Evaluation of Cytotoxic Activity of Sargassum vulgare From the Lebanese Coast Against Jurkat Cancer Cell Line.

The discovery of cancer drugs that effectively destroy cancer cells or stop their growth without toxicity to normal cells is a challenge to enhance the therapeutic effects and reduce side effects. Many papers have highlighted the implication of marine algae that show anticancer activity. In this report, we assessed the cytotoxic activity of two different crude extracts from Sargassum vulgare (Sargassaceae), a marine brown algae collected from the Lebanese coast, against Jurkat human cancer cell line using trypan blue exclusion test. Both extracts, water: ethanol extract and chloroform: ethanol extract, showed cytotoxic activity against Jurkat cancer cell line with IC50 values of 136.907 μg/ mL and 49.056 μg/ mL, respectively after 72 hours of treatment. Further research designed to isolate and identify novel and efficient anticancer drug candidates from these seaweed extracts need to be explored.

Obstruction of the duodenum by a preduodenal portal vein in situs inversus

Mirror image transposition of abdominal and thoracic viscera is termed situs inversus. Duodenal obstruction in situs inversus is rare. A preduodenal portal vein, though not uncommon in situs inversus, rarely causes duodenal obstruction. Where obstruction by a preduodenal portal vein is diagnosed, a duodeno-duodenostomy is the recommended treatment. A duodenal diaphragm and other more common causes of duodenal obstruction should also be excluded in these patients.

Hypernatraemic dehydration in exclusively breastfed infants: a potentially fatal complication / Deshidratación hipernatrémica en bebés amamantados exclusivamente al pecho: una complicación potencialmente fatal

There have been several reports in the literature about hypernatraemic dehydration and severe malnutrition in exclusively breastfed infants. The authors report a series of four such cases admitted to the Newborn Special Care Unit of the University Hospital of the West Indies over a seven-year period. All four were term infants who had weight loss of greater than 20of their birthweight, serum sodium levels greater than 175 mmol/L, metabolic acidosis and pre-renal failure at presentation. Three of the infants had seizures shortly after presentation. One of the infants died soon after admission to hospital, the three others had normal neurological development clinically at the time of last review.

Ha habido varios reportes en la literatura sobre deshidratación hipernatrémica y malnutrición severa en bebés amamantados exclusivamente al pecho. Los autores reportan una serie de cuatro de estos casos, ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados Especiales para Recién Nacidos del Hospital Universitario de West Indies, a lo largo de un período de siete años. En los cuatro casos se trataba de infantes a término que habían perdido más del 20% de su peso al nacer, tenían niveles de sodio en suero superiores a 175 mmol/l, acidosis metabólica, y presentaban fallo pre-renal al ser atendidos. Tres de los bebés presentaron convulsiones poco después de ser vistos por el médico. Uno de los bebés murió poco después del ingreso al hospital, en tanto que los otros tres presentaban un desarrollo neurológico normal al momento del último examen.

Cardiac rhabdomyoma in infancy. A case report

We describe a case of rhabdomyoma of the heart in a newborn infant and present an overview of current knowledge about the natural history of these lesions, with implications for management. This is the only case of its kind seen at this hospital.

Torsion of an intra-abdominal testicle in a neonate. Case report and review of the literature

The thirty-ninth reported case of torsion of an intra-abdominal testicle is described in a neonate. The gonad was excised as is recommended because of the high incidence of malignancy (60of 37 cases). Torsion of an intra-abdominal testicle should be considered where an abdominal mass with calcification is found in an infant with undescended testis. Ultrasonography improves the diagnostic accuracy in infants because of the cystic nature of these masses in this age group.