Efficacy of selected natural products as therapeutic agents against cancer

With emerging sophistication in the exploration of ocean environment, a number of marine bioactive products have been identified with promising anticancer activity. Many of these are in active phase I or phase II clinical trials or have been terminated because of adverse side effects, mainly hematological in nature. Nonetheless, the information derived has aided enormously in providing leads for laboratory synthesis with modifications in the parent structure affecting compound solubility, absorption, and toxicity, resulting in less severe toxicity while achieving maximum efficacy in smaller doses. We describe herein, a few of the compounds obtained from marine and terrestrial sources [bryostatin 1 ( 1), dolastatin 10 ( 2), auristatin PE ( 3), and combretastatin A4 ( 4)] that have been extensively investigated in our laboratory and continue to be investigated for their sensitization effects with other cytotoxic agents in several different site-specific tumors employing murine models or human subjects.     

Immobilization effect of Ruta graveolens L. on human sperm: a new hope for male contraception

AIM OF THE STUDY: Contraceptive plants which were introduced by folk in traditional remedies are investigated worldwide. In this study, the contraceptive effects of Ruta graveolens L., which has been mentioned for male contraceptive in Iranian traditional folk medicine, was experimented on human sperm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different doses of lyophilized aqueous extract of Ruta graveolens L. were added to an amount of fresh semen, containing 10(6) cells in a 1:1 volumic ratio. Motility and viability of cells, DNA status, mitochondrial activity and sperm revival tests were carried out. RESULTS: The sperm immobilization effects of the extract appeared immediately in a does-dependent manner and 100% of the sperms became immotile at a concentration of 100mg/ml but other parameters were intact. After washing the sperms, motility was returned in 30.8+/-3.2% of the sperms, besides coiled tails in 38.6+/-5.5% of the treated cells, in comparison to 12.5+/-2.0% of the control group (p=0.001). The part of the extract, responsible for immobilization of the sperms was stable upon boiling. CONCLUSIONS: As the cells were alive and immotile, probably some ionic currents are blocked by a thermostable component of the plant which can be promising as a new male channel blocker contraceptive.     

Impact of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (<Emphasis Type="Italic">MTHFR</Emphasis>) codon (677) and methionine synthase (<Emphasis Type="Italic">MS</Emphasis>) codon (2756) on risk of cervical carcinogenesis in North Indian population

Cervical cancer continues to be the most common cause of death among women in developing countries. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase (MS) are critical enzymes of folate metabolic pathways. In this work, we have conducted a case–control study to assess the role of these two polymorphisms in cervical cancer development. We obtained blood samples from 200 women with cervical cancer and from equal matched controls and analysed using PCR-RFLP method. We found that the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase variant CT and CT + TT genotypes decreased cervix cancer risk, statistically significant (OR:0.30, 95% CI: 0.18–0.51, P < 0.001 for CT and OR:0.29, 95% CI: 0.18–0.49, P = 0.0000006 for CT + TT). Similarly in those patients who used oral contraceptive with variant CT genotype, there was statistically highly significant reduced risk of cervix cancer (OR:0.25, 95% CI: –0.12–0.49, P < 0.001) of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene. For the methionine synthase, 2756 variant AG and AG + GG genotypes were similarly associated with highly significant reduced risk of cervix cancer (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.07–0.26, P < 0.001 for AG, and OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.08–0.27, P < 0.001 for AG + GG) genotypes. In conclusion, our study suggested that methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and methionine synthase polymorphisms might have protective effect on the risk of cervical cancer in the North Indian women.     

Deaths among young, single women in 2000-2001 in the West Bank, Palestinian Occupied Territories

A study in 2000-2001 of causes of death of women of reproductive age (15-49) in the West Bank, Palestinian Occupied Territories, found that 154 of the 411 deceased women aged 15-49 with known marital status were single. Death notification forms for reported deaths were analysed and verbal autopsies carried out, where possible, with relatives of the deceased women. We found important differences in the age at death and causes of death among the single and married women, which can be attributed to the disadvantaged social status of single women in Palestinian society, exacerbated by the current unstable political situation. 41% of the deceased single women were under 25 years of age at death compared to 8% of the married women. The proportion of violent deaths and suicides among the single women was almost twice as high as among the married women, mainly in those below age 25. The single women were also more likely to die from medical conditions which indicated that they faced barriers to accessing health care. The fieldwork was conducted at the height of the Intifada and the Israeli military response, with heavy restrictions on mobility, limiting the possibility of probing deeper into the circumstances surrounding sensitive deaths. More research into the socio-cultural context of single women in Palestine society is needed as a basis for intervention.     

Pandora's box: ethics of PGD for inherited risk of late-onset disorders

Until recently, the primary use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has been the selection of embryos to avoid lethal or debilitating gene mutations or abnormal chromosome complement. PGD can be used to reduce the risk of transferring to the uterus an embryo with Down syndrome, and parents who are carriers of severe genetic diseases may choose to avoid having children with these debilitating genetic conditions. The use of PGD is now being extended to include gene mutations that increase the risk of late-onset disorders such as breast and ovarian cancer. This paper argues for caution in advocating reproductive methods that are costly, have a limited chance of success, and for which the long-term outcome is unknown. Counselling should allow women a true choice of declining the option of PGD without recrimination, feelings of guilt or social pressure. There is concern that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has approved extension of PGD to late-onset multifactorial diseases without clear guidelines for its use. Guidelines for embryo selection should be revised to deal with potential conflict between reproductive success and genetic screening for disorders that do not profoundly affect the embryo or the children.     

The prevalence of fimbrial pathology in patients with early stages of endometriosis

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The presence of fimbrial pathology in advanced endometriosis is clearly understood. However, little is known about the prevalence of fimbrial pathology in early stages of endometriosis. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of fimbrial pathology in patients with infertility with early stages of endometriosis. DESIGN: Historical cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II/III). SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: The study group (Group 1) consisted of 315 infertile women who were found to have stage I or stage II endometriosis, and the control group (Group 2) consisted of 152 infertile women without endometriosis (Group 2). INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic evaluation for the presence and type of fimbrial pathology. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The prevalence of fimbrial pathology was significantly higher in infertile patients with early stages of endometriosis (50.2%) compared with infertile patients with no endometriosis (17.8%, p <.0001). CONCLUSION: These preliminary data suggest the presence of fimbrial pathology in many patients with early stages of endometriosis. Such pathology may act as a mechanical factor interfering with the ovum pick-up mechanism.     

Giant multilocular prostatic cystadenoma in a young man: A case report from Jordan

Giant Multilocular Prostatic Cystadenoma (GMPC) is one of the rare benign tumors of the prostate. This report presents a case of a young man who has been recently diagnosed with GMPC. Our report highlights the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment, considering the overlapping symptoms with other common urinary conditions.     

Comparison of chest CT scan findings between COVID-19 and pulmonary contusion in trauma patients based on RSNA criteria: Established novel criteria for trauma victims

ProposeIn this study, we re-assessed the criteria defined by the radiological society of North America (RSNA) to determine novel radiological findings helping the physicians differentiating COVID-19 from pulmonary contusion.MethodsAll trauma patients with blunt chest wall trauma and subsequent pulmonary contusion, COVID-19-related signs and symptoms before the trauma were enrolled in this retrospective study from February to May 2020. Included patients (Group P) were then classified into two groups based on polymerase chain reaction tests (Group Pa for positive patients and Pb for negative ones). Moreover, 44 patients from the pre-pandemic period (Group PP) were enrolled. They were matched to Group P regarding age, sex, and trauma-related scores. Two radiologists blindly reviewed the CT images of all enrolled patients according to criteria defined by the RSNA criteria. The radiological findings were compared between Group P and Group PP; statistically significant ones were re-evaluated between Group Pa and Group Pb thereafter. Finally, the sensitivity and specificity of each significant findings were calculated. The Chi-square test was used to compare the radiological findings between Group P and Group PP.ResultsIn the Group PP, 73.7% of all ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and 80% of all multiple bilateral GGOs were detected (p < 0.001 and p = 0.25, respectively). Single bilateral GGOs were only seen among the Group PP. The Chi-square tests showed that the prevalence of diffused GGOs, multiple unilateral GGOs, multiple consolidations, and multiple bilateral consolidations were significantly higher in the Group P (p = 0.001, 0.01, 0.003, and 0.003, respectively). However, GGOs with irregular borders and single consolidations were more significant among the Group PP (p = 0.01 and 0.003, respectively). Of note, reticular distortions and subpleural spares were exclusively detected in the Group PP.ConclusionWe concluded that the criteria set by RSNA for the diagnosis of COVID-19 are not appropriate in trauma patients. The clinical signs and symptoms are not always useful either. The presence of multiple unilateral GGOs, diffused GGOs, and multiple bilateral consolidations favor COVID-19 with 88%, 97.62%, and 77.7% diagnostic accuracy.