0.33 to 0.74] and SMD = 0.32 to 95% CI [0.10 to 0.55] respectively. For calcium and copper, the analysis found no significant difference in patients with BMS with SMD = 0.06 at 95% CI [–0.19 to 0.32] and SMD = -0.19 at 95% CI [–0.44 to 0.06]. Finally, for magnesium, the analysis found a probable decrease with SMD = -0.29 at 95% CI [–0.52 to -0.06]. Four other biomarkers (potassium, alpha amylase, zinc and total protein) showed too high levels of heterogeneity (I² &gt; 44%) to be able to interpret the results with confidence. Discussion: This strong heterogeneity can be explained by different saliva sampling methods or biomarker measurement techniques that are not strictly identical between the studies. In addition, some saliva samples may have undergone blood contamination which may bias the results. Conclusion: This meta-analysis nevertheless confirms all the interest of focusing on salivary biomarkers in BMS patients; the measurement of cortisol and/or salivary IgA could be a line of research for the establishment of a standardized biological assessment. Nevertheless, the number of available studies being low and of variable methodological quality with a limited number of patients, additional studies are necessary to give a firm and definitive conclusion.

The Forward Testing Effect Is Resistant to Acute Psychosocial Retrieval Stress.

The forward testing effect refers to the finding that testing of previously studied information improves memory for subsequently studied newer information. Recent research showed that the effect is immune to acute psychosocial encoding/retrieval stress, i.e., stress that is induced before initial encoding. The present study investigated whether the forward testing effect is also robust to acute psychosocial retrieval stress, i.e., stress that is induced after encoding but before retrieval of the critical item list. Participants (N = 128) studied three lists of words in anticipation of a final cumulative recall test. Participants were tested immediately on Lists 1 and 2 (testing condition) or restudied the two lists after initial study (restudy condition). After study of the critical List 3, psychosocial stress was induced in half of the participants (stress group), whereas no stress was induced in the other half (control group). The Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G) was used for stress induction. Salivary cortisol, alpha amylase, and subjective stress were repeatedly measured. The results of the criterion test showed a generally detrimental effect of psychosocial retrieval stress on List 3 recall. Importantly, the forward testing effect was unaffected by retrieval stress. The findings are discussed with respect to current theories of the forward testing effect.

In Silico Studies, Anti-oxidant Properties, Antisorbitol Dehydrogenase, Anti-alpha Amylase and Anti-gastrointestinal Cancer Potential of Violanthin as a Natural Compound.

In vitro studies have shown flavonoids to be effective antioxidants. Flavonoid C-glycosides have antioxidant properties, but there are very few data on their cellular antioxidant activity. The chemical activities of violanthin against alpha amylase and sorbitol dehydrogenase were investigated utilizing the molecular docking study. The anti-cancer activities of the compounds were evaluated against MKN45, AGS, and KATO III cell lines. The chemical activities of violanthin against some of the expressed surface receptor proteins (estrogen receptor, folate receptor, and CD44) in the mentioned cell lines were estimated using molecular docking calculations. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) analyzes were performed to determine the effects of compound on cell viability levels. The results showed the possible interactions and their features at an atomic level. The docking scores indicated that violanthin has a significant binding affinity to the enzymes and proteins. IC50 values of violanthin for gastric cell lines (MKN45, AGS, KATO III) were 31.95±3.95, 53.06±6.02, 47.98±5.16 µM, respectively. For α-amylase and sorbitol dehydrogenase enzymes, IC50 values were 25.03 and 1.47 µM. Moreover, this compound formed strong contact with the enzymes and receptors. Therefore, violanthin could be a potential inhibitor for these enzymes and cancer cells. Several secondary problems of diabetes mellitus have been discovered to be prevented or treated with sorbitol dehydrogenase inhibitors.

Salivary cortisol and alpha amylase enzyme levels in different phases of minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Objectives: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is one of the most common oral mucosal lesions and stress is one of the major factors implicated in its causation. The aim of the present work is to measure the stress biomarkers, salivary cortisol (SC) and salivary alpha amylase (SAA), in the different phases of RAS. Patients and Methods: The study included 69 subjects of whom 38 patients served as the study group who suffered from minor RAS and one to three active minor oral ulcers of &lt;48 h duration. The remaining 31 healthy subjects served as controls. Unstimulated salivary samples were collected twice from the study group; during the ulcerative phase of RAS and after complete healing has occurred, and only once from the controls. Concentrations of SC, and SAA enzyme were assessed by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results: There was a significant increase of SC and SAA in both the ulcerative and the post-healing phases in comparison to the control group. The ulcerative phase had higher but insignificant levels of both biomarkers when compared to the post-healing phase. There was a significant correlation between both biomarkers in the post-healing but not in the ulcerative phase. Conclusion: RAS patients have significantly higher levels of both stress biomarkers (SC and SAA) in the ulcerative and in the post-healing phases when compared to controls.

Physiological responses of bread and durum wheat seeds to osmotic stress and salinity in the early germination stage

Determining the mechanisms underlying tolerance to osmotic stress and salinity during the germination period is an essential task in order to improve agricultural production in arid and semi-arid areas. In this work, the seeds of bread and durum wheat cultivars were treated with different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 and NaCl for 1 week, and half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of germination were calculated. The seeds were then exposed to IC50 values of NaCl and PEG-6000 for 2 days in order to assess their physiological and biochemical properties. Alpha and beta amylase enzyme activities, the reducing sugar, total sugar, proline, protein, and H2O2 contents, and DPPH radical scavenging activity of the seeds were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The results showed that the bread wheat seeds had a much higher tolerance to excess salt and osmotic stress than the durum wheat seeds. In particular, the average IC50 value of NaCl for the bread wheat cultivars was almost twice that for the durum wheat cultivars. The imbibition test revealed that the water uptake capacity of the seeds did not explain the difference in tolerance to these stress conditions. On the other hand, the bread wheat seeds exhibited constitutively higher proline, total sugar, and H2O2 contents as well as antioxidant capacity compared to the durum wheat seeds (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, the current findings suggest that the interplay of oxidative metabolism and compatible solutes may contribute to improving germination tolerance under water deficit and salinity conditions in wheat.

Association of COVID-19 Infection and Acute Mesenteric Ischemia

COVID-19 is an infectious disease that is considered to be a thromboinflammatory disorder. The study was aimed to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 in patients with acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) and the outcomes of surgical treatment in relation to COVID-19. A total of 140 patients were included in this multicentric study divided into two groups: the test group (n=65) consisted of cases of AMI detected during the COVID-19 pandemic and the control group (n=65) consisted of cases of AMI detected before the pandemic. Test group patients were classified as COVID-positive (COVID+), or COVID-negative (COVID–) if they tested positive, respectively negative test for COVID-19 on admission. Primary outcomes were: prevalence of COVID-19 infection among test group patients, association between COVID-19 infection and inoperability, and between COVID-19 and treatment outcome. Secondary outcomes were association between each blood parameter and inoperability and treatment outcome. There were no statistically significant differences between inoperability and COVID-19 positivity on admission, overall mortality between the control group and the test group and overall mortality between COVID+ and COVID– patients, as well as among those patients that have been surgically treated (p&gt;0.05). There were statistically significant differences between serum amylase levels (p=0.034), and serum LDH levels (p=0.0382) and inoperability, between serum LDH levels and postoperative mortality (p=0.0151), and overall mortality (p=0.00163). High level of LDH and serum pancreatic amylase are associated with a higher rate of inoperability and a higher postoperative and overall mortality rate. COVID-19 does not seem to independently influence the treatment outcome of AMI.

Bioactivity evaluation of least explored traditionally acclaimed medicinally potent herb Nanorrhinum ramosissimum(Wall.) Betsche

Present study analysed the therapeutic potential of traditionally acclaimed medicinal herb Nanorrhinum ramosissimum, using plant parts extracted with different solvents (10 mg/mL). Shoot extracts exhibited comparatively better antimicrobial properties, in comparison to root extracts. Total phenolic content was estimated, to ascertain its dependency on antioxidant properties of plant extracts. Antioxidant assay revealed promising results in comparison to IC50 value of standard ascorbic acid (52.2±0.07 µg/mL), for methanolic extracts of shoot (61.07±0.53 µg/mL and 64.33±0.33 µg/mL) and root (76.705±0.12 µg/mL and 89.73±0.28 µg/ mL) for in vivo and in vitro regenerants respectively. Correlation coefficient R2 values ranged between 0.90-0.95, indicating a positive correlation between phenolic contents and antioxidant activity. Plant extracts were also able to inhibit DNA oxidative damage again indicating their antioxidative potential. Antidiabetic potential was confirmed by alpha amylase inhibition assay where shoot methanolic extracts (invivo, in vitro) exhibited the best IC50 values (54.42±0.16 µg/mL, 66.09±0.12 µg/mL) in comparison to standard metformin (41.92±0.08 µg/mL). Ethanolic extracts of roots (in vitro, invivo) exhibited the relative IC50 values (88.97±0.32µg/mL,96.63±0.44 µg/mL) indicating that shoot parts had a better alpha amylase inhibition property; thus proving the herb’s bioactive potential and its prospective therapeutic source for curing various ailments.

In Vitro Alpha Amylase and Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Important Lettuces from South Indian Region

In Vitro Alpha Amylase and Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Important Lettuces from South Indian Region

Catalytic properties of purified alpha amylase from Aspergillus flavus cultivated on low-cost agricultural substrate

Aspergillus flavus isolated from fermented millet flour produced a crude enzyme, which was purified via ammonium sulphate precipitation and subsequent chromatographic techniques. The biochemical characteristics of the purified amylase were thereafter investigated showing activity in a wide range of pH and temperature, with optimal conditions of pH 6.0 and 50 °C. The enzyme retained even 89% of its activity after 1 h at 50 °C and 2 h at pH 6.0. The purified enzyme was stimulated by Ca2+, Zn2+ and Co2+, while Hg2+ and EDTA caused mild inhibition of α-amylase activity. The kinetic indices (Km and Vmax) and molecular weight of the enzyme were estimated in 1.71 mg mL-1, 2.133 μmol min-1 mL-1 and 45 kDa respectively. The catalytic properties of α-amylase from A. flavus makes it a promising candidate for use in various starch processing industries.