Essential oil from leaves of Eugenia calycina Cambes: Natural larvicidal against Aedes aegypti

BACKGROUND

Eugenia calycina is an endemic species in the Brazilian savannah (the Cerrado) and it is threatened with extinction. Several species of Eugenia are used as insecticides or insect repellents. No data are available on the larvicidal activity of E. calycina. The chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) from leaves of Eugenia calycina was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and the larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti larvae in the third stage of development was studied.

RESULTS

Oxygenated and non-oxygenated sesquiterpenes were identified, and the main compounds were bicyclogermacrene, spathulenol, and β-caryophyllene. The EO was fractionated in a chromatographic column and three compounds were isolated and identified: spathulenol, aromadendrane-4β,10α-diol, and 1β-11-dihydroxy-5-eudesmene. It is the first time that the last two compounds have been identified in E. calycina. The exposure times in the larvicidal test were 24 h and 48 h and the LC₅₀ values obtained were 199.3 and 166.4 μg mL^-1 . The cytotoxicity of the EO in mammalian cells (HeLa and Vero) was evaluated for 24 and 48 h of incubation. The cytotoxic concentrations of the EO for HeLa and Vero cells (266.8 ± 46.5 and 312.1 ± 42.5 μg mL^-1 , respectively) in 48 h of exposure were higher than the LC₅₀ , showing low cytotoxicity at the concentration exhibiting larvicidal activity, resulting in a positive selectivity index.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the EO of E. calycina showed high activity against the A. aegypti larvae but lower cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. The leaves of E. calycina are therefore a very promising source of natural larvicidal products. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

A study of the influence of ethnicity on serology and clinical features in lupus

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to review the links between ethnicity, serology and clinical expression in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a single cohort that was followed over a 36-year period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with SLE treated at the University College London Hospitals (UCLHs) between January 1978 and December 2013 formed the cohort. We assessed the demographic, clinical and serological data. Standard methods were used for laboratory testing. The Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for the continuous variables; the Fisher's exact test was used for the categorical variables.

RESULTS

We studied 624 SLE patients: There were 571 women (91.5%), with a mean age at diagnosis of 29.0 ± 6.5 years; and 53 men (8.5%), with a mean age at diagnosis of 29.4 ± 15.3 years. Ethnically, 369 of the patients were European, 100 were Afro-Caribbean, 77 were East Asian, 56 were South Asian and 21 were of mixed ethnicity. The East Asian patients developed the disease at a younger age than the other ethnic groups (p < 0.0001). The Afro-Caribbean patients were less frequently associated with the presence of rash and photosensitivity, and the non-European patients were more likely to have alopecia and renal involvement. The South Asian patients were significantly associated with musculoskeletal and neurological involvement, serositis, Sicca syndrome and hematological features. The Afro-Caribbean patients had the highest prevalence of anti-Smith, anti-RNP, anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies. Anti-IgG anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies were significantly associated with the non-East Asian groups; and hypocomplementemia was common in the East Asians. Rash, alopecia, mouth ulcers, serositis, neurological, joint and renal involvement were significantly associated with the presence of anti-Smith and anti-RNP antibodies in the Afro-Caribbean group. We also observed an association of joint involvement and the presence of anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies in this group.

CONCLUSIONS

The East Asian patients developed their SLE disease at a younger age than the other ethnic groups. Cutaneous involvement was more frequent in those who were not Afro-Caribbean. Serositis, joint and neurological involvement were more frequently diagnosed in the South Asian patients. Anti-ENA antibodies were frequently associated with the Afro-Caribbean patients.

Early arm swelling predicts development of lymphoedema after axillary clearance

Abstract #4137

Lymphoedema (≥10% increase in arm swelling) occurs in 30% of patients after axillary clearance but the factors predicting the development of early lymphoedema (within 18 months of surgery) are unknown. To determine factors predicting lymphoedema at 18 months we analysed the ALMANAC trial database.&#x2028; Methods: All patients had baseline and prospective tape arm measurements, prior to undergoing axillary dissection and statistical analysis of 13 management variables affecting lymphoedema was performed.&#x2028; Results: Out of 407, 91 (25%) underwent axillary sampling and the remainder had clearance surgery. Mean increase in arm volume was 4.02% and 5.14% at 3 and 6 months respectively. By 18 months, 148 (36%) women out of 407 had developed lymphoedema.&#x2028; Arm volume increases of 5% or greater at 3 or 6 months predicted development of lymphoedema by 18 months (p≤0.01) and identified 56% of patients with lymphoedema at 18 months. Increase in age (p=0.039), extent of axillary surgery (p=0.045) and breast radiotherapy (p=0.022) were also significant predictors of lymphoedema at 18 months. In multivariate analysis only early arm swelling remained predictive of lymphoedema.&#x2028; &#x2028; Conclusions: Early arm swelling after axillary clearance predicts early lymphoedema. Baseline arm measurement of patients undergoing axillary clearance should be routine preoperative care to identify women who need early intervention with arm compression sleeves.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 4137.