Constituents of Ramalina capitata (Ach.) Nyl. extracts.

The aim of this work was to determine the chemical composition of the ether, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane extracts of Ramalina capitata by GC-FID and GC-MS for the first time. The main identified components in the ether, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane extracts were everninic acid (24.7, 33.7 and 22.2%), orcinol (25.8, 16.7 and 11.9%), orcinol monomethyl ether (11.6, 7.6 and 4.8%), 3-methylorsellinic acid (10.2, 7.1 and 9.0%) and usnic acid (4.4, 8.2 and 25.8%), respectively. Considerable amount (10.4%) of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3,5,6-trimethylbenzoic acid was detected in ethyl acetate extract. Additionally, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid and their esters were observed in the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts in the range of 4.1-0.1%, while their amount was below 0.05% in the ether extract. According to the results reported here R. capitata predominantly biosynthesises derivatives of orcinol and, in much lesser extent, derivatives of ß-orcinol.

HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA: A CASE SERIES OF EIGHT PATIENTS.

INTRODUCTION: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a persistent, inflammatory and recurrent disease of the hair follicles which, in time, results in ugly scars. Inflammation and obstruction of channel of sweat glands used to be thought to be the basis of this disease. CASE REPORTS: This paper presents the cases of 8 patients operated on in the past 3 years. A possibility of an oversight in making the diagnosis, as well as an underestimation in the treatment should be taken into consideration. In addition to surgical methods the authors discuss other therapeutic possibilities taken from the available literature. This is a retrospective analysis of the surgical findings. The treatment was multidisciplinary but the surgical excision was the only option which provided healing without recurrence so far. In our series the excision could be done to the fascia or to leave a thin layer of adipose tissue. The reconstruction could be achieved by healing per secundam, by autologous skin or artificial graft, or by narrowing the wound with a skin portion. Our results achieved by stage, secondary stitches and rotation portions were satisfying. CONCLUSION: In case of advanced disease only surgery can lead to healing. We performed late surgery because the disease was diagnozed in advanced stages according to Hurlay. Wide excision was done in all our patients. The reconstruction was achieved with rotational flap in 3 patients, the wound healing per secundam in 4 patients and with primary suture in one patient. Our patients did not have recurrences of the primary disease. The disease was combined in one case with perianal fistula.

Glomus tumor ­ A case report.

Introduction: Glomus tumor is a neuromyoarterial tumor. It is a rare tumor which accounts for about 2% of all hand tumors. The diagnosis is based on the triad of symptoms, clinical examination which includes three tests, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound imaging. The most common treatment is surgical excision, using transungual or lateral subperiosteal approach. Sclerotherapy and radiotherapy may be the treatments of choice, but they are less effective. The recurrence rate is high ­ from 5% to 50%. Case Outline: We diagnosed a glomus tumor of 1 cm in diameter in the distal phalanx of the fourth finger of the right hand in a 30-year-old woman. She had been visiting different physicians for more than two years and had been variously diagnosed. We performed a biopsy of the tumor, which was bleeding profusely during the procedure. Upon biopsy results, the tumor was excised with transungual approach. Two and a half months after the procedure the patient was feeling well. Conclusion: There should be higher awareness of this tumor in order to diagnose it more easily and treat it accordingly, and thus alleviate the severe pain which the tumor causes. When it is considered as the possible cause of the lesion, the diagnosing is easier and treatment is immediate.

THE LIGATION OF THE INTERSPHINETRIC TRACT PROCEDURE OF THE PERIANAL FISTULA: CASE REPORT.

INTRODUCTION: Perianal fistula is usually of cryptoglandular origin, namely it results from inflammation of the anal glands. The main challenge in its management is how to resolve a fistula but avoid its recurrence as well as incontinence, which is even a bigger problem. Several treatment methods have been described and they all focus on cutting the anal sphincter and "opening" the fistula, placing the seton, plug technique, creating a mucosal advancement flap, injecting medical occlusive agents or using a combination of methods. In 2007 a method of managing a fistula by ligation of the intersphincteric fistula tract was described. The procedure is still getting a wider application. CASE REPORT: A 60-year old male patient had had a fistula for 30 years. He underwent incision of perianal abscess on multiple occasions resulting in multiple scars in the gluteus area. The diagnosis revealed a high transsphincteric fistula. The inner ostium was diagnosed by injecting hydrogen-peroxide and by probing. The patient's general condition was satisfactory. For the first time the ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract procedure was applied in our regional hospital. Under general anesthesia, in a lithotomy position, the ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract procedure was successfully performed in approximately 30 minutes. The external opening of the fistula and the scars were widely excised. The postoperative course was uneventful. After 6 months there was no recurrence. CONCLUSION: The ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract procedure for transsphincteric fistulae can be a treatment of choice in all hospitals treating colorectal patients because the incontinence risk is low, and the disease is curable at a high percentage.

Clastogenic effect of atranorin, evernic acid, and usnic acid on human lymphocytes.

Three lichen secondary metabolites atranorin (1), evernic acid (2), and usnic acid (3), were evaluated for their in vitro clastogenic and antiproliferative effects on human lymphocytes using the cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay at concentrations of 2 microg/mL, 4 microg/mL and 6 microg/mL of final culture solution. The frequency of micronucleus (MN) was scored in binucleated cells, and cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CBPI) was calculated. Among the tested compounds, 3 exhibited the most prominent effect decreasing the frequency of MN in the range of 42.5% - 48.9%, that is about double of the positive control amifostin WR-2721 that reduces MN frequency for 22.0%. The effect of evernic acid was approximately equal to action of amifostin (23.2% -32.9%). Atranorin at concentrations of 2 microg/mL and 4 microg/mL decreasing the frequency of MN only for 11.1% and 1.8%, while in concentration of 6 microg/mL increases the frequency of MN for 9.6 %. The comparable CBPI values of the investigated compounds and control suggested that they did not show a statistically significant inhibitory effect on lymphocyte cell proliferation at applied concentrations.

Effect of Hypogymnia physodes extracts and their depsidones on micronucleus distribution in human lymphocytes.

Three lichen depsidones, physodalic acid (1), physodic acid (2), and 3-hydroxy physodic acid (3), were isolated from Hypogymnia physodes diethyl ether extract using column chromatography, and their structures determined by comparing their UV, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic and MS data with those given in the literature, as well as with data computed by CHEM draw ultra 11 software. The contents of 1, 2 and 3 were determined in the methanol (ME), acetone (AE), and diethyl ether (EE) extracts using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The extracts, isolated depsidones 1-3 and EE fraction F23 (consisting of 90% 2 and 3, in the ratio 5.5: 1) were evaluated for their in vitro effects on chromosome aberrations in peripheral human lymphocytes using the cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay in doses of 1 microg/mL and 2 microg/mL of final culture solution. The frequency of MN was scored in binucleated cells, and nuclear proliferation index was calculated. It was found that 1, 2, 3, F23, and EE at 1.0 microg/mL exerted a beneficial effect on lymphocyte cells giving a significant decrease of the frequency of MN in comparison with the positive control Amifostin WR-2721.Among the tested depsidones at a concentration of 1 microg/mL, 3 exhibited the most prominent effect decreasing the frequency of MN by 30.3%, followed by 2 (28.2%) and 1 (22.0%). The extracts were less effective than the isolated depsidones.

Effect of four lichen acids isolated from Hypogymnia physodes on viability of rat thymocytes.

Four lichen acids, physodalic acid (F1), physodic acid (F2), 3-hydroxyphysodic acid (F3), and isophysodic acid (F4), were isolated from Hypogymnia physodes methanol extract using preparative reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography and their structures were determined by UV, MS, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR. This is the first report on the isolation of F4 from H. physodes. Isolated rat thymocytes were cultivated with increasing F1-F4 concentrations (0.1, 1, 10µg/well) and proliferative activity, viability, ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and MMP (mitochondrial membrane potential) disturbances were evaluated. Obtained results show significantly decreased thymocytes proliferation was observed when cells were treated with F1 (1µg, p<0.05; 10µg; p<0.001), F2 (10µg, p<0.05) and F3 compound (10µg, p<0.05). Significantly increased cytotoxicity was detected when cells were incubated with F1 (1µg, p<0.05; 10µg, p<0.01), F2 (10µg, p<0.05) and F3 compound (10µg, p<0.001). Increased H2DCF-DA fluorescence intensity, when cells were treated with F1 (1µg, p<0.001; 1µg, p<0.01; 10µg, p<0.001) and F2 (1µg, p<0.05; 10µg, p<0.01) compound, indicating the increase of intracellular ROS production. Simultaneously, increased ROS levels were followed with significantly decreased MMP when thymocytes were cultivated with F1 (0.1µg, p<0.001; 1µg, p<0.001; 10µg, p<0.001) and F2 compound (10µg, p<0.001). Thymocytes exposure to increased (0.1, 1, 10µg) concentrations of F3 and F4 compounds did not result with significant alterations in MMP and intracellular ROS production. We have shown that higher F1 and F2 concentrations induce thymocytes toxicity mainly through induction of oxidative stress, while cytotoxicity effect of F3 is followed with altered antioxidant/oxidant balance. The rigid 11H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]dioxepin-11-one ring in the depsidone structure may play a important role for the examined biological activities.