Case Studies: Unusual phaeochromocytomas in African families: the importance of genetic testing

No AbstractKeywords: phaeochromocytomas; genetic testing; Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome; familial cancer; genetic counsellin

The national pharmacopoeias of the Baltic States

After Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania proclaimed their independence in 1918 and began to create their national health care systems, one of their stated priorities was the formulation and publication of national pharmacopoeias. In order to accomplish this, working groups as well as commissions composed of pharmacists, medical specialists and even linguists had to be formed. The process was long and difficult. New terminology in native languages had to be created. Sources for the monographs had to be chosen, researched, analyzed and compared. There were organizational and financial problems. Nevertheless, by the late 1930s, all three Baltic States published their national pharmacopoeias. Officially, they were not able to use them for long because duringWorldWar II all three were occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union. Pharmacists in those countries were obliged to use the Soviet pharmacopoeias, although unofficially, they also made good use of their national ones. Currently, the European Pharmacopoeia is in use in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Comparison of essential oil content of Matricaria recutita L. from different origins

En el presente trabajo se han determinado las variaciones en la composición de aceites esenciales de Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert, especie cultivada en distintos países de Europa. Los aceites esenciales han sido extraídos de las muestras secas, con unos rendimientos de 3.6–6.6 mg/g y en ellos se han identificado 38 componentes, los cuales representan más del 95% del total del aceite esencial. El principal compuesto biológicamente activo en el aceite esencial de la manzanilla procedente de Gran Bretaña fue el óxido de β-bisabolol (25%); en los procedentes de Bélgica, Estonia y Francia predominaba el óxido de α-bisabolol (43–55%) y el compuesto principal en el de Hungría fue el α-bisabolol (24%). El (E)-β-farneseno se encontraba en sus mayores proporciones (5-7%) en los de Bélgica y Francia, mientras que el camazuleno representaba del 1 al 14% del total de los distintos aceites esenciales siendo más abundante en los aceites procedentes de Gran Bretaña (14%).Variations in the essential oil content of Matricaria recutita L., cultivated in different European countries, were determined. The oil was obtained in yields of 3.6-6.6 mg/g from dried samples. 38 components were identified, representing over 95% of the total yield of oil. The principal biologically active compound in chamomile oil, of British origin, was bisabolol oxide B (25%). In oils from Belgium, Estonia and France, bisabolol oxide A (43-55%) was predominant, whereas in Hungarian oil the main compound was alpha-bisabolol (24%). (E)-beta-Farnesene content was predominant (5–7%) in oils from Belgium and France. Chamazulene was present in 1–14% of oils and its content was highest in oil of British origin (14%).Este trabajo ha sido financiado a través de la beca número 4332 de la Fudación Científica de Estonia

Comparación de aceites esenciales de Matricaria recutita L. de origen diverso

Variations in the essential oil content of Matricaria recutita L., cultivated in different European countries, were determined.The oil was obtained in yields of 3.6-6.6 mg/g from dried samples. 38 components were identified, representing over 95%of the total yield of oil. The principal biologically active compound in chamomile oil, of British origin, was bisabololoxide B (25%). In oils from Belgium, Estonia and France, bisabolol oxide A (43-55%) was predominant, whereas inHungarian oil the main compound was alpha-bisabolol (24%). (E)-beta-Farnesene content was predominant (5–7%) inoils from Belgium and France. Chamazulene was present in 1–14% of oils and its content was highest in oil of Britishorigin (14%).En el presente trabajo se han determinado las variaciones en la composición de aceites esenciales de Chamomillarecutita (L.) Rauschert, especie cultivada en distintos países de Europa. Los aceites esenciales han sido extraídos delas muestras secas, con unos rendimientos de 3.6–6.6 mg/g y en ellos se han identificado 38 componentes, los cualesrepresentan más del 95% del total del aceite esencial. El principal compuesto biológicamente activo en el aceiteesencial de la manzanilla procedente de Gran Bretaña fue el óxido de β-bisabolol (25%); en los procedentes deBélgica, Estonia y Francia predominaba el óxido de α-bisabolol (43–55%) y el compuesto principal en el de Hungríafue el α-bisabolol (24%). El (E)-β-farneseno se encontraba en sus mayores proporciones (5-7%) en los de Bélgica yFrancia, mientras que el camazuleno representaba del 1 al 14% del total de los distintos aceites esenciales siendo másabundante en los aceites procedentes de Gran Bretaña (14%)

Functional foods with added plant sterols for treatment of hypercholesterolaemia and prevention of ischaemic heart disease

Background. A spread with added plant sterols, Pro-activ, is marketed in South Africa as an adjunct to low-fat diets for lowering of total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations and to decrease risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Objectives. The need for this functional food in South Africa, its efficacy, safety and target market, are evaluated in this review. Results. The high, and probably increasing incidence of hypercholesterolaemia and cardiovascular disease in South Africa motivates the need for appropriate functional foods. There is convincing evidence in the literature that an average daily intake of about 2 g plant sterols in about 20 g of spread significantly lowers total and LDL cholesterol concentrations by approximately 10 - 15%, without influencing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. There is some concern about the effects on absorption of lipid-soluble vitamins and pro-vitamins, but safety tests lasting for up to 3 years found no serious adverse effects. Conclusions. The target market for this spread should be nonpregnant, non-lactating adults with hypercholesterolaemia and/or increased risk of IHD. If it is considered for use in hypercholesterolaemic children, fat-soluble vitamin status should be monitored. It is recommended that post-marketing surveillance should be established to determine long-term effects and safety

Biological activities of essential oils from leaves of paramignya trimera (Oliv.) guillaum and limnocitrus littoralis (miq.) swingle

The present study aimed to determine the bioactivities of essential oils extracted from the leaves of Paramignya trimera and Limnocitrus littoralis, including cytotoxicity, antiviral, antibacterial, antimycotic, and antitrichomonas effects. Herein, it was indicated that P. trimera and L. littoralis oils showed no cytotoxicity on normal cells, namely MT-4, BHK-21, MDBK, and Vero-76. P. trimera oil (i) exhibited the strongest inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC and MLC values of 2% (v/v); (ii) showed MIC and MLC values of 8% (v/v) in Candida parapsilosis; and (iii) in the remaining strains, showed MIC and MLC values greater than or equal to 16% (v/v). On the other hand, L. littoralis oil (i) displayed the strongest inhibition against Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis with 2% (v/v) of MIC and MLC; and (ii) in the remaining strains, possessed MIC and MLC greater than or equal to 16% (v/v). In addition, antitrichomonas activities of the oils were undertaken, showing IC50, IC90, MLC values, respectively, at 0.016%, 0.03%, and 0.06% (v/v) from P. trimera, and 0.03%, 0.06%, 0.12% (v/v) from L. littoralis, after 48 h of incubation. The oils were completely ineffective against ssRNA+ (HIV-1, YFV, BVDV, Sb-1, CV-B4), ssRNA- (RSV, VSV), dsRNA (Reo-1), and dsDNA (HSV-1, VV) viruses. This is the first report describing the cytotoxicity, antiviral, antibacterial, antimycotic, and antitrichomonas activities of the essential oils of P. trimera and L. littoralis

Two phase 3 trials of inclisiran in patients with elevated LDL cholesterol

BACKGROUND Inclisiran inhibits hepatic synthesis of proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9. Previous studies suggest that inclisiran might provide sustained reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels with infrequent dosing. METHODS We enrolled patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ORION-10 trial) and patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or an atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk equivalent (ORION-11 trial) who had elevated LDL cholesterol levels despite receiving statin therapy at the maximum tolerated dose. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either inclisiran (284 mg) or placebo, administered by subcutaneous injection on day 1, day 90, and every 6 months thereafter over a period of 540 days. The coprimary end points in each trial were the placebo-corrected percentage change in LDL cholesterol level from baseline to day 510 and the time-adjusted percentage change in LDL cholesterol level from baseline after day 90 and up to day 540. RESULTS A total of 1561 and 1617 patients underwent randomization in the ORION-10 and ORION-11 trials, respectively. Mean (SD) LDL cholesterol levels at baseline were 104.738.3 mg per deciliter (2.710.99 mmol per liter) and 105.539.1 mg per deciliter (2.731.01 mmol per liter), respectively. At day 510, inclisiran reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 52.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 48.8 to 55.7) in the ORION-10 trial and by 49.9% (95% CI, 46.6 to 53.1) in the ORION-11 trial, with corresponding time-adjusted reductions of 53.8% (95% CI, 51.3 to 56.2) and 49.2% (95% CI, 46.8 to 51.6) (P<0.001 for all comparisons vs. placebo). Adverse events were generally similar in the inclisiran and placebo groups in each trial, although injection-site adverse events were more frequent with inclisiran than with placebo (2.6% vs. 0.9% in the ORION-10 trial and 4.7% vs. 0.5% in the ORION-11 trial); such reactions were generally mild, and none were severe or persistent. CONCLUSIONS Reductions in LDL cholesterol levels of approximately 50% were obtained with inclisiran, administered subcutaneously every 6 months. More injection-site adverse events occurred with inclisiran than with placebo