Objective: To perform phytochemical screening and to evaluate the in-vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanolic extract of seeds and fruits of Zizyphus spina-christi (ZSC) growing in Oman.
Methods: Alcoholic extract of the dry powdered seeds and fruits of ZSC was obtained by cold maceration method and was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. Total phenolic content were estimated by using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was used to determine in-vitro antioxidant activity of plant extracts. Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated by protein denaturation method.
Results:Phytochemical analysis of both the extracts revealed the presence of major classes of phytochemicals such as tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides etc.. ZSC seeds were found to contain the highest total phenolics but ZSC fruits exhibited the maximum antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of both parts of the plant extract was significant and comparable with the standard anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac.
Conclusions:Based on the results of this pilot study, it can be concluded that ZSC is a good source of natural antioxidants which can be used to prevent progression of many chronic diseases. Further detailed phytochemical studies are needed to identify the chemical compounds responsible for exhibiting potent anti-inflammatory activity.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of flowers of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) grown in Oman.
Methods: Flowers of M. oleifera were collected in the month of December 2012 and identified by a botanist. Alcoholic extract of the dry pulverized flowers of M. oleifera were obtained by cold maceration method. The ethanolic flower extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening as the reported methods. Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was used to estimate total phenolic content. DPPH was used to determine in-vitro antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity of flowers was investigated by protein denaturation method.
Results:Phytochemical analysis of extract showed presence of major classes of phytochemicals such as tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides etc. M. oleifera flowers were found to contain 19.31 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent of total phenolics in dry extract but exhibited moderate antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of plant extract was significant and comparable with the standard drug diclofenac sodium.
Conclusions:The results of our study suggest that flowers of M. oleifera possess potent anti-inflammatory activity and are also a good source of natural antioxidants. Further study is needed to identify the chemical compounds responsible for their anti-inflammatory activity.

The pentacyclic triterpenic acids isolated from the oleo gum resin of various Boswellia species are collectively called as Boswellic acids (BA). The oleo gum resin obtained from Indian variety i.e. Boswellia serrata (Family–Burseraceae) is commonly known as Salai guggal. The resin fraction of Salai guggal is rich in Boswellic acids and its essential oil is composed of a mixture of mono, di and sesquiterpenes while gum fraction chiefly con-tains pentose and hexose sugars. This oleo-gum resin is quite popular among traditional practitioners of traditional Chinese and Indian Systems of medicine owing to their wide range of useful biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-rheumatic, anti-diarrheal, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-asthmatic, anti-cancer, anti-microbial anti-fungal, anti-complementary and analgesic activity, etc. It has been used as a herbal medicine since the prehistoric time to cure acute and chronic ailments including in-flammatory diseases. Phytochemical investigation of this herbal medicine lead to iden-tification of Boswellic acids which are found to be novel, potent, specific anti-inflammatory agents due to non-redox inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) enzyme. However, the other important targets of Boswellic acids also include topoisomerases, angiogenesis, and cytochrome p450 enzymes. This review is a sincere attempt to discuss and present the current status of therapeutic potential, phytochemical as well as phar-macological profile of Boswellic acids primarily obtained from B. serrata.

Epithelioid hemangioma (EH) is a rare benign vascular lesion of soft tissue and bone, characterized by endothelial cells with epithelioid or histiocytoid appearance. Though tubular bones, flat bones, vertebra and short bones are common sites for this lesion, the epiphyseal involvement is extremely rare. We present an unusual case of EH of the distal femur in a young boy. Case report: A 12-year-old boy who had congenital talipes equinovarus of the right foot presented with progressively increasing pain in the right lower thigh for six months. Physical examination revealed muscular atrophy of the right lower limb and a moderately tender swelling in the medial aspect of the right knee without restriction of knee movement. An X-ray revealed an osteolytic lesion, which appeared iso- and hypointense on T1W and hyperintense on T2W MRI images in the distal epiphysis and adjacent metaphysis of the right femur. A radiological diagnosis of chondroblastoma was entertained. The patient was treated with curettage and bone grafting. Histopathology showed a tumor composed of thin-walled arteriolar capillaries lined by large, polyhedral epithelioid endothelial cells with vesicular nuclei, finely distributed nuclear chromatin, and moderate amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm. The endothelial cells were strongly immunopositive for CD34. Mitotic activity was low and the Ki-67 proliferative rate was <2%. A diagnosis of EH was made. EH is a benign lesion and it should be differentiated from its histologically similar malignant counterparts such as epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and epithelioid angiosarcoma as the lesion can be successfully treated with curettage or resection.

No abstract available.
Hamartoma* ; Lymph Nodes*

Reactive arthritis or Reiter's syndrome characteristically affects the joint of the lower limb in an asymmetrical pattern. Usually it does not affect the axial skeleton or upper limbs. Although cases of atraumatic atlantoaxial subluxations have been reported, no case of spontaneous sternoclavicular dislocation in Reiter's syndrome has been reported. This paper describes a case of a 26 year old male patient who developed a spontaneous posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation. No attempt of reduction was made and the patient was managed conservatively with good results.
Arm Injuries ; Arthritis, Reactive ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; Spinal Injuries ; Sternoclavicular Joint ; injuries

Objective: To perform phytochemical screening, estimate total phenolics, flavonoids and to evaluate antioxidant potential of Moringa peregrina (M. peregrina) leaves. Methods: The dried powdered leaves of M. peregrina (150 g) were extracted exhaustively by Soxhlet with ethanol and then fractionated into hexane, chloroform, ethy alacetate and methanol. All the prepared extracts were also analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and characterize the chemical compounds present in the crude extracts. Folin- Ciocalteu reagent and aluminium chloride colorimetric methods were used to estimate total phenolic and flavonoid content of extracts. Hydrogen peroxide and 1,1 diphenyl -2-picrylhydrazyl were used to determine in vitro antioxidant activity. Results: Phytochemical analysis of ethanol extract showed presence of major classes of phytochemicals. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry results revealed presence of 19 phytoconstituents in hexane extract, 6 in ethyl acetate and 7 compounds in methanolic extract. Methanol extract was found to contain the highest phenolic content and flavonoids. In vitro antioxidant activities of all crude extracts were significant and comparable with the standard ascorbic acid. Conclusions: Results of this study show that the leaves of M. peregrina are the rich source of phenolic compounds that can play an important role in preventing the progression of many diseases.

Introduction: Vaccination is a biological process that improves immunity level of an individual towards certain diseases. Vaccination is generally given to all newborn and kids. Most countries oblige their citizens to be vaccinated as early as new-born age. The aim of this research is to study the perception on vaccination intake and the associated factors that lead to its refusal among parents in east coast and west coast peninsular Malaysia. Methods: Primary data were collected using self-administered questionnaire and were distributed to assess the study objectives. Total 240 questionnaires were distributed equally in west coast and east coast study area. Questionnaire consists of demographic data, perception aspects and factors that may lead to the negative perceptions. Results: There is significant association between perception and religion, education level and side effect factor in east coast with majority of the respondents are Muslims (40.83%) while there is no significant association between education level and side effect factor (p>0.1) in west coast with majority of respondents are Muslims (51.67%) too. This study found that perception regarding vaccination is influenced by the religion restrictions in east coast of peninsular Malaysia and not in west coast region. The other factors associated with vaccination refusal varies according to education level, and regional basis. Conclusion: Most of the respondents who have negative perception regarding vaccination are from East Coast region as they are more prone into Islamic teachings. All the possible factors of vaccination refusal are accepted by the respondents but varies in its prevalence as the leading factor determined that caused the vaccination refusal are religion restriction and the least percentage for the factor is time restriction.

The complement cascade is a central component of innate immunity which plays a critical role in brain inflammation. Complement C3a receptor (C3aR) is a key mediator of post-ischemic cerebral injury, and pharmacological antagonism of the C3a receptor is neuroprotective in stroke. Cerebral ischemia injures brain endothelial cells, causing blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption which further exacerbates ischemic neuronal injury. In this study, we used an in vitro model of ischemia (oxygen glucose deprivation; OGD) to investigate the protective effect of a C3aR antagonist (C3aRA, SB290157) on brain endothelial cells (bEnd.3). Following 24 hours of reperfusion, OGD-induced cell death was assessed by TUNEL and Caspase-3 staining. Western blot and immunocytochemistry were utilized to demonstrate that OGD upregulates inflammatory, oxidative stress and antioxidant markers (ICAM-1, Cox-2, Nox-2 and MnSOD) in endothelial cells and that C3aRA treatment significantly attenuate these markers. We also found that C3aRA administration restored the expression level of the tight junction protein occludin in endothelial cells following OGD. Interestingly, OGD/reperfusion injury increased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and C3aR inhibition significantly reduced the activation of ERK suggesting that endothelial C3aR may act via ERK signaling. Furthermore, exogenous C3a administration stimulates these same inflammatory mechanisms both with and without OGD, and C3aRA suppresses these C3a-mediated responses, supporting an antagonist role for C3aRA. Based on these results, we conclude that C3aRA administration attenuates inflammation, oxidative stress, ERK activation, and protects brain endothelial cells following experimental brain ischemia.
Blood-Brain Barrier ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Ischemia ; Brain ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Complement C3a ; Complement System Proteins ; Encephalitis ; Endothelial Cells ; Glucose ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation ; Ischemia ; Neurons ; Occludin ; Oxidative Stress ; Phosphorylation ; Reperfusion ; Stroke ; Tight Junctions

OBJECTIVETo present our experience in treatment of difficult ununited long bone fractures with locking plate.

METHODSRetrospective evaluation of locking plate fixation in 10 difficult nonunions of long bone fractures was done. Fixation was done with locking plate for femoral shaft fracture (3 patients), supracondylar fracture of femur (gap nonunion), fracture of clavicle, fracture of both forearm bones (radius and ulna) fracture of ulna, fracture of shaft of humerus, fracture of tibial diaphysis and supracondylar fracture of humerus (one patient each). Five fractures had more than one previous failed internal fixation. One patient had infected nonunion which was managed by debridement with cast immobilization followed by fixation with locking plate at six weeks. Seven fractures were atrophic, two were oligotrophic, and one was hypertrophic. Fibular autograft was used in 2 cases and iliac crest cancellous bone graft used in all the patients.

RESULTSMinimum follow-up was 6 months (range, 6 months to 2.5 years). Average time for union was 3.4 months (range 2.5 to 6 months). None of the patients had plate-related complications or postoperative wound infections.

CONCLUSIONAlong with achieving stability with locking compression plate, meticulous soft tissue dissection, acceptable reduction, good fixation technique and bone grafting can help achieve union in difficult nonunion cases. Though locking plate does not by itself ensure bony union, we have found it to be another useful addition to our armamentarium for treating difficult fracture nonunions.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Child ; Female ; Fractures, Ununited ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome