Sirolimus Can Increase the Disappearance Rate of Cardiac Rhabdomyomas Associated with Tuberous Sclerosis: A Prospective Cohort and Self-Controlled Case Series Study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy and safety of sirolimus in the treatment of cardiac rhabdomyomas associated with tuberous sclerosis complex and the specific benefits in different subgroups. STUDY DESIGN: The study was a prospective cohort and self-controlled case series study. Based on the prevalence of cardiac rhabdomyoma at different ages, we estimated the natural tumor disappearance rate. The subgroup analysis was done by Cox regression. Self-controlled case series method was used to assess the magnitude and duration of the drug effect. Adverse events were described. RESULTS: A total of 217 patients were included in the cohort study. Tumor disappearance rate was higher in younger age groups (hazard ratio = 0.99, P = .027) and female patients (hazard ratio = 2.08, P = .015). The age-adjusted incidence ratio showed that the disappearance of rhabdomyomas between 3 and 6 months was more related to sirolimus. Adverse events were observed 60 times in 42 of 217 children, mainly stomatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Sirolimus can increase the disappearance rate of cardiac rhabdomyoma in the tuberous sclerosis complex population. Efficacy varies by sex and age: female and younger patients have higher tumor disappearance rate. Sirolimus is well-tolerated.

Reproductive responses of the male Brandts vole, Lasiopodomys brandtii (Rodentia: Cricetidae) to tannic acid

Tannins are polyphenols that are present in various plants, and potentially contain antioxidant properties that promote reproduction in animals. This study investigated how tannic acid (TA) affects the reproductive parameters of male Brandts voles, Lasiopodomys brandtii (Radde, 1861). Specifically, the anti-oxidative level of serum, autophagy in the testis, and reproductive physiology were assessed in males treated with TA from the pubertal stage. Compared to the control, low dose TA enhanced relative testis and epididymis weight and sperm concentration in the epididymis, and significantly increased the level of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). mRNA levels of autophagy related genes LC3 and Beclin1 decreased significantly with low dose TA compared to the control. However, compared to the control, high dose TA sharply reduced the levels of serum SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, serum testosterone (T), and mRNA level in steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in the testis. Both sperm abnormality and mortality increased with high dose TA compared to the control and low dose TA. Collectively, this study demonstrated that TA treatment during puberty had a dose-dependent effect on the reproductive responses of male Brandts voles. TA might mediate autophagy in the testis, through both indirect and direct processes. TA mainly affected the reproductive function of male Brandts voles by regulating anti-oxidative levels. This study advances our understanding of the mechanisms by which tannins influence reproduction in herbivores.

Reproductive responses of the male Brandts vole, Lasiopodomys brandtii (Rodentia: Cricetidae) to tannic acid

Tannins are polyphenols that are present in various plants, and potentially contain antioxidant properties that promote reproduction in animals. This study investigated how tannic acid (TA) affects the reproductive parameters of male Brandts voles, Lasiopodomys brandtii (Radde, 1861). Specifically, the anti-oxidative level of serum, autophagy in the testis, and reproductive physiology were assessed in males treated with TA from the pubertal stage. Compared to the control, low dose TA enhanced relative testis and epididymis weight and sperm concentration in the epididymis, and significantly increased the level of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). mRNA levels of autophagy related genes LC3 and Beclin1 decreased significantly with low dose TA compared to the control. However, compared to the control, high dose TA sharply reduced the levels of serum SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, serum testosterone (T), and mRNA level in steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in the testis. Both sperm abnormality and mortality increased with high dose TA compared to the control and low dose TA. Collectively, this study demonstrated that TA treatment during puberty had a dose-dependent effect on the reproductive responses of male Brandts voles. TA might mediate autophagy in the testis, through both indirect and direct processes. TA mainly affected the reproductive function of male Brandts voles by regulating anti-oxidative levels. This study advances our understanding of the mechanisms by which tannins influence reproduction in herbivores.(AU)

Chemical constituents from the whole plants of Pilea cavaleriei Levl subsp. cavaleriei.

Three new sesquiterpene glycosides (1-3), three new glycerol glycosides (4-6), two new alkaloids (7-8), together with seven known compounds (9-15) all of which were isolated from the genus Pilea for the first time, were isolated from the whole plants of Pilea cavaleriei Levl subsp. cavaleriei. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic techniques and chemical methods. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated against four cancer cell lines, and none of the tested compounds caused a significant reduction of the cell number.

Relato de uma experiência psicoeducacional com familiares de portadores de transtornos do humor / Reports about a psycho-educational experience with parents of mood disorders patients

Estudos revelam que os sintomas dos portadores de transtornos do humor afetam seus familiares, podendo alterar a vida destes de forma perturbadora e levá-los a desenvolver atitudes hostis em relação ao doente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi contribuir para a melhoria das relações intrafamiliares. Os resultados, colhidos através de questionários e dos relatos dos familiares, mostraram que a maioria possuía idéias vagas ou errôneas sobre os distúrbios de humor e desconhecia o diagnóstico médico recebido pelo paciente. Todos, de alguma forma, referiram ter sido afetados pela doença do seu familiar. O trabalho psicoeducativo contribuiu para a melhoria do relacionamento com o paciente, maior disponibilidade para ajuda e para o bem-estar do próprio familiar (AU)

Relato de uma experiência psicoeducacional com familiares de portadores de transtornos do humor / Reports about a psycho-educational experiencewith parents of mood disorders patients

Estudos revelam que os sintomas dos portadores de transtornos do humor afetam seus familiares, podendo alterar a vida destes de forma perturbadora e levá-los a desenvolver atitudes hostis em relação ao doente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi contribuir para a melhoria das relações intrafamiliares. Os resultados, colhidos através de questionários e dos relatos dos familiares, mostraram que a maioria possuía idéias vagas ou errôneas sobre os distúrbios de humor e desconhecia o diagnóstico médico recebido pelo paciente. Todos, de alguma forma, referiram ter sido afetados pela doença do seu familiar. O trabalho psicoeducativo contribuiu para a melhoria do relacionamento com o paciente, maior disponibilidade para ajuda e para o bem-estar do próprio familiar

Studies reveal that the symptoms of those who have mood disorders exert effect on their families,by annoying their life and causing them to develop hostile attitudes toward the ill person. Theobjective of this work is to contribute to improve relationships among the family members. Theresults, obtained from the questionnaires and reports of the family members, showed that themajority had very vague or erroneous ideas about mood disorders and knew little or nothing aboutthe diagnosis received by the patient. All of them, in someway, were affected by the symptoms ofthe ill person. The psycho educational program contributed to improve the relationship with thepatient, to provide more support and to promote well-being for the family members