Patients With Hemangioblastoma: Mood Disorders and Sleep Quality.

BACKGROUND: Sleep has confirmed physical, psychological, and behavioral benefits, and disruptions can result in disturbances in these states. Moreover, it can be linked bidirectionally with susceptibility to and the subsequent status of brain tumors. The current study examined mood disorders and sleep quality before and after surgery for hemangioblastoma brain tumors. METHODS: Thirty-two patients diagnosed with hemangioblastoma brain tumors between 2017 and 2023 underwent surgical treatment. The Karnofsky Performance Status and ECOG performance status scales, the Brunel Mood Scale, the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, and the Mini-Sleep Questionnaire were employed to assess the patients. RESULTS: The findings indicate that after surgery, sleep quality and mood disorders, including tension, vigor, and depression, did not exhibit significant differences in these patients (p>0.05). However, tension, vigor, depression, and sleep quality did have a significant impact on their functional status post-surgery (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Depression is the significant mood factor in patients with brain tumors that impact their functional status. In this context, it is recommended that psychological therapies be considered for them, alongside conducting more comprehensive and in-depth studies on psychological disorders in patients with brain tumors.

Traumatic brain injury and stem cell treatments: A review of recent 10 years clinical trials.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage to the brain by an external physical force. It may result in cognitive and physical dysfunction. It is one of the main causes of disability and death all around the world. In 2016, the worldwide incidence of acute TBI was nearly 27 million cases. Therapeutic interventions currently in use provide poor outcomes. So recent research has focused on stem cells as a potential treatment. The major objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the recent clinical trials in the field of stem cell transplantation for patients with TBI. The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed and also Google Scholar were searched for relevant terms such as "traumatic brain injury", " brain trauma", "brain injury", "head injury", "TBI", "stem cell", and "cell transplantation" and for publications from January 2013 to June 2023. Clinical trials and case series which utilized stem cells for TBI treatment were included. The data about case selection and sample size, mechanism of injury, time between primary injury and cell transplantation, type of stem cells transplanted, route of stem cell administration, number of cells transplanted, episodes of transplantation, follow-up time, outcome measures and results, and adverse events were extracted. Finally, 11 studies met the defined criteria and were included in the review. The total sample size of all studies was 402, consisting of 249 cases of stem cell transplantation and 153 control subjects. The most commonly used cells were BMMNCs, the preferred route of transplantation was intrathecal transplantation, and all studies reported improvement in clinical, radiologic, or biochemical markers after transplantation. No serious adverse events were reported. Stem cell therapy is safe and logistically feasible and leads to neurological improvement in patients with traumatic brain injury. However, further controlled, randomized, multicenter studies with large sample sizes are needed to determine the optimal cell and dose, timing of transplantation in acute or chronic phases of TBI, and the optimal route and number of transplants.

Rectal bleeding as a symptom of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome mimicking rectal neoplasm on colonoscopy: A case report.

Patients complaining of rectal bleeding, constipation, and a suspicious mass in colonoscopy should undergo biopsy. Histological features such as fibromuscular obliteration in the lamina propria favor SRUS, a benign disorder.

Surgical outcomes of calvaria reconstruction in cranial pansynostosis associated with Arnold-Chiari type 1.5 malformation, a case report.

A 6-year-old girl with persistent headaches and the visual problem was diagnosed as a delayed onset cranial pansynostosis with concurrent type 1.5 Arnold-Chiari malformation. She underwent multi-sutural reconstructive surgery and followed. The headache was greatly decreased and tonsillar-brain stem herniation and syrinx were resolved.

Giant High-Grade Immature Teratoma of the Central Nervous System (CNS) in an Infant: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND The central nervous system (CNS) is a rare point of origin for mature or immature teratomas. However, immature teratomas are extremely rare. CNS teratomas have been known for poor patient prognosis and recovery and also reduce survival. However, chemoradiotherapy has been reported to increase patient survival. CASE REPORT This study presents a rare giant immature teratoma invading a newborn infant's brain tissue and CNS. The tumor was surgically removed, and in a further 1-year follow-up, it did not need chemotherapy or radiotherapy according to alpha-fetoprotein (aFP) level and other serum markers. The teratoma had affected multiple loci of his brain's left hemisphere, including parietal, frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes. A teratoma was diagnosed lateral to the midline, which is not common in CNS teratomas, as they mainly occur in or near the midline. The tumor was excised completely. The patient was followed up for 1 year, and no further recurrence was observed. CONCLUSIONS Early diagnosis and treatment of immature teratomas are essential in patient prognosis. Chemotherapy is not always needed, but complete surgical removal and patient follow-up are always a necessity. In addition, adequate follow-up of these patients is critical to evaluate their further treatment plan and recurrence risk.

The Influence of Ripeness on the Phenolic Content, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne).

Cucurbita moschata Duchesne (Cucurbitaceae) is a plant food highly appreciated for the content of nutrients and bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and carotenoids, which contribute to its antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities. The purpose of this study was to identify phenolic acids and flavonoids of Cucurbita moschata Duchesne using high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS) at different ripening stages (young, mature, ripened) and determine its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. According to the results, phenolic acids and flavonoids were dependent on the maturity stage. The mature fruits contain the highest total phenolic and flavonoids contents (97.4 mg GAE. 100 g-1 and 28.6 mg QE. 100 g-1).A total of 33 compounds were identified. Syringic acid was the most abundant compound (37%), followed by cinnamic acid (12%) and protocatechuic acid (11%). Polyphenol extract of the mature fruits showed the highest antioxidant activity when measured by DPPH (0.065 µmol TE/g) and ABTS (0.074 µmol TE/g) assays. In the antimicrobial assay, the second stage of ripening had the highest antibacterial activity. Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive strain with an inhibition zone of 12 mm and a MIC of 0.75 mg L-1. The lowest inhibition zone was obtained with Salmonella typhimurium (5 mm), and the MIC value was 10 mg L-1.

Chemical composition of propolis extract and its effects on epirubicin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

ABSTRACT Propolis is a natural substance, produced by honeybees from the resin of various plants. The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition and evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of ethyl acetate extract of propolis from Tigzirt, against the toxicity induced by epirubicin which is a anticancer agent, and belongs to the family of antracyclines. The study included thirty male Wistar albino rats divided into five groups. The rats received the extraction of propolis or the quercetin orally for 15 days. The hepatotoxicity was promoted by injection epirubicin (i.v.) with a cumulative dose of 9 mg/kg. Several biological parameters were measured. Oxidative status was also assessed by evaluating antioxidant enzyme and histological study of some organs. Epirubicin caused oxidative stress by a significant decrease in hepatic antioxidant enzymes (gluthation peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase), increased malondialdehyde and liver parameters (ASAT, ALAT, γGT, ALP) compared to the control. The histological study revealed major damage to the liver. Perturbations in this liver function, antioxidant status and damage to the liver by epirubicin have been repaired by the administration of propolis. Furthermore, epirubicin showed inflammatory effects induced by an increase in TNF-α and PGE2. Pretreatment with propolis to rats restored these inflammatory parameters. The chemical identification of extract of propolis by HPLC/UV shows the presence of polyphenolic compounds and many flavonoids. The propolis extract showed a significant reduction in oxidative damage from oxidative stress and a very important protective effect against epirubicin-induced hepatotoxicity.

Antimicrobial Activity of Selected Polyphenols and Capsaicinoids Identified in Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and Their Possible Mode of Interaction.

Antimicrobial activity of pepper polyphenols and capsaicinoids (Coumarin, caffeic acid, narangin, kaempferol, rutin, quercetin, capsaicin, and dihydrocapsaicin) against 13 pathogen bacteria and three beneficial strains was studied using the disk diffusion and microdilution methods. In general, phenolic compounds had the most important activity with the highest inhibition zones obtained with caffeic acid (3.5-20.5 mm), quercetin (4.75-3.5 mm), and kaempferol (7-14 mm). In the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentrations, the effects of both quercetin and kaempferol were more important than caffeic acid. The clinical strains Staphylococcus aureus (319, 14, 8, 32, and 550) were more sensitive to quercetin (0.00195-0.0078 mg L-1) whereas kaempferol was more active against the strains S. aureus (ATCC 6538, 26), S. typhimurium ATCC 13311, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (0.0156-0.125 mg L-1). The interaction between these three polyphenols was studied against S. aureus ATCC 6538 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Different modes of interaction were observed (synergism, additive, and indifferent), but no antagonism was obtained. The best combination was quercetin and caffeic acid for S. aureus with fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of 0.37, and kaempferol with quercetin for P. aeruginosa (FICI = 0.31).

Determination of the polyphenolic content of a Capsicum annuum L. extract by liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and mass spectrometry detection and evaluation of its biological activity.

The present study was aimed to investigate the polyphenolic profile of a pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) extract from Algeria and evaluate its biological activity. The total polyphenol content of the extract was determined as 1.373 mg of gallic acid equivalents (±0.0046), whereas the flavonoids were determined as 0.098 mg of quercetin (±0.0015). The determination of the complete polyphenolic profile of the extract was achieved by liquid chromatography with an RP-amide column in combination with photodiode array and mass spectrometry detection through an electrospray ionization interface. A total of 18 compounds were identified, of which five were reported for the first time in the sample tested. Quercetin rhamnoside was the most abundant compound (82.6 µg/g of fresh pepper) followed by quercetin glucoside (19.86 µg/g). The antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effects were also determined. For the antimicrobial tests assessed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, kaempferol showed the strongest inhibitory effect followed by quercetin and caffeic acids. In the study of the cytotoxicity of the extract, the cancer cells (U937) were more affected than the normal cells (peripheral blood mononucleated cells), with more than 62% inhibition at the highest concentration.

Characterization and antioxidant properties of six Algerian propolis extracts: ethyl acetate extracts inhibit myeloperoxidase activity.

Because propolis contains many types of antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids, it can be useful in preventing oxidative damages. Ethyl acetate extracts of propolis from several Algerian regions show high activity by scavenging free radicals, preventing lipid peroxidation and inhibiting myeloperoxidase (MPO). By fractioning and assaying ethyl acetate extracts, it was observed that both polyphenols and flavonoids contribute to these activities. A correlation was observed between the polyphenol content and the MPO inhibition. However, it seems that kaempferol, a flavonoid, contributes mainly to the MPO inhibition. This molecule is in a high amount in the ethyl acetate extract and demonstrates the best efficiency towards the enzyme with an inhibiting concentration at 50% of 4 ± 2 µM.

Development of a Stress-Inducible Controlled Expression (SICE) system in Lactococcus lactis for the production and delivery of therapeutic molecules at mucosal surfaces.

In recent years, recombinant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been successfully used as safe mucosal delivery vectors. Herein, we report on the development of a Stress-Inducible Controlled Expression (SICE) system in L. lactis for the production and delivery of proteins of health interest (both therapeutic and vaccine related) at mucosal surfaces. This system is episomal in nature and is composed of a vector carrying an expression cassette under the transcriptional control of a stress-inducible promoter. The functionality of the SICE system was validated in vivo using two different routes of administration: oral and intranasal, and in two different murine models of human pathologies: (i) a model of therapy against inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and (ii) a model of vaccination against human papillomavirus type-16 (HPV-16).

Stem cell sources for regenerative medicine.

Tissue-resident stem cells or primitive progenitors play an integral role in homeostasis of most organ systems. Recent developments in methodologies to isolate and culture embryonic and somatic stem cells have many new applications poised for clinical and preclinical trials, which will enable the potential of regenerative medicine to be realized. Here, we overview the current progress in therapeutic applications of various stem cells and discuss technical and social hurdles that must be overcome for their potential to be realized.

Transgenic expression of CECR1 adenosine deaminase in mice results in abnormal development of heart and kidney.

Cat eye syndrome is a rare developmental defect associated with duplication of chromosome 22q11. The patients demonstrate specific abnormalities of heart, kidney, and eye. Here we attempted to produce a model for this defect by expressing CECR1 adenosine deaminase, a gene duplicated in cat eye syndrome patients, in mice. The transgenic mice expressed CECR1 under the control of either beta-actin promoter for ubiquitous expression or myosin heavy chain for heart-specific expression. The transgenics expressing CECR1 in the heart demonstrated high rate of embryonic and neonatal lethality. The mice from all the lines examined showed enlargement of the heart. Abnormalities of the kidney and eye were also detected in mice expressing CECR1 under control of the actin promoter.

CSX/Nkx2.5 modulates differentiation of skeletal myoblasts and promotes differentiation into neuronal cells in vitro.

CSX/Nkx2.5 transcription factor plays a pivotal role in cardiac development; however, its role in development and differentiation of other organs has not been investigated. In this study, we used C2C12 myoblasts and human fetal primary myoblasts to investigate the function of Nkx2.5 in skeletal myogenesis. The expression levels of Nkx2.5 decreased as C2C12 myoblasts elongated and fused to form myotubes. The expression of human NKX2.5 in C2C12 myoblasts inhibited myocyte differentiation and myotube formation, and up-regulated Gata4 and Tbx5 expression. The expression of NKX2.5 in terminally differentiated C2C12 myotubes resulted in a change in morphology and breakdown into smaller myotubes. Furthermore, overexpression of NKX2.5 in C2C12 cells and primary cultures of human fetal myoblasts led to differentiation of myoblasts into neuron-like cells and expression of neuronal markers. This study sheds light on the previously unknown non-cardiac functions of Nkx2.5 transcription factor.