New anthraquinone dimer from the root bark of Cassia artemisioides (Gaudich. Ex. DC) Randell

The phytochemical investigation of the root bark of Cassia artemisioides (Gaudich. Ex. DC) Randell resulted in the isolation of one new anthraquinone 1,1'-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethyl-8,8'-dimethoxy-6,6'-O-bianthraquinone (1) along with four known anthraquinones 1,6-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-3-methylanthraquinone (2), 1-hydroxy-8-methoxy-3-methylanthraquinone (3), 1,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-methylanthraquinone (4), and 1,6,8-trihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone (5). The structures of the compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques including 1D and 2D NMR. The compounds were evaluated for antioxidant activity. 1,6,8-Trihydroxy-3-methyl anthraquinone (5) showed good activity among the tested compounds.     

Epithelial Molecular Markers in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Despite the modest improvements in patient survival from colorectal cancer in the last few decades, the overall five-year survival rate remains at 40 to 45 percent. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment for colorectal cancer; however, nearly one-half of all patients who undergo a potentially curative resection will relapse because of undetected micrometastasis. The fact that the overall survival rate remains poor strongly suggests that the dissemination of these cells occurs early in the disease process and emphasizes the need for finding feasible diagnostic methods with sufficient sensitivity and specificity. The most commonly used technique for the detection of nucleic acid material of disseminated tumor cells is the polymerase chain reaction. We critically review the literature on DNA and messenger ribonucleic acid molecular markers that have been used for the detection of circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of patients with colorectal cancer and other solid tumors as appropriate for comparison. The cytokeratins, particularly cytokeratin 19 and cytokeratin 20, are the most investigated prognostic markers, but even for these questions remain about their clinical value, and hence most recent studies are utilizing a combination of factors. There is an urgent need for standardized isolation and analysis techniques to be adopted thus allowing large-scale, appropriately controlled, multicenter trials to be undertaken on the most promising candidate markers.     

Evaluating a self infusion device for children with haemophilia

Although prophylactic treatment of boys with severe haemophilia has progressed significantly, there has been very little change in the way that coagulation factors are reconstituted and administered. Most boys with severe haemophilia can self infuse by the age of eight and most are totally self sufficient by the age of 14. This small study evaluated a product developed to improve the reconstitution and administration process by seeking the views of ten boys who self infuse recombinant coagulation factor. The boys completed a simple questionnaire related to the current method and after the introduction of new method of reconstitution using the ReFacto Rapid Reconstitution (R2) device. The R2 device was reported by most boys to be advantageous in terms of time and safety in reconstitution as well as being acceptable to all but one. Even relatively young children can be successfully included in research and their opinions about their health care should be sought before introduction of changes, especially when proposed changes could affect their ability to perform their own treatment.