New antimicrobial flavonoids and chalcone from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colutea armata</Emphasis>

Colucins A (1) and B (2), new flavonoids and colucone (3), the new chalcone derivative, have been isolated from the CHCl₃-soluble fraction of the whole plant of Colutea armata along with luteolin (4), luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucoside (5), isoliquiritigenin (6), trans-caffeic acid (7) and stigmasterol (8) reported for the first time from this species. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques including MS and 2D-NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant antimicrobial activity against two Gram positive and three Gram negative bacterial strains while 3 was moderately active.     

18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography and the "underground map" appearance in imaging Horton's arteritis

A majority of the clinical use of positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) is related to cancer management. Its application in evaluating inflammatory diseases and pyrexia of unknown origin is becoming popular. We reviewed the fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT findings of an 80-year-old woman with nonspecific clinical presentation consisting of generalised malaise, moderately high fever and weight loss. Prior CT and magnetic resonance imaging were not helpful in providing a clinical diagnosis. The diagnosis was Horton's arteritis, and the patient responded well to high-dose steroids.     

Cardiac metastasis in malignant fibrous histiocytoma

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma MFH is an aggressive spindle cell cancer and is the most common soft tissue tumor in the elderly, primarily affecting the extremities. It has high metastatic potential and can spread to various viscera including liver, lung, bone, and brain; however, cardiac metastasis is an extreme rarity. Here, we present a 50-year-old male, diagnosed as pleiomorhphic storiform MFH a of right arm who developed parenchymal pulmonary metastases and a mass lesion in left atrium. Patient had a downhill course and eventually succumbed.     

Dishevelled proteins are significantly upregulated in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Tumor Biology - Dishevelled (DVL) proteins are components of the Wnt signalling pathways, and increased expression is associated with various malignancies. Information on DVLs in chronic lymphatic...     

Comparison of clinical characteristics of opium-induced and independent major depressive disorder

Psychiatric disorders and among them depression are common in substance dependent patients. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical characteristics of those that appear to have substance-induced depression and those that have independent major depression. One-hundred eighty-four independent and 187 opium-induced (OID) depressed male patients that met the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder were randomly selected. Standard demographic data, including age, marital, employment and education status, were collected. The primary measure of depressive signs and symptoms was Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-21). The two groups were compared with each other for the HAMD total and subscales scores. The two groups were matched regarding age, educational level and marital status. Opium-induced depressed patients were more severely depressed and motor retarded and also they had more social and occupational problems. Gastrointestinal, sexual and somatic complaints were more common among them too. MDD patients had better insight than the other group. The results demonstrate that it is possible to differentiate between substance-induced and independent depression. Such differentiation might be important for establishing prognosis and optimal treatment.     

Antinociceptive,anti-inflammatory,and antipyretic properties of an aqueous extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dicranopteris linearis</Emphasis> leaves in experimental animal models

This study was performed out to establish the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties of an aqueous extract of Dicranopteris linearis leaves in experimental animals. The antinociceptive activity was measured using the abdominal constriction, hot plate, and formalin tests. The anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities were measured using the carrageenan-induced paw edema and brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia tests, respectively. The extract, obtained after 72 h soaking of the air-dried leaves in distilled water and then prepared in the doses of 13.2, 66.0, 132.0, and 660.0 mg/kg, was administered subcutaneously 30 min before subjecting the animals to the assays mentioned above. Generally, the extract, at all doses used, was found to have significant (P < 0.05) concentration-independent antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and anti-pyretic activity. In conclusion, the aqueous extract of D. linearis has antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity, supporting previous claims of its traditional use by the Malays to treat various ailments, particularly fever.     

Arterial compliance and vitamin E blood levels with a self emulsifying preparation of tocotrienol rich vitamin E

The tocotrienol vitamin E has potent antioxidant property, however absorption is low due to high lipid solubility. A self emulsifying preparation of tocotrienol rich vitamin E (SF-TRE) had been reported to increase their bioavailability. This randomized, placebo controlled, blinded end point clinical study aimed to determine the effects of 50, 100 and 200 mg daily of SF-TRE and placebo for two months on arterial compliance and vitamin E blood levels. Assessment of arterial compliance by carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AI), plasma vitamin E, serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were taken before and after 2 months' treatment in 36 healthy males. Un-supplemented tocotrienol levels were low, after treatment, all SF-TRE treated groups had significantly higher plasma alpha, delta and delta tocotrienol concentrations compared to placebo. Augmentation index change from baseline to end of treatment for groups placebo, 50, 100, and 200 mg were 2.22+/-1.54, -6.59+/-2.84, -8.72+/-3.77, and -6.27+/-2.67% respectively (p=0.049, 0.049, and 0.047 respectively). Groups 100 and 200 mg showed significant improvement after treatment with pulse wave velocity reductions of 0.77 m/s and 0.65 m/s respectively (p=0.007 and p=0.002). There was no effect of SF-TRE on serum lipids. We conclude that there was a trend towards improvement in arterial compliance with 2 months' of SF-TRE.