Oxygenated C17 polyacetylene metabolites from Algerian Eryngium tricuspidatum L. roots: Structure and biological activity.

The secondary metabolite pattern of Eryngium tricuspidatum has been found to be dominated by C17 acetylene oxylipins, according to the chemistry reported in the literature for the genus Eryngium. Two new oxylipins, 11-acetoxy-falcarindiol (4) and 1,2-dihydro-11-acetoxy-falcarindiol (5) have been isolated, along with main related polyacetylenes 1-3 and the already known monoterpene aldehydes 6-10, from the petroleum ether extract of roots. The structure and the absolute configuration of compounds 4 and 5 have been determined by spectroscopic methods as well as by comparison with related known compounds. Polyacetylenes 1-4 inhibited significantly the in vitro growth of a series of cancer cell lines, ranging from 0.3 to 29 µM, whereas 5 was inactive.

Speed of sound in rubber-based materials for ultrasonic phantoms.

PURPOSE: In this work we provide measurements of speed of sound (SoS) and acoustic impedance (Z) of some doped/non-doped rubber-based materials dedicated to the development of ultrasound phantoms. These data are expected to be useful for speeding-up the preparation of multi-organ phantoms which show similar echogenicity to real tissues. METHODS: Different silicones (Ecoflex, Dragon-Skin Medium) and polyurethane rubbers with different liquid (glycerol, commercial detergent, N-propanol) and solid (aluminum oxide, graphene, steel, silicon powder) inclusions were prepared. SoS of materials under investigation was measured in an experimental setup and Z was obtained by multiplying the density and the SoS of each material. Finally, an anatomically realistic liver phantom has been fabricated selecting some of the tested materials. RESULTS: SoS and Z evaluation for different rubber materials and formulations are reported. The presence of liquid additives appears to increase the SoS, while solid inclusions generally reduce the SoS. The ultrasound images of realized custom fabricated heterogeneous liver phantom and a real liver show remarkable similarities. CONCLUSIONS: The development of new materials' formulations and the knowledge of acoustic properties, such as speed of sound and acoustic impedance, could improve and speed-up the development of phantoms for simulations of ultrasound medical procedures.

Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric chronic osteomyelitis in developing countries: prospective study of 96 patients treated in Kenya.

The authors carried out a prospective study on 96 patients they treated in Kenya for chronic osteomyelitis from 2000 to 2009. All the patients received orthopedic surgery and antibiotic therapy, when possible based on the antibiotic sensitivity test. Among the 90 patients with at least 12 months' follow-up, 11 had osteomyelitis relapse (12.2%) and recovery rate was therefore 87.8% with no resulting disability. Risk factors for osteomyelitis relapse were investigated and previous treatment with beta-lactamines, predisposing to onset of methycillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections (P = 0.03, OR = 5.74), and onset of osteomyelitis in the metaepiphyseal region (P < 0.0001) resulted statistically significant. Aim of the study was to evaluate the validity of our treatment of chronic osteomyelitis in Kenya on the basis of outcome.

Eighth international mesothelioma interest group.

The eighth International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG) meeting was held in Chicago, IL, United States, in 19-22 October 2006 to discuss mesothelioma - the cancer often linked to asbestos exposure. It is a very aggressive malignancy with a median survival of less than 1 year from diagnosis. Millions of people have been exposed worldwide to asbestos, especially during the second half of the twentieth century when asbestos use increased significantly. The tons of asbestos utilized in the past remain a health hazard for current and future generations because asbestos is difficult to be disposed off. This makes asbestos and mesothelioma research a public health issue in addition to a medical problem. Moreover, the very high costs of asbestos litigation have a significant impact on the whole economy. In the United States, up until 2001, defendant companies had paid 54 billion dollars in claims and estimated future liabilities ranged from 145 to 210 billion. Therefore, asbestos research is of great interest to a large audience that includes patients, millions of asbestos-exposed individuals, scientists, physicians, public health officials, politicians, unions of asbestos workers, lawyers and the public at large. During the past few years, there has been significant progress in understanding the process of mineral fiber carcinogenesis and mesothelioma pathogenesis. With improved understanding of the pathogenesis of mesothelioma, new diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic options are being developed. A total of 247 papers were presented at the IMIG: the abstracts of these presentations were published in Lung Cancer, Supplement 1, October 2006. Here, experts in different disciplines critically review some of the most exciting presentations of the IMIG meeting. The result is a comprehensive review of the research field of asbestos carcinogenesis and mesothelioma, and of the progress that has been made in recent years in both basic and clinical sciences.

HHH syndrome (hyperornithinaemia, hyperammonaemia, homocitrullinuria), with fulminant hepatitis-like presentation.

We report a 3-year-old Italian patient with the hyperornithinaemia, hyperammonaemia, homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome who presented with neurological deterioration after an intercurrent infection. Hyperammonaemia, coagulopathy and moderate hypertransaminasaemia were detected on hospital admission. Severe hepatocellular necrosis with hypertransaminasaemia (aspartate aminotransferase 20,000 UI/L, alanine aminotransferase 18,400 UI/L) and coagulopathy (PT < 5%) rapidly developed within few days, prompting evaluation for liver transplantation. A protein-restricted diet and arginine supplementation were immediately started, with a rapid improvement of the patient's neurological conditions and normalization of liver function tests and blood ammonia. The diagnosis of HHH syndrome was based on the presence of the typical metabolic abnormalities. Molecular analysis of the SLC25A15 gene showed that the patient was heterozygous for two novel mutations (G113C and M273K). The diagnosis of HHH syndrome should be considered in patients with fulminant hepatitis-like presentations. Early identification and treatment of these patients can be life-saving and can avoid liver transplantation.

[Defecography in rectal wall prolapse conditions]. / Defecografia nelle malattie parietali del retto da prolasso.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic floor and rectal prolapse conditions have greatly benefitted by new imaging and instrumental diagnostic approaches, and especially defecography, for both pathophysiological interpretation and differential diagnosis. We investigated the efficacy of defecography in the assessment of rectal prolapse, and in particular the role of videoproctography in diagnosing such dynamic disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We selected 224 patients with rectal prolapse from a series of 1,190 consecutive subjects with evacuation disturbances examined in the last 5 years with defecography combined with videoproctography. The patients were 176 women and 48 men ranging in age 32-79 years (mean: 48). Defecography was carried out with Mahieu's technique, but we changed the filter position slightly. Sixty-seven per cent of our patients had been submitted to sigmoidoscopy, but this examination does not usually show rectal intussusception. Occult blood test in feces and double contrast barium enema were carried out in 42% and 38% of cases, respectively, to exclude any organic conditions of colon. RESULTS: Mucosal prolapse was more frequent than intussusception (71% and 34%, respectively); rectal walls went out through the anus in 12 cases of anorectal intussusception and thus caused external rectal prolapse. Rectal prolapse was associated with other anorectal alterations, such as rectocele, perineal descent and puborectalis muscle syndrome, in 96 cases. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic changes of ampulla are well depicted by videoproctography, which showed anorectum normalization and spontaneous reduction of invagination after intussusception. Defecography exhibited good capabilities in showing rectal wall function abnormalities. Finally, some features of videoproctography such as low radiation dose, noninvasiveness and ease of execution, make the examination acceptable to patients with anorectal disorders and for the follow-up of rectal prolapse.

[Recurrent aphthous stomatitis: current etiopathogenetic and therapeutic concepts]. / Stomatite aftosa ricorrente: attuali concetti eziopathogenetici e terapeutici.

The authors review the literature on aetiopathogenesis and therapeutic management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. The data regarding the role of genetic, nutritional and microbiological factors in the genesis of recurrent aphthous stomatitis has been particularly examined. Despite significant associations with some antigens HLA have been reported in Southern Europe, there is no clear genetic predisposition in recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Several studies have analyzed the importance of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies, gluten intolerance and sensitivity to certain foods in the triggering of recurrent aphthous stomatitis however the results have been controversial. Recently, it has been suggested that recurrent aphthous stomatitis could be caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus and/or cytomegalovirus but these viruses may be reactivated by the immunodysregulation known to underlie recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Moreover, antiviral drugs appear to have only an equivocal effect on recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is probably determined by immunological mechanisms although there actually no unifying hypothesis which attempt to integrate the results of the many immunologic studies on recurrent aphotous stomatitis. Moreover, the target antigen and the cause of recurrences of recurrent aphthous stomatitis are still unknown. As far as the management of this disease it is important to recognize recurrent aphthous stomatitis secondary to systemic diseases like Behcet's syndrome, gluten enteropathy and haematinics deficiencies. Subsequently, the symptoms can be reduced with several drugs (mainly topical corticosteroids) but there are no effective therapies preventing recurrences.

Beta-lactam antibiotics (aztreonam, ampicillin, cefazolin and ceftazidime) in the control and eradication of Salmonella typhimurium in naturally resistant and susceptible mice.

This study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of different beta-lactam antibiotics in the treatment of systemic salmonella infections in the mouse typhoid model. Innately susceptible BALB/c (Itys) and resistant CBA (Ityr) mice were used to investigate the efficacy of one monocyclic (aztreonam) and three bicyclic (ampicillin, cefazolin, ceftazidime) beta-lactam antibiotics in controlling systemic salmonella infections when given for brief or prolonged periods. The present study confirms and amplifies earlier reports on ampicillin therapy, demonstrates marked differences in the efficacy of the different antibiotics and shows that aztreonam is not only very effective but can completely eradicate the salmonellae from the RES when given early in the infection.

Promoters and inhibitors of calcium urolithiasis in children.

We have evaluated the urinary excretion of promoting (calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, oxalate) and inhibiting (citrate, magnesium, glycosaminoglycans) factors of crystallization in subjects with idiopathic hypercalciuria and calcium urolithiasis and in a control group. The examined children had a free diet and were drug free for the last 2 weeks. They were not affected by malabsorption, D-RTA, urinary tract infection, or urinary tract malformation (factors interfering with urinary excretion of citrate and oxalate). In the patients with calcium urolithiasis, the daily urinary excretion of oxalate was significantly higher (p less than 0.01), and the urinary excretion of citrate was significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than in the subjects with idiopathic hypercalciuria and in the control group. Among the subjects with idiopathic hypercalciuria, those aged 4-9 years had a significantly reduced, though in the normal range, urinary excretion of citrate as compared with those aged 10-15 years (362 +/- 189 and 503 +/- 198 mg/g creatinine/24 h, respectively; p less than 0.01). Our data show that hypocitruria may play an important role in the pathogenesis of urolithiasis in children with idiopathic hypercalciuria. In these cases, the urinary citrate excretion was not inversely related to age, as has been suggested by other authors.