Anti-inflammatory activity of the sesquiterpene lactone diacethylpiptocarphol in dextransulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sesquiterpene lactones are organic compounds derived mainly from plants that exhibit anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities being one of the key mechanism of action of NF-kB pathway and synthesis of cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF- α. AIM OF THE STUDY: The overall objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of a sesquiterpene lactone diacethylpiptocarphol (DPC) from Vernonia scorpioides (Lam.) Pers. and parthenolide (PTH) in Balb-c mice with DSS-induced colitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-inflammatory effects of Intraperitonial administration of DPC (5 mg/kg/day) were evaluated in Balb/c mice with DSS-induced colitis, and further the body weight measurement, TNF-α and TGF-ß level was determined. RESULTS: After intraperitoneal treatment for one week, DSS-induced colitis was significantly reduced in mice treated with either of both sesquiterpenes lactones, as witnessed by reduced cellular infiltration, tissue damage, TNF-α production, and enhanced production of TGF-ß. CONCLUSIONS: Sesquiterpene lactone DPC, isolated from Vernonia scorpioides showed anti-inflammatory activity, in this experimental model of colitis the sesquiterpene lactones DPC and PTH exhibit equal anti-inflammatory activity.

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in neurocysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis (NC) is a parasitic infectious disease caused by Taenia solium eggs that set in the brain. Its incidence is increasing both in the developing and the developed world, as a result of low economical and hygiene levels and immigration, respectively. Clinical manifestation of disease varies from no symptoms to epilepsy, increased intra-cranial pressure, arachnoiditis and dementia. In order to evaluate function (perfusion) of affected brains, we studied 40 patients (21 females and 19 males, 19-71 yo) by means of SPECT (ECD, ethyl cysteinate dimer, labelled with 99mTc) and with and without contrast CT. SPECT studies were all abnormal. No difference was noted between active and inactive disease. Two SPECT patterns were noted: a) several areas of focally reduced uptake, resulting from coalescent and big lesions and large destruction of brain tissue (small, isolated and symmetric cysts seen in CT were missed by SPECT); b) diffuse atrophy with reduction of the tracer uptake, associated with ventricle dilatation, corresponding to the cases where ventricular NC was important. Interestingly, we noted diffuse hypoperfusion, with the scintigraphic pattern of atrophy in 5 cases of massive parenchymal infection; in such cases, CT signs of atrophy were clearly less prominent. The first scintigraphic aspect can be explained by the destruction of large areas of brain, which produces focal absence of perfusion; generalised vasculitis and the destruction of large portions of brain tissue could explain the difference noted between the SPECT and the CT aspects in the 5 cases of massive parenchimal infection, and this may be interesting for prognosis. Dilatation of ventricles and Sylvian fissures were interestingly prominent in SPECT. SPECT may be of great value to evaluate brain perfusion in NC

Bone scintigraphy in testicular tumors.

PURPOSE: Testicular tumors do not occur frequently. Primary treatment is surgical, and radiotherapy and chemotherapy can play important roles in cases of metastatic disease. Bone scintigraphy is used largely for early detection of skeletal metastases from several tumors, and conventional radiographic studies are less sensitive than the nuclear technique for such a purpose. The aim of this study was to identify the role of bone scintigraphy in cases of testicular tumors, regardless of the grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors examined 28 patients (8 to 52 years old) with proved testicular tumors using Tc-99m MDP (750 MBq; 20 mCi) injected intravenously. Whole-body images were obtained 2 hours later, at 500,000 counts per image. Radiographic studies were obtained to investigate abnormal areas noted on scintigraphy. RESULTS: The results of bone scintigraphy were abnormal in seven cases, consisting of variable but diffuse uptake in the iliac bone on the same side as the affected testicle. MDP uptake was substantial in five of these patients (four seminomas, one nonseminoma; only two radiographic studies were abnormal), and the two other patients had moderate uptake of the radiopharmaceutical (two seminomas; radiographic studies were normal). Metastases were confirmed by biopsy in three cases. DISCUSSION: Early metastases from seminomas can occur through the lymphatic drainage toward the iliac lymph node chain. This could explain these findings. The scintigraphic aspects of the affected iliac bones seem characteristic. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection of metastases is very important to ensure the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Bone scintigraphy may play an important role in such cases and seems to be more sensitive than conventional radiography. Testicular tumor metastases should be considered when iliac involvement is observed. Paget's disease should be included in a differential diagnosis.

Influence of blood storage after in vitro exposure on the yield of micronuclei observed in human lymphocytes.

In a cooperative study, four laboratories evaluated the micronucleus test in irradiated and non-irradiated lymphocytes with respect to time of storage, the difference between X-ray and gamma exposure and inter-observer variance. The results were compared with parallel studies on dicentric aberrations. No significant differences between laboratories, with respect to storage time or between gamma and X-irradiation were observed for micronuclei and dicentrics using analysis of variance. However, micronuclei are not suitable for an assessment of exposure inhomogeneity because of a significant overdispersion already in controls and homogeneously irradiated samples.