Unlocking the Anti - Prostate Cancer Potential of Some Tropical and Sub - Tropical Plants

Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among men worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer mortality in males greater than 60 years in Trinidad and Tobago. Although there are some treatment options for the metastatic disease, the impact on overall survival rate has not improved in the last two decades. In particular, the mortality rate from prostate cancer is high among men of African descent in Trinidad and Tobago and the Americas. These groups manifest aggressive cancers that are often less responsive to available therapies. We hypothesize that phytochemical screening of tropical plants, coupled to cell culture studies would identify other potential treatments for prostate cancer. In separate experiments, the roots or leaves of five plants indigenous to the Caribbean and the skin of the muscadine grape, indigenous to North America were dried, crushed and suspended in 100% methanol. The respective methanol extracts were fractionated and the fractions dried. Next the ability of the extracts to halt the growth of or kill PC-3 prostate cancer cells was assessed by MTT assays. Colony formation, cell migration studies, cell cycle studies and western blots were performed to determine probable mechanism of action. The categories of chemical compounds present in the extracts were determined by Thin Layer chromatography (TLC). Results from MTT assays showed that compared to the control cells (ie those treated with DMSO only), treatment with at least four plant extracts significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the growth of the cancer cells; decreases as large as 95 % were observed. On the other hand these extracts had a limited or delayed effect on the "normal" PNT1A cells. Results from the cell cycle assay demonstrated that one extract, now identified as plant-A extract, caused the arrest of the G1/S phase of PC-3 cells i.e. leading to an increase in the number of cells that remained in the growth phase. On the other hand the total ethanol extract of muscadine grape skin decreased the expression of heat shock protein-40, possibly causing deactivation of the androgen receptor. This suggests that extracts prepared from Plant A and the muscadine grape have the potential for use as anticancer drugs.

Unlocking the anti-prostate cancer potential of some tropical and sub-tropical plants

Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among men worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer mortality in males greater than 60 years in Trinidad and Tobago. Although there are some treatment options for the metastatic disease, the impact on overall survival rate has not improved in the last two decades. In particular, the mortality rate from prostate cancer is high among men of African descent in Trinidad and Tobago and the Americas. These groups manifest aggressive cancers that are often less responsive to available therapies. We hypothesize that phytochemical screening of tropical plants, coupled to cell culture studies would identify other potential treatments for prostate cancer. In separate experiments, the roots or leaves of five plants indigenous to the Caribbean and the skin of the muscadine grape, indigenous to North America were dried, crushed and suspended in 100% methanol. The respective methanol extracts were fractionated and the fractions dried. Next the ability of the extracts to halt the growth of or kill PC-3 prostate cancer cells was assessed by MTT assays. Colony formation, cell migration studies, cell cycle studies and western blots were performed to determine probable mechanism of action. The categories of chemical compounds present in the extracts were determined by Thin Layer chromatography (TLC). Results from MTT assays showed that compared to the control cells (ie those treated with DMSO only), treatment with at least four plant extracts significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the growth of the cancer cells; decreases as large as 95 % were observed. On the other hand these extracts had a limited or delayed effect on the "normal" PNT1A cells. Results from the cell cycle assay demonstrated that one extract, now identified as plant-A extract, caused the arrest of the G1/S phase of PC-3 cells i.e. leading to an increase in the number of cells that remained in the growth phase. On the other hand the total ethanol extract of muscadine grape skin decreased the expression of heat shock protein-40, possibly causing deactivation of the androgen receptor. This suggests that extracts prepared from Plant A and the muscadine grape have the potential for use as anticancer drugs.

Short term effects of cocoa consumption on blood pressure.

Hypertension, defined as diastolic pressure ≥ 90 mmHg and systolic pressure ≥ 140 mmHg, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among black populations globally. Several studies have shown that prolonged consumption of cocoa or cocoa containing products leads to decreased blood pressure (BP) in hypertensives. In this study, we investigated the flavonoid content of the top selling cocoa/cocoa based products in Trinidad and Tobago and attempted to determine if consumption of cocoa had any immediate impact on blood pressure levels. The flavonoid content of three 100% cocoa powder products and four cocoa based formulas was measured using a modified Folin-Ciocalteu procedure. The brand with the highest flavonoid content, 372 gallic acid equivalents, was selected to evaluate the short-term impact of cocoa consumption on blood pressure. Thirty-six participants comprising nineteen hypertensives and seventeen persons with normal blood pressure had their blood pressure recorded on three separate days using ambulatory blood pressure monitors; the blood pressure was recorded every half hour for eight hours. On the first day, the participants received no intervention but on the second and third days, they received either the intervention (5 g cocoa in 125 ml water) or a placebo, in any order. Statistical analysis conducted using t-test statistic and a 95% confidence interval revealed that whether participants regularly took antihypertensive medication or not, a single intervention of cocoa induced decreases in both the diastolic and systolic BPs that were significant (p = 0.0001). Mean decreases of between 8 mmHg and 18 mmHg were observed.

MiCASA (Medicaid Community Attendant Services Act). Amending Medicaid to ensure home care.

In recent months Congressional interest in community-based care for Americans with disabilities has gained momentum. The Medicaid Community Attendant Services Act (MiCASA) would ensure that people with disabilities or a need for long-term care are able to have a say in what kind of services they receive--and that they can receive them in the home or community.

Criminal background checks for home care aides.

The Health Care Financing Administration recently proposed a rule requiring criminal background checks for all home care aides as a condition of employment. The purpose of the rule is to safeguard against the potential for fraud and abuse in home care, but is it the only solution? And should it be limited to just home care aides?