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Evaluation of phototoxic potential of aerial components of the fig tree against human melanoma
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Cell Proliferation
Volume 45, Issue 3, June 2012, Pages 279-285
Evaluation of phototoxic potential of aerial components of the fig tree against human melanoma (Article)
Conforti, F.a ,
Menichini, G.b,
Zanfini, L.a,
Tundis, R.a,
Statti, G.A.a,
Provenzano, E.c,
Menichini, F.a,
Somma, F.b,
Alfano, C.b
a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (CS), Italy
b Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Perugia University, Perugia, Italy
c Operative Unit of Dermatology, A.O. of Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy
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Abstract
Objectives: To date, Ficus carica L. cultivar Dottato (F. carica) has not been studied from a phototoxic point of view. In the present work, aerial components of F. carica from Italy, were examined to assess their antioxidant and phototoxic activity on human melanoma cells. A relationship between antioxidant, phototoxic activities and chemical composition has also been investigated. Materials and methods: Coumarin and fatty acid content in F. carica leaves, bark and woody parts were examined and compared by capillary GC and GC/MS. Polyphenolic content was also determined. Linoleic acid peroxidation and DPPH test were used to assess antioxidant activities, and MTT assay was used to evaluate anti-proliferative activity, on C32 human melanoma cells, after irradiation with a UVA dose of 1.08 J/cm 2. Results: Leaves demonstrated the best antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity in comparison to bark and wood. In particular, leaves were shown to possess the highest anti-radical activity and inhibition of peroxidation, with IC 50 values of 64 and 1.48 μg/ml respectively. The leaves had highest anti-proliferative activity with IC 50 value of 3.92 μg/ml. The phytochemical investigation revealed different composition between the coumarins, psoralen and bergapten, fatty acids, polyphenols and flavonoid content among plant parts. Conclusions: Data obtained indicate that this type of fig tree may constitute an excellent source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, coumarins and fatty acids. This study offers a new perspective in developing others formulations potentially useful in photodynamic therapy for treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer
Increase in non-tuberculous mycobacteria isolated from humans in Tuscany, Italy, from 2004 to 2016
No full textIntroduction: Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) include all Mycobacterium species other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and Mycobacterium leprae. NTM are a group of over 150 environmental species; they are generally endowed with low pathogenicity to human, however some species are associated with a variety of human diseases: respiratory tract infection are the most frequent, followed by lymphadenitis in children, disseminated infections in severely immunocompromised patients and skin infections. In Italy, the prevalence of NTM in human infections is largely unknown. The aim of the present survey is to report the epidemiology and recent trend of NTM infections in a region of central Italy, Tuscany, over the last 13 years, and provide a review of the recent literature on NTM isolation rates in different geographic regions.
Materials and Methods: The complete collection of NTM strains isolated from 50.150 clinical specimens at the Laboratory of Clinical Mycobacteriology of Pisa University Hospital, Italy, from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2016 was included.
Results: In our setting, in the period 2004-2016 a total of 215 patients had cultures positive for NTM. The number of NTM isolates increased considerably from 5 isolates in 2004 to 36 in 2016; a sharp increase occurred in the last 5 years. Overall, 18 NTM species were isolated; the most common were M. avium, M. intracellulare and M. gordonae detected in respectively in 37.7%, 15.8% and 13.5% of NTM patients. Notably, M. kansasii, a pulmonary pathogen not reported before 2012, was repeatedly isolated in the last 5 years, representing 7,1% of total NTM isolates. In general, NTM isolates were largely prevalent in people older than 60 (59.5%); patients aged 1-10 year-old almost exclusively yielded M. avium and M. intracellulare. Of the 215 NTM clinical isolates, 77.2% were from respiratory specimens, 10.7% from lymph nodes, 2.3% from blood (yielding exclusively M. avium), and the remaining 9.8% from other clinical specimens.
Conclusions: The present study provides a snapshot of the prevalent NTM species in our setting and shows an increase in NTM isolation rate, which is in keeping with the general increase in NTM infections reported worldwide in the past two decades, although the distribution of the NTM prevalent species differs by geographic region
Long term results of epiphyseal transplant in distal radius reconstruction in children
No full textReplacement of osseous defect, restoration of joint function, and restoration of longitudinal growth are the 3 main reconstruc- tive issues that need to be addressed when the physis and epiphysis are damaged in a skeletally immature individual. Failure in achieving these objectives leads to severe deformity and func- tional impairment, which significantly compro- mises the quality of life of young patients. Be- cause of its biological and morphological charac- teristics, the proximal fibula epiphyseal transfer has proven to be an excellent option in limb sal- vage surgery in pediatric oncologic cases meet- ing all the reconstructive requirements
Efficient audits by pooling projects
No full textIn a costly state verication model under commitment, the paper shows that jointly financing multiple independent projects reduces the deadweight loss of ine¢ cient audits. This is true for both simultaneous and sequential audit, since each system reveals the same information about the project outcomes at the same cost. Moreover, the audit combination under sequential audit is indeterminate. Audits are decreasing in the reported income and, for sufficiently high projects protability, deterministic for lower income reports
Third Parties, Information Disclosure and Monitoring Incentives
No full textWithin an incomplete contract setting, the paper analyses the role of third parties in ameliorating incentive problems arising in the context of financial contracts with costly verification and lender’s bargaining power. Contrary to the findings of the bilateral lender–borrower relationship, characterised by no information revelation and possibly a breakdown of the market, it is shown that, in the presence of third parties, an optimal contract exists featuring partial information revelation and random monitoring. The importance of third parties is therefore not limited to improving efficiency, as it is when the contract offer comes from the informed party, but to ensure project realisation, and thus to ensure that the surplus that can arise from the project does not get lost
"Cachrys pungens Jan inhibits human melanoma cell proliferation through photo-induced cytotoxic activity."
No full textObjective: To date, plants belonging to the genus Cachrys have not been amply studied. In the present study, aerial components of Cachrys pungens Jan from Italy, were examined to assess their free radical-scavenging and antioxidant activity, and their phototoxicity on A375 melanoma cells. In view of potential pharmaceutical applications, a relationship between antioxidant, phototoxic activities and polyphenolic composition has also been investigated. Materials and methods: Content of sterols, terpenes, fatty acids and coumarins was assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and GC. Total phenolic content was also determined. Antioxidant activity of the methanol extract and fractions of C. pungens Jan was assessed using DPPH scavenging assay and β-carotene bleaching test. Plant phototoxicity was also investigated in this human tumour cell line (amelanotic melanoma). Results: Analysis of the chloroform extract was particularly interesting, as it led to identification of many coumarins, of which five were linear and one angular furanocoumarins. Methanol and ethyl acetate fractions exhibited substantial antioxidant activity. Moreover, chloroform extract and isolated coumarin fraction had strong phototoxic activity on UVA-induced A375 cells after irradiation at UVA dose of 1.08J/cm. Conclusions: Plant-derived natural compounds are an important source for development of cancer-fighting drugs. This study has demonstrated strong phototoxic activity of the coumarin fraction of C. pungens, a plant which, to our knowledge, has never been studied before. This investigation offers a new perspective for developing other formulations potentially useful in photodynamic therapy for treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers as well as melanomas
Fig latex (Ficus carica L. cultivar Dottato) in combination with UV irradiation decreases the viability of A375 melanoma cells in vitro
No full textMelanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers are among the most prevalent cancers in the human population. In the present work latex of Ficus carica cultivar Dottato from Italy collected from fruits and leaves was examined to assess its free radical-scavenging activity with 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and its phototoxicity on A375 human melanoma cells. The latex obtained from the fruits of Ficus carica cv. Dottato showed the best antiradical activity with an IC50 value of 0.05 mg/ml while the latex obtained from the leaves showed the best antiproliferative activity with an IC50 value of 1.5 μg/ml on the human tumor cell line A375 (melanoma) after irradiation at a specific UVA dose (1.08 J/cm2). Control experiments with UVA light or drugs alone were carried out without significant cytotoxic effects. Polyphenolic content of the samples was also evaluated. This is the first study comparing F. carica latex of leaves and fruits. Plant derived natural products have long been and will continue to be an important source for anticancer drug development
MIGLO, ANTON: CAPITAL STRUCTURE IN THE MODERN WORLD. 254 PP. PALGRAVE MACMILLAN, BASINGSTOKE, 2016. HARDCOVER. 123.04
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