Salivary duct carcinoma of the parotid gland: the cytohistological features

A 62-year-old man presented with rapidly growing tumour in the right parotid region with associated pain and facial nerve palsy. Based on the fine needle aspiration cytology report of high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma, parotidectomy was performed which showed features of salivary duct carcinoma. The smears were reviewed to identify the potential pitfalls in the cytological diagnosis of salivary duct carcinoma.     

Inhibition of microglial activation attenuates the development but not existing hypersensitivity in a rat model of neuropathy

Microglia, the intrinsic macrophages of the central nervous system, have previously been shown to be activated in the spinal cord in several rat mononeuropathy models. Activation of microglia and subsequent release of proinflammatory cytokines are known to play a role in inducing a behavioral hypersensitive state (hyperalgesia and allodynia) in these animals. The present study was undertaken to determine whether minocycline, an inhibitor of microglial activation, could attenuate both the development and existing mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia in an L5 spinal nerve transection model of neuropathic pain. In a preventive paradigm (to study the effect on the development of hypersensitive behaviors), minocycline (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg intraperitoneally) was administered daily, beginning 1 h before nerve transection. This regimen produced a decrease in mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia, with a maximum inhibitory effect observed at the dose of 20 and 40 mg/kg. The attenuation of the development of hyperalgesia and allodynia by minocycline was associated with an inhibitory action on microglial activation and suppression of proinflammatory cytokines at the L5 lumbar spinal cord of the nerveinjured animals. The effect of minocycline on existing allodynia was examined after its intraperitoneal administration initiated on day 5 post-L5 nerve transection. Although the postinjury administration of minocycline significantly inhibited microglial activation in neuropathic rats, it failed to attenuate existing hyperalgesia and allodynia. These data demonstrate that inhibition of microglial activation attenuated the development of behavioral hypersensitivity in a rat model of neuropathic pain but had no effect on the treatment of existing mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia.     

New dihydropyridine derivatives: anti-inflammatory, analgesic and docking studies

The present article describes synthesis of new diethyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(4-(2-substituted amino-2-oxoethoxy) phenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylates (6a–10b) following multistep synthetic route. Structures of newly synthesized intermediates and title compounds were established by spectral and elemental analyses. The final compounds were screened for their in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities by carrageenan-induced paw oedema and tail immersion methods, respectively. Moreover, molecular docking studies were carried out for active compounds 6c, 6d, 7d, 8 and 10b to study their mode of action, meanwhile in vivo results indicated that these compounds displayed rapid onset of anti-inflammatory action and exhibited prominent activity when compared with the standard drug. Compounds 6d and 7d carrying amide functionality showed the highest anti-inflammatory as well as analgesic activities. The molecular docking results emphasised the in vivo data and all docked molecules were found to display very low binding constant values in nanomolar scale.     

Design, synthesis and docking studies of quinoline-oxazolidinone hybrid molecules and their antitubercular properties

New series of quinoline-oxazolidinone hybrid molecules were synthesized based on the preliminary docking studies. All the newly synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral analyses. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their antimycobacterial properties based on the promising preliminary antibacterial screening results. Amongst tested compounds, compounds 8a, 8j and 13a were active at 0.65 μg/mL against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv strain. The mode of action of these active compounds was carried out by docking of receptor enoyl-ACP reductase with newly synthesized candidate ligands 8a, 8j and 13a. These compounds exhibited well established bonds with one or more amino acids in the receptor active pocket. From the docking studies, compound 8j was considered to be the best inhibitor.     

Reciprocal interactions between spontaneous and respiratory arousals in adults with suspected sleep-disordered breathing

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a major consequence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in adults. In snoring children, spontaneous and respiratory arousals display reciprocal interactions, allowing for development of a new quantitative measure, the sleep pressure score (SPS), which provides intra-polysomnographic estimates of sleep pressure/disruption. The aim of the present study was to assess the interactions between respiratory and spontaneous arousals in adults with suspected SDB, and to examine whether the SPS and the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) are correlated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 530 adult patients who underwent polysomnographic evaluation for suspected SDB in two medical centers was performed. Polysomnographic studies reports, patients' demographics and ESS scores were reviewed. RESULTS: Spontaneous and respiratory arousal indices and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) displayed negative and positive correlations respectively (r=-0.25, r=0.97, P<0.0001) indicating reciprocal interactions between respiratory and spontaneous arousals during sleep. The AHI corresponding to the SPS at which the respiratory arousal/total arousal fraction exceeded the spontaneous arousal/total arousal fraction occurred at approximately 14/h of total sleep time (TST) (compared to 7/h TST in children) (P<0.001). No correlation was found between SPS values and ESS scores. CONCLUSIONS: As in children, snoring adults exhibit reciprocal interactions between respiratory and spontaneous arousals that can also be expressed as a single quantitative measure, the SPS, which is highly dependent on the severity of SDB and could possibly serve as a more reliable index of sleep disruption, considering that the ESS is unrelated to either SPS or AHI.     

Antiulcer potential of the ethanolic extract of Aerva persica Merrill root in rats

The ethanol extract of the roots of Aerva persica (Burm f) Merrill (Amaranthaceae) was investigated to determine its antiulcer and in vivo antioxidant activities in albino Wistar rats. Ulcers were induced by ethanol and pylorus ligation. The extract was administered at the dose of 200 mg/kg orally, p.o. for 15 consecutive days. The ulcer index of the ethanol extract was found to be significantly reduced compared with control animals. The effect was also assessed by determining the free acidity, pepsin activity, total carbohydrate (TC), and protein content (PK) in control, standard, and test group animals. The in vivo antioxidant activity was evaluated by determining the reduced glutathione level (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the tissue homogenates. The results reveal the significant reduction in the level of malondialdehyde and the increase in the level of reduced glutathione in the rats that received the ethanolic extract. Furthermore, histopathological studies have shown that pretreatment with the ethanolic extract of the roots of A persica reduces (100%) ethanol- and pylorus ligation-induced hemorrhagic necrosis in rats.     

A Study of the Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Other Markers of Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Disease in Patients With Rosacea

Objective : Recent reports have suggested that patients with rosacea, a chronic inflammatory skin disorder of unknown etiology, have an increased prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, no causal relation has been identified. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and upper gastrointestinal symptoms in rosacea patients and in subjects without chronic skin disorders. Methods : Forty-five patients with rosacea and 43 healthy subjects underwent serological testing for H. pylori infection. Demographics, gastrointestinal symptoms, and medication use were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Results : There was no significant difference in the sero-prevalence of H. pylori infection between rosacea patients and healthy subjects (26.7% vs 34.9%;   p = 0.40  ). Significantly more patients with rosacea complained of indigestion (66.7% vs 32.6%;   p = 0.001  ) and used antacids (60% vs 32.6;   p = 0.01  ). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of H. pylori infection between symptomatic and asymptomatic rosacea patients, or in those using antacids. There were no differences in the frequency of heartburn, history of peptic ulcer disease, family history of peptic ulcer disease, use of H2-receptor antagonists, or use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Conclusions : Patients with rosacea have similar rates of H. pylori infection as healthy subjects. Rosacea patients complain significantly more frequently of "indigestion" and use more antacids unrelated to H. pylori infection.     

miRNA dysregulation in ischaemic stroke: Focus on diagnosis,prognosis, therapeutic and protective biomarkers

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in both developing and developed countries. Biomarkers for stroke and its outcome can greatly facilitate early detection and management of the disease. miRNAs have been explored for their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and brain injury in ischaemic stroke. A substantial body of evidence suggests that miRNAs play key roles in numerous cellular changes following ischaemic stroke including mitochondrial dysfunction, energy failure, cytokine‐mediated cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, activation of glial cells, increased intracellular calcium levels inflammatory responses and disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In addition, targeting specific miRNAs, therapeutic modulation of brain injury and apoptosis can also be achieved. Therefore, the current review has been compiled within an aim to give an overview of the developments exploiting miRNAs at different stages of stroke as prognostic, diagnostic, protective and therapeutic biomarkers.