Toxicity of oil from Anacardium humile Saint Hill (Anacardiaceae), on Bemisia tuberculata (Bondar, 1923) (Hemipttera: Aleyrodidae) on cassava plants.

The aim was to evaluate the toxic effects of essential oil of Anacardium humile, in different concentrations, on survival and development of the whitefly Bemisia tuberculata on the cassava plants, Manihot esculenta Crantz. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at a temperature of 26±4º C. Twenty adults were confined in cages, which contained a leaf of cassava plant and removed after 24 hours. The oil was sprayed in the concentrations of the 0.006%, 0.05%, 0.8% and 2%, when the nymphs were attached to the leaves. Data was collected daily by counting nymphs, pseudopupae and adults and the passages of each stage. All treatments increased the juvenile phase. The mortality in the nymphal stage decreased with the oil concentration, respectively, 79.81 (2%), 77.89 (0.8%), 79.98 (0.05%) and 67.14% (0.006%). The total mortality of pseudopupae followed the same tendency. The essential oil from the leaves of A. humile is a supplier of molecule(s) insecticide(s) and causes a deleterious effect on B. tuberculata with increased of the the juvenile phase, nymphal and total mortality of pseudopupae

A case of early-stage lung cancer detected by autofluorescence bronchoscopy

A 71-year-old man was referred to our hospital for further examination of abnormal sputum cytology. No abnormal nodular shadows were detected in chest X-ray and chest CT. The location of the tumor was clearly identified as a defect of autofluorescence by autofluorescence bronchoscopy at the bifurcation between the left B1+2 and B3 bronchi, whereas it was quite difficult by conventional bronchoscopy. Trans bronchial biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Further examinations yielded the diagnosis of early-stage lung cancer. Photodynamic therapy was performed and complete response was confirmed. This case indicates the efficacy of auto fluorescence bronchoscopy for detecting early-stage lung cancer

Leaf microscopic characters of ormosia arborea (vell.) harms, fabaceae

The genus Ormosia (Fabaceae-Faboideae) is common in the neotropics and includes different species used in folk medicine for various purposes. Ormosia arborea is a tree popularly known as “olho-decabra” and used for its contraceptive effects in Brazilian rural communities. As it lacks data about this medicinal plant, this work has carried out anatomical studies on the leaf of this potential vegetal drug. Fully-expanded leaves were fixed and prepared according to light and scanning electron microscopic techniques. Microchemical tests were also carried out. The leaf has paracytic stomata confined to the abaxial side. The cuticle is smooth and there are bicellular non-glandular trichomes predominantly on the abaxial surface. The mesophyll is dorsiventral and traversed by minor collateral vascular bundles with sclerenchymatic and crystalliferous bundle sheaths which may attain the epidermis. The midrib is concaveconvex in transection and has one major collateral vascular bundle in circular arrangement and one or two minor ones, each of which encircled by a sclerenchymatic bundle sheath. The petiole is circular in transection and possesses a ring of numerous collateral vascular bundles enclosed in a conspicuous sclerenchymatic sheath. Some cells bearing phenolic compounds and prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate are also present in the leaf.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Electrocardiographic and Chronobiological Features of Paroxysmal AV Block Recorded by Ambulatory Electrocardiography

The goal of this study was to investigate the electrocardiographic and chronobiological features of paroxysmal atrioventricular (AV) block (PAVB) using data from ambulatory electrocardiography (AECG). The study population consisted of five men and six women aged from 47 to 82 years of age. Main presenting symptoms were pre-syncope in five patients (45.5%) and syncope in three patients (27.3%). Organic cardiovascular diseases were seen in eight patients (72.7%), and AV conduction disturbances were seen in six patients (54.5%), such as right bundle branch block, first to second degree AV block on standard 12-lead electrocardiography. Incidence of PAVB events were 1-329 (37.9±98.0) episodes/patient/day, and the maximum pause during Holter recordings was 3.3-12.4 (6.39±3.09) seconds. This maximum pause caused by intrinsic AV block was longer than that of vagally mediated AV block (8.4±3.2 sec vs 4.7±1.0 sec, p<0.05). In chronobiological analysis, episodes of PAVB exhibited a circadian rhythm characterized by a peak between 2 : 00 am and 4 : 00 am and a trough between 0 : 00 pm and 2 : 00 pm. AECG is a useful tool to detect the maximum pause occurring during sleep and provides critical data necessary to prevent the sudden cardiac death caused by PAVB

ヒト爪および唾液細胞内アルデヒド脱水素酵素遺伝子の同定

An individual genotype of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) was surveyed and detected when using nail clippings and saliva, respectively by the method consisting of DNA extraction, genomic DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction, and gel electrophoresis of DNA fragment. Gene analysis using fingernail DNA was found to be effective in that they were easily to collect from human samples, in that they were kept storable at -80℃ until use, and in that DNA of the sample was very stable after repeated treatment of freezing and thawing

Therapeutic activity of glycoengineered anti-GM2 antibodies against malignant pleural mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and highly aggressive neoplasm that arises from the pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal lining. Although surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and combinations of these therapies are used to treat MPM, the median survival of such patients is dismal. Therefore, there is a compelling need to develop novel therapeutics with different modes of action. Ganglioside GM2 is a glycolipid that has been shown to be overexpressed in various types of cancer. However, there are no published reports regarding the use of GM2 as a potential therapeutic target in cases of MPM. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the anti-GM2 antibody BIW-8962 as an anti-MPM therapeutic using in vitro and in vivo assays. Consequently, the GM2 expression in the MPM cell lines was confirmed using flow cytometry. In addition, eight of 11 cell lines were GM2-positive (73%), although the GM2 expression was variable. BIW-8962 showed a significant antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity against the GM2-expressing MPM cell line MSTO-211H, the effect of which depended on the antibody concentration and effector/target ratio. In an in vivo orthotropic mouse model using MSTO-211H cells, BIW-8962 significantly decreased the incidence and size of tumors. Additionally, the GM2 expression was confirmed in the MPM clinical specimens. Fifty-eight percent of the MPM tumors were positive for GM2, with individual variation in the intensity and frequency of staining. These data suggest that anti-GM2 antibodies may become a therapeutic option for MPM patients. In this study, the anti-GM2 antibody BIW-8962 first showed a significant ADCC activity against malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cell line and therapeutic activity in an in vivo orthotropic mouse model using the cell line. Additionally, the GM2 expression was confirmed in the MPM clinical specimens. These data suggest that anti-GM2 antibodies may become a therapeutic option for MPM patients. © 2014 The Authors. Cancer Science published by Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd on behalf of Japanese Cancer Association

Submandibular lymph node metastasis of occult thyroid carcinoma first suspected to be a salivary gland tumor: a case report

BACKGROUND: When diagnosing and treating neck masses, various diseases need to be considered, including benign or malignant tumors, lymph node-related diseases, and cysts. Thus, there may be cases in which making a definitive diagnosis is difficult on the basis of blood testing and imaging alone. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was an 80-year-old Japanese female who presented with swelling in the right submandibular area. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography revealed a solid tumor with inhomogeneous content continuous with the submandibular gland. Therefore, the clinical diagnosis was salivary gland tumor. Surgical treatment was performed, and intraoperative frozen-section examination demonstrated submandibular lymph node metastasis of thyroid carcinoma. After surgical treatment, blood test for thyroid gland function yielded normal results except for increased thyroglobulin levels. Further positron-emission tomography–computed tomography and ultrasonography were performed, in addition to fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland and other tests; however, no other thyroid abnormalities were observed. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy revealed no carcinomatous components. Close observational follow-up has been continued without thyroid gland treatment, and as of approximately 8 years postoperation, no recurrence, metastases, or thyroid carcinoma have developed. CONCLUSION: The mass was lymph node metastasis of occult thyroid carcinoma. In general, occult thyroid carcinoma metastasizes to level II–V. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of submandibular lymph node metastasis alone of occult thyroid carcinoma