Cancer and brassinosteroids: Mechanisms of action, SAR and future perspectives.

Brassinosteroids are plant hormones whose main function is to stimulate plant growth. However, they have been studied for their biological applications in humans. Brassinosteroid compounds have displayed an important role in the study of cancer pathology and show potential for developing novel anticancer drugs. In this review we describe the relationship of brassinosteroids with cancer with focus on the last decade, the mechanisms of cytotoxic activity described to date, and a structure-activity relationship based on the available information.

Effect of Arthroscopic Lavage on Systemic and Synovial Fluid Serum Amyloid A in Healthy Horses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of arthroscopic lavage on systemic serum amyloid A (SAA) and SAA, total protein, nucleated cell count, and percentage of neutrophils in synovial fluid in healthy horses. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective experimental study. ANIMALS: Healthy adult horses (n = 6). METHODS: Middle carpal joints were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: arthrocentesis (controls) or arthroscopic lavage, with 30 day washout period between treatments. Synovial fluid and blood samples were collected at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. Measurements included systemic and synovial fluid SAA, as well as total protein, nucleated cell count, and percentages of neutrophils in synovial fluid. Data were analyzed by median quantile regression and Wilcoxon signed-rank test and significance level set at P < .05. RESULTS: Systemic and synovial fluid SAA did not increase from baseline (except systemic SAA at 24 hours for both treatments) and were not significantly different between treatments. Total protein values were significantly increased after arthroscopic lavage (except at 96 hours) but not in controls at all time points. With both treatments, nucleated cell counts significantly increased from baseline values at all time points. Percentages of neutrophils were significantly increased after arthroscopic lavage at all time points, but only at 24 hours in controls. CONCLUSION: Total protein, nucleated cell count, and percentage of neutrophils in synovial fluid were significantly increased after arthroscopic lavage; however, synovial fluid SAA was not affected by this procedure. Further research is warranted to validate synovial fluid SAA as a monitoring tool during treatment of septic arthritis.

Cardiopulmonary effects of dexmedetomidine and ketamine infusions with either propofol infusion or isoflurane for anesthesia in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the cardiopulmonary effects of two anesthetic protocols for dorsally recumbent horses undergoing carpal arthroscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, crossover study. ANIMALS: Six horses weighing 488.3 ± 29.1 kg. METHODS: Horses were sedated with intravenous (IV) xylazine and pulmonary artery balloon and right atrial catheters inserted. More xylazine was administered prior to anesthetic induction with ketamine and propofol IV. Anesthesia was maintained for 60 minutes (or until surgery was complete) using either propofol IV infusion or isoflurane to effect. All horses were administered dexmedetomidine and ketamine infusions IV, and IV butorphanol. The endotracheal tube was attached to a large animal circle system and the lungs were ventilated with oxygen to maintain end-tidal CO2 40 ± 5 mmHg. Measurements of cardiac output, heart rate, pulmonary arterial and right atrial pressures, and body temperature were made under xylazine sedation. These, arterial and venous blood gas analyses were repeated 10, 30 and 60 minutes after induction. Systemic arterial blood pressures, expired and inspired gas concentrations were measured at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 minutes after induction. Horses were recovered from anesthesia with IV romifidine. Times to extubation, sternal recumbency and standing were recorded. Data were analyzed using one and two-way anovas for repeated measures and paired t-tests. Significance was taken at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Pulmonary arterial and right atrial pressures, and body temperature decreased from pre-induction values in both groups. PaO2 and arterial pH were lower in propofol-anesthetized horses compared to isoflurane-anesthetized horses. The lowest PaO2 values (70-80 mmHg) occurred 10 minutes after induction in two propofol-anesthetized horses. Cardiac output decreased in isoflurane-anesthetized horses 10 minutes after induction. End-tidal isoflurane concentration ranged 0.5%-1.3%. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Both anesthetic protocols were suitable for arthroscopy. Administration of oxygen and ability to ventilate lungs is necessary for propofol-based anesthesia.

Variaciones anormales en la ubicación del Esfínter de Oddi (ampolla de Váter) y su importancia en la presentación clínica en pacientes con colecistitis litiásica biliar benigna / Abnormalities in the region of the Oddi’s Sphincter (Vater’s blister) and their important in patients with benign biliary lithiasic cholecystitis

Tipo de estudio: prospectivo, descriptivo, realizado durante el período noviembre 2005 a junio 2006 en el hospital “Luis Vernaza”, sala “Santa Cecilia”. Objetivo: conocer la incidencia de las variaciones anatómicas anormales mediante el uso de la técnica de la colangiografía intraoperatoria realizada durante la colecistectomía; determinar la importancia clínica de la ubicación del esfínter de Oddi en el duodeno. Resultados: de un universo de pacientes, de sexo femenino, se obtuvo el siguiente porcentaje de variaciones anatómicas: 47 pacientes cuyo esfínter de Oddi fue ubicado en posición normal, es decir en la segunda porción 8 pacientes en la primera porción del duodeno y 5 en la tercera porción. Conclusión: pacientes que presentaron variedades anatómicas anormales del esfínter de Oddi presentaron cuadro clínico más severo.

Prospective and descriptive carried out from November 2005 to June 2006 at the “Luis Vernaza” Hospital, “Santa Cecilia” Room. Objective: to be aware of the prevalence of abnormal anatomic variations through the technique of intraoperative bile duct X-ray carried out during the cholecystectomy; and determine the clinical importance of the location of the Odd’s Sphincter in the duodenum. Results: in a sample of 60 female patients the following percentages of anatomic variations were found: 47 patients whose Oddi’s Sphincter was located in a normal second portion. 8 patients in the first portion of the duodenum and 5 of them in the third portion. Conclusion: patients with abnormal anatomic variations of Oddi’s Sphincter presented a more severe pathological clinical case.