Toxicological studies of the aqueous extract from Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC (Marcela).

Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC (Marcela) is known to possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological, medicinal and therapeutic properties. Previous studies have demonstrated various protective abilities of the marcela extracts against various pathological conditions. However, no extensive safety studies have been conducted on these extracts to date. In this paper, we evaluated the acute toxicity (dose levels of 30-300 mg/kg) of an aqueous extract of marcela, administered intraperitoneally and orally in mice and rats. The acute oral maximun tolerable dose in repeated administration during 4 h (1, 3 until 5 g/kg) was also studied in rats. The extract had low acute toxicity when administered intraperitoneally and no toxicity upon oral administration. The LD(50) of aqueous extracts of marcela was found to be greater than 5 g/kg when administered once via gastric intubation to rats. Weight gain, toxicity signs, enzymatic studies (transaminases and phosphatases) and histological evaluation of several organs indicated that the extract was devoid of acute toxicity. These acute studies demonstrated that an aqueous extract of marcela obtained after a 2% infusion is safe and did not cause any detrimental effects in vivo under the conditions investigated in this study.

[Cytomegalovirus encephalitis in an immunocompetent patient: clinical, neuropathological and ultrastructural analysis]. / Encefalitis a citomegalovirus en un paciente inmunocompetente: análisis clinico, neuropatologico y ultraestructural.

Cytomegalovirus encephalitis is rarely diagnosed in immunocompetent patients. It is more frequent among immunocompromised hosts. We present a case of a young male patient without evidence of immunosupression who had a cytomegalovirus encephalitis. The diagnosis was made by detection of viral DNA in cerebral tissue obtained by biopsy. Neuropathologic and ultrastructural changes are described and compared with the descriptions in immunocompromised patients.

Quantitative analysis of the immune cells in the anal mucosa.

The prevalence of anoperineal diseases, i.e. sexual transmitted infections, is increasing particularly in AIDS, a fact which is likely due to the alteration of mucosal immunity. However, no data were available on normal anal status. In order to study anal immunity in man, we characterized lymphocytes subtypes and Langerhans' cells (LC) using quantitative morphometric analysis and immunohistochemistry. Anal normal mucosal samples obtained from surgical specimens of 45 patients (30 suffering from hemorrhoids and 15 from fissurations) were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was performed on frozen sections with antibodies recognizing CD1a (LC), CD3 (T lymphocytes), CD4 (T4), CD8 (T8) and CD22 (B-lymphocytes). Immunostained cells were counted per square millimeter of mucosal epithelium. The surface of CD1a cells was measured using a computerized software program and a percentage of CD1a immunostained area was calculated in comparison to the whole mucosal surface. LC and T-Lymphocytes were found in the squamous epithelium in all analyzed samples. The mean values of LC number were 84.13 +/- 9.6 and 64.77 +/- 9.8 in hemorroid- and fissure-patients, respectively. The mean values of LC area (% of CD1a stained area over total mucosal surface) were 3.89 +/- 0.44 and 4.84 +/- 0.64, respectively. In the two groups, the number of intraepithelial CD8 lymphocytes was higher than that of CD4 lymphocytes. These data suggest for the first time that anal mucosa could be considered as a part of MALT system.

[Pathologic anatomy of cytomegalovirus encephalomyelitis and varicella-zona virus encephalomyelitis]. / Anatomie pathologique des encéphalomyélites à cytomégalovirus et à virus varicelle-zona.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the nervous system is frequent in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and can be responsible for encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, meningoradiculitis or polyradiculo-neuropathy. Encephalitis is characterized at microscopy by its periventricular and cerebellar location, and by the presence of cytomegalic cells, containing intranuclear and/or intracytoplasmic inclusions, microglial nodules and necrotic foci. The virus can infect almost all types of cells. Coexistence of CMV and HIV has been observed in giant cells of macrophagic origin. It has been suggested that the two viruses could act in synergy. The nervous system is seldom infected by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in AIDS. The infection can be responsible for multifocal leukoencephalitis, ventriculitis, vascular lesions associated or not with cerebral infarction, or with meningomyeloradiculitis. In almost all cell types Cowdry's type A intranuclear inclusions have been found. The virus can be demonstrated by immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization. VZV antigens have been reported in the walls of vessels damaged by a non inflammatory obliterating vasculopathy or by a granulomatous angiitis. Coexistence of VZV and HIV has been observed in giant cells of macrophagic origin, and synergy between those two viruses has been suspected.

[Frontal cerebral abscess, a rare complication of nasosinusal polyposis. Apropos of a case]. / Abcès cérébral frontal, complication rare de la polypose nasosinusienne. A propos d'une observation.

Sinusonasal polyposis is frequent but usually benign. A 77-year-old woman with an history of sinusonasal polyps, presented with fever and neurologic impairment. Radiologic imaging showed a polypoïd mass filling the nose and sinuses, eroding the ethmoïd bone, progressing intracranially, and causing brain abscess. The literature is reviewed, according to the relations between brain abscess development and nasal polyposis, with emphasis on intracranial extension of sinusonasal polyps. Treatment of the nasal polyps, usually based on the use of local or general corticosteroïds, can avoid this serious complication.