Epidemiological, Clinical, and Therapeutic Profile of Uveitis in Multiple Sclerosis: A Multicenter Study.

INTRODUCTION: Uveitis may occur during approximately 1-3% of MS patients, corresponding to 10 times higher than in the general population. The development of uveitis is not currently considered as an inflammatory relapse of MS. There are no clinical guidelines for treating. MS with concomitant uveitis requiring systemic treatment. PURPOSES: To analyze clinical and therapeutic characteristics of uveitis in patients with MS and the impact of MS treatment on the progression of uveitis. MATERIALS & METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational, multicenter study in France about 54 patients. RESULTS: The form of MS most frequently associated with uveitis in our study was the relapsing-remitting form (85%). The mean time of onset of uveitis was 15 months before the diagnosis of MS. The most frequent form of uveitis was bilateral panuveitis (43%), non-granulomatous (61%), synechial (52%) and non-hypertonic (93%) with progressive onset (65%) and chronic course (66%). CONCLUSION: MS-associated uveitis occurs most frequently before the diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS in the form of panuveitis or intermediate uveitis, which is mildly inflammatory and whose main complications are macular edema, cataract and venous vasculitis. Despite their chronicity, these uveitis cases have a good visual prognosis and teriflunomide appears to have a positive effect on progression.

Protective effect of resveratrol on acrylamide-induced renal impairment.

BACKGROUND: Acrylamide (ACR) has a wide range of uses. It possesses a renal impairment effect. The work aimed to study the possible protecting role of resveratrol (RVS) over the ACR-mediated renal impairment in rats. The suggested underlying mechanisms participating in such protection were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Sprague-Dawley adult albino rats were divided into three groups: control, ACR, and RVS. After 4 weeks, the kidney was removed and prepared for histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical studies. The activity of tissue oxidative (malondialdehyde [MDA]) and anti-oxidative (glutathione [GSH]) markers were assessed. RESULTS: Acrylamide induced glomerular renal affection in the form of shrinkage and distortion of the glomeruli with wrinkling of their basement membranes and widening of the urinary spaces. Degenerative tubular changes were markedly present in the proximal convoluted tubules. The necrotic tubular cells exhibited cytoplasmic vacuolation with desquamated epithelial cells within the tubular lumen. ACR increases the deposition of collagen fibres in the basement membrane of the glomerular capillaries and induced thickening of the basement membranes of the renal corpuscles and renal tubules. The administration of RVS affords high protection to the kidney. The glomeruli and renal tubules were nearly normal. The content of collagen fibres and the periodic acid Schiff reaction of the basement membrane of the renal tubules were 70% and 19% lower linked to the ACR group. The creatinine and urea levels decreased by 51% and 47%. RVS induced such a protective role through its antioxidant effect as the MDA level decreased by 45%, while the GSH level increased by 83% compared with the ACR group. CONCLUSIONS: Acrylamide causes structural and functional disorders of the kidney. It induces kidney damage through oxidative stress and apoptosis. With the use of RVS, normal kidney architecture was preserved with little structural changes. Adding, functional kidney test became normal. RVS exerts its protective effect through its anti-apoptotic and antioxidant features.

Concomitant administration of sitagliptin and rutin improves the adverse hepatic alterations in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in albino rats: an overview of the role of alpha smooth muscle actin.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM), one of the commonest worldwide metabolic conditions, is believed to be associated with an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. Sitagliptin is an oral anti-hyperglycaemic drug that blocks dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4). Rutin is a polyphenolic natural flavonoid which has antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity. The aim of the present work is to elucidate the concomitant effect of sitagliptin and rutin on the deleterious alterations in the liver of experimentally induced diabetes in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty adult male albino rats, weighing 170-200 g were used. Rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10): group 1 (control group), the other four groups (groups II, III, IV and V) received a single i.p. injection of streptozotocin, 65 mg/kg body weight to induce diabetes; group II (diabetic), group III (diabetic and rutin administered), group IV (diabetic and sitagliptin administered), and group V (diabetic with sitagliptin and rutin concomitantly administered). Haematoxylin and eosin, Masson trichrome, periodic acid Schiff, immune-histochemistry: a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), histomorphometric analysis, liver enzymes and oxidants/anti-oxidants; malondialdehyde/glutathione and were done. RESULTS: Distorted hepatic architecture, dilatation, congestion of sinusoids and central veins as well as cytoplasmic vacuolations were remarkable changes in the diabetic group. There was extravasation of blood, diffuse fibrous tissue formation, increase in the mean values of liver enzymes, oxidative markers and a-SMA expression in the same group. The aforementioned changes were ameliorated in groups III and IV. Concomitant administration of sitagliptin and rutin resulted in marked enhancement of these hepatic alterations. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of sitagliptin and rutin has an ameliorating effect on the hepatic deterioration induced by diabetes, which is better than either sitagliptin or rutin alone.

Diverse bioactive metabolites from Penicillium sp. MMA derived from the red sea: structure identification and biological activity studies.

A soft coral-derived fungus Penicillium sp. among other isolates e high antibacterial, anti-yeast and cytotoxic activities. The fungus, Penicillium sp. MMA, isolated from Sarcphyton glaucoma, afforded nine diverse compounds (1-9). Their structures were identified by 1D and 2 D NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopic data as two alkaloids: veridicatol (1), aurantiomide C (2); one sesquiterpene, aspterric acid (3); two carboxylic acids, 3,4-dihydroxy-benzoic acid; (4) and linoleic acid (5); three steroids, ergosterol (6), ß-Sitosterol (7), ß-Sitosterol glucoside (8) along with the sphingolipid, cerebroside A (9). Biologically, the antimicrobial, antioxidant, in vitro cytotoxicity and antibiofilm activities were studied in comparison with the fungal extract. The in silico computational studies were implemented to predict drug and lead likeness properties for 1-4. The fungus was taxonomically characterized by morphological and molecular biology (18srRNA) approaches.

Malnutrition: prevalence and risk factors among the children younger than five years in a semi-urban area of Abidjan.

INTRODUCTION: In Côte d'Ivoire, the prevalence of malnutrition among children younger than 5 years exceeded 5% in 2011 and was thus considered serious. This overall prevalence may nonetheless mask differences and specificities between regions and municipalities. This study sought to determine the prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition among children in this age group in a semi-urban area of Abidjan. METHODS: This exhaustive, descriptive, cross-sectional survey took place from May 6 to July 31, 2010. The children's nutritional status was determined according to the WHO criteria. Univariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with malnutrition (social and demographic characteristics, immunization status, children's eating practices, and household characteristics) were studied. RESULTS: We visited 668 households and recruited 809 children. The prevalence of malnutrition was 22.5%. Multivariate analysis showed that the introduction of porridge after 6 months halved the risk of malnutrition. Risk tripled for children whose father's occupation did not guarantee a regular income. CONCLUSION: Among the factors highlighted by this study, dietary practices seem the most amenable to corrective action. For example, the adoption of outreach programs by the Maternal and Child Protection services could improve nutritional practices in households.