Illustration of anti-rheumatic mechanism of rheumavedic capsule

The present study was taken up to illustrate the mechanism of anti-rheumatic activity of ‘Rheumavedic capsule’, a polyherbal formulation of Vedic-bio Labs, Bangalore, in adjuvant induced arthritic rats. Anti-inflammatory mechanism is illustrated using phlogistic agents induced paw edema in rats. Analgesic mechanism is illustrated using Eddy’s hot plate and acetic acid (0.6%v/v) induced writhing in mice. Histopathology of knee joint was studied.Rheumavedic showed inhibition of inflammation mediated through Histamine, 5-Hydroxy tryptamine, and Bradykinin. Rheumavedic showed protection in both acetic acid and Eddy’s hot plate induced pain. Histopathology of knee joint of rat pre-treated with rheumavedic showed significant reduction in the mononuclear infiltration, pannus formation and adhesion molecules.The anti-rheumatic mechanism of rheumavedic is due to; inhibition of inflammatory mediators i.e., Histamine, 5-Hydroxy tryptamine and Bradykinin., protection against prostaglandins mediated pain, by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase synthesis and reduction in pannus formation, by inhibiting mononuclear infiltration.     

The impact of integration on outpatient chemotherapy use and spending in Medicare

Hospital–physician integration has substantially grown in the United States for the past decade, particularly in certain medical specialties, such as oncology. Yet evidence is scarce on the relation between integration and outpatient specialty care use and spending. We analyzed the impact of oncologist integration on outpatient provider‐administered chemotherapy use and spending in Medicare, where prices do not depend on providers' integration status or negotiating power. We addressed oncologists' selective integration and patients' nonrandom choice of oncologists using an instrumental variables method. We found that integrated oncologists reduced the quantity of outpatient chemotherapy drugs but used more expensive treatments. This led to an increase in chemotherapy‐drug spending after integration. These findings suggest that changes in treatment patterns—treatment mix and quantity—may be an important mechanism by which integration increases spending. We also found that integration increased spending on chemotherapy administration (the act of injection). This is because integration shifted billing of chemotherapy to hospital outpatient departments, where Medicare payments for chemotherapy administration are higher than those in physician offices. As integration increases, efforts should continue to assess how integration influences patient care and explore policy options to ensure desirable outcomes from integration.     

Genetic overlap between bipolar illness and event-related potentials

BACKGROUND: Electrophysiological endophenotypes are far less explored in bipolar disorder as compared to schizophrenia. No previous twin study of event-related potentials (ERPs) in bipolar illness has been reported. This study uses a twin design and advanced genetic model fitting analyses aiming to (1) assess and quantify the relationship of a range of ERP components with bipolar disorder with psychotic features, and (2) examine the source of the relationship (due to genetic or environmental factors). METHOD: P300, P50 suppression and mismatch negativity (MMN) were recorded in 10 discordant monozygotic (MZ) bipolar twin pairs, six concordant MZ bipolar twin pairs and 78 control twin pairs. Statistical analyses were based on structural equation modelling. RESULTS: Bipolar disorder was significantly associated with smaller P300 amplitude and decreased P50 suppression. Genetic correlations were the main source of the associations, estimated to be -0 x 33 for P300 amplitude and 0 x 46 for P50 ratio. Individual-specific environmental influences were not significant. MMN and P300 latency were not associated with the illness. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide supporting evidence that P300 amplitude and P50 suppression ratio are ERP endophenotypes for bipolar disorder.     

Repeatability of [<Superscript>68</Superscript>Ga]DKFZ11-PSMA PET Scans for Detecting Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen-positive Prostate Cancer

Purpose

We studied the effect of varying specific activity of [⁶⁸Ga]DKFZ-PSMA11 ([⁶⁸Ga]DP11) on repeated imaging of prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive (PSMA+) xenograft tumors.

Procedures

Athymic nude mice bearing PC3-PIP (PSMA+) and PC3 (PSMA?) bilateral flank tumors were assessed to study intra- and inter-day repeatability of [⁶⁸Ga]DP11 imaging in mice administered [⁶⁸Ga]DP11 or [⁶⁷Ga]DP11 (as a dilution tracer) using imaging and biodistribution studies.

Results

Region of interest (ROI) analysis of the [⁶⁸Ga]DP11 imaging study indicated that the uptake was constant on the same day or consecutive days. Prior imaging with [⁶⁸Ga]DP11 did not significantly influence the subsequent uptake of [⁶⁸Ga]DP11. Uptake of [⁶⁸Ga]DP11 (60 min) and [⁶⁷Ga]DP11 (24 h) in PC3-PIP tumors was 12.37 ± 4.19 %ID/g and 12.49 ± 6.88 %ID/g, respectively; [⁶⁸Ga]DP11 was 13.83 ± 3.77 and 17.76 ± 1.84 on same-day and 15.98 ± 5.82 %ID/g on second-day imaging.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that [⁶⁸Ga]DP11, in a given PSMA+ lesion, is constant under several same-day or serial-day imaging conditions.

     

Pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil following different routes of intrahepatic administration in the canine model

In an effort to achieve high concentrations of 5-fluorouracil (5-FUra) in the hepatic circulation while minimizing systemic exposure, several routes of intrahepatic administration were compared in the canine model. To ascertain these data, 5-FUra (30 mg/kg) was given as a bolus into either a systemic vein (femoral vein), hepatic artery, hepatic artery distal to its ligation after hepatic dearterialization, or through the portal vein. Three dogs were studied for each route with concomitant blood samples taken from the inferior vena cava and hepatic vein at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 min after injection. 5-FUra levels were determined in plasma by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Blood flow in the portal vein and hepatic artery was measured by an electromagnetic flowmeter. The data were best described by a multicompartmental model including the measured flows. Hepatic components of the model were separate arterial and portal compartments, with elimination from each described by linear kinetics. Analysis of the results indicated that the highest hepatic levels with the least systemic exposure, as indicated by drug levels in hepatic and peripheral vein, were realized following hepatic artery administration distal to its ligation after hepatic dearterialization.     

Bilateral giant adrenal myelolipomas

Adrenal myelolipomas are rare benign tumors that comprise mature adipose cells and hematopoietic elements. They are usually found incidentally at autopsy and on imaging. Most cases are isolated and small. Although they are not hormonally active, there is very rarely an association with functional adrenal disorders such as Cushing syndrome and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is believed that in these patients high corticotropin levels contribute to the pathogenesis of these neoplasms. We report the imaging appearances of bilateral giant adrenal myelolipomas in a patient known to have congenital adrenal hyperplasia. To our knowledge, these are the largest bilateral adrenal myelolipomas reported in association with congential adrenal hyperplasia. A distinct change in their appearances after a period of steroid treatment is described for the first time.     

Vasoactive actions of nitroxyl (HNO) are preserved in resistance arteries in diabetes

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology - Endothelial dysfunction is a major risk factor for the vascular complications of diabetes. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, a...     

Laparoscopic excision of uterine adenomatoid tumour: two cases and literature review

Introduction  

Adenomatoid tumours are rare, benign neoplasms of the genital tract, occurring most commonly during the reproductive years. In females, the uterus is the most common site. These tumours can be associated with fibroids and tend to mimic them clinically and radiologically, making pre-operative diagnosis very difficult. We report two cases of uterine adenomatoid tumours that were excised laparoscopically. Intraoperatively, there was no clear line of demarcation between the uterus and the tumours and laparoscopic manipulation of the tumours was difficult due to their friable nature. Simple excision with uterine conservation is the treatment of choice, especially in women who desire future fertility, as degeneration, recurrence, malignant transformation or metastasis has not been reported.