Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of centaurium spicatum with hepatoprotective and mRNA enzymatic inhibition activities

Five compounds [1-5] were firstly reported from the genus Centaurium family Gentianaceae. They were identified as Lisianthoside 1, Secoxyloganin 2, Secologanin dimethyl acetal 3, 1, 8-Dihydroxy-3, 5, 6, 7-tetramethoxyxanthone [Demethyleustomin] 4 and 1-Hydroxy 3, 5, 6, 7, 8-pentamethoxyxanthone [Eustomin] 5. Structure elucidation was carried out with support of chemical and spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR experiments. All the isolated compounds showed promising antioxidant activity, liver microsomal enzymes reducing activity and CYP3A4 mRNA inhibition activity in the HepG2 cell line

Stimulation of melanogenesis by polyphenolic compounds from citharexyllum quadrangulare in b16f1 murine melanoma cells

Two polyphenolic compounds; 1, 3, 6-tri-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose [TGG] [1] and methyl gallate [2] have been isolated from the aerial parts of Citharexylum quadrangulare Jacq. They were isolated for the first time from the genus Citharexylum and their structures have been established on the basis of spectroscopic methods in addition to comparison with literature data. The stimulatory activity of the isolated compounds was investigated on melanin synthesis where they stimulate the intracellular synthesis of melanin in murine melanoma B16F1 cells in cultured cell lines. The melanin content was dramatically increased by these compounds in a dose dependent manner and at nontoxic concentrations where IC[50] of TGG was 20.4 microM and that of methyl gallate was 16.1 microM Moreover, the isolated compounds were tested for cyrotoxic activity where IC[50] of compounds [1] and [2] were 1.5 and 10.8 microM, respectively. Also, they exhibited higher radical scavenging activity than ascorbic acid in DPPH assay system with IC[50] of 1.5 and 10.8 microM for compounds [1] and [2] respectively. Dramatic stimulatory effect of the isolated compounds on melanogenesis might be applied to various conditions of hypopiginentation-related disorders like Vitiligo as an adjunctive therapy in addition to its safely use as an antioxidant. The obtained results indicated that these active compounds could be used safely in cosmetic purposes

Medicolegal aspects of blunt splenic trauma with special reference to delayed rupture/presentation [a prospective study]

Deaths due to splenic rupture are still reported in hospital statistics. It is either acute or delayed rupture. Delayed splenic injury includes either true delayed rupture that represents an actually delayed development of an initially latent, insignificant, splenic injury [i.e. injury in evolution] minor enough to go undetected on initial CT scans of the abdomen, or delayed presentation which represents an initially missed injury [i.e. delay in diagnosis]. We had encountered a number of patients presented with splenic rupture days after blunt abdominal trauma. We conducted this study to review the experience with this clinical entity of blunt splenic rupture with special emphasis on delayed rupture/presentation for patients presented 48 hours or more after trauma. Ninty five emergency examinations were performed for the sole purpose of detecting splenic rupture in patients who had experienced blunt abdominal trauma during a period of 8 years. Twenty three patients out of the ninty five underwent urgent laparotomy and splenectomy within 48 hours from the occurrence of the trauma [24.2%] due to hemodynamic instability as a result of continuously bleeding splenic injury. Left rib fracture was encountered in 47.8% of the cases and bowel and mesenteric injury was found in 17.4% of the cases. Nine patients presented with delayed rupture/presentation of spleen 48 hours or more after the initial trauma [9.4%] were analyzed and formed the basis of this study. The mechanisms of injury and accompanying injuries were documented. The time lag from trauma to operation and the cause of delay were also documented. Regarding the cases of delayed rupture, abdominal computed tomography [CT] was performed in eight hemodynamically stable patients, as the 9[th] patient presented in shock with acute abdomen and emergency laparotomy was performed after positive diagnostic peritoneal lavage. CT demonstrated hemoperitoneum in 7 patients, 2 had subcapsular hematoma, 2 had grade II injury, 2 had grade III injury and one patient had grade IV injury with multiple pseudoaneurysms. Emergency laparotomy was performed for 2 patients due to hemodynamic instability. Three patients were operated upon after a brief period; the reaons for operating were hemodynamic instability or they showed manifestations of diffuse peritoneal irritations. Two patients were diagnosed to have true delayed rupture of sleen and managed initially conservatively; unfortunately, nonoperative management failed because of deterioration of clinical condition in one patient and repeated blood transfusions in the other patient. Splenectomy was performed in 8 patients. The last patient was managed nonoperatively and followed with repeat CT scans. In conclusion, Splenic rupture is frequently associated with collapse and other organ injury specially left rib fractures. This may be a useful marker for suspecting cases of delayed rupture. Also, delayed splenic rupture/presentation represents either an actually delayed development of an initially latent, minor splenic injury or an initially missed injury with late presentation. Patients may be displaced from one grade to another within few days. So, a high index of suspicion, observation, follow up of hematological parameters and liberal utilization imaging techniques are essential for the identification of delayed splenic rupture, which may be hazardous to patients life, and an actual challenge for physicians to avoid being condemned with negligence or malpractice

NGF and PTH relationship to peripheral nerve function in uremic patients

Nerve growth factor [NGF] parathormone hormone [PTH], and electro physiological study of peripheral nerve have been evaluated in 40 uremic patients with mean age 38.7 +/- 3.6 years, 23 males, 17 females versus 40 normal control subjects with mean age 38.6 +/- 3 years, 25 males and 15 females. NGF was significantly lower in uremic patients than control group [69+32, 48 +/- 12 ng/ml], respectively, p<0.001. Patients of long term chronic renal failure [CRF] have significant lower values of nerve conduction velocities, amplitude of sensory and motor action potential with prolonged distal latency than those of short term one, p<0.001. Dialyzed patients have significant reduced sensory and motornerve functions than non-dialyzed-one, p<0.001. NGF was significantly lower in dialyzed group than non-dialyzed one [44 +/- 19, 97 +/- 17 ng/ml], respectively, p<0.05. NGF showed significant negative [+ve] correlation to PTH values, p<0.01. NGF showed significant-ve correlation to the duration of CRF and dialysis therapy and significant positive [+ve] relation to peripheral nerve functions p<0.01. PTH values exhibited+ve correlation to the duration of CRF and dialysis therapy with-ve significant relation to peripheral nerve functions, p<0.01. NGF in concordance with PTH-seem to have significant role on the degree of peripheral nerve dysfunction among uremic patients

Acute pancreatitis: a clinical study in some toxicity with helical computed tomography

This study was conducted on 15, 48, 23 patients exposed to scorption sting, anticholinesterase insecticide, and methanol intoxication respectively with total number of 86 patients admitted to Poison Control Centre, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo Egypt. On admission, and on discharge, serum amylase, and serum lipase, in addition to pseudo-cholinesterase [butyryl cholinesterase Bu-ChE], blood pH, and blood bicarbonate were determined and compared with those of normal control subjects. Abdominal ultrasonography and helical computed tomography [CT] were performed for cases with increased serum amylase and lipase. Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in 6, 20, and 8 patients exposed to scorpion sting, anticholinesterase insecticide, and methanol intoxication respectively. All those patients demonstrated significantly elevated serum amylase, and lipase levels when compared with control group and other patients. Helical Computed Tomography [CT] showed findings suggestive of acute pancreatitis in 31 patients [91%]. There was a significant correlation between developing acute pancreatitis and severity of toxicity. Pancreatic necrosis, estimated on early, contrast-enhanced CT and seen only in patients with severe manifestations, was a specific predictor of morbidity. The present study showed that acute pancreatic injury might be more common than was previously thought. So, it is suggested that diagnosis of acute pancreatic injury should be considered in such cases to avoid deterioration and improve prognosis

Role of otoendoscopy in primary cholesteatoma surgery

In this study, 87 cases with acquired cholesteatoma were operated upon by the canal-wall-up [CWU] mastoidectomy technique incorporating endoscopically guided ear surgery as a principal part of the procedure in an attempt to evaluate its role in controlling the disease. The role of endoscopes was to detect and verify the complete ablation of an epidermic remnant in areas that are difficult to visualize with the operative microscope. Endoscopes with various observation angles were introduced, either trans-canal or trans-mastoid. An intraoperative residue was detected in 31% of the cases due to the incorporation of endoscopic assistance to the procedure. Sinus tympani was the most common site of intraoperative residuals [63%]. On the 2-year follow- up period, five cases showed residual cholesteatoma. Only two cases of these five cases were of those 27 cases in whom an intraoperative residual was detected

Antibiotic concentration into the sinus secretions in case of chronic maxillary sinusitis

The ability of different antibiotics to penetrate into the diseased maxillary sinus mucosa and to sinus secretion was investigated in patients with chronic maxillary sinusitis. 50 patients were given a course either of rifampicin [18 patients], cephalexin [16 patient] or ampicillin [16 patient], 60 aspirated, and 90 irrigated secretion samples were assessed for determination of the concentration of these antibiotice. The highest concentration was achieved with rifampicin and the lowest was with cephalexin