ABSTRACT
Fomes fomentarius is a fungus of the Polyporaceae family and is used in traditional oriental therapies. Although the anti-inflammatory activities of this species have been previously reported, the identity of the bioactive compounds responsible for this activity remains unknown. Here, we investigated whether methyl 9-oxo-(10E,12E)-octadecadienoate (FF-8) purified from F. fomentarius exerts anti-inflammatory activity in murine macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). FF-8 suppressed secretion of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 through downregulation of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression induced by LPS. In addition, pretreatment of cells with FF-8 led to a reduction in levels of secreted inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in macrophages stimulated with LPS. Conversely, FF-8 did not affect nuclear factor kappaB, p38, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways. Instead, FF-8 specifically interfered with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation induced by LPS. Collectively, this study demonstrated that FF-8 purified from F. fomentarius suppresses inflammatory responses in macrophages stimulated with LPS by inhibiting STAT3 activation. Further studies will be required to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect of FF-8 in vivo.
Subject(s)
Humans , Coriolaceae , Cyclooxygenase 2 , Cytokines , Dinoprostone , Down-Regulation , Fungi , Interleukin-6 , Macrophages , Nitric Oxide , Nitric Oxide Synthase , Phosphorylation , Phosphotransferases , Polyporaceae , STAT3 Transcription Factor , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alphaABSTRACT
Surgical excision was performed on a 30-years old woman with a painful mass on her left thigh. The pathologic findings on the mass indicated fibromatosis. After the operation, she complained of allodynia and spontaneous pain at the operation site and ipsilateral lower leg. We treated her based on postoperative femoral neuropathy, but symptom was aggravated. We found a large liposarcoma in her left iliopsoas muscle which compressed the lumbar plexus. In conclusion, the cause of pain was lumbar plexopathy related to a mass in the left iliopsoas muscle. Prompt diagnosis of acute neuropathic pain after an operation is important and management must be based on exact causes.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Femoral Neuropathy , Fibroma , Hyperalgesia , Leg , Liposarcoma , Lumbosacral Plexus , Muscles , Neuralgia , ThighABSTRACT
Epidural hematoma after epidural catheterization is very rare but one of serious complications. Although true incidence and origin is unknown yet, coagulopathies and anticoagulant therapy are predominant risk factors. Other risk factors are NSAIDs treatment and ankylosing spondylitis. We experienced a case of epidural hematoma without any risk factors after epidural catheterization for postoperative pain control. We performed epidural catheterization before operation and postoperatively the patient received continuous epidural infusion for postoperative pain control. On the first operative day, the patient was noted to have developed complete paraplegia and hypoesthesia below L1 and anesthesia below L2 level. Immediately after noting we performed TL-spine MRI and epidural hematoma at T10 level was diagnosed and treated by decompressive laminectomy. But she has not fully recovered yet.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anesthesia , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal , Catheterization , Catheters , Hematoma , Hypesthesia , Incidence , Laminectomy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Pain, Postoperative , Paraplegia , Risk Factors , Spondylitis, AnkylosingABSTRACT
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is an uncommon disease which present as a spontaneously occurring postural headache. Diagnosis is supported by a low CSF pressure by lumbar puncture, diffuse dural enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced brain MRI, or by a CSF leakage site on a radioisotope cisternography or by computed tomographic myelography. Usually SIH treatment is conservative but often requires caffeine, steroids, continuous epidural saline infusion and an epidural blood patch. The most important complication of SIH is bilateral subdural hematoma (SDH), because it may require urgent neurosurgical intervention. We experienced two-cases of SIH with SDH treated with an epidural blood patch, but subdural hematoma increased after radioisotope cisternography, so burr hole drainage was performed with another epidural blood patch.