A possible association of recurrent streptococcal infections and acute onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Rheumatic fever is an immunologically mediated disease that follows infection by group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS). In rheumatic fever, antibodies generated against GABHS cross-react with the heart, joints, skin, and other sites, inducing an inflammatory, multisystem disease. Brain tissue-specific antibodies have been demonstrated in a subset of children with Sydenham chorea (a component of the Jones criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatic fever), and most Sydenham chorea patients manifest obsessive-compulsive symptoms very similar to those in traditional obsessive-compulsive disorder. The parallels drawn from the paradigm of Sydenham's chorea to Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) is an area of active controversy. Newly emerging information on the role of GABHS superantigens in the pathogenesis of rheumatic fever is of particular interest. In this article, we review the microbial characteristics of GABHS and the subsequent immune responses to GABHS as a possible etiology of PANDAS.     

Simulation and its role in medical education

Medical education is increasingly laying emphasis on a curriculum based on cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains of learning which were originally proposed nearly 50 years ago. These reforms are framed around best standards of care, error management and patient safety, patient autonomy, and resource allocation. There is a worldwide shift in the method of medical education towards experiential (‘hands-on’) medical learning; however, applying this concept to real patients is less acceptable to society and is subject to legal and ethical issues.     

A Laboratory Investigation into Oviposition Responses of Aedes aegypti to Some Common Household Substances and Water from Conspecific Larvae

Background

The surveillance of Dengue vector – Aedes aegypti, is routinely done by using ovitraps (a dark container filled with water and a wooden paddle/towel cloth provided as a oviposition substrate), which indicates the extent of Aedes activity in an area.

Method

The study evaluated the oviposition responses of laboratory bred gravid Aedes aegypti to commonly available household substances by use of ovitrap method.

Results

Oviposition avoidance or deterrence was exhibited by gravid Aedes to ovitraps baited with salt, fenugreek, vinegar, lime juice, hibiscus leaves, radish and curry leaves, whereas positive oviposition response was noticed to waters from conspecific (of the same species) larvae and cumin seeds baited ovitraps.

Conclusion

The study findings may be utilized by researchers for further chemical analysis of the active ingredients of the substances found promising with a view to explore the possibility of their use by community and individuals for Aedes surveillance and control.Key Words: Aedes, Dengue, Oviposition deterrence/attraction     

Novel polymeric derivatives of betulin with anticancer activity

In order to provide novel polymeric biomaterials for chemotherapeutic purposes, in this paper we described the synthesis and the characterization of the physicochemical properties of a betulin-based polyanhydride exhibiting anti-cancer effects. The polyanhydride was obtained by a melt polycondensation of a disuccinate betulin (3,28-di-O-succinyl betulin), and was thoroughly characterized through ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, correlation spectroscopy, heteronuclear single quantum correlation, size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry and FT-IR spectroscopy. It was confirmed, that the obtained polyanhydride undergoes hydrolytic degradation, releasing disuccinate betulin as a degradation product. Polyanhydride of a disuccinate betulin was tested for cytostatic activity against a wide range of cancer cell lines (HeLa, MCF-7, A-549, U-87MG, KB and HepG2), proving its efficiency in inhibiting the growth of selected cancer cells. To realize the concept of an easily administrated drug release system, polyanhydride was fabricated in a form of micro- (1–30 μm) and nanospheres (∼400 nm) by using an emulsion solvent evaporation method. The micro- and nanospheres were characterized by SEM.

In order to provide novel polymeric biomaterials for chemotherapeutic purposes, in this paper we described the synthesis and the characterization of the physicochemical properties of a betulin-based polyanhydride exhibiting anti-cancer effects.