Improving the Anticancer Activity of Curcumin Using Nanocurcumin Dispersion in Water

Curcumin is a highly potent, nontoxic bioactive agent found in turmeric and is known to have significant anticancer properties against different types of cancer cells. The major disadvantage associated with the use of curcumin, however, is its low systemic bioavailability due to its poor aqueous solubility. The focus of the present study was to generate nanoparticles of curcumin with improved aqueous phase solubility, and to investigate their efficacy in treating cancer cells. Curcumin nanoparticles having particle size in the range 2–40 nm and aqueous solubility of up to a maximum of 3 mg/mL were prepared. Evaluation of anticancer properties of curcumin nanodispersion was carried out in 3 different cancer cell lines: lung (A549), liver (HepG2), and skin (A431). The results demonstrated that under aqueous conditions curcumin nanoparticles exhibited similar or a much stronger antiproliferative effect on the cancer cells compared to normal curcumin in DMSO. Our results lead way toward unharnessed potential of curcumin in the form of its nanoparticles as an adjuvant therapy for clinical application in treating various cancers.     

Measurement of cyclin E genomic copy number and strand length in cell-free DNA distinguish malignant versus benign effusions.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown that the concentration of cell-free DNA was higher and its strand length longer in body fluids obtained from patients with cancer as compared to patients with benign diseases. We hypothesized that analysis of both DNA copy number and strand length of cell-free DNA from an amplified chromosomal region could improve the diagnosis of malignant diseases in body fluids. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To test this hypothesis, we used ovarian cancer effusion as an example and applied a quantitative real-time PCR to measure the relative copy number and strand length of DNA fragments from one of the most frequently amplified genes, cyclin E, in ovarian serous carcinomas. RESULTS: As compared with nonamplified chromosomal loci, including beta-actin, p53, 2p24.1, and 4p15.31, measurement of cyclin E DNA copy number (100 bp) had the best performance in distinguishing malignant (n = 88) from benign (n = 70) effusions after normalization to effusion volume or Line-1 DNA with areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.832 and 0.847, respectively. Different DNA lengths of the cyclin E locus were further analyzed and we found that the AUC was highest by measuring the 400-bp cyclin E locus (AUC = 0.896). The AUC was improved to 0.936 when it was combined with the length integrity index as defined by the relative abundance of 400 bp cyclin E to 100 bp p53 loci. Cyclin E real-time PCR assay had a higher sensitivity (95.6%) than routine cytology examination (73.9%) and was able to diagnose false-negative cytology cases in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The above findings indicate that measurement of the DNA copy number and strand length of the cyclin E locus is a useful cancer diagnostic tool.     

Photographic documentation of spontaneous extrusion of a subconjunctival cysticercus cyst

Spontaneous extrusion of a subconjunctival cysticercus cyst is a rare occurrence. The case reported is of a 20-year-old man who presented with a subconjunctival cysticercus cyst that was suspected to be undergoing spontaneous extrusion. The eye was photographed as the parasite extruded through the conjunctival opening with undulating movements over 3-4 min.     

Invitro drug sensitivity of Trichophyton species against griseofulvin and ketoconazole

The in vitro activity of griseofulvin and ketoconazole was investigated against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Robin) Blanchard and T. Simii (Pinoy) Stockdale, Mackenzie and Austwick. A gradual decrease in growth was observed with increase in concentration of both antibiotics. Ketoconazole was the more effective antibiotic than griseofulvin as it observed to inhibit > 50% mycelial weight even at a lower concentration of 100 ppm. While griseofulvin was effective to cause > 50% growth inhibition only at higher dosage of 400 ppm.     

Scalene regional anesthesia for shoulder surgery in a community setting: an assessment of risk

BACKGROUND: A retrospective review of shoulder procedures using scalene block anesthesia was performed. METHODS: The records of all 218 patients who had undergone scalene block anesthesia over a three-year period at two facilities were retrospectively reviewed. All blocks were performed with use of a standard blunt-needle technique with the patient awake and with use of preoperative nerve stimulation to localize the brachial plexus. RESULTS: Adjunctive general anesthesia was used for 179 (82%) of the 218 patients. Seventy-two patients (33%) required intravenous pain medication immediately on arrival in the recovery room, and twenty-eight blocks (13%) failed. One grand mal seizure, one episode of cardiovascular collapse, and four episodes of severe respiratory distress were noted. Two patients had temporary neurologic injuries that persisted at six weeks. The mean duration of the block was 9 +/- 4.6 hours. Two hundred (92%) of the 218 patients required parenteral narcotics despite the use of scalene block anesthesia. CONCLUSION: Informed consent discussions regarding scalene block anesthesia should include information on the prevalence of complications and the efficacy of the technique.     

A study from Nepal showing no correlation between lichen planus and hepatitis B and C viruses

A total number of 86 cases of Lichen planus (LP) were seen over a period of one and a half years. This constituted 0.58% of 14,833 new dermatological patients seen. Hepatitis B and C viral (HBV & HCV) serology was carried out in 64 patients and 43 age and sex matched controls. In the examined patients, 35 (54.27%) had the skin lesions only. Oral lesions were present in 15 (23.4%) of the patients in addition to skin lesions, while 14 (21.9%) had only oral involvement. Serology for HBsAg and HCV was negative in all types of LP patients and the controls. In Nepal, HBV and HCV seem to be not important in the pathogenesis of LP.     

Macroglossia due to venous malformation

Massive vascular malformation involving tongue can cause significant functional impairment. In this report we describe a rare case of extensive venous malformation involving tongue leading to obstructive sleep apnoea, inability to speak, eat, severe discomfort due to exposure induced dryness and ulceration. Multimodality treatment approach comprising of sclerotherapy, electrocautery and radiation therapy was used in this case.     

Prehypertension may be common in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy

Purpose To test an observational hypothesis that patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) may have a tendency towards hypertension compared with normal individuals.Methods In this case–control study we evaluated resting blood pressure in 32 patients with CSCR and compared it with that in 32 healthy controls in a standard laboratory environment. Differences in resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured.Results Mean systolic blood pressure was 123.56+/−4.8 in the CSCR group and 113.63+/−12.62 in the control group. Mean diastolic blood pressure was 84.75+/−10.2 in the CSCR group and 76.75+/−0.4 in the control group. The difference in mean blood pressure values between the two groups was statistically significant.Conclusion Patients with CSCR may be predisposed to prehypertension. Hence they should be advised on lifestyle modification and followed up periodically for early detection of progression to stage 1 or 2 hypertension.