Search

Background: Skin tags (STs) are benign connective tissue neoplasms, in which insulin-like growth factor -1 (IGF-1) has a mitogenic and antiapoptotic activity. Purpose: We aimed to study for the first time, the possible role of IGF-1 (CA) 19 and rs6214 gene polymorphisms, and its tissue immunoreactivity in the pathogenesis of STs. Patients and methods: This case-control study included 40 ST patients and 20 controls. We searched for (CA) 19 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) using conversional PCR and for rs6214 gene polymorphism using real-time PCR. IGF-1 tissue immunoreactivity was investigated using polyclonal IGF-1 antibody. Results: IGF-1 immunoreactivity showed significantly strong upregulation in epidermis (p=0.002) and dermal components (endothelial cells [p=0.038] and fibroblasts [p=0.004]) of excised STs than control skin. TT and CT rs6214 genotypes and its T allele were significantly associated with STs (p=0.006 and P=0.002, respectively). Also (

Cannabinoids are compounds that are structurally and/or functionally related to the primary psychoactive constituent of Cannabis sativa, [INCREMENT]-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabinoids can be divided into three broad categories: endogenous cannabinoids, plant-derived cannabinoids, and synthetic cannabinoids (SCs). Recently, there has been an unprecedented surge of interest into the pharmacological and medicinal properties of cannabinoids for the treatment of epilepsies. This surge has been stimulated by an ongoing shift in societal opinions about cannabinoid-based medicines and evidence that cannabidiol, a nonintoxicating plant cannabinoid, has demonstrable anticonvulsant activity in children with treatment-refractory epilepsy. The major receptors of the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS)-the type 1 and 2 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R, CB2R)-have critical roles in the modulation of neurotransmitter release and inflammation, respectively; so, it is not surprising therefore that the ECS is being considered as a target for the treatment of epilepsy. SCs were developed as potential new drug candidates and tool compounds for studying the ECS. Beyond the plant cannabinoids, an extensive research effort is underway to determine whether SCs that directly target CB1R, CB2R, or the enzymes that breakdown endogenous cannabinoids have anticonvulsant effects in preclinical rodent models of epilepsy and seizure. This research demonstrates that many SCs do reduce seizure severity in rodent models and may have both positive and negative pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic interactions with clinically used antiepilepsy drugs. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the preclinical evidence for and against SC modulation of seizure and discuss the important questions that need to be addressed in future studies.

Background. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) made a drastic change in the management of HCV infection. Sofosbuvir is one of the highly potent DAAs, eliminated mainly through the kidney. But concerns about renal safety during treatment may limit its use. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been proven as a predictor of renal tubular injury. Hence, the aim of this work was to assess serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in HCV-positive patients before and after treatment with the sofosbuvir-based antiviral regimen. Methods. This prospective study included 87 Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection treated with sofosbuvir plus daclatasvir with or without ribavirin for 12 weeks. Serum NGAL was measured before and at the end of treatment (EOT). Analysis of NGAL and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) evolution was done. Results. Our results showed a statistically significant decrease in serum NGAL (P=0.02) with a nonsignificant reduction in eGFR (P=0.06). Moreover, changes in serum NGAL levels (baseline compared to EOT) in patients ranked by KDIGO-CKD classification showed a significant decrease in stages 1 and 2 (P=0.14 and 0.034, respectively) and a nonsignificant decrease in stage 3 (P=0.25). Also, eGFR changes after treatment in patients ranked by the same classifications showed a nonsignificant reduction in all stages (P>0.05). Conclusions. Sofosbuvir appears to have no nephrotoxic effects and is safe to treat patients with chronic HCV infection.

Background The axillary brachial plexus block is a popular nerve block for forearm, wrist, and hand surgery. The use of local anesthetic peripheral nerve blocks for surgical anesthesia and postoperative pain management has increased significantly with the advent of ultrasound-guided techniques. The discovery of peripheral opioid receptors led to the clinical application of adding opioids to local anesthetics for peripheral nerve blocks. This study is done to evaluate effect of morphine on onset, duration, and quality of analgesia when added to local anesthetics in axillary brachial plexus block and to detect any complications that occurred with this technique. Patients and methods In this prospective controlled clinical trial, 60 adult patients aged 18–60 years scheduled for orthopedic surgery of the forearm and hand with axillary brachial plexus block were selected and randomly allocated to two groups. Placebo group received 24 ml bupivacaine 0.5%, and morphine group received 24 ml bupivacaine 0.5%+5 mg morphine. The onset and duration of sensory and motor blocks, duration of analgesia, and adverse events (such as nausea and pruritus) during perioperative period were recorded. Results Onset of touch and pain block was faster in morphine group, with P values of 0.016 and 0.025, respectively. Onset of motor block was similar in the two groups. Duration of touch block was longer in morphine group, with P value of 0.022. Duration of motor block showed no change between the two groups. Duration of analgesia was longer in the morphine group, with P value of 0.001, with lower consumption of analgesia. No complications were recorded perioperatively. Conclusion We concluded that morphine provide better postoperative analgesia when injected with local anesthetics in ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block without an increase in the frequency of complications.