Cerebral Localized Marginal Zone Lymphoma Presenting as Hypothalamic-Pituitary Region Disorder

Introduction: Marginal zone B-cell lymphoma is a rare disease which can be considerably difficult to recognize and diagnose when signs of systemic involvement are absent. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 57-year-old woman with initial olfactory disturbance, followed by psychosis, diabetes insipidus and hypothalamic eating disorder as an uncommon clinical presentation of marginal zone B-cell lymphoma. Conclusion: Marginal zone B-cell lymphoma should be considered as a potential differential diagnosis in patients with hypothalamic disturbances

Argentine plant extracts active against polymerase and ribonuclease H activities of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

Lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts of four Argentine plants (Gamochaeta simplicaulis Cabr. 1, Achyrocline flaccida Wein. D. C. 2, Eupatorium buniifolium H. et A. 3, and Phyllanthus sellowianus Muell. Arg. 4) were examined in vitro for their ability to inhibit the polymerase and ribonuclease H (RNase H) activities of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) (wild and Y181C mutant types). The active extracts were also examined as inhibitors of viral replication in HLT4LacZ-1IIIB cell cultures, evaluating their cytotoxicity in parallel. Infusions 2I and 4I, among the crude extracts, showed the highest activity. These extracts were refractioned into four fractions; 2I4 and 4I4 were active as inhibitors of DNA-polymerase (wild and Y181C types) and RNase H activities. These fractions were potent as inhibitors of viral replication and were not cytotoxic. Refractionation of 2I4 yielded five new fractions, two of which, 2I4-4 and 2I4-5, showed notable activity. Refractionation of 4I4 yielded for new fractions; of these, 4I4-3 and 4I4-4 were active. The marked biological activity found in the infusion of A. flaccida and P. sellowianus makes them sufficiently attractive to be considered in the combined chemotherapy of the disease

Ciclótidos: péptidos Macrocíclicos presentes en plantas (Revisión)

En los últimos años, péptidos macrocíclicos, de 28 a 37 residuos de aminoácidos (ciclótidos) fueron aislados de tres familias de plantas: Rubiaceae, Violaceae y Cucurbitaceae. En la familia Violaceae parecen estar presentes en todos los géneros y especies. Los ciclótidos están conformados por un esqueleto cíclico, formado por una priodicidad continua de uniones peptídicas. Contienen 6 residuos de cisteína, que forman 3 puentes disulfuro que estabilizan la molécula. Sus propiedades físicas, que incluyen la resistencia a la degradación térmica y enzimática, pueden atribuirse a su esqueleto cíclico y a los puentes disulfuro que, al formar el arreglo estructural nudo de cistina cíclico, otorgan gran estabilidad a la molécula. La función natural de los ciclótidos en las plantas, teniendo en cuenta su actividad insecticida, es como moléculas de defensa, mientras que sus otras actividades biológicas (que incluyen las actividades uterotónica, anti-HIV, antitumoral y antimicrobiana) les otorgan un gran potencial como moléculas líderes para el desarrollo de nuevas drogas en las industrias farmacéutica y agroquímica. Es también de gran interés la potencial aplicación de los ciclótidos como moldes de péptidos para la introducción de un amplio rango de diferentes bioactividades

Multicenter experience with the new SOFIA Plus catheter as a primary local aspiration catheter for acute stroke thrombectomy

Introduction The direct aspiration first pass technique (ADAPT) has been introduced as a rapid and safe endovascular treatment strategy in patients with ischemic stroke. Objective To determine the technical feasibility, safety, and functional outcome with ADAPT using the new large-bore 6F SOFIA Plus catheter. Methods A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from six university hospitals was performed. The following parameters of all acute stroke procedures (June 2015- January 2016) using the SOFIA Plus catheter were analyzed: accessibility of the thrombus with the catheter, recanalization success (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction >= 2b), time to recanalization, procedure-related complications. Furthermore, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at presentation and discharge and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at 90 days were recorded. Results 85 patients were treated using the SOFIA Plus catheter. The occlusion site was the anterior circulation in 94.1%. Median baseline NIHSS score was 18. In 64.7%, ADAPT alone was successful after a median procedure time of 21 min. With additional use of stent retrievers in the remaining cases, the recanalization rate was 96.5%. No catheter-related complications such as dissections were observed. Thrombus migration to a new vascular territory occurred in 4.7% and symptomatic hemorrhage in 4.7%. After 3 months, mRS 0-2 was achieved in 49.4%. Mortality rate was 20%. Conclusions In the majority of cases, thrombus aspiration using the SOFIA Plus catheter results in successful recanalization after a short procedure time. With additional use of stent retrievers, a high recanalization rate can be achieved (96.5%). The complication rate was in line with those of previous publications