A comparison of bioactive aqueous extracts and polysaccharide fractions from roots of wild and cultivated Cochlospermum tinctorium A. Rich.

In Malian traditional medicine the roots of Cochlospermum tinctorium are used in the treatment of gastric ulcer, but extending harvesting is causing a growing concern of a dramatic reduction in the wild plant population. In the present study cultivation of C. tinctorium is evaluated, and structural components and bioactive properties of crude water extracts and isolated polysaccharide fractions from roots of wild and cultivated C. tinctorium are compared. The crude water extracts were shown to contain starch, pectin- and inulin-type polysaccharides, in addition to phenolic substances and protein, while the isolated acidic polysaccharide fractions contained mainly monosaccharides typical for pectins. The monosaccharide compositions of the polysaccharide fractions from roots of wild versus cultivated plants were comparable, albeit the yields in the cultivated roots were lower. Furthermore, the crude extracts and isolated polysaccharide fractions from wild and cultivated roots exhibited similar complement fixating activities, but were not able to activate macrophages. The crude extracts from cultivated roots were also shown to be moderate radical scavengers. The present study has shown that roots of cultivated C. tinctorium contain the same types of bioactive polysaccharides as the wild roots. However, in order to utilize roots of cultivated C. tinctorium in traditional medicine the cultivation method should be improved.

Chemical and biological characterization of polysaccharides from wild and cultivated roots of Vernonia kotschyana.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Malian traditional medicine the roots of Vernonia kotschyana are used for treating gastric ulcer and gastritis. In 2006, 9000kg of roots from Vernonia kotschyana were used to produce Gastrosedal, an ameliorated traditional medicine in Mali. Harvesting from the wild, the main source of raw material, is causing a growing concern of diminishing populations of the plant, and Vernonia kotschyana is now being cultivated in several areas around Mali. In the current study the structures and bioactive properties of isolated polysaccharides from wild and cultivated Vernonia kotschyana were compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pectin- and inulin-type polysaccharides were isolated from the roots of cultivated and wild Vernonia kotschyana. The isolated polysaccharides were investigated regarding their chemical compositions, and for their abilities to fixate human complement and activate macrophages from a mouse macrophage cell line. RESULTS: No significant differences in the carbohydrate composition of the fractions isolated from the cultivated versus the wild roots were observed. A previously reported pectic arabinogalactan Vk2a was found in both the cultivated and the wild roots in this study, and exhibited potent complement fixation activity, and a moderate activation of macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has shown that the cultivated roots of Vernonia kotschyana contain the same types of bioactive polysaccharides as the wild roots. It is therefore preliminarily feasible for the cultivated roots of Vernonia kotschyana to be used as a herbal medicine to replace the wild roots.

Incontinence urinaire post cure de fistules uro-genitales a propos de 38 cas

Nous avons rapporte les resultats d'une etude prospective de 38 cas d'incontinence urinaire post cure de fistules uro-genitales dans le service d'urologie de l'hopital du Point G sur une periode de 14 mois. L'objectif principal est de faire une recherche operationnelle sur l'incontinence urinaire apres la cure de la FVV. L'etiologie obstetricale a ete retrouvee dans 37 cas (97;4); on note egalement 1 cas de FVV lie a une hysterectomie. Ainsi les FVV etaient toutes de la cloison vesico-vaginale; soit 68;4de trigonales et 31;6de retro trigonales. Les incontinences post fistule ont represente 33 ;6de FVV fermees. Cette incontinence a ete dominee par l'IUE et les fuites par imperiosite mictionnelle; soit 36;8chacune; les fuites nocturnes 15;8; les fuites permanentes 10;5.Malgre l'absence d'examen uro-dynamique pour permettre un diagnostic etiologique 14 de nos patientes ont beneficie d'un traitement medical de leur incontinence. Notre chirurgie de l'incontinence basee sur les techniques classiques a ete pratiquee chez 24 patientes; soit 7 cas de BURCH (29;3); 8 cas de MARRION KELLY (33;3); 3 cas de plastie vaginale (12;5); 6 cas de suspension uretrale (25). Nous avons obtenue 65;8de succes; 23;7d'amelioration; 10;5d'echec

Client evaluation of a consultation team on crimes against children.

OBJECTIVE: Cases of child abuse filed in court as crimes against children represent a small percentage of the total numbers of children maltreated. However, studying crimes of maltreatment against children is important for individual victims and their families, and for theory and policy in order to assure that these cases are managed as well as possible. Forensic consultation teams can perform several functions related to child abuse crimes: provide multidisciplinary expertise in the evaluation of maltreatment cases, offer a method for allocating resources between cases managed by the criminal justice and child protection systems, and provide important research and teaching opportunities. This study reviews the role played by multidisciplinary team consultations based on the perception of client professionals whose agencies pay for an outside consulting forensic team. METHOD: Professionals referring to a forensic team for consultative assistance were asked to evaluate the service during telephone interviews, responding to both structured and unstructured questions. RESULTS: Responding professionals (N= 18) stated that the team increased their confidence that the approach being taken to a case was correct (94%), that missing expertise was provided (100%), that progress was made in cases that might otherwise not have been made (55%), and that ambiguity was reduced (in 83% of referred cases). Using the team sometimes caused delays. Some delays were unacceptable administrative delays while others were considered necessary to assure completeness of the evaluation. CONCLUSION: The use of the team did not result in resolution of all of the cases referred, but referral to the team consistently provided closure for referring professionals. In one-third of the cases studied, if it had not been for the START consultation the cases would not have proceeded to an appropriate criminal or civil resolution.