Anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of Pimpinella anisum in rat brain

Background: Essential oil of Pimpinella anisum L. Apiaceae (anise oil) has been widely used in traditional Persian medicine to treat a variety of diseases, including some neurological disorders. This study was aimed to test the possible anti-seizure and anti-hypoxia effects of anise oil. Methods: The effects of different concentrations of anise oil were tested on seizure attacks induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) injection and neuronal hypoxia induced by oxygen withdrawal as well as on production of dark neurons and induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in in vivo and in vitro experimental models of rat brain. Results: Anise oil significantly prolonged the latency of seizure attacks and reduced the amplitude and duration of epileptiform burst discharges induced by injection of intraperitoneal PTZ. In addition, anise oil significantly inhibited production of dark neurons in different regions of the brain in epileptic rats. Anise oil also significantly enhanced the duration of the appearance of anoxic terminal negativity induced by oxygen withdrawal and inhibited induction of LTP in hippocampal slices. Conclusions: Our data indicate the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects of anise oil, likely via inhibition of synaptic plasticity. Further evaluation of anise oil to use in the treatment of neurological disorders is suggested

Testing of an automatic earthquake detection method on data from Station Nord, Greenland

Earthquakes are continuously monitored by a global network of several thousand seismic stations equipped with highly sensitive digital seismometers. The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) takes part in it by operating five seismic stations in Denmark and 18 in Greenland, some of the latter in collaboration with international partners. There are two main ways of detecting earthquakes from digital recordings of seismometers: (1) by a manual review of the data by an expert in processing seismic earthquake signals and (2) by an automatic method that uses a computerised algorithm to analyse the recordings

Critiquing the Vocabularies of the Marketized University

Article in special issue of 'Media Theory' on "Critique, Postcritique and the Present Conjuncture" Critique is in crisis. Spaces in the university, where critique once flourished under the banner of academic freedom, have been appropriated and hollowed out of meaning. External pressures from the failed project of privatisation of higher education in the UK result in internal pressures from a marketized model of university management that sees critical thinking as branding content to influence market share, rather than relevance for (social) science. This paper considers how the deeds and vocabularies of neoliberalism and the market operate in academic institutions to shape the context in which critical scholarship takes place – a context in which alternative possibilities of what education should or could be for outside of “growth”, “choice” “value for money” and preparation for work, are becoming increasingly rarely envisioned. Simultaneously, academic institutions have appropriated some of the vocabulary of critique, hollowing it out so that it can be consumed without challenging the business objectives that now structure higher education. The thoroughgoing renaming of institutional practices and their sanctioned practice and operation in the context of the ongoing destruction of the university as a public good are tied to the new institutional practices, in an effort to pressurise those who work in higher education to accept that there is no alternative. We consider the consequences of these practices and argue that, in this context, critical scholarship must also be tied to resistance, both to the vocabularies of the neoliberal university, as well as to its actions. Critique ought to expand our understanding of the possible while demonstrating that existing reality in academia and beyond can be contested in practice

Innovative Diagnostic Tools for Ophthalmology in Low-Income Countries

Globally, there are almost 300 million people blind and visually impaired and over 90% live developing countries. The gross disparity in access to ophthalmologists limits the ability to accurately diagnose potentially blinding conditions like cataract, glaucoma, trachoma, uncorrected refractive error and limits timely initiation of medical and surgical treatment. Since 85% of blindness is preventable, bridging this chasm for care is even more critical in preventing needless blindness. Many low-income countries must rely on community health workers, physician assistants, and cataract surgeons for primary eye care. Ophthalmology in low-income countries (LIC) is further challenging due to complexities brought from tropical climates, frail electric grids, poor road and water infrastructure, limited diagnostic capability and limited treatment options. Vision 2020 set the goal of eliminating preventable blindness by 2020 despite formidable obstacles. Innovative technologies are emerging to test visual acuity, correct refractive error quickly and inexpensively, capture retinal images with portable tools, train cataract surgeons using simulators, capitalize on mHealth, access ophthalmic information remotely. These advancements are allowing nonspecialized ophthalmic practitioners to provide low-cost, high impact eye care in resource-limited regions around the world

Endogenous Endophthalmitis: Etiology and Treatment

This chapter comprehensively covers all aspects of endogenous endophthalmitis from systemic infectious agents, with an emphasis on reported and newer etiologies to broaden the diagnostic and investigative acumen of treating ophthalmic providers. The discussion includes the etiology of metastatic endophthalmitis and diagnostic investigations, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for identification of bacterial and viral infections involving the eye in both immunosuppressed in non-immunosuppressed patients. Additionally, we present clinical and diagnostic findings of fungal infections, protozoal infections, and helminthic infections. Pediatric cases are also reported and etiologies described. We discuss both etiology and diagnostic challenges. Current therapeutic modalities and outcomes are reviewed. While no two cases of metastatic endophthalmitis are the same, some similarities may exist that allow us to generalize how to approach and treat this potentially sight- and life-threatening spectrum of diseases and find the underlying systemic cause

Cetuximab plus chronomodulated irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal liver metastases: POCHER trial

Background:We assessed the effectiveness of cetuximab plus chronomodulated irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin (FA) and oxaliplatin (L-OHP) (chrono-IFLO) administered as neoadjuvant chemotherapy to increase the resectability of colorectal liver metastases.Methods:This was a phase II prospective trial with rate of liver metastases resection as primary end point. Forty-three patients with unresectable metastases were enroled: 9 with metastases >5 cm; 29 with multinodular (4) disease; 1 with hilar location; 4 with extrahepatic lung disease. Treatment consisted of cetuximab at day 1 plus chronomodulated irinotecan 5-FU, FA and L-OHP for 2-6 days every 2 weeks. After the first 17 patients, doses were reduced for irinotecan to 110 mg m 2, 5-FU to 550 mg m 2 per day and L-OHP to 15 mg m 2 per day.Results:Macroscopically complete resections were performed in 26 out of 43 patients (60%) after a median of 6 (range 3-15) cycles. Partial response was noticed in 34 patients (79%). Median overall survival was 37 months (95% CI: 21-53 months), with a 2-year survival of 68% in the entire population, 80.6% in resected patients and 47.1% in unresected patients (P=0.01). Grade 3/4 diarrhoea occurred in 93% and 36% of patients before and after dose reduction.Conclusion:Cetuximab plus chrono-IFLO achieved 60% complete resectability of colorectal liver metastases. © 2010 Cancer Research UK All rights reserved