MED with the balloon retractor safely moved the esophagus away from the site of energy delivery during atrial fibrillation ablation.

No abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by circumscribed, red, thickened plaques with overlying silvery white scales. It is associated with the release of pro-inflammatory mediators that lead to the development of edema and distress. Here we show the anti-inflammatory and anti-psoriatic efficacies of a neutraceutical sea buckthorn oil (SBKT) derived from the fruit pulp of Hippophae rhamnoides. Chemical analysis of the SBKT showed the presence of 16 major saturated, mono-, and polyunsaturated fatty acids components, imparting significant nutritional values. Efficacy of the SBKT in modulating psoriasis and associated inflammation was first tested in vitro using human monocytic (THP-1) cells. SBKT induced cytotoxicity at a dose of ≥25 µl/ml. Treatment of the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 cells with SBKT subdued the enhanced release of intracellular reactive nitrogen species and expression of NF-κB protein, in a concentration-dependent manner. This was accompanied by a reduction in the release of downstream pro-inflammatory cytokines: Interleukin-1ß and interleukin-6. Tumor necrosis factor-α released in the stimulated THP-1 cells were also inhibited by SBKT dose of 5 µl/ml. In vivo oral and topical treatment with SBKT in the Carrageenan-stimulated paw edema model, showed a significant decrease in paw volume and edema. In the 12-O tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) stimulated CD-1 mice psoriasis-like model, concurrent oral and tropical SBKT treatments substantially reduced ear edema and ear biopsy weights. Histopathologically, significant reduction in ear epidermal thickness and skin lesion scores was observed in the SBKT-treated animals. In conclusion, SBKT showed anti-inflammatory and anti-psoriasis-like efficacies in healing chemical-induced inflammation and psoriasis. The possible mode of action of SBKT was found through inhibition of reactive nitrogen species, and downregulation of NF-κB protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, the present data suggest that Sea buckthorn oil can be used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-psoriatic nutraceutical.

Balkrishna et al. Divya Sarva-Kalp-Kwath Attenuates Hepatotoxicity the literature search on the identified plant metabolites, SKK was found to act in multiple ways to ameliorate CCl 4 induced hepatotoxicity. Therefore, polyherbal SKK medicine has shown remarkable potentials as a possible alternative therapeutics for reducing liver toxicity induced by drugs, and other toxins.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is defined as a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that causes damage to limb joints and progressive injuries to secondary organs. Medical practitioners prescribe Methotrexate (MTX) as standard care medicine for treating RA. However, the long-term application of MTX has shown to have adverse health-related effects. Divya Amvatari Ras (DAR), an Indian Ayurvedic herbo-mineral formulation, has been described in ancient texts to provide relief from RA inflammation associated distress. Therefore, in the present study, we explored the biocompatibility, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic efficacy of DAR using in vivo and in vitro disease models. Using carrageenan (CA)-stimulated Wistar rat paw edema model, we showed a reduction in inflammation-induced paw edema at human equivalent dose of DAR. Anti-rheumatic efficacy of DAR was studied using collagen-antibody cocktail (C-Ab) Induced Arthritis (CAIA) mouse model. The onset of RA in the CAIA mice was determined using parameters such as the increase in arthritis score, and induction of disease associated lesions in the ankle and knee joints, and increase in mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Treatment of CAIA animals with a human equivalent dose of DAR significantly reversed the RA-associated pathogenesis. These effects were comparable with the standard of care RA drug, MTX. DAR acted at multiple levels of inflammation associated with RA to reduce progressive pathogenesis. Animal serum biochemistry showed DAR was capable of ameliorating RA induced increase in liver enzyme Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6). In the lipopolysaccharide stimulated THP-1 cells, DAR was found to inhibit the release of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and upstream inflammatory gene regulatory protein, NFκB. The study endorsed the anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory activity of the Indian Traditional herbo-mineral medicine, DAR. These results also confirm that DAR was highly biocompatible and would show minimal health-related side effects than those associated with standard of care MTX. Taken together, we show that the DAR could be utilized as a promising alternative or complementary therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis.