Ascites--rare manifestation of right atrial myxoma.

Right atrial myxoma is less commonly found. Ascites is a rarer clinical presentation of such myxoma. Sometimes, practicing doctors are unable to detect causes of transudative ascites. In such situation, a high index of suspicion is needed to arrive at the correct diagnosis of right atrial myxoma giving rise to ascites.

Detection of Esophageal Tuberculosis, a Rare Cause of Abdominal Pain, on 18F-FDG PET/CT.

The esophagus is rarely affected by Mycobacterium A 75-y-old man presented with upper abdominal pain and significant weight loss for 2 mo. Contrast-enhanced CT, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and abdominal vessel angiography gave normal results. To clarify the facts, 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed, revealing an 18F-FDG-avid lesion in the posterior wall of the lower thoracic esophagus. On endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of this lesion, puslike material was released. On microscopic examination, acid-fast bacilli were noted. The patient then began receiving standard antitubercular therapy.

Avocado fruit (Persea americana Mill) exhibits chemo-protective potentiality against cyclophosphamide induced genotoxicity in human lymphocyte culture.

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been associated with reduced risks for many types of cancers. Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a widely consumed fruit containing many cancer preventing nutrients, vitamins and phytochemicals. Studies have shown that phytochemicals extracted from the avocado fruit selectively induce cell cycle arrest, inhibit growth, and induce apoptosis in precancerous and cancer cell lines. Our recent studies indicate that phytochemicals extracted with 50% Methanol from avocado fruits help in proliferation of human lymphocyte cells and decrease chromosomal aberrations induced by cyclophosphamide. Among three concentrations (100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg per Kg Body Weight), the most effective conc. of extract was 200 mg/Kg Body Wt. It decreased significant level of numerical and structural aberrations (breaks, premature centromeric division etc. up to 88%, p < 0.0001)), and accrocentric associtation within D & G group (up to 78%, p = 0.0008). These studies suggest that phytochemicals from the avocado fruit can be utilized for making active chemoprotective ingredient for lowering the side effect of chemotherapy like cyclophosphamide in cancer therapy.

Antimelanoma and radioprotective activity of alcoholic aqueous extract of different species of Ocimum in C(57)BL mice.

CONTEXT: Various Ocimum species (Labiateae) are commonly used for the treatment of inflammation, stress, diarrhea, and as an antioxidant drug in the Indian ethnic system of medicine. OBJECTIVE: The present study was carried out to investigate the antimelanoma and radioprotective activity of different species of Ocimum in C(57)BL and Swiss albino mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antimelanoma activity of 50% alcoholic aqueous leaf extract of five species of Ocimum [Ocimum sanctum (SE), Ocimum gratissimum (GE), Ocimum basilicum (BE), Ocimum canum (CE), and Ocimum kilimandscharicum (KE)] alone or in combination with radiotherapy was determined on the basis of tumor volume, body weight, and survival rate of animals. The radioprotective potential of different species of Ocimum was determined by chromosomal aberration assay. The effect of the alcoholic aqueous extract of different species of Ocimum was also evaluated for the estimation of glutathione level and glutathione S-transferase activity in Swiss albino mice. RESULTS: The 50% alcoholic aqueous extract of different species of Ocimum administered orally (200 mg/kg, p.o.) resulted in significant reduction in tumor volume, increase in average body weight, and survival rate of mice. The various extracts showed modulatory influence against lethal irradiation doses of gamma radiation in terms of radiation-induced chromosomal damage, while at the same time induced an increase in reduced glutathione level and GST activity. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that Ocimum species have antimelanoma and radioprotective activity against B(16)F(10) metastatic melanoma cell line-induced metastasis and could be exploited as one of the potential sources for plant-based pharmaceutical products.

Modulating the Intestinal Microbiota: Therapeutic Opportunities in Liver Disease.

Gut microbiota has been demonstrated to have a significant impact on the initiation, progression and development of complications associated with multiple liver diseases. Notably, nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis, severe alcoholic hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and hepatic encephalopathy, have strong links to dysbiosis - or a pathobiological change in the microbiota. In this review, we provide clear and concise discussions on the human gut microbiota, methods of identifying gut microbiota and its functionality, liver diseases that are affected by the gut microbiota, including novel associations under research, and provide current evidence on the modulation of gut microbiota and its effects on specific liver disease conditions.