A case of extensive linear porokeratosis with evaluation of topical tretinoin versus 5-flourouracil as treatment modalities

A 19-year-old male presented with linear raised lesions over extensive areas of his body that followed Blaschko's lines. The lesions were asymptomatic with ridged borders. Histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of porokeratosis. He was given topical tretinoin and topical flourouracil for local application on specified areas. The cosmetic acceptability and the safety profile of tretinoin were found to be better than those of flourouracil. However, both the agents were equally efficacious. A rare case of extensive porokeratosis with comparative evaluation of two treatment modalities is hereby presented.     

Bilateral infundibulopelvic stenosis without renal insufficiency: Is surgery necessary?

The following case describes the clinical course of a patient with bilateral infundibulopelvic stenosis from her initial presentation at age 2 through the age of 14 years. This condition is associated with hypoplasia of segments of the upper collecting system and is characterized by dilated calyces that drain through stenotic infundibulae. Our patient is unique in that, although her renal function has slowly deteriorated with time, she has a persistently non-obstructive pattern on dynamic imaging studies. Only a minority of patients reported in the literature with this condition progress to renal insufficiency or failure. Although some patients have undergone surgery for presumed obstruction, surgical intervention has no proven benefit. Patients are at risk for hyperfiltration injury and should be followed for the development of hypertension, proteinuria and renal insufficiency. Without evidence of obstruction, medical management remains the cornerstone of treatment.     

Preparation and evaluation of a new erythromycin derivative -- erythromycin taurate

Erythromycin taurate, a new derivative of erythromycin, was prepared by reacting erythromycin base with tauric acid and its physico-chemical and biological properties were evaluated. The derivative has reasonably good solubility in organic solvents. The partition coefficient values in chloroform/water 1.17 and octanol/water 1.16 systems indicate its good distribution in various tissues in vivo. The in vitro antimicrobial potency of the derivative (833.33 microg mg(-1)) is higher than that of the existing derivatives such as erythromycin estolate, erythromycin stearate, erythromycin ethyl succinate, erythromycin gluceptate, erythromycin lactobionate. The antimicrobial spectrum is comparable to that of the parent compound. Our results indicate that erythromycin taurate has a high potential for possible clinical application and is more efficient against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae than the parent base.     

In vitro studies of endophytic fungi from Tripterygium wilfordii with anti-proliferative activity on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

An array of endophytic fungi which habitat in a Chinese medicinal plant, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., (TWHf) were isolated and tested for their suppressive activity on phytohemaglutinin (PHA) stimulated proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Out of the 343 isolates, representing 60 different morphotypes, were screened. Amongst the screened fungi, only 15 isolates showed anti-proliferative activity. Ethyl acetate extracts of Pestalotiopsis leucoth?s, Mucor sp. Verticillium sp. or Pestalotiopsis disseminata, in particular, significantly inhibited the proliferation at doses between 0.12 and 500 microg/ml (stimulation index (S.I.) ranges 0.01-0.70) (P < 0.001-0.05). IC50 values of these four fungal extracts were between 0.75-0.80 +/- 0.12 microg/ml. Trypan blue exclusion test and visual examination of cell morphology demonstrate that the anti-proliferative effect of these extracts was not a sequential consequence of their cytotoxicity. Nevertheless, fungal extracts of Acremonium sp. A and C, Pestalotiopsis suffocata, Morphotype sp. 4 and 5 show a much higher cytotoxic effects on PBMC. Our results indicate that some fungal extracts contain significant amount of immunomodulatory principles.     

Synergistic effect of methanol extract of Abies webbiana leaves on sleeping time induced by standard sedatives in mice and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts in rats

During the determination of LD50 values of extracts of Abies webbiana, it was observed that the methanol extract (MEAW) produces sedation of animals. This led to investigation of the effect of MEAW on sleeping time in mice. When various doses of the methanol extract (100, 150, and 200 mg/kg body weight) were administered alone, no hypnotic activity was observed. However, these exhibited significant synergistic effects (P < 0.001) at those dose levels in mice when administered prior to the administration of standard sedatives (pentobarbitone sodium: 50 mg/kg and diazepam: 6 mg/kg, respectively). In addition anti-inflammatory effects of methanol, chloroform, and petroleum ether extracts of Abies webbiana leaves in rats were performed to assess scientific validity of the medicinal claim of Indian folk medicine. The effects of leaf extracts (methanol, chloroform, and petroleum ether) against inflammation were studied by carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats. The methanol extract (400 mg/kg p.o.) of leaves of Abies webbiana showed the best significant anti-inflammatory activity as compared to that of diclofenac sodium (150 mg/kg p.o.). The LD50 values of methanol, chloroform, and petroleum ether extracts were found to be 986, 1387, and > 3200 mg/kg, respectively. Thus, the therapeutic index of methanol extract may be favorable to open a new vista on combination therapy of hypnotics and may also against inflammation.