Central effects of isolated fractions from the root of Petiveria alliacea L. (tipi) in mice

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Petiveria alliacea L. (tipi) a shrub from Phytolaccaceae family is popularly used in folk medicine for treating a wide variety of disorders in South and Central America.

Aim of the study

To investigate the neuropharmacological properties on experimental animals.

Materials and methods

The acetate (FA), hexanic (FH), hydroalcoholic (FHA) and precipitated hydroalcoholic (FHAppt) fractions from the root of tipi were studied to investigate its pharmacological properties in the classical behavioral models (open-field, elevated plus maze-EPM, rotarod, barbiturate-induced sleeping time, forced swimming and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsions tests) using mice. These fractions were administered intraperitoneally and orally to female mice at single doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg.

Results

All these fractions decreased the locomotor activity, rearing and grooming in the open-field test, suggesting a possible central depressant action. No significant effect was evident on motor coordination of the animals in the rotarod test. On EPM, all the fractions of tipi presented a significant reduction on the time of permanence in the open arms, indicating an absence of anxiolytic-like effect. In addition, the fractions increased the immobility time in the forced swimming test and potentiated pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice, confirmed a probable sedative and central depressant effect. Furthermore, the fractions increased the latency to the first convulsion and the lethal time of the PTZ-induced convulsions test in the animals, confirmed its popular use as anticonvulsant.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the fractions of P. alliacea L. contains biologically active substance(s) that might be acting in the CNS and have significant depressant and anticonvulsant potentials, supporting folk medicine use of this plant.     

Foetal and neonatal ovarian cysts: a 5-year experience

Background Abdominal cystic formations in newborns are relatively common and often diagnostic suspicion arises in this regard even before birth as a result of ultrasound scans carried out during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to highlight the problems posed by the prenatal diagnosis of abdominal cysts in order to outline the most appropriate therapeutic approach in case of suspected ovarian cysts. Materials and methods Between January 2003 and January 2007, 57 women were enrolled in this study for a prenatal ultrasound (US) that revealed the presence of an echo-rare or echo-free area in the foetal abdomen. After birth all babies underwent blood tests and abdominal US scans in order to confirm or identify the nature of the cyst. If abdominal US could not show the nature of the cystic formation, magnetic resonance imaging with sedation was performed. When the radiological tests were not useful to identify the nature of the cysts and surgery was then necessary, surgical procedures were performed with laparoscopy. Results Ultrasounds were useful to identify the diameter of the cysts but not all their origins; also MRI confirmed the morphology and volume of the cysts, but could not give further details about their origin. Discussion Abdominal ultrasound and finally laparoscopy used to treat and remove the cysts were useful to monitor all simple abdominal cysts. MRI seemed not to be useful for the treatment of this condition, especially in the pediatric age when mild sedation is required.     

Factors associated with engagement in a police-advocacy home-visit intervention to prevent domestic violence

This study examines factors related to engagement in the services offered by police officer-advocate teams on the basis of police and clinical records for 301 female victims referred to the Domestic Violence Home Visit Intervention (DVHVI) program. The authors find that the severity of intimate partner violence charges and ethnicity of the victim, advocate, and police officer are all significantly related to engagement in the DVHVI, with Hispanic women served by Hispanic advocate-officer teams more engaged in services than African American or Caucasian women. The data suggest that this intervention model may be particularly beneficial for Hispanic victims of intimate partner violence when implemented by a Spanish-speaking officer-advocate team.     

Increased amygdala and decreased frontolimbic r esting- s tate functional connectivity in children with aggressive behavior

Childhood maladaptive aggression is associated with disrupted functional connectivity within amygdala-prefrontal circuitry. In this study, neural correlates of childhood aggression were probed using the intrinsic connectivity distribution, a voxel-wise metric of global resting-state brain connectivity. This sample included 38 children with aggressive behavior (26 boys, 12 girls) ages 8–16 years and 21 healthy controls (14 boys, 6 girls) matched for age and IQ. Functional MRI data were acquired during resting state, and differential patterns of intrinsic functional connectivity were tested in a priori regions of interest implicated in the pathophysiology of aggressive behavior. Next, correlational analyses tested for associations between functional connectivity and severity of aggression measured by the Reactive-Proactive Aggression Questionnaire in children with aggression. Children with aggressive behavior showed increased global connectivity in the bilateral amygdala relative to controls. Greater severity of aggressive behavior was associated with decreasing global connectivity in the dorsal anterior cingulate and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Follow-up seed analysis revealed that aggression was also positively correlated with left amygdala connectivity with the dorsal anterior cingulate, ventromedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortical regions. These results highlight the potential role of connectivity of the amygdala and medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices in modulating the severity of aggressive behavior in treatment-seeking children.     

EORTC 26083 phase I/II trial of dasatinib in combination with CCNU in patients with recurrent glioblastoma

The treatment of patients with recurrent glioblastoma remains a major oncologic problem, with median survival after progression of 7–9 months. To determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), the combination of dasatinib and cyclonexyl-chloroethyl-nitrosourea (CCNU) was investigated in this setting. The study was designed as multicenter, randomized phase II trial, preceded by a lead-in safety phase. The safety component reported here, which also investigated pharmacokinetics and preliminary clinical activity, required expansion and is therefore considered a phase I part to establish a recommended dosing regimen of the combination of CCNU (90–110 mg/m²) and dasatinib (100–200 mg daily). Overall, 28 patients were screened, and 26 patients were enrolled. Five dose levels were explored. DLTs, mainly myelosuppression, occurred in 10 patients. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was recorded in 7 patients (26.9%) and thrombocytopenia in 11 patients (42.3%). No significant effect of CCNU coadministration on dasatinib pharmacokinetics was found. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 1.35 months (95% confidence interval: 1.2–1.4) and 6-month PFS was 7.7%. In this phase I study of recurrent glioblastoma patients, the combination of CCNU and dasatinib showed significant hematological toxicities and led to suboptimal exposure to both agents.