Growth inhibition of human non-small lung cancer cells h460 by green tea and ginger polyphenols

Non small cell lung cancer is known to resist apoptotic stimuli of various antitumor agents and become progressively incurable. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro antineoplastic effect of polyphenols extracted from both green tea (GTPs) and ginger (GPs) on non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC-NCI-H460). Methods: The direct antitumor effect of GTPs and GPs on H460 cells was assessed by investigating the proliferation rate, metabolic activity assay (MTT method) and the apoptotic effect (determined by an annexin V apoptosis assay). Also, the inhibition concentrations (IC50) of both extracts and the levels of P 53 and Bcl-2 proteins were determined. Results: GTPs and GPs have inhibited the proliferation of H460 cells in a dose-dependent manner. At the end of treatment period (96 h) the cell population has decreased to 16% and 26% when treated with 80μg GTPs or GPs, respectively, compared to the untreated cells. The IC50 values of both extracts were 32.9 and 55.5 g/ml, respectively. GTPs was more effective in reduction of cell metabolic activity (measured by MTT assay), where cell count decreased to 22% compared to 64% in cells treated with similar concentration (80μg) of GPs. Lower concentration (20μg) of cisplatin induced 15% reduction in cell metabolic activity. Moreover, 80μg of GTPs and GPs extracts induced apoptosis by 71% and 39% of the living cells, respectively. The apoptotic effect of both extracts, especially GTPs, seems to be mediated by both P 53 and Bcl-2. Conclusion: The study reports the antiproliferative and apoptosis-mediated cytotoxic effects of green tea and ginger polyphenolic extracts on human H460 cell line, indicating their promising chemopreventive effect against lung cancer.     

Imaging of cutaneous larva migrans by optical coherence tomography

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous larva migrans is a parasitic skin eruption caused by migration of larvae of various nematodes. Diagnosis of cutaneous larva migrans is currently based on the clinical signs of the creeping eruption. We are investigating a new diagnostic technology called optical coherence tomography (OCT) , which is potentially able to visualize structures in the skin with an 8 microm resolution. This technology could therefore potentially allow rapid, non-invasive, in vivo diagnosis of infestations. METHOD: Clinical cases of cutaneous larva migrans (n=3) were studied. All patients had a characteristic itching, serpinginous eruption typical of cutaneous larva migrans. The parasites were acquired on beach holidays in Thailand and Malaysia. All skin lesions were imaged by an OCT system developed at Risoe National Laboratory, Denmark. RESULT: Two out of three patients showed a round to oval structure (diameter 0.3-0.5mm) in the epidermis, Thus distinct OCT morphology in skin areas affected by cutaneous larva migrans was demonstrated. The larvae were not visualized in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that OCT a novel optical imaging technology, can image the larva tunnel in the skin with adequate spatial resolution, but not the larvae itself. OCT has a potential in imaging of skin infestations.     

Sixty-four multi-detector computerised tomography in the detection of lower gastrointestinal bleeding: A prospective study

Introduction: Acute gastrointestinal bleeding (AGIB) is a serious and life‐threatening condition. Many diagnostic procedures and tests are being used to detect the site of bleeding with different success rates. The aim of our study is to prospectively evaluate accuracy of 64‐slice multi‐detector computerised tomography (MDCT) in the diagnosis of lower AGIB. Methods: Between September 2007 and January 2009, patients with presumed lower AGIB were referred to the radiology department of our institution for 64‐slice MDCT examination as part of the investigation for the lower AGIB. Any abnormalities to account for bleeding, such as tumours, bowel wall enhancement and increased intraluminal density, were recorded. Results: Out of 139 patients with AGIB that were admitted to our casualty department, 27 patients (19 men and 8 women) in the age range of 24–88 years (mean age, 56 years) were suspected to have lower AGIB. Sixty‐four‐slice MDCT was performed and considered positive for bleeding in 19 (70%) cases, and in all the cases, the bleeding source was indentified in the arterial phase, showing a focal dense wall enhancement in 8 (42%) cases, circumferential wall enhancement in 4 (22%) cases and progressive increasing intraluminal density in 7 (36%) cases. The venous phase scan showed increased dispersion of the contrast within the lumen as an additional clue for active extravasation in 15 (79%) out of the 19 cases. Delayed 5‐min scanning showed the same findings as venous phase in all the 19 positive cases and failed to depict any additional findings in the eight cases that were negative on arterial or venous phases. Conclusion: The study supports the high accuracy of 64‐slice MDCT in locating the site of AGIB in patients thought to have a distal source of bleeding. Its accuracy in clinically proximal bleeding is not clear from this study, but MDCT is capable of showing such sources.     

Serum levels of β-catenin as a potential marker for genotype 4/hepatitis C-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

The global rising incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which parallels the increase of hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence, has sparked a renewed interest in discovering additional HCC serum markers. In this study, we investigated the clinical use of serum E-cadherin, ICAM, MMP-2, VEGF, OPN and β-catenin as potential diagnostic makers for HCV/genotype 4-associated HCC. Twenty cases of healthy subjects, 11 cases with asymptomatic HCV/genotype 4 carriers (ASC), 28 chronic hepatitis (CH) cases and 32 patients with HCC were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of proteins were measured by a sandwich-enzyme-linked (ELISA) assay. The diagnostic accuracy of each candidate marker was evaluated using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, reporting the area under the curve (AUC) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). We demonstrated that serum β-catenin levels were significantly elevated in patients with HCC compared to those with CH, ASC and healthy controls. Among the six studied markers, β-catenin was also found to be the only marker that can significantly discriminate between patients with HCC and those with CH; therefore, β-catenin could be considered as a potential marker for early diagnosis of HCV-associated HCC in patients infected with HCV genotype 4.     

Severity of erectile dysfunction could predict left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients without overt cardiac complaint

IntroductionIt has been repeatedly demonstrated that presence of erectile dysfunction (ED) may predate the occurrence of overt event of coronary artery disease. However, the association between severity of ED and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) was rarely reported.AimThe aim of this study was to assess the association between severity of ED and LVDD in patients without overt cardiac complaint.Main Outcome MeasuresThe International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) was used to assess erectile function. Diastolic Doppler parameters measurements and tissue Doppler imaging were used to assess left ventricular diastolic function.MethodsA total of 230 male ED patients without overt cardiac complaint were enrolled in this study. Erectile function was assessed using the IIEF. Patients were also screened for socio demographic data and medical comorbidities that included age, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. All patients were referred to cardiologist for cardiac assessment. Left ventricular diastolic function that included diastolic Doppler parameters measurements and tissue Doppler imaging were also assessed.ResultsMean age ± standard deviation was 57.5 ± 5.6 (range of 42–81). There were significant associations between the following risk factors: age, obesity, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and increased severity of ED (P < 0.05 for each). Of the patients, 77.4%, 74.8%, 80%, and 66.1% had abnormal transmitral E/A (E/A) ratio, deceleration time (DT), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), mitral E velocity/tissue Doppler imaging E velocity (E/Em) ratio, respectively. Only the means of IVRT and (E/Em) ratio had significant associations with increased severity of ED (P < 0.001 for each). There were significant associations between increased severity of ED and the following categorical echo parameters: grades 1 and 2 of E/A ratio, DT, IVRT, and grades 1, 2, and 3 of (E/Em) ratio (P < 0.05 for each).Conclusions. The current study clearly demonstrated that LVDD is prevalent among patients with ED‐associated medical comorbidities without overt cardiac complaint. There were significant associations between increased severity of ED and presence of LVDD in those patients. El‐Sakka AI, Morsy AM, and Fagih BI. Severity of erectile dysfunction could predict left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients without overt cardiac complaint. J Sex Med 2011;8:2590–2597.     

The use of the inferior epigastric artery for accessory lower polar artery revascularization in live donor renal transplantation

Purpose This study describes the surgical technique and outcomes of live donor renal allografts with multiple arteries in which the lower polar artery was anastomosed to the inferior epigastric artery after declamping. Materials and methods Between 1988 and 2004, 477 consecutive live donor renal transplants were performed, including 429 with single and 48 with multiple arteries. Anastomosis of the lower polar artery to the inferior epigastric artery was used for 15 grafts with multiple arteries. Results Successful revascularization of all areas of the transplanted graft was confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography in most patients and radionuclide renal scanning ± MRA in some patients. Conclusions In live donor renal transplantation with multiple arteries, the anastomosis of the lower polar artery to the inferior epigastric artery after declamping avoids prolongation of the ischemia time that occurs with other surgical and microsurgical techniques of intracorporeal and ex vivo surgeries.     

Evaluation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORMs) in Inorganic and Organic Oilfield Scales from the Middle East

The distribution of natural nuclide gamma-ray activities and their respective annual effective dose rates, produced by potassium-40 (⁴⁰K), uranium-238 (²³⁸U), thorium-232 (²³²Th), and radium-226 (²²⁶Ra), were determined for 14 oilfield scale samples from the Middle East. Accumulated radioactive materials concentrate in tubing and surface equipment, and workers at equipment-cleaning facilities and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) disposal facilities are the population most at risk for exposure to NORM radiation. Gamma-spectra analysis indicated that photo-gamma lines represent the parents of 10 radioactive nuclides: ²³⁴Th, plutonium-239, actinium-228, ²²⁶Ra, lead-212 (²¹²Pb), ²¹⁴Pb, thallium-238 (²⁰⁸Tl), bismuth-212 (²¹²Bi), ²¹⁴Bi, and ⁴⁰K. These nuclides represent the daughters of the natural radioactive series ²³⁸U and ²³²Th with ⁴⁰K as well. The mean activity concentration of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were found to be 25.8 ± 11.6, 18.3 ± 8.1, and 4487.2 ± 2.5% Bq kg⁻¹ (average values for 14 samples), respectively. The annual effective dose rates and the absorbed doses in air, both indoor and outdoor, for the samples were obtained as well. The results can be used to assess the respective hazard on workers in the field and represent a basis for revisiting current engineering practices.     

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of serum and tissue apoptotic cytokeratin-18 in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Background and study aimsHepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered the most common aetiology of chronic liver disease (CLD) in Egypt. The disease severity ranges from mild illness to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A role for apoptosis in liver damage caused by HCV chronic infection has been suggested. Cytokeratin 18 (CK-18) is the major intermediate filament protein in the liver and is a known caspase substrate in hepatocyte apoptosis. Therefore, we analysed the serum and tissue levels of CK-18 in patients with chronic HCV infection to evaluate its role in hepatocyte apoptosis. We also correlated CK-18 expression with the severity of hepatic pathology.Patients and methodsThis study examined 80 Egyptian patients with liver disease. There were 69 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 11 patients with hepatitis C-induced cirrhotic changes. Fifteen healthy controls were also included in the study. The levels of CK-18 fragment were quantified in paired serum and liver biopsy samples.ResultsThe serum and tissue CK-18 levels were reduced in chronic HCV patients compared to early cirrhosis patients. This result indicates that serum levels of CK-18 and the hepatic expression of CK-18 might play an important role in disease progression. The serum and tissue levels of CK-18 were significantly increased and directly correlated with inflammation severity, stage of fibrosis, and ALT levels in the chronic HCV group and the cirrhotic liver group. There was no significant difference in viral load between patient cohorts.ConclusionThe serum level and the hepatic expression of CK-18 are related to disease activity and are directly correlated with METAVIR scoring. This result suggests that serum CK-18 levels may be useful for monitoring disease activity in chronic HCV and liver cirrhosis patients.