Evaluation of antiarthritic activity of Strychnos potatorum Linn seeds in Freund's adjuvant induced arthritic rat model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Strychnos potatorum </it>Linn (Loganiaceae) is a moderate sized tree found in southern and central parts of India, Sri Lanka and Burma. In traditional system of medicine, <it>Strychnos potatorum </it>Linn seeds were used for various ailments including inflammation, diabetes etc. To investigate the folkloric use of the seeds the present study was carried out on Freund's adjuvant induced arthritic rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present study states the effect of the aqueous extract (SPE) and the whole seed powder (SPP) of <it>Strychnos potatorum </it>Linn seeds on the Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritic rat paw edema, body weight changes and alterations in haematological and biochemical parameters in both developing and developed phases of arthritis. Histopathology of proximal interphalangeal joints and radiology of hind legs were studied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In FCA induced arthritic rats, there was significant increase in rat paw volume and decrease in body weight increment, whereas SPP and SPE treated groups, showed significant reduction in paw volume and normal gain in body weight. The altered haematological parameters (Hb, RBC, WBC and ESR) and biochemical parameters (blood urea, serum creatinine, total proteins and acute phase proteins) in the arthritic rats were significantly brought back to near normal by the SPP and SPE treatment at the dose of 200 mg/kg/p.o in both developing and developed phases of arthritis. Further the histopathological and radiological studies revealed the antiarthritic activity of SPP and SPE by indicating fewer abnormalities in these groups when compared to the arthritic control group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, both SPP and SPE at the specified dose level of 200 mg/kg, p.o. showed reduction in rat paw edema volume and it could significantly normalize the haematological and biochemical abnormalities in adjuvant induced arthritic rats in both developing and developed phases of FCA induced arthritis. Further the histopathological and radiological studies confirmed the antiarthritic activity of SPP and SPE.</p

The impact of diabetes on the pathogenesis of sepsis

Diabetes is associated with an increased susceptibility to infection and sepsis. Conflicting data exist on whether the mortality of patients with sepsis is influenced by the presence of diabetes, fuelling the ongoing debate on the benefit of tight glucose regulation in patients with sepsis. The main reason for which diabetes predisposes to infection appears to be abnormalities of the host response, particularly in neutrophil chemotaxis, adhesion and intracellular killing, defects that have been attributed to the effect of hyperglycaemia. There is also evidence for defects in humoral immunity, and this may play a larger role than previously recognised. We review the literature on the immune response in diabetes and its potential contribution to the pathogenesis of sepsis. In addition, the effect of diabetes treatment on the immune response is discussed, with specific reference to insulin, metformin, sulphonylureas and thiazolidinediones

Mechanisms of T cell organotropism

F.M.M.-B. is supported by the British Heart Foundation, the Medical Research Council of the UK and the Gates Foundation

Interleukin-15 promotes intestinal dysbiosis with butyrate deficiency associated with increased susceptibility to colitis

Dysbiosis resulting in gut-microbiome alterations with reduced butyrate production are thought to disrupt intestinal immune homeostasis and promote complex immune disorders. However, whether and how dysbiosis develops before the onset of overt pathology remains poorly defined. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is upregulated in distressed tissue and its overexpression is thought to predispose susceptible individuals to and have a role in the pathogenesis of celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although the immunological roles of IL-15 have been largely studied, its potential impact on the microbiota remains unexplored. Analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA-based inventories of bacterial communities in mice overexpressing IL-15 in the intestinal epithelium (villin-IL-15 transgenic (v-IL-15tg) mice) shows distinct changes in the composition of the intestinal bacteria. Although some alterations are specific to individual intestinal compartments, others are found across the ileum, cecum and feces. In particular, IL-15 overexpression restructures the composition of the microbiota with a decrease in butyrate-producing bacteria that is associated with a reduction in luminal butyrate levels across all intestinal compartments. Fecal microbiota transplant experiments of wild-type and v-IL-15tg microbiota into germ-free mice further indicate that diminishing butyrate concentration observed in the intestinal lumen of v-IL-15tg mice is the result of intrinsic alterations in the microbiota induced by IL-15. This reconfiguration of the microbiota is associated with increased susceptibility to dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis. Altogether, this study reveals that IL-15 impacts butyrate-producing bacteria and lowers butyrate levels in the absence of overt pathology, which represent events that precede and promote intestinal inflammatory diseases

A review of 100 patients with ankylosing spondylitis with particular reference to socio-economic effects.

One hundred patients with ankylosing spondylitis of at least 5 years' duration were interviewed and examined. In addition to musculoskeletal symptoms, 11 subjects had evidence of a variety of neurological complaints. Nine were unemployed and only nine of the remainder felt the disease had seriously affected their employment. One third of patients had been off work for more than 2 months in the course of the disease but frequently due to associated illness. Most patients did not experience disability with household activities but peripheral joint involvement or serious spinal stiffness increased this risk. Symptoms referrable to athletic pursuits may have first drawn attention to the disease in some individuals and sporting activities were curtailed at a younger age than in controls. Driving caused difficulties in up to 50% of subjects due to poor all-round vision. Cervical spine fractures occurred in two patients

Rapid development of gouty tophi after diuretic therapy.

Increasing attention has been drawn to the role played by diuretics in the pathogenesis of gout, particularly in the elderly. We describe an elderly woman presenting acutely with tophus formation mimicking infection, in whom diuretic therapy was responsible for her disease. Her presentation with acutely inflamed tophi without any history of joint involvement, only 3 months after starting treatment, was highly unusual

A review of 100 patients with ankylosing spondylitis with particular reference to socio-economic effects.

One hundred patients with ankylosing spondylitis of at least 5 years' duration were interviewed and examined. In addition to musculoskeletal symptoms, 11 subjects had evidence of a variety of neurological complaints. Nine were unemployed and only nine of the remainder felt the disease had seriously affected their employment. One third of patients had been off work for more than 2 months in the course of the disease but frequently due to associated illness. Most patients did not experience disability with household activities but peripheral joint involvement or serious spinal stiffness increased this risk. Symptoms referrable to athletic pursuits may have first drawn attention to the disease in some individuals and sporting activities were curtailed at a younger age than in controls. Driving caused difficulties in up to 50% of subjects due to poor all-round vision. Cervical spine fractures occurred in two patients

Fracture through a geode in the proximal ulna.

Chronic joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis may mask that from other causes. Stress fractures, particularly in osteoporotic lower limb bones of such patients, are well described but can still cause diagnostic difficulty. These difficulties were highlighted by a case in which an unusual fracture occurred through a geode in the proximal ulna mimicking an exacerbation of synovitis in the elbow joint

In-patient regime for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis: an appraisal of improvement in spinal mobility and the effects of corticotrophin.

Twenty-one patients with ankylosing spondylitis were admitted for two weeks bedrest, postural and mobilizing exercises. Eleven received low-dose corticotrophin and 10 received placebo injections during their admission and all were reviewed after two months. In-patient therapy resulted in significant improvements in function, early morning stiffness, spinal pain, lumbar extension and lateral flexion, finger-floor distance and wall-tragus distance. These improvements were maintained at two months. Biplanar radiography confirmed significant improvements of lumbar spine mobility in 14 male subjects studied. Less improvement occurred in neck movements and these were not maintained. There were no differences between the two treatment groups