Role of caspases and Bax protein in saffron-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells

Saffron (Crocus sativus), widely used as a spice in Middle Eastern cuisine and is known for anti-cancer properties. The mechanism of saffron-induced cytotoxicity, in tumor cells has not been adequately explored. Therefore, we investigated the role of caspases and Bax protein in saffron-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, a commonly used cell culture system for in vitro studies on breast cancer.     

Male urethral cancer

A 55 years old man presented with long standing voiding obstructive symptoms like poor stream, frequency of micturition, straining at micturition and a sense of incomplete evaluation since 2002. He was clinically diagnosed a case of stricture urethra. Later he developed a swelling in the penoscrotal region with retention of urine in March 2005 and was treated by dilatation. But on removal of the catheter he developed retention again for several times and ultimately for gross periurethral sepsis, urinary diversion was required in May 2005. In October 2005, biopsy from the scrotal abscess wall established the diagnosis of urethral carcinoma. In November 2005 extensive penoscrotectomy was done followed by chemo-radiotherapy. But the prognosis was so bad that the patient died in November 2006. Urethral carcinoma is a rare disease diagnosed in the department of urology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, the prognosis of which is also poor even after extensive operations.     

Evaluation of stentangioplasty in university cardiac center

In this ongoing prospective study conducted in University Cardiac Center, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, from July 2004 to January 2006. Fifty (50) patients (mean age 56+/-7.2 years) underwent stentangioplasty were evaluated. The study group of 50 patients consisted of 42 (84%) men and 08 (16%) women. The aim of this study was to evaluate in-hospital success, failure and complications during the procedures. About risk factors 19(38%) had hypertension, 13(26%) were smoker, 11(22%) suffered from diabetes mellitus, 05(10%) had family history of ischaemic heart disease. Average left ventricular ejection fraction was 54+/-7. Target vessel percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) were done in 61 vessel, intracoronary stent implanted in 58 vessels, direct stenting were done in 35 cases, failed PTCA were in 03(6%) cases and two had dissection. The native vessels had a mean reference diameter of 2.91 mm and their luminal diameter increased significantly after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). All the patients were discharged by one to three days of the procedure with improvement of their clinical condition. In conclusion, intracoronary stent deployment in coronary artery stenosis following balloon angioplasty is a valid and beneficial strategy with good in-hospital results.     

The Heartfile Lodhran CVD prevention project--end of project evaluation

Mainstream preventive interventions often fail to reach poor populations with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Pakistan. A community-based CVD primary prevention project aimed at developing approaches to reduce risk factors in such populations was established by Heartfile in collaboration with the National Rural Support Program in the district of Lodhran. The project implemented a range of activities integrated with existing social and health service mechanisms during a three year intervention period 2000/01-03/04. These were targeted in 4 key settings: community health education, mass media interventions, training of health professionals and health education through Lady Health Workers. The project received support from the Department for International Development, U.K. At the community level, a pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental design was used for examining project outcomes related to the community component of the intervention. Pre and post-intervention (training) evaluations were conducted involving all health care providers in randomly selected workshops in order to determine baseline levels of knowledge and the impact of training on knowledge level. In order to assess practices of physician and non-physician health care providers patient interviews, with control comparisons were conducted at each health care facility. Significant positive changes were observed in knowledge levels at a community level in the district of intervention compared with baseline knowledge levels particularly in relation to a heart healthy diet, beneficial level of physical activity, the causes of high blood pressure and heart attack and the effects of high blood pressure and active and passive smoking on health. Significant changes in behaviors at a practice level were not shown in the district of intervention. However the project played a critical role in spurring national action for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and introducing sustainable public health interventions for poor communities in Pakistan.     

Cationic liposomes formulated with a novel whole Leishmania lysate (WLL) as a vaccine for leishmaniasis in murine model

Although there have been numerous attempts to develop a successful vaccine against leishmaniasis, based on the clinical trial in this field, no vaccine against Leishmania in routine way can be found for globally effective vaccination in human. Amongst, first generation vaccines consisting of parasite fractions or whole killed Leishmania showed more successful results in clinical trials. It seems that the main reason for the low efficacy of these vaccines is lack of a suitable adjuvant. In this study, a crude extract of detergent-solubilized L. major promastigotes as a novel developed antigen (whole Leishmania lysate (WLL)) was formulated in liposomal form. The cationic liposomes consisting of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) were used to deliver WLL. Liposomes formulations containing different WLL concentrations (prepared from 10³, 10⁴, 10⁵, 10⁶ and 10⁷ parasites) were prepared and characterized for particle size, surface charge, proteins, DNA and phospholipids contents. Moreover, to explore the type of immune response generated and extend of immunization, in vivo and in vitro tests including evaluation of lesion development, parasite burden in the foot and spleen, Th1 and Th2 cytokine analysis, and titration of IgG isotypes before and after the challenge were used. The maximum immunization was provided by WLL06 as depicted by the reduction of footpad swelling andparasite load, increase in anti-Leishmania IgG2a production, though no significant difference was observed between mice which received WLL05 vs WLL06. While maximum immunization was seen in WLL06 group, most of the liposomal WLL formulations induced a mixed Th1/Th2 response. Hence, a more protective immune response is expected to be induced when an immune potentiator adjuvant such as CpG ODNs would be co-deliverd in WLL liposomal formulations.