Biomedical subjects

C W Fennell

Publications and source records attributed to C W Fennell.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Assessing African medicinal plants for efficacy and safety: pharmacological screening and toxicology.

This paper reviews progress in establishing the scientific rationale for and safety of traditional medicine use in Africa. Selected plants were screened for antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, anti-amoebic, antischistosomal, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, as well as psychotropic and neurotropic activity using appropriate in vitro tests. Isolation of active compounds, in almost all cases, provided scientific validation for the use of the plants in traditional medicine. Although plants used medicinally are widely assumed to be safe, many are potentially toxic. Where poisoning from traditional medicines has been reported, it is usually because the plants used have been misidentified in the form in which they are sold, or incorrectly prepared and administered by inadequately trained personnel. The issue of quality control may, in the interim, be addressed using chromatographic techniques.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Assessing African medicinal plants for efficacy and safety: agricultural and storage practices.

The paper reviews an important but little researched area of ethnopharmacology, namely, the effect of cultivation and post-harvest storage practices on levels of biological activity in traditionally used medicinal plants. Changes in COX-1 inhibition and antibacterial activity, for example, occur at the onset of senescence and, in some species, are influenced by plant age. Plants in cultivation were also shown to have reduced anthelmintic and antibacterial activity while hypoxoside production was affected by nitrogen and phosphorous. Irrigation treatments, however, increased anthelmintic activity and, therefore, could be applied to medicinal plants cultivated in low rainfall areas. Pesticides have also been implicated in the regulation of plant growth and secondary metabolite production in cultivated medicinal plants, but residue levels have, so far, not been monitored. Post harvest storage of medicinal plants has been poorly researched in southern Africa. Available data indicates that antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity changes following storage and is both species and temperature dependent. Similar trends were noted for materials that had been rapidly aged. Fatty acids with antibacterial activity are stable in dry specimens and, as such, may account for the fact that activity is unaffected by storage in certain instances.

Drug Storage↗

PubMed2003

Alkaloid production in Crinum moorei cultures.

The alkaloids cherylline (1), crinamidine (2), crinine (3), epibuphanisine (4), lycorine (5), powelline (6), undulatine (7), 1-epideacetylbowdensine (8), and 3-O-acetylhamayne (9) were identified in the in vitro propagated bulblets of Crinum moorei. In addition, crinine, powelline, and undulatine were detected in the solidified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The identity of the alkaloids was confirmed by comparing retention times and mass spectra with known samples. Light, as well as benzyladenine (BA) and charcoal supplementation of the tissue culture medium, influenced the levels of specific alkaloids in both the bulblets and media.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed2001

Crinum species in traditional and modern medicine.

Crinums are large, showy plants with umbels of lily-like flowers. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world, where, for centuries, they have been used traditionally to cure ailments and diseases. Sometimes they are prescribed for the same medicinal purpose. This would suggest that they contain a common ingredient. Phytochemical analysis has recently yielded a vast array of compounds, including more than 150 different alkaloids. These are of the Amaryllidaceae type, whose most noted effects are: analgesic, anticholinergic, antitumour and antiviral. Even though much has been reported on the medicinal properties of Crinum, only an estimated 20% of the species worldwide are represented in these analyses, as reviewed in this paper.

Africa, Western↗

PubMed1995

Comparative evaluation of bone suture anchor to bone tunnel fixation of tibialis anterior tendon in cadaveric cuboid bone: a biomechanical investigation.

A multiphase biomechanical study was performed using human tibialis anterior tendons and cuboid bones, comparing the fixation of the tendon to the bone using bone anchors and bone tunnels. Twenty-six specimens were tested for ultimate load to failure comparing Mitek Superanchor fixation with no. 1 and no. 5 braided polyethelyne suture to bone tunnel fixation. Mitek Superanchor with no. 5 suture failed at 223 N, compared with Mitek Superanchor with no. 1 suture at 134 N and bone tunnel at 143 N (P = 0.033). Mitek with no. 1 suture versus bone tunnel was not significantly different. The Mitek with no. 5 suture failed at the tendon/suture interface (75%), the Mitek with no. 1 suture failed at the suture/anchor interface (56%), and bone tunnel fixation failed most commonly by fracture of the tunnel (76%). This study is the first biomechanical analysis of the pullout strengths of bone tunnels or suture anchors in the cuboid bone. We have shown that the suture anchor has a pullout strength comparable or superior to a conventional bone tunnel in an in vitro situation. We believe it is a viable alternative to fixation of the tibialis anterior tendon to the cuboid when there is insufficient tendon length or failure of the bone tunnel.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Redefining the anatomy of the anterior tibialis tendon.

The observation that, when performing a split anterior tibialis tendon transfer, a twist develops as the distal segment is brought into position on the lateral side of the foot led to our hypothesis that, as a consequence of foot rotation during embryologic development, rotation of the tendon of the anterior tibialis muscle also occurs and can be seen in the adult. Ten unembalmed human lower extremities were examined with regard to the macrostructure of the anterior tibialis tendon. In all 10 specimens, the fibers rotated through 90 degrees from the musculotendinous junction to the insertion on the first cuneiform and metatarsal. The tendon was then split, releasing the first metatarsal insertion in five specimens and the first cuneiform insertion in five. Lateral transfer of the first metatarsal-released group produced a crossing over proximally of the tendon as the fibers came from the medial side of the musculotendinous junction. Lateral transfer of the first cuneiform-released group produced no crossing over proximally as the fibers came from the lateral side of the musculotendinous junction. During a split anterior tibialis tendon transfer, release of the cuneiform insertion will avoid the proximal twisting seen with first metatarsal release and allows for a more direct line of pull of the muscle on the tendon.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1992

Multidirectional radiocarpal dislocation without fracture: a case report.

The first reported case of posttraumatic multidirectional instability of the radiocarpal joint is described with a review of the relevant literature. A 31-year-old man sustained a palmar radiocarpal dislocation that also dislocated dorsally with gentle provocation and showed ulnar translation and a dorsal intercalated segmental instability pattern after closed reduction. Treatment consisted of open reduction and internal fixation with 11 weeks of immobilization. Follow-up at 32 months showed excellent clinical and radiographic results. Multidirectional instabilities of the radiocarpal joint can occur with radiocarpal dislocation, and one must look for them when planning treatment. Anatomic realignment of the bones and joints is recommended to allow soft tissue healing and prevention of secondary ligamentous laxity.

Adult↗