Effect of salinity on gene expression, morphological and biochemical characteristics of stevia rebaudiana Bertoni under in vitro conditions.

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a famous medicinal plant for its low calorific value compounds which are named steviol glycosides (SGs) and they are 150-300 times sweeter than sugar. Among various SGs, stevioside and rebaudioside A considered to be the main sweetening compounds.  Soil salinity is one of the most essential stress in the world. Salinity affects the survival and yield of crops. In current study the effects of salinity and osmotic stress caused by different concentration of NaCl (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mM) on morphological traits, genes expressionand amount of both stevioside and rebaudioside Aunder in vitro conditions has been investigated. The morphological traits such as bud numbers, root numbers, shoot length (after 15 and 30 days) were evaluated. With increasing salinity, the values of all studied morphological traits decreased. To investigation of UGT74G1 and UGT76G1 genes expression that are involved in the synthesis of SGs, RT-PCR was done and there were significant differences between all media. The highest expression of both genes was observed in plantlets grown on MS media (with NaCl-free). Also, the lowest amounts of gene expression of the both genes were seen in MS+ 60 mM NaCl. Based on HPLC results, the highest amount of both stevioside and rebaudioside A were observed in plantlets grown in MS media (with NaCl-free). Finally, it can be concluded that stevia can survive under salt stress, but it has the best performance in the lower salinity.

[The techniques of peritonectomy and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy]. / Technik der Peritonektomie sowie der hyperthermen intraperitonealen Chemotherapie.

The treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis represents a challenge in the therapy for gastrointestinal cancer. A multimodal approach with complete surgical cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can improve the prognosis in selected patients. Complete surgical cytoreduction, consisting of parietal and visceral peritonectomy, is a sophisticated procedure, frequently requiring multivisceral resections and should only be performed by experienced visceral surgeons. In addition, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is of some complexity. Furthermore, regarding the learning curve for this procedure, combined treatment should only be performed in specialised centres. Under optimal conditions, the therapy can be carried out with reasonable morbidity and mortality rates. Patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis should be evaluated by an interdisciplinary team concerning this multimodal therapy option and, if applicable, they should be referred to therapy within the framework of clinical studies.

[Peritoneal carcinomatosis. Surgical treatment, including hyperthermal intraperitoneal chemotherapy]. / Peritonealkarzinose. Chirurgische Behandlungsmöglichkeiten einschliesslich hyperthermer intraperitonealer Chemotherapie.

Colorectal cancer is a common malignant disease with increasing incidence and a significant cause of death in cancer patients. More than 10% of patients with colorectal cancer show peritoneal carcinomatosis at initial diagnosis. Moreover, peritoneal metastasis is a common sign of recurrence. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are a new treatment strategy for highly selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Numerous studies show prolonged survival after CRS and HIPEC with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. Accurate preoperative diagnostics and patient selection play a pivotal role in postoperative patient outcome. This promising treatment strategy is discussed regarding surgical technique, intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and patient outcome.

Multimodality treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer: first results of a new German centre for peritoneal surface malignancies.

BACKGROUND: The presence of peritoneal carcinomatosis arising from colorectal cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. It was the purpose of this study to analyze morbidity, mortality, and survival after major cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis were operated between April 2004 and June 2006 with the aim of complete macroscopical cytoreduction. All had a primary colorectal carcinoma. Surgery in these patients was followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) consisting of mitomycin C and doxorubicin. Data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of all patients, 16 had appendix and 16 non-appendiceal colorectal carcinoma. A macroscopically complete cytoreduction was achieved in 24 patients by parietal and visceral peritonectomy procedures. All resections were combined with HIPEC. Overall morbidity was 34%. Most frequent surgical complications were intestinal obstruction (4/32), enteric fistula (2/32), pancreatitis (2/32), and bile leakage (2/32). One patient presented grade 4 renal toxicity. There was no hospital mortality. The median follow-up was 12 months. The 1-year overall survival rate is 96%. All patients after complete cytoreduction are still alive. CONCLUSIONS: Cytoreductive surgery combined with HIPEC is associated with an acceptable morbidity and low mortality. Complete cytoreduction may improve survival, particularly in well-selected patients having a low tumor volume and no extra-abdominal metastases.

[Surgical management of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis of gastrointestinal origin]. / Chirurgische behandlung von peritoneal disseminierten gastrointestinalen tumoren.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis is found in approximately 15 % of patients with colorectal cancer during the course of their disease, and is associated with a poor prognosis. Even more patients with gastric cancer develop peritoneal seeding. Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) have been introduced in the past decade and have led to 5-year survival rates of 30 to 40 % for selected patients with colorectal cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis. These numbers have been demonstrated by many retrospective analyses and by prospective Phase II studies. The clinical assessment to select patients who will benefit from the combined therapy and achievement of complete macroscopic cytoreduction both play a crucial role. Less favourabale results have been achieved for patients suffering from stage IV gastric cancer with peritoneal seeding. Promising results were demonstrated for postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy following curative gastrectomy. Patients with hepatic, biliary and pancreatic cancers and peritoneal carcinomatosis do not benefit from cytoreductive surgery. There is a need for further multicentre, prospective trials analysing the use of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. They should be conducted in the specialised centres by interdisciplinary teams.

Chemopreventive effect of Ginkgo biloba extract against benzo(a)pyrene-induced forestomach carcinogenesis in mice: amelioration of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.

Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) is a natural product that possesses antioxidant and anticlastogenic properties. The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of EGb on benzo(a)pyrene (BP)-induced forestomach neoplasia, and to explore its possible beneficial effects against doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiotoxicity. Tumor was induced in female Swiss albino mice by oral administration of 1 mg BP, twice weekly for four weeks. EGb was given, at a daily oral dose of 150 mg kg(-1), two weeks before and during BP administration. Dox was given ip at a dose of 1.5 mg kg(-1), once weekly, for four weeks, during BP administration. EGb and Dox were given as combined or monotherapies. Results of the present investigation revealed that EGb blunted forestomach tumor multiplicity, as compared to control tumor bearing group. It also exhibited high activity to induce cytosolic glutathione S-transferase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in liver, as well as replenished hepatic glutathione that have been inhibited or depleted by tumorigenesis. Furthermore, it normalized nitric oxide (NO) serum level, without any observed alteration in neither the activity of liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase nor serum level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha). Similar results have been obtained with Dox, but it failed to affect G6PDH activity, while increased serum TNFalpha and NO levels. The combined therapy did not add further to the anticarcinogenic effect of Dox, however it succeeded in ameliorating the deleterious effects of Dox on the heart; as evidenced by the reduction of cardiac lipoperoxidation, with modulation of Dox-induced pathological changes. Therefore, EGb confers a beneficial chemopreventive effect against BP-induced gastric carcinogenesis in mice, and possesses a salutary ameliorating potential on the cardiotoxic effects of Dox.

Modulation of oxidant status by meloxicam in experimentally induced arthritis.

Meloxicam is a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, that possesses a selective inhibition of the inducible isoform of cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX-2) relative to the constitutive one, COX-1. Oxidative stress has been documented to be involved in the aetiology of many pathological conditions. The present study aims to further explore the relationship between free radical generation and the inflammatory process, and extends more to investigate the effect of meloxicam on the oxidant status in experimentally induced arthritis, namely, Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. Results of the present investigation revealed that animals inoculated with Freund's complete adjuvant showed a biphasic response regarding changes in the right hind paw oedema volume. During the chronic phase of the disease, arthritic animals showed an elevated plasma level of lipid peroxides, enhanced blood glutathione peroxidase activity, with depletion of plasma total thiols and albumin; while no significant effects have been observed on erythrocytic superoxide dismutase activity and plasma total proteins content, as compared to normal untreated rats. Long-term administration of meloxicam, at two dose levels, produced significant antioedemetous effect and succeeded in modulating the altered parameters affected during arthritis. The selected dose regimens of meloxicam did not show any apparent lesions in the gastric mucosa. The results of the present investigation lend further support to the reported observations concerning selective COX-2 inhibitors. The modulatory influence of meloxicam on the oxidant status, particularly on lipid peroxidation and thiols might be a relevant effect accounting for its anti-inflammatory properties.