Bioactivities of thymol and p-cymene from the essential oil of Adenosma buchneroides against three stored-product insects

The adverse effects of relying solely on synthetic pesticides have become increasingly evident, leading many countries to explore alternatives sourced from plant-based green economies. Essential oil (EO) from stems and leaves of Adenosma buchneroides Bonati (A. buchneroides) was distilled by using hydrodistillation and subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for component identification. Subsequently, EO as well as its main constituents (thymol and p-cymene) were tested for their insecticidal activity against the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum), the cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne), and the booklouse (Liposcelis bostrychophila). The joint action of thymol and p-cymene produced an additive or synergistic effect. A. buchneroides essential oil (BHO) and the fixed ratio of the main compounds, thymol, and p-cymene both showed significant toxic activity against the target pests. This toxic effect is not simply the sum of individual effects, as it is influenced by various factors such as insect species and mode of action. These findings imply that the BHO and its phytoconstituents possess great potential to develop plant-derived biopesticides that will be safe for humans and the environment.

Modified radical vaginal hysterectomy for cervical cancer treatment

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to modify vaginal radical hysterectomy (VRH), design a series of surgical instruments specialised for this procedure, and to study the feasibility, morbidity, and outcome of cervical cancer patients treated with modified laparoscopic-assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy (LARVH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 86 patients with early-stage cervical cancer (IB 1-IAl) underwent modified VRH and laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Special instruments and modified procedures were used in VRH. Data were collected on operating time, blood loss, ureter separation time, nodal count, hospital stay, and complication recurrence and survival rates.

RESULTS

All patients successfully completed LARVH. Median operating time was 238 minutes, mean blood loss was 283 ml, median time for ureter separation was 18.5 minutes, median time to post-operative exhaustion was 23 hours, urine recovery was 10.3 days, and median hospital stay was 9.2 days. On average, 23.2 lymph nodes were harvested. Except for one case of left internal iliac vein with intraoperative and postoperative complications, no other major complications occurred, particularly no bladder and ureter injury. Surgical margins were negative in all cases. After median follow-up of 46 months, recurrence rate and overall survival for 84 patients were 3.57% and 97.62%, respectively.

DISCUSSION

Modified VRH with laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy is an oncologically valid alternative for early stage cervical cancer treatment with minimal intraoperative and postoperative complications. The modification of this procedure and special instruments can enhance the feasibility and the safety of treatment.

Core genome haplotype diversity and vacA allelic heterogeneity of Chinese Helicobacter pylori strains

The human gastric pathogen, Helicobacter pylori, has co-evolved with its host and established itself in the human stomach possibly millions of years ago. Therefore, the diversity of this bacterium is important in its clinical manifestations. Our aim has been to evaluate the genetic diversity of 40 H. pylori clinical isolates from four different parts of China. The methods of multi-locus sequence typing and vacA allele genotyping were used to assess their genetic diversity. To discriminate MLST, the vacA genotype method was used to identify strains. Patients from the northern, eastern, southern, and southwestern parts of China were recruited randomly from the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chongqing, respectively. Most of the sequence types are new and have never been reported in the database of the H. pylori multi-locus sequence typing system. The most prevalent vacA genotype in patients was s1a/m2 (80.0%), followed by s1b/m2 (17.5%). In contrast, the s1a/m1 genotype was scarcely represented (2.5%). The vacA genotype varied for each ST. These results showed that the MLST method offers high resolution of the H. pylori isolates in China when compared to vacA genotyping. The vacA allelic s1a has been correlated with the peptic ulcer. Because of the paucity of data on human isolates due to the absence of systematic investigations of H. pylori in China, the data provide useful information for understanding the epidemiology of H. pylori in China from the viewpoint of nucleotide sequence databases.

Structure of the spontaneous all night sleep in epileptics with polysomnography

Twenty epileptics and 11 healthy controls were investigated with polysomnography. Epileptics with interictal discharges had significantly longer total recording time and longer REM latency than the controls (P<0.05). Epileptics had a more fragmentized sleep than controls. Sleep efficiency of patients with interictal discharges was lower than that of patients without them (P<0.05). Among the patients with interictal discharges, those with partial seizures had a significantly higher arousal number than those with generalized seizures (P<0.05). The number of NREM stage shifts in patients with partial seizures tended to be higher than in those with generalized seizures.

[Injection of 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of tubal pregnancy through salpingo-catheter under hysteroscopy]

Seventeen women with unruptured tubal pregnancy were given 5-FU through salpingo-catheter under hysteroscopy. In one case the injection failed because the tube opening could not be found. The success rate of salpingo-catheterization was 94.12% (16/17). The cure rate for the tubal pregnancies was 88.24% (15/17). 12 cases received injection once and 3 cases twice. The dose of 5-FU per injection was 250 mg in 10 ml solution. Serum beta-hCG test became negative in 7 to 14 days after the treatment, and signs and symptoms disappeared. Salpingography were done in 8 cases after 2 to 3 months, and all the diseased tubes were found patient. There was little side effects due to this treatment, which is more effective, convenient and less traumatic than injecting 5-FU to the affected site through laparoscopy or systemic administration. It may turn out to be an effective, simple, safe and acceptable new method for treating early tubal pregnancy.