Objective:To evaluate the effect of Artemisia herba alba (A. herba alba) intravenous injection on cardiovascular and renal function in normal rats.
Methods:The effect of intravenous injection of A. herba alba extract at the different doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg was investigated in normal rats. Diuresis, heart frequency and electrolytes concentrations were analyzed.
Results: Intravenous bolus injection of A. herba alba at the different doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg produced a dose dependent reduction in arterial blood pressure (P<0.001). A significant reduction in heart frequency was observed after A. herba alba injection at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg (P<0.001). Perfusion of aqueous A. herba alba extract at a dose of 200 mg/(kg·h) caused a significant increase in urine output after 4 h of perfusion (P<0.001). In addition, a significant increase in urinary sodium and potassium excretion was observed from the first (P<0.05) to the fourth hour (P<0.001) of A. herba alba perfusion. Urinary chlorure excretion increased after 2 h of perfusion (P<0.001). However, glomerular filtration rate remained unchanged after A. herba alba perfusion (P<0.05).
Conclusions: We conclude that the aqueous A. herba alba extract possesses a potent acute hypotensive effect on normal rats. In addition, A. herba alba perfusion may affect renal function to increase urine and electrolytes excretion.

Background: Injuries to the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint are common and complex. However, the treatment of osteochondral defects of the head of the proximal phalanx has rarely been described. Herein, we propose a new technique for the management of unicondylar defects of the proximal phalanx that can restore joint amplitudes and provide PIP stability. Methods: In this cadaveric feasibility study, unicondylar defects were generated using striking wedges and chisels. First, a transverse tunnel measuring 2 mm in diameter passing through the head of the proximal phalanx was made. A second tunnel at the base of the middle phalanx with the same diameter was then created. The hemitendon of the flexor carpi radialis graft was passed through each of these tunnels. The proximal end of the graft was interposed in the area with a loss of bone substance. The ligamentoplasty was then tensed and fixed by two anchors on the proximal phalanx. Joint amplitudes and frontal stability were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: There was no significant change in the joint’s range of motion: preoperatively, the mean mobility arcs were –2° to 113.80°, and they were –2° to 110° after the procedure (P=0.999). There was no significant difference in joint stability (P>0.05). Conclusions Ligamentoplasty with PIP interposition appears to be a possible solution for the management of unicondylar defects of the proximal phalanx. An evaluation of clinical results is planned in order to definitively confirm the validity of this procedure.

No abstract available.
T-Lymphocytes

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in children.

METHODSThe clinical data of 38 children (2-15 years old) with AIDS from a region of Rwanda and who had received HAART were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSAll of 13 children with anemia showed improved anemia symptoms after HAART. The hemoglobin contents returned to normal levels in 12 children with mild or moderate anemia. CD4 T lymphocytes increased by 24%-1 181% in 5 out of 6 cases with severe immunodeficiency after HAART. During the HAART, the weight gain averaged 2.3 kg yearly. The growth and development in 5 out of 8 children with delayed growth restored the levels of normal children of the same age after HAART.

CONCLUSIONSHAART can improve the health status in children with AIDS and is effective for childhood AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adolescent ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

Several clinical practice guidelines related to the assessment and management of low back pain (LBP) have been published with varied scopes and methods. This paper summarises the first French occupational guidelines for management of work-related LBP (October 2013). There main originality is to treat all the three stages of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of work-related LBP. The guidelines were written by a multidisciplinary working group of 24 experts, according to the Clinical Practice Guidelines method proposed by French National Health Authority, and reviewed by a multidisciplinary peer review committee of 50 experts. Recommendations were based on a large systematic review of the literature carried out from 1990 to 2012 and rated as strong (Level A), moderate (B), limited (C) or based on expert consensus (D) according to their level of evidence. It is recommended to deliver reassuring and consistent information concerning LBP prognosis (Level B); to perform a clinical examination looking for medical signs of severity related to LBP (Level A), encourage continuation or resumption of physical activity (Level A), identify any changes in working conditions and evaluate the occupational impact of LBP (Level D). In case of persistent/recurrent LBP, assess prognostic factors likely to influence progression to chronic LBP, prolonged disability and delayed return to work (Level A). In case of prolonged/repeated sick leave, evaluate the pain, functional disability and their impact and main risk factors for prolonged work disability (Level A), promote return to work measures and inter professional coordination (Level D). These good practice guidelines are primarily intended for professionals of occupational health but also for treating physicians and paramedical personnel participating in the management of LBP, workers and employers.
Allied Health Personnel ; Consensus ; Humans ; Low Back Pain* ; Motor Activity ; Occupational Health ; Peer Review ; Prognosis ; Return to Work ; Risk Factors ; Sick Leave ; Tertiary Prevention

Objective: To evaluate the anti-infectious and antioxidant activities of hydroethanolic extract of Canarium schweinfurthii on broiler chickens infected by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, known to be threatening public health. Methods: Animals were divided into six groups of eight animals per group: the normal control group, negative control group, positive control group and three test groups receiving the plant extract at 5, 19 and 75 mg/kg bw, respecively. The evolution of the disease as well as the effectiveness of the treatment were monitored by stool culture from the second day post infection until the end of the treatment. In addition, the effects of treatment on growth performances and feed conversion efficiency of broilers were evaluated. For the assessment of antioxidant status, enzymatic and non-enzymatic biomarkers such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide were evaluated in the serum and tissues of animals. Results: The infected chickens treated with oxytetracycline recovered on day 7 after treatment, while animals treated with 19 and 75 mg/kg of Canarium schweinfurthii extract recovered on day 9 and those with 5 mg/kg of the extract on day 10. Salmonella infection caused a decrease on catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities; the administration of various doses of Canarium schweinfurthii extract increased these enzymatic activities. Animals receiving the extract at 5 mg/kg showed a significant increase in catalase activity in serum, heart and lungs while all concentrations of the extract significantly increased glutathione peroxidase activity in the serum, liver and spleen. Concerning non-enzymatic biomarkers, Salmonella infection caused a significant increase of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde concentration in the liver and lungs. Treatment with 75 mg/kg of the extract significantly reduced nitric oxide concentration in the heart and lungs while each dose of the extract reduced and normalized the malondialdehyde level in the serum. Additionally, malondialdehyde production was significantly decreased in the liver, heart and lungs after administration of Canarium schweinfurthii extract at all doses. Conclusions: The hydroethanolic extract of Canarium schweinfurthii attenuates oxidative stress, and is effective in the treatment of avian salmonellosis.

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and confocal Raman microscopy are applied to investigate the structure and the molecular arrangement of sub-micron furosemide and polyvinylpyrrolidone(furosemide/PVP) particles produced by spray flash evaporation (SFE).Morphology,size and crystallinity of furosemide/PVP particles are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD).Far-field Raman spectra and confocal far-field Raman maps of furosemide/PVP par-ticles are interpreted based on the far-field Raman spectra of pure furosemide and PVP precursors.Confocal far-field Raman microscopy shows that furosemide/PVP particles feature an intermixture of furosemide and PVP molecules at the sub-micron scale.SERS and surface-enhanced confocal Raman microscopy (SECoRM) are performed on furosemide,PVP and furosemide/PVP composite particles sputtered with silver (40 nm).SERS and SECoRM maps reveal that furosemide/PVP particle surfaces mainly consist of PVP molecules.The combination of surface and bulk sensitive analyses reveal that furosemide/PVP sub-micron particles are formed by the agglomeration of primary furosemide nano-crystals embedded in a thin PVP matrix.Interestingly,both far-field Raman microscopy and SECoRM provide molecular information on a statistically-relevant amount of sub-micron particles in a single microscopic map;this combination is thus an effective and time-saving tool for investigating organic sub-micron composites.