Genus Amorphophallus: A Comprehensive Overview on Phytochemistry, Ethnomedicinal Uses, and Pharmacological Activities.

The genus Amorphophallus belongs to the family Araceae. Plants belonging to this genus are available worldwide and have been used in traditional medicines since ancient times, mainly in Ayurveda and Unani medical practices. Amorphophallus species are an abundant source of polyphenolic compounds; these are accountable for their pharmacological properties, such as their analgesic, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, antiobesity, and immunomodulatory effects, as well as their ability to prevent gastrointestinal disturbance and reduce blood glucose. Moreover, Amorphophallus species contain numerous other classes of chemical compounds, such as alkaloids, steroids, fats and fixed oils, tannins, proteins, and carbohydrates, each of which contributes to the pharmacological effects for the treatment of acute rheumatism, tumors, lung swelling, asthma, vomiting, abdominal pain, and so on. Additionally, Amorphophallus species have been employed in numerous herbal formulations and pharmaceutical applications. There has been no extensive review conducted on the Amorphophallus genus as of yet, despite the fact that several experimental studies are being published regularly discussing these plants' pharmacological properties. So, this review discusses in detail the pharmacological properties of Amorphophallus species. We also discuss phytochemical constituents in the Amorphophallus species and their ethnomedicinal uses and toxicological profiles.

Effect of IGFBP6 Knockdown on Proteins Regulating Exosome Synthesis and Secretion in MDA-MB-231 Cell Line.

One of the potential causes of cancer recurrence is disruption of the cell-cell communication in the primary tumors that is realized, among other things, through secretion and uptake of exosomes by cells. Low expression of the IGFBP6 gene (insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6) is associated with a high recurrence rate and can serve as a prognostic marker of luminal breast cancer. The knockdown of the IGFBP6 gene leads to significant changes in lipid metabolism. We performed a quantitative analysis of both exosomes and proteins involved in the mechanism of their biogenesis. Changes in the expression profile of mRNAs and their proteins responsible for the synthesis and secretion of exosomes were revealed. We showed a decrease in the expression of the of the VPS28 gene mRNA (vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 28) and the corresponding protein by 2.3 and 5.6 times, respectively. The secretion of exosomes by MDA-MB-231 cells with IGFBP6 knockdown decreased by 2 times. We discussed a mechanism of disruption of cell-cell communication.

Metagenomic sequencing provides new insights into the subgingival bacteriome and aetiopathology of periodontitis.

"Open-ended" molecular techniques such as 16S rRNA sequencing have revealed that the oral bacteriome of subgingival plaque is more diverse than originally thought. 16S rRNA analysis has demonstrated that constituents of the overall bacterial community are qualitatively similar in health and disease, differing mainly in their relative proportions with respect to each other. Species in low abundance can also act as critical species, leading to the concept of global community dysbiosis which relates to shifts in community structure, rather than shifts in membership. Correlation analysis suggests that coordinated interactions in the community are essential for incipient dysbiosis and disease pathogenesis. The subgingival bacteriome also provides biomarkers that are useful for disease detection and management. Combined with clinical and biological parameters, these may assist clinicians in developing and implementing effective treatment strategies to restore microbial homeostasis and monitor disease. Identification of higher risk groups or poor responders to treatment using unique subgingival bacteriome signatures may also lead to early intervention.

Subgingival Microbiota during Healthy Pregnancy and Pregnancy Gingivitis.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have largely explored the microbial composition and pathogenesis of pregnancy gingivitis. However, the patterns of microbial colonization during pregnancy in the absence of pregnancy gingivitis have rarely been studied. Characterization of the oral microbiome in pregnant women with healthy gingiva is an important initial step in understanding the role of the microbiome in progression to pregnancy gingivitis. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we compared the oral microbiome of pregnant women without gingivitis (healthy pregnancy) with pregnant women having gingivitis and nonpregnant healthy women to understand how pregnancy modifies the oral microbiome and induces progression to pregnancy gingivitis. METHODS: Subgingival plaque samples were collected from Chinese pregnant women with gingivitis (n = 10), healthy pregnant women (n = 10), and nonpregnant healthy women (n = 10). The Illumina MiSeq platform was used to perform 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V4 region. RESULTS: The alpha and beta diversity was significantly different between pregnant and nonpregnant women, but minimal differences were observed between pregnant women with and without gingivitis. Interestingly, the oral bacterial community showed higher abundance of pathogenic taxa during healthy pregnancy as compared with nonpregnant women despite similar gingival and plaque index scores. However, when compared with overt pregnancy gingivitis, pathogenic taxa were less abundant during healthy pregnancy. PICRUSt analysis (phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states) also suggested no difference in the functional capabilities of the microbiome during pregnancy, irrespective of gingival disease status. However, metabolic pathways related to amino acid metabolism were significantly increased in healthy pregnant women as compared with nonpregnant women. CONCLUSION: The presence of pathogenic taxa in healthy pregnancy and pregnancy gingivitis suggests that bacteria may be necessary for initiating disease development but progression to gingivitis may be influenced by the host environmental factors. More efforts are required to plan interventions aimed at sustaining health before the appearance of overt gingivitis. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT: The results of this study draw attention to the importance of oral health maintenance during pregnancy, as women without any prenatal oral conditions are predisposed to the risk of developing pregnancy gingivitis. Hence, it is important to incorporate comprehensive assessment of oral health in the prenatal health care schedules. Pregnant woman should be screened for oral risks, counseled on proper oral hygiene and expected oral changes, and referred for dental treatment, when necessary.

Three-dimensional Imaging of Congenital Hemifacial Hypertrophy: A Case Report

ABSTRACT Hemihypertrophy or hemihyperplasia is a condition in which there is asymmetrical overgrowth of the cranium, face, trunk, and limbs on one side of the body. It is characterized by hyperplasia of tissues rather than a hypertrophy. It is more commonly seen in females than in males and usually has the right side of the face involved. It may be an isolated finding or may be associated with a variety of syndromes. We report here a case of isolated non-syndromic right facial hemihypertrophy associated with diffuse warty pigmentation on the right side of the face, which is rarely reported. The clinical features, various radiological and imaging findings, and differential diagnoses to be considered are discussed in this case report.

Cemento-ossifying Fibroma of Mandible: A Case Report with Review of Literature

ABSTRACT Cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD) is a non-neoplastic process usually confined to the tooth-bearing areas of the jaws or edentulous alveolar processes. It is mostly seen in women during the third and fourth decades of life. The mandible is the most common location in 70% of cases in the premolar-molar region. This case report presents a case of cemento-ossifying fibroma with clinical features and radiographic features in a 23-year-old female patient.

Recovery of intact IgG in the gastrointestinal tract of the growing rat following ingestion of an ovine serum immunoglobulin.

The aim of this study was to determine whether orally ingested ovine serum IgG partly resists digestion in the growing rat. Fifteen Sprague-Dawley male rats were allocated to one of three diets for a 3-week study: a control diet (CON) and two test diets containing either freeze-dried ovine serum immunoglobulin (FDOI) or inactivated ovine serum immunoglobulin (IOI). Samples of stomach chyme and intestinal digesta from the ad libitum-fed rats were subjected to ELISA and Western blot analysis. Amounts of intact ovine IgG for the FDOI diet were found to be 13.9, 20.0, 34.1, 13.0 and 36.9 µg in the total wet digesta from the stomach chyme, duodenal, jejunal, ileal and colonic digesta respectively. Qualitative detection by Western blot revealed the presence of intact ovine serum IgG with a ~150 kDa MW. This was detected in all of the gut segments (stomach chyme, duodenal, jejunal, ileal and colonic digesta) for growing rats fed the FDOI diet. No ovine IgG was detected in the chyme or digesta from rats fed the CON or the IOI diets. Ovine serum IgG partly resisted digestion in the growing rat fed the FDOI diet and was found throughout the digestive tract. These results provide a basis to explain the reported biological effects of orally administered immunoglobulin.

Orally administered ovine serum immunoglobulins modulate the intestinal levels of Lactobacillus and enterobacteria in the growing rat.

The aim was to determine whether orally administered ovine serum immunoglobulins modulate the gut microbiota in the growing rat. Thirty Sprague-Dawley male rats were used in a 21-d study and fed either a basal control diet (control; no immunoglobulin) or a similar diet containing freeze-dried ovine immunoglobulin (ovine Ig) with 15 individually fed rats per diet. Bacterial DNA isolated from ileal and colonic digesta were subjected to PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). In the ileum, the DGGE band number and diversity index were greater (P < 0.05) for rats fed the ovine Ig than those fed the control diet. The DNA sequencing of a selected DGGE band in the ovine Ig-fed rats revealed 99% similarity to the Lactobacillus strains. The quantitative PCR data revealed that supplementation of the diet with the ovine Ig fraction supported the growth of Lactobacillus and conversely decreased the number of enterobacteria in ileal and colonic digesta. Inclusion of the ovine Ig fraction led to a greater (P < 0.05) ratio for total Lactobacillus to total bacteria and total Lactobacillus to enterobacteria. The results from the present study show that dietary supplementation with ovine Ig may alter the intestinal environment by a specific enrichment of Lactobacillus strains and depletion of enterobacteria.

Green kiwifruit modulates the colonic microbiota in growing pigs.

AIMS: To investigate whether green kiwifruit modulates the composition of colonic microbiota in growing pigs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-two pigs were fed the control diet or one of the three test diets containing either cellulose, freeze-dried kiwifruit or kiwifruit fibre as the sole fibre source for 14-day study. A Ward's dendrogram of similarity cluster analysis on PCR-DGGE gels revealed that inclusion of freeze-dried kiwifruit and kiwifruit fibre into diets altered the bacterial community, indicating the presence of two distinct clusters. Quantification of different bacterial groups by qPCR demonstrated that pigs fed the freeze-dried kiwifruit or kiwifruit fibre diets had a significantly higher number (P < 0·05) of total bacteria and Bacteroides group and a lower number of Enterobacteria and Escherichia coli group, as well as a greater ratio of Lactobacillus to Enterobacteria when compared to pigs fed the control or cellulose diets. CONCLUSIONS: Green kiwifruit, mainly because of fibre, modulated the colonic microbiota, leading to an improved intestinal environment in growing pigs. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report regarding the effect of green kiwifruit on gut microbiota using the in vivo pig model. These results provide the first evidence of interaction between green kiwifruit and colonic microbiota.

Dietary supplementation with ovine serum immunoglobulin attenuates acute effects on growth, organ weights, gut morphology and intestinal mucin production in the growing rat challenged with Salmonella enteritidis.

The aim was to determine the effect of orally administered ovine serum immunoglobulin (Ig) on growth performance, organ weight, gut morphology and mucin production in the Salmonella enteritidis--gavaged growing rat. Four groups consisted of non-gavaged rats fed a casein-based control basal diet (BD) and three groups of rats gavaged with 1×10(7) CFU S. enteritidis and fed a casein-based diet, a diet containing freeze-dried ovine Ig (FDOI) or a casein-based diet containing inactivated ovine Ig (IOI). The rats were randomly allocated to one of the four groups (n=15/group) and received their respective diets for an 18-day experimental study. Gavaging took place on day 15. Average daily gain and body gain : feed ratio (post-gavage, 3 days) were significantly (P<0.05) higher for the Salmonella-challenged rats fed the FDOI diet compared to those fed the BD and IOI diets. At the end of the study, the small intestine and colon were significantly (P<0.05) heavier for the gavaged rats fed the FDOI diet compared to the gavaged rats fed either the BD or IOI diet. Moreover, the relative weights of the caecum, liver and spleen of the gavaged rats fed the BD or IOI diet were significantly (P<0.05) heavier compared to the gavaged rats fed the FDOI diet. Generally, the gavaged rats fed the FDOI diet had significantly (P<0.05) higher goblet cell counts and luminal mucin protein contents than the gavaged rats fed either the BD or IOI diet and had a more functional gut morphology. Overall, the FDOI fraction prevented the acute effects of S. enteritidis.

Dietary supplementation with ovine serum immunoglobulin is associated with an increased gut luminal mucin concentration in the growing rat.

The mucus layer covering the gut epithelium is pivotal to host defence and is affected by various dietary components. Part of the reported beneficial effect of dietary immunoglobulins (Igs) on gut health may be due to effects on the gut mucus layer. The aim was to determine whether orally administered ovine serum Ig influence goblet cell count, mucin gene expression and digesta mucin protein content in the gut of the growing rat. Fourteen Sprague-Dawley male growing rats were used in a 21-day study and were fed either a casein-based control diet (CON; no Ig) or a similar diet but containing freeze-dried ovine Ig (FDOI). Daily food intake and growth rate were not affected by the dietary treatments. When compared to the rats consuming CON diet, those consuming the FDOI diet had significantly (P < 0.05) more intact and cavitated goblet cells in the intestinal villi. A similar result was found for crypt goblet cells in the small intestine and colon. Ileal Muc2, Muc3, Muc4 and stomach Muc5Ac mRNA expressions for the FDOI animals were higher (P < 0.05) compared to the the CON animals. Mucin protein content was higher (P < 0.05) in the stomach, ileum and colonic digesta of rats fed the FDOI diet. In conclusion, orally administered FDOI influenced gut mucins in the growing rat as evidenced by increased mucin gene expression and digesta mucin protein concentrations as well as an increased goblet cell count.

Immunomodulatory effects of ovine serum immunoglobulin in the growing rat.

This study aimed to determine whether orally administered ovine serum immunoglobulin (Ig) modulates aspects of immunity such as phagocytosis, lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, intestinal and plasma Ig concentrations in growing rats. Forty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 15/group) were used in the 21-day study, and fed a basal control diet (BD; no Ig) or two test diets: freeze-dried ovine Ig (FDOI) and inactivated ovine Ig (IOI). Phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocyte proliferation in the presence of the mitogen concanavalin A (ConA) was greater (P < 0.05) for the FDOI-fed rats than for the BD- and IOI-fed groups. ConA-stimulated and unstimulated spleen cell culture produced higher (P < 0.05) interferon-γ and interleukin-4, respectively, from rats fed the FDOI than rats fed the BD diet. In the jejunum, ileum and plasma, rats fed FDOI produced higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of secretory IgA (sIgA) than rats fed IOI or BD. Rats fed the FDOI diet had greater jejunal (P = 0.037) and lower plasma (P = 0.025) rat IgG concentrations than rats fed either BD or IOI. In conclusion, an ovine Ig fraction selectively modulated various indices of immune function.

Ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of pelvic pathology.

OBJECTIVE: Ultrasound (US) is the primary imaging modality in the investigation of pelvic pathology in women however it can be very inaccurate. MRI and CT provide a more detailed pelvic examination and hence we compared their accuracies with that of ultrasound to find out if these two modalities should be used more often. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 136 women who had MRI examination of the pelvis for investigation of probable pelvic pathology were studied. Hundred and twenty-five of these women had an initial ultrasound scan and 23 had an initial CT. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed against histopathology or clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Histopathology was available in 127/136 women. Overall 36% of the lesions were malignant. The overall accuracy of MRI, US and CT were 97%, 77% and 87%, respectively. MRI confidently identified the tissue of origin in 94% compared to only 66% for US. There was a significant difference in accuracy between MRI and US in diagnosing adnexal and uterine pathology. MRI was better than CT and US in diagnosing peritoneal metastases whereas CT was superior in diagnosing omental infiltration. CONCLUSION: We suggest that all women with a pelvic abnormality identified on US or in whom there is a strong clinical suspicion of disease should undergo MR pelvic imaging in preference to CT because of its better soft tissue resolution and multi-planar capability.

[Screening for neuropsychological deficits--a screening test also for dementias?]. / Neuropsychologisches Defizit-Screening--ein Suchtest auch für Demenzen?

To assess further the psychometric features of neuropsychological deficit screening (NDS), three groups of patients (41 demented, 23 not demented but cognitively impaired, and 50 controls) were examined and the results compared with two older tests, the Mattis dementia rating scale (MDRS) and the mini mental status test (MMST). As a result, the discriminating ability of NDS (modified for this study) was comparable to both other tests without surpassing them in either demented or cognitively impaired groups. An abbreviated version allowed for an improvement in economy without sacrificing discriminating properties. The advantage of NDS thus lies in the diversity of functions assessed, while its screening power is comparable to the two other tests used for comparison.

Children's auditory event-related potentials index sound complexity and "speechness".

Children's long-latency auditory event-related potential (LLAEP) structure differs from that of adults. Functional significance of childhood ERP components is largely unknown. In order to look for the functional correlates in adult and children's LLAEPs, stimulus-complexity effects were investigated in 8-10-year old children. To this end, auditory ERPs to vowels, acoustically matched complex tones, and sinusoidal tones were recorded. All types of stimuli elicited P100-N250-N450 ERP complex. Differences between the sinusoidal and complex tones were confined to the P100 and N250 peaks, complex tones eliciting larger responses. Vowels elicited smaller-amplitude N250 but larger-amplitude N450 than the complex tones. Some stimulus-complexity effects observed for N250 in children corresponded to those observed for the N1 in adults, whereas the N450 peak exhibited behaviour resembling that of the adult ERP components subsequent to the N1 wave.

Recall and recognition in Huntington's disease.

We assessed 19 patients with Huntington's disease (HD) at early to moderately advanced stages of their disease using memory tests that investigated verbal and visual recall and recognition. In those tests where identical material was subject to recall and recognition the standardized results (z scores) were lower for recognition. Performance was better with pictorial than with verbal material. While recognition bias and savings scores did not differ significantly from controls, all other recognition parameters did so. This is in contrast to the claim that defective retrieval in HD is greatly enhanced by multiple choice recognition. One major reason for maintaining this assumption was apparently the disregard of false-positive responses. Our results indicate that verbal and visual recognition are impaired in HD, and the notion of a salient deficit of free recall is not supported.

Hysteroscopy in infertility--diagnosis and treatment including falloposcopy.

Diagnostic hysteroscopy should be included routinely in the work-up of invasive examinations for infertility patients. Anyhow, one can rarely expect to find the definite underlying reason for infertility. In infertile patients about 20% of hysteroscopic examinations show some grade of intrauterine abnormalities. Congenital uterine malformations are the most frequently found disorders. In the group of patients with habitual abortions abnormalities are found much more often and can also be more often interpreted as the mainly underlying factor for the repeated abortions. Operative hysteroscopy has become the surgical method of first choice for the treatment of uterine septa, submucous myomas, polyps and synechia. After septum dissection results are excellent. Myoma removal also shows beneficial effects on fertility; nevertheless, cases are not too frequent among infertility patients. In cases of high-grade Asherman's syndrome, the prognosis after hysteroscopic surgery is still often poor.

An analysis of the in vitro and in vivo phenotypes of mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 lacking glycoproteins gG, gE, gI or the putative gJ.

Mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) lacking glycoproteins gG, gE, gI or the putative gJ were constructed by inserting a lacZ expression cassette within the US4, US8, US7 and US5 genes respectively. Revertant viruses were then constructed by rescue with a wild-type DNA fragment. Each of these mutant viruses, by comparison with the parental virus HSV-1 SC16, exhibited normal particle to infectivity ratios, and had no discernible phenotypic abnormalities in baby hamster kidney-21 cells following high or low multiplicity infections. Infection of mice by scarification of the ear with these mutant viruses showed the following. (i) Interruption of the US5 (gJ) gene has no effect on the ability of HSV-1 to multiply at the inoculation site or its ability to enter or multiply in the peripheral or central nervous system (CNS). This shows that the US5 gene provides a convenient site for the insertion of foreign genes for both in vitro and in vivo studies. (ii) Disruption of the US4 (gG) gene results in marginal attenuation in the mouse ear model. (iii) Disruption of the US7 (gI) or US8 (gE) genes results in pronounced attenuation; virus was rapidly cleared from the inoculation site and was barely detectable in sensory ganglia or in the CNS. The failure of gI-negative or gE-negative viruses to replicate efficiently at the inoculation site in vivo led to the investigation of virus behaviour in epithelial cells in vitro. Viruses lacking gE or gI adsorbed to and entered these cells at normal rates compared with the parental virus, but formed minute plaques. This is consistent with a failure of cell-to-cell spread by the cell contact route. This was confirmed by measurement of the rate of increase in infectious centre numbers following low multiplicity infections. The view that gE and gI influence interactions between cells at the plasma membrane was reinforced by showing that the introduction of disrupted gE or gI genes into a syncytial, but otherwise syngeneic, background resulted in a non-syncytial phenotype. We conclude that the gE-gI complex plays a part, at least in some cell types, in the interactions at the cell surface that allow transmission of the virus from infected to uninfected cells by cell contact. In syncytial strains this leads to uncontrolled membrane fusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)