The antidiarrheal effects of the aqueous extract of Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae) peels were evaluated in rats. Studies were carried out on the isolated rat ileum, gastrointestinal motility in vivo, and on castor oil-induced diarrhea in rats. The results revealed that the extract exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of the spontaneous movement of the isolated rat ileum and attenuated acetylcholine-induced contractions. The extract (100, 200, 300, and 400 mg=kg) also caused a dose-dependent decrease of gastrointestinal transit and markedly protected rats against castor oil-induced diarrhea enteropooling. The intraperitoneal injection LD 50 of the extract was found to be 1321AE15 mg=kg in mice. A preliminary phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of Punica granatum peels gave positive tests for tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The results obtained showed that the aqueous extract of Punica granatum peels may contain some biologically active principles that may be active against diarrhea, and this may be the basis for its traditional use for gastrointestinal disorders.

The aim of this experiment is to understand how Parkinson's disease (PD) medication affects the autonomic responses of individuals during an acute exercise stress test. Fourteen people with PD and fifteen healthy individuals age-matched between 50 and 80 years performed a modified Bruce protocol. Subjects with PD performed the test once off medication (PD-off) and then 1 week later on medication (PD-on). Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), VO(2), and norepinephrine (NE) levels were taken at rest and at peak exercise. At peak exercise HR, BP, and NE values for the PD-on and PD-off group were all significantly lower than healthy controls, regardless of whether subjects were on their medication. Autonomic abnormalities during exercise in this population appear to be disease manifested and not impacted by medications used to treat PD. We can assume, both on and off medication, this population will show markedly lower BP, HR, and NE responses.

This study represents the first longitudinal investigation involving the effects of multiple modes of exercise training on the GSH antioxidant system with evidence, suggesting the GHS:GSSG ratio as the most sensitive change marker. The significant findings of this study have potential clinical implications to individuals involved in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.

No abstract

The current results indicated that in sedentary individuals, a maximal treadmill GXT is an effective technique for inducing acute oxidative stress as evidenced by GSH system responses, with full return to resting baseline levels within 60 minutes of recovery. The potential for using this model in assessing oxidative stress responses to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation is of clinical interest, with a need for further investigation.