Imprisoned Husbands: Palestinian Wives and Experiences of Difficulties.

This study aimed to investigate difficulties experienced by the wives of Palestinian men arrested and held in Israeli prisons. 16 captives' wives were interviewed using a semi-structured interview to provide them with a greater opportunity to speak about their experiences. Three main research questions were discussed; community difficulties, social support, and coping strategies. A thematic analysis was used throughout the interviews. We concluded that in addition to the stress of being separated from their husbands, the frustrating visitation process to prison and the ongoing political conflict, the wives expressed a frustrating social network characterized by constant interferences in their personal lives and the choices they make. Most women expressed a lack in psychosocial support given through governmental and non-governmental organizations; in addition they expressed a need for that kind of support. Coping strategies ranged from religious, acceptance, distraction, to planning strategies.

Removal of user fees for caesareans and under-fives in northern Sudan: a review of policy implementation and effectiveness.

In 2008, the Government of Sudan launched a policy of free curative care for under-fives and caesareans. This paper presents the findings of a review of this policy, on the basis of research conducted in five focal states of northern Sudan in 2010. Policy implementation was assessed using four research tools: key informant interviews, exit interviews, a facility survey, and analysis of facility finances and the cost of the package of care. The findings point to important weaknesses in implementation, such as unclear specification of the exact target group and package of care and inadequate funding. Despite this, service utilisation appears to have responded, at least in the short term. The findings also highlight the urgent need for improved access to basic health care and financial protection against health care costs in northern Sudan (for those with and without national health insurance membership). This review contributes to the growing literature on the selective removal of user fees for priority services. It indicates the range of challenges to effective implementation (strategic, financial and organisational). Some of these are particular to Sudan, but many are shared, and indicate important lessons for improving access to and quality of care for women and children in Africa.

Oxidative stress: a key regulator of leiomyoma cell survival.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of attenuating oxidative stress with the use of dichloroacetate (DCA) on the expression of key redox enzymes myeloperoxidase (MPO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as well as on apoptosis. DESIGN: Prospective experimental study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENT(S): Cells established from myometrium and uterine fibroid from the same patients. INTERVENTION(S): Cells were exposed to normal (20% O2) or hypoxic (2% O2) conditions for 24 hours with or without DCA (20 µg/mL), a metabolic modulator that shifts anaerobic to aerobic metabolism. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Nitrate/nitrite (iNOS activity indicator), iNOS, Bcl-2/Bax ratio, MPO, and caspase-3 activities and levels were determined by means of Greiss assay, real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and ELISA. Data were analyzed with the use of SPSS by means of one-way analysis of variance with Tukey post hoc analysis and independent t tests. RESULT(S): MPO, iNOS, and nitrate/nitrite expression were higher in leiomyoma than in myometrial cells, and they were further enhanced by hypoxia in myometrial cells. Treatment with the use of DCA decreased MPO, iNOS, and nitrate/nitrite levels and negated the effect of hypoxia in both types of cells. Leiomyoma cells showed less apoptosis, as indicated by both caspase-3 activity and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, than myometrial cells. Hypoxia further decreased apoptosis in myometrial cells with no further effect on leiomyoma cells. Treatment with DCA resulted in increased apoptosis in both types of cells, even in the presence of hypoxia. CONCLUSION(S): Shifting anaerobic to aerobic metabolism with the use of DCA resulted in an increase in apoptosis in leiomyoma cells and protected myometrial cells from the acquisition of the leiomyoma-like phenotype.

Specific point mutations in key redox enzymes are associated with chemoresistance in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of ovarian cancer. Resistance to chemotherapy presents a significant challenge for ovarian cancer treatment. Specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in key redox enzymes have been associated with ovarian cancer survival and progression. The objective of this study was to determine whether chemotherapy induces point mutations in key redox enzymes that lead to the acquisition of chemoresistance in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Human EOC cell lines and their chemoresistant counterpart were utilized for this study. Specific SNPs in key redox enzymes were analyzed by TaqMan SNP Genotyping. Activities and levels of key redox enzymes were determined by real-time RT-PCR, ELISA and a greiss assay. Point mutations in key redox enzymes were introduced into sensitive EOC cells via the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Cell viability and IC50 for cisplatin were determined by the MTT Cell Proliferation Assay. Data was analyzed with SPSS using Student's two-tailed t-tests and One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's or Tukey's post hoc tests, p<0.05. Here, we demonstrate that chemoresistant EOC cells are characterized by a further enhancement in oxidative stress as compared to sensitive counterparts. Additionally, chemoresistant EOC cells manifested specific point mutations, which are associated with altered enzymatic activity, in key redox enzymes that are not detected in sensitive counterparts. Supplementation of an antioxidant was able to successfully sensitize EOC cells to chemotherapeutics. Causality was established by the induction of these point mutations in sensitive EOC cells, which resulted in a significant increase in the level of chemoresistance. These findings indicate that chemotherapy induces specific point mutations in key redox enzymes that contribute to the acquisition of chemoresistance in EOC cells, highlighting a potential novel mechanism. Identification of targets for chemoresistance with either biomarker and/or screening potential will have a significant impact for the treatment of this disease.

The Defensive Role of Cumulus Cells Against Reactive Oxygen Species Insult in Metaphase II Mouse Oocytes.

We investigated the ability of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), hydroxyl radical ((·)OH), and hypochlorous acid (HOCl), to overcome the defensive capacity of cumulus cells and elucidate the mechanism through which ROS differentially deteriorate oocyte quality. Metaphase II mouse oocytes with (n = 1634) and without cumulus cells (n = 1633) were treated with increasing concentration of ROS, and the deterioration in oocyte quality was assessed by the changes in the microtubule morphology and chromosomal alignment. Oocyte and cumulus cell viability and cumulus cell number were assessed by indirect immunofluorescence, staining of gap junction protein, and trypan blue staining. The treated oocytes showed decreased quality as a function of increasing concentrations of ROS when compared to controls. Cumulus cells show protection against H(2)O(2) and (·)OH insult at lower concentrations, but this protection was lost at higher concentrations (>50 µmol/L). At higher H(2)O(2) concentrations, treatment dramatically influenced the cumulus cell number and viability with resulting reduction in the antioxidant capacity making the oocyte more susceptible to oxidative damage. However, cumulus cells offered no significant protection against HOCl at any concentration used. In all circumstances in which cumulus cells did not offer protection to the oocyte, both cumulus cell number and viability were decreased. Therefore, the deterioration in oocyte quality may be caused by one or more of the following: a decrease in the antioxidant machinery by the loss of cumulus cells, the lack of scavengers for specific ROS, and/or the ability of the ROS to overcome these defenses.

Adhesion phenotype manifests an altered metabolic profile favoring glycolysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether metabolic markers are differentially expressed in normal and adhesion fibroblasts with and without hypoxia exposure. DESIGN: Prospective experimental study. SETTING: University research laboratory. PATIENT(S): Fibroblasts established from normal peritoneum and adhesion tissues from the same patients. INTERVENTION(S): In vitro experiments on normal peritoneal and adhesion fibroblasts under normal and hypoxic (2% O2) conditions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Expression of metabolic markers, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α, hexokinase 2 (HK2), lactose dehydrogenase A (LDHA), and pyruvate dehydrogenase alpha 1 (PDHA1) were measured using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; adenosine triphosphate (ATP), HIF-1α, and lactate levels were assessed with ELISAs. RESULT(S): Baseline mRNA levels of GAPDH and HIF-1α were increased, while GLUT1 and PDHA1 were decreased in adhesion as compared with in normal peritoneal fibroblasts. There was no change in baseline levels of HK2 or LDHA between the cell lines. Hypoxia increased protein levels of HIF-1α and mRNA levels of GAPDH, GLUT1, and HK2 and decreased levels of PDHA1 in both cell lines. Hypoxia increased LDHA mRNA levels in normal peritoneal fibroblasts. Baseline levels of lactate and ATP were lower in adhesion as compared with in normal peritoneal fibroblasts. In response to hypoxia, there was an increase in lactate in both cell lines and a decrease in ATP in normal fibroblasts. CONCLUSION(S): Adhesion fibroblasts manifested an altered metabolic profile, which favors the glycolytic pathway, and is further altered by hypoxia. Targeting these specific metabolic markers during surgery can be an important therapeutic intervention minimizing the development of postoperative adhesions.

The Role of Angiogenesis in the Persistence of Chemoresistance in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Chemoresistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of ovarian cancer. As part of a survival mechanism, tumor cells have been shown to release proangiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), through a mechanism that involves the upregulation of hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-1α. The objective of this study was to compare the expression of VEGF and its receptors (R1 and R2) as well as HIF-1α in chemoresistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells to their chemosensitive counterparts and determine their impact on angiogenesis. METHODS: Two human EOC cell lines, MDAH-2774 and SKOV-3, and their cisplatin- or taxotere-resistant counterparts were used. Total RNA and protein were subjected to real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, immunoprecipitation/Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the expression of VEGF, VEGF receptors (R1 and R2), and HIF-1α. Angiogenesis was assessed with an in vitro angiogenesis assay. Data were analyzed using independent Student t tests and chi-square. RESULTS: Both taxotere- and cisplatin-resistant MDAH-2774 and SKOV-3 EOC cell lines manifested a significant decrease in VEGF, VEGF receptors, HIF-1α messenger RNA, and protein levels as compared to their chemosensitive counterparts. There was a significant decrease in the number and thickness of polygon blood vessel formation in chemoresistant EOC cells compared to chemosensitive counterparts. CONCLUSION: Cisplatin- and taxotere-resistant EOC cells are characterized by lower VEGF, VEGF receptors, and HIF-1α, and decreased angiogenesis. These findings may indicate a decrease in drug delivery at the tumor site, hence allowing the persistence of chemoresistant EOC cells.

A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Catalase Is Strongly Associated with Ovarian Cancer Survival.

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers. Recent evidence demonstrates an association between enzymatic activity altering single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with human cancer susceptibility. We sought to evaluate the association of SNPs in key oxidant and antioxidant enzymes with increased risk and survival in epithelial ovarian cancer. Individuals (n = 143) recruited were divided into controls, (n = 94): healthy volunteers, (n = 18), high-risk BRCA1/2 negative (n = 53), high-risk BRCA1/2 positive (n = 23) and ovarian cancer cases (n = 49). DNA was subjected to TaqMan SNP genotype analysis for selected oxidant and antioxidant enzymes. Of the seven selected SNP studied, no association with ovarian cancer risk (Pearson Chi-square) was found. However, a catalase SNP was identified as a predictor of ovarian cancer survival by the Cox regression model. The presence of this SNP was associated with a higher likelihood of death (hazard ratio (HR) of 3.68 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.149-11.836)) for ovarian cancer patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a significant median overall survival difference (108 versus 60 months, p<0.05) for those without the catalase SNP as compared to those with the SNP. Additionally, age at diagnosis greater than the median was found to be a significant predictor of death (HR of 2.78 (95% CI: 1.022-7.578)). This study indicates a strong association with the catalase SNP and survival of ovarian cancer patients, and thus may serve as a prognosticator.

Shifting anaerobic to aerobic metabolism stimulates apoptosis through modulation of redox balance: potential intervention in the pathogenesis of postoperative adhesions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of shifting anaerobic to aerobic metabolism on key regulators of oxidative stress, including extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and its product, nitric oxide (NO), as well as mitochondrial potential (Δψm) and apoptosis in fibroblasts established from normal peritoneum and adhesion tissues. DESIGN: Prospective, experimental study. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENT(S): Fibroblasts established from normal peritoneum and adhesion tissues from the same patients. INTERVENTION(S): Treatment with dichloroacetate (0, 20, 40, and 80 µg/mL, 24 hours). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The expression of SOD3, iNOS, and NO levels were measured utilizing real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Greiss assay. The Δψm was evaluated by the JC-1 Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Assay. Apoptosis was determined by caspase-3 activity and TUNEL assays. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0. Mixed model repeated-measures analysis of variance was used with a Bonferroni correction. Significant interactions were analyzed with independent sample t tests. RESULT(S): Dichloroacetate increased apoptosis, SOD3 messenger RNA, iNOS messenger RNA, and NO levels in fibroblasts from peritoneum and adhesions. There was enhanced Δψm adhesion as compared with normal peritoneal fibroblasts. Creating oxidative stress by exposure by hypoxia markedly increased Δψm in fibroblasts from normal peritoneum to levels observed in adhesions; dichloroacetate protected against the effects of hypoxia. CONCLUSION(S): Anaerobic metabolism and oxidative stress are associated with the development of the adhesion phenotype, which manifests decreased apoptosis. Dichloroacetate induces adhesion fibroblasts to undergo apoptosis via modulation of redox homeostasis. These findings may provide targets for therapeutic treatment for reduction of profibrotic disorders, including postoperative adhesions.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase is differentially regulated in normal myometrium versus leiomyoma.

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumor in women. The goal of this study was to investigate whether nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX), a major source of superoxide and subsequent oxidative stress, was differentially regulated in myometrium versus leiomyoma. Expression levels of NOXs1-5, dual oxidase (DUOX), DUOX2, NOX organizer (NOXO) 1, NOX activator 1, p47(phox), p67(phox), and p22(phox) were determined in cells treated with hypoxia by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry in tissues. Expression of NOX4 increased in fibroid compared to myometrial tissues and cells. The NOX2, DUOX1, and p67(phox) were higher while p22(phox) was lower in fibroid than that in myometrial cells. Hypoxia increased NOX4, DUOX1, and NOXO1 and decreased p22(phox) in myometrial and reduced DUOX1 in fibroid cells. The NOX1, NOX3, NOX5, and DUOX2 were undetectable. Fibroid cells are characterized by a unique NOX profile, which promotes a severe prooxidant state that may be responsible for their development. Targeting these subunits may be beneficial for future therapeutic interventions.

The role of oxidative stress in the development of cisplatin resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of oxidative stress in the development of cisplatin resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS: Two parent EOC cell lines (MDAH-2774 and SKOV-3) and their chemoresistant counterparts (cisplatin, 50 µmol/L) were used. Total RNA was extracted and subjected to real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the expression of glutathione reductase (GSR) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), as well as nitrate/nitrite levels. Analysis of variance was used for main effects and Tukey for post hoc analysis at P < .05 for statistical significance. RESULTS: Both cisplatin resistant cell lines displayed a significant decrease in GSR messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and activity (P < .01). As compared to sensitive controls, nitrate/nitrite levels were significantly higher in SKOV-3 cisplatin resistant cells while iNOS mRNA levels were significantly higher in MDAH-2774 cisplatin resistant cells (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the development of cisplatin resistance tilts the balance toward a pro-oxidant state in EOC.

Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, significantly reduces the development of the adhesion phenotype.

Postoperative adhesions are a common medical complication of gynecologic and other pelvic surgeries resulting in persistent pelvic pain, obstruction of the intestines, and even infertility. The molecular mechanisms of postoperative adhesion development remain to be elucidated. We have recently described a role for reactive oxygen species, specifically superoxide, in the development of postoperative adhesions. In this study, we sought to determine whether lycopene, a potent antioxidant, reduces markers characteristic of the adhesion phenotype. Primary fibroblast cultures from normal peritoneum and adhesion tissues were utilized to determine mRNA levels of adhesion phenotype markers type I collagen, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in response to lycopene (24 hours, 10 µM) treatment. There was a 2 (p < 0.003), 4.7 (p < 0.004), and 1.6 fold (p < 0.004) increase in mRNA levels of type I collagen, TGF-ß1, and VEGF, respectively, in adhesion as compared to normal peritoneal fibroblasts. Lycopene treatment led to a 6.8 and a 12.4 fold decrease in type I collagen mRNA levels, in normal peritoneal and adhesion fibroblasts, respectively (p < 0.005). Lycopene treatment led to a 4.2 (p < 0.03) and a 4.6 (p < 0.05) fold decrease in VEGF mRNA levels, in normal peritoneal and adhesion fibroblasts, respectively. Lycopene treatment led to a 7.0 fold decrease in TGF-ß1 mRNA levels, in adhesion fibroblasts (p < 0.03). A 1.9 fold decrease in TGF-ß1 mRNA was observed in normal peritoneal fibroblasts in response to treatment, although it was not significant. Lycopene substantially reduced levels of adhesion phenotype markers in normal peritoneal and adhesion fibroblasts and whether it will reduce postoperative adhesions needs to be further investigated.