Chronic pelvic pain syndrome: Highlighting medicinal plants toward biomolecules discovery for upcoming drugs formulation

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) can be triggered by a various types of gynecological, gastrointestinal, urological, and musculoskeletal disorders. Recently, the role of the central nervous system has proven to be an integral part on the development of any chronic pain syndrome, including CPPS. However, owing to the complex and heterogeneous etiology and pathophysiology of CPPS, the establishment of effective therapeutic interventions remains challenging for both physicians and patients. Nonetheless, recent studies have pointed that medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites can be effectively used in CPPS therapy, besides contributing to restore the patients' quality of life and potentiate the conventional CPPS management. In this sense, this review aims to provide a careful overview on the biomedical data for the use of medicinal plants use and their secondary metabolites on CPPS management.     

Areca catechu—From farm to food and biomedical applications

The family Arecaceae includes 181 genera and 2,600 species with a high diversity in physical characteristics. Areca plants, commonly palms, which are able to grow in nearly every type of habitat, prefer tropical and subtropical climates. The most studied species Areca catechu L. contains phytochemicals as phenolics and alkaloids with biological properties. The phenolics are mainly distributed in roots followed by fresh unripe fruits, leaves, spikes, and veins, while the contents of alkaloids are in the order of roots, fresh unripe fruits, spikes, leaves, and veins. This species has been reputed to provide health effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, metabolic, gastrointestinal, and reproductive systems. However, in many developing countries, quid from this species has been associated with side effects, which include the destruction of the teeth, impairment of oral hygiene, bronchial asthma, or oral cancer. Despite these side effects, which are also mentioned in this work, the present review collects the main results of biological properties of the phytochemicals in A. catechu. This study emphasizes the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and clinical effectiveness in humans. In this sense, A. catechu have demonstrated effectiveness in several reports through in vitro and in vivo experiments on disorders such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, or anticancer. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that this species presents clinical effectiveness on neurological disorders. Hence, A. catechu extracts could be used as a bioactive ingredient for functional food, nutraceuticals, or cosmeceuticals. However, further studies, especially extensive and comprehensive clinical trials, are recommended for the use of Areca in the treatment of diseases.     

Rosmarinus plants: Key farm concepts towards food applications

Rosmarinus species are aromatic plants that mainly grow in the Mediterranean region. They are widely used in folk medicine, food, and flavor industries and represent a valuable source of biologically active compounds (e.g., terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids). The extraction of rosemary essential oil is being done using three main methods: carbon dioxide supercritical extraction, steam distillation, and hydrodistillation. Furthermore, interesting antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial, anthelmintic, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, antidepressant, and antiamnesic effects have also been broadly recognized for rosemary plant extracts. Thus the present review summarized data on economically important Rosmarinus officinalis species, including isolation, extraction techniques, chemical composition, pharmaceutical, and food applications.     

Determination of intimin and Shiga toxin genes in Escherichia coli isolates from gastrointestinal contents of healthy broiler chickens in Kerman City, Iran

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains have emerged as food poisoning pathogens which can cause severe diseases in humans. Poultry can be readily and persistently colonized, leading to the excretion of the STEC strains in the gastrointestinal contents and becoming a potential risk for human infection. Two hundred and ninety E. coli isolates were recovered from the cecum and jejunum contents of 145 broiler chickens during the slaughter. The isolates were examined to determine the phylotypes and prevalence of stx1, stx2, and eae genes. E. coli isolates were segregated in four main phylogenetic group A (60.69 %), B1 (8.62 %), B2 (9.31 %), and D (21.38 %). The isolates from the cecal contents belonged to A (68.27 %), B1 (1.38 %), B2 (13.10 %), and D (17.24 %) phylogenetic groups. The E. coli isolates from the contents of the jejunum indicated that the isolates were distributed in four phylogenetic groups including 53.11 % (77 isolates) in A, 15.86 % (23 isolates) in B1, 5.52 % (8 isolates) in B2, and 25.51 % (37 isolates) in D group. Nine isolates (3.10 %) were positive for eae and stx2 genes. None of the isolates contained the stx1 gene. The positive isolates were distributed in three phylo-groups and four phylogenetic subgroups A (A₀, A₁), B1, and D (D₁, D₂). The four eae- and stx2-positive isolates from the cecal contents belonged to A₀, A₁, and D₁ phylo-subgroups; whereas five eae- and stx2-positive isolates from the jejunum contents fell into A₀, A₁, and D₁ phylo-subgroups and B1 phylo-group.     

Percutaneous Excisional Biopsy of Palpable Breast Masses under Ultrasound Visualization

Abstract:   A palpable breast mass is a common reason for surgical consultation. Our goal was to determine whether ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted core biopsy (US-VACB) is safe and effective in completely removing presumed benign palpable breast masses. We conducted a cohort study of 201 consecutive patients with presumed benign palpable masses who underwent removal with US-VACB. The main outcome measured was the successful removal of palpable masses. Palpable masses were successfully removed with US-VACB in 99% of cases; 2% were cancer and 7.5% were atypical ductal hyperplasia or phyllodes tumor. Two clinical recurrences representing a seroma were seen on follow-up. US-VACB is safe and effective in the initial diagnosis and management of presumed benign palpable breast masses. It provides the benefits of percutaneous biopsy and the palpable abnormality no longer remains.      

Longitudinal Tissue Velocity and Deformation Imaging in Inferobasal Left Ventricular Aneurysm

Background: Longitudinal myocardial tissue velocity imaging (TVI) and strain rate imaging (SRI) quantify regional myocardial function. We aimed to measure TVI and SRI indices for inferobasal aneurysmal segments by echocardiography at rest. Method: Sixteen patients with inferobasal left ventricular (LV) aneurysm, LV ejection fraction (EF) ≤50%, and 14 normal coronaries with normal echocardiography (control group) were studied. In SRI, peak systolic strain (ST), strain rate (SR), and pattern of strain curves and in TVI, peak systolic inward motion (Sm) were evaluated all at rest. Ascending curve means systolic expansion and descending means shortening. Results: LVEF was significantly lower in the patient group. Mean ST, SR, and Sm of inferobasal segment showed significant difference between patient and control groups; for ST: 1.45 ± 7.18% versus ?17.64 ± 7.45%, P < 0.0001; SR: ?0.25 ± 0.26 versus ?1.44 ± 0.64 sec^?1, P < 0.0001; and Sm: 3.85 ± 1.26 versus 5.56 ± 1.28 cm/sec, P = 0.006, respectively. All inferobasal aneurysmal segments had ascending curve while normal segments showed a descending curve. In patient group, aneurysmal segments had significantly reduced ST and SR compared to normal segments. Normal functioning segments of patients showed significant reduction of ST and SR compared to normal LV segments in control subjects. The range of SR and ST for inferobasal aneurysmal segments did not overlap with that of the normal segments (?0.60, 0.19 and ?3.00, ?0.80 sec^?1 for SR, and ?8.30, 23.30 and ?35.30, ?10.00% for ST, respectively). Conclusion: SRI indices were significantly reduced in inferobasal aneurysmal segment in comparison with either the same segment in normal subjects or normal functioning segments in the same patients. SR and ST may be superior to Sm in the evaluation of inferobasal aneurysmal segments. (Echocardiography 2010;27:803‐808)     

Huge Varicose Inferior Mesenteric Vein: an Unanticipated 99m Tc-labeled Red Blood Cell Scintigraphy Finding

Ectopic varices (EcV) are enlarged portosystemic venous collaterals, which usually develop secondary to portal hypertension (PHT). Mesocaval collateral vessels are unusual pathways to decompress the portal system. Here we report the case of a huge varicose inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) that drained into perirectal collateral veins, demonstrated by ^99mTc-labeled red blood cell (RBC) scintigraphy performed for lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in a 14-year-old girl. This case illustrates the crucial role of ^99mTc-labeled RBC scintigraphy for the diagnosis of rare ectopic lower GI varices.     

The first successful pregnancy following injection of testicular round spermatid in Iran

The authors report the healthy delivery of the first successful round spermatid injection in Iran. The male was a 40-year-old with nonobstructive azoospermia whose previous testicular biopsy revealed only round spermatids. The wife was a 29-year-old healthy woman.