ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITE FROM HABENARIA INTERMEDIA D. DON FOR SCREENING OF HEPATOPROTECITVE POTENTIAL AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED TOXICITY IN ALBINO RAT LIVER

The purpose of the study was to isolate the coumarin glycoside constituent from the ethyl acetate fraction of tubers of Habenaria intermedia D. Don by column chromatography using the gradient elution technique. The isolated coumarin glycoside was characterized by spectral studies and screened for hepatoprotecitve potential on CCl4 induced toxicity in rat liver. The coumarin glycoside (Scopoletin) protective activity was evaluated by the assay of liver function biochemical parameters such as SGOT, SGPT, Bilirubin, total protein and histopathological studies of the liver. Results showed that the toxic effect of CCl4 was controlled significantly by restoration of the levels of serum bilirubin, proteins and enzymes as compared to the normal and standard drug Silymarin treated groups. Histology of the liver sections of the rats treated with isolated coumarin glycoside showed the presence of normal hepatic cords, absence of necrosis and fatty infiltration, which further substantiated hepatoprotecitve activity. Therefore, outcome of the present study ascertains that the isolated coumarin glycoside possesses significant hepatoprotecitve activity

Racial Variation in Prostate Cancer Upgrading and Upstaging Among Men with Low-risk Clinical Characteristics

BackgroundAfrican American (AA) men suffer a higher prostate cancer (PCa) burden than other groups.ObjectiveWe aim to determine the impact of race on the risk of upgrading, upstaging, and positive surgical margins (PSM) at radical prostatectomy (RP) among men eligible for active surveillance.Design, setting, and participantsWe studied men with low-risk PCa treated with RP at two centers. Low clinical risk was defined by National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria. Outcome variables were upgrading, upstaging, and PSMs at surgery. Associations between race and the outcomes were evaluated with logistic regression adjusted for age, relationship status, diagnostic prostate-specific antigen level, percentage of positive biopsy cores, surgical approach, year of diagnosis, and clinical site.Results and limitationsOf 9304 men diagnosed with PCa, 4231 were low risk and underwent RP within 1 yr. Men were categorized as AA (n=273; 6.5%), Caucasian (n=3771; 89.1%), or other racial/ethnic group (Other; n=187; 4.4%). AA men had a significantly younger mean age (58.7 yr; standard deviation: ±7.06), and fewer (85%) were married or had a partner. Upgrading (34%) and upstaging (13%) rates did not significantly differ among the groups. The PSM rate was significantly higher in AA men (31%) than in the Caucasian (21%) and Other (20%) groups (p<0.01). We found an association between race group and PSM rate (p<0.03), with higher odds of PSMs in AA men versus Caucasian men (odds ratio [OR]: 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-2.47). No statistically significant associations between race and rates of upgrading and upstaging were found. This study was limited by the relatively low proportion of AA men in the cohort.ConclusionsAmong clinically low-risk men who underwent RP, AA men had a higher likelihood of PSMs compared with Caucasian men. We did not find statistically significantly different rates of upgrading and upstaging between the race groups.Patient summaryWe analyzed two large groups of men with what appeared to be low-risk prostate cancer based on the initial biopsy findings. The likelihood of finding worse disease (higher grade or stage) at the time of surgery was similar across different racial groups

The role of sulfoglucuronosyl glycosphingolipids in the pathogenesis of monoclonal IgM paraproteinemia and peripheral neuropathy

In IgM paraproteinemia and peripheral neuropathy, IgM M-protein secretion by B cells leads to a T helper cell response, suggesting that it is antibody-mediated autoimmune disease involving carbohydrate epitopes in myelin sheaths. An immune response against sulfoglucuronosyl glycosphingolipids (SGGLs) is presumed to participate in demyelination or axonal degeneration in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). SGGLs contain a 3-sulfoglucuronic acid residue that interacts with anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and the monoclonal antibody anti-HNK-1. Immunization of animals with sulfoglucuronosyl paragloboside (SGPG) induced anti-SGPG antibodies and sensory neuropathy, which closely resembles the human disease. These animal models might help to understand the disease mechanism and lead to more specific therapeutic strategies. In an in vitro study, destruction or malfunction of the blood-nerve barrier (BNB) was found, resulting in the leakage of circulating antibodies into the PNS parenchyma, which may be considered as the initial key step for development of disease