Analysis of bioactive compounds using LC–ESI–MS/MS,cytotoxic, antimicrobial effects,and enzyme activities from Cyclotrichium origanifolium

Cyclotrichium origanifolium is a medicinal plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. In this study, phenolic content analysis, antimicrobial effects, and cytotoxic effects of extracts of C. origanifolium were investigated. In the extracts, phenolic compound analysis by the liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry method, antimicrobial effect by the minimum inhibition concentration method, and cytotoxic effect on human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), glioblastoma cell (U87), ovarian adenocarcinoma cell (Skov-3), and human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell (CaCo-2) cancer cell lines were investigated. Cytotoxicity analyses were performed by the MTT method. In addition, the GST and AChE enzyme activities of the extracts were also measured. Around 18 compounds were detected in both the methanol and ethanol extract. It was found that the best antimicrobial effect on Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa was on methanol extract, while the ethanol extract was on Candida albicans fungus (respectively, 2.50 mg/ml, 5.0 μg/ml). A 500 μg/ml of methanol extract has been shown to have cytotoxic activity high effect on HDF cells. GST and AChE activity were found to decrease in a concentration-dependent manner.     

The antioxidative and antihistaminic properties of quercetin in ethanol-induced gastric lesions

The role of reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of acute ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions and the effects of quercetin were evaluated in an experimental model. In addition, the effects of quercetin on gastric damage were evaluated histopathologically. Rats were divided into three groups as control rats, ethanol treated rats and ethanol+quercetin treated rats. Ethanol group was given a gastric gavage containing 1 ml of 80% ethanol (v/v) prepared in distilled water. Quercetin (200 mg/kg body wt.) was given by intragastric gavage 120 min before the administration of ethanol. Gastric tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels, carbonyl compounds, histamine levels and myeloperoxidase activities were found to be increased in ethanol treated rats and quercetin treatment reversed these increases. No statistically significant changes were found between all groups in catalase activity. The superoxide dismutase activity dropped significantly after ethanol treatment and quercetin treatment increased this enzyme activity. Gastric damage was confirmed histomorphometrically by significant increases in the number of mast cells and gastric erosions in ethanol treated rats. It was also confirmed that quercetin treatment significantly decreased the number of mast cells and reduced the area of gastric erosions. The results suggest that the gastroprotective effect of quercetin in this experimental model could be due to its antiperoxidative, antioxidant and antihistaminic effects.     

Influence of self-reported snoring and witnessed sleep apnea on gestational hypertension and fetal outcome in pregnancy

Introduction  

Hormonal and physical changes during pregnancy are associated with some sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD) such as snoring and sleep apnea, and SRBD are associated with recurrent episodes of oxyhemoglobin desaturation and increased sympathic activity. We aimed to search the incidence of self-reported snoring and witnessed apnea in the third trimester of pregnancy and to analyze their influence on fetal outcome and gestational hypertension (GH).     

Unusual scalp metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma

Metastatic tumors presenting as soft tissue lesions are relatively rare, and can be the source of diagnostic confusion both clinically and histopathologically. We present a case of an 82-year-old woman with complaints of painless swelling in the right temporo-occipital junction for 3 months, and with unusual scalp metastasis of thyroid follicular carcinoma. Use of histopathological examinations are significant for determining the tumor type, and arriving at the exact and correct diagnosis.     

The platelet activating factor acetyl hydrolase,oxidized low-density lipoprotein,paraoxonase 1 and arylesterase levels in treated and untreated patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Purpose

To evaluate the platelet activating factor acetyl hydrolyze (PAF-AH), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), paraoxonase 1 (PON1), arylesterase (ARE) levels and the effects of metformin and Diane-35 (ethinyl oestradiol + cyproterone acetate) therapies on these parameters and to determine the PON1 polymorphisms among PCOS patients.

Methods

Ninety patients with PCOS, age 30, and body mass index-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups: metformin treatment, Diane-35 treatment and no medication groups. The treatment with metformin or Diane-35 was continued for 6 months and all subjects were evaluated with clinical and biochemical parameters 6 months later. One-way Anova test, t test and non-parametric Mann–Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

PAF-AH and ox-LDL levels were statistically significantly higher in untreated PCOS patients than controls, and they were statistically significantly lower in patients treated with metformin or Diane-35 than untreated PCOS patients. In contrast, there were lower PON1 (not statistically significant) and ARE (statistically significant) levels in untreated PCOS patients than the control group and they significantly increased after metformin and Diane-35 treatments. In PCOS patients serum PON1 levels for QQ, QR and RR phenotypes were statistically significantly lower than the control group.

Conclusion

In patients with PCOS, proatherogenic markers increase. The treatment of PCOS with metformin or Diane-35 had positive effects on lipid profile, increased PON1 level, which is a protector from atherosclerosis and decreased the proatherogenic PAF-AH and ox-LDL levels.     

Sporadic inclusion body myositis: Pathogenic considerations

Sporadic inclusion body myositis is the commonest acquired disease of skeletal muscles after 50 years of age, and as such it has commanded a great deal of attention of investigators over the past 25 years. As a result, a large amount of information has accumulated concerning its clinical profile, myopathology, and immunopathology. In the myopathology and immunopathology, there is general agreement that the characteristic features could be divided into a degenerative and an inflammatory group. However, there has been controversy about the possible role of these changes in the pathogenesis of muscle fiber damage. In particular, there is no agreement whether a cause‐and‐effect relationship exists between these two groups of changes, and if so, which is the primary one. In this brief overview, we examine the validity of the various controversial observations and critically review the justification for the two major hypotheses for the primary role of inflammation versus degeneration. Ann Neurol 2009;65:7–11     

An examination of the relationship between low vision and Charles Bonnet syndrome

Objective: In recent years, the Low Vision Clinic (LVC) appeared to have a large percentage of patients admitting to phantom vision (Charles Bonnet syndrome [CBS]). The objective of this study was to learn more about CBS from an ophthalmological perspective, as research has been conducted primarily by other specialists.Design: Large-scale prospective study using a cohort of low-vision and normal-vision subjects.Participants: Two hundred fifty-eight low-vision and 251 control subjects (with little or no vision loss) were enrolled.Methods: A comparison of visual acuity, ophthalmic conditions, eye treatments, medications, mental state, general health, socialization, etc., was undertaken, and other factors influencing the hallucinations were recorded.Results: CBS was present in 34% of LVC subjects and in <2% of the general population with little or no vision loss. Many subjects had unformed hallucinations; bright lights or spot-like images should not be overlooked because they could be determined to be hallucinations upon further questioning of the patient. CBS occurred in subjects with visual acuity from 20/40 to 20/1600; subjects were twice as likely to have CBS if their visual acuity was between 20/301 and 20/800.The prevalence of CBS did not differ significantly by cause of visual problem. Thirty-four percent of people were distressed about their initial hallucination; many did not consult a doctor for an explanation, and if they did, many did not receive an adequate explanation.Conclusions: This large-scale study shows that CBS is connected with a low vision level; thus, patients should be told about the common possibility of hallucinations.