BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF) is a serious disease characterised by a rapid loss of renal functions due to nephrotoxic drug or ischemic insult. The clinical treatment approach such as dialysis techniques and continuous renal enhancement have grown rapidly during past decades. However, there is yet no significant effect in improving renal function. Hypoxia-preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells (HP-MSCs) have positive effects on the in vitro survival and stemness, in addition to angiogenic potential. AIM: In this study, we aimed to analyse the effect of HP-MSCs administration in improving renal function, characterised by blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine level. METHODS: A group of 15 male Wistar rats weighing 250 g to 300 g were used in this study (n = 5 for each group). Rats were randomly distributed into 3 groups: Vehicle control (Veh) as a control group, HP-MSCs and normoxia MSCs (N-MSCs) as the treatment group. Renal function was evaluated based on the BUN and creatinine levels using the colourimetric method on day 5 and 13. The histological analysis using HE staining was performed on day 13. RESULTS: The result showed there is a significant decrease in BUN and creatinine level (p < 0.05). The histological analysis of renal tissue also showed a significant decrease between Veh and treatment group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on this study, we conclude that HP-MSCs have a superior beneficial effect than N-MSCs in improving renal function in an animal model of gentamicin-induced ARF.

BACKGROUND<br />Hypertension is the main cause of morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases. Many herbs/spices appear to have significant effects in favorably modulating high blood pressure. A jamu formulation containing 6 plant extracts, Formula Jamu Antihipertensi (FJA), has been described previously. This research study aimed to evaluate the effect of FJA as antihypertensive agent in mild to moderate hypertensive patients. <br /><br />METHODS<br />This double-blind experimental study was conducted in 40 hypertensive patients, who were randomized into two groups. The first group was treated with oral administration of 2 g FJA and the second group 25 mg captopril daily for 4 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as liver and kidney function were followed up every week. Independent- t test and two-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data with a level of significance of 0.05.<br /><br />RESULTS<br />The results showed that after the treatment, FJA and captopril were capable of significantly decreasing systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p &lt;0.05). The decrease in systolic blood pressure between the two groups was identical (p&gt;0.05), while the decrease in diastolic blood pressure was greater in the FJA group than in the captopril group (p &lt;0.05). <br /><br />CONCLUSION<br />From this study it may be concluded that administration of FJA for 4 weeks is equally effective as captopril in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with mild and moderate hypertension. Thus, natural plants and herbs can be our source of drugs, with fewer side effects and better bioavailability for treatment of hypertension in the future.

Background: Leaves extract of Sauropus androgynous (Sa) or Moringaoleiefera(Mo) alone has been shown to increase hemoglobin level in iron deficiency anemia. The combination of the two extracts have been known to potentially have a synergistic effect on anemia. The objective of this study is to compare the anti-anemic effect of Sa, Mo alone and their combination on iron deficiency anemia in rats. Methods: Thirty female wistarstrain rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal, iron deficiency anemia, Sa, Mo and the combination of Sa and Mo. Beside the normal group, rats were fed Fe-deficient diet to induce iron-deficiency anemia. Level of hemoglobin, ferritin and plasma MDA were measured on day 8 (after induction of anemia) and day 29. Data were analyzed using One Way ANOVA followed by LSD post hoc test. Result: The rats fed with Fe-deficient diet for 7 days shown significantly had a lower plasma Hb and ferritin levels and higher plasma MDA levels compared to the normal group (p <0.05) After the treatment, the rats given the extracts significantly had a higher mean of Hb and Ferritin and a lower mean of MDA level compared to anemic control. The mean Hb, ferritin and MDA level of the combination group were close to normal group. Conclusion: The combination of the leaves extract of Sauropus androgynous or Moringaoleiefera is more effective against iron deficiency anemia compared to extract alone in rats. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.18(1) 2019 p.136-140

Malondialdehyde (MDA) is the end product of lipid peroxidation and a marker of free radicals. Honey is a safe sweetener proven to lower blood glucose level and contains flavonoids, vitamin A, C, E as a source of antioxidant that can capture free radicals. This study aims to determine the effect of honey on plasma MDA level ionalloxan-induced hyperglycemicrats. This was an experimental study with post-test only control group design conducted for 25 days using 18 white male Wistar rats divided into 3 groups randomly. A negative control group, group B were given honey orally at the dose of 0.54 ml/mice/day, and group C were given honey orally at the of dose 0.9 ml/head/day. Each group consisted of 6 rats. Blood plasma MDA was evaluated by Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARS) test assay. One way ANOVA analysis test followed post hoc were applied for data analysis. The results showed that mean levels of MDA in group A, B, and C were 6.02 mmol/l ± 0.36, 4.37 mmol/± 0.30, and 1.12 mmol/l ± 0.11 respectively. Bivariate analysis One way ANOVA test showed a significant difference (p<0,05). Post hoc tests showed a significant differences between the study groups (p<0,05). It can be concluded that honey had an effect on the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the blood plasma of alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats.

Introduction: Low back pain ((LBP) ranks as number two of neurological disease’s highest prevalence after cephalgia and migraine in Indonesia. Objective: This study aim to determine the relationship between duration of employment, body posture and smoking habit on the incidence of low back pain on taxi driver. Method: This research is an observational analytic cross sectional design. Seventyfour taxi drivers in Semarang municipality was screened with Beck’s Depression Inventory Scale to meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Respondents were then given Risk Factor of LBP questionnaire. Data were analyzed with a bivariate correlation test contingency coefficient to see the relationship between duration of employment, body posture, smoking habit and low back pain.Result: the taxi driver with duration of employment >10 years were moderate smokers and having astenis body posture. The analysis of correlation coefficients contingency test showed a significance relationship between duration of employment (p = 0,000), body posture (p = 0,000), and moderate smokers (p=0.010) with the incidence of LBP. Conclusion: the taxi driver with duration of employment >10 years with astenis body posture, and moderate smokers were posstively correlated with LBP.