The Current State of Knowledge on Salvia hispanica and Salviae hispanicae semen (Chia Seeds)

Chia seeds (Salviae hispanicae semen) are obtained from Salvia hispanica L. This raw material is distinguished by its rich chemical composition and valuable nutritional properties. It is currently referred to as “health food”. The purpose of the present work was to perform a literature review on S. hispanica and chia seeds, focusing on their chemical composition, biological properties, dietary importance, and medicinal uses. The valuable biological properties of chia seeds are related to their rich chemical composition, with particularly high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, essential amino acids, polyphenols, as well as vitamins and bioelements. The available scientific literature indicates the cardioprotective, hypotensive, antidiabetic, and antiatherosclerotic effects of this raw material. In addition, studies based on in vitro assays and animal and human models have proven that chia seeds are characterized by neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. These properties indicate a valuable role of chia in the prevention of civilization diseases. Chia seeds are increasingly popular in functional food and cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. That is attributed not only to their desirable chemical composition and biological activity but also to their high availability. Nevertheless, S. hispanica is also the object of specific biotechnological studies aimed at elaboration of micropropagation protocols of this plant species.

Hepatoprotective potential of Ferula communis extract for carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative damage in rats

We investigated the hepatoprotective potential of Ferula communis extract for CCI₄ induced liver damage. We used six groups of rats: group 1, untreated control; group 2, CCl₄ treated (hepatotoxic); group 3, treated with 150 mg/kg F. communis; group 4, treated with 300 mg/kg F. communis; group 5, treated with CCl₄ + 150 mg/kg F. communis; and group 6, treated with CCl₄ + 300 mg/kg F. communis. Liver damage was produced by injection of 1 ml/kg CCI₄ twice/week. Extracts of F. communis, 150 and 300 mg/kg/day, were administered for 8 weeks. The effects of F. communis were assessed by measuring aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and total bilirubin (T-BIL) levels, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver. The histology and immunohistochemistry of liver tissue were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and caspase 3 and 8-OHdG immunostaining. F. communis extract produced significant reductions in elevated levels of ALT, AST, GGT and T-BIL and increased levels of GPx and SOD in rats treated with CCl₄. F. communis extract decreased CCl₄ induced 8-OHdG formation and caspase 3 activation significantly in hepatocytes, especially at the 150 mg/kg dose. Our findings demonstrate the potential efficacy of F. communis for attenuating CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative damage.

Diffusion Weighted MRI of Primary Pituitary Abscess

Pituitary abscess is a rarely seen entity that can lead to serious neuroendocrine disorders or even be fatal if not diagnosed or treated correctly. Preoperative diagnosis plays an important role in planning the operation and treatment strategies. This report describes the diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in addition to conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of primary pituitary abscess formation caused by Klebsiella ozaenea in a 33-year-old man.

MR Spectroscopy Findings in Lhermitte-Duclos Disease

Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) is a rare hamartomatous focal or diffuse enlargement of the cerebellum with unclear etiology. The characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance consists of a non-enhancing mass in the cerebellar hemisphere with a striated pattern. The slow growing behavior of this benign lesion is characteristic. In a few reports on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings in LDD, a decreased level of N-acetyl aspartate, increased level of lactate and near normal level of choline were described. The information obtained from MRS is useful to confirm the relatively benign hamartomatous nature of the lesion. This paper reports a case of LDD and describes the MRI and MRS findings.

Membranous structures affecting the success of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in adult aqueductus sylvii stenosis

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the present study was to observe Liliequist's membrane (LM) and membranous structures located in the prepontine cistern via 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 3D driven equilibrium radio frequency reset pulse (DRIVE) sequence and multiplanar reformat (MPR) images and to evaluate the success of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) by assessing these membranes in adult aqueduct stenosis.

PATIENTS

29 patients (17 female, 12 male) with primary aqueductus sylvii stenosis were included in the study. 19 patients were diagnosed as long-standing overt ventriculomegaly in adults (LOVA) and patients had severe ventriculomegaly, macrocephalus, and aqueduct stenosis on MR imaging. 10 patients were diagnosed as aqueduct stenosis presented with acute onset of hydrocephalus with symptoms of raised ICP. All patients in the study group were analyzed with conventional and cine MRI before and after treatment. We performed 3D DRIVE sequence and MPR at 3-T MR equipment to determine the membranous structures in 3 dimensions. We correlated the success of the procedure considering the preoperative, postoperative MRI and intraoperative images.

RESULTS

5 patients (26.3%) with LOVA and 2 patients (20%) with aqueduct stenosis, in total 7 patients (24.1%), did not respond to ETV. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow was blocked by membranous structures located in the prepontine cistern in 4 of 8 patients. In 2 patients, CSF through the stoma was blocked either by the LM or closed tuber cinerum. In 1 patient insufficient CSF flow was observed through the stoma and the LM accompanying prepontine membranes.Totally closed membranes were observed in the prepontine cistern in 5 patients (17.24%) according to the postoperative MRI. LM was verified in all patients intraoperatively that were also demonstrated in the preoperative MRI.

CONCLUSION

3D sequences with MPR may help to observe not only the LM but also other membranes located through the prepontine cistern, which may be the reason of failed ETV.

Massive intracerebral haemorrage due to developmental venous anomaly

In cases of intracerebral haematoma associated with developmental venous anomalies (DVAs), there is usually an associated cavernoma, which is thought to be the source of haemorrhage. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature where an intracerebral haemotoma has been caused by a DVA without an associated cavernoma. In this report we describe a case with a massive haematoma due to venous angioma alone.

Endoscopic optic nerve decompression for idiopathic intracranial hypertension in two cases: case report

Pseudotumor cerebri is a syndrome with headaches and visual loss that sometimes cannot be treated with medication. In spite of medical treatment, the clinical course in some patients can approach extreme dysfunction with severe impairment in visual field and acuity as well as incapacitating headache. Patients with progressive or persistent symptoms require surgical treatment and decompression of the optic nerve is the preferred surgical procedure. We report on two cases of bilateral decompression of the optic nerves performed through an endonasal endoscopic approach.

Fluorescein sodium-guided surgery in glioblastoma multiforme: a prospective evaluation

We have evaluated the influence of fluorescein-guided resection on gross total resection (GTR) and survival in a series of patients with GBM. Group 1 consisted of 47 patients given fluorescein and group 2 comprised 33 patients, on whom fluorescein was not used. Median survival time was 43.9 weeks in the patients given fluorescein and was 41.8 weeks in the non-fluorescein group. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between the two groups. However, the extent of resection had a powerful influence on the median survival time. Survival was 34.3 weeks after partial resection and 46.5 after GTR. Our data shows that the use of fluorescein injection is a simple procedure, which allows a significant increase in the number of patients having GTR (83 vs. 55%). Our findings are similar to a recently published multicentre Phase III randomized trial in which 5-aminolevulinic acid was used to facilitate resection of malignant glioma.