Composition and antimicrobial activity of Achillea clavennae L. essential oil

The volatile constituents of Achillea clavennae L. (Asteraceae), rare plant of Europe, have been analysed using GC/MS. Twenty- five components making up 81.6% of the oil were characterized with camphor (29.5%), myrcene (5.5%), 1,8-cineole (5.3%), beta-caryophyllene (5.1%) and linalool (4.9%) being the major constituents. The essential oil was evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities. The screening of the antimicrobial activity of essential oil was conducted by a disc diffusion test against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis), Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis) and fungal organisms (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans). The activity was more pronounced against Gram-negative and fungal organisms than against Gram-positive bacteria. A. clavennae oil was found to possess antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and all fungal organisms.     

Superficial radiotherapy for patients with basal cell carcinoma: recurrence rates, histologic subtypes, and expression of p53 and Bcl-2

BACKGROUND: The histologic subtype of a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) may be an important factor for the success of a certain treatment modality. In the current article, the authors report recurrence rates among patients with BCC after superficial radiotherapy as well as Bcl-2 and p53 expression levels stratified by BCC subtype. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective study of 175 BCCs in 148 patients (64 female patients and 84 male patients; mean age, 69 years) who were treated with radiotherapy. According to their histologic patterns, BCCs were classified as nodular (n = 103), superficial (n = 25), and sclerosing (n = 47). In addition, six patients with metatypic BCC were reviewed. Bcl-2 and p53 protein expression was examined on a tissue microarray of 60 BCC samples (18 nodular tumors, 12 superficial tumors, and 30 sclerosing tumors). RESULTS: The estimated 5-year recurrence rate for all patients with BCC was 15.8%: 8.2% for patients with the nodular subtype, 26.1% for patients with the superficial subtype, and 27.7% for patients with the sclerosing subtype (Kaplan-Meier analysis: P = 0.055). The median follow-up was 48 months. The mean time to recurrence was 20 months, and 86.4% of all recurrences occurred within 3 years after treatment. No gender-specific differences were observed. In addition, one of six metatypic BCCs recurred. Nuclear p53 immunoreactivity and low Bcl-2 expression were significantly correlated with the sclerosing subtype. Overall, 61.5% of patients developed additional neoplasms during follow-up (76 developed additional BCCs, 15 developed squamous cell carcinomas, and 6 developed Bowen disease). CONCLUSIONS: The sclerosing subtype of BCC was a risk factor for recurrence after radiotherapy. In contrast, excellent results were achieved for patients with predominant nodular subtype. Nevertheless, radiotherapy may be the therapy of choice for patients with all BCC subtypes, depending on the individual patient's characteristics. Expression analyses confirmed that p53 and Bcl-2 levels may be used as indicators for the aggressiveness of a BCC subtype. Due to the high incidence of additional skin malignancies, patients with BCC need careful follow-up.     

Secondary radial head dislocation and dysplasia of the lateral condyle after elbow trauma in children

We report five cases of a rare complication of childhood fractures of the elbow region. The complication consists of posttraumatic dissolution of the lateral humeral condyle followed by secondary radial head overgrowth and dislocation. The initial injuries ranged from displaced lateral condyle fractures (three patients) to a supracondylar fracture and an open elbow dislocation. Dysplasia of the lateral humeral condyle was first noted 1 to 4 years after the trauma (mean, 2.5 years) and seemed to be caused by removal of the displaced fracture fragment in one patient, and possibly by malfixation and repeated surgical procedures in the others. Because of loss of motion, ulnar nerve irritation, and cosmetic deformities, corrective osteotomies had to be performed in four patients and additional radial head removal in two patients.     

Genotype phenotype correlation in a pediatric population with antithrombin deficiency

Inherited antithrombin (AT) deficiency is a rare autosomal dominant disorder, caused by mutations in the AT gene (SERPINC1). Considering that the genotype phenotype relationship in AT deficiency patients remains unclear, especially in pediatric patients, the aim of our study was to evaluate genotype phenotype correlation in a Serbian pediatric population. A retrospective cohort study included 19 children younger than 18 years, from 15 Serbian families, with newly diagnosed AT deficiency. In 21% of the recruited families, mutations affecting exon 4, 5, and 6 of the SERPINC1 gene that causes type I AT deficiency were detected. In the remaining families, the mutation in exon 2 causing type II HBS (AT Budapest 3) was found. Thrombosis events were observed in 1 (33%) of those with type I, 11 (85%) of those with AT Budapest 3 in the homozygous respectively, and 1(33%) in the heterozygous form. Recurrent thrombosis was observed only in AT Budapest 3 in the homozygous form, in 27% during initial treatment of the first thrombotic event. Abdominal venous thrombosis and arterial ischemic stroke, observed in almost half of the children from the group with AT Budapest 3 in the homozygous form, were unprovoked in all cases.

Conclusion: Type II HBS (AT Budapest 3) in the homozygous form is a strong risk factor for arterial and venous thrombosis in pediatric patients.

Activation of presynaptic group I metabotropic glutamate receptors enhances glutamate release in the rat spinal cord substantia gelatinosa

The activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) produces a long-term potentiation of sensory transmission in the substantia gelatinosa (SG) region of the spinal cord (Prog. Brain Res. 129 (2000) 115). The mechanism(s) responsible for the induction of this potentiation is not known. Using rat spinal cord slice preparation and patch-clamp recordings, here we show, that the activation of the group I mGluRs by (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG, 1 microM), the mGluR1/5 agonist, increased the frequency of both activity-dependent spontaneous EPSCs, and activity-independent miniature EPSCs (mEPSCs). However, DHPG did not affect amplitude of mEPSCs. The effects of DHPG were not seen in the presence of the preferential mGluR1 antagonist CPCCOEt (10 microM). On the other hand, 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (10 microM), a selective mGluR5 antagonist, blocked the DHPG facilitation present during the wash-out of the drug. This novel facilitating effect of the group I mGluR activation on glutamate release is the first report of a direct facilitatory action of both mGluR1 and mGluR5 subtypes on sensory transmission in the spinal cord SG region. These results indicate the potential contribution of synaptic activation of these facilitatory autoreceptors in plasticity of primary afferent neurotransmission.