Antihyperglycemic Activity of Aqueous Root Extract of Rubia cordifolia. in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to examine the antidiabetic action of Rubia cordifolia. Linn (Rubiaceae) aqueous root extract (RCAREt) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model. STZ-induced diabetic rats were treated with RCAREt for 8 weeks (1 g kg^?1 b.w., orally per day). Serum glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides, hematological parameters, and liver and kidney transaminases in normal, STZ diabetic, and RCAREt-treated diabetic rats were measured. The observed hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, enhanced transaminases of liver and kidney, hypochromic microcytic anemia, and loss of body weight in STZ diabetic rats were normalized by RCAREt treatment, whereas the hypercholesterolemia was not rectified. The beneficial effect of RCAREt treatment might be due to different types of active principles, each with a single or a diverse range of biological activities.     

Adherence to Dietary Guidelines in Adults by Diabetes Status: Results From the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey

The aims of the present study were to compare the adherence to dietary guidelines and evaluate potential differences in nutrient profiles among adults by diabetes status. We used the Mexican Alternate Healthy Eating Index (MxAHEI) to evaluate adherence to dietary guidelines. We calculated the MxAHEI scores (total and by dietary component) with scales from 0 (non-adherence) to 100 (perfect adherence) based on a food frequency questionnaire. Mean daily intakes of macronutrients and micronutrients (g, mg, mcg/1000 kcal per day) were also estimated by diabetes status. Sex-specific, multivariable linear regression models were estimated to test whether MxAHEI scores as well as nutrient intakes were different by diabetes status. Mexican adults had low adherence to the dietary guidelines irrespective of their diabetes status (score < 50 points). Among men, the MxAHEI score was 2.6 points higher among those with diabetes than those without diabetes (46.9; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 44.6, 49.2 vs. 44.3; 95% CI: 44.2, 45.6, respectively). Among women, the total MxAHEI score was similar in individuals with diabetes compared to those without diabetes. Lower intakes of carbohydrates and added sugars and higher intakes of protein, calcium, and zinc were observed in individuals with diabetes. Our findings support the development of strategies focused on promoting dietary patterns that can help to prevent and control the disease.     

Stereotactic radiotherapy for choroidal melanomas by means of HybridArc™

Purpose

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) is suitable to treat ocular tumours. The optimal beam geometry for SRT, however, has not been defined. Here we evaluate a combination technique with dynamic conformal arcs (DCAs) and intensity-modulated static fields (IMRT), known as HybridArc? (HA).

Methods

For the first consecutive 25 cases with choroidal melanomas with volumes of 0.02 to 1.18?cm³ treated with 50?Gy in five fractions, the results with respect to dose conformity, homogeneity, and dose distributions were summarised. To describe the dose distribution at the planning target volume (PTV) boundary, we defined a spatially averaged dose gradient (SADG) and compared it with Paddick’s gradient index (GI). We made dosimetric comparisons between HA and other irradiation techniques.

Results

The PTVs ranged from 0.42 to 3.37?cm³. The conformity index (CI) was 1.25?±?0.15, and the homogeneity index (HI) 0.08?±?0.02. The SADG was (?3.5?±?0.5) Gy/mm or (?7.0?±?1.0) %/mm between the isodose levels 95 and 20%; local minima reached ?11.5?Gy/mm or ?22.9%/mm. The coefficient of determination for a nonlinear regression of GI on SADG was 0.072. After a median follow-up time of 19.6 months, local tumour control was 100% without any case of post-therapeutic enucleation. Two patients (8%) developed liver metastases.

Conclusion

SRT of ocular tumours by HA is highly appropriate, and HA is superior to intensity-modulated arc therapy (IMAT) concerning dose reduction in organs at risk (OARs). The novel gradient measure SADG is more informative than Paddick’s GI.

     

Matrix metalloproteinase activity and osteoclasts in experimental prostate cancer bone metastasis tissue

Previously, we and others showed that broad spectrum pharmaceutical inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity reduces intraosseous tumor burden and bone degradation in animal models of bone metastasis. Herein, we used specific assays to measure net enzymatic activities of individual MMPs during colonization of bone by prostate cancer cells. PC3 cells were injected into the marrow of human fetal femurs previously implanted in SCID mice. Net MMP-9 activity in bone tissues peaked 2 weeks after injection, coinciding with a wave of osteoclast recruitment. In contrast, MMP-2 and MT1-MMP activity did not change. In vitro, co-culture of PC3 cells with bone tissue led to activation of pro-MMP-9 and increases in secreted net MMP-9 activity. Activation of pro-MMP-9 was prevented by metalloprotease inhibitors but not by inhibitors of other classes of proteases. Ribozyme suppression of MMP-9 expression in PC3 cells did not affect pro-MMP-9 activation or net MMP-9 activity and did not affect the phenotype of bone tumors. siRNA targeting of MMP-9 expression in preosteoclasts in vitro demonstrated that tumor-induced preosteoclast motility was dependent on MMP-9 expression. These data suggest that osteoclast-derived MMP-9 may represent a potential therapeutic target in bone metastasis and provide a rationale for the development of MMP-9-specific inhibitors.     

Validation of the lymph node ratio as a prognostic factor in patients with N1 nonsmall cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND:

The number of positive lymph nodes (LNs) has been proposed as a prognostic indicator in N1 nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the number of positive LNs is confounded by the number of LNs resected during surgery. The lymph node ratio (LNR) (the ratio of the number of positive LNs divided by the number of LNs resected) can circumvent this limitation. The prognostic significance of the LNR has been demonstrated in elderly patients with NSCLC. The objective of the current study was to evaluate whether a higher LNR is a marker of worse survival in patients with NSCLC aged ≤65 years who have N1 disease.

METHODS:

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to identify 4004 patients who underwent resection for N1 NSCLC. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to LNR (≤0.15, 0.16‐0.5, and >0.5). Associations of the LNR with lung cancer‐specific and overall mortality were evaluated using the Kaplan‐Meier method. Stratified and Cox regression analyses were used to assess correlations between the LNR and survival after adjusting for other prognostic factors.

RESULTS:

Unadjusted analysis indicated that a higher LNR was associated with worse lung cancer‐specific survival (P < .0001) and overall survival (P < .0001). Stratified and multivariate analyses also indicated that the LNR was an independent predictor of survival after controlling for potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS:

The current results confirmed that the LNR is an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with N1 NSCLC. This information may be used to identify patients who are at greater risk of cancer recurrence. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

Gemcitabine plus sorafenib in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase II trial of the University of Chicago Phase II Consortium

Background Sorafenib, an inhibitor of B-raf, VEGFR2, and PDGFR-β, has activity against pancreatic cancer in preclinical models. In a phase I trial of gemcitabine plus sorafenib, 57% of pancreatic cancer patients achieved stable disease. Patients and methods We conducted a multi-center phase II trial of sorafenib plus gemcitabine in chemo-na?ve patients with histologically-confirmed, advanced pancreatic cancer. Patients received sorafenib 400 mg twice daily and gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m² on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28 day cycle. Results Seventeen patients enrolled at 4 centers; 13 were evaluable for response. There were no objective responses; 18% had stable disease. Median overall survival was 4.0 months (95% CI: 3.4, 5.9); median progression-free survival was 3.2 months (95% CI: 1.6, 3.6). Grade 3/4 toxicities included thrombosis in 18% of patients, dehydration or hand-foot syndrome in 12%, and hypertension or gastrointestinal bleeding in 6%. Conclusion Gemcitabine plus sorafenib is inactive in advanced pancreatic cancer.     

Coexistence of colonic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumour-A case report

The occurrence of synchronous primary neoplasms remains an issue of great interest to surgeons and oncologists in particular, and the medical field in general. The question of common genetic pathways in the pathogenesis of such neoplasms is always raised when such associations are seen-whether metachronously or synchronously. The possibility of the coexistence of multiple tumours in the same patient must be taken into consideration when preparing patients for operation and a thorough search of the intraperitoneal organs for such coexistence remains important.A case of synchronously resected caecal carcinoma, jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumour and renal cell carcinoma is presented here, along with a literature review on synchronous tumour resection.