Anticarcinogenic action of diallyl sulfide in hamster buccal pouch and forestomach.

The anticarcinogenic action of the garlic constituent diallyl sulfide (DAS), was examined in the hamster buccal pouch and forestomach. Groups of hamsters were topically treated, for up to 14 weeks, with a 0.5% solution of the buccal pouch and forestomach carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). Prior to, during and after DMBA treatment, groups of hamsters were also treated, on alternate days, with a 1% solution of DAS. In addition to tumor formation, the induction of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma GT) buccal pouch epithelial lesions served as an additional presumptive index of in vivo carcinogenesis/anticarcinogenesis. DAS resulted in a significant reduction in buccal pouch tumor frequency, buccal pouch tumor burden, buccal pouch gamma GT lesion frequency and forestomach tumor frequency. In a separate experiment, DAS also reduced the level of autoradiographically quantified unscheduled DNA repair synthesis (UDS) in pieces of hamster buccal pouch concurrently exposed in vitro to the potent buccal pouch carcinogen N-methyl-N-benzylnitrosamine (MBN). This study demonstrates that DAS is an effective anticarcinogenic agent in squamous mucosa of the hamster and suggests novel cost-effective strategies for the rapid identification of tissue-specific anticarcinogens and a quantitative assessment of their efficacy.     

In vitro antimutagenicity of curcumin against environmental mutagens

The effects of curcumin, the yellow pigment of the spice, turmeric (Curcuma longa) on the mutagenicity of several environmental mutagens were investigated in the Salmonella/microsome test with or without Aroclor 1254-induced rat-liver homogenate (S-9 mix). With Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 in the presence of S-9 mix, curcumin inhibited the mutagenicity of bidi and cigarette smoke condensates, tobacco and masheri extracts, benzo[a]pyrne and dimethyl benzo[a]anthracene in a dose-dependent manner. Curcumin did not influence the mutagenicity without S-9 mix of sodium azide, monoacetylhydrazine and streptozocin in strain TA100 nor of 4-nitrophenylenediamine in strain TA98. Our observations indicate that curcumin may alter the metabolic activation and detoxification of mutagens.     

Prenatal detection of cri du chat syndrome on uncultured amniocytes using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a chromosome-region-specific DNA probe was used prospectively on uncultured amniocyte interphase cells to detect an unbalanced chromosome abnormality that resulted in cri du chat or 5p – syndrome. Confirmation was performed by routine cytogenetics.     

Influence of Fluctuating Water Temperature and Dietary Oxytetracycline on the Safety of Monosex Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus Fries

The influence of fluctuating water temperature and dietary oxytetracycline (OTC) at 0 (0X), 80 (1X), 240 (3X), 400 (5X) and 800 mg (10X)/kg biomass/day for 30 consecutive days on the safety of monosex (all male) Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fries in terms of feeding, growth, survival and histopathology of vital organs were assessed. A dose-dependent decline in feed intake and biomass was recorded. The OTC-dosed groups recorded higher mortalities than the control. The therapeutic OTC-dosing (1X) in conjunction with low temperature caused 75.56 ± 8.01% mortality and 25.75% reduced feed intake in 30 days. The mortalities increased with increasing OTC-doses from 85.19 ± 3.39% (1X) to 95.56 ± 2.22% (10X) and fluctuating temperature (12.00–21.50°C) even after the withdrawal of OTC. Relatively mild to moderate histopathological lesions were observed in the kidney, liver and intestine of OTC-dosed fries. These results suggested that dietary OTC and low water temperature may cause adverse effects on monosex O. niloticus fries.

     

Alcohol use among physicians in a medical school in Nepal

Objective: The objective of the study was to know about the use of alcohol among physicians and factors that were related to it. Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted among the physicians in a medical school of eastern Nepal. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect information. Results: There were 55 subjects in the study. Half of them were between 35-45 years age group and one fourth among them were female. There were more than 88% physicians consuming alcohol for more than 10 years. One third used to preferred whisky as their favorites drink. Use of alcohol among them was due to peer pressure and to become a social human being. Most of them drink alcohol occasionally with an average amount 30-60ml in a sitting and usually in the evening. Most of the time, they use alcohol either in parties or at home. Conclusion: Alcohol use in Nepal is very much prevalent. The use of alcohol is socially accepted in many communities. Uses of alcohol by physicians have direct effect on their health as well as the health of many people because they are role model for many people. They are also in direct contact with the patients. Steps to council the physicians may reduce the consumption of alcohol. Key words: Alcohol, Nepal, Physicians, Dependence, Abuse.     

双相恶性子宫肿瘤:一例报道及文献复习(英文)

We present a rare case of a 50-year old lady who presented with pain abdomen and bleeding per vaginum of 3 months duration. Per vaginal examination revealed an exophytic growth arising from vault. Histopathological examination of the vault biopsy showed malignant neoplasm with features suggestive of carcinosarcoma of vault with immunohistochemistry showing stromal cells positive for CD10 and negative for SMA. Ki67 index was 40%-50%. She received external beam radiotherapy to pelvis 50.4 Gy/25 fractions but did not respond to the same. The lesion was not surgically resectable and hence referred to the division of medical oncology for chemotherapy. She was started on ifosphamide with cisplatin with growth factor support. It was planned to do a reassessment after 3 cycles of chemotherapy, but patient succumbed to the illness.     

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy of optically cleared brains for studying the glymphatic system

Fluid transport in the perivascular space by the glia-lymphatic (glymphatic) system is important for the removal of solutes from the brain parenchyma, including peptides such as amyloid-beta which are implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. The glymphatic system is highly active in the sleep state and under the influence of certain of anaesthetics, while it is suppressed in the awake state and by other anaesthetics. Here we investigated whether light sheet fluorescence microscopy of whole optically cleared murine brains was capable of detecting glymphatic differences in sleep- and awake-mimicking anaesthesia, respectively. Using light-sheet imaging of whole brains, we found anaesthetic-dependent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) influx differences, including reduced tracer influx along tertiary branches of the middle cerebral artery and reduced influx along dorsal and anterior penetrating arterioles, in the awake-mimicking anaesthesia. This study establishes that light sheet microscopy of optically cleared brains is feasible for quantitative analyses and can provide images of the entire glymphatic system in whole brains.     

Epstein–Barr virus patterns in US Burkitt lymphoma tumors from the SEER residual tissue repository during 1979–2009

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) occurs at all ages, but the patterns of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) positivity in relation to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), immunoprofiles and age have not been fully explored. BL tissues from residual tissue repositories, and two academic centers in the United States were examined by expert hematopathologists for morphology, immunohistochemistry, MYC rearrangement, EBV‐encoded RNA (EBER), and diagnosed according to the 2008 WHO lymphoma classification. Analysis was done using frequency tables, Chi‐squared statistics, and Student's t‐test. Of 117 cases examined, 91 were confirmed as BL. The age distribution was 26%, 15%, 19%, and 29% for 0–19, 20–34, 35–59, 60+ years, and missing in 11%. MYC rearrangement was found in 89% and EBER positivity in 29% of 82 cases with results. EBER positivity varied with age (from 13% in age group 0–19 to 55% in age group 20–34, and fell to 25% in age group 60+ years, p = 0.08); with race (56% in Blacks/Hispanics vs 21% in Whites/Asians/Pacific Islanders, p = 0.006); and by HIV status (64% in HIV positive vs 22% in HIV negative cases, p = 0.03). EBER positivity was demonstrated in about one‐third of tumors and it was strongly associated with race and HIV status, and marginally with age‐group.