‘Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of the Methanol Leaf Extract of Phyllanthus Amarus in some Laboratory Animals’ is an article devoted to the study of the therapeutic qualities of Phyllanthus Amarus. The authors suggest considering potential benefits of the plant in the framework of its application to such pathophysiologic condition as an inflammation (Ofuegbe, Adedapo, & Adeyemi, 2013).
The article begins with the description of the introduction of the theoretic material that the authors gathered on the Phyllanthus Amarus issue. Ofuegbe, Adedapo, and Adeyemi describe a plant as a medicament that has been widely used in Nigeria for more than a millennium. In this region, the plant is mainly known for its anti-inflammatory qualities. Therefore, the authors’ aim is to test the hypothesis about the Phyllanthus Amarus’s curative properties with the help of a narrow-focused research (Ofuegbe et al., 2013).
The research was carried out on a phased basis. First of all, the methanol extract was received from the leaves of Phyllanthus Amarus. Secondly, the acetic acid writhing method was applied in order to examine the analgesic property of the extract. Finally, the researchers performed a phytochemical analysis in order to identify the elements responsible for the relevant medical effect (Ofuegbe et al., 2013).
The outcomes of the study have showed that the examined extract possesses unique anti-inflammatory properties and can be used in the quality of an analgesic remedy. Even though, the examined group of the study was represented by rats and mice the researchers suggest that the plant can be equally used in human’s treatment. Thus, the study is a true breakout in the field of pathophysiology as the examined extract can be potentially used in the creation of new medicines aimed at reducing inflammation.
‘Inflammation in pulmonary arterial hypertension: is it time to quell the fire?’ is devoted to a thorough analysis of an inflammation as a pathophysiologic condition. The particular focus is set on the consideration of the inflammatory process in reliance with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In his article, Hassoun tries to explain the nature of inflammation in PAH and to estimate its significance (Hassoun, 2014).
In the beginning of the article, Hassoun provides a brief description of the inflammation concept. Thus, here, a reader learns about the four principal signs typical of this process: redness, swelling, heat, and pain. The author also mentions the existence of the fifth sign suggested by Galen. This symptom, that implies a loss of function, is of particular importance in the inflammation process (Hassoun, 2014).
The key section of the article analyzes the peculiarities of the inflammation’s character in PAH. Hassoun points out that inflammation and vascular remodeling are closely interconnected. The association is proved by numerous studies of circulating bodies and their connection with infectious and autoimmune diseases. The author suggests that the identification of such an interconnection is only a single stage, whereas the final target is an efficient therapeutically-focused measure.
In order to analyze the real effect of this pathophysiologic condition on the disease’s course and to understand whether inflammation can contribute to the healing process, or, on the contrary, can lead to the loss of function, the author considers two research. Both studies prove the negative impact of the inflammation process on a person’s recovery. In fact, the experiments show that inflammation is one of the principal aspects that lead to the increase of mortality cases.
Therefore, the article represents a series of valuable insights about such pathophysiological condition as inflammation and its role in a concrete disease case PAH.
‘Focus on Inflammation’ is an article that provides a review of the relevant sources enlightening the problem of inflammation. Unlike Hassoun, who analyzes a particular disease case on the example of PAH, Tedgui tries to summarize all the available data in order to assess the role of inflammation in various cardiovascular diseases in general (Tedgui, 2011).
The introductory part of the article provides a historical background of the problem under discussion. Hence, a reader learns about the four main symptoms of this process that have already been described above. Besides, the author enlists the so-called “risk factors” that are able to provoke an inflammation, such as, for example, hypertension and alcohol consumption.
The fundamental part of the article is devoted to the review of the relevant works about inflammation. Thus, Tedgui mentions Grundtman’s study that focuses on the problem of heat shock proteins, the two articles that concentrate on the provocative factors for the inflammation of the arterial wall, Ricciotti and Fitzgerald’s discussion of the benefits of the biosynthesis of prostaglandin for reducing the inflammation expression, and, finally, Maskrey’s paper that tells the readers about the latest developments and outbreaks in the relevant field (Tedgui, 2011).
The author’s main aim is to put an emphasis on the importance of such pathophysiological condition as inflammation for modern medicine. Tedgui assumes that the field has recently been enriched with valuable advancements and possesses enough potential for further improvements (Tedgui, 2011).
The article helps a reader to get acquainted with the general background of the relevant problem and to learn about the aspects of its studying. Therefore, it serves as an informational guide that provides useful links for the resources that need examining in order to get a more profound understanding of the problem.
‘Inflammation in Atherosclerosis’ is an experimental work that focuses on the study of the inflammation’s pathways provoking atherosclerosis’s progress. In this article, Libby tries to illustrate the negative role that this pathophysiologic condition plays in atherosclerosis and the extra risks it implies for a patient (Libby, 2012).
The opening part of the article is devoted to the description of the atherosclerosis disease and its peculiar characteristics. Libby proves the damaging effect of inflammation by referring to numerous previous studies performed by such prominent scholars as Ilya Mechnikov and Paul Ehrlich. Their insights about the nature of antibodies and the concept of adapted immunity are taken as the theoretical framework for the relevant experiment paper (Libby, 2012).
The core part of the article concentrates on the description of the inflammatory process in atherosclerosis. Libby enlightens the problems of innate and adaptive immunity, the functioning of inflammatory cells, their inflammation and death, the role of inflammation for a disease’s transformation.
The key idea of the author is that both inflammation and immunity are the aspects that need particular consideration while dealing with a disease case. Libby points out the necessity of taking into account the recently discovered risk factors that are able to provoke and to strengthen the inflammation course. The author points out that the preservation of the artery wall is only possible on condition that all the determining factors are avoided (Libby, 2012).
The paper bases on a long-term study that has lasted for several decades. The principal value of the following article is that it provides an utterly profound enlightening of the questions of inflammation and its role in atherosclerosis.
‘Hypoxia and Inflammation’ is devoted to the analysis of the interconnection between hypoxia and inflammation. Throughout the article, Eltzschig and Carmeliet illustrate how the condition provokes inflammatory processes in a patient and what consequences this association can cause (Eltzschig & Carmeliet, 2014).
In this article, the pathophysiologic condition of inflammation is regarded as a result, unlike the previous papers that considered it as a reason. Therefore, the authors try to analyze the factors that are able to contribute in the inflammation’s progress. Eltzschig and Carmeliet assume that hypoxia activates the intestinal epithelial cells, determining the appearance of inflammation that, in its turn, causes the immune dysfunction (Eltzschig & Carmeliet, 2014).
The authors’ insights base on a valid study base and refer to the results’ of the performed research. All the data they operate has been collected in an experimental way. The authors suggest that the efficient treatment of inflammation is to take into account its nature. In the case of the hypoxia’s cause, the inflammatory expression can be reduced by oxygen-sensing mechanisms and a timely identification of the hypoxia case. Thus, the authors point out these two measures as the principal targets for the modern Therapeutics’ development (Eltzschig & Carmeliet, 2014).
The article presents a deep and thorough study of the inflammation nature and its interconnection with other processes within one disease. The authors have managed to enlighten both the question of the condition’s cause and the potential preventative measures.
Reference List
Eltzschig, H.K., & Carmeliet, P. (2014). Hypoxia and Inflammation. The New England Journal of Medicine, 364(7), 656-665.
Hassoun, P.M. (2014). Inflammation in pulmonary arterial hypertension: is it time to quell the fire? Arteriosclerosis, The European Respiratory Journal, 43(3), 685-688.
Libby, P. (2012). Inflammation in Atherosclerosis. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Journal, 32(1), 2045-2051.
Ofuegbe, S.O., Adedapo, A. A., & Adeyemi, A. A. (2013). Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of the Methanol Leaf Extract of Phyllanthus Amarus in Some Laboratory Animals. Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 25(2), 175-180.
Tedgui, A. (2011). Focus on Inflammation. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 31(1), 175-180.