Screening of selected Indian medicinal plants for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity

Seventy-six plant extracts including methanolic and successive water extracts from 37 Indian medicinal plants were investigated for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity (in vitro). Results indicated that methanolic extracts to be more active than water extracts. The potent AChE inhibiting methanolic plant extracts included Withania somnifera (root), Semecarpus anacardium (stem bark), Embelia ribes (Root), Tinospora cordifolia (stem), Ficus religiosa (stem bark) and Nardostachys jatamansi (rhizome). The IC(50) values obtained for these extracts were 33.38, 16.74, 23.04, 38.36, 73.69 and 47.21mug/ml, respectively. These results partly substantiate the traditional use of these herbs for improvement of cognition.

Inhibitory effect of cinnamoyl compounds against human malignant cell line

In the present study, anti-proliferative effects of dietary polyphenolic compounds have been observed and demonstrated the strong anticancer efficacy of curcumin (CMN), an active constituent of dietary spice (turmeric) using human leukemia cancer cell line. CMN inhibited the proliferation of K562 leukemic cells by induction of apoptosis. The current study demonstrated synergy with combination of drug therapy, and suggested that combination of ferulic acid and cisplatin synergistically inhibited cellular proliferation. Cytotoxic synergy was observed independent of the sequence of addition of two drugs to cultured cells. The synergized growth inhibitory effect with cisplatin was probably associated with G2-M arrest in cell cycle progression. These findings suggested that among the cinnamoyl compounds, CMN was most potent and FER appeared to be a better modulating agent on human malignant cell line.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of mannose-6-phosphate-coated multivalent dendritic cluster glycosides

The synthesis of multivalent dendritic cluster glycosides of mannopyranosyl-6-phosphate is presented. Poly(amido amine)-based dendrimers of 0.5-3.5 generations, containing carboxylic acid peripheral functionalities, were utilized so as to install 4, 8, 16 and 32 mannopyranosyl-6-phosphate residues at the peripheries of the dendrimers. Amide bond formation between an amine-tethered mannopyranosyl-6-phosphate monomer unit and carboxylic acid-functionalized dendrimers was conducted to synthesize the dendritic cluster glycosides. The constitutions of the Man-6-P-containing dendrimers were assessed by 1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectroscopies and the sugar content analysis by a resorcinol assay. Preliminary biological studies with few newly synthesized Man-6-P-containing dendrimers showed that these compounds could bind the purified goat liver mannose 6-phosphate receptor (MPR 300) protein.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of extramammary neoplasms metastatic to the breast

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is the first-line investigation in any breast lump and hence cytomorphological recognition of nonmammary metastatic tumors to the breast and their distinction from primary tumors is important. Metastatic breast neoplasms diagnosed over a 6-yr period from 1997 to 2002 were retrieved from the database of the Department of Cytopathology and the clinical, cytopathological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical findings were correlated with the histopathology of the primary tumor. Fifteen cases of metastatic breast neoplasms were encountered constituting 1.47% of all malignant tumors of the breast diagnosed on FNA. There were 14 female patients and one male patient aged 13-80 yr. The preaspiration clinical diagnosis was either a benign breast lump or a malignancy (primary vs. metastatic). The breast lump was the initial presentation in four cases and the cytodiagnosis of a metastatic malignancy lead to the subsequent detection of the primary malignancy. These included one case each of melanoma, myeloma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and small-cell carcinoma of the lung. There were five pediatric cases that included four cases of rhabdomyosarcoma and one case of leukemic deposit. The adult cases included two cases each of melanoma, small-cell carcinoma, and myeloma; one case of choriocarcinoma; and three cases of soft-tissue sarcomas. These included two cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) and one case of leiomyosarcoma. The presence of unusual cytomorphological patterns on breast FNA should alert the cytopathologist to the possibility of a metastatic breast neoplasm, even if not suspected clinically. A detailed history of the patient, clinical correlation, and immunocytochemistry helps in establishing an accurate diagnosis, which avoids unnecessary surgery and ensures appropriate treatment.

Solution and solid-state structure of N-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-α-d-galactopyranosylamine

High resolution 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray structural analyses of N-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosylamine (1), a minor product of azidonitration reaction of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl galactal, are reported. The solution phase studies of 1 reflect that the compound exists in 4C1 conformation with cis-orientation of the substituents at C-1 and C-2. The solid-state structure of 1 reveals that a molecule of water is entrapped in the solid state of 1 and this water molecule serves to mediate N-H...O and C-H...O interactions.

Crystal structure of N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)aminoethyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside: stabilization of the crystal lattice by a tandem network of N-H. . .O, C-H. . .O, and C-H. . .pi interactions

Single crystal X-ray analysis of an aminoethyl mannopyranoside, namely, N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)aminoethyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (1), shows that the compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1), with two molecules in the unit cell. The mannopyranoside unit adopts a distorted 4C(1) conformation. An analysis of the intermolecular interactions reveals a tandem network of N-H. . .O, C-H. . .O, and C-H. . .pi interactions responsible for stabilizing the crystal lattice.

Chondrosarcoma of calcanaeum in a 12-year-old male patient: A case report

Chondrosarcoma is distinctly uncommon and tends to be located often in the extremities in young patients more than in its adult counterpart. Cartilaginous tumors involving the small bones of the hands and feet are benign tumors such as enchondromas, chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF), and chondroblastoma. Chondrosarcomas involving calcanaeum in young adults are largely covered in the literature as single case reports. A young 12-yr-male patient presented with complaints of pain and mild swelling in the ankle. Radiological examination revealed a dense irregular lesion in the calcanaeum. Fine-needle aspiration was performed and a possibility of chondrosarcoma was suspected, which later was confirmed on histopathological examination. The cytopathologist should be aware of the occurrence of malignant chondroid tumors in the younger age group at this rare site. Correlation to radiological findings is essential in these cases.

Lack of association of insulin resistance and carotid intimal medial thickness in non-diabetic Asian Indian subjects

OBJECTIVE

Atherosclerosis is associated with insulin resistance (IR) and dyslipidaemia. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is characterised by IR and is associated with a higher risk of atherosclerosis. The objective of the present study was to test whether early atherosclerosis indicated by intimal medial thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) is higher in IGT than in normoglycaemic subjects (NGT) and to look for an association of IMT with IR and dyslipidaemia.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Ninety-nine randomly selected non-diabetic subjects aged >or=35 years (48 NGT and 51 IGT) were studied. Measurements of body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure, cholesterol-total, HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglycerides (TG), lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein-A1 (Apo A1) and apolipoprotein-B (Apo B) and ratio of Apo A1/Apo B were estimated. Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated using the fasting plasma insulin and glucose values. IMT of CCA and ICA were measured using high-resolution beta-mode ultrasonography.

RESULTS

Subjects with IGT and NGT were matched for BMI and WHR; HOMA-IR was higher in IGT vs NGT (7.92+/-4.2 vs 6.07+/-3.76, p = 0.028). Age-adjusted IMT values were similar in NGT and IGT (CCA 0.59+/-0.17 and 0.63+/-0.22 mm and ICA 0.44+/-0.10 and 0.45+/-0.10 mm, respectively). Further analyses were done in the total group. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that CCA-IMT was significantly associated with age and negatively associated with Apo A1/Apo B ratio. ICA-IMT was associated with age only. IMT was significantly correlated with cholesterol-total and LDL-cholesterol and apolipoproteins. It was not associated with IR.

CONCLUSION

In southern Indians, IGT did not influence the IMT. Although insulin resistance was higher in IGT, it was not associated with higher IMT. Conventional risk factors such as cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoproteins showed association with IMT in the insulin-resistant population.

Cytologic spectrum of 227 fine-needle aspiration cases of chest-wall lesions

This study was carried out with the objective of studying the cytomorphology of the wide variety of chest-wall lesions. Two hundred twenty-seven chest-wall lesions were studied over a period of 4 yr. Routine May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG) and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) slides were studied along with special stains, whenever required. The malignant lesions comprised 36.13% of all cases (81/227). Of the 126 benign lesions, the majority were inflammatory in nature (68/126), the next commonest lesion being lipoma (38/126). Rare cases of tuberculosis involving the sternum, epithelioid leiomyosarcoma, and neuroendocrine tumors involving ribs, malignant nerve sheath tumors involving the chest wall, metastatic carcinoma of the stomach and prostate, and papillary carcinoma thyroid are reported in this series. Histopathology was available in 24 cases, and hematological correlation in one case. A 100% cytohistological and cytohematological correlation was found, with no false positives or false negatives. In conclusion, fine-needle aspiration cytology is a rapid, diagnostic tool, eliciting many interesting lesions in the chest wall. It is useful not only in detecting primary and metastatic lesions, but also in follow-up of tumor recurrence.

Neurodevelopmental outcome of 'at risk' nursery graduates

A cohort study at a tertiary care neonatal service was undertaken to determine the neurodevelopmental outcome of neonates who required intensive care. One hundred and nineteen nursery graduates were enrolled for follow up if they fulfilled any of the following risk factors: birth weight less than 1500 g, Apgar score less than 4 at 5 minutes, seizure(s), and required assisted ventilation for more than 24 hours. They were subjected to periodic clinical evaluation and administered the Bayley Scales of Infant Development in early childhood. Of the total infants enrolled, 101 completed the required follow up. They included 55 infants with birth weight < 1500 g, 45 with low Apgar scores, 12 with seizure(s) and 28 who received assisted ventilation. An overwhelming majority of subjects (85%) had normal neurodevelopmental outcome. The adverse outcome in the remaining 15 included mental retardation in all, subnormal motor development in 14, microcephaly in 1, hearing loss in 2 and visual impairment in 4. Among the neonatal risk factors, seizures, sepsis and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy had a significant association with adverse outcome. Despite serious neonatal morbidity, the early neurodevelopmental outcome of nursery graduates was reasonably good. The association of neonatal sepsis with neurodevelopmental sequelae merits a prospective evaluation.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy

In this article, we have described the fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of five cases of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AILD). FNAB of these cases showed large number of capillary fragments, along with polymorphous population of cells consisting of plenty of immunoblasts, plasma cells, eosinophils, and mast cells. Two cases showed clusters of clear cells. It is essential to have detailed clinical features for FNAB diagnosis of AILD. Histopathology is advisable in all the fresh cases. FNAB is helpful for screening and follow-up of AILD.

Cytology of primary skin tumors

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the diagnosis of primary skin and adnexal tumors and to study the cytomorphology of various primary skin and adnexal tumors.

STUDY DESIGN

FNAB was routinely done in 18 cases of skin and adnexal tumors, and the cytologic diagnosis, along with detailed cytomorphology, was correlated with subsequent histology.

RESULTS

FNAB was done on 15 cases of primary skin tumors and 3 cases of recurrent lesions. FNAB successfully established the benign or malignant nature of skin tumors in 16 of 18 cases (88.9%). However, subtyping was possible in only 12 of 18 cases (66.7%).

CONCLUSION

Clinical history and physical findings are essential to the proper diagnosis of adnexal tumors. Knowing the cytologic features of primary skin neoplasms helps distinguish them from tumors metastatic to the skin and more commonly referred for FNAB.

Fine needle aspiration cytology of cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma. A case report

BACKGROUND

Cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma (CPDN) is an uncommon childhood kidney tumor.

CASE

For the first time, in this case report we describe the cytologic features of this entity. Predominant clusters and rows of cells with occasional discrete blastemal cells on cytologic smear along with multiple hypoechoic cystic spaces on radiology suggested CPDN.

CONCLUSION

It is essential to diagnose CPDN preoperatively because the tumor needs only nephrectomy for treatment.

Aspiration cytology of renal cell carcinoma and adenoma in childhood

OBJECTIVE

To describe the cytologic features of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and renal papillary adenoma in children.

STUDY DESIGN

Analysis of three cases of RCC and one of renal papillary adenoma.

RESULTS

Cytologic features of pediatric RCC were essentially the same as those seen in adults and are characterized by cells with abundant, vacuolated cytoplasm with pleomorphic nuclei. RCC should be distinguished from the more common Wilms' tumor. Cells with abundant, vacuolated cytoplasm and absence of blastemal cells were two important distinguishing features. A large number of papillae, intranuclear inclusions and magenta bodies were important cytologic features of renal papillary adenoma.

CONCLUSION

Cytologic features of RCC and adenoma in childhood are characteristic, and preoperative diagnosis of these cases is possible by aspiration cytology.

Endodermal sinus tumour of cervix--case report

Endodermal sinus tumor of Cervix is an extremely rare cause of vaginal bleeding. Because of its rarity and interesting features, it is reported with a brief review of literature.

2-Mercaptopropionylglycine modulates the expression of c-jun and c-Ha-ras in regenerating rat liver

Changes in the expression of two proto-oncogenes, c-jun and c-Ha-ras and their modulation by MPG were studied in regenerating rat liver. A significant increase in c-jun and c-Ha-ras mRNA levels was noted after partial hepatectomy. However, the increase in c-Ha-ras mRNA was much less when compared with c-jun mRNA levels. Metallothionein (MT-I) mRNA levels showed a gradual decrease following partial hepatectomy. However, the decrease in MT-I mRNA levels was not significant when intertime comparisons were made. MPG caused a significant reduction in the levels of c-jun and c-Ha-ras mRNA in the regenerating rat liver compared to untreated controls, but had very little effect on MT-I mRNA levels. Selective reduction in the expression of proto-oncogenes by MPG suggests that MPG may affect the cell proliferation by modulating the expression of these genes.

Induction of differentiation in murine erythroleukemia cells by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3

The Friend murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells can be stimulated to differentiate in response to a variety of chemical inducing agents. In the present study, the effect of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on differentiation of MEL cells was investigated. Vitamin D3 induced differentiation of MEL cells in culture as determined by elevated hemoglobin content, a rise in the number of benzidine-positive cells and increase in acetylcholine esterase activity. The optimum concentration of the vitamin required to induce differentiation of MEL cells was found to be 750 nM. The pattern of induction of differentiation was similar to that observed with DMSO and the induction of differentiation by vitamin D3 was inhibited by dexamethasone.