Assessment of the Antimetastatic Activity of Extracts of Filipedula ulmaria Depending on Extractant

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - Three extracts were produced from the above-ground part of the meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. using water, 40% ethanol, and 70% ethanol. Comparative...     

Haemophilic Pseudotumour: Surgical Management of a Rare Case

Haemophilia is a common cause of genetically inherited bleeding disorders. Pseudotumours occur in 1–2 % of persons with severe forms of haemophilia. These are a result of repeated haemorrhage into soft tissues, subperiosteum or a site of bone fracture with inadequate resorption of the extravasated blood. There are a number of therapeutic alternatives for this dangerous condition: surgical removal, percutaneous management, irradiation, embolization etc. In this case report, we describe the natural history, clinical course and successful surgical management of a patient with haemophilia who presented with a massive pseudotumour. We also briefly review the relevant literature on the various therapeutic modalities that have been implemented in the management of this rare complication. Though surgeons may be averse to operate on haemophiliacs, primary surgical management as done in our case may prove to be the definitive treatment option for such patients.     

Prejudice and the Plate: Effects of Weight Bias in Nutrition Judgments

As millions of people turn to social media for health information, better understanding the factors that guide health-related judgments and perceptions in this context is imperative. We report on two Web experiments (n > 400 total) examining the power of society’s widespread weight bias and related stereotypes to influence nutrition judgments in social media spaces. In Experiment 1, meals were judged as lower in nutritional quality when the person who recommended them (the source) was depicted as obese rather than of normal weight, an effect mediated by stereotypic beliefs about the source as a generally unhealthy person. Experiment 2 replicated this effect, which—notably—remained significant when controlling for objective nutritional information (calories and fat content). Results highlight spillover effects of weight bias that extend beyond person perception to color impressions of objects (here, food) that are associated with stigmatized attributes. Implications for everyday nutrition judgments and public health are considered.     

Can EGFR mutation status be reliably determined in pre‐operative needle biopsies from adenocarcinomas of the lung?

The identification of EGFR mutations in non‐small‐cell lung cancer is important for selecting patients, who may benefit from treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The analysis is usually performed on cytological aspirates and/or histological needle biopsies, representing a small fraction of the tumour volume. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of this molecular test. We retrospectively included 201 patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the lung. EGFR mutation status (exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R point mutation) was evaluated on both pre‐operative biopsies (131 histological and 70 cytological) and on the surgical specimens, using PCR. Samples with low tumour cell fraction were assigned to laser micro‐dissection (LMD). We found nine (4.5%) patients with EGFR mutation in the lung tumour resections, but failed to identify mutation in one of the corresponding pre‐operative, cytological specimens. Several (18.4%) analyses of the pre‐operative biopsies were inconclusive, especially in case of biopsies undergoing LMD and regarding exon 21 analysis. Discrepancy of mutation status in one patient may reflect intra‐tumoural heterogeneity or technical issues. Moreover, several inconclusive results in the diagnostic biopsies reveal that attention must be paid on the suitability of pre‐operative biopsies for EGFR mutation analysis.