Licorice infusion: Chemical profile and effects on the activation and the cell cycle progression of human lymphocytes.

UNLABELLED: A licorice infusion (LI) and its major constituents were investigated for their capacity to stimulate the activation and the cell cycle progression of human lymphocytes, measured by the CD69 expression and DNA content, respectively. The chemical profile of LI was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). RESULTS: Two major components of LI were identified as liquiritin (1) and glycyrrhizin (2); total flavones and flavonols were shown as its minor constituents. The LI (100-800 mug/ml) stimulated the expression of CD69 on lymphocytes in a concentration-independent manner. Values of the activation index (AI) of total lymphocytes treated with LI (100-800 mug/ml) did not differ significantly among them (P < 0.05), but were 50% lower than the AI value exhibited by cells treated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The LI showed a similar effect on T cells, but on a lower scale. Compounds 1 and 2 (12-100 mug/ml) did not stimulate the CD69 expression on lymphocytes. The LI, 1 and 2 showed no meaningful effect on cell cycle progression of lymphocytes. The experimental data indicates that LI stimulates the activation of lymphocytes as a result of a proliferation-independent process. This finding suggests that LI could be considered as a potential specific immune stimulator.

Scavenger receptor CD163 and its biological functions.

CD163 is a member of scavenger receptor super family class B of the first subgroup. It is mapped to the region p13 on chromosome 12. Five different isoforms of CD163 have been described, which differ in the structure of their cytoplasmic domains and putative phosporylation sites. This scavenger receptor is selectively expressed on cells of monocytes and macrophages lineage exclusively. CD163 immunological function is essentially homeostatic. It also has other functions because participates in adhesion to endothelial cells, in tolerance induction and tissues regeneration. Other very important function of CD163 is the clearance of hemoglobin in its cell-free form and participation in anti-inflammation in its soluble form, exhibiting cytokine-like functions. We review the biological functions of CD163 which have been discovered until now. It seems apparent from this review that CD163 scavenger receptor can be used as biomarker in different diseases and as a valuable diagnostic parameter for prognosis of many diseases especially inflammatory disorders and sepsis.

Subretinal neovascularization following ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysm: case report.

A 51-year-old black woman was referred to our Retina Clinic for evaluation of loss of vision in her left eye. She was previously diagnosed with a ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurism (RAM) in the same eye. The ophthalmoscopic examination of the affected eye disclosed a subretinal lesion with some hemorrhage and exudation in the same area previously diagnosed with ruptured RAM. Fluorescein angiography revealed a gradually hyperfluorescent net of vessels located in the subfoveal region, consistent with the diagnosis of subretinal neovascular membrane. In this paper we stress the possibility of subretinal neovascularization following a ruptured RAM, even as a rare event.

Subretinal neovascularization following ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysm: case report

A 51-year-old black woman was referred to our Retina Clinic for evaluation of loss of vision in her left eye. She was previously diagnosed with a ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurism (RAM) in the same eye. The ophthalmoscopic examination of the affected eye disclosed a subretinal lesion with some hemorrhage and exudation in the same area previously diagnosed with ruptured RAM. Fluorescein angiography revealed a gradually hyperfluorescent net of vessels located in the subfoveal region, consistent with the diagnosis of subretinal neovascular membrane. In this paper we stress the possibility of subretinal neovascularization following a ruptured RAM, even as a rare event.

Paciente de 51 anos foi encaminhada ao Setor de Retina para avaliação de perda visual no olho esquerdo. A paciente apresentava o diagnóstico prévio de macroaneurisma arterial retiniano (MAR) rôto no referido olho. O exame oftalmológico revelou lesão sub-retiniana hemorrágica associada à exsudação na área previamente diagnosticada com MAR. A angiofluoresceinografia revelou hiperfluorescência gradual localizada na região subfoveal, consistente com o diagnóstico de membrana neovascular sub-retiniana (MNSR). Nosso artigo aponta para a possibilidade, embora rara, da formação de uma MNSR após MAR rôto.