Antimycobacterial action of a new glycolipid‐peptide complex obtained from extracellular metabolites of Raoultella ornithinolytica

In this paper, an antimycobacterial component of extracellular metabolites of a gut bacterium Raoultella ornithinolytica from D. veneta earthworms was isolated and its antimycobacterial action was tested using Mycobacterium smegmatis. After incubation with the complex obtained, formation of pores and furrows in cell walls was observed using microscopic techniques. The cells lost their shape, stuck together and formed clusters. Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis showed that, after incubation, the complex was attached to the cell walls of the Mycobacterium. Analyses of the component performed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated high similarity to a bacteriocin nisin, but energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis revealed differences in the elemental composition of this antimicrobial peptide. The component with antimycobacterial activity was identified using mass spectrometry techniques as a glycolipid–peptide complex. As it exhibits no cytotoxicity on normal human fibroblasts, the glycolipid–peptide complex appears to be a promising compound for investigations of its activity against pathogenic mycobacteria.     

Multiorgan transplantation from a deceased donor with intravascular diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma: transmission of the disease and results of treatment

This report presents the transplantation of two kidneys and the liver from a deceased donor with suspected autoimmune encephalomeningitis (ADEM). Due to an atypical post‐transplantation clinical course, the transplanted kidneys were biopsied and this disclosed diffuse large B‐cell (DLBC) lymphoma of the intravascular type in each kidney. The same malignancy was found in the postmortem donor brain examination. The renal allografts from the two recipients were removed: despite every effort, one patient died, while chemotherapy was successful in the second. No malignancy was observed in the liver transplant recipient, who received prophylactic chemotherapy. These cases highlight the occasional failure of organ donor disease screening and the consequent unforeseen complications.     

Effects of Copaiba Oil Topical Administration on Oral Wound Healing

The effects of topical copaiba oil extract and topical corticosteroid were assessed on oral wound healing in an in vivo model using 96 male Wistar rats. Traumatic ulcers were caused in the dorsum of the tongue using a 3‐mm punch tool. The animals were divided into: Control; Corticosteroid; Placebo and Copaiba oil Group. The animals received two daily applications of the products. The control group received only daily handling. Six rats in each group were euthanized at days 3, 5, 10 and 14. The animals were monitored daily to determine wound status. The weigh was assessed at day 0 and euthanasia day. The percentage of repair was calculated, and histopathological aspects were analyzed. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare the results between groups and times of evaluation. Closing time was assessed through the log‐rank test. The corticosteroid group lost more weight at days 10 and 14 than the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the healing time of corticosteroid group was longer than the control group (p = 0.007). No differences were observed between the copaiba oil group and the control group. We concluded that topical copaiba oil, in spite of being safe, did not accelerate the process of oral wound healing. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Low Doses of Curcuma longa Modulates Cell Migration and Cell–Cell Adhesion

Cell invasion and metastasis are involved in clinical failures in cancer treatment, and both events require the acquisition of a migratory behavior by tumor cells. Curcumin is a promising natural product with anti‐proliferative activity, but its effects on cell migration are still unclear. We evaluated the effects of curcumin on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and cell–cell adhesion of keratinocyte, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and fibroblast cell lines, as well as in a xenograft model of OSCC. Curcumin (2 μM) decreased cell proliferation in cell lines with mesenchymal characteristics, while cell death was detected only at 50 μM. We observed that highly migratory cells showed a decrease on migration speed and directionality when treated with 2 or 5 μM of curcumin (50% and 40%, respectively, p < 0.05). Using spheroids, we observed that curcumin dose dependently decreased cell–cell adhesion, especially on tumor‐derived spheroids. Also, in a xenograft model with patient‐derived OSCC cells, the administration of curcumin decreased tumor growth and aggressiveness when compared with untreated tumors, indicating the potential antitumor effect in oral cancer. These results suggest that lower doses of curcumin can influence several steps involved in tumorigenesis, including migration properties, suggesting a possible use in cancer therapy. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of Synvisc treatment in osteoarthritis

Background. Viscosupplementation is a relatively new method for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). The main goal of this project was to assess the safety and clinical utility of Hylan G-F20 (Synvisc(R)) in the treatment of pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. The type and frequency of additional therapies used during Synvisc(R) treatment were also assessed. It was a prospective project designed for monitoring Synvisc(R)-prescribing habits in usual medical care.
Material and method. One hundred ninety knee joints in 187 patients were studied (OA symptoms were bilateral in 3 women). Synvisc(R) was indicated for the local treatment of pain in osteoarthritis of the knee. After the diagnosis, Synvisc(R) therapy was started at the recommended dose of 2 ml per intra-articular injection once
a week (at 1-week intervals), three injections in total. The data collected, including medical history, physical examination, radiographic examination and treatment efficacy (overall assessment performed at each visit), were recorded on case report forms designed to facilitate statistical analysis. The physicians completed visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for overall assessment of OA pain at each visit. The clinical outcome was recorded after the end of therapy. The patient data were collected by physicians taking part in this project only.
Results. In 156 cases (82.1%) either a substantial improvement or subsidence of symptoms was observed. In 34 cases (17.9%) the improvement was small or there was no change in the patient's condition. There were local adverse reactions in 2 patients (1.07%). There was no need to cease the treatment, to hospitalise a patient or to start any additional treatment. In 167 patients (89.3%) there was no need to start any non-pharmacological concomitant treatment.
Conclusions. In summary, Synvisc(R) viscosupplementation should be rated among the safest and most effective methods for the treatment of OA, for it alleviates OA-related pain, thus reducing the need for NSAIDs and steroid injections. The use of Synvisc(R) in OA patients alleviates pain regardless of sex and age, the effect being the most pronounced in patients with low- and medium-grade radiographic changes.     

Effect of cardiac resynchronization on gradient reduction in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: preliminary study

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in terms of outflow tract gradient reduction and functional improvement in symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) requiring implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) implantation. Methods: Eleven consecutive symptomatic HOCM patients with a significant (≥40 mmHg) gradient and indications for ICD, but without indications for resynchronization, underwent CRT‐D implantation. Nine of them (four female, median age of 50 years) in whom the procedure succeeded were screened for New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, outflow gradient, mechanical dyssynchrony, QRS‐width change, and 6‐minute walking distance (6MWD) and peak oxygen consumption (VO₂peak) improvement after 6 months and remotely. Results: After 6 months of pacing, NYHA class decreased (median 1 vs 2, respectively); peak (33 vs 84 mmHg) and mean (13 vs 38 mmHg) outflow tract gradients were reduced; and QRS width (143 vs 105 ms), intraventricular dyssynchrony (35 vs 55 ms), and VO₂peak (19.5 vs 14.2 mL/kg/min) increased significantly (all P < 0.05) compared to baseline. In six of nine patients (67%), the peak gradient was reduced >50% and reached <40 mmHg. After a median of 36 months, the outflow gradient decreased even more (8 mmHg) and was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than after 6 months of CRT. Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that CRT seems to be an effective method of reducing the outflow tract gradient and improving the functional status of symptomatic HOCM patients requiring ICD implantation. Our findings need to be confirmed by more extensive studies. (PACE 2011; 34:1544–1552)     

Small doses of droperidol do not present relevant torsadogenic actions: a double-blind,ondansetron-controlled study

AIM

Drugs used for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis are believed to provoke torsadogenic changes in cardiac repolarization. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of small doses of droperidol on the parameters of cardiac repolarization, including the QT_c interval and transmural dispersion of repolarization.

METHODS

A total of 75 patients were randomly allocated to receive 0.625 or 1.25 mg droperidol or 8 mg ondansetron. The QT_c interval was calculated using Bazett''s formula and the Framingham correction. The transmural dispersion of repolarization was determined as T_peak–T_end time.

RESULTS

Transient QT prolongation, corrected with both formulae, followed 1.25 mg of droperidol 10 min after administration. No change in the QT_c value was observed in the other groups. When corrected with Bazett''s formula, QT_c was prolonged above 480 ms in two patients receiving 1.25 mg droperidol (at the 10^th and 20^th minute of the study) and in one receiving ondansetron. No patients developed a QT_cB prolongation over 500 ms. No increase above 480 ms was observed relative to the Framingham correction method. There were no significant differences in the T_peak–T_end time either between or within the groups.

CONCLUSION

In men without cardiovascular disorders small doses (1.25 mg) of droperidol prophylaxis induced transient QT_c prolongation without changes in transmural dispersion of repolarization. The apparently low risk of the drug applies only in low risk male patients with a low pro-QT_c score.     

Patient with stable ischaemic heart disease and essential thrombocythemia in Invasive Cardiology Laboratory -- role of the automated systems for estimation of platelet aggregation

Patient with stable ischaemic heart disease and essential thrombocythemia in Invasive Cardiology Laboratory -- role of the automated systems for estimation of platelet aggregation. A case of a 63-year-old male patient with essential thrombocythemia and coronary artery disease is presented. The patient underwent elective coronary angiography and subsequent angioplasty of the intermediate branch. The procedure was complicated by a massive thrombosis of the right coronary artery. Tirofiban and subsequent stenting relieved anginal symptoms. Next, platelet activity was monitored using the platelet function analyser PFA-100 which enabled optimisation of the antiplatelet agent dosages. The usefulness of this device in the catheterisation laboratory is discussed.