Investigation of Structural,Physical, and Attenuation Parameters of Glass: TeO2-Bi2O3-B2O3-TiO2-RE2O3 (RE: La,Ce, Sm,Er, and Yb), and Applications Thereof

A novel series of glass, consisting of B₂O₃, Bi₂O₃, TeO₂, and TiO₂ (BBTT) containing rare earth oxide RE₂O₃, where RE is La, Ce, Sm, Er, and Yb, was prepared. We investigated the structural, optical, and gamma attenuation properties of the resultant glass. The optical energy bands, the linear refractive indices, the molar refractions, the metallization criteria, and the optical basicity were all determined for the prepared glass. Furthermore, physical parameters such as the density, the molar volume, the oxygen molar volume, and the oxygen packing density of the prepared glass, were computed. Both the values of density and optical energy of the prepared glass increased in the order of La₂O₃, Ce₂O₃, Sm₂O₃, Er₂O₃, and then Yb₂O₃. In addition, the glass doped with Yb₂O₃ had the lowest refractive index, electronic polarizability, and optical basicity values compared with the other prepared glass. The structures of the prepared glass were investigated by the deconvolution of infrared spectroscopy, which determined that TeO₄, TeO₃, BO₄, BO₃, BiO₆, and TiO₄ units had formed. Furthermore, the structural changes in glass are related to the ratio of the intensity of TeO₄/TeO₃, depending on the type of rare earth. It is also clarified that the resultant glass samples are good attenuators against low-energy radiation, especially those that modified by Yb₂O₃, which exhibited superior shielding efficiency at energies of 622, 1170, and 1330 keV. The optical and gamma ray spectroscopy results of the prepared glass show that it is a good candidate for nonlinear optical fibers, laser solid material, and optical shielding protection.     

Anti-trypanosomal activity of African medicinal plants: A review update

Ethnopharmacological relevance

African trypanosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases caused by different species of trypanosomes that affect both human and livestock with devastating consequences in the continent. Most of the affected populations commonly use traditional medicinal plants for the treatment of the disease. Consequently, this prompted ethnopharmacological research activities on the anti-trypanosomal activity of a number of these African medicinal plants in order to validate their ethnomedicinal use. Furthermore, such studies could lead to the identification of chemical leads for the development of newer anti-trypanosomal agents from those plants. This review aims to provide updated information on the ethnopharmacological evidence of African medicinal plants with anti-trypanosomal activity.

Methods

Literature was collected via electronic search (PubMed, Sciencedirect, Medline and Google Scholar) from published articles that report on the in vitro or in vivo anti-trypanosomal activity of plants that were collected from different parts of Africa.

Results

African medicinal plants investigated for in vitro and in vivo anti-trypanosomal activity from January 1993 to October 2013 are systematically compiled and all the in vivo studies are critically discussed. A total of 264 plant species belonging to 79 families were investigated for anti-trypanosomal activity. However, only 48 bioactive anti-trypanosomal compounds were successfully isolated in pure forms. Furthermore, some of the plants were investigated for possible ameliorative effects on the trypanosome-induced pathological changes out of which 18 plants were reported to be effective while a few others were not. In spite of interesting preclinical ethnopharmacological evidence for anti-trypanosomal activity, not a single African medicinal plant was investigated in a clinical study.

Conclusion

Several African medicinal plants have demonstrated promising anti-trypanosomal effects but the studies on the anti-trypanosomal potentials of these plants are not taken beyond proof of concept stage. It is hoped that the article would stimulate future clinical studies because of the paucity of knowledge in this area.     

Concentration Dependent Effect of (−)‐Epicatechin on Na+/K+‐ATPase and Ca2+‐ATPase Inhibition Induced by Free Radicals in Hypertensive Patients: Comparison with L‐ascorbic Acid

Although the antioxidant properties of flavonoids are well documented, it is still unclear whether these effects are dependent on radical scavenging or iron chelating activities. Oxidative stress, a state of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity, is associated with vascular disease conditions such as hypertension. Both the anti‐ and pro‐oxidant effects of tea catechins have been implicated in the alterations of cellular functions that determine their chemoprotective and therapeutic potentials in health and diseases. The present study examined the concentration dependent (10^?7 to 10^?4 m ) effects of (?)‐epicatechin and L‐ascorbic acid on Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase and Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity in hypertensive patients and normal subjects. L‐ascorbic acid has been used as a positive control to compare the effect of (?)‐epicatechin. A significant (p < 0.0001) decrease in the activities of Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase and Ca²⁺‐ATPase was observed in hypertensive patients compared with normal subjects. We report that (?)‐epicatechin shows a significant (p < 0.001) dose‐dependent protective effect against oxidative stress induced by tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (t‐BHP), which is manisfested as a decrease in the activity of erythrocyte Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase and Ca²⁺‐ATPase, in hypertensive patients as well as normal subjects. The effect of L‐ascorbic acid was also significant (p < 0.001) and was comparable with that of (?)‐epicatechin. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bilateral uterine artery ligation via minilaparotomy for heavy menstrual bleeding

Objective

To assess the safety and short-term efficacy of bilateral uterine artery ligation (UAL) via minilaparotomy for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).

Methods

A prospective study of 30 women with HMB who underwent UAL. The primary outcome was cumulative treatment failure 12 months after the procedure. Treatment failure was defined as the need for hysterectomy during the follow-up period.

Results

At 12 months, 6 women had undergone hysterectomy for bleeding, for a cumulative failure rate of 20% (95% CI, 9%-38%). The number of bleeding days was significantly reduced by 11.9 ± 1.5 days (P < 0.001) and hemoglobin level significantly increased by 1.3 ± 0.15 g/dL (P < 0.001). Of the 30 women, 24 (80%) were satisfied with the results. No major complications were reported during the procedure or median follow-up period of 13.2 months.

Conclusion

Bilateral UAL is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure that can provide an alternative treatment for HMB.     

CYP1A1 gene polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome

The aim of this study was to assess the rates of variant alleles of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It was designed as a case-control study in Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Genetics. Forty-eight patients with PCOS served as the study group. Ninety-six regularly cycling women with no clinical and biochemical evidence of hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovary appearance served as the controls. The CYP1A1 variant alleles of all patients were determined via polymerase chain reaction. The rate of the CYP1A1 isoleucine (Ile)/valine (Val) allele was significantly higher in patients with PCOS than in the controls (OR: 7.8, 95% CI: 3.45-17.52, P < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of Val/Val genotype (OR: 4.0, 95% CI: 0.60-26.73). The rate of any Val genotype (Ile/Val or Val/Val) was significantly higher in patients with PCOS compared with the control group (OR: 7.4, 95% CI: 3.33-16.46, P < 0.001). In conclusion, the patients with PCOS had a 7.8-fold higher frequency of CYP1A1 Ile/Val genotype and a 7.4-fold higher frequency of CYP1A1 of any Val genotype (Ile/Val or Val/Val).     

Cryptococcosis masquerading as a tuboovarian abscess.

This report describes a 25-year-old human immunodeficiency virus- seropositive patient who initially presented with clinical features of a tuboovarian abscess. After a poor response to antibiotic therapy, laparotomy and excision of a right-sided, unilocular, pseudocystic ovarian mass measuring 140 x 80 x 60 mm were undertaken. Mucoid gelatinous material, with a glistening appearance and slimy consistency, coated the inner surface of the thick wall. The cyst contained clear, viscid fluid with a similar slimy consistency. Although the macroscopic diagnosis was that of an ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, histopathologic assessment confirmed a well-circumscribed pseudocystic cryptococcoma with a wall of granulation and fibrous tissue and compressed ovarian stroma. The inner surface was covered by large, paucireactive, extracellular "yeast lakes" of carminophilous Cryptococcus neoformans yeasts of varying shape and size. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documentation of ovarian cryptococcosis in the English language literature. Despite their rarity in the female genital tract, fungal infections must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with pelvic pain of obscure origin and a pelvic mass that is refractory to antibiotic therapy.     

Race, insurance status, and tubal sterilization

OBJECTIVE: To examine the independent effects of race or ethnicity and insurance status on use of tubal sterilization rates. METHODS: This study used cross-sectional data collected by the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. The survey is designed to represent women and men aged 15-44 years in the household population of the United States. Our main outcome measure was tubal sterilization at any time before interview. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the effects of race or ethnicity and insurance status on rates of tubal sterilization after adjusting for important confounders. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 7,643 women: 66% were white, 15% were Hispanic, and 14% were African American; 68% had private insurance and 32% had public or no insurance. After adjusting for age, insurance status, parity, income, education, marital status, and religion, African-American women were more likely than white women to undergo tubal sterilization (adjusted odds ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.88). After adjusting for age, race or ethnicity, parity, income, education, marital status, and religion, women with public or no insurance were more likely to undergo sterilization compared with women with private insurance (adjusted odds ratio 1.38, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.74). CONCLUSION: African-American women and women with no or public insurance were more likely to have undergone tubal sterilization compared with white women and women with private insurance, respectively. Additional research to identify factors that influence women's decision to undergo sterilization is warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.     

Marked hypocalcemia after tocolytic magnesium sulphate therapy

Symptomatic hypocalcemia has been reported infrequently in association with magnesium sulfate (MgSO (4)) tocolytic therapy. We report a 38-year-old woman who presented in preterm labor at 24 3/7 weeks. Twenty hours after starting MgSO (4), she developed chest pain. Studies revealed therapeutic serum Mg level, total serum calcium (Ca) = 5.5 mg/dL, 24-hour urine Ca = 763.9 mg, and low serum uric acid and phosphate levels. All studies corrected day 1 postpartum; urine Ca level corrected on day 2. Even short courses of MgSO (4) can result in severe hypocalcemia, raising the question of whether Ca levels should be routinely monitored.