(C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Bioassay-guided fractionation of the fruits of Piper longum afforded
two new minor amides, piperlongimin A (2) [2E-N-isobutyl-hexadecenamide] and piperlongimin B (4) [2E-octadecenoylpiperidine] together with five known compounds with moderate cytotoxic activity. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidences. All these compounds inhibited cell proliferation of human leukemia, HL-60 cell lines, and displayed major apoptosis-inducing effects.”
“Background: The thickness of fibrous caps (TCT) of atherosclerotic lesions is a critical factor affecting plaque vulnerability to rupture. This study tests whether 3 Tesla high resolution intravascular cardiovascular
magnetic resonance Sotrastaurin inhibitor (CMR) employing tiny loopless detectors can identify lesions and accurately measure FCT in human arterial specimens, and whether such an approach is feasible in vivo using animal models.
Methods: Receive-only 2.2 mm and 0.8 mm diameter intravascular loopless CMR detectors were fabricated for a clinical 3 Tesla MR scanner, and SHP099 research buy the absolute signal-to-noise ratio determined. The detectors were applied in a two-step protocol comprised of CMR angiography to identify atherosclerotic lesions, followed by high-resolution CMR to characterize FCT, lesion size, and/or vessel wall thickness. The protocol was applied in fresh human iliac and carotid artery specimens buy IPI-145 in a human-equivalent saline bath. Mean FCT measured by 80 mu m intravascular CMR was compared with histology of the same sections. In vivo studies compared aortic wall thickness and plaque size in healthy and hyperlipidemic rabbit models, with post-mortem histology.
Results: Histology confirmed plaques in human specimens, with calcifications
appearing as signal voids. Mean FCT agreed with histological measurements within 13% on average (correlation coefficient, R = 0.98; Bland-Altman analysis, -1.3 +/- 68.9 mu m). In vivo aortic wall and plaque size measured by 80 mu m intravascular CMR agreed with histology.
Conclusion: Intravascular 3T CMR with loopless detectors can both locate atherosclerotic lesions, and accurately measure FCT at high-resolution in a strategy that appears feasible in vivo. The approach shows promise for quantifying vulnerable plaque for evaluating experimental therapies.”
“Effective interventions are needed to address the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. In the past 35 years, family-based approach has gradually developed as a preferred intervention. This review aimed to examine the methodological rigour and treatment effectiveness of family-based interventions according to intervention types and theoretical orientations. A total of 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of family-based lifestyle interventions for children and adolescents aged 219 years were included.