Efficacy of Slim339 in reducing body weight of overweight and obese human subjects

A double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study has been carried out in order to evaluate the effect of orally self-administered Slim339, a proprietary fixed combination of Garcinia cambogia extract with calcium pantothenate (standardized for the content of hydroxycitric acid and pantothenic acid) and extracts of Matricaria chamomilla, Rosa damascena, Lavandula officinalis and Cananga odorata, on body weight in overweight and obese volunteers. During a 60-day treatment period, the average reduction in body weight for the group receiving Slim339 (n = 30) was 4.67% compared with 0.63% for the placebo group (n = 28) (p < 0.0001). Weight losses of >or=3 kg were recorded for 23 subjects in the treatment group and only one in the placebo group. It is concluded that Slim339 represents a potential therapy for obesity.     

Cytokine profile of Armenian patients with Familial Mediterranean fever

ObjectivesDespite the well-defined genetics of FMF, limited information is available regarding the regulation of inflammation by cytokines.Design and methodsThe levels of systemic cytokines and other markers of inflammation in FMF patients and control were measured by ELISA and Cytometric Bead Array (CBA).ResultsIn FMF attack the levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, TGF-β, CRP, and sIL-2R were significantly different from the norm and FMF remission.ConclusionsInflammation in FMF involves Treg and Th17 lineages.     

Ultrasonic assessment of the postmenopausal uterus

Objectives: To assess the role of different forms of ultrasound in the evaluation of peri- and postmenopausal uterus. Methods: B-mode ultrasound, colour and pulsed Doppler sonography, three-dimensional ultrasound and three-dimensional power Doppler sonography are non-invasive tools used repeatedly for assessing morphology and vascularity of the uterus and uterine lesions in peri- and postmenopausal patients. Results: The application of transvaginal colour Doppler to the peri- and postmenopausal patients for the screening for endometrial and myometrial malignancy may be a viable option if combined with ovarian screening in the same scan. In this way the capital costs would be shared and oncological preventive medicine for postmenopausal women could be initiated. Three-dimensional and power Doppler ultrasound offers improved visualisation of uterine lesions, displays an entire volume, offers accurate volume estimation and enables retrospective review of stored data. Interactive rotation of power Doppler rendered images provides improved visualisation of the uterine vasculature. Conclusions: Further technological development of the ultrasound imaging techniques could result in reduction of both the potential risks and economic cost of the invasive diagnostic procedures in postmenopausal patients such as dilatation and curettage operations. Same techniques can be used for early detection of endometrial malignancy in asymptomatic postmenopausal women as well as for prediction of the depth of myometrial invasion.     

Organic dots (O-dots) for theranostic applications: preparation and surface engineering

Organic dots is a term used to represent materials including graphene quantum dots and carbon quantum dots because they rely on the presence of other atoms (O, H, and N) for their photoluminescence or fluorescence properties. They generally have a small size (as low as 2.5 nm), and show good photostability under prolonged irradiation. The excitation and emission wavelengths of O-dots can be tailored according to their synthetic procedure, where although their quantum yield is quite low compared with organic dyes, this is partly compensated by their large absorption coefficients. A wide range of strategies have been used to modify the surface of O-dots for passivation, improving their solubility and biocompatibility, and allowing the attachment of targeting moieties and therapeutic cargos. Hybrid nanostructures based on O-dots have been used for theranostic applications, particularly for cancer imaging and therapy. This review covers the synthesis, physics, chemistry, and characterization of O-dots. Their applications cover the prevention of protein fibril formation, and both controlled and targeted drug and gene delivery. Multifunctional therapeutic and imaging platforms have been reported, which combine four or more separate modalities, frequently including photothermal or photodynamic therapy and imaging and drug release.

Organic dots is a term used to represent materials including graphene quantum dots and carbon quantum dots because they rely on the presence of other atoms (O, H, and N) for their photoluminescence or fluorescence properties. Cargo delivery, bio-imaging, photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy are major biomedical applications of organic dots.     

Complement in multiple sclerosis: its role in disease and potential as a biomarker

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system with a poorly defined and complex immunopathogenesis. Although initiated by reactive T cells, persistent inflammation is evident throughout the disease course. A contribution from complement has long been suspected, based on the results of pathological and functional studies which have demonstrated complement activation products in MS brain and biological fluids. However, the extent and nature of complement activation and its contribution to disease phenotype and long‐term outcome remain unclear. Furthermore, functional polymorphisms in components and regulators of the complement system which cause dysregulation, and are known to contribute to other autoimmune inflammatory disorders, have not been investigated to date in MS in any detail. In this paper we review evidence from pathological, animal model and human functional and genetic studies, implicating activation of complement in MS. We also evaluate the potential of complement components and regulators and their polymorphic variants as biomarkers of disease, and suggest appropriate directions for future research.     

Norovirus and child care: challenges in outbreak control

An infant with diarrhea attended a community playgroup. In the subsequent 48 hours, 6 of the 7 mothers and children reported gastroenteritis; fecal specimens from 5 persons tested positive for norovirus, with identical sequences. No breach of hygiene or contact with fecal matter was identified. Excluding the child with gastroenteritis from the playgroup could have prevented this outbreak.     

Bone grifting procedures for osseous defects associated with dental implants

The purpose of this study was to clinically and radiographically evaluate the use of bone grafting therapy for treatment of osseous defects before implant surgery. After bone graft reconstruction, implants may be placed in previous areas of osseous defect with the expectation of long-term positive results.     

Classical pathway complement activity in schizophrenia

There is considerable evidence to suggest a role for complement in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, but the data related to the classical pathway complement activity in patients with schizophrenia are conflicting. In the present study, the total hemolytic activity of the complement and the activities of individual complement components, C1, C2, C3 and C4, were determined in the blood serum of schizophrenic patients with positive family history of the disease and healthy subjects. In comparison to the healthy subjects, the mean values of the hemolytic activities of the C1, C3 and C4 complement components in the serum of the schizophrenic patients were significantly higher, and the mean value of the hemolytic activity of the C2 complement component was significantly lower. However, no significant difference was found between the mean values of the total hemolytic activity of complement in schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects. The C3 hemolytic activity was 2.17 times higher in medicated patients than in drug-free patients. Within each group examined no significant difference was found between smokers and non-smokers or between males and females. The results of this study suggest that the pathogenesis of schizophrenia is associated with alterations in activities of complement classical pathway components.