Identification of Potential Antiseizure Agents in Boswellia sacra using In Vivo Zebrafish and Mouse Epilepsy Models

The resin of the tree Boswellia sacra Flueck. (synonym: B. carterii; Burseraceae), also known as "frankincense", is a traditional remedy used for central nervous system disorders in East Africa. Here we report the evaluation of its antiseizure activity in zebrafish and mouse epilepsy models to identify novel antiseizure compounds. The resin was extracted by solvents of increasing polarity. The hexane extract demonstrated the strongest antiseizure activity and was therefore subjected to bioactivity-guided isolation, which leaded to the isolation of eight terpene derivatives. A new prenylbicyclogermacrene derivative (2) was isolated along with seven other compounds (1, 3-8). Among them, the triterpene β-boswellic acid (5) showed the strongest activity and reduced 90% of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures at 100 μg/mL. In parallel to B. sacra, a commercial extract of Boswellia serrata was also evaluated and showed moderate bioactivity (45% reduction at 30 μg/mL). The extract of B. serrata was subjected to targeted isolation of other boswellic acid derivatives (9-13), which were evaluated for antiseizure activity in comparison with 5. In the whole series, β-boswellic acid (5) was the most active (60% reduction at 200 μM), and its potency was also confirmed with its purchased standard (S5). Pure nanoparticles of S5 and a commercially formulated extract of B. serrata were tested in a PTZ-kindling mouse seizure model. This notably revealed that the S5 administration reduced seizures by 50% in this mouse model, which was consistent with its detection and quantification in plasma and brain samples. This study and the preclinical evaluation performed indicate that β-boswellic acid, common to various species of Boswellia, has some potential as an antiseizure agent.

Intraoperative consultation of central nervous system lesions. Frozen section, cytology or both?

OBJECTIVE

Frozen section is the traditional method of assessing central nervous system (CNS) lesions intraoperatively. Our aim is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of frozen section and/or cytological evaluation of CNS lesions in our center.

STUDY DESIGN

A total of 157 patients with CNS lesions underwent open surgical biopsy or excision in our center during a period of 2 years (2012-2013). All specimens were studied cytologically; of these specimens, 146 cases were also examined by frozen section. Cytology and frozen section slides were studied separately by two general pathologists who were blind to final diagnoses. The final diagnoses were based on permanent sections and IHC studies.

RESULTS

The accuracy rates of frozen section analysis and cytological evaluation were 87% and 86%, respectively. If the two methods were considered together, the accuracy rate improved to about 95%.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytological evaluation is an acceptable alternative to frozen section analysis and also a great supplement to the diagnosis of CNS lesions.

The relationship between the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and serum levels of vitamin B12 in women 10-49 years

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum vitamin B12 and Helicobacter(H.) pylori prevalence in women between 10-49 years.

METHODS

This cross-sectional (descriptive and analytical) study was conducted in the city of Samirom located in Isfahan, Iran in 2013. The population studied consisted of 100 women between 10-49 years and they were selected by convenience sampling. Data collection tools was checklist in which its content validity and reliability were confirmed. The data were entered into SPSS 16 software and were analyzed using descriptive statistics methods and univariate and multivariate inferential statistics methods.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study population was 29.5 ± 1.04. Also 29% of the population studied was infected with H. pylori, and prevalence of serum vitamin B12 less than 160 was 47%. After adjusted the effect of confounder variables with multivariate logistic regression analysis, the odds of infected with H. pylori in peoples with vitamin B12 less than 160, was 4.8 times the peoples with vitamin B12 normal (Equal and greater than 160) that this different was statistically significant (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that serum levels of vitamin B12 is a determinant factor in the prevalence of H. pylori.

Cavernous hemangioma of the neck simulating thyroglossal cyst

A rare case of cavernous hemangioma simulating a thyroglossal duct cyst was reported. It is recommended that these be treated by total excision, including hyoid bone, to prevent recurrence.