Long-Term Yogic Intervention Improves Symptomatic Scale and Quality of Life by Reducing Inflammatory Cytokines and Oxidative Stress in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy and/or Radiotherapy: A Randomized Control Study.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammation has been associated with tumor proliferation and metastasis in breast cancer. Yoga is an ancient therapy that helps in reducing inflammation and improves the patient's quality of life (QoL) and fatigue. In the current study, we investigated the effects of long-term yogic intervention at different time points on the level of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress, along with the symptomatic scale and QoL in stage II/III breast cancer patients. METHODS: Ninety-six stage II/III breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy were enrolled and divided into two groups, non-yoga (Group I) and yoga (Group II). Participants in Group II practiced yoga five days per week for 48 weeks. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ30) was used to measure the QoL and symptomatic scale. Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and oxidative stress markers, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured at baseline, 16, 32, and 48 weeks in both groups. RESULTS: Yoga significantly (p<0.05) reduced the level of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and MDA and improved QoL (p<0.001) and symptomatic scale (p<0.05) in Group II patients compared to Group I. NO was upregulated in Group I whereas in Group II, it was neither decreased nor increased. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that yoga may reduce levels of inflammatory cytokines and improve QoL and symptomatic scale in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Yoga can be an important additional therapy during cancer treatments to cope with treatment side effects including fatigue, depression, and immunological profile, which directly affects the patient's quality of life.

Long-term yogic intervention decreases serum interleukins IL-10 and IL-1ß and improves cancer-related fatigue and functional scale during radiotherapy/chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: a randomized control study.

PURPOSE: Yoga improved fatigue and immunological profile in cancer survivors and has been a promising alternative therapy. Breast cancer treatments are rapidly improving, along with their side effects. This article investigated the effect of the yogic intervention at a different time interval during radiotherapy/chemotherapy on the pro- and anti-inflammatory interleukins along with the cancer-related fatigue and functional scale among patients with stage II/III breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 96 stage II/III breast cancer patients were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into two different groups. Group I (non-Yoga) received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and group II (Yoga) received an additional yogic intervention. Both groups were followed up for a period of 48 weeks and blood was collected at the time of enrollment, 16, 32, and 48 weeks, and serum was isolated to measure the pro- and anti-inflammatory interleukins, fatigue, and functional scale questionnaire obtained at each time point. RESULTS: Breast cancer patients in group II showed a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the functional scale and fatigue from baseline to 48 weeks compared to group I. The yogic intervention significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the level of pro-inflammatory interleukin IL-1ß and pleiotropic interleukin IL-10 in group II compared to group I. CONCLUSION: These finding suggested that improved fatigue and functional scale is associated with a lower level of IL-1ß and IL-10. Yoga may be an important additional therapy along with the cancer treatment to help the patients with cancer-related fatigue and improve their overall immunological profile.

Comparison of limestone calcined clay cement and ordinary Portland cement for stabilization/solidification of Pb-Zn smelter residue.

Decreasing carbon emissions by replacing Portland cement (PC) with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as low-grade limestone (LS) and calcined clays (CC), has tremendous potential for stabilization/solidification (S/S) of industrial hazardous waste primarily with heavy metals. Recently, a low-carbon-based cementitious binder, namely, limestone calcined clay cement (LC), has emerged as an alternative for S/S treatment of wastes. However, comprehensive comparison between LC and PC application in solidifying/stabilizing wastes has not been conducted. This study aims to investigate the S/S efficiency of Pb-Zn smelter residue (LZSR) comprising heavy metals lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) at higher concentrations. LZSR is treated with LC and PC for capturing strength and leaching toxicity. The test results indicate that low-grade CC and LS in the LC binder can promote the alkaline environment, and act as fillers in solidifying heavy metals. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure leaching concentrations of untreated (UT) LZSR were 503 mg/kg, 1266 mg/kg, and 251 mg/kg for Pb, Zn, and Cd, respectively. After a 28-day curing, the leaching concentrations in LC-treated LZSR reduced to 4.33 mg/kg, 189.68 mg/kg, and 0.46 mg/kg, while the leaching concentrations of PC-treated LZSR reduced to 29 mg/kg, 338 mg/kg, and 6 mg/kg for Pb, Zn, and Cd, respectively. The maximum immobilization efficiencies for Pb, Zn, and Cd reached 85%, 99%, and 99%, respectively. Moreover, the insoluble phases for Pb, Zn, and Cd obtained from the sequential extraction test results were 63.5%, 72.1%, and 42.4% for LC-treated LZSR and 35.7%, 38%, and 43% for PC-treated LZSR with binder content of 8% binder and curing time of 28 days. Increasing curing time and binder content reduced leaching concentrations, and the underneath mechanisms were interpreted by XRD, SEM-EDS, and FTIR analyses. Overall, the results indicate that Pb, Zn, and Cd can be successfully immobilized using 8% LC binder by transforming soluble heavy metals to insoluble hydroxides and their complexes.

Efficacy of adjuvant ozone therapy in reducing postsurgical complications following impacted mandibular third-molar surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Results from several randomized controlled trials have shown a beneficial effect of ozone in reducing postsurgical complications after impacted mandibular third-molar surgery, but the literature is lacking a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: The authors conducted this systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines after exclusion and inclusion criteria were applied and the following outcome parameters were evaluated: pain, swelling, trismus, quality of life, number of analgesics consumed, and adverse events. RevMan Cochrane Collaboration software, Version 5.3, was used to perform meta-analysis and the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was used to rate the certainty of evidence. RESULTS: Patients who underwent adjuvant ozone application reported lower pain scores than patients in the control group at 24 hours after surgery (95% CI, -3.94 to -1.56) and at 7 days (95% CI, -1.67 to -0.78). Pooled analysis of all 4 included trials revealed a standardized mean difference (SMD) in swelling of -0.44 at 24 hours, 0.63 at 72 hours, and -0.87 at 7 days after surgery in the experimental group. Higher mean estimates in mouth opening were experienced by patients who received ozone at 24 hours (SMD, 2.74; 95% CI, -1.93 to 7.41; 4 studies, 133 patients), 72 hours (SMD, 2.77; 95% CI, -0.63 to 6.17; 4 studies, 133 patients), and 7 days after surgery (SMD, 1.42 SMD; 95% CI, -1.34 to 4.18; 4 studies, 133 patients). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Evidence suggests that adjuvant ozone application can offer some benefit for reducing pain, improving quality of life, and decreasing mean intake of analgesics after impacted mandibular third-molar surgery, but it is not effective in reducing facial swelling and trismus, which paves the way for future research.

New ternary blend limestone calcined clay cement for solidification/stabilization of zinc contaminated soil.

This study evaluates the potential use of a new limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) for stabilization/solidification of zinc contaminated soil. LC3 is a new ternary blend manufactured by the replacement of 50% cement clinker by locally available two supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) - limestone and calcined clay. The incorporation of LC3 is evaluated on the soil spiked with 0.5% and 1% of Zinc (Zn) at curing times of 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days. pH, strength and leachability properties of the solidified/stabilised soil are measured for both mechanical and environmental conditions. Additionally, sequential extraction procedure (SEP), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis are performed to elucidate the mechanisms of Zn immobilization in the soil. The results show that the leachable Zn concentrations in the stabilised soil are well below the corresponding hazardous waste management regulatory limit after the curing time of 14 days. The soil pH and unconfined compressive strength of the stabilised soil increase with curing time. The SEP results confirm that LC3 considerably reduces the acid soluble fraction (F1) and increase the residual fraction (F4). The XRD and SEM results indicate that formation of Tri-calcium Silicate 3CaO·SiO2, Portlandite Ca(OH)2, Ettringite Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12.26 H2O and Wulfingite Zn(OH)2 are the primary mechanisms for the immobilization of Zn in the LC3 stabilised soil.

Anaphylactic reaction after autologous blood transfusion: A case report and review of the literature.

Autologous blood transfusion as a cause of intraoperative anaphylaxis is very rare. We encountered one such life-threatening event in a 72-year-old patient undergoing laminectomy and pedicle screw fixation. The probable cause identified was the floseal mixed autologous blood transfusion. Review of literature has been done, and measures to avoid such an event in the future are discussed.

A study on trypsin, Aspergillus flavus and Bacillus sp. protease inhibitory activity in Cassia tora (L.) syn Senna tora (L.) Roxb. seed extract.

BACKGROUND: Proteases play an important role in virulence of many human, plant and insect pathogens. The proteinaceous protease inhibitors of plant origin have been reported widely from many plant species. The inhibitors may potentially be used for multiple therapeutic applications in viral, bacterial, fungal diseases and physiological disorders. In traditional Indian medicine system, Cassia tora (Senna tora) is reportedly effective in treatment of skin and gastrointestinal disorders. The present study explores the protease inhibitory activity of the above plant seeds against trypsin, Aspergillus flavus and Bacillus sp. proteases. METHODS: The crushed seeds of Cassia tora were washed thoroughly with acetone and hexane for depigmentation and defatting. The proteins were fractionated by ammonium sulphate (0-30, 30-60, 60-90%) followed by dialysis and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The inhibitory potential of crude seed extract and most active dialyzed fraction against trypsin and proteases was established by spot test using unprocessed x-ray film and casein digestion methods, respectively. Electrophoretic analysis of most active fraction (30-60%) and SEC elutes were carried employing Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Gelatin SDS-PAGE. Inhibition of fungal spore germination was studied in the presence of dialyzed active inhibitor fraction. Standard deviation (SD) and ANOVA were employed as statistical tools. RESULTS: The crude seeds' extract displayed strong antitryptic, bacterial and fungal protease inhibitory activity on x-ray film. The seed protein fraction 30-60% was found most active for trypsin inhibition in caseinolytic assay (P < 0.001). The inhibition of caseinolytic activity of the proteases increased with increasing ratio of seed extract. The residual activity of trypsin, Aspergillus flavus and Bacillus sp. proteases remained only 4, 7 and 3.1%, respectively when proteases were incubated with 3 mg ml-1 seed protein extract for 60 min. The inhibitory activity was evident in gelatin SDS-PAGE where a major band (~17-19 kD) of protease inhibitor (PI) was detected in dialyzed and SEC elute. The conidial germination of Aspergillus flavus was moderately inhibited (30%) by the dialyzed seed extract. CONCLUSIONS: Cassia tora seed extract has strong protease inhibitory activity against trypsin, Aspergillus flavus and Bacillus sp. proteases. The inhibitor in Cassia tora may attenuate microbial proteases and also might be used as phytoprotecting agent.