Exploring the clinical relevance of "Angico Gum": an effective biopolymer for topical protection of oesophageal mucosa in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients.

OBJECTIVES: Angico gum (AG) (Anadenanthera colubrina var. Cebil [Griseb.] Altschul) is utilized by some Brazilian communities to alleviate symptoms from gastroesophageal reflux disease. Here, we aimed to investigate the "in vitro" topical protective capacity of AG on human esophageal mucosa. METHODS: Biopsies of the distal esophageal mucosa were collected from 35 patients with heartburn (24 non-erosive and 11 with erosive oesophagitis (EE)) and mounted in Üssing chambers. AG was applied topically, followed by exposure with acid solution (pH 2.0 or pH 1.0), where transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and The transepithelial permeability for fluorescein was assessed. The incubation of the AG labeled with FITC in the esophageal mucosa was localized by fluorescence microscopy. KEY FINDINGS: Pretreatment with AG prevented the drop in TER induced by acid solution, as well as significantly decreases the fluorescein permeability in non-erosive patients. The protective effect of AG was sustained for up to 120 min both in biopsies of non-erosive and erosive esophagitis. Confocal microscope images showed mucosal luminal adherence of FITC-labeled AG. CONCLUSION: AG had a prolonged topical protective effect against acid solution in mucosal biopsies of patients with non-erosive and erosive esophagitis.

Sulfated polysaccharide from Gracilaria caudata reduces hypernociception and inflammatory response during arthritis in rodents.

Polysaccharide from marine alga Gracilaria caudata has potential health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and antidiarrheal effects. Here, we investigated the effect of a sulfated polysaccharide from G. caudata (SP-GC) on hypernociception and inflammatory response in arthritis models. The animals received SP-GC (3, 10 or 30 mg/kg) 1 h before tibio-tarsal injection of zymosan. Hypernociception, histopathology, edema, vascular permeability, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, cell influx, interleukin (IL)-1ß and nitric oxide (NO) levels were evaluated in acute phase. In another protocol, animals received SP-GC (30 mg/kg) 2 h post-complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Hypernociception, edema and arthritis index were determined in acute, sub-chronic and chronic phases. Rota-rod test measured the motor performance. SP-GC significantly reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, the zymosan-induced hypernociception with maximal effect at 30 mg/kg. The microscopic inflammation, joint edema, MPO activity, cell influx, IL-1ß and NO levels were also reduced by SP-GC. In the CFA-induced arthritis, SP-GC inhibits the hypernociception, edema and arthritic index in acute, sub-chronic and chronic phases. SP-GC did not alter the motor performance of animals. In conclusion, SP-GC exerts protective effect in models of arthritis due to the modulation of cell influx, IL-1ß and NO levels, culminating in the reduction of hypernociception and edema.

Florid Reactive Periostitis of the Proximal Phalanx-Case Report and Literature Review.

Florid reactive periostitis is a benign and rare lesion that is a recurrent diagnostic problem. Its etiopathogenesis remains unknown. Florid reactive periostitis consists of a fibrotic, cartilage-producing tumor accompanied by an aggressive inflammatory periosteal and soft tissue reaction. It typically occurs in adolescents and young adults, mostly female; it often affects hand and foot bones, and it may occur in long bones. Its diagnosis remains a major challenge due to the vast possibility of differential diagnoses. Therefore, careful clinical, radiological, and pathological evaluation is required to establish a proper diagnosis. We report the case of a patient with florid reactive periostitis in the proximal phalanx of the right index finger, who underwent surgical excision with a wide margin, from the second ray to the proximal third of the second metacarpal bone, and evolved without complications, with satisfactory range of motion and strength.

Florid Reactive Periostitis of the Proximal Phalanx-Case Report and Literature Review / Periostite reativa florida da falange proximal - relato de caso e revisão de literatura

Abstract Florid reactive periostitis is a benign andrare lesion that is a recurrent diagnostic problem. Its etiopathogenesis remains unknown. Florid reactive periostitis consists of a fibrotic, cartilage- producing tumor accompanied by an aggressive inflammatory periosteal and soft tissue reaction. It typically occurs in adolescents and young adults, mostly female; it often affects hand and foot bones, and it may occur in long bones. Its diagnosis remains a major challenge due to the vast possibility of differential diagnoses. Therefore, careful clinical, radiological, and pathological evaluation is required to establish a proper diagnosis. We report the case of a patientwith florid reactive periostitis in the proximal phalanx of the right index finger, who underwent surgical excision with a wide margin, from the second ray to the proximal third of the secondmetacarpal bone, and evolved without complications,with satisfactory range of motion and strength.

Resumo A periostite reativa florida éumalesão benigna e rara que constitui umproblema recorrente de diagnóstico. Sua etiopatogênese permanece desconhecida. A periostite reativa florida caracteriza- se por ser uma reação periosteal agressiva e inflamatória de tecido mole e por ser um tumor portador de fibrose e produtor de cartilagem. Ocorreemadolescentes e adultos jovens, com predomínio no sexo feminino, e acomete com frequência os ossos das mãos e pés, podendoacometer tambémossos longos.Odiagnósticopermaneceumgrandedesafiodevido à enorme possibilidade de diagnósticos diferenciais. Por isso, uma cuidadosa avaliação clínica, radiológica e patológica é necessária para fechar o diagnóstico. Relata-se o caso de umpaciente com periostite reativa florida na falange proximal do segundo dedo da mão direita, que foi submetida à excisão cirúrgica com margem ampla do segundo raio até o terço proximal do segundometacarpo, e evoluiu semqueixas, comamplitude demovimento e força satisfatória.

Neutrophils contribute to the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic cystitis induced by ifosfamide.

Ifosfamide (IFO) is an antineoplastic drug that is commonly used to treat gynecological and breast cancers. Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a common side effect associated with IFO injection, which courses with neutrophil accumulation and affects 6-50% of patients depending on dose intensity. Here, we investigated the role of neutrophils in this inflammatory process. Female Swiss mice (n = 8/group) were injected with saline, IFO (400 mg/kg, i.p.), fucoidan (a P- and L-selectins inhibitor, 100 mg/kg, i.v.) or IFO + fucoidan (1-100 mg/kg) alone or combined with mesna (80 mg/kg i.p.). Another group of mice received anti-Ly6G antibody (500 µg/mouse, once daily for 2 days) for neutrophil depletion before IFO injection. In another experimental setting, animals received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF, 400 µg/kg), IFO (200 mg/kg), G-CSF (25-400 µg/kg, for 5 days) + IFO (200 mg/kg, i.p.) or fucoidan + G-CSF + IFO. Bladder injury was evaluated 12 h after IFO injection. IFO 400 mg/kg significantly increased visceral hyperalgesia, bladder edema, hemorrhage, vascular permeability, MPO, IL-1ß and IL-6 tissue levels, and COX-2 immunostaining and expression versus the saline group (P < 0.05). Conversely, fucoidan (100 mg/kg) significantly attenuated these parameters compared to IFO-injected mice (P < 0.05). Additionally, fucoidan potentiated mesna protective effect when compared with IFO + mesna group (P < 0.05). Accordingly, neutrophil depletion with anti-Ly6G reduced inflammatory parameters and bladder injury compared to IFO (P < 0.05). In contrast, G-CSF enhanced IFO (200 mg/kg)-induced HC, which was significantly attenuated by treatment with fucoidan (P < 0.05). Therefore, neutrophils contribute to the pathogenesis of HC.