Immunological effect of aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina and a known immune booster called immunace® and their admixtures on HIV/AIDS clients: a comparative study

Objective

To investigate the immunological effect of Vernonia amygdalina (V. amygdalina) leaf extract and immunace^® on HIV infected patients taking highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Methods

Fresh V. amygdalina leaves were collected within Nsukka area in Enugu State. The leaves were rinsed with distilled water. Two handful of cleaned fresh leaves were soaked in 200 mL water and squeezed gently by hand to a mixture. Clients were divided into four groups and each group was given different combination. They took the medication for four weeks. The immune effect was tested against marketed immune booster in some retroviral clients.

Results

The mean absolute CD4 count was increased in the client who took the extract or supplement. And the clients who took both the extract and supplement had a greater increase in the CD4 count. The increased CD4 was significant as compared with the control group (P<0.05). The skin rashes were also improved in the entire groups.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that the aqueous extract of V. amygdalina and immunace or both have immunological effect on HIV infected patients. Therefore, we suggest that the V. amygdalina extract or immunace or both could be used as adjuvant in the management of HIV/AIDS clients.     

Effects of Cardiomyoplasty on Cardiac Growth in Rats

A bstract Background and aim of the study : Cardiomyoplasty (CMP) has been proposed as a treatment for pediatric patients, but restriction of cardiac growth by the muscle wrap is a potential source of concern. This possibility was investigated in an immature animal model. Methods : Six-week-old rats (body weight 203.8 ± 5.4 g, mean ± SEM) underwent either left thoracotomy with CMP (group I, n = 7), or thoracotomy without CMP (group II, n = 8). A third group (group III, n = 7) served as untreated controls. Final measurements were made 20 weeks later after body weights had reached a plateau. Results : Preoperative body weights were not significantly different between the groups. At elective sacrifice, the body weights of animals that underwent surgery did not differ significantly (group I, 558.0 ± 21.5 g and group II, 617.3 ± 20.3 g), but were significantly less than those of control animals (727.6 ± 13.3 g, p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Cardiac ventricular weights in the CMP group were significantly less than those of control animals (group I, 1.21 ± 0.06 g; group III 1.45 ± 0.04 g; p < 0.01), but were not statistically different from those of the sham thoracotomy group (group II, 1.36 ± 0.05 g). Mean left ventricular end-diastolic volumes were similar in all groups (group I, 0.67 ± 0.07 mL; group II, 0.66 ± 0.07 mL; and group III, 0.69 ± 0.10 mL; p = ns). Conclusions : A major surgical procedure impairs growth in juvenile rats. No evidence emerged from this study for additional restriction of cardiac development due to cardiac wrapping. However, studies that include stimulated muscle wraps are needed before CMP should be considered for the pediatric age group.     

Evaluation of the systematic set-up errors using electronic portal image device in the radiotherapy procedures

Objective： The aim of this work was to quantify the extent of set-up errors to conduct a quality assurance （QA） aspect of treatment delivery, verification of the treatment field＇s position on different days using electronic portal. Methods： This study was carried out on 12 patients, treated for pelvis tumor; and total of 240 images obtained by electronic portal image device （EPID） were analyzed. The EPIs acquire using EPID attached to the Siemens linear accelerator. The anatomy match- ing software （Theraview） was used and displacement in two dimensions were noted for each treatment field to study patient setup errors. Results： The percentages of mean deviations less than 5 mm in X direction were 65% ＆ 92%, from 5-10 mm were 31% ＆ 19% and more than 10 mm were 11% ＆ 9% forNP and lateral direction respectively. The percentages of mean deviations less than 5 mm in Y direction were 65% ＆ 63%, from 5-10 mm were 33% ＆ 28% and more than 10 mm were 22% ＆ 29%. The mean deviations in 2D-vector errors were 〈 5 mm in 47% and 46%, 5-10 mm in 36% and 37% and 〉 10 mm in 37% and 37% of images in the NP and lateral direction respectively. Conclusion： The results revealed that the ranges of set up errors are immobilization method to improve reproducibility. The observed variations were not within the limits..     

大鼠坐骨神经分支选择结扎切断模型的建立及脊髓背脚N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体检测

目的采用免疫组织化学方法,观察SNI模型大鼠脊髓背角神经元NMDAR的表达。方法健康雄性SD大鼠15只,随机分为3组：对照组（C1组）、假手术组（C2组）和生理盐水组（NS组）,每组5只。C1组不做任何处理,其他2组均根据改良Yaksh法进行鞘内置管。置管5d后,NS组按Woolf等方法建立神经病理性疼痛模型（SNI）,C2组除不损伤神经外处理同NS组;制模2d后,C2组和NS组用微量注射器鞘内注射20μL生理盐水,然后用生理盐水冲管（共20μL）。在30min后,C2组、NS组均进行疼痛行为学观察。3组均在注药后2h处死大鼠,用免疫组化法观察大鼠腰5节段水平脊髓背角NMDAR的表达。结果C1组和C2组在各时点均无机械性异常疼痛出现,热刺激后爪退缩潜伏时间差异也均无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;NS组在SNI手术后第1天和第2天出现明显的痛觉过敏（机械性异常疼痛痛阈降低）,与C1组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）,但对热刺激的后爪退缩潜伏时间与C1组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;NS组大鼠脊髓背角NMDAR免疫阳性细胞数量与C1及C2组比较明显增加,两者之间差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;NS组的脊髓背角NMDAR免疫阳性细胞数密度值与C1,C2组相比显著增高（P〈0.05）,NS组的阳性细胞光密度值较C1组和C2组增高（P〈0.05）。结论SNI模型可引起大鼠损伤侧肢体机械性痛觉过敏,但对热刺激不敏感;SNI模型引起大鼠脊髓背角神经元NMDAR表达上调。     

Dynamic probabilistic model for determination of optimal timing of surveillance chest radiography in pediatric Hodgkin disease

A dynamic probabilistic model based on hazard rate analysis, Monte Carlo modeling, and lead-time estimation techniques was developed to determine the optimal timing and frequency of chest radiography in the monitoring for relapse of children with treated Hodgkin disease. The analysis incorporates the performance characteristics of chest radiography, the natural history of the disease process, and therapeutic efficacy as a function of earliness of detection in the determination of optimal strategy. Examples of the model applied to the experiences of Stanford Medical Center and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital illustrate the utility of such a model in customizing an optimal monitoring strategy for a specific institution and clinical experience. The results suggest that monitoring protocols significantly overutilize chest radiography in the evaluation for recurrent Hodgkin disease in children.