Comparative study of the insecticidal activity of a high green plant (Spinacia oleracea) and a chlorophytae algae (Ulva lactuca) extracts against Drosophila melanogaster fruit fly.

OBJECTIVES: Currently, the global interests tend to take advantage of the plant world as a renewable source of a natural and effective molecule, to find an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and less toxic alternative to the current synthetic pesticide. In this context, the present research was carried out in an attempt to study the insecticidal activity of extracts and pigments derived from the green plant Spinacia oleracea and the green alga Ulva lactuca against the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as an alternative to chemical insecticide. METHODS: The toxicity of the aqueous, acetonic and ethanolic extracts as well as of the purified pigments (Chlorophylls and carotenoids) was determined by complementary in vivo tests (application by spraying oranges, toxicity by ingestion and repellent activity). Interestingly, each one of these methods corresponds to a specific mode of exposure. RESULTS: Results showed that acetone extracts, which are rich in green pigments, present the best insecticidal activities. On the other hand, the purified chlorophyllian pigments exhibited an interesting activity only by spraying method. Regarding the repellent activity, the aqueous extract of spinach displayed higher effectiveness. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests the potential of tested plant and algal extracts, as well as of chlorophyllian pigments, to provide a safer alternative way to the use of synthetic pesticides.

Pilot study using post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy), tacrolimus and mycophenolate GVHD prophylaxis for older patients receiving 10/10 HLA-matched unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Allogeneic SCT for older patients remains challenging at least in part due to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and higher non-relapse mortality (NRM). We conducted a prospective pilot study primarily for older patients undergoing matched unrelated donor (MUD) SCT using a reduced-intensity (RIC) melphalan-based conditioning and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based GVHD prophylaxis with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. Twenty-two patients (median age 64, IQR 58, 66) underwent RIC MUD SCT for high-risk hematological malignancies including AML/MDS (73%), CML/MPD (18%), and other (10%). Two (9%) patients had early death; the rest (100%) engrafted. After a median follow-up of 17 months, 11 patients were alive and disease-free with an estimated 2-year progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival of 48%. The cumulative incidences of grades 2-4 and 3-4 acute GVHD (aGVHD) at day + 100 and 2-years were 32 and 4%, and 59 and 24%, respectively. No cases of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) were noted. However, late acute GVHD was observed in 6 (27%) patients. In conclusion, RIC MUD SCT with melphalan-based conditioning and PTCy-based GVHD-based prophylaxis for older patients appears effective in controlling relapse. While cGVHD was not seen and early aGVHD appears controllable, a significant proportion developed late aGVHD responsible for higher NRM seen in these patients.

Electrical Stimulation as a Means for Improving Vision.

Evolving research has provided evidence that noninvasive electrical stimulation (ES) of the eye may be a promising therapy for either preserving or restoring vision in several retinal and optic nerve diseases. In this review, we focus on minimally invasive strategies for the delivery of ES and accordingly summarize the current literature on transcorneal, transorbital, and transpalpebral ES in both animal experiments and clinical studies. Various mechanisms are believed to underlie the effects of ES, including increased production of neurotrophic agents, improved chorioretinal blood circulation, and inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines. Different animal models have demonstrated favorable effects of ES on both the retina and the optic nerve. Promising effects of ES have also been demonstrated in clinical studies; however, all current studies have a lack of randomization and/or a control group (sham). There is thus a pressing need for a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms that govern clinical success and optimization of stimulation parameters in animal studies. In addition, such research should be followed by large, prospective, clinical studies to explore the full potential of ES. Through this review, we aim to provide insight to guide future research on ES as a potential therapy for improving vision.

Characterisation of secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein-proline-glutamine-rich 1: a novel basal lamina component expressed at cell-tooth interfaces.

Functional genomic screening of the rat enamel organ (EO) has led to the identification of a number of secreted proteins expressed during the maturation stage of amelogenesis, including amelotin (AMTN) and odontogenic ameloblast-associated (ODAM). In this study, we characterise the gene, protein and pattern of expression of a related protein called secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein-proline-glutamine-rich 1 (SCPPPQ1). The Scpppq1 gene resides within the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (Scpp) cluster. SCPPPQ1 is a highly conserved, 75-residue, secreted protein rich in proline, leucine, glutamine and phenylalanine. In silico data mining has revealed no correlation to any known sequences. Northern blotting of various rat tissues suggests that the expression of Scpppq1 is restricted to tooth and associated tissues. Immunohistochemical analyses show that the protein is expressed during the late maturation stage of amelogenesis and in the junctional epithelium where it localises to an atypical basal lamina at the cell-tooth interface. This discrete localisation suggests that SCPPPQ1, together with AMTN and ODAM, participates in structuring the basal lamina and in mediating attachment of epithelia cells to mineralised tooth surfaces.

Osteogenic cell cultures cannot utilize exogenous sources of synthetic polyphosphate for mineralization.

Phosphate is critical for mineralization and deficiencies in the regulation of free phosphate lead to disease. Inorganic polyphosphates (polyPs) may represent a physiological source of phosphate because they can be hydrolyzed by biological phosphatases. To investigate whether exogenous polyP could be utilized for mineral formation, mineralization was evaluated in two osteogenic cell lines, Saos-2 and MC3T3, expressing different levels of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (tnALP). The role of tnALP was further explored by lentiviral-mediated overexpression in MC3T3 cells. When cells were cultured in the presence of three different phosphate sources, there was a strong mineralization response with ß-glycerophosphate (ßGP) and orthophosphate (Pi) but none of the cultures sustained mineralization in the presence of polyP (neither chain length 17-Pi nor 42-Pi). Even in the presence of mineralizing levels of phosphate, low concentrations of polyP (50 µM) were sufficient to inhibit mineral formation. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence of apatite-like mineral deposits in MC3T3 cultures supplemented with ßGP, but not in those with polyP. While von Kossa staining was consistent with the presence or absence of mineral, an unusual Alizarin staining was obtained in polyP-treated MC3T3 cultures. This staining pattern combined with low Ca:P ratios suggests the persistence of Ca-polyP complexes, even with high residual ALP activity. In conclusion, under standard culture conditions, exogenous polyP does not promote mineral deposition. This is not due to a lack of active ALP, and unless conditions that favor significant processing of polyP are achieved, its mineral inhibitory capacity predominates.

Motor cortex stimulation: functional magnetic resonance imaging-localized treatment for three sources of intractable facial pain.

Neuropathic facial pain can be a debilitating condition characterized by stabbing, burning, dysesthetic sensation. With a large range of causes and types, including deafferentation, postherpetic, atypical, and idiopathic, both medicine and neurosurgery have struggled to find effective treatments that address this broad spectrum of facial pain. The authors report the use of motor cortex stimulation to alleviate 3 distinct conditions associated with intractable facial pain: trigeminal deafferentation pain following rhizotomy, deafferentation pain secondary to meningioma, and postherpetic neuralgia. Functional MR imaging was used to localize facial areas on the precentral gyrus prior to surgery. All 3 patients experienced long-lasting complete or near-complete resolution of pain following electrode implantation. Efficacy in pain reduction was achieved through variation of stimulation settings over the course of treatment, and it was assessed using the visual analog scale and narrative report. Surgical complications included moderate postsurgical incisional pain, transient cerebral edema, and intraoperative seizure. The authors' results affirm the efficacy and broaden the application of motor cortex stimulation to several forms of intractable facial pain.

Neurostimulation in headache disorders.

Although headache is a common ailment, its more severe manifestations such as intractable migraine, and trigeminal autonomic cephalagias including cluster headaches have a debilitating effect on patients resulting in chronic pain and severe functional impairment. Neurostimulation has been explored as a possible treatment option in selective drug-resistant primary headache disorders, in conducting clinical trials involving neurostimulation of deep brain structures, occipital nerves, and vagal nerves as treatment methods for refractory primary headache disorders, the selection of patients should be strictly based on pre-defined clinical criteria. The trials should be well designed, taking into account the potential risks and complications associated with such therapies.

Arsenic trioxide with ascorbic acid and high-dose melphalan: results of a phase II randomized trial.

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is synergistic with ascorbic acid (AA) and melphalan against myeloma both in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this randomized phase II trial was to determine the safety and efficacy of a combination of ATO, melphalan, and AA as preparative regimen in 48 patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for multiple myeloma (MM). Forty-eight patients received melphalan 200 mg/m2 i.v. over 2 days and AA 1000 mg i.v. over 7 days in 3 treatment arms: no ATO (arm 1), ATO 0.15 mg/kg i.v. x 7 days (arm 2), and ATO 0.25 mg/kg i.v. x 7 days (arm 3). No dose-limiting toxicity, engraftment failure, or nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was seen in the first 100 days post-ASCT. Complete responses (CR) were seen in 12 of 48 patients (25%), with an overall response rate (ORR = CR + PR) of 85%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 25 months; median overall survival (OS) has not yet been reached. There was no significant difference in CR, PFS, or OS among the 3 treatment arms, and no adverse effect of ATO on melphalan pharmacokinetics. Addition of ATO + AA to high-dose melphalan is safe and well tolerated as a preparative regimen for MM.