Efficacy of the Stendo Pulsating suit in patients with leg lymphedema: a pilot randomized study.

Background: The "shear stress like" effect of pulsating suit sessions at 65 mm Hg (Stendo(®) device), evidenced in healthy volunteers, might stimulate venous return and act as a physiological pump in lymphedema patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the lower limb total volume (TV) decrease induced by a pulsating suit versus intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) sessions during a five-day complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) treatment.

Materials & Methods: Twenty-four leg lymphedema patients were randomized into a CDP group according to the current practices and a CDP group where IPC was replaced by the pulsating suit.

Molecular modeling, NOESY NMR, and the structure of nicandrenone isolated from Nicandra physalodes (Solanaceae).

The configuration and conformation of nicandrenone, isolated from Nicandra physalodes, are described using molecular modeling and NMR NOESY techniques. Amsterdam Density Functional (ADF) software was used, and the structures were those reduced to minimum energy molecular models, utilizing B3LYP executions and Density Functional Theory (DFT). The first spectral proof that this withanolide has a 22-R configuration is also provided.

Suitability of 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6NX) for the induction of interstitial renal fibrosis in rats--influence of sex, strain, and surgical procedure.

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a serious clinical problem and currently there are no adequate therapeutic strategies for treatment. Many possible treatment strategies have been tested in rats with CRF induced by subtotal nephrectomy. However, reports in the literature concerning the consequences of this procedure on rat kidney function are contradictory.

Cytotoxic withanolides from Acnistus arborescens.

Three cytotoxic withanolides, two with new structures, were isolated from the leaves of Acnistus arborescens and their structures determined by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR, mass spectral, and molecular modeling studies. Dereplication analysis of the ethyl ether extract was useful for evaluating the components showing significant cytotoxic activity.