Aspirin 15cH has Different Effects on Morphology and Function of Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged RAW 264.7 Macrophages In Vitro Compared to a Pharmacological Dose of Aspirin.

INTRODUCTION: Aspirin is one of the most commonly used drugs worldwide. It is known to present antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic actions, making it extremely useful in a wide range of clinical contexts. Interestingly, homeopathically prepared Aspirin 15cH has been found to have a pro-thrombotic effect in rats, raising the hypothesis that Aspirin 15cH could also modulate the activity of inflammatory cells in different pathological processes. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess what effect Aspirin 15cH has on RAW 264.7 macrophages in vitro. METHODS: The effects of Aspirin 15cH on biochemical and morphological activities of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages were evaluated. These effects were compared with unchallenged macrophages (negative control), untreated LPS-stimulated macrophages, macrophages treated with succussed water (vehicle control), or aspirin 200 µg/mL (pharmacological inhibitor of LPS activity). Cell morphology (adhered cell area and cytoskeleton arrangements), cell viability, toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) expression, and the production of nitric oxide, cytokines and intracellular reactive oxygen species were assessed. RESULTS: Aspirin 15cH reduced the number of cells expressing TLR-4 on the surface (p = 0.03) and induced a "columnar" morphology of macrophage pseudopods, indicating changes in cytoskeleton arrangement. When cells were treated with both Aspirin 15cH and LPS, cell morphology became heterogeneous, suggesting that sub-populations of cells had differing sensitivities to LPS or Aspirin 15cH. Exposure of the cells to LPS alone, succussed water or aspirin 200 µg/mL produced effects consistent with the literature. CONCLUSION: Aspirin 15cH, aspirin 200 µg/mL, LPS and succussed water appear to act as independent stimuli able to induce different patterns of macrophage response. Aspirin 15cH induced changes suggestive of M2 polarization of the macrophages (i.e., toward a wound healing or tissue repair, rather than inflammatory, phenotype). These preliminary findings need to be confirmed in further specific studies.

Feline Injection-Site Sarcoma Complete Remission After Treatment with Isopathic medicine: a case repor

Feline injection-site sarcomas (FISS) were described for the first time in 1991. They are neoplasms of mesenchymal origin that appear in body regions routinely used for the application of vaccines or other injections [1]. Those are very aggressive tumours that relapse and have a high rate of mortality. The tumour can appear between 3 months and 3 years after the injection, but in some cases, it can happen after 15 years of the vaccineor otherinjections. Isopathy is one approach of homeopathy, in which the biological agent thatcausesa disease are prepared in high dilution to treat the same disease. This case report is about a 13-year-old mix breed spay cat. In September 2019 it received the vaccine Rabsin® (Boehringer Ingelheim) and 4 months later the owner noticed a lump at the injection area. One year later (September 2020) the lump start growing rapidly and on January 12th, 2021,started the appointments.The other veterinarians recommend euthanasia since the tumour was very bigand the catwasnot mild, was losing weightand appetite. The owner wanted to try another treatment before euthanasia since the cat was still active, interacting with the other cat and the people at the house.The lump was located on her back, in the end of the right ribcage, and it was around 7cm of diameter. It wasfirmandattachedto the muscles. AnIsopathy medicine with the same vaccinewas prepared, being the isotherapic 12CH administered 5 drops BID.Beside the isopathyvitaminsof Bcomplex and Omega 3were prescribed.The cat was seen every15 days andcontact telephonically was kept as well. The treatment started on January 19th, 2021. On January 21st, 2021,all the tumour was ulcerated and looser. On February 2nd,2021 the potencywas changedto 14CH, 5 drops, BID. On February 4ththe tumour felt away and was sent for histopathological study. On February 20th, 2021,the result described it as a Fibrosarcoma grade II. The ulcer that appeared after the tumour felt away became a big wound and the ownerstarted cleaning itwith propolis and lavender oleateeveryday anditwas controlledonce a week. OnMarch31st, 2021,the catwas eating well,strong, not mild,didnot allowedit to be cleaned. The woundseems to be more superficial,largerand it appears thata small lump was growing again.Isotherapic 15CH, 5 drops once a weekwas indicated.On April4th, 2021,the cat waseating well, good general conditionand the small lump that was growing wasshrinkingand the wound becoming more superficial. OnApril 9th,2021the cat seems painful, not eating well, constipated. Isopathy was suspended and started with Meloxican0,1mg/kg SID for 3 days.Was indicatedNatrum muriaticum30CH, 5 drops every hour, total 3 treatments and then once a day. On April 13th, 2021,the cat was better, defecate. But since April 9ththe cat could never be stable again. It has ups and downs and was treated withdifferent homeopathic remedies (Natrum muriaticum30Ch, Silicea200CHand Silicea1000CH, Staphisagria 200CH)until June 8th, 2021,when it was euthanised.No necropsy was done. The question was,what happenedwith the catsince itwas getting better?The following aphorisms could explain it:§156 "...The restoration, however, leads to the goal of the cure, if it is not preventedby strange medicinal influence, by errors in the lifestyle or by passions." And§10"With no vital powerthe material organism is not capable of any sensation, function or self-preservation..."[2].The informed consent formwas obtained from the owner of the cat.

Human Cytomegalovirus DNA Quantification and Gene Expression in Gliomas of Different Grades

Gliomas are the most common type of primary brain tumors. The most aggressive type, Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is one of the deadliest human diseases, with an average survival at diagnosis of about 1 year. Previous evidence suggests a link between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and gliomas. HCMV has been shown to be present in these tumors and several viral proteins can have oncogenic properties in glioma cells. Here we have investigated the presence of HCMV DNA, RNA and proteins in fifty-two gliomas of different grades of malignancy. The UL83 viral region, the early beta 2.7 RNA and viral protein were detected in 73%, 36% and 57% by qPCR, ISH and IHC, respectively. Positivity of the viral targets and viral load was independent of tumor type or grade suggesting no correlation between viral presence and tumor progression. Our results demonstrate high prevalence of the virus in gliomas from Brazilian patients, contributing to a better understanding of the association between HCMV infection and gliomas worldwide and supporting further investigations of the virus oncomodulatory properties.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection versus transanal endoscopic microsurgery for the treatment of early rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) are minimally invasive procedures that can be used to treat early rectal cancer. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare clinical efficacy between ESD and TEM for the treatment of early rectal cancer. METHODS: Between July 2008 and August 2011, 24 patients with early rectal cancers were treated by ESD (11) or TEM (13) at the Cancer Institute of São Paulo University Medical School (São Paulo, Brazil). Data were analyzed retrospectively according to database and pathological reports, with respect to en bloc resection rate, local recurrence, complications, histological diagnosis, procedure time and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: En bloc resection rates with free margins were achieved in 81.8 % of patients in the ESD group and 84.6 % of patients in the TEM group (p = 0.40). Mean tumor size was 64.6 ± 57.9 mm in the ESD group and 43.9 ± 30.7 mm in the TEM group (p = 0.13). Two patients in the TEM group and one patient in the ESD group had a local recurrence. The mean procedure time was 133 ± 94.8 min in the ESD group and 150 ± 66.3 min in the TEM group (p = 0.69). Mean hospital stay was 3.8 ± 3.3 days in the ESD group and 4.08 ± 1.7 days in the TEM group (p = 0.81). LIMITATIONS: This was a non-randomized clinical trial with a small sample size and selection bias in treatment options. CONCLUSION: ESD and TEM are both safe and effective for the treatment of early rectal cancer.

United States (US) multi-center study to assess the validity and reliability of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III).

STUDY DESIGN: Multi-center, prospective, cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To assess the validity and reliability of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III) in measuring functional ability in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States (US). METHODS: Functional ability was measured with the SCIM III during the first week of admittance into inpatient acute rehabilitation and within one week of discharge from the same rehabilitation program. Motor and sensory neurologic impairment was measured with the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the default functional measure currently used in most US hospitals, was used as a comparison standard for the SCIM III. Statistical analyses were used to test the validity and reliability of the SCIM III. RESULTS: Total agreement between raters was above 70% on most SCIM III tasks and all κ-coefficients were statistically significant (P<0.001). The coefficients of Pearson correlation between the paired raters were above 0.81 and intraclass correlation coefficients were above 0.81. Cronbach's-α was above 0.7, with the exception of the respiration task. The coefficient of Pearson correlation between the FIM and SCIM III was 0.8 (P<0.001). For the respiration and sphincter management subscale, the SCIM III was more responsive to change, than the FIM (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Overall, the SCIM III is a reliable and valid measure of functional change in SCI. However, improved scoring instructions and a few modifications to the scoring categories may reduce variability between raters and enhance clinical utility.

Assessment of takotsubo (ampulla) cardiomyopathy using iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of cardiac sympathetic innervation in patients whose clinical features consisted of chest pain, transient ST-segment elevation, left ventricular apical akinesis, minimal elevation of cardiac enzymes, and onset of symptoms shortly after a severe stress condition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five female patients, mean age 67+/-14 years, underwent thoracic 123I-MIBG (planar and SPECT) and 67Ga citrate (planar) scans within 5 days after the onset of symptoms. The 123I-MIBG myocardial washout rate between early (30 min) and delayed (3 hours) planar images was calculated. All patients presented findings consistent with takotsubo-like syndrome. Echocardiograms showed the characteristic wall motion pattern of significant apical dysfunction. Acute-phase coronary angiographies revealed a non-obstructive pattern. A peculiar apical akinesis and basal normokinesis were observed on the ventriculograms. RESULTS: Impairment of cardiac neuronal uptake of 123I-MIBG based on a reduction of the heart-to-mediastinum uptake ratio was observed in all patients, while the washout rate was raised in four patients. All patients presented an apical uptake defect in the 123I-MIBG SPECT and planar images and a normal 67Ga scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that ampulla cardiomyopathy (AC) is associated with a cardiac sympathetic innervation deficit characterized by a reduced global 123I-MIBG uptake and an apical uptake defect. The lack of 67Ga uptake in the acute phase of this syndrome indicates that AC is probably not associated with an inflammatory process.

Decreased reduced glutathione and glutathione reductase activity in subjects with hemoglobin C.

Erythrocyte catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were determined in 17 normal black controls, 8 subjects with Hb AC, 12 with Hb SC, 1 with Hb CC and 18 patients with sickle cell anemia. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were decreased in sickle cell anemia. Reduced glutathione and glutathione reductase activity were significantly lower in subjects with Hb C (AC, CC, SC). Differences were observed between Hb C, Hb S and Hb A as regards red cell dehydration, intracellular crystallization, enhanced potassium efflux, an increased number of titratable SH groups in Hb C and the binding of Hb C to band 3 on the inner membrane surface. A decrease in reduced glutathione, probably due to inhibition or decreased synthesis of glutathione reductase, was also observed. All these factors may determine oxidation of Hb C, possibly contributing to the hemolysis in patients with Hb C disease.