Aims: Solanum trilobatum Linn., (Solanaceae) is one of the most widely used plants as food supplement in southern part of India and some parts of Southeast Asia. This plant is traditionally used for the treatment of respiratory illness. In animal studies, the extract of S. trilobatum showed significant antimicrobial, hepatoprotective and anticancer activities. The complete phytochemical profile, antimicrobial and mast cell stabilizing activities of S. trilobatum remains unclear. This study tests the antimicrobial, antihistaminic and mast cell stabilizing activities of ethanolic extract of leaves of S. trilobatum (EEST). Methodology and results: The phytochemical test was carried out using chemical and instrumental [Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)] analytical methods. Antimicrobial effect of EEST was tested against Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Intestinal mesentery of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats was used to study the peritoneal mast cell stabilization activity of EEST. The rat intestinal mesentery was exposed to 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 600 μg/mL of EEST and the peritoneal mast cell stabilization activity was compared with that of standards (pheniramine 20 μg/mL and ketotifen 20 μg/mL). The phytochemical test showed the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and phenolic compounds. GC-MS analysis indicated the presence of 45 fragmented compounds which included epoxylinalol, himachalol, illudol, epibuphanamine, baimuxinal and edulan IV. EEST exhibited antimicrobial activity at 10 mg/mL against S. aureus, S. pneumonia. Significant mast cell stabilizing activity was observed from the dose of 100 μg/mL to 600 μg/mL. Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of leaves of S. trilobatum possess significant antimicrobial and antihistaminic activity.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and significance of Clusterin in normal prostate, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer.

METHODSClusterin expression in samples of 12 normal prostate, 15 BPH, and 56 prostate cancer were studied by immunohistochemical stain.

RESULTSOf 83 cases, 67 are positive or weak positive (81%). The rate of positive or weak positive for normal prostate, BPH and prostate cancer was 17% (2/12), 73% (11/15), and 96% (54/56) respectively. The expression level of Clusterin in prostate cancer was much higher than in normal prostate (t = 8.82, P < 0.01). BPH (t = 7.63, P < 0.01) was related positively with pathological grade (r = 0.649, P < 0.01) and stage (r = 0.609, P < 0.01) of prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONClusterin may play an important role in the biological characteristics of prostate cancer by the anti-apoptosis pathway.

Apoptosis ; Clusterin ; metabolism ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology

Steroids are commonly used in patients with eosinophilic meningitis caused by A. cantonensis infections. The mechanism steroids act on eosinophilic meningitis remains unclear. In this mouse experiments, expressions of 14-3-3 isoform β and γ proteins significantly increased in the CSF 2–3 weeks after the infection, but not increasedin the dexamethasone-treated group. Expression of 14-3-3 β, γ, ɛ, and θ isoforms increased in brain meninges over the 3-week period after infection and decreased due to dexamethasone treatment. In conclusion, administration of dexamethasone in mice with eosinophilic meningitis decreased expressions of 14-3-3 isoform proteins in the CSF and in brain meninges.
Angiostrongylus cantonensis ; Angiostrongylus ; Animals ; Brain ; Dexamethasone ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Meninges ; Meningitis ; Mice ; Protein Isoforms ; Steroids

Catheter-Related Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Critical Care ; Cross Infection ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Electronic Health Records ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Singapore ; Urinary Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Urinary Tract Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology