Picroliv accelerates epithelialization and angiogenesis in rat wounds

Tissue repair and wound healing are complex processes that involve inflammation, granulation and tissue remodeling. Angiogenesis plays a central role in wound healing. Earlier, we have shown that picroliv, a natural product obtained from the roots of Picrorhiza kurrooa, up-regulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and of insulin-like growth factor in rats during hypoxia. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of picroliv in an ex vivo rat aorta ring model of angiogenesis. Picroliv enhanced the sprouting and migration of endothelial cells. We also investigated punch wound healing on days 4 and 7 after wounding by histology, morphometry and collagenization. The data showed improved re-epithelialization, neovascularization and migration of various cells such as endothelial, dermal myofibroblasts and fibroblasts into the wound bed after picroliv treatment. Immunohistochemical localization showed increased VEGF and alpha smooth muscle actin staining consistent with an increased number of microvessels in granulation tissue. These findings suggest that picroliv could be developed as a therapeutic angiogenic agent for the restoration of the blood supply in diseases involving inadequate blood supply such as limb ischemia, ischemic myocardium and wound healing.     

Genital tuberculosis

Three cases of tuberculosis of the penis are reported. The first two cases were papulonecrotic tuberculids over the glans penis and the third case was tuberculous ulcer of the penis. In the first 2 cases, no focus of tuberculosis infection could be detected. The third case had pulmonary tuberculosis. All our patients responded to treatment with antituberculosis drugs.     

Green tea polyphenols and its constituent epigallocatechin gallate inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Tea [Camellia sinensis (Theaceae)] intake is second only to water in terms of worldwide popularity as a beverage. The Green tea polyphenols have been shown to have a protective effect in prostate cancer in various pre-clinical animal models and has been reported to be effective in several other cancer types as well. An inverse association between the risk of breast cancer and the intake of green tea has also been reported in Asian Americans. Several epidemiological studies have shown that breast cancer progression is delayed in the Asian population that consumes green tea on regular basis. In this study, we report the effectiveness of green tea polyphenols (GTP) and its constituent Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) in tumor regression using both in-vitro cell culture models and in vivo athymic nude mice models of breast cancer. The anti-proliferative effect of GTP and EGCG on the growth of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell was studied using a tetrazolium dye-based (MTT) assay. Both GTP and EGCG treatment had the ability to arrest the cell cycle at G1 phase as assessed by flow cytometry. The expression of Cyclin D, Cyclin E, CDK 4, CDK 1 and PCNA were down regulated over the time in GTP and EGCG treated experimental group, compared to the untreated control group as evaluated by western blot analysis for cell cycle proteins, which corroborated the G1 block. Nude mice inoculated with human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and treated with GTP and EGCG were effective in delaying the tumor incidence as well as reducing the tumor burden when compared to the water fed and similarly handled control. GTP and EGCG treatment were also found to induce apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation when the tumor tissue sections were examined by immunohistochemistry. Our results suggest that GTP and EGCG treatment inhibits proliferation and induce apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells in-vitro and in-vivo. All together, these data sustain our contention that GTP and EGCG have anti-tumor properties.     

Abscess mimicking pre-cervical and submandibular cystic hygroma in a newborn

Pre-cervical inflammation is rarely seen in a newborn. Those swellings that are seen are usually congenital, such as vascular malformations, teratoma, dermoid cyst, thyroglossal cyst, cystic hygroma (abnormal lymphatic tissue), and very rarely, inflammation secondary to infection. Being able to differentiate between each condition is important because the course, treatment and prognosis for each condition are different. This case of a neck abscess in a newborn is reported due to its resemblance to cystic hygroma and highlights the similarities between the two conditions.     

Synthesis and electrochemical investigation of oligo-(arylenevinylenes) intended for the preparation of two-dimensional polymer networks

Four phenylenevinylene oligomers (1–4) have been synthesized and characterized by cyclic voltammetry, absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL). Two of the oligomers contain a tri-substituted central benzene ring, while one contains a tetra-substituted central ring. These oligomers were prepared in an effort to increase hole and electron mobility in organic materials via extension of conjugation to two dimensions. Optical and electrochemical evidence is given for significant interactions of the alkoxy-substituted styryl units of 3 that are attached to the central benzene ring in meta positions. The tetra-substituted oligomer (4) also exhibits strong interactions between the pair of para substituted arms. The photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield for the tetra-substituted oligomer is high, indicating that it is an excellent candidate for the active layer in organic light-emitting diodes.     

The safety and efficacy of OP-1 (rhBMP-7) as a replacement for iliac crest autograft for posterolateral lumbar arthrodesis: minimum 4-year follow-up of a pilot study.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although autogenous bone is still considered to be the gold standard graft material for promoting spinal fusion, other bone graft substitutes have been developed in an attempt to improve arthrodesis rates and avoid the complications associated with the procurement of autograft. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) represent a family of osteoinductive growth factors that are known to stimulate the osteoblastic differentiation of stem cells. Osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) Putty is a commercially available BMP preparation that is already approved for use in humans. Previous clinical studies involving patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis have reported that the efficacy and safety of OP-1 Putty is comparable to that of autograft at both 1- and 2-year follow-up. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intermediate-term efficacy and safety of OP-1 Putty as an alternative to autogenous bone by comparing the 4-year radiographic, clinical, and safety data of these same patients who underwent decompression and uninstrumented fusion with either OP-1 Putty or iliac crest autograft. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical pilot study. PATIENT SAMPLE: Thirty-six patients undergoing decompressive laminectomy and single-level uninstrumented fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis and symptomatic spinal stenosis were randomized in a 2:1 fashion to receive either OP-1 Putty (24 patients) or autogenous iliac crest bone graft (12 patients). OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient-reported outcome measures consisting of Oswestry Disability Index and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) scores were used to evaluate clinical efficacy. Perioperative data including operative time, estimated blood loss, and duration of hospital stay were also recorded for each surgery. Postoperatively, a neurological examination and an assessment of donor-site pain (if applicable) were performed at every follow-up visit. Radiographic fusion success was defined as the presence of continuous bridging bone formation between the transverse processes at the level of the spondylolisthesis with minimal motion evident on dynamic lateral x-ray films. The primary efficacy endpoint was the overall success rate, a composite measure derived from both radiographic and clinical parameters. The safety of OP-1 Putty was confirmed by comparing the nature and frequency of all adverse events and complications that were prospectively observed in either of the groups. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and symptoms of neurogenic claudication underwent decompressive laminectomy and single-level uninstrumented fusion with either OP-1 Putty or autograft. All patients were evaluated at 6 weeks and 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months, after which time they were instructed to return on a yearly basis. Multiple neuroradiologists blinded to the assigned treatment reviewed static and dynamic X-ray films with digital calipers to assess fusion status according to the presence of continuous bridging bone across the transverse processes as well as the amount of residual motion evident at the level of interest. Oswestry Disability Index surveys and SF-36 questionnaires were used to assess clinical outcomes. RESULTS: At the 48-month time point, complete radiographic and clinical data were available for 22 of 36 patients (16 OP-1 Putty and 6 autograft) and 25 of 36 patients (18 OP-1 Putty and 7 autograft), respectively. Radiographic evidence of a solid arthrodesis was present in 11 of 16 OP-1 Putty patients (68.8%) and 3 of 6 autograft patients (50%). Clinically successful outcomes defined as at least a 20% improvement in preoperative Oswestry scores were experienced by 14 of 19 OP-1 Putty patients (73.7%) and 4 of 7 autograft patients (57.1%); these clinical findings were corroborated by similar increases in SF-36 scores. The respective overall success rates of the OP-1 Putty and autograft group were 62.5% and 33.3%. In this study, there were no incidents of local or systemic toxicity, ectopic bone production, or other adverse events directly related to the use of OP-1 Putty. CONCLUSION: Despite the challenges associated with obtaining a solid uninstrumented fusion in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis, the rates of radiographic fusion, clinical improvement, and overall success associated with the use of OP-1 Putty were at least comparable to that of the autograft controls for at least 48 months after surgery. These results appear to validate the short-term results previously reported for OP-1 Putty and suggest that this material may potentially represent a viable bone graft substitute for certain fusion applications.     

Association between circulating white blood cell count and long-term incidence of age-related macular degeneration: the Blue Mountains Eye Study

Inflammatory processes are implicated in the development and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, there are limited data on longitudinal associations between systemic markers of inflammation and AMD. The authors examined the prospective relation between the circulating white blood cell (WBC) count and early and late AMD in a population-based cohort of 3,654 participants, aged 49-97 years, in the Blue Mountains region, Australia. The main outcome of interest was the 10-year incidence of early and late AMD among individuals free from corresponding disease at the baseline (1992-1994). An elevated baseline WBC count was associated with early AMD incidence, independent of smoking and other major confounders. The multivariable relative risk comparing tertile 3 of WBC count (>6.7 x 10(9) cells/liter) with tertile 1 (相似文献   

Clinical review 153: Lipodystrophy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major global health problem. Recently, combination therapy including HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs) has dramatically improved the long-term survival of HIV-infected patients. However, such therapy is associated with a lipodystrophy syndrome characterized by selective loss of sc fat from the face and extremities and, in some patients, accumulation of fat around the neck, dorsocervical region, abdomen, and trunk. Lipodystrophy in HIV-infected patients (LDHIV) is associated with insulin resistance and its metabolic complications such as impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia and low serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. PIs appear to be the strongest link to LDHIV; however, fat loss has been reported in some patients taking non-PI antiretroviral drugs. Other factors, such as duration of HIV infection, age, and gender, may also contribute to the risk of development of LDHIV. The molecular basis of LDHIV remains unknown. There is no specific therapy for LDHIV. Avoiding weight gain by reducing energy intake and increasing physical activity may be beneficial in reducing fat accumulation as well as improving metabolic complications. Antihyperglycemic drugs may be used to treat diabetes. Management of dyslipidemia may require lipid-lowering drugs; however, the safety and efficacy of such intervention require further studies. Substitution of PIs with other antiretroviral drugs can mitigate dyslipidemia and glucose intolerance, but whether reversal of lipodystrophy occurs remains unknown. Future research is needed to discover the biochemical and molecular markers of lipodystrophy in HIV patients and develop PIs or other antiretroviral agents that are free of metabolic toxicity.