Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Biomarkers in Chronic Cigarette Smokers: A Pilot Study.

Introduction The present study was undertaken to assess the status of oxidative stress in chronic cigarette smokers. Materials and methods Thirty adult male chronic cigarette smokers and an equal number of age and sex-matched normal subjects from the Deoghar district of Jharkhand state, India, were included in the study. The status of lipid peroxidation was determined using malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activities of enzymic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were determined using standard protocols. Results Results showed that the serum MDA levels were significantly increased, and the enzymic antioxidants were markedly decreased in chronic cigarette smokers compared to the normal subjects. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that oxidative stress is more pronounced in cigarette smokers compared to non-smokers. The number of cigarettes smoked plays a crucial role in increasing the reactive oxygen species and decreasing the cellular antioxidants.

Insulin resistance is associated with increased circulating lipocalin-2 levels in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the circulating lipocalin-2 levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Relevant studies were retrieved by online database and manual searching. The standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained by a random-effects meta-analysis. The subgroup analysis based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) and the homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was conducted. Meta-analysis of correlations and meta-regression were performed for the associations of lipocalin-2 with the metabolic and hormonal covariates. The funnel plot analysis was used for publication bias. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The combined effect size including a total of 13 studies showed no significant difference in lipocalin-2 levels between PCOS and control groups. However, the subgroup meta-analysis based on insulin resistance showed a significant difference in the circulatory lipocalin-2 levels in PCOS as compared to controls in both HOMA-IR<3 (SMD=-1.15, Z=2.42, P=0.02) and HOMA-IR>3 subgroups (SMD=0.91, Z=2.43, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: There were significant associations of lipocalin-2 with age, BMI, estrogen and hyperandrogenism in PCOS. Lipocalin-2 level alterations in PCOS are associated to insulin resistance. More is the insulin resistance, higher is the lipocalin-2 level in PCOS as compared to controls.

Pharmacological effects of D-Pinitol - A comprehensive review.

In recent years, the application of phytochemicals to prevent or treat diseases has received greater attention. These phytochemicals have little or no toxicity against healthy tissues and are thus considered as ideal compounds. An impressive number of modern drugs are obtained from natural sources based on their traditional value. D-Pinitol is a natural compound that is derived from soy and soy products. It is a potentially active molecule that belongs to the class of inositols. D-pinitol has been pharmacologically evaluated for its potent antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, renoprotective, neuroprotective, immunosuppressive, and anti-osteoporotic efficacies. This review is an attempt to validate the plausible pharmacological effects of D-pinitol using various in vivo and in vitro studies. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The consumption of plant-based products has been significantly increased all over the world. The active phytochemicals that are found in plants are stated to have numerous health promoting functions for the treatment of diabetes, cancer, inflammation, cardiac diseases, liver dysfunction, and many other. D-Pinitol is abundantly present in soybeans that possess notable therapeutic activities. Understanding the effects of D-Pinitol would potentially help in applying this compound in clinical research for the treatment of different disorders.

Baicalein: A review on its anti-cancer effects and mechanisms in lung carcinoma.

Plant-derived flavonoids are reported to function as potential anti-cancer agents against different types of cancer. Baicalein (BE) is an important flavonoid found in the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis that is popularly used in Chinese medicine as an ingredient in herbal tea preparations to promote wellness. BE has been studied for its several biological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, antiviral, and anti-tumor properties. BE has now been discovered to be an effective agent against lung neoplasm. The molecular factors supporting baicalein's anti-cancer activity against lung cancer and its value to human health are discussed in this article. This would help in identifying BE as a promising competent drug against lung carcinoma. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Baicalein is a flavonoid obtained from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis. It has been widely used as an antioxidant, anti-inflam5matory, anti-hepatotoxic, antiviral, and anti-cancer agent. Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world with a high fatality rate. Several studies have found that Baicalein is an important candidate for treating lung cancer. Its mechanism of action includes regulation of cell proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, autophagy, and so on. Baicalein could be used as a novel anti-cancer drug for the treatment of lung carcinoma.

Technology-based tobacco cessation training in Indian context.

In tobacco use disorders (TUDs), technology-based training of health-care professionals can reduce the treatment gap and bring attitudinal change. The study aimed to assess the practices and determine the change in knowledge and attitude among health-care professionals following an online training program (OTP). Half-day OTP on tobacco cessation using prepost quasi-experimental study design with a structured questionnaire-based assessment was conducted. Among 293 completed surveys, knowledge post-OTP was higher but insignificant (P = 1.2). Post-OTP, participants felt less angry and disappointed toward tobacco users (mean of difference (MOD) =0.21, P = 0.0007); more sympathetic and concerned (MOD = -0.22, P = 0.0005); and acknowledged tobacco users deserve the same medical care as nonusers (MOD = -0.177, P = 0.001). Post-OTP scores in attitudes did not change significantly for the responsibility domain (P < 0.05). In practice, relatively greater number of health-care professionals asked about tobacco use and advised cessation, however lesser assessed, assisted, and referred. To conclude, technology-based training program can result in attitudinal changes toward tobacco users.

Pharmacological and therapeutic applications of Sinapic acid-an updated review.

Phenolic compounds, present in plants, are considered to be indispensable parts of human dietary sources. Sinapic acid, is a natural herbal compound containing phenolic acid. It is found in oranges, grapefruits, and cranberries and in herbs like canola, mustard seed and rapeseed. Sinapic acid is chemically studied as a cinnamic acid derivative that contains 3, 5-dimethoxyl and 4-hydroxyl substitutions in the phenyl group of cinnamic acid. Sinapic acid has been pharmacologically evaluated for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, renoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, anxiolytic and anti-bacterial activities. In this review we have summarized the potential pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Sinapic acid in various models.

Dietary supplementation of silymarin is associated with decreased cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and activation of detoxification system in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence rates are increasing in many parts of the world. HCC's limited treatment remedies and the poor prognosis emphasize the importance in developing an effective chemoprevention for this disease. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in the chemoprevention of silymarin in N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced rat model of HCC. Liver of the rats treated with NDEA showed higher proliferation index and glycoconjugates. NDEA treatment also increased the level of anti-apoptotic proteins with simultaneous decrease in the level of pro-apoptotic proteins along with increased accumulation of Cytochrome c in mitochondria. The carcinogenic insult also increased microsomal phase I metabolizing enzymes with a simultaneous decrease in the Phase II detoxifying enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Whereas dietary silymarin administration along with NDEA treatment significantly decreased the proliferation and down regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins with simultaneously increased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins along with the release of Cytochrome c to cytosol there by activating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Silymarin administration also decreased the level of glycoproteins and activated the phase II detoxifying enzyme GST. These results demonstrate that suppression of HCC by silymarin in vivo involves inhibition of proliferation, activation of apoptosis, and efficient detoxification.

Baicalein inhibits pulmonary carcinogenesis-associated inflammation and interferes with COX-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions in-vivo.

The objective of the present study is to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of baicalein (BE) on inflammatory cytokines, which is in line with tumor invasion factors and antioxidant defensive system during benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] (50mg/kg body weight) induced pulmonary carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice. After experimental period, increased levels of total and differential cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were observed. Accompanied by marked increase in immature mast cell by toluidine blue staining and mature mast cell by safranin-alcian blue staining in B(a)P-induced lung cancer bearing animals. Protein expression levels studied by immunohistochemistry and immunoblot analysis of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß and inducible nitric oxide synthase were also found to be significantly increased in lung cancer bearing animals. B(a)P-exposed mice lung exhibits activated expression of nuclear transcription factor kappa-B as confirmed by immunofluorescence and immunoblot analysis. Administration of BE (12 mg/kg body weight) significantly counteracted all the above deleterious changes. Moreover, assessment of tumor invasion factors on protein levels by immunoblot and mRNA expression levels by RT-PCR revealed that BE treatment effectively negates B(a)P-induced upregulated expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and cyclo-oxygenase-2. Further analysis of lipid peroxidation markers such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydro-peroxides and antioxidants such as glutathione-S-transferase and reduced glutathione in lung tissue was carried out to substantiate the antioxidant effect of BE. The chemotherapeutic effect observed in the present study is attributed to the potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential by BE against pulmonary carcinogenesis.