Normal Values of Spleen Length and Volume: An Ultrasonographic Study in Children.

We aimed to determine normal ultrasonographic limits of spleen length and volume in healthy Caucasian neonates and children. A total of 458 healthy cases (age, 1 d to 15 y; sex, 241 males and 217 females) with normal body measurements were included. Spleen length and volume were obtained ultrasonographically. The two genders were comparable for the mean spleen length and volume. Lower and upper normal limits were tabulated according to age and sex groups. Significant correlations (Pearson r > 0.80; p < 0.001) were present between spleen length/volume and age, height and weight. Two equations were created to estimate spleen length and volume by age. Normal spleen lengths and volumes and their lower and upper limits were obtained ultrasonographically in a large sample of Caucasian pediatric patients.

Cytotoxic effect of freeze-dried extract of Ecballium elaterium fruit on gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (KYSE30) cell lines.

PURPOSE: Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Rich (Cucurbitaceae), also known as the "squirting cucumber," is a wild medicinal plant found abundantly in Moghan, Ardabil province, Iran. This study was undertaken to examine possible cytotoxic effect of freeze-dried aqueous extract of E. elaterium fruit on cell lines of gastric and esophageal origin namely called AGS (human gastric carcinoma) and KYSE30 (human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma). METHODS: The aqueous extract of the fruits of E. elaterium was prepared and freeze-dried. AGS and KYSE30 cancer cell lines were treated by the extract and incubated for 24, 48, and 72 h. Cytotoxicity was examined by MTT assay. Ethidium bromide/acridine orange (EB/AO) staining was used for apoptotic cell detection. A DAPI staining method was used to analyze cell cycle by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The IC(50) values were 2.5, 0.7, and 0.7 µg/ml for AGS cell line after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. IC(50) values for KYSE30 cell line were 500, 150, and 125 µg/ml after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. The EB/AO staining showed an increase in apoptotic cells. Cell cycle analysis showed a significant increase in cell density at G2/M phase. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study showed that the freeze-dried aqueous extract of E. elaterium fruit has a cytotoxic effect on gastric and esophageal cancer cell lines by means of apoptosis. The gastric cancer cells (AGS) showed a remarkably higher sensitivity. It seems that several compounds are possibly responsible for the cytotoxic effect of the extract.