Differential assessment of the health status of preschool children in risk groups]

Health status of the underschool children from the second health group, which with having some morphofunctional changes, (503 persons) was studied. The key changes were postural, cardiovascular, neuropsychic changes. The lysozyme level in saliva is the informative index related to the health status of underschool children.     

Chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of the leaf essential oil of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eugenia zuchowskiae</Emphasis> from Monteverde,Costa Rica

The leaf essential oil of Eugenia zuchowskiae from Monteverde, Costa Rica, has been obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC–MS. The principal constituents of E. zuchowskiae leaf oil were α-pinene (28.3%), β-caryophyllene (13.2%), α-humulene (13.1%), and α-copaene (8.1%). The leaf essential oil of E. zuchowskiae showed pronounced in-vitro cytotoxic activity against MCF-7, MDA-MB-468, and UACC-257 human tumor cell lines. The major components showed cytotoxic activities comparable to doxorubicin (LC₅₀ 14–70 μg/ml).     

Therapeutic effect of phenolic compounds isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhododendron ungernii</Emphasis> leaves

The sum of phenolic compounds was obtained from the leaves of Caucasian endemic plant Rhododendron ungernii (Trautv.) in the amount of 7%. The extract contains flavonoids, catechins, and anthocyanidins, in particular, quercetin, isoquercetin, quercitrin, hyperin, rutin, (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, (+)-gallocatechin, and leucoanthocyanidins. The sum of phenolic compounds from Rhododendron ungernii completely inhibits Herpes simplex virus reproduction in a bioassay. A new medicinal preparation (Rhodopes) in the form of a 5% ointment was created on the basis of this extract and tested under clinical conditions at a dental clinic and three other specialized medical departments. The results showed a high therapeutic efficacy: Rhodopes favorably influenced the state of patients and caused neither mucosa irritation nor allergic and other adverse reactions. Rhodopes has received State Registration and is recommended for the treatment of all forms of herpetic disorders. __________ Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 10–13, January, 2007.     

The Effect of Monomers and of Micellar and Vesicular Forms of Non-ionic Surfactants (Solulan C24 and Solulan 16) on Caco-2 Cell Monolayers

Measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) test and monitoring of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) transport have been used to study the effects of the non-ionic surfactants Solulan C24 and Solulan 16, either free in solution or as an integral part of niosome bi-layers, on intestinal epithelial cells from man (Caco-2 cell monolayers). The effects on epithelial integrity and on the transport of the hydrophilic drug metformin depend on the concentration of the surfactants. At concentrations above 1% the effect on TEER of the surfactant in niosomal form and free in solution were equivalent whereas cell viability was preserved to a higher concentration of Solulans when the Solulans were present in the niosomal form. It was concluded that the toxic effect of niosomes arises from free surfactant present in the niosome suspension.     

Extensive pectoral muscle necrosis after defibrillation: nonthermal skeletal muscle damage caused by electroporation

A 37-year-old Italian male developed a myocardial infarct with subsequent ventricular fibrillation. He was defibrillated seven times with up to 360 Joules. Thirteen days later the patient died of recurrent myocardial infarct due to thrombotic occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery. At autopsy, necrosis of the right pectoralis muscle was observed. Electroporation is the pathogenetic mechanism of skeletal muscle damage due to multiple defibrillations with high energy levels. Received: 8 January 1998 Accepted: 15 April 1998