DOSE RESPONSE EFFECT OF Paracoccidioides brasiliensis IN AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF ARTHRITIS

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) and corresponds to prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the dose response effect of the fungal yeast phase for the standardization of an experimental model of septic arthritis. The experiments were performed with groups of 14 rats that received doses of 10³, 10⁴ or 10⁵ P. brasiliensis (Pb18) cells. The fungi were injected in 50 µL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) directly into the knee joints of the animals. The following parameters were analyzed in this work: the formation of swelling in knees infused with yeast cells and the radiological and anatomopathological alterations, besides antibody titer by ELISA. After 15 days of infection, signs of inflammation were evident. At 45 days, some features of damage and necrosis were observed in the articular cartilage. The systemic dissemination of the fungus was observed in 11% of the inoculated animals, and it was concluded that the experimental model is able to mimic articular PCM in humans and that the dose of 10⁵ yeast cells can be used as standard in this model.     

Cytotoxic,antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Nerium oleander collected in Morocco

Objective: To investigate the cytotoxic, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of ethanolic and aqueous crude extracts of Nerium oleander(N. oleander) leaves. Methods: Cytotoxic activities were evaluated by WST-1 bioassay on two human cancer cell lines, namely human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 and human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. The antioxidant property of N. oleander extracts was assessed by DPPH scavenging and he agar disc diffusion method was used for the determination of an毬-carotene bleaching tests. Ttimicrobial activity against different strains. Results: Using cell viability indices, the WST-1 test revealed that both extracts reduced cell viability in both cell lines. Our results also showed that aqueous extract was more active than ethanolic extract, with IC50 values of(1.67±0.22) μg/mL and(2.36±0.44) μg/mL on MDA-MB-231 cells, and(2.89±0.35) μg/mL and(5.09±0.52) μg/mL on HT29 cells, respectively. The study of the antioxidant activity showed that N. oleander extracts had a considerable scavenging capacity and exerted a significant preventive effect against the oxidation of 毬-carotene by the peroxide radicals. However, the antibacterial test showed that both ethanolic and aqueous extracts of N. oleander had a moderate antibacterial effect limited only to Gram-positive bacteria. Conclusions: Our results shows that N. oleander aqueous and ethanolic extracts have significant cytotoxic activities against tumor cell lines and possesses a strong antioxidant capacity, suggesting the presence of active compounds in N. oleander leaves that could be a potential source of phytochemicals with high medicinal value to be used in cancer treatment and prevention.     

The Aortix device: Support in a tube

• The use of percutaneous mechanical support devices is becoming more embedded within the therapeutic armamentarium for patients presenting with decompensated heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and patients undergoing high risk PCI.
• The Aortix device offers a new approach to percutaneous support that appears to be safe to implement and overcomes some of the drawbacks of the extant devices.
• Further investigation remains warranted to evaluate its ultimate utility and place among the approach to the patient in need of circulatory support.

     

A reduced segment II/III graft for neonatal liver failure with absence of detectable hepatocytes. A case report and literature review

Alawi K, Mitros FA, Bishop WP, Rayhill S, Wu Y. A reduced segment II/III graft for neonatal liver failure with absence of detectable hepatocytes. A case report and literature review.
Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15:e60–e63. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: When hepatic failure occurs in newborns, most cases are because of viral hepatitis, metabolic diseases, and neonatal hemochromatosis. It is rare to have liver failure presenting in the first day after birth. We report a unique case of a newborn baby with liver failure in the first day of life who received a reduced segment II and III graft when she was 19 days old and became the youngest survivor of LDLT. Common and rare causes of liver failure in this age group were excluded by appropriate testing. She underwent a liver biopsy that showed a liver devoid of hepatocytes. Similar pathological findings were found in the explanted liver. She was discharged from the hospital with normal graft function three months after the transplant.     

Recurrence and massive extraocular extension of choroidal malignant melanoma after vitrectomy and endoresection

Vitrectomy and endoresection is an alternative to enucleation for the treatment of large malignant choroidal melanoma. We report a rare case of extensive recurrence of choroidal malignant melanoma with extraocular extension 11 years after surgical endoresection without adjuvant treatment.     

Prevention of deep venous thrombosis of the leg by a very low molecular weight heparin fraction (CY 222) in patients with hemiplegia following cerebral infarction: a randomized pilot study (30 patients)

The effectiveness and safety of a very low molecular weight heparin fraction were evaluated in the prevention of deep-vein thrombosis in patients confined to bed due to hemiplegia consecutive to a recent cerebral infarction. CY 222 was administered within 48 hours of the stroke by one single daily subcutaneous injection of 0.6 ml (= 15,000 U AXa IC) during 14 days. This randomized pilot study involved 30 patients. The effects of CY 222 were assessed in a group of 15 patients compared with a control group of 15 untreated patients. No deep-vein thrombosis was detected by the labelled fibrinogen test in the treated group, as against 12 patients in the control group. Six patients (3 in each group) died during the study. One case of lethal pulmonary embolism was observed and confirmed at autopsy in the control group. In the remaining 5 patients, no systematic autopsy which would have asserted the absence of pulmonary embolism or drug-induced haemorrhage was performed. Numerous standard laboratory tests confirmed that CY 222 was well tolerated.