Cytotoxicity and in vitro antioxidant potential of Quercus Brantii acorn extract and the corresponding fractions

The present study was mainly aimed to evaluate antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of hydroalcoholic extract and three corresponding fractions of Quercus brantii acorn. A 70% ethyle alcohole extract of the plant were prepared and sequentially partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and n-butanol. The antioxidant potential of all these fractions was evaluated by the 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity method. Cytotoxic activity was tested against two normal cell lines (African green monkey kidney [Vero] and human dermal fibroblasts [HDFs]) by MTT assay. The results revealed that the n-butanol fraction exhibited the lowest IC50value (6.5±0.6 μg/ml) with the highest antioxidant activity as compared to the other fractions. The IC50values of the chloroform fraction, the n-butanol fraction, the crude extract, and the n-hexane fraction were found to be significant (p<0.05) as compared with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The results of cytotoxicity showed that the chloroform fraction exhibited the highest cytotoxicity toward Vero and HDFs cell lines at concentration of 60.6±23 and 287.8±38 μg/ml, respectively. We conclude that at least, n-butanol fraction of this plant with high phytoconstituents and less toxicity could be a promising source of medicinally important natural compound. Our findings, therefore, suggest that overall the studied extract/fractions exhibit low cytotoxicity on normal cell lines. © 2016, International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research. All Rights reserved

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

Effects of intramuscular chlorpromazine alone and chlorpromazine-morphine combination on Schirmer tear test results in clinically normal dogs

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of intramuscularly administered chlorpromazine alone and chlorpromazine-morphine combination on Schirmer tear test (STT) results in clinically normal dogs. Fourteen dogs free of clinically relevant ocular abnormalities were used in this study. STTs were performed and the dogs were injected intramuscularly with chlorpromazine alone (group C) and chlorpromazine-morphine combination (group CM). STTs were repeated 15, 25, 60, and 120 mins later. Aqueous tear production in dogs, measured by STT, was significantly reduced in both treatment groups 60 and 120 min after injection of the drugs. The mean ± SD STTs for the baseline time for chlorpromazine alone (group C) and chlorpromazine-morphine (group CM) were 19. 4 ± 4.4 and 15. 7 ± 4. 0 wetting per minute, respectively. For group C, the subsequent mean ± SD STT levels were 18. 78 ± 2. 49 (15 min), 16. 35 ± 4. 79 (25 min), 13. 71 ± 4. 66 (60 min), and 14. 14 ± 4. 42 (120 min). For the CM group, the subsequent mean ± SD STT levels were 13. 50 ± 6. 09 (15 min), 11. 57 ± 5. 29 (25 min), 10. 00 ± 4. 16 (60 min), and 9. 42 ± 5. 23 (120 min). In conclusion, a single intramuscular dose of chlorpromazine alone or chlorpromazine-morphine combination significantly reduces tear production rates as measured by the STT in normal dogs. © 2010 Springer-Verlag London Limited

Effects of sutureless amniotic membrane patching with 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) on experimental corneal alkali burn in dogs

This study was performed to evaluate the surgical technique required and the clinical usefulness of tissue adhesive (2-Octyl cyanoacrylate) combined with amniotic membrane (AM) patching in the treatment of experimental corneal burn in dogs. Alkali wounds were inflicted on the central corneas of dogs by applying a round filter paper, 6.0 mm in diameter, soaked in 1 M NaOH for 60 s. Only one eye in each dog was used. A total of 15 dogs were divided into three groups of five animals each: (1) uncovered-control, (2) covered by AM with the amnion cell side down and secured with 10-0 nylon sutures to the cornea around the wound area-AM + suture, and (3) covered by sutureless AM patching secured with 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond)-AM + glue. The operating time was compared between both treatment groups. Clinical outcome was monitored by evaluation of epithelial defects, corneal opacity, duration of blepharospasm, time of AM persistence, corneal vascularisation, and duration of ocular discharge. The mean surgery time in AM + suture group was significantly longer than AM + glue group. AM persistence in AM + glue group was significantly greater than AM + suture group. The duration of ocular discharge and corneal vascularisation in AM + glue group was significantly lower in comparison with control group. Epithelial healing was faster in the AM + glue group than in controls. In conclusion, sutureless AM patching with 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) as a dressing on a corneal alkali burn, used for the first time in this research, may induce rapid epithelial healing with less vascularisation and be a much faster and useful technique in dogs. © 2009 Springer-Verlag London Limited

Wearable Sensing Systems with Mechanically Soft Assemblies of Nanoscale Materials

Emerging classes of wearable sensing systems that measure motion, physiological, electrophysiological, and electrochemical signals emanating from the human body have driven significant advances in clinical and academic research. These wearable systems rely on important breakthroughs in micro/nano-electronics, information technology, and materials science. Compared to conventional bulk materials, nanomaterials with zero, one, and two dimensional (0D, 1D, and 2D) architectures exhibit unusual physical properties that could dramatically improve the performance of sensors. By integrating high performance sensors with soft and stretchable electronics, research groups are enabling fully-integrated multifunctional sensing systems in skin-worn formats, optimized for managing specific disease models. In this progress report, recent advances in soft wearable sensing systems based on assemblies of 0D, 1D, and 2D nanomaterials, unpackaged integrated circuits, and highly elastic (moisture resistant) encapsulating layers are reviewed. These advanced bioelectronic constructs combine multimodal sensor arrays, data storage elements, wireless data transmission modules, and actuators for continuous monitoring. The soft wearable systems that embody these unusual electronic materials and soft packaging strategies are beginning to impact big data analysis, remote health monitoring, and transdermal drug delivery applications, by transitioning from primary research discoveries to commercial adoption. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei5

Effect of Topical Beclomethasone on Inflammatory Markers in Adults with Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Pilot Study

Background Topical corticosteroids have proven efficacy in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and are considered the cornerstone of therapy. Objective To evaluate the effect of topical beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) therapy on clinical outcomes, esophageal eosinophilia, and other markers of inflammation in patients with EoE. Methods Nine subjects with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of EoE were enrolled. In a cross-over design, the subjects were randomly assigned to a sequence of BDP and placebo. Treatment periods were 8 weeks, with a 4-week washout period. The subjects had endoscopic biopsies and blood tests at baseline and after each treatment period. They were instructed to maintain a diary of symptoms. Immuno-histochemical studies were performed for interleukins IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed for IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17F, IL-25, IL-33, chemokine ligands (CCL)2, CCL5, CCL11, GM-CSF, and TGF-beta levels. The mast cell tryptase (MCT) level was measured in esophageal tissues. Results BDP led to a significantly larger decrease in esophageal eosinophilia compared with placebo, but there was no significant change in peripheral eosinophilia and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein between the two groups. The study was not powered enough for us to report a significant improvement in clinical symptoms. There was a significant decrease in tissue IL-13 and MCT levels from baseline to the end of treatment between the treatment and placebo groups. Mean fold decreases in cytokine expression between the baseline and treatment groups were observed for IL-17F, IL-25, CCL2, and CCL5. Conclusion Treatment with topical BDP was associated with significant decrease in esophageal eosinophilia, MCT and IL-13. BDP is a potential alternative to fluticasone propionate and budesonide for treatment of EoE. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings