MDR-selective microbial-based therapy: A novel approach to cancer treatment

Microbial-based therapy of cancer is one of the earliest non-surgical anticancer therapies. The main limitation of such therapies is the toxicity of the therapeutic dose. This article discusses a novel approach that exploits cancer multidrug resistance (MDR) to provide a safer microbial-based therapy. As multidrug resistant cells can only contain limited amounts of a variety of susceptible drugs including certain antibiotics, we can take advantage of MDR to create a micro-environment (antibiotic free) that favors growth of intracellular bacteria within cancer cells. Thus, this approach targets cancer cells and spares normal cells (shielded by antibiotic): providing a more selective thus safer anticancer treatment. This article also explores the potentials of Chlamydia pneumoniae as an anti-cancer agent in this MDR-selective microbial-based therapy: its unique life cycle and the immune response to its infection suggest that it could be used directly, in the proposed approach, without any pre-requirements.     

Neuroprotective effect of carnosine in the olfactory bulb after vanadium inhalation in a mouse model

Carnosine (β‐alanyl‐L‐histidine) is synthesized in the olfactory system, has antioxidant activity as a scavenger of free radicals and has been reported to have neuroprotective action in diseases which have been attributed to oxidative damage. In neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, impairment of olfactory function has been described. Vanadium derivatives are environmental pollutants, and its toxicity has been associated with oxidative stress. Vanadium toxicity on the olfactory bulb was reported previously. This study investigates the neuroprotective effect of carnosine on the olfactory bulb in a mice model of vanadium inhalation. Male mice were divided into four groups: vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) [0.02 mol/L] inhalation for one hour twice a week; V₂O₅ inhalation plus 1 mg/kg of carnosine administered daily; carnosine only, and the control group that inhaled saline. The olfactory function was evaluated using the odorant test. Animals were sacrificed four weeks after exposure. The olfactory bulbs were dissected and processed using the rapid Golgi method; cytological and ultrastructural analysis was performed and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured. The results showed evidence of olfactory dysfunction caused by vanadium exposure and also an increase in MDA levels, loss of dendritic spines and necrotic neuronal death in the granule cells. But, in contrast, vanadium‐exposed mice treated with carnosine showed an increase in dendritic spines and a decrease in neuronal death and in MDA levels when compared with the group exposed to vanadium without carnosine. These results suggest that dendritic spine loss and ultrastructural alterations in the granule cells induced by vanadium are mediated by oxidative stress and that carnosine may modulate the neurotoxic vanadium action, improving the olfactory function.     

Lower eyelid swelling as a late complication of Bio-Alcamid filler into the malar area

PurposeTo report the late complications associated with permanent filler injections into the malar area for rejuvenation.MethodsA retrospective case series of three patients who presented with lower eyelid swelling several years following injection of polyalkylimide (Bio-Alcamid) into the malar area.ResultsAll patients presented with lower eyelid swelling which developed as a result of spontaneous migration of filler to the lower eyelid. Iatrogenic migration of the filler from the lower eyelid following a trial to remove resulted in an abscess formation which further complicated the removal.ConclusionsLower eyelid swelling may be one of the late complications associated with the permanent fillers into the malar area. An attempt at removal of filler by aspiration or bimanual expression may result in late migration of the product and the development of eyelid swelling.     

Migrating foreign body into the common carotid artery and internal jugular vein – A rare case

Ingested foreign bodies are a fairly common otorhinolaryngological emergencies encountered in Malaysia. The vast majority of these foreign bodies are fish bones which most commonly are impacted at the level of the cricopharynx. Rarely, however, a foreign body may migrate extraluminally and may even extrude subcutaneously. We report a rare occurrence where a fish bone not only migrated extraluminally, it was found to have migrated into the common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein and required surgical removal.     

Refining the Baveno VI elastography criteria for the definition of compensated advanced chronic liver disease

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Lack of crucial role of mast cells in pathogenesis of experimental colitis in mice

Mast cell alterations have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic ulcerative colitis (UC). We studied the effect of mast cell deficiency on the severity of inflammation in a murine model of colitis. Colitis was induced in mice using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Mast-cell-deficient mice (WBB6F₁/J-W/W^v;N=17) and normal littermates (WBB6F₁/J-+/+;N=17) were administered DSS 4% w/v for seven days, then water alone for one week, followed by 5% DSS for six days. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the protocol. Segments of proximal, mid-, and distal colon of each animal were processed for histopathological examination. Mortality and morbidity (diarrhea and weight loss) for each group were assessed. There was no significant difference between the two groups in either their clinical parameters (mortality and morbidity) or the severity of colitis as graded histopathologically. Our findings suggest that mast cells are not crucial for the development of DSS-induced colitis.