A nutraceutical extract from Inula viscosa leaves: UHPLC-HR-MS/MS based polyphenol profile,and antioxidant and cytotoxic activities

Nowadays, advanced extraction techniques and highly sensitive metabolic profiling methods are effectively employed to get new information on plant chemical constituents. Among them wild medicinal plants or their parts, with large and ancient use in folk medicine, are investigated for their potential functional use and cultivation. In this context, Inula viscosa leaves engaged our attention. A simple experimental design, based on Soxhlet extraction and chromatographic fractionation, allowed us to obtain the investigated polyphenol fraction (IvE). UHPLC-HRMS analyses revealed shikimoyl depsides of caffeic acid and unusual dihydrobenzofuran lignans as main secondary metabolites. These compounds, together with cinchonain-type phenols, and hydroxycinnamoyl flavonol glycosides, are reported for the first time in inula. Overall, forty-three secondary metabolites were identified. The extract exerted a remarkable antiradical activity towards DPPH^? and ABTS^+?. Furthermore, it was able to inhibit cell viability and mitochondrial redox activity of neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma and colon carcinoma cells, whereas it did not affect cell density of HaCaT cells immortalized human keratinocytes. As detected by the oxidant-sensing probe 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, the inhibitory responses seemed to be related to IvE-induced increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). The obtained results highlighted that inula leaves, nowadays even undervalued and unexplored, could be considered a renewable source of nutraceutical compounds.     

Relationship between pregnancy outcomes and maternal vitamin D and calcium intake: A cross-sectional study.

Poor maternal vitamin D status affects fetal and infant skeletal growth. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between newborn outcomes and maternal calcium and vitamin D intakes. Four hundred and forty-nine pregnant women, healthy at the point of delivery, and their newborns were enrolled in the study, which was performed in three university hospitals in Tehran in March 2004. Maternal anthropometric data and energy, protein, calcium and vitamin D intakes were collected, and newborn outcomes (weight, length, head circumference and 1-min Apgar score) were determined. Almost two-thirds of the mothers (64.3%) took no supplements during pregnancy. Only one-third of the mothers (33.8%) had adequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D (from supplements and foods) compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Mean length at birth and 1-min Apgar score were higher in newborns whose mothers had adequate calcium and vitamin D intake than in newborns whose mothers had inadequate intake (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). Significant correlations were found between adequate maternal calcium and vitamin D intake and both appropriate birth weight and 1-min Apgar score of newborns and weight gain of mothers during pregnancy. Informing mothers of the critical importance of consuming adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D seems necessary.     

Three-dimensional presentation of the Fourier amplitude and phase: a fast display method for gated cardiac blood-pool SPECT.

The routine clinical use of gated SPECT is inhibited by sophisticated, time-consuming processing techniques. The present paper describes a new technique for the simultaneous three-dimensional presentation of the amplitude and phase of the first Fourier harmonics, with the aim of obtaining detailed information about the ventricular motion in a relatively short time, from each angle of view of three-dimensional space. The method is simple and robust, and processing is automatic. It does not need carefully elaborated techniques for surface determination, because the cardiac surface is merely used as a reference skeleton onto which the functional information of amplitude and phase is mapped. The Fourier analysis before reconstruction results in running times shorter than 15 min and may further open the way for the routine use of gated SPECT.     

Preparation and characterization of specific and high-affinity monoclonal antibodies against morphine

A C6-hemisuccinate derivative of morphine was prepared and conjugated to bovine serum albumin. High titer antibody producing spleen cells were removed and fused with myeloma cells of Sp2/0 origin. A C3-hemisuccinate derivative of morphine was prepared and conjugated to enzyme penicillinase used as a tracer molecule. A novel enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay was developed using this conjugate to screen and characterize the monoclonal antibody produced in these experiments. After two successive limiting dilutions, antibodies produced by 5 clones with good affinities ranging from 10(8) to 10(12) M(-1) and less cross-reaction (least for codeine and other structurally related molecules) were selected. These clones were found to be of IgG class with kappa light chain. Subclass determination showed that two of the clones produced IgG2b and three of them produced IgG1 type of antibody. Affinity purifications were performed for the selected clone (MOR-I). Purified antibody was coated onto the wells of microtiter plate. The standard curve was constructed with a sensitivity of 100 pg/mL covering up to 10 ng/mL in buffer and urine. The slope of the standard curve for selected clone in buffer and urine was calculated to be -0.7 and -0.64, respectively.     

A cross‐sectional study of the relationship between serum sexual hormone levels and internal derangement of temporomandibular joint

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are defined as clinical conditions that involve the masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or both. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum 17β‐oestradiol and progesterone levels in menstruating women affected by internal derangement of the TMJ. A total of 142 women (mean age 30·2 ± 6·7) who referred to medical diagnostic laboratory of Iranian Academic Centre for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Mashhad Branch, were enrolled during 2007 and 2008. Forty‐seven individuals had disc displacement with reduction (Group IIa) according to Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC)/TMD Axis I diagnosis. Radioimmunoassay was used for the detection of serum 17β‐oestradiol and progesterone levels in all 142 subjects. The mean progesterone level was significantly higher in control group (11·6 ± 10·4 ng mL^?1) compared to women with TMD (8·4 ± 6·8 ng mL^?1, P = 0·03). No significant difference was found in two groups regarding 17β‐oestradiol level. Lower progesterone level in women with TMD can suggest the more important role of this hormone in the development of the disorder.     

Middle aortic syndrome: a case report

Middle aortic syndrome (MAS) results from a diffuse narrowing of the distal thoracic or abdominal aorta commonly involving both the visceral and renal arteries. Congenital, acquired, inflammatory, and infectious etiologies have been described. Symptoms typically occur within the first three decades of life and include hypertension, lower extremity claudication, and mesenteric ischemia. The condition is considered a life-threatening emergency as a result of the complications associated with severe hypertension. Diagnosis is made with magnetic resonance and computed tomography angiography. Surgical bypass grafting is the optimal method of treatment and must be tailored depending on the distribution of disease. We report one case of MAS treated with thoracic aorta to abdominal aorta bypass and reimplantation of the right renal artery.     

Utility of B-type natriuretic peptide in predicting postoperative complications and outcomes in patients undergoing heart surgery

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to assess whether preoperative and postoperative B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels could be used as predictors of postoperative complications and outcomes in patients after open-heart surgery. BACKGROUND: A variety of multifactor indexes have been proposed for preoperative risk assessment of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, but they have shown limited ability and utility in accurately predicting postoperative complications, hospital stay, and mortality. METHODS: Subjects consisted of 98 male patients (63 +/- 9.1 years) undergoing open-heart surgery at the San Diego Veterans Administration Health System during a 19-month period. B-type natriuretic peptide levels were analyzed, and postoperative data recorded. RESULTS: There was a higher preoperative BNP level in patients requiring the use of intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) (mean BNP = 387 +/- 112 pg/ml vs. 181 +/- 25 pg/ml), in patients who died within one year (357 +/- 93 pg/ml vs. 184 +/- 26 pg/ml), and in patients with postoperative hospital stays of 10 days or more (307 +/- 68 pg/ml vs. 179 +/- 27 pg/ml). Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated preoperative BNP levels as predictors of postoperative IABP use, hospital stay 385 pg/ml predict the postoperative complications and one-year mortality after heart surgery. Postoperatively, elevated peak BNP levels and elevated change to peak BNP levels were associated with prolonged hospital stay and mortality within one year.     

Delayed presentation of a large congenital laryngeal cleft in an adult

Laryngeal clefts are rare congenital malformations of the posterior laryngotracheal wall that lead to an abnormal communication between the airway and pharyngo-oesophageal tract. The condition is almost universally identified during infancy with minor laryngeal clefts very rarely diagnosed in adulthood. We present our tertiary centre’s experience of a large laryngeal cleft presenting at an advanced age, with the aim of increasing awareness of this correctible cause of respiratory distress and aspiration in adults.