In Vitro Apoptosis Triggering in the BT-474 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line by Lyophilised Camel's Milk.

Breast cancer is a global health concern and is a major cause of death among women. In Oman, it is the most common cancer in women, with an incidence rate of 15.6 per 100,000 Omani females. Various anticancer remedies have been discovered from natural products in the past and the search is continuing for additional examples. Cytotoxic natural compounds may have a major role in cancer therapy either in potentiating the effect of chemotherapy or reducing its harmful effects. Recently, a few studies have reported advantages of using crude camel milk in treating some forms of cancer. However, no adequate data are available on the lyophilised camel's milk responsibility for triggering apoptosis and oxidative stress associated with human breast cancer. The present study aimed to address the role of the lyophilised camel's milk in inducing proliferation repression of BT-474 and HEp-2 cells compared with the non-cancer HCC1937 BL cell line. Lyophilized camel's milk fundamentally repressed BT-474 cells growth and proliferation through the initiation of either the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways as indicated by both caspase-3 mRNA and its action level, and induction of death receptors in BT-474 but not the HEp-2 cell line. In addition, lyophilised camel's milk enhanced the expression of oxidative stress markers, heme-oxygenase-1 and reactive oxygen species production in BT-474 cells. Increase in caspase-3 mRNA levels by the lyophilised camel's milk was completely prevented by the actinomycin D, a transcriptional inhibitor. This suggests that lyophilized camel's milk increased newly synthesized RNA. Interestingly,it significantly (p<0.003) repressed the growth of HEp-2 cells and BT-474 cells after treatment for 72 hours while 24 hours treatment repressed BT-474 cells alone. This finding suggests that the lyophilised camel's milk might instigate apoptosis through initiation of an alternative apoptotic pathway.

The prospect of malaria elimination in the Arabian Peninsula: a population genetic approach.

BACKGROUND: In the Arabian Peninsula malaria control is progressing steadily, backed by adequate logistic and political support. As a result, transmission has been interrupted throughout the region, with exception of limited sites in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Here we examined Plasmodium falciparum parasites in these sites to assess if the above success has limited diversity and gene flow. METHODS: We examined 108 P. falciparum isolates in three sites in Yemen (Taiz, Dhamar and Hodeidah) and 91 isolates from Saudi Arabia (Jazan). Nine microsatellites were analyzed for allelic diversity, multi-locus haplotype and inter-population differentiation. RESULTS: Diversity at each locus (unbiased heterozygosity [H]) was relatively lower in Yemen; (Hodeidah, H=0.615, Taiz, H=0.66, Dhamar, H=0.481), compared to Saudi Arabia (Jazan, H=0.76). Microsatellites were distributed widely and private alleles, detected in a single population, were rare. Pairwise comparisons revealed that parasites population in Dhamar was relatively distanced (FST=0.19). However, Taiz (Yemen) (FST=0.065) and Hodeidah (FST=0.107) populations were closer to that in Jazan (Saudi Arabia). Nonetheless, parasites in the four sites can be considered as one population. CONCLUSION: Although malaria risk in Saudi Arabia has been cut considerably, the extent of diversity and parasite genetic structure are indicative of a large population size. Elimination strategy should target demographic factors that favor parasite dispersal and flow of imported malaria.