Daidzein administration positively affects thyroid C cells and bone structure in orchidectomized middle-aged rats.

SUMMARY: Thyroid C cells hormone, calcitonine, inhibits bone resorption. We have demonstrated that daidzein treatment of orchidectomized rats (model for osteoporosis) stimulated C cells and increased trabecular bone mass. These results suggest that, besides direct action, daidzein may also affect bone structure indirectly through enhancement of thyroid C cell activity. INTRODUCTION: Thyroid C cells produce calcitonin (CT) which acts as an inhibitor of bone resorption. In this study, the influence of daidzein treatment on thyroid C cells, bone structure, and bone function in orchidectomized (Orx) middle-aged rats was investigated. METHODS: Sixteen-month-old Wistar rats were divided into Orx and sham-operated (SO) groups. Half the Orx rats were given subcutaneous injections of daidzein (30 mg/kg b.w./day) for 3 weeks. CT-immunopositive thyroid C cells were morphometrically analyzed. The metaphyseal region of the proximal tibia was measured histomorphometrically, and cancellous bone area (B.Ar), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) were calculated. Serum samples were analyzed for CT and osteocalcin (OC), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus concentrations, and urine samples for Ca levels. RESULTS: Treatment of Orx animals with daidzein significantly increased volume of C cells compared to the Orx rats. Daidzein also enhanced B.Ar, Tb.Th, and Tb.N and reduced Tb.Sp. The serum OC and urinary Ca concentrations decreased significantly in comparison with the Orx group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that daidzein treatment stimulates thyroid C cells, increase trabecular bone mass, and decrease bone turnover in Orx middle-aged rats, which is the model of male osteoporosis.

Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris L. and thymol on experimentally induced dermatomycoses.

The in vivo evaluation of the toxicological and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris L. and its main component thymol was made on 2-month-old male Wistar rats. We examined the therapeutic potency against experimentally induced dermatomycoses in rats, using the most frequent dermatomycetes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, and T. tonsurans. The therapeutic efficacy of a 1% solution of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris and thymol as well as the commercial preparation bifonazole was evaluated. During the 37-day observation period the oil-treated animals were cured.

In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae).

Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is a widely distributed plant in Africa. It is used in the traditional medicine of many African countries for the treatment of bacterial, fungal, parasitic and inflammatory disorders. Aqueous decoction and methanol leaf extracts were tested for their ability to reduce Croton oil-induced oedema in the mouse ear, after topical application. The methanol leaf extract dose-dependently inhibited the Croton oil-induced ear oedema in mice (ID(50)<500 microg/cm(2)). A bio-assay guided liquid-liquid fractionation of this methanol extract gave four active fractions: water insoluble (F1), hexane (F2), ethyl acetate (F3) and water (F4). The hexane fraction showed a very high activity (42% inhibition at 0.7 microg/cm(2)) as compared to the control. The other fractions were less active (F1: 56% at 506.2 microg/cm(2); F3: 57% at 289.3 microg/cm(2); F4: 32% for 203.8 microg/cm(2)) while indomethacin gave 49% of inhibition at 90 microg/cm(2). The activity of F1 and F3 may be at least in part explained by the presence of anti-inflammatory flavonoids (hyperoside and quercitrin, quercitrin being identified in the plant for the first time) while the activity was not correlated to the tannin contents. None of these compounds were detected in the most active F2 fraction. These results support the reported traditional use of this plant against topical inflammatory disorders.

Topical anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and compounds from Thymus broussonettii.

The topical anti-inflammatory activity of four extracts from Thymus broussonetii Boiss (Labiatae) leaves, a herbal drug used in Moroccan traditional medicine, has been studied using the croton oil ear test in mice. A bioassay-oriented fractionation revealed that the pharmacological activity is mainly in the chloroform extract. Fractionation and analysis of this extract allowed the identification of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid as the main anti-inflammatory principles. Some flavonoids (luteolin, eriodictyol, thymonin) and glycosides (luteolin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin-3'-O-glucuronide, eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside) were also isolated from the methanol extract.

Activity of essential oils of three Micromeria species (Lamiaceae) against micromycetes and bacteria.

The chemical composition of essential oils from three Micromeria species: M. dalmatica Benth., M. albanica (Griceb. ex K. Mal) Silic and M. thymifolia (Scop.) Fritsch were investigated by GC and GC-MS and their antibacterial and antifungal activities against seven fungal and six bacterial species were evaluated. Biological assays showed strong fungitoxicity of oils from all three Micromeria spp., particularly M. albanica, against all fungi tested. Essential oils of these species also exerted antibacterial effect against Streptococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus at low concentrations. Higher concentrations of essential oil of M. albanica and M. dalmatica were active against Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which could be due to the high content of piperitenone oxide.

Nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infections in children's wards.

During community outbreak, nosocomial infections caused by both groups (A and B) of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) occur as the most common nosocomial infections at pediatric wards. RSV cross-infection is considered to have taken place when a child acquires an infection after being in the ward longer than 7 days, and its frequency at the ward could be calculated in several ways. That frequency ranges worldwide between 30% and 70% in neonatal units, and between 20% and 40% at pediatric wards. The infections are manifested as lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in 20-60% and 30-40% of cases, respectively. These infections could be early diagnosed by an RSV rapid detection method. In RSV-positive children who develop LRTI and belong to the category with a high risk of developing severe RSV disease, a specific therapy is recommended. The frequency of RSV nosocomial infections at children's wards could be considerably reduced (to only a few per cent) by providing education to hospital personnel in the etiology and transmission of respiratory viruses and by compliance with pediatric droplet precautions (cohort nursing, and gown and glove wearing/handwashing in any contact with infected children).

[Hemorheologic changes in patients with essential hypertension treated with prazosin]. / Hemoreoloske promjene kod pacijenata sa esencijalnom hipertenzijom tretiranih prazosinom.

Prazosin which is a selective alfa-1 blocking drug has a very good antihypertensive effect. Its hemorheological effects were studied in 20 patients with essential hypertension (I and II degree according to WHO classification). After 6 weeks of the therapy with prazosin, hematocrit and viscosity of the whole blood and plasma were significantly reduced, because of hemodilution, while aggregability of erythrocyte and "Tk" values were not significantly reduced. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP and adrenaline, showed a decrease after the treatment. Assuming the hemorheological effects not to be crucial in choosing an antihypertensive agent, we must not, however, neglect them, especially in patients with compromised hemorheological profile, and we should take advantage of the positive hemorheological effect of prazosin, particularly in a long antihypertensive treatment.

[Factors which affect patient cooperation in the therapy of hypertension]. / Faktori koji uticu na saradnju pacijenta u terapiji kod hipertenzije.

The socio-demographic factors (sex, age, social status and professional qualification), side effects of antihypertensive drugs and the therapeutic effects were compared with patient compliance in a group of 387 hypertensive patients. The results showed that the sociodemographic factors and presence of side effects had no significant influence upon patient compliance. Unlike these factors, therapeutic effects had a significant impact upon patient compliance.