Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Ileocecal Mesentery Mimicking Abdominal Lymphoma in Childhood: Report of Two Cases

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is an uncommon benign tumor located in various organs that can be misdiagnosed as a malignant neoplasm. We herein present two patients with ileocecal inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors. An abdominal mass was detected in a 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy who presented with paleness, fatigue, intermittent fever, and night sweating. The radiological findings confirmed a mass originating from the ileocecal region. The presumptive diagnosis was Burkitt’s lymphoma. The histopathological diagnosis was inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. After a surgical resection, all systemic symptoms rapidly resolved. Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a rare pseudosarcomatous clinical and pathological entity. Although this tumor is more commonly reported in the lung, it can be detected in extrapulmonary sites, including the mesentery. Because the choice of treatment for this tumor is conservative surgery, an accurate preoperative analysis is important to avoid any unnecessary aggressive surgical intervention or other therapeutic approaches.     

Rhinorrhoea from a frontal encephalocele after reduction of high intracranial pressure

Acquired non-traumatic frontal sinus encephaloceles are very rare lesions that are usually caused by a tumour or hydrocephalus. We present a 31-year-old woman with a frontal sinus encephalocele who developed rhinorrhoea after a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt to treat her hydrocephalus and underwent radiotherapy for a tectum tumour.     

Methyl gallate isolated from Mangifera pajang kernel induces proliferation inhibition and apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells via oxidative stress

Objective:To determine the lead bioactive compound in kernel extract of Mangifera pajang and its anti-cancer activity against human breast cancer cell lines with positive estrogen receptor(MCF-7).Methods:The methanolic extract of dried powder kernel of Mangifera pajang was exposed to column chromatography for isolation.The structural elucidation of the isolated compound was characterized using infrared,nuclear magnetic resonance,mass spectrometry.Furthermore,cytotoxicity,morphological changes,flow cytometry and cell cycle arrest analyses were performed to examine the mechanism of anti-proliferation and apoptosis induced by methyl gallate against MCF-7.Results:One compound was isolated from the methanolic extract of Mangifera pajang kernel and identified as methyl gallate.The flow cytometric results demonstrated induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells by three concentrations of methyl gallate.The cell cycle arrest showed a significant(P<0.05)decrease in cell progression at G2/M phase of MCF-7 after treatment with 100μM of methyl gallate.The cell percentage of early and late apoptosis was significant at 10 and 100μM of methyl gallate.Also,methyl gallate treatment induced up-regulation of reactive oxygen species levels in MCF-7 cells with a reduction in superoxide dismutase levels.Conclusions:These findings indicate that isolated methyl gallate from Mangifera pajang kernel extracts induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells via up-regulating oxidative stress pathway.     

Ginger (zingiber officinale) might improve female fertility: A rat model

Background

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a well known and extensively used antioxidant in traditional remedies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of ginger powder on ovarian folliculogenesis and implantation in rats.

Corrigendum

Corrigendum

Corrigendum     

Polypyrrole/tannin biobased nanocomposite with enhanced electrochemical and physical properties

In this research, tannin (TA) extracted from Acacia mangium and a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), were used to modify and enhance the physical and electrochemical properties of a polypyrrole (PPy) composite. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis presented a higher degree of surface area and porosity for the PPy/TA/CTAB nanocomposite. A highly porous and rod like structure with a lumpy surface was observed for PPy/TA prepared in the presence of CTAB by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Cyclic voltammograms of the modified SPE electrode using PPy/TA/CTAB displayed an enhanced current response compared to the electrode modified with only PPy or PPy/TA. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) exhibited a lower value of charge transfer resistance (R_ct) and higher electron transfer for the modified electrode, making the nanocomposite a promising candidate for biosensor application.

Tannin (TA) extracted from Acacia mangium and a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), were used to modify and enhance the physical and electrochemical properties of polypyrrole (PPy) composite.     

Quantitative assessment of thyroid gland elasticity with shear-wave elastography in pediatric patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Objective

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune thyroid disorder in the pediatric age range. Measurement of thyroid gland size is an essential component in evaluation and follow-up of thyroid pathologies. Along with size, tissue elasticity is becoming a more commonly used parameter in evaluation of parenchyma in inflammatory diseases. The aim of the current study was to assess thyroid parenchyma elasticity by shear-wave elastography in pediatric patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; and compare the elasticity values to a normal control group.

Materials and methods

In this study; thyroid glands of 59 patients with a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis based on ultrasonographic and biochemical features, and 26 healthy volunteers without autoimmune thyroid disease and thyroid function disorders, were evaluated with shear-wave elastography. Patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis were further subdivided into three categories based on gray-scale ultrasonography findings as focal thyroiditis (grade 1), diffuse thyroiditis (grade 2), and fibrotic thyroid gland (grade 3).

Results

Patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (n = 59) had significantly higher elasticity values (14. 9 kPa; IQR 12.9–17.8 kPa) than control subjects (10.6 kPa; IQR 9.0–11.3 kPa) (p < 0.001). Of the 59 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, 23 patients had focal thyroiditis involving less than 50% of the gland categorized as grade 1, 24 patients had diffuse involvement of the thyroid gland categorized as grade 2, and 12 patients had marked hyperechoic septations and pseudonodular appearance categorized as grade 3 on gray-scale ultrasound. Based on elastography, grade 3 patients had significantly higher elasticity values (19.7 kPa; IQR 17.8–21.5 kPa) than patients with grade 2 (15.5 kPa; IQR 14.5–17.8 kPa) and grade 1 thyroiditis (12.8 kPa; IQR 11.9–13.1 kPa) (p < 0.05). Patients with grade 2 thyroiditis had significantly higher elasticity values than those with grade 1 thyroiditis (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Gray-scale ultrasound findings of heterogeneous echotexture and hypoechoic echogenicity reflect a longer duration of inflammation and may not be found in the initial stages of thyroiditis. Our results indicate that shear-wave elastography could be used to evaluate the degree of fibrosis in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

     

Molecularly imprinted ‘traps’ for sulfonylureas prepared using polymerisable ion pairs

A novel approach towards recognition of sulfonylureas based on a polymerisable ion pair is presented. A solution association constant >10⁵ M⁻¹ between the model target glibenclamide and 4-vinylbenzyltrimethylammonium methacrylate is measured, and the formation of 1 : 1 complexes verified. Subsequently prepared stoichiometrically imprinted polymers exhibit exceptionally high affinity and binding capacity for glibenclamide, owing to synergistic binding of both the neutral and deprotonated form of the drug by the ion pair monomer. The polymers are applied to the selective extraction of glibenclamide from blood serum samples, achieving recoveries of up to 98% and demonstrating excellent long-term stability, negating the need for regular sorbent regeneration.

Polymerisable ion pair captures both neutral and anionic form of acidic sulfonylurea drug in stoichiometrically imprinted polymer.     

Compliance With Dyslipidemia Guidelines in Daily Practice: How Effective Is Cardiovascular Risk Prevention?

Purpose

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to atherosclerosis is the leading cause of early mortality and morbidity. The current European guidelines on CVD prevention in clinical practice recommend the use of the Systematic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE) system. The current American Heart Association guidelines recommend the use of the new pooled cohort risk assessment equations to estimate the 10-year atherosclerotic CVD risk. The purpose of this article was to investigate the compliance of dyslipidemia guidelines in daily practice in patients with dyslipidemia or who have risk factors for CVD.