Chronic exposure to methadone induces activated microglia and astrocyte and cell death in the cerebellum of adult male rats

Metabolic Brain Disease - Methadone is a centrally-acting synthetic opioid analgesic widely used in the methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) programs throughout the world. Considering its neurotoxic...     

Paradoxical Anti-Diabetic Effect of Lantana camara Leaf Extract and Pancreatic Oxidative Stress Relieved by Grape Seed and Skin Extract

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) is a medicinal plant largely used in folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases, but it is also a highly noxious weeds...     

Successful treatment of a patient with multicolored nevus of Ota using a combination of 1064 and 532 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers

ABSTRACT

Nevus of Ota (NO) is a hamartoma of dermal melanocytes usually presents as unilateral blue, gray or brown macules or patches. It can impose a high burden of cosmetic and psychological disturbances in affected individuals. Q-Switched lasers appear to be an effective treatment for this kind of dermal melanocytosis. Multicolored Ota nevus is a rare variant of this kind of nevus and its treatment may be more challenging compared with unicolor lesions. Herein we report a 21-year-old woman with a multicolored nevus of Ota (blue and brown), which showed a dramatic response to a combination of 1,064 nm and 532 nm Q-Switched Nd:YAG lasers. We also discuss different aspects of the Q-switched laser application of Ota nevus treatment. We also focus on laser combination therapy to treat the nevus of Ota.     

Role of microperimetry in evaluating disease progression in age-related macular degeneration: a scoping review

International Ophthalmology - Recent research has found variable evidence on the role of mesopic and dark-adapted scotopic microperimetry assessment in age-related macular degeneration. This...     

Synthesis and analgesic activity of new 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and 1,2,4-triazoles

A series of new 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and 1,2,4-triazoles were synthesized in order to obtain new compounds with potential analgesic activity. Compounds were evaluated for their analgesic activities by formalin-induced nociception test. Mefenamic acid (as the reference drug) did not show any activity in the early phase of the formalin test, while compounds 7b, 7c, 8c, and 9a significantly reduced the nociception in this phase. However in the late phase of formalin test all of the target compounds and mefenamic acid showed analgesic activity in comparison to control.     

Evaluation of coexistence of the Human Herpesvirus type 8 (HHV‐8) infection and pemphigus

Background Human Herpesvirus type 8 (HHV‐8) is a new member of the herpes virus family, first found in the tissue of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)‐related Kaposi’s sarcoma. Environmental factors including viral infection may play a role in the onset and/or development of pemphigus. Some studies based on polymerase chain reaction findings suggest an association between HHV‐8 and pemphigus. The aim of this study is investigation of the association of pemphigus with HHV‐8 and the relationship between inflammatory and acantholytic cells with HHV‐8 infection. Methods Tissue‐extracted DNA from 41 paraffin‐embedded skin tissues from patients first presenting with pemphigus was tested using nested PCR for the presence of HHV‐8. A total of 37 cases had pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and 4 patients had pemphigus foliaceus (PF). For our control group, normal skin of 21 cosmetic surgery patients were included. Furthermore, microscopic slides with H&E staining were evaluated for the number of inflammatory and acantholytic cells per microscopic field. Results Skin lesions from 13 of 37 patients (35.1%) with PV and 2 of 4 cases (50%) with PF were positive for HHV‐8 DNA. All specimens in our control group were negative for this virus. Conclusion HHV‐8 infection might be a contributing factor in the initiation or development of pemphigus.     

Correlation between the Levels of Certain Carcinogenic and Anticarcinogenic Trace Elements and Esophageal Cancer in Northern Iran

Levels of four carcinogenic (Ni, Fe, Cu, Pb) and four anticarcinogenic (Zn, Se, Mn, Mg) trace elements were measured in hair samples from esophageal cancer patients, their unaffected family members, and members of families with no history of cancer. Measurements were also made in non-esophageal cancer patients, using atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-emission spectroscopy, and neutron activation analysis. The results showed that Ni and Cu concentrations were significantly higher and Mg and Mn concentrations were significantly lower in all cancer cases. Levels of Zn, Fe, Se, and Pb were not significantly different in the above-mentioned groups. In addition, the serum albumin fraction, which is reported to have antioxidant activity, was found to be significantly lower among esophageal cancer patients.     

Subdiaphragmatic bronchogenic cyst masquerading as an "adrenal incidentaloma"

A subdiaphragmatic, retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst arising from the stomach is reported in a patient who was referred for evaluation of what was thought to be an adrenal tumor. To our knowledge, less than 20 cases of retroperitoneal bronchogenic cyst have been reported in the English literature. A bronchogenic cyst may be indistinguishable from an adrenal tumor and, although rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a retroperitoneal mass.