A new effective antiplasmodial compound: Nanoformulated pyrimethamine

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pyrimethamine-loaded poloxamer 407 nanomicelles on Plasmodium berghei strain NICD in vivo.

METHODS

Pyrimethamine-loaded nanomicelles were prepared and their zeta potential, particle size and polydispersity index were measured. For antiplasmodial assessment, 54 mice were randomly divided into six groups. Four groups were infected intraperitoneally with P. berghei, whereas the two remaining groups did not receive the parasite (negative controls). Three of the P. berghei-infected groups received treatment with either pyrimethamine-loaded nanomicelles (2 mg/kg), pyrimethamine (2 mg/kg) or empty nanomicelles (2 mg/kg); the fourth group remained untreated (positive control). The parasitaemia rate, survival rate and histopathological changes in the liver, spleen and kidneys were examined and were compared with the negative and positive control groups.

RESULTS

The mean parasitaemia rate differed significantly between the nanoformulated pyrimethamine group and each of the other groups (P<0.05). Moreover, the survival rate of mice in the nanoformulated pyrimethamine group (7/9; 78%) was significantly higher compared with each of the other groups (P<0.01). The main histopathological changes, including hepatic necrosis in the liver, lymphoid hypoplasia in the spleen, and tubular nephrosis and perivascular and interstitial lymphocytic infiltration in the kidneys, were considerably lower in the nanoformulated pyrimethamine group than in the pyrimethamine and positive control groups.

CONCLUSION

Pyrimethamine-loaded nanomicelles showed potent antimalarial activity and can be considered as a potential candidate for further examination of their suitability as an antimalarial drug.

Complete heart block in a patient with POEMS syndrome: A case report

BACKGROUND

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal syndrome (POEMS) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome associated with plasma cell dyscrasia.

CASE REPORT

A 48-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of paresthesia and progressive weakness of extremities. Diagnosis of POEMS syndrome was made for him on the basis of clinical presentation, additional physical findings, typical sclerotic bone lesion, and bone marrow findings. In last admission, he explained episodes of dyspnea and chest pain that associated with frequent premature ventricular contraction in his electrocardiograph. Patient heart monitoring showed some episodes of complete heart block. Infra-His atrioventricular block in electro-physiologic study was detected. He had no history of ischemic heart disease. His cardiopulmonary findings on examination were normal. All results of cardiac biomarkers and serum electrolytes and repeated echocardiography were within normal range. Cong red staining of rectal fat pad biopsy was negative. After pacemaker insertion radiation of sclerotic bone, lesion started for him, but radiotherapy was ineffective, and he expired with respiratory failure. Complete heart block in POEMS syndrome has not been reported previously, and it is the first POEMS case with complete heart block.

CONCLUSION

Complete heart block is a cardiac manifestation of POEMS syndrome.