Ivy Union Publishing (E-Journals)
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Experimental Evaluation of Gene Silencing As New Therapeutic Option in the Treatment of Gemcitabine-chemoresistant Non-small-cell Lung Cancer
Get PDFThe evolution of technological and therapeutic applications of siRNA since the description of the interference process in 2006 has been extremely rapid and very productive. Currently, at least ten tumor entities and ten viral infections in which siRNA-based therapy might play an auspicious role have been described. Because of the very poor prognosis of NSCLC, we examined and proposed a new therapeutic alternative for the treatment of gemcitabine-resistant lung cancer via siRNA-specific silencing of six important molecules involved in lung carcinogenesis.Methods: One hundred thousand gemcitabine-chemoresistant A549 cell lines were cultured in a humidified atmosphere containing 5 % CO2 at 37°C and were transfected with specific siRNA targeting HIF1, HIF2, STAT3, SRF, E2F1 and Survivin. The relative expression of these molecules was examined via qRT-PCR and the viability of the chemoresistant cells after siRNA transfection was analyzed using a CASY system 72 hours after specific transfection.Results: The relative expression of the examined target molecules was suppressed by up to 73 % after specific transfection, and the CASY system demonstrated a concentration-dependent reduction in the viability of chemoresistant A549 cells of up to 61 %. Therefore the obtained results were significantly better in comparison to the control group.Conclusions: siRNA complexes may induce accurate suppression of various target molecules involved in lung tumor growth, in particular in gemcitabine- chemoresistant adenocarcinoma. Therefore, siRNA-based nanotechnology might represent a productive platform for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents for advanced stages of lung cancer in the context of a personalized multimodality regimen
Spectrophotometric Determination of Omeprazole Sodium and Ranitidine Hydrochloride Using 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene and 4- chloro-7-nitrobenzen-2-oxa-1, 3-diazole Accompanied with a Kinetic Study
Get PDFTwo accurate, simple and sensitive spectrophotometric methods were developed for determination of omeprazole sodium and ranitidine hydrochloride in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms. The first method was based on the reaction of these drugs with 2, 4- dinitrofluorobenzene producing yellow colored products measured at λmax 470 nm and 420 nm for omeprazole sodium and ranitidine HCl, respectively. Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range from (5-40 µg.ml-1) for omeprazole sodium and (30-180 µg.ml-1) for ranitidine HCl with molar absorpitivity 9.202 x 103 Lmol-1cm-1 and 1.778 x 103 Lmol-1cm-1, respectively. The second method was based on the reaction of omeprazole sodium and ranitidine HCl with 4- Chloro-7-nitrobenzen-2-oxa-1, 3-diazole producing yellow colored adducts measured at λmax 481 nm and 468 nm for omeprazole sodium and ranitidine HCl, respectively. This method was accompanied with a kinetic study for ranitidine HCl. The absorbance-concentration plots were rectilinear over concentration range (2-12 µg.ml-1) and (0.025-0.15 µg.ml-1) for omeprazole sodium and ranitidine HCl with molar absorpitivity 4.062 x 104 Lmol-1cm-1 and 2.802 x 106 Lmol-1cm-1, respectively. These methods hold their accuracy and precision well when applied to the determination of omeprazole sodium and ranitidine HCl in their dosage forms
Actinomycosis of the Gallbladder: A Case Report
Get PDFIntroduction: Actinomycosis of the gallbladder is extremely rare and may mimic a malignancy leading to delayed diagnosis and/or inappropriate treatment.Presentation of case: Here we report the case of an 82-year-old man who presented with right upper abdominal discomfort for one month. Radiographically, an ill-defined mass was found in the gallbladder fossa that invaded the adjacent abdominal wall and liver bed. In addition, a stone was found in the gallbladder lumen. The imaging features suggested a gallbladder carcinoma. An initial CT-guided needle biopsy showed an inflammatory process. The subsequent open cholecystectomy revealed a contracted, thick-walled gallbladder surrounded by a soft tissue mass near the fundus. Histologically, the gallbladder revealed acute and chronic cholecystitis and microabscesses containing sulfur granules in the soft tissue mass, which showed Gram-positive filamentous bacilli. Under the diagnosis of gallbladder actinomycosis, the patient received post-operative antibiotics for 7 weeks and was well 5 months after diagnosis.Conclusion: Our case demonstrated that a gallbladder actinomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with cholelithiasis and cholecystitis presenting an invasive mass in the gallbladder fossa
Evaluation of Ferritin and Nitric Oxide Levels in Breast Cancer
Get PDFBreast carcinoma is one of the commonest malignancies in females. It is curable, if detected, at an early stage. Levels of serum ferritin and nitric oxide are found raised in various cancers including breast carcinoma. These parameters are sufficiently interlinked to be used as markers for breast cancer. In this study, the levels of ferritin and nitric oxide were estimated in 30 patients of early stage (stage I and II) and 30 patients of advanced breast cancer (stge III and IV). These levels were compared with 30 healthy females as controls. Serum ferritin and nitric oxide were found to be raised (p0.001) in all breast cancer patients as compared to controls. The rise in their levels was significantly more in advanced stage as compared to early stage carcinoma (p0.001). Treatment had a curative effect on these parameters also as shown by a decrease in their levels in both the groups. Thus, estimation of ferritin and nitric oxide may aid in diagnosis, assessment of severity and monitoring of breast cancer patients though results will be highly reliable in conjunction with other tumor markers
Relationship between Chronic Disease Conditions and Colorectal Cancer Screening: Results from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey Data
Get PDFBackground: Uptake of screening remains crucial in the prevention of both the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and its mortality.Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of CRC screening and identify chronic conditions that predict CRC screening uptake among US adults using the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the 2012 NHIS data. Chronic conditions examined were hypertension, cancer history, arthritis, ulcer, and high cholesterol level. A total of 21,511 participants were included in the analysis. Weighted univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses in SAS ver. 9.2 were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results: The overall prevalence of CRC screening was 19%. The prevalence of CRC screening in adults with cancer history, hypertension, ulcer, high cholesterol, and arthritis was significantly higher than those without the chronic conditions (26% vs.18%, 23% vs.16%, 25% vs.18%, 23% vs. 16%, and 23% vs. 17%, respectively). After adjusting for potential factors, hypertension (OR=1.18, 95%CI=1.08-1.30), ulcer (OR=1.28, 95%CI=1.10-1.48), high cholesterol (OR=1.25, 95%CI=1.14-1.39), and arthritis (OR=1.24, 95%CI=1.12-1.37) were all positively associated with CRC screening (p0.05). Females were less likely to screen for CRC than to males (OR=0.72; 95% CI=0.65-0.80). Compared to young adults (18-44 years), screening was significantly higher in middle-aged (45-64 years) and elder adults (65+) (OR=2.60, 95%CI=2.11-3.21 and OR=2.67, 95%CI=2.13-3.33, respectively). African Americans were more likely to screen for CRC compared to their white counterparts (OR=1.61, 95% CI=1.44-1.81). Conclusions: We have found significant associations between chronic conditions and CRC screening uptake. We also found higher uptake of CRC screen in African Americans than Whites, in contrast to earlier findings
Parotid Adenoidcysticcarcinoma with Multiple Distant Skin Metastases: A Case Report
Get PDFIntroduction: Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC) is one of the malignancy and commonly seen in the minor salivary glands and hard palate. The lung is the most common hematogenous spread site, followed by the bones, liver and brain. Skin and skeletal muscle metastases are very rare.Case Presentation: We present a 59-year-old male operated for a left parotid gland mass five years ago. The excision material was diagnosed as ACC. The patient developed lung metastases after about 10 months. Multiple small masses were noticed on the middle phalanxes of the right hand during a follow-up after five years and were excised. These masses were considered to be skin metastases of the parotideal adenoid cystic carcinoma compared to the parotideal excision.Conclusion: Conclusion: Metastases of the ACC are most commonly seen in the lung, followed by the bone, liver and brain. However, skin and skeletal muscle metastases are rare. A thorough physical examination should be carried out in routine follow-ups and small lesions should not be ignored
A Rare Presentation of Plasmablastic Lymphoma in a HIV-negative Male Status-post Liver Transplantation
Get PDFIntroduction: Plasmablastic lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, rarely presents as a retroperitoneal mass. There are no case reports in the literature of plasmablastic lymphoma presenting in living, HIV-negative patient status post liver transplantation.Presentation of Case: We report the case of a 63 year-old HIV-negative male status post liver transplant who presented with weakness and obstructive uropathy. Imaging showed a large mass in the retroperitonium. Biopsy revealed plasmablastic lymphoma. CHOP therapy was initiated and after six cycles, the retroperitoneal mass regressed in size; however, cytology from pleural fluid revealed that the disease remained. It has been 9 months since initial diagnosis and he was started on salvage chemotherapy with ESHAP however he subsequently developed a treatment related myelodysplastic syndrome with trisomy 12.Conclusions: The present case is used to explore the presentation and treatment of plasmablastic lymphoma, and to review the literature concerning the rarity of this disease in the setting of a HIV-negative patient status post solid organ transplantation
Spontaneous Regression of Dermal Metastases in Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Get PDFIntroduction: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) or cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma is a rare and aggressive cutaneous malignancy. Interestingly, despite its aggressive nature, complete spontaneous regression of MCC has been reported, mostly of the head and neck sites, and after biopsy or fine-needle aspiration sampling. There has been speculation that the biopsy of MCC may trigger complete spontaneous tumor regression via stimulation of the immune system. Spontaneous regression of metastatic MCC lesions after the excision of the main lesion, however, has not been reported in English literature.Presentation of case: We report an extremely rare case of MCC of the left gluteal region with left inguinal lymphadenopathy and metastatic dermal nodules who underwent excision of the main lesion and was noted to have spontaneous regression of his dermal metastases post-operatively.Conclusions: Spontaneous regression of MCC remains a poorly understood phenomenon. Further research into the histopathological features and immunity status should be considered to elucidate the mechanism underlying this phenomenon, as it will potentially be life-saving for patients with this rare malignancy, whose median survival will otherwise be measured in months
Medicaid Expenditures for Cancer: Evidence from Medicaid-only Beneficiaries in Four States
Get PDFThis study estimates the cost burden of 6 prevalent invasive cancers—breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, melanoma, and prostate—on Medicaid programs in 4 states. The analyses use Medicaid claims and enrollment data for all Medicaid-only beneficiaries over age 18 in Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, and Maine with at least 1 month of enrollment in fee-for-service Medicaid from 2000 to 2003. We applied ordinary least squares regression analysis to a data set created from Medicaid claims and enrollment data to estimate annual expenditures attributable to each cancer after controlling for age, race, gender, and comorbid conditions. Cancers and comorbid conditions were identified on the basis of claims with an appropriate diagnosis code. Cancers include both incident and prevalent cases. In 2003 dollars, annualized Medicaid expenditures attributable to the 6 cancers combined in the Medicaid-only population were 79.7 million in Illinois, 29.4 million in Maine. Attributable annualized per-capita Medicaid expenditures were highest for lung cancer, then colorectal cancer. After adjusting for sociodemographics and comorbidities, only 10% to 50% of medical expenditures among Medicaid-only beneficiaries with cancer were attributable to cancer. Estimates of the costs of care for Medicaid-eligible cancer patients are critical to understanding the implications of cancer for state and federal budgets. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 is expected to substantially expand the adult Medicaid population. These estimates provide important baseline information for assessing the potential effects of increased Medicaid enrollment on Medicaid expenditures for cancer
Antioxidant Networks In vivo
Get PDFOxygen interacts with cells and can form highly reactive compounds in vivo known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). High levels of ROS can lead to cellular damage, oxidative stress, heart diseases and cancer. Known substances that are capable of halting the physiological process of oxidation in tissue are called antioxidants.This review covers developments in the field of antioxidant chemistry including interactions between antioxidants and ROS, topics about sources and natural occurrences, classification of antioxidants and a discussion of possible mechanisms. We also summarize examples of oxidative stress biomarkers.