A network pharmacology approach to assess Reno-protective and -curative effects of methanolic extract of Malva neglecta Wallr in gentamicin induced renal toxicity rat model

Abstract The aim of present study was to explore protective and curative effects of Malve neglecta on kidneys. In silco study with network pharmacology was performed to find out potential target organs, genes and cellular cell lines which confirmed kidneys as target organ of phyto-constituents present in Malva neglecta extract. Gentamicin (40 mg/kg, i.p) was given to induce renal toxicity. Prophylactic study was performed with 300-, 600- and 900 mg/kg doses to find out nephro-protective and -curative effects and curative potential was evaluated at 900 mg/kg dose. Renal function biomarkers, blood urea, BUN, serum creatinine and uric acid, and oxidative stress measuring biomarkers, SOD, CAT, GSH and MDA levels in kidney homogenate were quantified at the end of study. Treatment groups showed decrease in blood urea, BUN, serum creatinine and uric acid levels dose dependently and curative group also showed decline in these biomarkers. SOD, CAT, GSH levels were increased and MDA level decreased in treatment groups significantly as compared to toxic control which revealed the role of oxidative stress in renal damage and anti-oxidant power of MN. Data suggested that use of MN along with drugs causing renal toxicity may prove beneficial due to its nephro- protective and curative effects.

In vitro anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and anti- proliferative activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles - Phoenix dactylifera (Rothan dates)

Abstract Traditionally dates is consumed as a rich source of iron supplement and the current research discuss the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using methanolic seed extract of Rothan date and its application over in vitro anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activity against lung cancer cell line (A549). FTIR result of synthesised AgNPs reveals the presence of functional group OH as capping agent. XRD pattern confirms the crystalline nature of the AgNPs with peaks at 38º, 44º, 64º and 81º, indexed by (111), (200), (220) and (222) in the 2θ range of 10-90, indicating the face centered cubic (fcc) structure of metallic Ag. HR- TEM results confirm the morphology of AgNPs as almost spherical with high surface areas and average size of 42 ± 9nm. EDX spectra confirmed that Ag is only the major element present and the Dynamic light scattering (DLS) assisted that the Z-average size was 203nm and 1.0 of PdI value. Zeta potential showed − 26.5mv with a single peak. The results of the biological activities of AgNPs exhibited dose dependent activity with 68.44% for arthritic, antiinflammatory with 63.32% inhibition and anti-proliferative activity illustrated IC50 value of 59.66 µg/mL expressing the potential of AgNPs to combat cancer

Parámetros mamográficos: compresión, dosis y disconfort / Mammography parameters: compression, dose, and discomfort

Objetivo: Confirmar la importancia de la compresión en mamografía, y relacionarla con el disconfort manifestado por las pacientes. Materiales y métodos: Se emplearon 2 muestras de 402 y 268 mamografías, obtenidas en dos centros de diagnóstico que poseen el mismo equipo mamográfico pero diferentes técnicas de compresión. Las edades variaron entre los 21 y los 50 años. Resultados: Se observó una sensible disminución en la dosis recibida a mayor compresión. Sin embargo, no se obtuvo una diferencia significativa en lo que respecta a los reclamos de las pacientes en relación con el disconfort experimentado. Discusión y Conclusión: La compresión en mamografía, siguiendo los estándares internacionales de una fuerza entre 80-120 N, es efectiva en cuanto a la reducción de dosis, sin por eso ser insoportable para la paciente. Este disconfort tampoco está relacionado con la glandularidad de la mama.

Objective: To confirm the importance of compression in mammography and relate it to the discomfort expressed by the patients. Materials and methods: Two samples of 402 and 268 mammographies were obtained from two diagnostic centres that use the same mammographic equipment, but different compression techniques. The patient age range was from 21 to 50 years old. Results: A significant decrease in the dose received was observed at higher compression. However, there was no significant difference as regards patients complaining about the discomfort experienced. Discussion and Conclusion: Compression in mammography, following the international standards of a pressure between 80-120 N, is effective in reducing the dose without being unbearable for the patient. This discomfort is also unrelated to the glandularity of the breast.

Doseamento microbiológico de apramicina - desenvolvimento e validação de método empregando leitura cinética em microplacas / Apramycin microbiological assay - method development and validation using kinetic microplate reading

O princípio do ensaio turbidimétrico é simples: a solução-teste é adicionada a suspensão do microrganismo-teste em meio de cultura, a mistura é incubada em condições adequadas e o crescimento microbiano é medido através da leitura fotométrica. O emprego de método de microplacas com leitura cínética para a dosagem de antibióticos é de interesse considerável, uma vez que possibilita reduzir quantidade de material e tempo de análise necessários e permite o ensaio de grande número de amostras simultaneamente, com leitura e cálculo automatizados. O objetivo deste trabalho é determinar as condições experimentais ideais para o desenvolvimento de metodologia para a dosagem microbiológica de apramicina empregando microplacas e modo de leitura cinético, e validar o método desenvolvido, através da avaliação dos parâmetros de especificidade e seletividade, linearidade, faixa ou intervalo linear, limite de detecção e quantificação, exatidão e precisão. As condições estabelecidas abrangem curva-padrão de apramicina com concentrações entre 5 e 35 μg/ml, e emprego de meio de cultura caldo de triptona-soja inoculado com Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) na proporção de 5%. Foram obtidos resultados satisfatórios após 2 horas de incubação. O método desenvolvido apresentou especificidade e seletividade adequadas, linearidade na faixa de 5 a 35 1.19/ml, limite de deteção e quantificação de 0,1 e 0,4 μg/ml, respectivamente, exatidão (recuperação = 98,5%) e precisao (DPR = 6,0%) satisfatórias. O ensaio em microplaca agrega características dos ensaios microbiológicos (avaliação da atividade do antibiótico frente a microrganismo-teste sensível) e físico-químicos (facilidade operacional e major rapidez na obtenção dos resultdos).

The turbidimetric assay principle is simple: the test-solution is added to a suspension of test-microorganism in culture media, the mixture is incubated in appropriate conditions and the microbial growth is measured by photometric reading. Microplate with kinetic reading mode employed in antibiotic assay is considerable interesting, once it allows reduction of material and analysis time and it permits that a great numbers of samples could be analyzed simultaneously, with automated reading and calculating. The aim of this work is to determinate best experimental conditions to development of methodology for microbiological assay of apramycin employing microplate and kinetic reading mode, and to validate the developed method, through evaluation of parameters of specificity and selectivity, linearity, linear range, limit of detection and quantification, accuracy and precision. Established conditions considered standard-curve of apramycin in concentrations from 5 to 35 μg/ml, and tryptic soy broth inoculated with 5% of Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) suspension. Satisfactory results were obtained with 2 hours incubation. The developed method showed appropriate specificity and selectivity, linearity in the range from 5 to 35 μg/ml, limit of detection and quantification of 0,1 and 0,4 μg/ml, respectively, satisfactory accuracy (recuperation = 98,5%) and precision (RSD = 6,0%). Microplate assay considered characteristics of microbiological assay (evaluation of antibiotic activity against sensible test-microorganism) and physical-chemistry (operational facility and quicker results).

Osteonecrosis avascular maxilar: guías de prevención para pacientes tratados con bifosfonatos / Avascular necrosis of the jaw: prevention guidelines for patients with biphosphonates treatment

Los bifosfonatos conforman un grupo de medicamentos que se utilizan desde hace unos 30 años para resolver diferentes condiciones que afectan la calidad del hueso de soporte. El uso actual es masivo, por tiempos prolongados y los esquemas de dosis grandes e intermitentes, de productos de alta potencia anti-resortiva ósea se asocian con la aparición de nuevos eventos adversos como la osteonecrosis de mandíbula (ONM). La ONM es sin embargo poco frecuente, se ha visto en el 0,8 por ciento de los pacientes con cáncer y factores de riesgo, tratados con productos intravenosos, dosis altas por tiempos de 3 o más años. Este evento es casi anecdótico con los esquemas orales intermitentes, en pacientes con osteoporosis, e inexistente cuando se utilizan diariamente productos de potencia anti-resortiva ósea moderada, por la vía oral y períodos de hasta un año. Aquí se resumen algunas recomendaciones elementales para que el odontólogo identifique los casos con riesgo y prevenga la aparición eventual de ONM.

External Beam Radiotherapy Boosted With High Dose Rate Brachytherapy in Completely Resected Uterine Sarcomas. Is This a Treatment Option?

Uterine sarcoma (US) is a relative rare tumor, whichaccounts for only about 3-5% of all uterine cancers.Aggressive cytoreductive surgery at the time of the initialdiagnosis with maximum tumor debulking may lead toa prolonged survival or cure. OBJECTIVE: to identifyand review the role of adjuvante external beam radiationtherapy (EBRT) associated with high dose ratebrachytherapy (HDRB) in the management of patientspresenting US with complete resection. MATERIAL ANDMETHODS: this study is a retrospective analysis of 23patients with US treated from 10/92 to 03/03, withsurgery, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) andhigh dose rate brachytherapy (HDRB). The inclusioncriteria for study participation included: histologicallyproven and graded US, completely resection of tumor,Karnofsky status 60–100, absence of significant infection,and recovery from recent surgery. RESULTS: The medianage of patients was 62 years (range 39-84); ten-yearactuarial disease-free and overall survivals were 42.2%and 63.4%, respectively. On univariate analysis,predictive factors for disease-free survival (DFS) wereage at initial presentation (p=0.0268), parity (p= 0.0441),tumor grade (p= 0.0095), cervical or vaginal invasion(p=0.0014) and node dissection at time of surgery (p=0.0471). On multivariate analysis, the only predictivefactor was cervical or vaginal invasion (p= 0.048), hazardratio of 4.7. CONCLUSION: it is quite likely that neitherradiotherapy nor chemotherapy alone will appreciablyimprove survival in US. If radiation therapy providesbetter locoregional tumor control, hematogenousmetastases will assume an even greater proportion oftreatment failures. Unfortunately, our small andheterogeneous group analyzed precludes any definitiveconclusions about the impact of HDRB associated to EBRTradiation therapy on recurrence or survival.