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We report an unusual case of endobronchial primary large B-cell Non Hodgkin Lymphoma in a HIV-infected patient in the course of effective Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). Diagnosis of large B-cell NHL was obtained by fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) biopsies. Three cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy (rituximab, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, prednisone) was performed and clinical and radiological remission was obtained after 3 cycles of therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic use of anthraquinone laxatives has been blamed for the induction of habituation and the development of colonic cancer, but there are no definitive studies which have demonstrated this. To evaluate the carcinogenic potential of anthraquinones, the effect of long-term senna pod extract (SE) treatment on either healthy rats or rats treated with an initiating tumor agent (azoxymethane--AOM) has been studied. SE (30 and 60mg/kg), administered for 110 weeks, did not induce the development of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and tumors in healthy rats. The development of ACF and tumors in rats treated with AOM were significantly reduced by SE (30 and 60 mg/kg). These results suggest that a chronic SE use does not predispose to colon cancer. By contrast, SE might exert an anti-tumoral activity on rat colon carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bacopa monniera (BM), a traditional Ayurvedic medicine, used for centuries as a memory enhancing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, sedative and antiepileptic agent. The plant, plant extract and isolated bacosides (the major active principles) have been extensively investigated in several laboratories for their neuropharmacological effects and a number of reports are available confirming their nootropic action. In addition, researchers have evaluated the anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic and other pharmacological effects of BM preparations/extracts. Therefore, in view of the important activities performed by this plant, investigation must be continued in the recently observed actions described in this paper. Moreover, other clinical studies have to be encouraged, also to evidence any side effects and possible interactions between this herbal medicine and synthetic drugs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cimicifuga racemosa is widely employed to relieve menopause symptoms for its hormonal-like action. However, recent experimental studies have not found an estrogenic action by this plant. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyse all experimental studies (in vivo and in vitro) performed on C. racemosa to elucidate its mechanism of action. Animal and in vitro experiments on C. racemosa were identified through a computerised literature searches performed on Medline (PubMed), Embase, Amed, CISCOM and Cochrane Library databases. In addition, bibliographies of the articles thus located were scanned for further relevant publications and manufactures of commercial C. racemosa preparations were asked to contribute published and unpublished material. No language restrictions were imposed. A total of 15 animal and 15 in vitro studies on C. racemosa have been found. Their results suggest that C. racemosa possesses a central activity instead of a hormonal effect. Further biological and chemical investigations are required to define its mechanism of action and to identify the compounds responsible of its actions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nimesulide, a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, has been reported to cause less gastric damage, compared to other NSAIDs. We investigated the effect of nimesulide on basal gastric acid secretion, a contributing factor in NSAID-induced gastric damage, and histamine, pentagastrin, 5-methylfurmethide, isobutyl methylxanthine or high K+ stimulated acid secretion in the isolated mouse stomach. The stomachs, removed from mice, were transferred into an organ bath and continuously perfused. Changes in pH following the addition of secretagogues were measured by a pH electrode system. The effects of nimesulide on basal and secretagogues-stimulated acid secretion were compared to those of indomethacin. Nimesulide (1 μM to 100 μM) produced a rightward concentration-dependent shift and reduction of maximum acid secretion of all the agonist-stimulated acid secretion curves. Indomethacin was only effective at the higher concentration of 100 μM. Compared to their effects singly, nimesulide (20 μM) and famotidine (0.15 μM) together caused a further shift without further reduction in maximum acid output of the histamine-stimulated curve, suggesting that nimesulide was not acting at the histamine H2-receptor. Nimesulide concentration-dependent reduction of stimulated acid secretion in the isolated mouse stomach was not by antagonism of the histamine H2 receptor and is probably beyond the level of adenylate cyclase stimulation. A direct effect on the calcium channel is demonstrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: The effect of an ethanolic extract of propolis, with and without CAPE, and some of its components on cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) activity in J774 macrophages has been investigated. COX-1 and COX-2 activity, measaured as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, were concentration-dependently inhibited by propolis (3 × 10–3–3 × 102 gml–1) with an IC50 of 2.7 gml–1 and 4.8 × 10–2 gml–1, respectively. Among the compounds tested pinocembrin and caffeic, ferulic, cinnamic and chlorogenic acids did not affect the activity of COX isoforms. Conversely, CAPE (2.8 × 10–4–28 gml–1; 10–9–10–4 M) and galangin (2.7 × 10–4–27 gml–1; 10–9–10–4 M) were effective, the last being about ten-twenty times less potent. In fact the IC50 of CAPE for COX-1 and COX-2 were 4.4 × 10–1 gml–1 (1.5 × 10–6 M) and 2 × 10–3 gml–1 (6.3 × 10–9 M), respectively. The IC50 of galangin were 3.7 gml–1 (15 × 10–6 M) and 3 × 10–2 gml–1 (120 × 10–9 M), for COX-1 and COX-2 respectively. To better investigate the role of CAPE, we tested the action of the ethanolic extract of propolis deprived of CAPE, which resulted about ten times less potent than the extract with CAPE in the inhibition of both COX-1 and COX-2, with an IC50 of 30 gml–1 and 5.3 × 10–1 gml–1, respectively. Moreover the comparison of the inhibition curves showed a significant difference (p < 0.001).These results suggest that both CAPE and galangin contribute to the overall activity of propolis, CAPE being more effective. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two ethanolic propolis extracts (EPE) with and without the caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), CAPE and galangin (major components of propolis) were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity in rats using carrageenin foot oedema, carrageenin pleurisy and adjuvant arthritis. In our experiments, EPE with CAPE and CAPE alone significantly inhibited carrageenin oedema, carrageenin pleurisy and adjuvant arthritis. In contrast EPE without CAPE and galangin did not exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in acute and chronic inflammation. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of propolis is due to CAPE. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We have studied the effect of propolis and its main active ingredient caffeic acid phenetyl ester (CAPE) on formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and tumors in the rat colon in vivo. CAPE (50 mg/kg i.p.) reduced the formation of ACF and tumor induced by azoxymethane, while propolis ethanolic extract was without effect. These results suggest a potential anti-carcinogenesis of CAPE but not propolis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]