Anti-Human Cytomegalovirus Activity of Chemical Constituents from Kumazasa Hot Water Extract / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

<i>Objective</i>: Anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) activity of 5 compounds, especially tricin, isolated from Kumazasa extract were investigated in the human embryonic lung (HEL) fibroblast cell.<br> <i>Method</i>: This study examined the effect of tricin on HCMV replication, viral-specific major immediate early (IE) gene expression, and protein synthesis.<br> <i>Results</i>: Pretreatment of HEL cells before HCMV infection with tricin inhibited viral production in a dose-dependent manner, as well as posttreatment of HCMV-infected HEL cells with tricin. Real-time RT-PCR assay and Western blotting analysis indicated that tricin decreased expression of the HCMV IE gene in virus-infected HEL cell.<br> <i>Conclusion</i>: These date suggest that the primary mechanism of anti-HCMV activity for tricin, isolated from Kumazasa hot water extract, inhibit IE gene expression.<br>

Two cases of myoclonus following administration of gabapentin for neuropathic pain in the end stage of malignancy

We report two cases of myoclonus following the administration of gabapentin for neuropathic pain in the end stage of malignancy. <b>Patient 1</b>: A septuagenarian woman with sarcoma of the uterus was admitted to our hospice. She complained of severe neuropathic pain in her left leg caused by an invasive lumbar tumor. To reduce the neuropathic pain, she was administered 200mg of gabapentin daily. Four months later, the gabapentin was increased to 400mg daily due to worsening pain in her left leg. Three days later, she felt muscle weakness in her left arm and frequent muscle twitches were observed even during sleeping. Myoclonus associated with gabapentin administration was suspected. The myoclonus disappeared after cessation of gabapentin for 2 days. <b>Patient 2</b>: An octogenarian man with renal cell carcinoma was admitted to our hospice. He was administered 200mg of gabapentin daily to reduce the neuropathic pain felt in his back and bilateral leg due to a metastatic tumor of a para-aortic lesion. On the next day, frequent muscle twitches were observed in his extremities and upper trunk while he was sleeping. Myoclonus associated with gabapentin administration was suspected, which disappeared within one day following cessation of the drug. Myoclonus is a rare side effect of gabapentin, but it may occur even with the low-doses given to patients with end-stage malignancy. Although the pathogenic mechanism of induction of myoclonus by gabapentin was suspected to be heterogeneous, discontinuation of gabapentin should lead to rapid resolution of symptoms. Palliat Care Res 2010; 5(1): 308-313

Anti-human Cytomegalovirus Activity of Hot Water Extract from Sasa senanensis Rehder / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

<i>Objective</i>: Anti-Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) activity of Kumazasa (<i>Sasa senanensis</i> Rehder) extract were investigated in the human embryonic lung (HEL) fibroblast cell.<br> <i>Method</i>: This study examined the effect of hot water extract from <i>Sasa senanensis </i>Rehder on HCMV replication, viral-specific major immediate early (IE) gene expression, and protein synthesis.<br> <i>Results</i>: Treatment of HCMV-infected HEL cells with that <i>Sasa senanensis</i> Rehder extract inhibited the cytopathic effect and viral production in a dose-dependent manner. Further, real-time RT-PCR assay and Western blotting analysis revealed that <i>Sasa senanensis</i> Rehder extract decreased expression of the HCMV IE gene in virus-infected HEL cell.<br> <i>Conclusion</i>: These results suggest that <i>Sasa senanensis</i> Rehder extract have anti-HCMV activity by inhibitting of IE gene expression.<br>