Formononetin alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by targeting the PARP-1/PARG/Iduna signaling pathway

Formononetin has been demonstrated to protect against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, however its mechanism has to be further researched. This study examined the effect of formononetin on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats using the PARP-1/PARG/Iduna signaling pathway. In male SD rats, a model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was developed. Animals were randomly assigned to one of eight groups: Sham operation, Sham operation + formononetin, MCAO, MCAO + formononetin, PARP inhibitor (PJ34) + MCAO, formononetin + PJ34 + MCAO, PARG inhibitor (Ethacridine lactate) + MCAO, and ethacridine lactate + formononetin. The neurological deficit test, TTC staining, HE staining, Nissl staining, TUNEL staining, and western blotting were utilized to assess formononetin's protective effects in MCAO rats. The data show that formononetin can effectively alleviate neurological dysfunction and pathological changes in brain tissue in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, reduce the area of cerebral infarction and neuronal apoptosis, decrease the protein levels of PARP-1, PARG, Caspase-3, P53, and AIF in brain tissue, and increase the protein levels of Iduna and p-AKT. As a result, we concluded that formononetin improves brain ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by modulating the PARP-1/PARG/Iduna signaling pathway.

[A comparative study on effect of bacterial load in diabetic foot ulcers dealing with iodophor and rivanol respectively]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the change of bacterial load applied with iodophors and rivanol of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), furthermore to evaluate the effect of both in removing superficial microbes of DFUs.

METHODS

From March 2006 to March 2007, 30 patients were randomly divided into control group (group A, n = 10), iodophor group (group B, n = 10) and rivanol group (group C, n = 10). There were 18 males and 12 females with an average age of 59.8 years (range 46-78 years). The wound size ranged from 3 cm x 2 cm to 15 cm x 10 cm. The disease course was 6 weeks to 6 months (mean 2.1 months). Each wound was debrided and irrigated before process, then drug was compressed on the wound for 5 minutes, and irrigated again. The samples gained for three times, before, immediately and 24 hours after the process. Each sample was diluted before cultivation, the bacteria of wound were counted and compared among 3 groups.

RESULTS

The cultures of specimens showed that the load decreased in every group, each cultured colony of specimen grew well, and there were no significant differences between 3 groups immediately after procedure (P > 0.05). There were significant differences between group B and groups A, C (P < 0.05), but there were no significant difference between group A and group C 24 hours after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both iodophors and rivanol could remove the bacteria on the surface of wound. Topical germicide could reduced bacterial load in the wound of diabetic foot, the role of sterilizing and bacteriostasis of iodophors were better than that of rivanol.

[A comparison between "moist ointment" and 0.25% iodophor, silver sulfadiazine paste and 0.1% rivanol in the treatment of deep II degree burn wounds]

One hundred and fifteen patients suffering from deep II degree burn were randomly divided into four groups, and "Moist ointment," 0.25% iodophor, silver sulfadiazine paste and 0.1% rivanol were respectively used as topical agents. Their effects were observed and compared. The results showed that "Moist ointment" group was significantly inferior to other groups in respects of healing of wound surface, bacteriostatic property, cost of treatment and formation of hyperplastic scar. Therefore, we suggested that the use of moist ointment in the treatment of deep II degree burn wound should be prohibited.

Prophylaxis of traveler's diarrhea in Egypt: results of a double blind controlled study

Diarrhea represents the most frequent health problem of Western tourists visiting subtropical and tropical areas. Antibiotic prophylaxis has been suggested by some authors but may not be generally advisable because of adverse drug effects. In the present study we investigated the prophylaxis of traveler's diarrhea using a combination of tannalbuminate and ethacridin-lactate. During a 16-day cruise in Egypt, 77 tourists were assigned to either placebo or prophylactic doses of tannalbuminate (500 mg) and ethacridin-lactate (50 mg), 1 tbl. b.i.d., in a randomized double-blind fashion. The number of bowel movements, consistency of stools, and clinical symptoms like nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and fever were monitored daily. In the placebo group (n = 43) 35 tourists developed diarrhea (81.4%), whereas in the verum group (n = 34) only 18 tourists (52.9%) had diarrhea (p less than 0.0125). In the travelers receiving verum and developing diarrhea the clinical symptoms were less pronounced than in the placebo group. These results demonstrate that the events of traveler's diarrhea may be reduced; moreover, symptoms are attenuated by medical prophylaxis with tannalbuminate and ethacridin-lactate.

Second trimester pregnancy termination using extra-amniotic ethacridine lactate

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of ethacridine lactate by the extra-amniotic route for second trimester pregnancy termination and its associated complications.

DESIGN

Retrospective study of women undergoing second trimester termination, over 3 1/2 years, with extra-amniotic ethacridine alone, or extra-amniotic ethacridine supplemented later by extra-amniotic 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha.

SETTING

Teaching hospital in Bombay.

PATIENTS

315 consecutive women undergoing late abortions with extra-amniotic ethacridine. Demographic features were similar in the two groups.

INTERVENTIONS

In group 1, 207 women had 150 ml of 0.1% ethacridine lactate injected slowly into the extra-amniotic space. In group 2, 108 women had the initial injection supplemented 6 h later by an extra-amniotic injection of 250 micrograms (1 ml) of 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The occurrence of abortion following the induction procedure. The development of complications such as haemorrhage, infection, or injury to the uterus or cervix.

RESULTS

The method was successful in 191 women (92%) in group 1 and in 106 (98%) in group 2. The median induction-abortion intervals were 35 and 19 h, respectively (Mann-Whitney U test, P less than 0.001). The corrected complication rate was less than 10% (30 women), with unplanned uterine evacuation in 6% (20), haemorrhage in 1% (4), and pelvic infection in 4% (14).

CONCLUSION

The use of extra-amniotic ethacridine lactate provides an effective and safe treatment method for second trimester legal abortion. The induction-abortion interval can be appreciably reduced by supplementary prostaglandin.

Prevention of travelers' diarrhea by nonantibiotic drugs

Travelers have resorted to a variety of drugs for prevention of diarrhea. No beneficial prophylactic effect has been confirmed for halogenated hydroxyquinoline, lactobacilli, antimotility drugs, ethacridine, and various other agents. In contrast, bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) in liquid form reduced the incidence of diarrhea in students from the United States living in Mexico and in tablet form in volunteers challenged by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. In tourists visiting various developing countries, a randomized, double-blind study was conducted in which 390 persons received a total of 2.1 or 1.05 g of BSS daily or placebo in tablet form in two doses. BSS reduced the incidence of diarrhea by 41% in the high-dose group and by 35% in the low-dose group without causing important adverse reactions.

Prostaglandins and thromboxanes in amniotic fluid during rivanol-induced abortion and labour

Abortion or delivery were induced by extra-amniotic instillation of Rivanol during the second trimester in twelve patients and during the third trimester in two patients with fetal death and one patient with fetal acrania. Serial sampling of amniotic fluid was performed through a transabdominal catheter and the levels of free arachidonic acid (AA), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were determined. The levels of AA, PGF2 alpha, PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2 in amniotic fluid increased significantly during induction with the exception of AA in fetal death which was high and remained constant during induction. Furthermore, PGF2 alpha, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TXB2 were all significantly correlated to AA. These observations suggested that free AA is released during Rivanol-induction of abortion and labour giving an increased synthesis of PGF2 alpha, PGE2 prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 in the fetal membranes and the decidua but not in the fetus. This increase might be relevant for the initiation and progress of abortion and labour in these patients.

[Clinical and laboratory aspects of 2 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis]

Two cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a mother and her son, contracted during a trip in Libya, are reported. The diagnosis was established on the basis of the clinical aspect and epidemiological data, and confirmed by laboratory tests. A specific treatment with Fuadin was applied.

Comparison of extra-amniotic instillation of rivanol and PGF2alpha either separately or in combination followed by oxytocin for second trimester abortion

Second trimester abortion was induced in 92 women by extra-amniotic instillation of Rivanol and/or PGF2alpha followed by intravenous oxytocin after 24 hours. All instillations were made via a catheter with a balloon filled with 30 ml and left in place until abortion, but never for more than 24 hours. Induction was started by Rivanol alone (n = 23), PGF2alpha alone (n = 23), Rivanol combined with PGF2alpha (n = 23), or Rivanol combined with half dose PGF2alpha (n = 23) and the patients were allotted to the different groups in a random manner. The Rivanol solution was instilled as a single dose but PGF2alpha was instilled every 2nd hour for 24 hours. The mean induction-abortion time was similar in all 4 groups but a number of patients given PGF2alpha alone or in combination with Rivanol aborted earlier than patients induced by Rivanol alone, during the period before intravenous oxytocin was administered. Gastrointestinal side effects were equally common after Rivanol as after PGF2alpha. With the methods and doses used in the present investigation PGF2alpha alone or combined with Rivanol with subsequent oxytocin had no over-all advantage over Rivanol.

[The advantages of the extra-amniotic transcervical instillation of rivanol in therapeutic abortions (author's transl)]

Our experience with the transcervical extra-amniotic instillation of 70 ml 0.1% Rivanol solution in 154 cases of first trimestre, second trimestre abortions and intra-uterine fetal deaths is reported. This simple and safe method has several advantages which render it suitable for out-patient usage should the rate of therapeutic abortions increase even more. The gentle dilatatory effect on the cervix is remarkable and is noticeable after 24 hours. Dilatation with the Hegar-dilators becomes unnecessary. There were no major complications. The stress on the patient is minimized.