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Nutritional and Medicinal Benefits of Ficus carica
Published in Mehwish Iqbal, Complementary and Alternative Medicinal Approaches for Enhancing Immunity, 2023
Two of the enzymes, α-amylase and α-glucosidase, are included in the hydrolysis of disaccharides and polysaccharides into simple molecules of sugars. The reduction of these enzymes may slow down the digestion process of carbohydrates and glucose liberation into the bloodstream (Giustarini et al., 2009). In addition to the chemical constituents such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, hexadecanoic acid and transphytol established in the extract of fig fruit have been demonstrated to have antiobesity and antidiabetic activity in a number of preliminary studies (Mopuri et al., 2018). The leaf extract persuaded a considerable blood glucose–reducing effect in the intraperitoneal or oral administration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rodents. Levels of insulin in plasma significantly modified the index of survival in rodents. Outcomes specified that the water-based extract of fig has evident blood glucose–reducing effects (Chai et al., 2011).
Marine Algal Secondary Metabolites Are a Potential Pharmaceutical Resource for Human Society Developments
Published in Se-Kwon Kim, Marine Biochemistry, 2023
Somasundaram Ambiga, Raja Suja Pandian, Lazarus Vijune Lawrence, Arjun Pandian, Ramu Arun Kumar, Bakrudeen Ali Ahmed Abdul
Diabetes is one of the disorders of metabolic disorders. Many people have been affecting from this disorder. Due to the obvious growing percentage of diabetic patients and the limited number of anti-diabetic medications, the investigation for novel molecules, specifically from marine sources, has drawn great interest from the research community. Microorganisms such as cyanobacteria and actinomycetes, and marine fungi have been investigated for the anti-diabetic bioactivities. Glucosidase in bacteria enzyme is involved in the degradation of polysaccharides as well as the processing of glycoproteins and glycolipids, making it a promising target for diabetes and obesity treatments (Pandey et al., 2013). Bacteria linked with the marine sponge Aka coralliphaga produced a huge number of glucosidase inhibitors. Marine actinomycetes have produced a number of enzyme inhibitors and other useful substances (e.g., Streptomyces sp.).
The Neurologic Disorders in Film
Published in Eelco F. M. Wijdicks, Neurocinema—The Sequel, 2022
Finding a cure for another devastating neurologic illness is the theme of Extraordinary Measures (2010) , starring Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, and Keri Russell and directed by Tom Vaughan. Brendan Fraser is John Crowley, a biotechnology executive with three children affected by Pompe disease (first described by a female Dutch pathologist in 1932). Pompe disease is a result of a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase, which breaks glycogen links.143 The film immediately confronts the viewer with a child in a motorized wheelchair and another severely paralyzed. Both are tracheostomized and fed through a gastrostomy. Megan’s eighth birthday party is the setup of the story. An underlying respiratory infection brings Megan to the ICU, and in an accurately portrayed physician–parent interaction, the physician tells the family that nothing more can be done and she is already past the normal life expectancy (classic Pompe rarely survives the first infantile year). After a successful resuscitation, the parents feel something needs to be done. Contact with an expert, Dr. Stonehill (Harrison Ford)—representing a fictional composite of scientists—leads to the discovery of an enzyme that halts progression.
Body composition and 6 minute walking ability in late-onset pompe disease patients after 9 years of enzyme replacement therapy
Published in International Journal of Neuroscience, 2022
Gerasimos Terzis, Georgios Papadimas, Argyro Krase, Eleni Kontou, Ioannis Arnaoutis, Constantinos Papadopoulos
Pompe disease is an inherited autosomal recessive glycogen storage disease caused by total or partial deficiency of acid α-glucosidase (GAA) [1]. Deficiency of this enzyme results in the accumulation of glycogen in the lysosomes of skeletal muscles, heart, liver and other tissues with variable clinical symptoms which are often related to the age of disease onset [2]. The infantile form of the disease is the most severe and fatal and it is characterized by hypotonia, muscular weakness, cardiac hypertrophy and hepatomegaly [3, 4]. The adult- or late-onset form of the disease (LOPD) presents various clinical features and the first symptoms may be manifested between early adulthood to even the seventh decade of life. Proximal lower limb weakness predominates, leading to difficulties in everyday activities such as climbing stairs or rising from a chair while there may be also respiratory involvement due to diaphragmatic weakness [4–6]. The course of the disease is usually slowly progressive and variable. Some patients may become wheelchair-bound while others remain independent for long [7]. Respiratory muscle involvement may inevitably call for mechanical ventilation [8].
Microbially-derived cocktail of carbohydrases as an anti-biofouling agents: a ‘green approach’
Published in Biofouling, 2022
Harmanpreet Kaur, Arashdeep Kaur, Sanjeev Kumar Soni, Praveen Rishi
Cellulose, the most abundant natural biopolymer, is degraded by cellulases with β-1,4 glycoside hydrolytic activity. The cellulose plays a structural role in biofilms, provides strength, and aids in attachment, adherence, and subsequent substrate colonization (Augimeri et al. 2015). The complete degradation of cellulose requires the synergistic action of 3 kinds of cellulases, namely: (i) endoglucanases, (ii) exoglucanases, and (iii) β-glucosidases. The organisms producing cellulases are diverse, including a broad range of bacteria, fungi, and yeast (Acharya and Chaudhary 2012; Behera et al. 2017). The potential use of microbial cellulases in various industries such as the textile industry, pulp, and paper industry, brewing industry, feed and food processing industry, as well as the use of enzymes as additives in detergents have achieved global recognition (Karmakar and Ray 2011; Zhang and Zhang 2013). Moreover, the application of cellulases in biofuel production from agro-industrial waste, such as spent grain from brewers, fruit waste from citrus fruits, sugar cane bagasse, sludge, as well as municipal solid waste and kitchen waste, has become overwhelmingly important. The economic production of value-added products from lignocellulosic waste represents an exciting research area for academic and industrial research groups (Bansal et al. 2012; Rana et al. 2013).
Careful use to minimize adverse events of oral antidiabetic medications in the elderly
Published in Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2021
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors reduce postprandial hyperglycemia and have a moderate effect on fasting plasma glucose levels, resulting in a significant but only moderate reduction in HbA1c levels. Both acarbose [58] and miglitol [59] are generally well tolerated and safe in the elderly. One major advantage of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors in comparison with insulin-secretagogues is the absence of hypoglycemia. As alpha-glucosidase inhibitors reduce postprandial hyperglycemia and may reduce the risk of delayed hypoglycemia, these agents may contribute to dampen the overall glycemic variability. They are considered as a useful and relatively safe therapeutic option in elderly patients with T2D [60]. As in younger individuals, most discontinuations after initiation of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors were due to gastrointestinal side effects such as flatulence and diarrhea. Of note, however, a few case reports of paralytic ileus were reported between 1996 and 2006, all in Japan, in elderly (but also in middle-aged) diabetic patients treated with acarbose and voglibose [61]. Despite the potential advantages of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors in elderly patients with T2D, there is a lack of studies focusing specifically on that population and no studies with hard clinical outcomes that demonstrated a protection against diabetic complications.