Plant immunostimulants-Scientific paradigm or myth?

In traditional medicine, numerous plant preparations are used to treat inflammation both topically and systemically. Several anti-inflammatory plant extracts and a few natural product-based monosubstances have even found their way into the clinic. Unfortunately, a number of plant secondary metabolites have been shown to trigger detrimental pro-allergic immune reactions and are therefore considered to be toxic. In the phytotherapy research literature, numerous plants are also claimed to exert immunostimulatory effects. However, while the concepts of plant-derived anti-inflammatory agents and allergens are well established, the widespread notion of immunostimulatory plant natural products and their potential therapeutic use is rather obscure, often with the idea that the product is some sort of "tonic" for the immune system without actually specifying the mechanisms. In this commentary it is argued that the paradigm of oral plant immunostimulants lacks clinical evidence and may therefore be a myth, which has originated primarily from in vitro studies with plant extracts. The fact that no conclusive data on orally administered immunostimulants can be found in the scientific literature inevitably prompts us to challenge this paradigm.

Influence of preoperative leg pain and radiculopathy on outcomes in mono-segmental lumbar total disc replacement: results from a nationwide registry

Currently, many pre-conditions are regarded as relative or absolute contraindications for lumbar total disc replacement (TDR). Radiculopathy is one among them. In Switzerland it is left to the surgeon's discretion when to operate if he adheres to a list of pre-defined indications. Contraindications, however, are less clearly specified. We hypothesized that, the extent of pre-operative radiculopathy results in different benefits for patients treated with mono-segmental lumbar TDR. We used patient perceived leg pain and its correlation with physician recorded radiculopathy for creating the patient groups to be compared.

Kinetic assessment of persistent halogenated xenobiotics in cell culture models: comparison of mono- and poly-halogenated compounds

We evaluated the suitability of single and multiple cell type cultures as model systems to characterise cellular kinetics of highly lipophilic compounds with potential ecotoxicological impact. Confluent mono-layers of human skin fibroblasts, rat astrocytoma C6 cells, non-differentiated and differentiated mouse 3T3 cells were kept in culture medium supplemented with 10% foetal calf serum. For competitive uptake experiments up to four different cell types, grown on glass sectors, were exposed for 3h to (14)C-labelled model compounds, dissolved either in organic solvents or incorporated into unilamellar lecithin liposomes. Bromo-, or chloro-benzenes, decabromodiphenylether (DBP), and dichlorodiphenyl ethylene (DDE) were tested in rather high concentration of 20 microM. Cellular toxicity was low. Compound levels were related to protein, DNA, and triglyceride contents. Cellular uptake was fast and dependent on physico-chemical properties of the compounds (lipophilicity, molecular size), formulation, and cell type. Mono-halogenated benzenes showed low and similar uptake levels (=low accumulation compounds). DBP and DDE showed much higher cellular accumulations (=high accumulation compounds) except for DBP in 3T3 cells. Uptake from liposomal formulations was mostly higher than if compounds were dissolved in organic solvents. The extent of uptake correlated with the cellular content of triglycerides, except for DBP. Uptake competition between different cell types was studied in a sectorial multi-cell culture model. For low accumulation compounds negligible differences were found among C6 cells and fibroblasts. Uptake of DDE was slightly and that of DBP highly increased in fibroblasts. Well-defined cell culture systems, especially the sectorial model, are appropriate to screen for bioaccumulation and cytotoxicity of (unknown) chemical entities in vitro.

[The "globulomaxillary cyst" a specific entity or a myth?]

The following review investigates the term and concept of the globulomaxillary cyst as a correct clinico-pathological diagnosis to describe a so-called fissural cyst said to be caused by epithelial entrapment between the nasal and maxillary process. After analyzing the available literature it has to be concluded that neither from an embryologic nor from a clinical or pathohistological standpoint the term globulomaxillary cyst represents a real entity by itself. Therefore, globulomaxillary cysts have to be diagnosed alternatively after a thorough clinical, radiological and histological examination as other odontogenic cysts like dentigerous cysts or odontogenic keratocysts, odontogenic tumors like ameloblastoma, central giant cell tumors, solitary bone cysts, etc.

Time-dependent interactions of the two porphyrinic compounds chlorin e6 and mono-L-aspartyl-chlorin e6 with phospholipid vesicles probed by NMR spectroscopy

The distribution processes of chlorin e6 (CE) and monoaspartyl-chlorin e6 (MACE) between the outer and inner phospholipid monolayers of 1,2-dioleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) vesicles were monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy through analysis of chemical shifts and line widths of the DOPC vesicle resonances. Chlorin adsorption to the outer vesicle monolayer induced changes in the DOPC 1H NMR spectrum. Most pronounced was a split of the N-methyl choline resonance, allowing for separate analysis of inner and outer vesicle layers. Transbilayer distribution of the chlorin compounds was indicated by time-dependent characteristic spectral changes of the DOPC resonances. Kinetic parameters for the flip-flop processes, that is, half-lives and rate constants, were obtained from the experimental data points. In comparison to CE, MACE transbilayer movement was significantly reduced, with MACE remaining more or less attached to the outer membrane layer. The distribution coefficients for CE and MACE between the vesicular and aqueous phase were determined. Both CE and MACE exhibited a high affinity for the vesicular phase. For CE, a positive correlation was found between transfer rate and increasing molar ratio CE/DOPC. Enhanced membrane rigidity induced by increasing amounts of cholesterol into the model membrane was accompanied by a decrease of CE flip-flop rates across the membrane. The present study shows that the movement of porphyrins across membranes can efficiently be investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and that small changes in porphyrin structure can have large effects on membrane kinetics.