RESUMEN
Zingiber officinale (ZO) and Terminalia chebula (TC) are plants used for the treatment of diverse illnesses in traditional medicine. The present study investigates the preventive effect of Zingiber officinale-Terminalia chebula extract (ZOTC) against DMBA-induced breast cancer in a rat model. Bioactive compounds from ZO (6-gingerol, 6-shogaol) and TC (gallic acid, ellagic acid, corilagin, chebulinic acid, and chebulagic acid) were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography. Mammary carcinogenesis was induced in rats with a single subcutaneous injection of 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). Oral administration of ZOTC ameliorated the antioxidant status in mammary tissues, serum lipid levels, and serum cytokines. Histological analysis of the mammary tissue (normal and tumor) was carried out to obtain pathological alterations due to ZOTC treatment. The effect of ZOTC on the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) gene and accumulation of corresponding gene product was also investigated. mTOR plays a central role in cell metabolism and proliferation in normal and cancer cells. Transcriptional and immunohistochemical analysis showed the downregulation of mTOR expression in the mammary tissues of ZOTC-treated rats. In conclusion, the results obtained suggest that ZOTC can suppress tumor progression in DMBA-induced breast cancer rats via inhibition of the mTOR pathway.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Mamarias Experimentales , Terminalia , Zingiber officinale , 9,10-Dimetil-1,2-benzantraceno/toxicidad , Animales , Ácido Elágico , Neoplasias Mamarias Experimentales/inducido químicamente , Neoplasias Mamarias Experimentales/prevención & control , Extractos Vegetales/química , Ratas , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR , Terminalia/químicaRESUMEN
Cancer and cancer-related diseases are a global health concern in the present scenario. Functional food and nutraceuticals are considered as a boon towards cancer management. Amorphophallus commutatus var. wayanadensis (ACW) is an herbaceous plant used by the local communities of Wayanad, India, for food and primary healthcare. Various radical scavenging and reducing power assays were undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of ACW (MEAC). In vitro anticancer activity was evaluated against HT-29 cell line by MTT assay, morphological analysis, DNA fragmentation assay and cell cycle analysis. Caspase and COX-2 enzyme assays were conducted to examine the underlying mechanism. Studies on Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) transplanted mice models was carried out to evaluate the in-vivo antioxidant and anticancer potential of MEAC. The major bioactive nutraceutical compound present in MEAC was isolated by bioactivity-guided fractionation. MEAC showed significant in vitro antioxidant activity. Further, MEAC promoted cytotoxicity against HT-29 cells by activating caspase-3 dependent apoptotic pathway with a cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase and subsequent down regulation of COX-2 pathway. The potential antitumor activity of MEAC was further confirmed in EAC tumor bearing mice models in which treatment with MEAC increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes, improved the hematological profile towards normal and also augmented the life span of tumor bearing mice. ß-sitosterol isolated from ACW induces anticancer activity via caspase-dependent pathway. Our study confirmed the antioxidant and anticancer activities of ACW, which proposes the medicinal importance of this plant as a preventive and supportive therapy for arising tumors.
Asunto(s)
Amorphophallus , Antineoplásicos Fitogénicos , Carcinoma de Ehrlich , Amorphophallus/química , Animales , Antineoplásicos Fitogénicos/farmacología , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Carcinoma de Ehrlich/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Ehrlich/patología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Ciclooxigenasa 2/uso terapéutico , Ratones , Extractos Vegetales/químicaRESUMEN
The enzyme ß-galactosidase can synthesise novel prebiotics such as oligosaccharides derived from lactulose (OsLu) which can be added as a supplement in infant food formula. In this study, the intracellular ß-galactosidase produced by the alkaliphilic bacterium Paracoccus marcusii was extracted and purified to homogeneity using hydrophobic and metal affinity chromatography. The purification resulted in 18 U/mg specific activity, with a yield of 8.86% and an 18-fold increase in purity. The purified enzyme was a monomer with an 86 kDa molecular weight as determined by SDS PAGE and Q-TOF-LC/MS. ß-Galactosidase was highly active at 50 °C and pH 6-8. The enzyme displayed an alkali tolerant nature by maintaining more than 90% of its initial activity over a pH range of 5-9 after 3 h of incubation. Furthermore, the enzyme activity was enhanced by 37% in the presence of 5 M NaCl and 3 M KCl, indicating its halophilic nature. The effects of metal ions, solvents, and other chemicals on enzyme activity were also studied. The kinetic parameters KM and Vmax of ß-galactosidase were 1 mM and 8.56 µmoles/ml/min and 72.72 mM and 11.81 µmoles/ml/min on using oNPG and lactose as substrates. P. marcusii ß-galactosidase efficiently catalysed the transgalactosylation reaction and synthesised 57 g/L OsLu from 300 g/L lactulose at 40 °C. Thus, in this study we identified a new ß-galactosidase from P. marcusii that can be used for the industrial production of prebiotic oligosaccharides.
Asunto(s)
Lactulosa/metabolismo , Oligosacáridos/biosíntesis , Paracoccus/enzimología , Prebióticos , beta-Galactosidasa/metabolismo , Biocatálisis , Conformación de Carbohidratos , Cinética , Lactulosa/química , Oligosacáridos/químicaRESUMEN
Stem cells have emerged as a promising source of cell-based therapy in regenerative medicine with several stem cell-based products currently in clinical trials. Despite the immense therapeutic potential, their isolation from some of the emerging sources and their characterization has been naïve owing to the lack of standard markers for the same. Some biomarkers have now been well established for the isolation and characterization of stem cells. However, there are emerging markers that can be used in addition to these conventional markers or independent of them to establish the identity of the stem cells. In this review, an attempt has been made to describe a few conventionally used markers and emerging markers for the identification, isolation and characterization of stem cells from various niches across the three germ layer origins.
Asunto(s)
Medicina Regenerativa , Células Madre , Biomarcadores , Diferenciación Celular , Separación Celular , Estratos GerminativosAsunto(s)
Carcinoma in Situ , Infecciones por Papillomavirus , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino , Neoplasias de la Vulva , Femenino , Humanos , Neoplasias de la Vulva/genética , Inhibidor p16 de la Quinasa Dependiente de Ciclina/genética , Infecciones por Papillomavirus/complicaciones , Carcinoma in Situ/genética , ADN , Papillomaviridae/genética , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , ADN Viral/genéticaRESUMEN
The study performed by Zhou et al. (World J Surg Oncol 15:104, 2017) titled "Clinical and prognostic significance of HIF-1α overexpression in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis" attempts to highlight hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha as a possible prognostic marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We would like to underline a few points which may affect such a conclusion. The correlations between HIF-1α expression and tumour size as well as tumour stage are debatable. Further, the subgroup analysis incorporating Australia and Europe into a single subgroup limits the viability of the prognostic analysis of HIF-1α. We also suggest future studies in the same research area to analyse head and neck squamous cell carcinoma instead of OSCC, to ameliorate the limitations encountered by Zhou et al., due to the scarcity of relevant clinical data and a low number of studies about OSCC.
Asunto(s)
Carcinoma de Células Escamosas , Neoplasias de Cabeza y Cuello , Neoplasias de la Boca , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas de Cabeza y Cuello , Humanos , PronósticoAsunto(s)
Alphapapillomavirus , Infecciones por Papillomavirus , Displasia del Cuello del Útero , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino , Colposcopía , Femenino , Humanos , Papillomaviridae/genética , Infecciones por Papillomavirus/complicaciones , Infecciones por Papillomavirus/epidemiología , Embarazo , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/epidemiología , Displasia del Cuello del Útero/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate health practitioners' confidence and knowledge of alcohol screening, brief intervention and referral after training in a culturally adapted intervention on alcohol misuse and well-being issues for trauma patients. DESIGN: Mixed methods, involving semi-structured interviews at baseline and a post-workshop questionnaire. SETTING: Targeted acute care within a remote area major tertiary referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Ten key informants and 69 questionnaire respondents from relevant community services and hospital-based health care professionals. INTERVENTION: Screening and brief intervention training workshops and resources for 59 hospital staff. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported staff knowledge of alcohol screening, brief intervention and referral, and satisfaction with workshop content and format. RESULTS: After training, 44% of participants reported being motivated to implement alcohol screening and intervention. Satisfaction with training was high, and most participants reported that their knowledge of screening and brief intervention was improved. CONCLUSION: Targeted educational interventions can improve the knowledge and confidence of inpatient staff who manage patients at high risk of alcohol use disorder. Further research is needed to determine the duration of the effect and influence on practice behaviour. Ongoing integrated training, linked with systemic support and established quality improvement processes, is required to facilitate sustained change and widespread dissemination.
Asunto(s)
Intoxicación Alcohólica/prevención & control , Competencia Cultural , Personal de Salud/educación , Capacitación en Servicio/normas , Desarrollo de Programa , Heridas y Lesiones/prevención & control , Australia , Humanos , Pacientes Internos/educación , Entrevistas como Asunto , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de SaludRESUMEN
The per capita alcohol consumption of the Northern Territory, Australia, is second highest in the world, estimated 15.1 liters of pure alcohol per year. Alcohol abuse is a major public health concern among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Northern Territory consume approximately 16.9 liters of pure alcohol per year. This descriptive review is based on current published and grey literature in the context of high risk alcohol use, with a special focus on the epidemiological, etiological, and social factors, to predict alcohol misuse among the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Northern Territory. The methodology involved a descriptive search on PubMed, Northern Territory government reports, health databases, and Web sites with an emphasis on the etiology and epidemiology of high-risk alcohol consumption among the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders of the Northern Territory. This review has its own limitations because it does not rely on systematic review methodologies. However, it presents real data on the motives for binge drinking and alcohol-related violent assaults of this vulnerable population. Alcohol abuse and alcohol-related harms are considerably high among the rural and remote communities where additional research is needed. High-risk alcohol misuse within Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders communities often leads to a series of physical and social consequences. This review highlights the need for culturally appropriate intervention approaches focusing on alcohol misuse among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders population of the Northern Territory.
Asunto(s)
Alcoholismo/etnología , Actitud Frente a la Salud/etnología , Nativos de Hawái y Otras Islas del Pacífico/estadística & datos numéricos , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud/etnología , Alcoholismo/prevención & control , Consejo/organización & administración , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Motivación , Northern Territory/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
The present study aims to investigate the oral therapeutic and molecular role of carotenoid-rich Dunaliella salina powder (DSP) against 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-triggered colon carcinogenesis. In this study, thirty six male Wistar rats were categorized into six distinct groups (G1-G6): G1 group with no intervention, G2 group received only DSP (1000 mg/kg), G3 group received only DMH carcinogen (20 mg/kg), and G4-G6 group received both DMH and DSP at various phases (pre-initiation, post-initiation and entire phases) for 32 weeks. Body weight, tumor incidence, tumor volume, histopathological examination, antioxidants, and detoxification enzymes activities were analyzed in the experimental rats. In addition, the protein expression profile of components involved in the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway was determined by western blot analysis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-7 and MMP-9), proliferation marker (PCNA), and pro-apoptotic (Bcl-2 and Bax) proteins were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Colorimetric assay was used to determine the levels of anti-inflammatory (iNOS and COX-2) and apoptotic proteins (Caspase-3 and Caspase-9). Results showed that concomitant administration of DSP with DMH significantly reduced tumor progression and prevented colon carcinogenesis in rats. However, treatment with DSP before or after DMH exposure did not significantly prevent colon carcinogenesis. DMH and DSP treatment group showed increased activities of antioxidant enzymes with significant reduction in the oxidative stress. Additionally, the detoxification enzymes and colonic histopathology of those rats were restored to that of control rats. The administration of DSP to rats exposed to DMH exhibited antitumor effects via inhibition of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway with induced apoptosis through the Bcl-2/Bax/caspases signaling cascades. Moreover, the same group also showed significant anti-inflammatory activity via regulating iNOS and COX-2 biomarkers. Our findings revealed molecular chemopreventive activity of carotenoid-rich DSP through regulating Wnt/beta-catenin and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. Thus, DSP is propound to function as a potent antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent against colon carcinogenesis.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Globally, alcohol-related injuries cause millions of deaths and huge economic loss each year . The incidence of facial (jawbone) fractures in the Northern Territory of Australia is second only to Greenland, due to a strong involvement of alcohol in its aetiology, and high levels of alcohol consumption. The highest incidences of alcohol-related trauma in the Territory are observed amongst patients in the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of the Royal Darwin Hospital. Accordingly, this project aims to introduce screening and brief interventions into this unit, with the aims of changing health service provider practice, improving access to care, and improving patient outcomes. METHODS: Establishment of Project Governance: The project governance team includes a project manager, project leader, an Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) and an Expert Reference Group (ERG).Development of a best practice pathway: PACT project researchers collaborate with clinical staff to develop a best practice pathway suited to the setting of the surgical unit. The pathway provides clear guidelines for screening, assessment, intervention and referral. IMPLEMENTATION: The developed pathway is introduced to the unit through staff training workshops and associate resources and adapted in response to staff feedback. EVALUATION: File audits, post workshop questionnaires and semi-structured interviews are administered. DISCUSSION: This project allows direct transfer of research findings into clinical practice and can inform future hospital-based injury prevention strategies.
Asunto(s)
Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/prevención & control , Intoxicación Alcohólica/prevención & control , Benchmarking/métodos , Crimen/estadística & datos numéricos , Heridas y Lesiones/prevención & control , Accidentes de Tránsito , Intoxicación Alcohólica/diagnóstico , Auditoría Clínica , Gestión Clínica , Protocolos Clínicos , Vías Clínicas , Humanos , Equipos de Administración Institucional , Tamizaje Masivo/normas , Northern Territory , Proyectos Piloto , Desarrollo de Personal/métodos , Servicio de Cirugía en Hospital , Recursos Humanos , Heridas y Lesiones/diagnósticoRESUMEN
Cancer is the most challenging global health crisis. In the recent times, studies on extracellular vesicles (EVs) are adding a new chapter to cancer research and reports on EVs explores cancer in a new dimension. Exosomes are a group of subpopulations of EVs. It originates from the endosomes and carries biologically active molecules to the neighboring cells which in turn transforms the recipient cell activity. In general, it plays a role in cellular communication. The correlation between exosomes and cancer is fascinating. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEXs) play a dynamic role in cancer progression and are associated with uncontrolled cell growth, angiogenesis, immune suppression, and metastasis. Its molecular cargo is an excellent source of cancer biomarkers. Several advanced molecular profiling approaches assist in exploring the TEXs in depth. This paves the way for a strong foundation for identifying and detecting more specific and efficient biomarkers. TEXs are also gaining importance in scientific society for its role in cancer therapy and several clinical trials based on TEXs is a proof of its significance. In this review, we have highlighted the role of TEXs in mediating immune cell reprogramming, cancer development, metastasis, EMT, organ-specific metastasis, and its clinical significance in cancer theranostics. TEXs profiling is an effective method to understand the complications associated with cancer leading to good health and well-being of the individual and society as a whole.
Asunto(s)
Exosomas , Vesículas Extracelulares , Neoplasias , Humanos , Exosomas/patología , Medicina de Precisión , Neoplasias/patología , Comunicación Celular , Microambiente TumoralRESUMEN
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has morphological and physiological contiguity with the myocardium and coronary arteries, making it a visceral fat deposit with some unique properties. Under normal circumstances, EAT exhibits biochemical, mechanical, and thermogenic cardioprotective characteristics. Under clinical processes, epicardial fat can directly impact the heart and coronary arteries by secreting proinflammatory cytokines via vasocrine or paracrine mechanisms. It is still not apparent what factors affect this equilibrium. Returning epicardial fat to its physiological purpose may be possible by enhanced local vascularization, weight loss, and focused pharmacological therapies. This review centers on EAT's developing physiological and pathophysiological dimensions and its various and pioneering clinical utilities.
Asunto(s)
Tejido Adiposo , Pericardio , Tejido Adiposo/fisiología , Miocardio , Citocinas , Vasos CoronariosRESUMEN
Regardless of the significant progress made in surgical techniques and adjuvant therapies, brain tumors are a major contributor to cancer-related morbidity and mortality in both pediatric and adult populations. Gliomas represent a significant proportion of cerebral neoplasms, exhibiting diverse levels of malignancy. The etiology and mechanisms of resistance of this malignancy are inadequately comprehended, and the optimization of patient diagnosis and prognosis is a challenge due to the diversity of the disease and the restricted availability of therapeutic options. Metabolomics refers to the comprehensive analysis of endogenous and exogenous small molecules, both in a targeted and untargeted manner, that enables the characterization of an individual's phenotype and offers valuable insights into cellular activity, particularly in the context of cancer biology, including brain tumor biology. Metabolomics has garnered attention in current years due to its potential to facilitate comprehension of the dynamic spatiotemporal regulatory network of enzymes and metabolites that enables cancer cells to adapt to their environment and foster the development of tumors. Metabolic changes are widely acknowledged as a significant characteristic for tracking the advancement of diseases, treatment efficacy, and identifying novel molecular targets for successful medical management. Metabolomics has emerged as an exciting area for personalized medicine and drug discovery, utilizing advanced analytical techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and mass spectrometry (MS) to achieve high-throughput analysis. This review examines and highlights the latest developments in MRS, MS, and other technologies in studying human brain tumor metabolomics.