ABSTRACT
Background@#Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a non-selective cation channel implicated in pain sensation in response to heat, protons, and capsaicin (CAPS). It is well established that TRPV1 is involved in mechanical allodynia. This study investigates the effect of Ononis spinosa (Fabaceae) in CAPS-induced mechanical allodynia and its mechanism of action. @*Methods@#Mechanical allodynia was induced by the intraplantar (ipl) injection of 40 µg CAPS into the left hind paw of male Wistar rats. Animals received an ipl injection of 100 µg O. spinosa methanolic leaf extract or 2.5% diclofenac sodium 20 minutes before CAPS injection. Paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was measured using von Frey filament 30, 90, and 150 minutes after CAPS injection. A molecular docking tool, AutoDock 4.2, was used to study the binding energies and intermolecular interactions between O. spinosa constituents and TRPV1 receptor. @*Results@#The ipsilateral ipl injection of O. spinosa before CAPS injection increased PWT in rats at all time points. O. spinosa decreased mechanical allodynia by 5.35-fold compared to a 3.59-fold decrease produced by diclofenac sodium. The ipsilateral pretreatment with TRPV1 antagonist (300 µg 4-[3-Chloro-2-pyridinyl]-N-[4-[1,1-dimethylethyl] phenyl]-1-piperazinecarboxamide [BCTC]) as well as the β2-adrenoreceptor antagonist (150 µg butoxamine) attenuated the action of O. spinosa. Depending on molecular docking results, the activity of the extract could be attributed to the bindings of campesterol, stigmasterol, and ononin compounds to TRPV1. @*Conclusions@#O. spinosa alleviated CAPS-induced mechanical allodynia through 2 mechanisms: the direct modulation of TRPV1 and the involvement of β2 adrenoreceptor signaling.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a non-selective cation channel implicated in pain sensation in response to heat, protons, and capsaicin (CAPS). It is well established that TRPV1 is involved in mechanical allodynia. This study investigates the effect of Ononis spinosa (Fabaceae) in CAPS-induced mechanical allodynia and its mechanism of action. @*Methods@#Mechanical allodynia was induced by the intraplantar (ipl) injection of 40 µg CAPS into the left hind paw of male Wistar rats. Animals received an ipl injection of 100 µg O. spinosa methanolic leaf extract or 2.5% diclofenac sodium 20 minutes before CAPS injection. Paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was measured using von Frey filament 30, 90, and 150 minutes after CAPS injection. A molecular docking tool, AutoDock 4.2, was used to study the binding energies and intermolecular interactions between O. spinosa constituents and TRPV1 receptor. @*Results@#The ipsilateral ipl injection of O. spinosa before CAPS injection increased PWT in rats at all time points. O. spinosa decreased mechanical allodynia by 5.35-fold compared to a 3.59-fold decrease produced by diclofenac sodium. The ipsilateral pretreatment with TRPV1 antagonist (300 µg 4-[3-Chloro-2-pyridinyl]-N-[4-[1,1-dimethylethyl] phenyl]-1-piperazinecarboxamide [BCTC]) as well as the β2-adrenoreceptor antagonist (150 µg butoxamine) attenuated the action of O. spinosa. Depending on molecular docking results, the activity of the extract could be attributed to the bindings of campesterol, stigmasterol, and ononin compounds to TRPV1. @*Conclusions@#O. spinosa alleviated CAPS-induced mechanical allodynia through 2 mechanisms: the direct modulation of TRPV1 and the involvement of β2 adrenoreceptor signaling.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The loss of sensibility of the thumb is a major disability. Since Littler [1956] described his neurovascular island flap [NVIF], two main problems have arisen calling for repeated attempts at modifying the technique to overcome these two problems, viz. Double sensibility and referral of sensibility in the graft to the donor finger. Our work aimed at studying the impact of a suggested rehabilitation program on sensory outcome following NVIF for thumb
Methodology: This study included 23 patients and 25 controls, all were operated upon using the original Littler's Technique. This was followed by a specially designed rehabilitation program for the study group. The rehabilitation program consisted of low frequency electric stimulation combined with special methods of sensory reeducation. This program started 30 days after surgery and was continued for two months. Assessment was done at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months postoperative
Results: At 18 months postoperative the switch of sensibility was improved from 48% in the controls to 82% in the study group. The double sensibility was reduced from 36% in the controls to 13.6% in the study group
Conclusions: We conclude that in our study the sensory outcome following the NVIF for thumb improved with the use of our suggested rehabilitation program
ABSTRACT
Hypothesis: Pulmonary involvement in ankylosing spondylitis [AS] is often asymptomatic and chest radiographs may be insensitive to early changes
Objective: To study the distribution of pulmonary lesions in AS patients with high resolution computed tomography [HRCT] and to correlate findings with disease duration and pulmonary function tests [PFTs]
Methodology: The study was conducted on 18 AS patients. PFTs and HRCT of thorax were performed on same day chest x-ray was taken
Results: 9 patients had interstitial lung abnormalities on HRCT. Only 3 out of 18 patients had abnormal findings on plain chest x-ray. PFTs showed a restrictive process in 4 patients and obstructive pattern in 2 patients
Conclusion: No correlation was found between HRCT abnormalities and either PFTs or disease duration. As HRCT findings did not correlate with PFTs impairments, so this impairment could be a sequel of stiffness of thoracic cage in AS patients
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Osteoporosis is a prevalent bone disease characterized by a decrease in bone mass and altered bone architecture leading to increased fracture risk. The present study aimed at evaluation of the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus [T[2]DM] on bone mass and the status of bone turnover in postmenopausal females
Methodology: In this cross sectional study we evaluated bone turnover and bone mineral density [BMD] in 39 postmenopausal T[2]DM and 25 non-diabetic postmenopausal females. We measured serum levels of calcium, phosphate, osteocalcin, bone specific alkaline phosphatase [BS-ALP] and urinary excretion of c-terminal telopeptide cross links/creatinine ratio while BMD was evaluated by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry [DEXA]
Results: We found significantly higher BMD values for lumbar spine in the patients' group, [0.828 g/cm[2] for the study group and 0.720 g/cm[2] for controls]. Levels of, BS-ALP, osteocalcin and c-terminal telopeptide cross links/creatinine ratio were significantly lower in the diabetic subjects [68.667U/L, 3.856 ng/ml and 4.157 mg/mg creatinine respectively in the patient group versus 94.640 UL, 7.472 ng/ml and 5.851 mg/mg creatinine in the control group]
Conclusion: Our results suggested protective effect of T2DM on bone mass of lumbar spine together with decreased bone turnover in postmenopausal females
ABSTRACT
Background: Adequate and intensive rehabilitation is an important requirement for successful total knee arthroplasty. The primary focus of early rehabilitation is ambulation of patients and regaining range of motion in the knee. Although many studies suggested that continuous passive motion should be implemented in the first rehabilitation phase following surgery, others concluded that the use of continuous passive motion was of no added benefit
Objective: The aim of our study was to compare the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs with and without continuous passive motion for range of motion in knee flexion and knee extension, functional ability and length of stay after primary total knee arthroplasty
Methodology: Forty patients suffered from osteoarthritis who underwent unilateral total knee arthroplasty were selected. Immediately after total knee arthroplasty, they were subdivided into two groups. Group 1 of 20 patients who received conventional physical therapy only and group 2 of another 20 patients who received conventional physical therapy with two hours of continuous passive motion applications daily. All subjects were evaluated once before total knee arthroplasty and at discharge. The primary outcome measures was active range of motion in knee flexion at discharge. Active range of motion at knee extension, timed "Up and Go" test results, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire scores, and length of stay were the secondary outcome measures
Results: The characteristics of and outcome measurement for the subjects in the two groups were similar at baseline. No significant difference between the two groups was demonstrated in primary or secondary outcomes at discharge
Conclusion: The results of this study do not support the addition of continuous passive motion application to conventional physical therapy in rehabilitation program after primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty. It did not further reduce knee motion impairments or disability or reduce the length of the hospital stay
ABSTRACT
Objective: to measure the level of serum malondialdehyde [MDA] as a marker of oxidative stress of the activity of blood glutathione peroxidase [GSH Px] and the blood glutathione [GSH] as markers of antioxidant capacity in systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] patients compared with normal control individuals. Also to detect if there is correlation between these biochemical changes and disease activity and some clinical and laboratory data of SLE patients
Methodology: twenty five SLE patients and ten healthy controls were subjected to clinical examination, history taking and estimation of [a] serum MDA [nmol/ml], [b] blood GSH level [mg/dL] and blood GSH Px activity [u/L]
Results: highly significant increase in serum MDA [p<0.0001] in SLE patients and statistically significant lower level of blood GSH and GSH Px activity compared to the control group [p<0.0001]. Disease activity index was positively correlated to MDA serum level and negatively correlated to both blood GSH level and blood GSH Px
Conclusion: excess production of free radicals as a result of lipid peroxidation and reduction in the antioxidant protection capacity were proved in SLE patients and observed to be more in the presence of some clinical manifestations of SLE. In addition, MDA serum level, blood GSH content and blood GSH Px activity may be used as useful markers for disease activity in SLE
ABSTRACT
Hypothesis: protein S [PS] is a vitamin K dependent plasma protein, and it's free from is required for protein C to be functional. Antiphospholipid antibodies [apl] may cause functional PS deficiency by binding free PS. In patients with SLE have increased incidence of apl, which have been associated with thrombotic events
Objective: to determine the level of total protein S and its relation to [apl]
Methodology: 22 SLE patients diagnosed according to ACR revised criteria [Tan et al., 1982] and ten healthy subjects were included in this study. Assays for protein S, IgG, up1 were performed in patients and control groups
Results: the protein S was lower in the patients than the control and the difference was highly significant. There was a highly significant differences between the level of PS in patients with apl+ve compared with apl-ve patients [p<0.01]
Conclusion: this study confirms an association between apl and PS deficiency