The protective effects of fish oil and artichoke on hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of fish oil and Artichoke (Cynara scolymus I.) against diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were divided into 8 groups. Group 1, control rats. Group 2: rats injected with single dose of DEN (100 mg/kg body weight). Groups 3-8 supplemented with different concentrations of either fish oil or artichoke for 25 days before DEN injection. RESULTS: DEN treatment revealed a significant decrease in tissue xanthine oxidase (XO), glutathione, glutathione-s-transferase (GST), and a marked increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and ferritin levels showed a significant increase. A significant increase in serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin levels were found. A significant decrease in tissue total proteins and serum albumin was observed. The administration of DEN affected the liver cell through occurrence of hepatic cellular degeneration and necrosis. Treatment with fish oil (5%, 10%) or artichoke heads or leaves (0.5, 1 g) for 25 days led to significant amelioration of DEN-induced changes in the biochemical parameters. An almost normal histological architecture of the liver, in treated groups, was showed as compared to the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The results pointed that 10% fish oil and 1 g% leaves of artichoke succeeded to protect from hepatocellular carcinoma to a certain degree. In addition, they may be considered as protective foods against angiogenesis.

Genetic variation between susceptible and non-susceptible snails to Schistosoma infection using random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPDs).

Susceptibility of snails to infection by certain trematodes and their suitability as hosts for continued development has been a bewildering problem in host-parasite relationships. The present work emphasizes our interest in snail genetics to determine what genes or gene products are specifically responsible for susceptibility of snails to infection. High molecular weight DNA was extracted from both susceptible and non-susceptible snails within the same species Biomphalaria tenagophila. RAPD was undertaken to distinguish between the two types of snails. Random primers (10 mers) were used to amplify the extracted DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and silver staining. The results suggest that RAPD represents an efficient means of genome comparison, since many molecular markers were detected as genetic variations between susceptible and non-susceptible snails.

Gemcitabine twice weekly as a radiosensitiser for the treatment of brain metastases in patients with carcinoma: a phase I study.

Conventional treatment for brain metastases (BM) is whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Efficacy is poor. It might be increased by a potent radiosensitiser such as gemcitabine which is believed to cross the disrupted blood-brain barrier. Primary objective of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of twice weekly gemcitabine given concurrently with WBRT. Patients with BM from carcinoma were included. The dose of WBRT was 30 Gys (10 daily fractions). Gemcitabine was given 2-4 h prior to WBRT on days 1 and 8 for the first cohort of patients and then on days 1, 4, 8 and 11. Starting dose was 25 mg m(-2), escalated by 12.5 mg m(-2) increments. At least three patients were included per level. Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as grade 4 haematological or grade > or =3 nonhaematological toxicity. A total of 25 patients were included; 74% had a PS 1 (ECOG). In all, 23 had non-small-cell lung cancer, six colorectal, four breast, two renal cell and one oesophageal carcinoma. A total of 92% had concurrent extracranial disease. Six had single BM, 13 had two or three BM and six multiple. Up to 50 mg m(-2) (level 4) no DLT was observed. At 62.5 mg m(-2), one out of six patients developed DLT (thrombocytopenia-bleeding). The next dose level (75 mg m(-2)) was abandoned after grade 4 bone marrow toxicity (fatal neutropenic sepsis) was seen in one out of two patients. So that the dose of 50 mg m(-2) will be taken forward for further study.