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World Neurosurgery Jun 2024Sir William Macewen, a Scottish surgeon, made significant contributions to neurosurgery, beginning with his successful brain tumor resection in 1879. Born in 1848,... (Review)
Review
Sir William Macewen, a Scottish surgeon, made significant contributions to neurosurgery, beginning with his successful brain tumor resection in 1879. Born in 1848, Macewen's upbringing in a maritime family fostered a practical approach to learning. Macewen's pivotal brain tumor surgery demonstrated his adherence to antiseptic practices and precise localization techniques. Controversy arose regarding his precedence in neurosurgery, which he addressed through meticulous documentation and public presentations. His diagnostic prowess extended to cases of cerebral abscesses and intracranial conditions, relying on clinical observations rather than imaging technology. His 1893 monograph on brain infections remains influential in neurosurgery. Beyond neurosurgery, Macewen was innovative in asepsis, hernia repair, and bone surgery. His legacy as a clinical educator and advocate for surgical advancements earned him widespread recognition. This historical review aimed to explore and evaluate the published literature regarding Macewen's early brain tumor surgeries, seeking to establish his precedence over later surgeons including Godlee and Bennett.
PubMed: 38852713
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.06.006 -
Experimental Oncology May 2024Director of the R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Biological...
Director of the R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Biological Sciences Professor Liubov Heorhiivna Buchynska celebrates her 75th anniversary Liubov Heorhiivna Buchynska graduated from the Biological Department of the Taras Shevchenko State University in 1977 and has been working at the R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine since 1977. In 1996, she became the Scientific Secretary of the Institute, in 2001 - the Deputy Director, and in 2021 - Director of the Institute. In 1989, L. Buchynska received her PhD degree and in 2012, she defended her doctoral thesis "Endometrioid cancer: taxonomy of genetic alterations of cancer cells and their role in determining malignancy potential" and received her doctoral degree in specialty "oncology". Since 2003, she has headed the Laboratory of Oncogenetics (nowadays - the Department of Genetics of Cancer and Oncohematology). In 2020, L. Buchynska was given the title of Professor in Biology. Prof. L. Buchynska is a well-known Ukrainian scientist in the field of oncogenetics and cytomorphology. Her long-term studies are characterized by a multidisciplinary approach to solving the problems of cancer biology and genetics. The innovation component occupies an important place in the fundamental studies by Prof. L. Buchynska aimed at implementing technologies for early and differential diagnosis of the precancerous and cancerous processes and assessing the course of the disease in patients with malignancies of the organs of the female reproductive system. Prof. L. Buchynska has authored more than 250 scientific papers and 7 patents of Ukraine. She is a co-author of three monographs. She pays special attention to research-and-organizational and educational activities and training of young researchers. She has supervised five PhD theses. For the last 10 years, she has been collaborating with the Bogomolets National Medical University lecturing biology. Prof. L. Buchynska is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the "Experimental Oncology" and "Oncology" journals, a member of the Scientific Council on the Problems of Malignant Neoplasms, a member of the Board of the National Association of Ukrainian Oncologists and the Non-governmental Organization "Ukrainian Society for Cancer Research". Prof. L. Buchynska was awarded the Bogomolets Prize of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and a Certificate of Merit of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. She was decorated with the Medal of Honor of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine "For Scientific Achievements". Holding the helm of the Institute in difficult times for our country, Liubov Heorhiivna is doing her best for a noble goal - fighting cancer. The administration and staff of the Institute have a great pleasure to congratulate Liubov Heorhiivna on her 75th anniversary and wish her good health, creative inspiration, and new scientific achievements. Administration and staff of the R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Editorial Board of Experimental Oncology.
Topics: History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Ukraine; Medical Oncology; Humans
PubMed: 38852048
DOI: No ID Found -
Planta Medica Jun 2024The global increase in the incidence of wounds is concerning and fuels the search for new treatment options. The use of traditional medicinal plants in wound healing... (Review)
Review
The global increase in the incidence of wounds is concerning and fuels the search for new treatment options. The use of traditional medicinal plants in wound healing represents an appreciated available therapeutic possibility. This work introduces the VOLKSMED database, which contains plants and other materials used in Austrian folk medicine, either as monographs or mixtures. This work focuses on the monographs of the database. Concerning wound healing, sp., sp., and sp. are the most commonly used plants. The focus of this paper is set on selected lesser-known plants ( sp., sp., sp., ) and their status quo in literature concerning wound healing. A systematic search using the databases SciFinder, SCOPUS, and PubMed yielded substantial evidence for the wound healing potential of sp., sp., the Pinaceae and , as well as and clinical studies substantiate their use in Austrian folk medicine. According to the literature, especially and would be worth investigating in-depth since data concerning their wound healing effects - even though scarce - are convincing. In conclusion, the VOLKSMED database contains promising opportunities for further treatment options in the field of wound healing. Future research should consider the listed plants to support their traditional use in Austrian folk medicine and possibly promote the implementation of old knowledge in modern medicine.
Topics: Austria; Wound Healing; Medicine, Traditional; Humans; Plants, Medicinal; Phytotherapy; Databases, Factual; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38843790
DOI: 10.1055/a-2225-7545 -
Allergologie Select 2024Development, production, and marketing authorization of allergen products is generally challenging due to several specific characteristics, including the natural source... (Review)
Review
Development, production, and marketing authorization of allergen products is generally challenging due to several specific characteristics, including the natural source as well as the multitude of allergenic materials. Also, depending on the frequency of sensitization in the population, the number of patients available for inclusion in clinical trials can be a limiting factor for product development. In the development of allergen products for diagnosis of type I and type IV allergies these challenges are particularly demanding because, in contrast to certain products for allergen-specific immunotherapy, no exemptions from marketing authorization are foreseen for this product group in Directive 2001/83/EC. Thus, the regulatory framework is constantly adapted within the legal scope in order to balance necessary regulatory requirements ensuring quality, safety, and efficacy with the clinical need for a comprehensive range of diagnostic allergen products. In this article, we give an overview on the current regulatory framework for development and marketing authorization of allergen products for diagnosis of rare type I and type IV allergies.
PubMed: 38835748
DOI: 10.5414/ALX02505E -
BMC Ecology and Evolution Jun 2024The geographic patterns of plant diversity in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) have been widely studied, but few studies have focused on wetland plants. This study...
BACKGROUND
The geographic patterns of plant diversity in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) have been widely studied, but few studies have focused on wetland plants. This study quantified the geographic patterns of wetland plant diversity in the QTP through a comprehensive analysis of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional indices.
METHODS
Based on a large number of floras, monographs, specimens and field survey data, we constructed a comprehensive dataset of 1,958 wetland plant species in the QTP. Species richness (SR), phylogenetic diversity (PD), functional diversity (FD), net relatedness index (NRI) and net functional relatedness index (NFRI) were used to assess the taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity of wetland plants. We explored the relationships between the diversity indices and four categories of environmental variables (i.e. energy-water, climate seasonality, topography and human activities). We used four diversity indices, namely endemic species richness, weighted endemism, phylogenetic endemism and functional endemism, together with the categorical analysis of neo- and paleo-endemism (CANAPE), to identify the endemic centers of wetland plants in the QTP.
RESULTS
SR, PD and FD were highly consistent and showed a decreasing trend from southeast to northwest, decreasing with increasing elevation. The phylogenetic structure of wetland plant assemblages in most parts of the plateau is mainly clustered. The functional structure of wetland plant assemblages in the southeast of the plateau is overdispersed, while the functional structure of wetland plant assemblages in other areas is clustered. Energy-water and climate seasonality were the two most important categories of variables affecting wetland plant diversity. Environmental variables had a greater effect on the functional structure of wetland plants than on the phylogenetic structure. This study identified seven endemic centres, mainly in the Himalayas and Hengduan Mountains.
CONCLUSIONS
Climate and topography are the main factors determining the geographic distribution of wetland plant diversity at large scales. The majority of grid cells in the QTP with significant phylogenetic endemism were mixed and super-endemism. At large scales, compared to climate and topography, human activities may not have a negative impact on wetland plant diversity in the QTP.
Topics: Wetlands; Biodiversity; Plants; Tibet; Phylogeny; China
PubMed: 38831426
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02263-w -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 2024China and India have unique traditional medicine systems with vast territory and rich medical resources. Traditional medicines in China include traditional Chinese...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
China and India have unique traditional medicine systems with vast territory and rich medical resources. Traditional medicines in China include traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine, Mongolian medicine, Uyghur medicine, Dai medicine, etc. In the third national survey of Chinese medicine resources, 12694 medicinal materials were identified. Traditional medicines in India include Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy, etc. There are 7263 medicinal materials in India.
AIM OF THE STUDY
To reveal the characteristics of medicinal materials between China and India respectively, and to compare the similarities and differences in terms of properties, tastes, medicinal parts and therapeutic uses and to promote the exchange of traditional medicine between China and India and the international trade of traditional medicine industry.
METHODS
The information of medicinal materials between China and India was extracted from The Chinese Traditional Medicine Resource Records and Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, as well as from 71 Indian herbal monographs. The information of each medicinal material, such as types, families, genera, properties, distribution, medicinal parts, efficacy, therapeutic uses, dosage form and dosage, was recorded in Excel for statistical analysis and visual comparison.
RESULTS
A total of 12694 medicinal materials in China and 5362 medicinal materials in India were identified. The medicinal materials were mostly distributed in Southwest China and northern India. Plants were the main sources of medicinal materials. The common medicinal parts in China were whole medicinal materials, roots and rhizomes, and India used more renewable fruits, seeds and leaves. They are commonly used in the treatment of digestive system diseases. There were 1048 medicinal materials used by both China and India, which were distributed in 188 families and 685 genera. The Chinese and Indian pharmacopoeias had a total of 80 species of medicinal materials used by both China and India.
CONCLUSIONS
The characteristics of medicinal materials between China and India were somewhat different, which was conducive to provide a reference basis for traditional medicine in China or India to increase the medicinal parts and indications when using a certain medicinal material, as well as to expand the source of medicine and introduce new resources. However, there were certain similarities and shared medicinal materials, which can tap the potential of bilateral trade of medicinal materials between China and India, so as to promote the medical cultural exchange and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
PubMed: 38823662
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118409 -
First 150 years of catatonia: Looking back at its complicated history and forward to the road ahead.World Journal of Psychiatry May 2024Karl Ludwig Kahlbaum (1828-1899) was the first to conceptualize and describe the main clinical features of a novel psychiatric illness, which he termed catatonia in his...
Karl Ludwig Kahlbaum (1828-1899) was the first to conceptualize and describe the main clinical features of a novel psychiatric illness, which he termed catatonia in his groundbreaking monograph published 150 years ago. Although Kahlbaum postulated catatonia as a separate disease entity characterized by psychomotor symptoms and a cyclical course, a close examination of his 26 cases reveals that most of them presented with motor symptom complexes or syndromes associated with various psychiatric and medical conditions. In his classification system, Kraepelin categorized catatonic motor symptoms that occur in combination with psychotic symptoms and typically have a poor prognosis within his dementia praecox (schizophrenia) disease entity. Because of the substantial influence of Kraepelin's classification, catatonia was predominantly perceived as a component of schizophrenia for most of the 20 century. However, with the advent of the psychopharmacotherapy era starting from the early 1950s, interest in catatonia in both clinical practice and research subsided until the early 2000s. The past two decades have witnessed a resurgence of interest in catatonia. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition, marked a paradigmatic shift by acknowledging that catatonia can occur secondary to various psychiatric and medical conditions. The introduction of an independent diagnostic category termed "Catatonia Not Otherwise Specified" significantly stimulated research in this field. The authors briefly review the history and findings of recent catatonia research and highlight promising directions for future exploration.
PubMed: 38808080
DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v14.i5.600 -
The Journal of Antimicrobial... Jul 2024The quality of amoxicillin capsules, ceftriaxone for injection, and ciprofloxacin tablets was evaluated to determine whether there is any difference in quality when... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVES
The quality of amoxicillin capsules, ceftriaxone for injection, and ciprofloxacin tablets was evaluated to determine whether there is any difference in quality when comparing the country of origin. This was undertaken because it has been claimed that antibiotics manufactured in Europe are of superior quality to those originating from Africa or Asia.
METHODS
Samples of amoxicillin capsules, ceftriaxone for injection, and ciprofloxacin tablets were collected from three randomly selected wholesale pharmacies in each city, namely Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, Tanzania. The collected samples of collected brands were subjected to quality control testing as per their respective pharmacopoeial monographs. Amoxil 250 mg capsules (Glaxo Wellcome, Mayenne, France), Rocephin (Roche, Switzerland) and Cipro-Denk 500 (Allphamed Pharbil Arzneimittel GmbH, Gottingen, Germany) were used as reference brands for the other generic brands of amoxicillin, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin, respectively.
RESULTS
A total of 31 brands (10 different brands of amoxicillin capsules, 9 of ceftriaxone sodium injections, and 12 of ciprofloxacin tablets) were collected from the targeted regions and subjected to quality control testing. All samples of collected brands complied with the requirements of their respective pharmacopoeial monographs.
CONCLUSIONS
There was no significant difference in quality between brands of amoxicillin capsules, ceftriaxone for injection, and ciprofloxacin tablets manufactured in Africa and Asia against those manufactured in Europe in terms of compliance with the respective pharmacopoeial monographs.
Topics: Tanzania; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ciprofloxacin; Quality Control; Humans; Ceftriaxone; Amoxicillin; Tablets
PubMed: 38804149
DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkae155 -
European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy :... May 2024The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unforeseen and novel manifestations, as illustrated by the management of drug shortages through the development of hospital production...
INTRODUCTION
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unforeseen and novel manifestations, as illustrated by the management of drug shortages through the development of hospital production of sterile pharmaceutical preparations (P2S). Visual inspection of P2S is a release control whose methods are described in monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia (2.9.20) and the United States Pharmacopeia (1790). However, these non-automated visual methods require training and proficiency testing of personnel. The main objective of this work was to compare the reliability and speed of analysis of two visual methods and an automated method for detecting visible particles by image analysis in P2S. Furthermore, these methods were used to evaluate sources of particulate contamination during pre-production processes (washing, disinfection, depyrogenation) and production (filling, capping).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Three pharmacy technicians examined 41 clear glass vials of type I, 10 and/or 50 mL through manual visual inspection (MVI), semi-automated (SAVI), and automated (AVI) inspection. The vials were distributed as follows: (i) 16 vials of water for injection containing either glass particles (224 µm or 600 µm), stopper fragments, or textile fibres; (ii) five sterile injectable specialties; (iii) 20 vials of water for injection prepared under different pre-production conditions.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
MVI and SAVI detected 100% of visible particles compared with 28% for AVI, which showed a deficiency in detecting textile fibres. All three methods correctly analysed P2S that did not contain visible particles. The three methods detected particles in vials maintained under International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9 pre-production conditions. However, detections by (i) MVI and SAVI, and by (ii) AVI of particles contained in vials maintained under ISO 8 pre-production conditions were deemed satisfactory and unsatisfactory, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The importance of visual inspection of P2S requires rapid, sensitive, and reliable detection methods. In this context, MVI and SAVI have proven to be more effective than AVI for a more competitive financial, training, and implementation investment.
PubMed: 38789246
DOI: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2024-004143 -
Primary Care Diabetes May 2024We aimed to evaluate the impact of a multicomponent healthcare intervention, primarily designed to improve glycemic control, on blood pressure and lipids in individuals...
Effectiveness of a multicomponent healthcare intervention on blood pressure and lipids among subjects with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: Findings from the INTEGRA study.
AIM
We aimed to evaluate the impact of a multicomponent healthcare intervention, primarily designed to improve glycemic control, on blood pressure and lipids in individuals with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Catalonian primary care setting METHODS: A cluster, non-randomized, controlled pragmatic trial was conducted across 11 primary care centers. The intervention group (N=225) received a comprehensive, patient-centered approach, including a dedicated monographic consultation to address therapeutic inertia. The control group (N=181) mirrored the intervention group but lacked the monographic consultation. Secondary endpoints included lipid and blood pressure control assessed at baseline and after a 12-month follow-up.
RESULTS
245 participants completed the study over 12 months. We found no differences in the reduction of lipid laboratory parameters between the groups at the final visit. However, no significant differences were found between the groups for other lipids or the proportion of participants achieving lipid target values. Likewise, no differences were noted between the groups for blood pressure, its target control, and treatment at the final visit. Various clinical factors such as age, sex, diabetes duration, HbA1c levels, BMI, and macrovascular complications among the participants were associated with achieving lipid and blood pressure targets at the final visit.
CONCLUSION
The pragmatic multicomponent intervention proposed in the INTEGRA study, showed that including a component designed to reduce clinical inertia in the management of glycemia did not demonstrate benefits in improving lipids and blood pressure in patients with poorly controlled T2DM.
PubMed: 38782704
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcd.2024.05.001