Fibroblast test cells of embryo of Super Java Chicken as an indicator to test toxicity and malignancy.

Fibroblast is one component of connective tissue cells in polygonal or stellate with cytoplasmic processes or projections. In vitro, tissue culture is an excellent medium used in biomedical research. The goal of this study was to analyze Toxicity and Malignancy in Embryo of Super Java Chicken as Potential Candidates of Strong Poultry in Indonesia. This study used Preparation of fibroblast primary cell culture of Java super chicken embryos, Pathogenicity test using fibroblast cells from Super Java chicken, Toxicity test using fibroblast cells from Super Java Chicken. Primary fibroblast cell culture of Java super chicken embryos was prepared from 10-day-old brood chicken eggs free of pathogens. Cells were prepared in 96-well microplates with minimal essential medium (MEM) containing 10 % fetal calf serum (FCS) 100 IU/ug penicillin/streptomycinVirus isolates were diluted in stages from 10-2 to 10-5 and inoculated into Java Super Chicken Fibroblast cell culture. The result showed that the negative control of the samples had a faster proliferative power than the fibroblast cell culture of Java super chicken, which was treated with concentrations of 10-2; 10-3; 10-4; 10-5. Moreover, before being inoculated with the virus, the confluent fibroblast cells of Java super chicken looked oval and regular. The day after infection, syncytia (large multinucleated cells) began to form on a small scale and became more pronounced on the second and third post-infection days. CPE was found in the 10-2,10-3 and 10-4 virus dilutions, and CPE was not found in the 10-5 dilution.

Evaluation of Effect of Honey Sugars Analogue Therapy against Breast Cancer Induced by 1-Methyl-1-nitrosourea in In Vivo Breast Cancer Model.

The use of honey as a complementary and alternative medicine is associated with vast range of therapeutic promises. It is established that it exhibits potential innumerable medicinal effects which is attributed to it phenolic, flavonoids, and other diverse compounds profile. However, the effect of honey sugars analogue as its major constituent has not been investigated. This study examined the effect of honey sugars analogue (HSA) namely fructose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose in breast cancer-induced albino Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat models. The treatment was administered when first palpable tumour reached 10-12 mm in size by dividing nulliparous rats (n = 30) into following groups: Group 0 (negative control, n = 10), Group 1 (positive control, n = 10), and Group 2 (received 1.0 g/kg body HSA, n = 10) over a period of 120 days. The effect of treatment against breast cancer was observed with a slower tumour progression, a lower median tumour size, multiplicity, and weight (p < 0.05). The anticancer effect was through amelioration of tumour growth, tumour grading, and haematological parameters. Data also show that HSA administration induces an increased susceptibility of expression of proapoptotic proteins such as Apaf-1, caspase-9, IFN-γ, IFNGR1, and p53, and a reduced expression of antiapoptotic proteins such as E2, ESR1, TNF-α, COX-2, and Bcl-xL 1 in their mechanisms of action. HSA behaves akin to honey. Thus, HSA may modulate breast cancer as an analogue or major profile of honey.

Clinacanthus nutans Standardized Fraction Arrested SiHa Cells at G1/S and Induced Apoptosis via Upregulation of p53.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death in women. Current cancer treatment comes with side effects. Clinacanthus nutans has been known traditionally to treat cancer. This study was aimed to characterize C. nutans standardized fraction (SF1) and to investigate its anticancer mechanism against SiHa cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SF1 was produced by optimized methodology for bioassay-guided fractionation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were carried out to characterize the SF1. SF1 was screened for cytotoxicity activity toward HeLa, SiHa, and normal cells (NIH) cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The anticancer mechanism of SF1 was evaluated toward SiHa cells, which showed highest cytotoxicity toward SF1 treatment. The mechanism includes cell cycle progression and protein expression, which was detected using specific antibody-conjugated fluorescent dye, p53-FITC, by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Major constituents of SF1 were alkaloids with amines as functional group. SF1 showed highest cytotoxic activity against SiHa (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] < 10 µg/mL) compared to HeLa cells. Cytoselectivity of SF1 was observed with no IC50 detected on normal NIH cells. On flow cytometry analysis, SF1 was able to induce apoptosis on SiHa cells by arresting cell cycle at G1/S and upregulation of p53 protein. CONCLUSION: SF1 showed anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis through arrested G1/S cell cycle checkpoint-mediated mitochondrial pathway.

Honey as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Its Molecular Mechanisms of Action.

Honey clasps several medicinal and health effects as a natural food supplement. It has been established as a potential therapeutic antioxidant agent for various biodiverse ailments. Data report that it exhibits strong wound healing, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, and antidiabetic effects. It also retains immunomodulatory, estrogenic regulatory, antimutagenic, anticancer, and numerous other vigor effects. Data also show that honey, as a conventional therapy, might be a novel antioxidant to abate many of the diseases directly or indirectly associated with oxidative stress. In this review, these wholesome effects have been thoroughly reviewed to underscore the mode of action of honey exploring various possible mechanisms. Evidence-based research intends that honey acts through a modulatory road of multiple signaling pathways and molecular targets. This road contemplates through various pathways such as induction of caspases in apoptosis; stimulation of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IFN-γ, IFNGR1, and p53; inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest; inhibition of lipoprotein oxidation, IL-1, IL-10, COX-2, and LOXs; and modulation of other diverse targets. The review highlights the research done as well as the apertures to be investigated. The literature suggests that honey administered alone or as adjuvant therapy might be a potential natural antioxidant medicinal agent warranting further experimental and clinical research.

Prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) in Malaysian women with and without cervical cancer: an updated estimate.

Information on the prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) among Malaysian women is currently limited. The present study therefore aimed to provide an updated estimate on the prevalence and type distribution of HPV among Malaysian women with and without cervical cancer. Total DNA was isolated from the cervical cell specimens of 185 histopathologically confirmed cervical cancer patients and 209 cancer-free healthy females who were tested negative in a recent Pap test. Viral-specific DNA was subsequently amplified with biotinylated primers and hybridized to HPV type-specific probes via a proprietary "flow-through hybridization" process for determination of HPV genotype. It was demonstrated that 83.2% of the cervical cancer patients and none (0.0%) of the cancer-free females were positive for HPV infection. Among HPV-positive subjects, 14 different viral genotypes were observed, namely HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, 53, 58, 66/68, 73, 81, 82, and 84/26. A total of 91.6% of the HPV-positive subjects had single-type HPV infections and the remaining 8.4% were simultaneously infected by two HPV genotypes. The most common HPV infections found were HPV16 (35.7%), HPV18 (26.0%), HPV58 (9.1%), and HPV33 (7.1%) single-type infections, followed by HPV16 + HPV18 co-infections (5.2%). The study has successfully provided an updated estimate on the prevalence and type distribution of HPV among Malaysian women with and without cervical cancer. These findings could contribute valuable information for appraisal of the impact and cost-effectiveness of prophylactic HPV vaccines in the Malaysian population.

Curcumin: the spicy modulator of breast carcinogenesis.

Worldwide breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. For many years clinicians and the researchers are examining and exploring various therapeutic modalities for breast cancer. Yet the disease has remained unconquered and the quest for cure is still going on. Present-day strategy of breast cancer therapy and prevention is either combination of a number of drugs or a drug that modulates multiple targets. In this regard natural products are now becoming significant options. Curcumin exemplifies a promising natural anticancer agent for this purpose. This review primarily underscores the modulatory effect of curcumin on the cancer hallmarks. The focus is its anticancer effect in the complex pathways of breast carcinogenesis. Curcumin modulates breast carcinogenesis through its effect on cell cycle and proliferation, apoptosis, senescence, cancer spread and angiogenesis. Largely the NFkB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK and JAK/STAT are the key signaling pathways involved. The review also highlights the curcumin mediated modulation of tumor microenvironment, cancer immunity, breast cancer stem cells and cancer related miRNAs. Using curcumin as a therapeutic and preventive agent in breast cancer is perplexed by its diverse biological activity, much of which remains inexplicable. The information reviewed here should point toward potential scope of future curcumin research in breast cancer.

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma: A hospital-based clinicopathological study and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) is a rare aggressive malignancy of thyroid follicular cells and has unique features in morphology and behavior. This study was aimed to describe the experience of a tertiary medical center with PDTC within a 10-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive retrospective study of eight cases of PDTC among 418 various thyroid carcinomas. All cases of PDTC were retrieved along with the clinicopathological information. RESULTS: Only eight cases (1.9%) of PDTC were diagnosed among 418 thyroid carcinomas. Mean age was 48.12 with 3:5 (male:female) and tumor size ranged 3-12 cm. PDTC were diagnosed coexisting with one or more other pathologies; nodular hyperplasia (four cases), papillary carcinoma (one case), follicular carcinoma (three cases), and Hashimoto thyroiditis (two cases); with ≥60% PDTC component. Six cases associated with high-grade features died within 3 years after diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Mean age in this study was younger including a 20-year-old girl. Younger age was associated with better prognosis. Most of the cases had underlying benign thyroid lesions and differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Most of the PDTC had poor prognosis associated with PDTC component ≥60%, tumor necrosis, high mitotic count, lymph node involvement, vascular invasion and distant metastasis; and these cases died within 3 years after diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Although treatment of PDTC remains surgery followed by radioiodine therapy, correct histopathological diagnosis is important for clinicians and oncologists to predict the prognosis. All thyroid carcinoma should be sampled thoroughly not to miss small foci of PDTC component.

Oral Administration of Tualang and Manuka Honeys Modulates Breast Cancer Progression in Sprague-Dawley Rats Model.

Breast cancer has been recognized as the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Research has shown the importance of complementary and alternative therapies in cancer. In this study, we investigated the antitumoural therapeutic effects of Malaysian Tualang honey (TH) and Australian/New Zealand Manuka honey (MH) against breast cancer in rats. Thirty syngeneic virgin female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were induced by the carcinogen 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU) 80 mg/kg. The treatment started when first palpable tumour reached 10-12 mm in size by dividing rats into following groups: Group 0 (negative control); Group 1 (positive control); and Groups 2 and 3 which received 1.0 g/kg body weight/day of TH and MH, respectively, for 120 days. The data demonstrate that cancer masses in TH and MH treated groups showed a lower median tumour size, weight, and multiplicity compared with the nontreated positive control (p < 0.05). Treatment also showed a dramatic slower growth rate (up to 70.82%) compared with the nontreated control (0%) (p < 0.05). The antitumoural effect was mediated through modulation of tumour growth, tumour grading, estrogenic activity, and haematological parameters. Our findings demonstrate that systemic administration of TH and MH increases the susceptibility of expression of proapoptotic proteins (Apaf-1, Caspase-9, IFN-γ, IFNGR1, and p53) and decreases the expression of antiapoptotic proteins (TNF-α, COX-2, and Bcl-xL 1) in its mechanism of action. This highlights a potential novel role for TH and MH in alleviating breast cancer.

The anti-cancer effects of Tualang honey in modulating breast carcinogenesis: an experimental animal study.

BACKGROUND: Honey has been shown to have anti-cancer effects, but the mechanism behind these effects is not fully understood. We investigated the role of Malaysian jungle Tualang honey (TH) in modulating the hematological parameters, estrogen, estrogen receptors (ER1) and pro and anti-apoptotic proteins expression in induced breast cancer in rats. METHODS: Fifty nulliparous female Sprague-Dawley rats were used and grouped as follows: Group 0 (healthy normal rats control), Group 1 (negative control; untreated rats), Groups 2, 3 and 4 received daily doses of 0.2, 1.0 and 2.0 g/kg body weight of TH, respectively. The rats in groups 1, 2, 3, 4 were induced with 80 mg/kg of 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU). TH treatment in groups 2, 3 and 4 was started one week prior to tumor induction and continued for 120 days. RESULTS: The TH-treated rats had tumors of different physical attributes compared to untreated negative control rats; the tumor progression (mean 75.3 days versus 51.5 days); the incidence (mean 76.6% versus 100%); the multiplicity (mean 2.5 versus 4 tumor masses per rat); the size of tumor mass (mean 0.41 cm versus 1.47 cm [p < 0.05]) and the weight of the tumor mass (mean 1.22 g versus 3.23 g; [p < 0.05]). Histological examinations revealed that cancers treated with TH were mainly of grades I and II compared with the non-treated control, in which the majority were of grade III (p < 0.05). TH treatment was found to modulate hematological parameters such as Hb, RBCs, PCV, MCV, RDW, MCHC, polymorphs and lymphocytes values. TH treatment groups were found to have a lower anti-apoptotic proteins (E2, ESR1 and Bcl-xL) expression and a higher pro-apoptotic proteins (Apaf-1 and Caspase-9) expression at serum and on cancer tissue level (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tualang Honey alleviates breast carcinogenesis through modulation of hematologic, estrogenic and apoptotic activities in this experimental breast cancer animal model. Tualang Honey may be used as a natural 'cancer-alleviating' agent or as a supplement to chemotherapeutic agents.

FAS c.-671A>G polymorphism and cervical cancer risk: a case-control study and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the association between FAS c.-671A>G polymorphism and cervical cancer risk in a case-control setting, followed by a meta-analysis of the published literatures. The case-control study involved genotyping of the polymorphism in 185 histopathologically confirmed cervical cancer patients and 209 cancer-free female controls utilizing PCR-RFLP technique, followed by logistic regression analyses. Meta-analysis was then conducted under homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, recessive and allele contrast models to combine data from 12 studies which consisted of 2798 cases and 3039 controls. Our case-control analysis revealed a significant association of the variant allele (G) and the homozygous variant genotype (GG) of the FAS polymorphism with an increased risk of cervical cancer. Subgroup analysis by ethnicity further confirmed the risk association in Malays (P < 0.05), but not among non-Malays (P > 0.05). However, results of meta-analysis suggested a lack of association between the polymorphism and cervical cancer risk in all the five genetic models analyzed. In conclusion, while the FAS c.-671A>G polymorphism may serve as a biomarker for cervical cancer risk prediction among the Malays, there is a limited usability of the polymorphism as a cervical cancer risk biomarker in other populations.

Identification of Optimal Reference Genes for Normalization of RT-qPCR Data in Cancerous and Non-Cancerous Tissues of Human Uterine Cervix.

This study aimed to identify the most stably expressed reference genes from a panel of 32 candidate genes for normalization of reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction data in cancerous and non-cancerous tissues of human uterine cervix. Overall, PUM1, YWHAZ, and RPLP0 were identified as the most stably expressed genes in paired cancerous and non-cancerous tissues. The results were further stratified by the state of malignancy of the tissues, histopathological type of the cancer, and the human papillomavirus-type.

Potential Role of E4 Protein in Human Papillomavirus Screening: a Review

In 2006, cervical cancer was reported as the second most common cancer in women of Malaysia. This type of cancer has been shown to correlate with persistent high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Although HPV is well known to induce cervical cancer, knowledge of pathways that link the latent stage of the viral replication cycle to precancerous and cancerous stages remains incomplete. However, it is interesting to note that the virus can be isolated from tissues ranging from normal to low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions as well as high-grade intraepithelial lesions (HSILs), thus prompting scientists to develop HPV detection methods for screening. Detection of HPV using viral proteins such as L1 and E1 is proposed to be very useful in assisting the management of high risk infection and cervical cancer. These tests however can lead to false positive results, largely due to the exisstence of asymptomatic or transient HPV infections within any given individual. Somes observation indicate that use of HPV proteins such as E6 and E7 might lead to false positive results. However, one particular HPV protein, E4 shows potential as an accurate marker of the tissue state following HPV infection. E4 expression has been shown to correlate with the levels of HPV DNA incorporation by the host. Thus, it is possible that E4 could serve as a useful marker to define stages of viral carcinogenesis.

SelfSampling Versus Physicians' Sampling for Cervical Cancer Screening Agreement of Cytological Diagnoses.

BACKGROUND: A major problem with cervical cancer screening in countries which have no organized national screening program for cervical cancer is suboptimal participation. Implementation of selfsampling method may increase the coverage. OBJECTIVE: We determined the agreement of cytological diagnoses made on samples collected by women themselves (selfsampling) versus samples collected by physicians (Physician sampling). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We invited women volunteers to undergo two procedures; cervical selfsampling using the Evalyn brush and physician sampling using a Cervex brush. The women were shown a video presentation on how to take their own cervical samples before the procedure. The samples taken by physicians were taken as per routine testing (Gold Standard). All samples were subjected to Thin Prep monolayer smears. The diagnoses made were according to the Bethesda classification. The results from these two sampling methods were analysed and compared. RESULTS: A total of 367 women were recruited into the study, ranging from 22 to 65 years age. There was a significant good agreement of the cytological diagnoses made on the samples from the two sampling methods with the Kappa value of 0.568 (p=0.040). Using the cytological smears taken by physicians as the gold standard, the sensitivity of selfsampling was 71.9% (95% CI:70.972.8), the specificity was 86.6% (95% CI:85.7 87.5), the positive predictive value was 74.2% (95% CI:73.375.1) and the negative predictive value was 85.1% (95% CI: 84.286.0). Selfsampling smears (22.9%) allowed detection of microorganisms better than physicians samples (18.5%). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that samples taken by women themselves (selfsampling) and physicians have good diagnostic agreement. Selfsampling could be the method of choice in countries in which the coverage of women attending clinics for screening for cervical cancer is poor.

Endometrial Cancer in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy among females worldwide, approximately 320,000 women being diagnosed with the disease each year and 76,000 dying. To date, there is limited knowledge of endometrial cancer in Malaysia. OBJECTIVES: To identify the epidemiological profile and prognostic factors of survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A list of endometrial cancer patients in 2000-2011 was obtained from the hospital Record Department. Only cases confirmed by histopathology examination were included. We excluded those with incomplete medical records or referral cases. Simple and multiple Cox regression approaches were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Only 108 cases were included with a mean (SD) age of 62.7 (12.3) years, with 87.0% Malay ethnicity. Grade of cancer was: 29.1% grade 1, 43.7% grade 2 and 27.2% grade 3. The majority of patients had non-endometrioid type (60.2%), with myometrial invasion (82.2%) and lymphovascular invasion (57.3%). The significant prognostic factors were age (HR 1.05; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.08, p=0.002) and having lymphovascular invasion (HR 2.15; 95% CI: 1.08, 4.29; p=0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Endometrial cancer patients should be diagnosed earlier to reduce the risk of mortality. The public should be given education on the signs and symptoms of the disease.

Median Survival Time of Endometrial Cancer Patients with Lymphovascular Invasion at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecologic malignancy among females worldwide. The purpose of this study was to determine the median survival time of endometrial cancer patients at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). METHODS: A list of 121 endometrial cancer cases registered at Hospital USM between 2000 until 2011 was retrospectively reviewed. The survival time of the endometrial cancer patients was estimated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Log-rank tests were performed to compare the survival of the patients based on socio-demographics and clinical presentation. RESULTS: Only 108 patients, 87.0%, were included who were of Malay ethnicity. Previous history included menopause in 67.6% of patients and diabetes mellitus in 39.8% of patients; additionally, 63.4% of patients were nulliparous. Tumour staging was as follows: 24.5% stage I, 10.8% stage II, 26.5% stage III and 38.2% stage IV. The overall median survival time of the endometrial cancer patients was 70.20 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 51.79, 88.61). The significant factors were age, the presence of lymphovascular invasion and treatment received. CONCLUSION: The overall survival of endometrial cancer was low. A prospective study needs to be carried out to discover more effective and accurate tests for the early detection of endometrial cancer.

Prevalence of Cancers of Female Organs among Patients with Diabetes Type 2 in Kelantan, Malaysia: Observations over an 11 Year Period and Strategies to Reduce the Incidence.

INTRODUCTION: Kelantan is one of the states in Malaysia which has a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (DM2). Other than with endometrial carcinoma, the association of DM2 with particular female cancers is not known. OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of breast, cervical, ovarian and endometrial cancers among females with DM2 diagnosed in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) over an 11 year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All histologically confirmed cases of breast, endometrial, cervical and ovarian carcinomas admitted to the Hospital were included in the study. The patient diabetic status was traced from the hospital medical records. RESULTS: There was a total of 860 cases of breast, cervical, ovarian and endometrial carcinomas over this period. Breast carcinoma was the commonest, accounting for 437/860 (50.8%) followed by cervix, 159/860 (18.5%), ovarian, 143/860 (16.6%) and endometrial carcinomas, 121/860 (14.1%). Out of these, 228/860 (26.5%) were confirmed diabetics. Endometrial carcinoma patients showed the highest proportion being diabetics, 42.1% (51/121), followed by ovarian cancer, 25.9% (37/143), breast carcinoma, 23.6% (103/437) and cervical cancer 23.3% (37/159). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant proportion of DM2 among women with these four cancers, endometrial carcinoma being the highest followed by ovarian, breast and cervical carcinoma. The rising trend of these four cancers is in tandem with an increasing trend of DM2 in the community. In populations where diabetes is prevalent, screening for epithelial cancers should be rigourous. Diabetic clinics should include screening for these cancers among their female patients and gynecology clinics should screen the women they treat for their diabetes status.

Self-collection tools for routine cervical cancer screening: a review.

Sub-optimal participation is a major problem with cervical cancer screening in developing countries which have no organized national screening program. There are various notable factors such as 'embarrassment', 'discomfort' and 'no time' cited by women as they are often also the bread winners for the family. Implementation of self-sampling methods may increase their participation. The aim of this article was to provide a survey of various types of self-sampling tools which are commonly used in collection of cervical cells. We reviewed currently available self-sampling devices and collated the advantages and disadvantages of each in terms of its acceptance and its accuracy in giving desired results. In general, regardless of which device is used, self-sampling for cervical scrapings is highly acceptable to women in most of the studies cited.

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in routine cervical scraping samples: use for a national cervical cancer screening program in a developing nation.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus is a well-established cause of the development of a variety of epithelial lesions in the cervix. However, as yet, incorporation of HPV testing into cervical cancer screening either as an adjunct or stand alone test is limited due to its cost. We therefore here ascertained the presence and type specificity of human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA in routine cervical scrapings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cervical scrapings were collected from women attending clinics for routine Pap smear screening. HPV-DNA was detected by PCR using MY09/11 and GP5+/GP6+ primer sets and genotyping was accomplished by cycle-sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 635 women were recruited into the study with mean ± SD age of 43 ± 10.5 years. Of these 92.6% (588/635) were reported as within normal limits (WNL) on cytology. The presence of HPV infection detected by nested MY/GP+-PCR was 4.4% (28/635). The overall prevalence of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) in abnormal Pap smears was 53.8% (7/13). HPVs were also seen in 3.1% (18/588) of smears reported as WNL by cytology and 5.9% (2/34) in smears unsatisfactory for evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: The overall percentage of HPV positivity in routine cervical screening samples is comparable with abnormal findings in cytology. Conventional Pap smear 'missed' a few samples. Since HPV testing is expensive, our results may provide valuable information for strategising implementation of effective cervical cancer screening in a country with limited resources like Malaysia. If Pap smear coverage could be improved, HPV testing could be used as an adjunct method on cases with ambiguous diagnoses.

Honey as a potential natural anticancer agent: a review of its mechanisms.

The main treatment for cancer is by using chemotherapy and radiotherapy which themselves are toxic to other viable cells of the body. Recently, there are many studies focusing on the use of natural products for cancer prevention and treatment. Of these natural products, honey has been extensively researched. The mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of honey as chemopreventive and therapeutic agent has not been completely understood. The possible mechanisms are due to its apoptotic, antiproliferative, antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic and immunomodulatory activities. We collate the findings of several studies published in the literature in order to understand the mechanism of its action.

Review of the medicinal effects of tualang honey and a comparison with manuka honey.

Tualang honey (TH) is a Malaysian multifloral jungle honey. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of studies published in medical databases regarding its potential health benefits. The honey is produced by the rock bee (Apis dorsata), which builds hives on branches of tall Tualang trees located mainly in the north-western region of Peninsular Malaysia. This review collates the results of the various studies of TH that range from research on tissue culture to randomised control clinical trials. Findings thus far show that, TH has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimutagenic, antitumor, and antidiabetic properties, in addition to wound-healing attributes. Some of its properties are similar to the well-researched Manuka honey (New Zealand and/or Australian monofloral honey). Distinct differences include higher phenolics, flavonoids, and 5-(hydroxymethyl) furfural (HMF). Compared with Manuka honey, TH is also more effective against some gram-negative bacterial strains in burn wounds.