Kummel's disease

Kummel's disease is a crush fracture of a vertebral body caused by a minor trauma, with the most accepted etiology being avascular necrosis. It is more frequent in individuals with risk factors such as osteoporosis or prolonged treatment with corticosteroids. Initially, it usually has normal radiological tests and an asymptomatic period, followed by a progressive onset of pain along with probable kyphosis and a sign of void or fluid abscess on radiological tests, which may create nerve/spinal involvement. The case is presented of a 76-year-old man, who was admitted to this center for the differential diagnosis of a single vertebral lesion. After imaging tests and biopsy, the definitive diagnosis of Kummel's disease was reached. The confirmatory diagnosis was reached by vertebral biopsy, but given its invasive nature, imaging techniques can play a significant role. As regards metabolic imaging tests, bone scintigraphy has shown to be one of the most sensitive tools to detect ischemia in earlier stages or to determine if it affects other locations. The whole body scan with diphosphonates shows an increase in activity in relation to bone remodeling activity in this condition. The 3-phase study makes it possible to differentiate whether it is an acute/subacute or chronic process, and can influence the therapeutic decision. Knowledge of this disease is important to make a differential diagnosis with tumour or infectious pathology, with emphasis on performing imaging tests in the event of persistent pain with a normal initial plaque.

La enfermedad de Kummel es una fractura-aplastamiento de un cuerpo vertebral precedida por un traumatismo menor, cuya etiología más aceptada es la necrosis avascular. Es más frecuente en individuos con factores de riesgo como osteoporosis o tratamiento prolongado con corticoides. Inicialmente, suele presentar pruebas radiológicas normales y un periodo asintomático, con aparición progresiva del dolor junto a probable cifosis y signo del vacío o absceso líquido en las pruebas radiológicas, pudiendo llegar a crear compromiso nervioso/medular. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 76 arios que ingresa en nuestro centro para el diagnóstico diferencial de una lesión única vertebral; tras la realización de las pruebas de imagen y biopsia se llega al diagnóstico definitivo de enfermedad de Kummel. El diagnóstico de confirmación de esta enfermedad se alcanza mediante la biopsia vertebral, pero dada su naturaleza invasiva, las técnicas de imagen toman un papel relevante. En relación con las pruebas de imagen metabólicas, la gammagrafía ósea ha demostrado ser una de las herramientas más sensibles para detectar isquemia en fases más tempranas o para conocer si afecta a otras localizaciones. El rastreo corporal de cuerpo completo con difosfonatos muestra un aumento de actividad en relación con la actividad ósea remodelativa en este cuadro. El estudio de tres fases permite diferenciar si se trata de un proceso agudo/subagudo o crónico, lo que influye en la decisión terapéutica. Es importante el conocimiento de esta enfermedad para realizar diagnóstico diferencial con patología tumoral o infecciosa e insistir en la realización de pruebas de imagen ante la persistencia del dolor con una placa inicial normal.

A smart approach for delivery of aripiprazole via oro-soft palatal mucosal route for improved therapeutic efficacy

Effective management of schizophrenia, acute mania, mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorders, and depression can be managed with aripiprazole moiety. In the present research work an attempt was made to minimize the dose related side effects thus improving the quality life of the patients. A novel biopolymer was isolated from the fruits of Trachyspermum ammi. Ten optimized nanosized aripiprazole loaded formulations were prepared in 1-5% concentration of biopolymer (FA1-FA5) and sodium CMC (FM1-FM5) by solvent casting technique. The formulated flexy films were evaluated for thickness, folding endurance, weight uniformity, surface pH, mucoadhesivity, In-vitro drug release studies, In-vivo pharmacodynamic study and stability studies. The isolated biopolymer showed inbuilt fimability and mucoadhesivity and consists of carbonyl, hydroxyl and thiocarbonyl functional groups. All formulations showed folding endurance from 153 to 170, mucoadhesion time in the range of 24-48hrs., and in-vitro drug release was performed using dynamic Franz Diffusion cell and analyzed using BIT-SOFTWARE. The experimental animals showed improved activity score on actophotometer. The formulated nanosized aripiprazole loaded bio-flexy films showed pharmacotherapeutic response. Conclusion can be drawn that optimized formulation showed effective Pharmacodynamic activity and can be used as for improving therapeutic efficacy of aripiprazole through this platform.

Evaluation of antimicrobial, cytotoxic and chemopreventive activities of carvone and its derivatives

ABSTRACT Considering the reported activity of carvone in the literature, this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial, cytotoxic and chemopreventive activities of (+)- and (-)-carvone, (+)- and (-)- hydroxydihydrocarvone and α,ß-epoxycarvone. (+)-Hydroxydihydrocarvone (HC+), (-)-hydroxydihydrocarvone (HC-) and α,ß-epoxycarvone (EP) were obtained by synthesis using (+)-carvone (C+) or (-)-carvone (C-) as precursors. The antifungal activity (MIC and MFC) were evaluated against Candida parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. krusei and C. albicans and the antibacterial activity (MIC and MBC) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The cytotoxicity assays were performed with human cancer cell lines HepG-2 and SiHa and the normal strain MRC-5 through sulphorrodamine B assay. Chemoprevention was evaluated through quinone reductase assay. Our results showed no cytotoxicity on tumor and normal cell lines and no induction of the quinone reductase enzyme. C- and HC- presented activity against E. coli. All compounds presented weak antifungal activity against C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis. EP and C+ showed moderate activity against C. krusei. Results suggest the potential use of carvones and its derivatives as antifungal agents against Candida yeasts. The absence of cytotoxicity in cell lines indicates safety in the use of these compounds

Carum copticum and Thymus vulgaris oils inhibit virulence in Trichophyton rubrum and Aspergillus spp

Emergence of drug-resistant strains has demanded for alternative means of combating fungal infections. Oils of Carum copticum and Thymus vulgaris have long been used in ethnomedicine for ailments of various fungal infections. Since their activity has not been reported in particular against drug-resistant fungi, this study was aimed to evaluate the effects of oils of C. copticum and T. vulgaris on the growth and virulence of drug-resistant strains of Aspergillus spp. and Trichophyton rubrum. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed thymol constituting 44.71% and 22.82% of T. vulgaris and C. copticum, respectively. Inhibition of mycelial growth by essential oils was recorded in the order of thymol > T. vulgaris > C. copticum against the tested strains. RBC lysis assay showed no tested oils to be toxic even up to concentration two folds higher than their respective MFCs. Thymol exhibited highest synergy in combination with fluconazole against Aspergillus fumigatus MTCC2550 (FICI value 0.187) and T. rubrum IOA9 (0.156) as determined by checkerboard method. Thymol and T. vulgaris essential oil were equally effective against both the macro and arthroconidia growth (MIC 72 µg/mL). A > 80% reduction in elastase activity was recorded for A. fumigatus MTCC2550 by C. copticum, T. vulgaris oils and thymol. The effectiveness of these oils against arthroconidia and synergistic interaction of thymol and T. vulgaris with fluconazole can be exploited to potentiate the antifungal effects of fluconazole against drug-resistant strains of T. rubrum and Aspergillus spp.

Use Carum copticum essential oil for controlling the Listeria monocytogenes growth in fish model system

This study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial effect of Carum copticum essential oil (Ajowan EO) against Listeria monocytogenes in fish model system. Ajowan EO chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectral analysis and the highest concentration of Carum copticum essential oil without any significant changes on sensory properties of kutum fish (Rutilus frisii kutum) was assigned. Then the inhibitory effect of Ajowan EO at different concentrations in presence of salt and smoke component was tested on L. monocytogenes growth in fish peptone broth (FPB), kutum broth and cold smoked kutum broth at 4 ºC for 12 days. Ajowan EO completely decreased the number of L. monocytogenes in FPB after 12 days of storage, however, antimicrobial effect of EO significantly reduced in kutum and cold smoked kutum broth. Addition of 4% NaCl and smoke component improved the anti-listerial activity of Ajowan EO in all fish model broths.

cytotoxicity and comparative antibacterial study on the effect of Zataria multiflora boiss, trachyspermum copticum essential oils, and enrofloxacin on aeromonas hydrophila

This study designed to test the antibacterial potency of enrofloxacin [ENR] and essential oils from Zataria multiflora Boiss [ZEO] and Trachyspermum copticum [TEO] on Aeromonas hydrophila. The antibacterial potency of test compounds was determined by several methods including the inhibition zone diameter determination, microbroth dilution method and colorimetric method of MTT. The cytotoxicity of test substances was assessed on Chinook salmon [Oncorhynchus tshawytscha] embryo [CHSE-214] cells. Results showed that ENR and tested essential oils exert antibacterial effect against A. hydrophila. Moreover, ENR exerted the most potent antibacterial effect with MIC values of 62.5 ng/ml. The natural compounds of ZEO and TEO also showed antibacterial effects with rather high MIC values of 0.315 mg/ml, and 1.25 mg/ml, respectively. None of the tested substances showed toxicity on CHSE-24 cells. It is concluded that ZEO and TEO could be applied to prevent from A. hydrophila infection. Moreover, data also suggest that MTT method could be both cost- and time-effective and accurate method of MIC determination

Determination of some toxic and essential trace metals in some medicinal and edible plants of Karachi city

Trace metals in eight different medicinal plants commonly available in Karachi namely Azadirachta indica [Neem], Syzygium aromaticum [Clove], Murraya koenigii [Curry Leaves], Trachyspermum ammi [Ajowan], Foeniculum vulgare [Fennal], Brassica oleracea [Cabbage], Brassica rapa [Turnip], and Pipper nigrum [Black pepper] have been quantitatively analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Flame Photometry. A wet digestion procedure involving the use of H[2]SO[4] [95%] and H[2]O[2] [35%] has been adopted to digest medicinal plants. Nine heavy metals [Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni and Zn] and two alkali metals [K and Na] were chosen on the basis of their effects upon health. In general the order of concentration of toxic metals in medicinal plants was found to follow the order Pb> Ni> Cr> Co> Cd. Sodium and Potassium content was found to be very high in all the samples. Concentration of sodium were recorded to be the highest in roots of Brassica rapa and Murraya koenigii i.e., more than 1000 micro g/g. Postassium concentrations are around 9038 micro g/g in Foeniculum vulgare. Plante samples of Trachyspermum ammi, leaves of Brassica rapa, and Foeniculum vulgare, Brassica oleracea [Cabbage], contained comparatively higher amounts of Fe i.e., > 100 micro g/g. Out of all toxic metals Lead is present at noticeable levels in all the samples that indicates higher soil pollution. Concentrations of Na, K and Mn and Cu are found to be very high in Brassica rapa roots as compared to its leaves while Fe levels are found to be high in leaves

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Satureja hortensis and Trachyspermum copticum essential oil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Satureja hortensis and Trachyspermum copticum essential oils against different kinds of microorganisms in vitro. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by micro broth dilution assay and the chemical composition of essential oils was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thymol, p-cymene, gamma-terpinene and carvacrol were the main components of S. hortensis oil while thymol, gamma-terpinene, and o-cymene were the major components of T. copticum oil. Two essential oils exhibited strong antimicrobial activity but the antimicrobial activity of T. copticum oil was higher than that of S. hortensis oil. Thymol as a main component of oils plays an important role in antimicrobial activity

Water soluble fractions of caraway (Carum carvi L. ) essential oil / Fracción de aceite esencial de alcaravea (Carum carvi L. ) soluble en agua

Natural essential oils are used extensively in fragrances, flavorants, and in the food and pharmaceutical industries. During hydrodistillation, a part of the essential oil becomes dissolved in the condensate and lost as this water is discarded. In this study, carvone and limonene content recovered from hydrodistillation waste water of caraway fruit were quantified using two methods for recovering dissolved aromatic molecules from condensate water: extraction through distillation and extraction by means of a solvent. This allows for the conservation of useful molecules which are typically discarded with the waste water produced during the distillation process. The objective of this study was to quantify the carvone and limonene content recoverable from waste water derived from the distillation of caraway essential oil. The well-known Clevenger method and a simpler, more practical technique employing cyclohexane as a solvent were employed to determine the recoverable content of aromatic molecules from the hydrosol. The chemical compositions of the respective recovered extracts were compared with those of the primary oils to analyze the efficacy of these methods. Recovered extract accounted for 10 to 40 percent of the total oil yield. The limonene and carvone molecules recovered using these methods were quantified through gas chromatography in order to characterize the composition of the secondary extract produced.

Los aceites esenciales naturales se utilizan ampliamente en las fragancias, saborizantes, y en la industria alimentaria y farmacéutica. Durante la hidrodestilación, una parte del aceite esencial se disuelve en el condensado y se pierde como agua de descarga. En este estudio, el contenido de carvona y limoneno recuperados del agua de desecho de la hidrodestilación de la fruta de alcaravea se cuantificaron utilizando dos métodos para recuperar las moléculas aromáticas disueltas en el agua condensada: extracción a través de la destilación y la extracción con un disolvente. Esto permite la conservación de las moléculas útiles que normalmente son desechadas con las aguas residuales producidas durante el proceso de destilación. El objetivo de este estudio fue cuantificar el contenido de carvona y limoneno recuperable de las aguas residuales procedente de la destilación del aceite esencial de alcaravea. El conocido método de Clevenger y una técnica sencilla y práctica que emplea ciclohexano como disolvente fueron utilizadas para determinar el contenido de moléculas aromáticas contenidas en el hidrosol. La composición química de los extractos recuperados fue comparada con los aceites primarios para analizar la eficacia de estos métodos. El extracto recuperado representa del 10 al 40 por ciento del contenido total de aceite esencial. Las moléculas de limoneno y carvona recuperadas mediante estos métodos se cuantificaron mediante cromatografía de gases con el fin de caracterizar la composición del extracto secundario.

Antibacterial activity of twenty Iranian plant extracts against clinical isolates of helicobacter pylori

Due to increasing emergence of drug-resistance in Helicobacter pylori isolates, traditional plants are potentially valuable sources of novel anti-H. pylori agents. In this research, anti-H. pylori activity of the organic extracts of twenty native Iranian plants was determined against ten clinical isolates of H. pylori. Disc diffusion was used to determine the biological activity of 20 plant extracts as well as 8 antibiotics commonly used to treat H. pylori infections. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were also measured by tube and agar dilution methods for the biologically active plant extracts. Of the twenty plant extracts analyzed, sixteen exhibited good anti-H. pylori activity, using disc diffusion. The ten most active extracts were Carum bulbocastanum, Carum carvi, Mentha longifolia, Saliva limbata, Saliva sclarea, Ziziphora clinopodioides, Thymus caramanicus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Xanthium brasilicum and Trachyspermum copticum. Minimum inhibitory concentrations measured for the 10 biologically active plant extracts were within the range of 31.25 to 500 micro g/ml. Among the ten plant extracts effective against H. pylori clinical isolates, Carum carvi, Xanthium brasilicum and Trachyspermum copticum showed the highest activity

Antifungal activity of essential oil and alcoholic extract of carum copticum against fluconazole-resistant and susceptible candida albicans isolated

Ajowan is an annual herbaceous essential oil of Carum copticom. The main components of the oil are Tymol, beta-pinene, gamma- terpinene and Sabinene. The fruit oil of Carum copticum has been reported to have several therapeutic effects including anti fungal, anti bacterial and anti viral, … Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungus and transforms into pathogenic form in favorable conditions, causing fungal diseases. In this study essential oil and alcoholic extract of Carum copticum were gained and Microdilution Broth method were used for detection of minimum inhibition concentration [MIC] and minimum fungicide concentration [MFC] of 11 clinical isolates of Candida albicans and Standard strain [PTCC50-27]. Results show that MIC for essential oil is 0.43 micro g/ml, 0.87 micro g/ml and for alcoholic extract is 3.51 micro g/ml, 7.03 micro g/ml, 1/75 micro g/ml. Thus, it seems that Carum copticum could inhibit Candida albicans growth by a similar mechanism which occurs by Fluconazole [FLZ]. In general, the results obtained in this study indicate that Carum copticum has potential values for growth inhibition of Candida albicans in vitro. In recent years, systemic fungal infections due to Candida species have been received major consideration about inducing mortality in nosocomial patients because of increasing in immunocompromised disorders such as AIDS and hematological disorders as well as long term use of broad spectrum antibiotics and corticosteroids. The present study was done with the aim of evaluating antifungal effects of essential oil and alcoholic extract from Carum copticum against Fluconazole [FLZ] susceptible and Fluconazole resistance Candida albicans strains isolated from different types of Candidiasis. Standard drug susceptibility tests with broth dilution technique were used to measure the in vitro antifungal activity of essential oil and alcoholic extract from Carum copticum. According to our results, it seems that Carum copticum could inhibit Candida albicans growth by a similar mechanism which occurs by FLZ and could be used as a potential antifungal agent especially with FLZ

Antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of selected Egyptian medicinal herbs

Sage [Salvia officinalis], Liquorice [Glycyrrhiia glabra], chufa [Cyperus rotundus], and Caraway [Carurn carvi L.] are a perennial herbs. It is commonly consumed as a food-related product and as an herbal preparation because of its reputed medicinal properties. In this study, the aerial material of sage, fruit of caraway, roots of liquorice and tubers of chufa were collected from Egypt were extracted by using five solvents of different polarity, viz., methanol, ethanol, acetone, hexane and diethyl ether. For each extract, the total phenolics, flavonoid and flavonols content were estimated as were the in vitro antioxidant activity using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl DPPH and 2, 20- azinobis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6-sulphonate] ABTS free radical scavenging assays. The highest extraction yield was observed for hexane followed by Diethyl ether, 20.5 and 19.6 g/100g dry weight in chufa respectively, while in Liquorce and sage was methanol 17.3 and 15.5 g/100g dry weight respectively. Results revealed that methanol and ethanol were better solvents than the others in extracting phenolics compounds from the extracts for all herbs, where 110.37 and 96.29 mg GAE/ 100g DW for Liquorce and sage, followed by ethanol, where 22.34 and 19.79 mg GAE/100g DW of total phenolic compounds for caraway and chufa, respectively. Methanolic extracts of Liquorce and sage gave the best yields of total flavonoid contents with values 345.76 and 292.21 mg/100g DW and then diethyl ether extract of caraway and chufa, 108.45 and 87.65 mg/100g DW respectively, dependent on the solvent used for the extraction. The highest flavonols content were observed in extracts with methanol: the same trend of flavonoids. The two methods of antioxidant activity measuring proved that sage and liquorice extracts had a highest antioxidant activity due to its high content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. On the basis of the results obtained, sage and liquorice were found to serve as natural antioxidants due to their significant antioxidant activity. Thus, both extracts are promising alternatives to synthetic substances as food ingredients with antioxidant activity

Effect of organic manures and chemical fertilizers on foeniculum vulgare, mill and carum carvi, L

The effect of organic manures and chemical fertilizers on the vegetative growth and oil production and composition for both plants were studied. The experiments were carried out during two seasons of 2001/2002 and 2002/2003. Three concentration from each of farmyard manure, FYM [8,12 and 16 m[3] /fed], chicken manure, CM [0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 m [3] /fed] and mixed manures of FYM + CM [4 + 0.4, 6 + 0.6 and 8 + 0,8 m [3] /fed] were added at the time of soil preparation. The chemical fertilizers N and K were used as soil dressing two times after 50 and 75 days from planting. The results indicated that the use of FYM, 16 m [3]/fed treatment produced high vegetative growth and high fruit yield/fed in both plants as well as high values of NPK for fennel plant The high oil yield was produced from the use of the mixed treatment FYM + CM 4 + 0.4 m [3] /fed and by the use of CM, 1.2 m [3]/fed in case of fennel and caraway plants respectively. The dose of CM, 1.2 m [3] /fed with caraway also produce high values of NPK

An MRI Study of Cavum Septi Pellucidi in Schizophrenia and Mood Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to verify neuro-developmental hypothesis of schizophrenia and mood disorder. METHOD: We performed Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging study in 34 schizophrenic patients, 18 mood disorder patients and 22 controls and compared the incidence and the size of carum septi pellucidi (CSP). RESULTS: The incidences of CSP in schizophrenia, mood disorder and controls were 61%, 61%, and 41%, respectively. The incidences of large CSP, defined as largest diameter larger than 3mm in T1-weighted image, were 24% in schizophrenic patients, 11% in mood disorder patients, and 5% in controls. But they didn't show statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: We could find the tendency that the incidence of CSP was high as following order; schizophrenia, mood disorder, controls. But it was not statistically significant difference. To verify neuro-developmental hypothesis, we need larger pool of patients and better study design.