Curcumin and quercetin ameliorated cypermethrin and deltamethrin-induced reproductive system impairment in male wistar rats by upregulating the activity of pituitary-gonadal hormones and steroidogenic enzymes

Background: Dietary antioxidants protect tissues and organs against insecticides/xenobiotic-induced damage. In the present study, we evaluated the results of exposure to synthetic pyrethroid insecticides, cypermethrin [Cyp] and deltamethrin [Del] and possible protective effects of curcumin and quercetin on reproductive system in male Wistar rats

Materials and Methods: In this controlled experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 7 groups of 6 animals. Group A served as control, group B was exposed to Cyp [2 mg/kg.bw], group C was exposed to Del [2 mg/kg.bw], group D was exposed to Cyp+Del [2 mg/kg.bw each], group E was exposed to Cyp+Del and treated with curcumin [100 mg/kg.bw], group F was exposed to Cyp+Del and treated with quercetin [100 mg/kg.bw] and group G was exposed to Cyp+Del and treated with quercetin+curcumin for 45 days

Results: Exposure to Cyp and Del caused decreases in reproductive organs weight, sperm count, sperm motility, level of sex hormones viz. testosterone [T], follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH], steroidogenic enzymes viz. 3beta-hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase [3beta-HSD] and 17beta-HSD, non-enzymatic antioxi- dant glutathione [GSH] and enzymatic antioxidants viz. superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], glutathione-S-transferase [GST] and glutathione reductase [GR] activity and increases in sperm abnormalities and lipid peroxidation [LPO]. The exposure also adversely affected the histo-achitecture of testes. Single and combined treatment with curcumin and quercetin significantly ameliorated Cyp and Del-induced damage in reproductive system

Conclusion: Curcumin and quercetin protected against Cyp and Del-induced reproductive system toxicity and oxidative damage in rats. The increases in activities of 3beta-HSD and 17beta-HSD with concomitant increases in testosterone were mainly responsible for ameliorating effects of curcumin and quercetin. Curcumin showed slightly better activity as compared to quercetin. The combination of both antioxidants offered more protection compared to each one alone

Brown-Séquard Syndrome as a First Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis

A female patient aged 48 years presented with sub-acute onset of weakness in right upper and lower limb over the past one month and numbness over left side of body below neck level. Multiple sclerosis (MS) presenting as Brown-Séquard syndrome is very rare. We present a case of hemicord myelitis which presented as Brown-Séquard syndrome as a first manifestation, which was later diagnosed as MS during subsequent relapses.

Anatomical Variations of Cerebral MR Venography: Is Gender Matter? / 신경중재치료의학

PURPOSE: Knowledge of variations in the cerebral dural venous sinus anatomy seen on magnetic resonance (MR) venography is essential to avoid over-diagnosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). Very limited data is available on gender difference of the cerebral dural venous sinus anatomy variations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to study the normal anatomy of the intracranial venous system and its normal variation, as depicted by 3D MR venography, in normal adults and any gender-related differences. RESULTS: A total of 1654 patients (582 men, 1072 women, age range 19 to 86 years, mean age: 37.98±13.83 years) were included in the study. Most common indication for MR venography was headache (75.4%). Hypoplastic left transverse sinus was the most common anatomical variation in 352 (21.3%) patients. Left transverse sinus was hypoplastic in more commonly in male in comparison to female (24.9% versus 19.3%, p = 0.009). Most common variation of superior sagittal sinus (SSS) was atresia of anterior one third SSS (15, 0.9%). Except hypoplastic left transverse sinus, rest of anatomical variations of the transverse and other sinuses were not significantly differ among both genders. CONCLUSION: Hypoplastic left transverse sinus is the most common anatomical variation and more common in male compared to female in the present study. Other anatomical variations of dural venous sinuses are not significantly differ among both genders.

Anti-mycobacterial screening of five Indian medicinal plants and partial purification of active extracts of Cassia sophera and Urtica dioica

OBJECTIVE@#To find out the anti-mycobacterial potential of Cassia sophera (C. sophera), Urtica dioica (U. dioica), Momordica dioica, Tribulus terrestris and Coccinia indica plants against multi-drug resistant (MDR) strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis).@*METHODS@#Plant materials were extracted successively with solvents of increasing polarity. Solvent extracts were screened for anti-mycobacterial activity against fast growing, non-pathogenic mycobacterium strain, Mycobacterium semegmatis, by disk diffusion method. The active extracts were tested against MDR and clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis by absolute concentration and proportion methods. The active extracts were subjected to bio-autoassay on TLC followed by silica column chromatography for isolation of potential drug leads.@*RESULTS@#Hexane extract of U. dioica (HEUD) and methanol extract of C. sophera (MECS) produced inhibition zone of 20 mm in disc diffusion assay and MIC of 250 and 125 μ g/mL respectively in broth dilution assay against Mycobacterium semegmatis. Semipurified fraction F2 from MECS produced 86% inhibition against clinical isolate and 60% inhibition against MDR strain of M. tuberculosis. F18 from HEUD produced 81% inhibition against clinical isolate and 60% inhibition against MDR strain of M. tuberculosis. Phytochemical analysis indicated that anti-mycobacterial activity of MECS may be due to presence of alkaloids or flavonoids and that of HEUD due to terpenoids.@*CONCLUSIONS@#C. sophera and U. dioica plant extracts exhibited promising anti-mycobacterial activity against MDR strain of M. tuberculosis. This is the first report of anti-mycobacterial activity form C. sophera. This study showed possibility of purifying novel anti-mycobacterial compound(s) from C. sophera and U. dioica.