Anti-inflammatory activity of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn) seed petroleum ether extract.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present work was to study the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of petroleum ether extract of fenugreek seeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fenugreek seed powder was extracted in petroleum ether by cold maceration. This fenugreek seed petroleum ether extract (FSPEE) was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and tested on rats against carrageenan and formaldehyde-induced paw edema, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis and cotton pellet-induced granuloma. Changes in serum glutamic oxaloacetic tansaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in liver and serum were also studied in cotton pellet-induced arthritic rats. Data were analyzed by Student's t-test. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: GLC of FSPEE showed oleic (33.61%), linoleic (40.37%), and linolenic (12.51%) acids. With 0.5 mL/kg FSPEE treatment, there was 37% (P < 0.05) and 85% (P < 0.05) reduction in inflammation of the paw in carrageenan and formaldehyde-induced paw edema. In CFA-induced arthritis, a biphasic increase in paw volume followed by decrease was seen. There was 42.5% (P < 0.01) reduction in the weight of cotton pellets and significant (P < 0.01) reductions in the elevated SGPT and ALP activities in serum and liver of FSPEE (0.5 mL/kg) treated rats. CONCLUSION: Thus, petroleum ether extract of fenugreek seeds has significant anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities which are due to the presence of linolenic and linoleic acids.

Tympanomastoid cholesterol granuloma: radiological and intraoperative findings of blood source connection.

The hypothesis that the close contiguity between the cholesterol granulomas and some rich blood sources provided the trigger to the aggressive nature of tympanomastoid cholesterol granulomas has been recently reported. To corroborate this new etiopathogenetic theory we retrospectively reviewed a series of 14 patients with primary middle ear and mastoid cholesterol granulomas and investigated the temporal bone marrow invasion and its hematopoietic potentialities and a possible cholesterol granulomas contiguity with relevant vascular structures such as the carotid artery, sigmoid jugular system, mastoid or dural vein. Eight cases did not show radiological sign of bone marrow invasion or hematopoietic potentialities visible in MRI. Besides no intraoperative vascular connections that could explain an initial bleeding source were found. Cholesterol granulomas bone marrow invasion was present in six patients. A bone marrow hematopoietic potentiality was showed in four of these patients, whereas, an evident anatomical contiguity of the cholesterol granuloma with some important temporal bone vascular structures was visible in five cases. Analysis of cardiovascular risk factors showed that four patients presented one or more of the risk factors analysed.

Anti-inflammatory effects of essential oil in Echinacea purpurea L.

Echinacea purpurea L. is a medicinal plant originally from North America. It has become a commonly used herbal medicine worldwide because it contains various biologically active compounds. This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of essential oils from E. purpurea in both mice and rats. The extract was obtained from flower of E. purpurea by steam distillation. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated in vivo by using different animal models such as xylene-induced mouse ear edema, egg-white-induced rat paw edema, and cotton-induced granuloma tissue proliferating inflammation in mice. The serial dosages were used in vivo: the low dosage, the medium dosage and the high dosage. The low, medium and high dosages of extracts produced inhibitions of 39.24%, 47.22% and 44.79% respectively in the ear edema induced by xylene when compare with the control group. Only the high dosage group showed statistically significant inhibition (48.51%) of paw edema formation induced three hours by egg white compared with the control group (P<0.01). Moreover, the granulation formation was also significantly reduced the most by 28.52% in the high dose groups compared with the control group (P <0.05). The pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α in the blood were reduced in the treated groups. The essential oils from extracts of E. purpurea have anti-inflammatory effects.

Noninflammatory pseudotumor simulating venous thrombosis after metal-on-metal hip resurfacing.

Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing has become a widespread procedure, especially in young, physically active patients. Pseudotumor is a new complication that can occur after hip resurfacing and metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (THA). This article presents a case of a 37-year-old woman who underwent metal-on-metal resurfacing of the left hip for symptomatic osteoarthritis. Twelve months following implantation, the patient reported painless swelling of the left lower leg. There was no clinical evidence of a deep venous thrombosis. Ultrasound and computed tomography showed a solid cystic lesion in the iliopsoas muscle, which communicated with the hip joint and compressed the external iliac vein. As a consequence, the cystic lesion was resected marginally. A few months later, the patient reported some discomfort in the groin and symptoms of instability, metallic clicking, and a restricted range of motion. Clinical and radiological examination revealed normal findings. Determining the serum concentration of cobalt and chromium revealed high increased levels of these metal ions. Ten months following excision of the pseudotumor, the patient reported recurrent swelling of the left lower leg. Computed tomography of the affected area showed a lobulated cystic formation; therefore, a relapse was suspected. At the second revision, the mass was excised and the implant was revised to a conventional ceramic-on-ceramic THA. At 30-month follow-up, the patient was doing well and there were no signs of local recurrence. Additionally, the metal ion levels of cobalt and chromium in the blood had significantly decreased.

Aggressiveness in cholesterol granuloma of the temporal bone may be determined by the vigor of its blood source.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, it has been proposed that the aggressive behavior of cholesterol granuloma (CG) of the petrous apex is explained by its proximity to the richly vascular marrow of the petroclival junction. Most CGs of the lateral temporal bone are indolent. The purpose of the present study is to examine the factors responsible for atypical aggressive behavior in mastoid CG. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: : Tertiary academic practice. PATIENT POPULATION: Four patients with atypically aggressive CG of the mastoid. RESULTS: In each case, the CG abutted a rich blood source: the sigmoid sinus, carotid artery, a large dural vein, or a rich deposit of vascular marrow in the mastoid tip. CONCLUSION: These observations lend further support to the theory that aggressiveness of CG is sustained by a robust source of ongoing hemorrhage.

Variations in rat biochemical parameters after buckshot implant.

Twenty eight albino Wistar rats were implanted with two 100 mg lead spheres: 14 received the implant in the peritoneum (P) and 14 in the thigh (T). Variations in the activity of delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase (ALAD), of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALAU), of hematoporphyrins (HP) and of lead blood levels (BPb) were then determined at 30, 60 and 90 days with respect to basal values. Parallel determinations were performed by the same schedule in 7 rats implanted with two glass beads and in 8 sham animals receiving surgical incision alone. Techniques employed for ALAD were Berlin and Schaller; for ALAU, Tomokuni and Ogata; for HP, Piomelli; and for BPb, atomic absorption spectrophotometry. As indicators of lead presence, HP and ALAU proved better, both in P and in T rats. The replacement of lead buckshot for small game hunting by other less toxic elements is recommended.

[Relationship between serum level of zinc and copper and inhibitory effect of herba Asari oil on proliferation of granuloma induced by implantation of cotton pellets in rats].

Intraperitoneal injection of the essential oil of Asarum himalaicum and A. heterotropoides var. mandshuricum may inhibit the proliferation of granuloma induced by implantation of cotton pellets in rats. This action might be related to the reduction of blood serum zinc.