Synthesis and structure–activity relationship studies on novel 8-amino-3-[2-(4-fluorophenoxy)ethyl]-1,3-diazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-dione derivatives as anticonvulsant agents

A series of novel 8-amino-3-[2-(4-fluorophenoxy)ethyl]-1,3-diazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-dione derivatives 7–36 was synthesized and their pharmacological activity was determined with the objective to better understand their structure–activity relationship for anticonvulsant activity. All the compounds were evaluated for their possible anticonvulsant activity by maximal electroshock seizure (MES) test and their neurotoxic effects were determined by rotarod test. Majority of the compounds were active in MES tests. Compounds 24, 27, and 34 showed a significant and protective effect on seizure, when compared with standard drug phenytoin. The compounds having amide bond showed moderate protective effect on MES induced seizures compared to sulfonamide.     

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among Parents and Teachers of Disabled Schoolchildren in Kuwait

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the oral health-related quality of life between the parents and the teachers of disabled schoolchildren in Kuwait.

Subjects and Methods

The three category response version of the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) (12 questions, always, sometimes, never) was used in the questionnaires in Kuwait. Three hundred and eight (308) parents and 112 teachers were enrolled in this study.

Results

The mean age of the parents was 45 ± 9.9 years and of the teachers 38 ± 8.4 years. The mean GOHAI was 27.2 ± 3.5 among the parents and 27.8 ± 3.3 among the teachers (p = 0.091). GOHAI was higher in the older age groups (p = 0.002) and among the parents with a university education (p < 0.001). GOHAI was also higher with increasing toothbrushing frequency among the parents (p = 0.047) and the teachers (p = 0.003). Altogether, 203 (66%) of the parents and 85 (76%) of the teachers were always able to swallow comfortably; 123 (40%) of the parents and 41 (37%) of the teachers were able to eat without discomfort. Overall, 132 (43%) of the parents and 41 (37%) of the teachers were always pleased and happy with the looks of their teeth and gums, or dentures. The Cronbach''s alpha (0.83) indicated a high degree of internal consistency between different GOHAI items.

Conclusion

There seemed to be no difference in the impact of oral health on the quality of life between the parents and the teachers of disabled schoolchildren. Oral health had a relatively weak impact on the quality of life of these adults.Key Words: Quality of life, GOHAI, Parents, Teachers, Disabled children     

Prostatic remnants in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary

Mature cystic teratomas of the ovary containing prostatic remnants are reported in 2 women aged 31 and 20 years. Both cases showed the expected histology of mature teratomas with a mixture of ecto- and endodermal structures lying in a fibrous stroma. In both cases, the foci of prostate tissue were composed of typical prostatic glands arranged in acinar structures. One case displayed a transitional cell-lined duct resembling the urethra. Prostate glands showed intense positive immunostaining with prostatic specific antigen and prostatic acidic phosphatase. Focal images suggesting high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia were detected in 1 case. The literature on this unusual finding in these common tumors is reviewed and commented on.     

Safety and efficacy of shed mediastinal blood transfusion after cardiac surgery: a multicenter observational study. Multicenter Study of Perioperative Ischemia Research Group.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy and safety of shed mediastinal blood (SMB) transfusion in preventing allogenic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. DESIGN: An observational clinical study. SETTING: Twelve US academic medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred seventeen patients undergoing elective primary coronary artery bypass grafting. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were administered SMB transfusion or not, according to institutional and individual practice, without random assignment. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The independent effect of SMB transfusion on postoperative RBC transfusion was examined by multivariable modeling. Potential complications of SMB transfusion, such as bleeding and infection, were examined. Three hundred twelve of the study patients (51%) received postoperative SMB transfusion (mean volume, 554 +/- 359 mL). Patients transfused with SMB had significantly lower volumes of RBC transfusion than those not receiving SMB (0.86 +/- 1.50 v 1.08 +/- 1.65 units; p < 0.05). However, multivariable analysis showed that SMB transfusion was not predictive of postoperative RBC transfusion. Demographic factors (older age, female sex), institution, and postoperative events (greater chest tube drainage, lower hemoglobin level on arrival to the intensive care unit, and use of inotropes) were significant predictors of RBC transfusion. The volume of chest tube drainage on the operative day (707 +/- 392 v 673 +/- 460 mL; p = 0.30), reoperation for hemorrhage (3.1% v2.5%; p = 0.68), and overall frequency of infection (5.8% v 6.6%; p = 0.81) were similar between patients receiving and not receiving SMB, respectively. However, in patients who did not receive allogenic RBC transfusion, there was a significantly greater frequency of wound infection in the SMB group (3.6% v0%; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that SMB is ineffective as a blood conservation method and may be associated with a greater frequency of wound infection.     

Protective effect of embelin against acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis in rats

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of embelin isolated from Embelia ribes on acetic acid induced colitis in rats. Experimental animals received embelin (25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) and sulfasalazine (100 mg/kg, p.o.) for five consecutive days before induction of colitis by intra-rectal acetic acid (3% v/v) administration and the treatment continued up to 7 days. The colonic mucosal injury was assessed by clinical, macroscopic, biochemical and histopathological examinations. Embelin treatment significantly decreased clinical activity score, gross lesion score, percent affected area and wet colon weight when compared to acetic acid induced controls. The treatment also reduced significantly the colonic myeloperoxidase activity, lipid peroxides and serum lactate dehydrogenase and significantly increased the reduced glutathione. The histopathological studies also confirmed the foregoing findings. The protective effect may be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.     

Reduction in Psychopathology following Bariatric Surgery for Morbid Obesity

Background: Although there has been some disagreement, there is growing evidence now that psychopathology is a comorbidity of morbid obesity among patients seeking bariatric surgery.The aim of this study was to determine whether psychopathology decreases following this surgery. Methods: Utilizing a national sample, this study focused on pre- and post-surgery scores on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition (MMPI-2). The MMPI-2 was administered first during the pre-surgery medical examination, and again between 6 months and 1 year following surgery. Results:Validity scale scores on the pre- and postsurgery MMPI-2s indicated that there was no impediment to interpreting the clinical scale scores of these tests.There was a pervasive pattern of statistically significant decreases in pre- to post-surgery clinical scale scores. Further, comparison of MMPI-2 clinical scale scores to available test norms showed that the number of participants showing signs of mental disorders was unusually high before surgery, and at or below the test norms following surgery. Conclusions:There is clear evidence in this study that psychopathology declines following bariatric surgery.The unusually high levels of psychopathology before surgery may be a joint function of the factors producing the morbid obesity, and a reaction to the obesity itself.That psychopathology declines following surgery to levels expected in the general population indicates that the patients were becoming more positive about their lives.     

Caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid modulate Nrf2 and inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinomas in mice

Objective: To assess the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) modulatory effect of caffeic acid and protocatechuic acid and determine the anti-tum...