Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of Solanum fastigiatum (false "Jurubeba") against paracetamol-induced liver damage in mice

Aim of the study

Solanum fastigiatum is a medicinal plant widely distributed in the south of Brazil and has been used mainly to treat hepatitis, spleen disorders, uterine tumors, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic gastritis. The present research was aimed to evaluate the potential antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extracts of leaves using in vitro and in vivo models to validate the folkloric use of the plant.

Materials and methods

Antioxidant activity was evaluated by different assays, including thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), total antioxidant, 2,2-diphenlyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and metal ion-chelating activities. The hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extracts was studied on mice liver damage induced by paracetamol (250 mg/kg) by monitoring biochemical parameters.

Results

The extract showed inhibition against TBARS, induced by 10 μM FeSO₄ and 5 μM sodium nitroprusside in rat liver, brain and phospholipid homogenates from egg yolk. The plant exhibited strong antioxidant activity in the DPPH (IC₅₀, 68.96 ± 1.25 μg/ml) assay. The aqueous extract also showed significant hepatoprotective activity that was evident by enzymatic examination and brought back the altered levels of TBARS, non-protein thiol and ascorbic acid to near the normal levels in a dose dependent manner. Acute toxicity studies revealed that the LD₅₀ value of the extract is more than the dose 4 g/kg body weight of mice.

Conclusions

The results indicate that this plant possesses potential antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties and has therapeutic potential for the treatment of liver diseases.     

HPLC同时测定苦豆子中槐定碱、氧化槐果碱和氧化苦参碱的含量

目的：建立同时测定苦豆子中槐定碱、氧化槐果碱及氧化苦参碱含量的HPLC测定法。方法：色谱柱为Phenomenex Gemini C₁₈(46 mm×250 mm,5 μm),以甲醇(A)-02%磷酸水(B)为流动相,检测波长205 nm,流速1 mL·min^-1,柱温30 ℃。结果：在线性范围内3个对照品的标准曲线呈良好的线性关系(r≥0999 7)。平均回收率分别为1000%,970%,970%。结论：可通过HPLC同时测定苦豆子中槐定碱、氧化槐果碱和氧化苦参碱的含量,并可用该方法进行苦豆子药材的质量控制。     

Histological analysis of rat dental pulp tissue capped with propolis

The aim of the present study was to assess the response of rat dental pulp to direct pulp capping with propolis. Flavonoid and non-flavonoid materials were purified from an ethanol extract of propolis obtained from South Sulawesi, Indonesia. A Class I cavity was prepared on the occlusal surface of the right maxillary first molar in Sprague Dawley rats. The dental pulp was exposed and then capped with a zinc oxide-based filler as a control (group I), or with propolis flavonoids (group II) or non-flavonoids (group III). The animals were sacrificed at week 1, 2 or 4, biopsy samples were obtained, and these were stained and viewed by light microscopy. The results showed that pulp inflammation occurred in groups I and III as early as week 1. No dentin bridge formation was seen in these groups. In contrast, there was no evident inflammatory response in group II at week 1. Mild and moderate pulp inflammation in this group occurred at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, respectively. Partial dentinal bridge formation was seen in group II at week 4. Therefore, the present results suggest that direct pulp capping with propolis flavonoids in rats may delay dental pulp inflammation and stimulate reparative dentin.     

A23187 inhibits adrenal protein synthesis and the effects of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) on steroidogenesis and phospholipid metabolism in rat adrenal cells in vitro: further evidence implicating phospholipids in the steroidogenic action of ACTH

We examined the effects of ACTH and the Ca++ ionophore, A23187, on steroidogenesis and phospholipid metabolism during incubation of dispersed rat adrenal cells. Increasing doses of ACTH elicited nearly parallel increases in corticosterone production and adrenal inositide (mono- and di-) concentrations. As reported previously by other investigators in Y1 cells, A23187 inhibited ACTH- and cAMP-stimulated, but not basal or pregnenolone-stimulated, corticosterone production. A23187 also inhibited ACTH-induced increases in phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol, and diphosphoinositide, and this was attended by inhibition of [3H]leucine incorporation into protein. These findings support our previous contentions that: 1) a labile protein is required for ACTH-induced increases in adrenal phospholipids in the phosphatidate-polyphosphoinositide-polyglycerophospholipid pathway; and 2) these phospholipids are involved in the steroidogenic action of ACTH.     

Advantages of focused helical computed tomographic scanning with rectal contrast only vs triple contrast in the diagnosis of clinically uncertain acute appendicitis: a prospective randomized study

HYPOTHESIS: Focused helical computed tomographic (CT) scanning with rectal contrast only is a superior diagnostic modality compared with the traditional triple-contrast CT scan for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. DESIGN: Prospective randomized analysis of both CT scan modalities. INTERVENTIONS: Only patients with uncertain diagnosis of acute appendicitis were entered in the study. The patients were then randomized to undergo the traditional triple-contrast CT scan or the new focused CT scan with rectal contrast only. Surgical management included operation or observation for 23 hours. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients participated in the study, including 52 in the triple-contrast group and 39 in the rectal-contrast group. The demographics of the triple-contrast vs the rectal-contrast groups were similar. The triple-contrast group had a sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 86%, positive predictive value of 90%, and negative predictive value of 93%. The rectal-contrast group had a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 100%. There were 4 false-positive findings and 1 false-negative finding in the triple-contrast group compared with none in the rectal-contrast group. In the triple-contrast group, there were 13 perforated appendixes compared with 1 in the rectal-contrast group. The cost of a triple-contrast scan was 620 US dollars compared with 305 US dollars for a focused rectal-contrast scan. The negative appendectomy rate for the study was 8.0% (4 of 48 patients in the triple-contrast group vs 3 of 39 in the rectal-contrast group). CONCLUSIONS: The demographics, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were comparable in both groups. The focused rectal-contrast procedure was better tolerated by patients and demonstrated decreased morbidity, delay to diagnosis, perforation rate, and negative appendectomy rate with no missed diagnosis and decreased cost. Therefore, we believe that focused helical CT scanning with rectal contrast only is a superior diagnostic modality compared with the traditional triple-contrast CT scan for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.     

Backside wear of modular ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene tibial inserts

BACKGROUND: The capture mechanisms of modular tibial total knee components may allow relative micromotion between the insert and the base-plate, leading to wear at the nonarticulating (backside) surface. Although retrieved components often display laxity in the capture mechanism in the unloaded condition, the magnitude of the relative motion that actually occurs under physiologic conditions has not been determined. This study was performed to assess the impact of different modes of knee-loading on the relative micromotion between the insert and the base-plate and the relationship between the duration that the implant had been in situ and the severity of backside wear. METHODS: Twenty-one posterior-stabilized total knee replacements of one common design (Insall-Burstein II) were retrieved at one to 100 months after implantation. The extent and severity of backside wear was graded with use of stereomicroscopy. All components were soaked in a bath (of physiologic saline solution at 37 degrees C for four days prior to reassembly. The relative micromotion between the insert and the base-plate of each specimen was measured in vitro in two different conditions: with no axial load and with a combination of loads and torques simulating the stance phase of gait. RESULTS: The capture mechanism laxity between the insert and the tibial base-plate in the unloaded condition was approximately eight times larger than the micromotion measured during simulated gait. The capture mechanism laxity allowed a mean (and standard deviation) of 618 +/- 226 micro m of total relative micromotion compared with 103 +/- 54 micro m of relative micromotion during the gait cycle. Under both loading conditions, the predominant direction of interface motion was medial-lateral. No correlation was found between the magnitude of capture mechanism laxity and the relative micromotion measured during simulated gait (p = 0.11). Larger polyethylene protrusions on the backside surface did not correlate with less micromotion (p = 0.48) or with capture mechanism laxity (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: For the implant design that was studied, capture mechanism laxity between the modular insert and the base-plate in the unloaded condition was an order of magnitude larger than and not indicative of the micromotion that occurred during simulated physiologic loading. In addition, polyethylene protrusions into the screw-holes of tibial base-plates did not seat or lock the insert in place and reduce relative motion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: While some clearance between the insert and the base-plate is required to allow assembly of modular tibial components at the time of surgery, the amount of relative interface motion during a functional activity such as normal gait, which can produce potentially damaging wear debris, is unknown. However, the compressive forces applied to the articular surface during a functional activity may substantially reduce micromotion between the insert and the base-plate relative to the unloaded condition.     

Screening for hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver cancer remains one of the most common causes of cancer death globally, and its cure rate has not improved for the past 20 years. Hepatocellular carcinoma develops in patients with cirrhosis of any etiology. Patients with cirrhosis are thus usually included in screening program aiming to achieve early detection and effective treatment for HCC. Only those patients diagnosed with HCC who would benefit with the available treatment, should undergo the screening procedure. This is based on ultrasonography and alpha-fetoprotein every 3-6 months based on the prevalence and economic status of the community being tested.