Review of the prevalence,diagnostics, and containment measures of the current mpox outbreak

Monkeypox(mpox), is a disease from the Poxviridae family that can cause several serious medical issues. This mini-review sought to analyze the existing literature regarding the current mpox outbreak with a focus on the prevalence, diagnostics, and containment measures. Mpox cases have been reported to World Health Organization(WHO) from 85 Member States in all six WHO regions during the period of January 1, 2022, through August 3, 2022. Standardized or optimized guidelines for the clinical care ...     

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of crude extracts of Ipomoea involucrata leaves in mice and rats

ObjectiveTo investigate antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of crude extract from Ipomoea involucrata leaves (Convolvulaceae) in mice and rats.MethodsThe antinociceptive activity was tested using acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test in mice. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using egg albumin induced oedema of rat paw.ResultsPhytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids and tannin. At the doses of 25–100 mg/kg, Ipomoea involucrata exhibited dose-dependent and significant increase in pain threshold in acetic acid –induced writhing test of mice (P<0.05, student t-test) The administration of Ipomoea involucrata leaf extract (25–100 mg/kg) showed dose-dependent decreases in paw volume of egg albumin induced oedema in rats and a significant higher anti-inflammatory activity compared to the standard control (Aspirin).ConclusionsThese results support the claims on the traditional use of the of Ipomoea involucrata leaves in the treatment of toothache, rheumatic pains and other inflammatory conditions. Studies on the isolation and structural elucidation of the active principle are still needed being carried out.     

Novel Structures of two Chromone Alkaloids from Root-Bark of Schumanniophyton magnificum

The constitutional formulae of two new chromone alkaloids, schumannificine 2 and N-methylschumannificine 3 isolated from the root-bark of SCHUMANNIOPHYTON MAGNIFICUM, H ARMS, have been shown to be linear tetracyclic compounds with ring D being piperidine in nature, on the basis of the chemical evidence and spectral analyses.     

The effects of neonatal castration on the subsequent behavioural response to centrally administered arginine vasopressin and the expression of V1a receptors in adult male prairie voles

Centrally administered arginine vasopressin induces the formation of partner preferences in male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). The expression of many vasopressin-regulated behaviours is testosterone dependent. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that early exposure to gonadal steroids are necessary to establish the typical response of adult male prairie voles to exogenous vasopressin, predicting that adult males which were castrated neonatally would not form partner preferences in response to centrally administered vasopressin. We also examined the effect of neonatal castration on the expression of vasopressin (V1a) receptors. Voles were castrated on the day of birth (NEOCAST), sham-castrated on the day of birth (NEOSHAM) or castrated as adults (ADULTCAST). With the exception of one group of neonatal sham males (NEOSHAM CON), which served as a control for the effects of vasopressin, as adults, all males received a 1- micro l intracerebroventricular injection of vasopressin (100 ng) in artificial cerebrospinal fluid. In addition, 2 weeks before testing, one group of neonatally castrated males received an implant of testosterone propionate (NEOCAST + TP). Between 60 and 90 days of age, an internal cannula was placed in the lateral cerebral ventricle and, 24 h later, males were injected with vasopressin. Subsequently, after an additional 15 min, males were cohabitated with a female 'partner' for 1 h. Immediately following cohabitation, males were placed in a Y-shaped partner preference test apparatus for 3 h, in which the male had access to the 'partner' and a novel female, 'stranger.' Time spent with the partner versus the stranger was compared within and between treatments. The results were found to support our hypothesis as the NEOSHAM and ADULTCAST males formed partner preferences, spending more time with the partner, and they spent significantly more time with their partner than did NEOSHAM CON, NEOCAST or NEOCAST + TP males. Replacement of testosterone in neonatally castrated males did not restore partner preference formation in response to vasopressin in adult males. Finally, neonatal castration did not affect the distribution of V1a receptors.