Kombucha tea ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mouse model of multiple sclerosis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a mouse model for multiple sclerosis (MS), in which an inflammatory demyelination and axonal damage occurs. Kombucha tea is a fermented beverage made from kombucha mushroom, brewed tea, and sugar. In recent years kombucha tea has attracted interest due to its pharmacological properties like antioxidant effects. The aim of the present research was to test the therapeutic effect of kombucha tea in EAE. We induced EAE model in 18 female C57BL/6 mice by inoculation of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-35-55 (MOG_35-55) in complete Freund’s adjuvant emulsion. Then, in order to ameliorate EAE symptoms, we used kombucha tea. During the course of study clinical evaluation was assessed, and on the day 21 post-immunization, for evaluation of nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidants capacity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), blood samples were taken from the heart of mice. The mice were sacrificed and brains and cerebellums of mice were removed for histological analysis. Our findings demonstrated that kombucha tea had beneficial effects on EAE by lower incidence, attenuation in the severity, and also a delay in the onset of disease. Histological analysis showed that inflammatory criteria including the number of infiltrated immune cells and plaques as well as demyelination in kombucha tea dosed mice were significantly lower than the control group. Also, in comparison with control mice, the serum levels of NO and TNF-α in kombucha tea-treated mice were significantly decreased. Kombucha tea with its potential therapeutic effects and immunomodulatory properties might be proposed, after additional necessary tests and trials, for treatment of MS.     

Cloning and transgenesis in mammals: Implications for xenotransplantation

Availability of suitable organs for transplantation remains of major concern and projections indicate that the problem will continue to increase. Therefore, alternatives to the use of human organs for transplantation, continue to be explored including use of stem cells, artificial organs, and organs from other species (xenotransplantation). In xenotransplantation, the species of choice remains the pig due to its physiological similarities to humans, reduced costs, ease of manipulation, and reduced ethical concerns to its use. However, in order to develop pig organs that are suitable for xenotransplantation, complex genetic modification need to be undertaken. These modifications require the introduction of precise genetic changes into the pig that can only be accomplished at this time using somatic cell nuclear transfer. We cover in this review advances in transgenic manipulation and cloning in swine and how the development of these two technologies is critical to the eventual utilization of the pig as a human organ donor.     

Different impacts of intestinal lymphatic transport on the oral bioavailability of structurally similar synthetic lipophilic cannabinoids: Dexanabinol and PRS-211,220

The aim of this article was to investigate the role of intestinal lymphatic transport in the oral bioavailability of two structurally similar synthetic lipophilic cannabinoids: dexanabinol and PRS-211,220. For this purpose, the long chain triglyceride (LCT) solubility and affinity to chylomicrons ex vivo of both cannabinoids were evaluated. Their oral bioavailability was assessed in rats following administration in a lipid-free and a LCT-based formulation. The intestinal lymphatic transport of these two molecules was also directly measured in a freely moving rat model. LCT solubility of dexanabinol and PRS-211,220 was 7.9 ± 0.2 and 95.8 ± 5.3 mg/g, respectively. The uptake by chylomicrons was moderate (31.6 ± 5.2%) and high (66.1 ± 2.4%), respectively. The bioavailability of dexanabinol (37%) was not affected by LCT solution, whereas administration of PRS-211,220 in LCT improved the absolute oral bioavailability three-fold (from 13 to 35%) in comparison to the lipid-free formulation. The intestinal lymphatic transport of dexanabinol and PRS-211,220 was 7.5 ± 0.8 and 60.7 ± 6.8% of the absorbed dose, respectively. In conclusion, despite structural similarity and similar lipophilicity, dexanabinol and PRS-211,220 exhibited a very diverse pattern of oral absorption, and the lymphatic system played quite a different role in the oral bioavailability of these molecules. The low lymphatic transport of dexanabinol is likely driven by relatively lower affinity to chylomicrons and lower LCT solubility.     

Antiemetic neurokinin-1 antagonist aprepitant and ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy.

We report the occurrence of an acute encephalopathy followingifosfamide infusion, that we believe directly triggered by aprepitant(Emend^TM, Merck & Co., Inc.). Aprepitant, the first neurokinin-1receptor antagonist, is a new antiemetic indicated for highlyand moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, in association with     

Radiation-induced chondrosarcoma of the clavicle complicating Hodgkin's disease. A case report

Review of the literature reveals that postradiation chondrosarcoma is a rare secondary malignant bone tumor. This case report demonstrates a Grade 1 chondrosarcoma of the proximal right clavicle in a 17-year-old boy, eight years after extensive chemotherapy and radiation therapy for a Stage IIB Hodgkin's disease.     

Septic arthritis in heroin addicts.

Over a 6-year period (1982 to 1988), 36 episodes of septic arthritis were diagnosed in 35 heroin addicts from Barcelona, Spain. Thirty (86%) were men and five (14%) were women, with a mean age of 24 years (range, 14 to 39). Twenty-nine episodes (80%) were monoarticular and seven (20%) were oligoarticular. The sacroiliac (16 cases), sternoclavicular (8), hip (5), and shoulder (4) joints were most frequently infected. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the etiological agents in 75% and 11% of episodes, respectively. Response to antibiotic treatment was good in 32 cases (90%), eight patients needed surgical drainage, and none died. We conclude that septic arthritis in heroin addicts localizes predominantly in axial joints. In our geographic area, infection with S aureus is more frequent than with gram-negative rods such as P aeruginosa or Serratia marcescens, which are most frequently found in reports from the United States.     

Mucous metaplasia of the pleura.

A case of mucous metaplasia of mesothelium in an 80 year old woman is described. Its cause is unknown, but it is important not to confuse it with secondary tumour.     

THE EFFECT OF SOME α2-ADRENOCEPTOR AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS ON GASTROINTESTINAL TRANSIT IN MICE: INFLUENCE OF MORPHINE, CASTOR OIL AND GLUCOSE

1. The effects of graded doses of the α₂-adrenoceptor agonists clonidine, tizanidine and BHT-920, and the α₂-adrenoceptor antagonists yohimbine and idazoxan, on gastrointestinal transit were investigated in mice using the charcoal meal test. 2. The agonists produced significant and dose-dependent decreases in gastrointestinal transit, and the antagonists produced the opposite effect. In affecting the gastrointestinal transit, clonidine (1 mg/kg) was as effective as tizanidine (12 mg/kg) and BHT-920 (40 mg/kg), while yohimbine (2 mg/kg) was as effective as idazoxan (1 mg/kg). 3. Morphine (2, 4 and 8 mg/kg) significantly inhibited gastrointestinal transit. This effect was significantly reversed by the co-administration of yohimbine (2 mg/kg) and idazoxan (1 mg/kg). 4. The acute administration of glucose (5.04 g/kg, i.p.) potentiated the inhibition of gastrointestinal transit produced by clonidine (1 mg/kg) and BHT-920 (40 mg/kg). Glucose treatment, however, had no significant effect on the increase in gastrointestinal transit induced by yohimbine (2 mg/kg) or idazoxan (1 mg/kg). 5. Castor oil (0.25 mL/mouse, orally) induced diarrhoea in saline-treated animals within about 45 min. Clonidine (1 mg/kg), tizanidine (12 mg/kg) and BHT-920 (40 mg/kg) delayed the occurrence of diarrhoea to 2.1, 1.2 and 1.4 h, respectively.