Phyllodes tumors of the breast: the role of pathologic parameters

We aimed to establish whether morphologic parameters were prognostically important in a large series of breast phyllodes tumors in Asian women. Of 335 phyllodes tumors diagnosed at the Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, between January 1992 and December 2002, 250 (74.6%) were benign, 54 (16.1%) borderline, and 31 (9.3%) malignant, based on histologic review of archival slides. Of the women, 43 (12.8%) experienced recurrences during the follow-up period. Recurrent disease was correlated with grade or classification (P = .028), stromal atypia (P = .016), stromal hypercellularity (P = .046), and permeative microscopic borders (P = .021). Multivariate analysis revealed that independent predictors of recurrence were pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) and margin status, whereby the presence of PASH and complete or negative margins reduced recurrence hazards by 51.3% and 51.7% respectively. The 7 women who died of disease during follow-up had malignant phyllodes tumor at the outset and experienced recurrences, and death was preceded by distant metastases.     

Multi-walled carbon nanotube-induced inhalation toxicity: Recognizing nano bis-demethoxy curcumin analog as an ameliorating candidate

Human beings and ecosystems are being possibly exposed to CNTs, as there is a rise in global production rate of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This may affect the health of humans and increases the environmental risk. We have already reported the pulmonary toxicity due to the inhalation of MWCNTs. We claim that a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity may ameliorate the CNT-induced toxic effect. With this view, we have investigated the ameliorative effect of intravenously-administered nano bis-demethoxy curcumin analog (NBDMCA) against MWCNTs-induced inhalation toxicity by examining the lung histopathology for inflammatory cell dynamics, pulmonary remodeling and estimating the inflammatory biomarkers in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid. We observed that NBDMCA could ameliorate the injury as evidenced by the decline in the levels of markers of inflammation, cell damage, and the histopathological changes induced by MWCNTs. We conclude that NBDMCA may be used to reduce the risk of MWCNTs-induced inhalation toxicity.     

Emerging Themes from EBV and KSHV microRNA Targets

EBV and KSHV are both gamma-herpesviruses which express multiple viral microRNAs. Various methods have been used to investigate the functions of these microRNAs, largely through identification of microRNA target genes. Surprisingly, these related viruses do not share significant sequence homology in their microRNAs. A number of reports have described functions of EBV and KSHV microRNA targets, however only three experimentally validated target genes have been shown to be targeted by microRNAs from both viruses. More sensitive methods to identify microRNA targets have predicted approximately 60% of host targets could be shared by EBV and KSHV microRNAs, but by targeting different sequences in the host targets. In this review, we explore the similarities of microRNA functions and targets of these related viruses.     

A novel approach to control brown dog tick,Rhipicephalus sanguineus using sustained release poly-ɛ-caprolactone-pheromone microspheres

Control of brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus was attempted by utilizing sustained release preparations of synthetic analogues of assembly pheromones. The assembly pheromone, in defined ratio, was encapsulated using poly-?-caprolactone by water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion solvent evaporation technique. In the in vitro bioassay, percent mortality with test microspheres was 95.6, 64 and 44 among the unfed larvae, unfed nymph and unfed adults respectively, 24 hours post-exposure. Field trials were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of microspheres in luring and killing environmental stages of R. sanguineus in dog houses/kennels. Engorged and unfed stages in the environment were found adhered and dead on the specially designed lure.     

Attenuation of Aluminum Chloride-Induced Neuroinflammation and Caspase Activation Through the AKT/GSK-3β Pathway by Hesperidin in Wistar Rats

Hesperidin, a flavanoglycone abundantly present in citrus fruits, is reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Previous reports from our laboratory indicated the neuroprotective effect of hesperidin against aluminum chloride (AlCl₃)-induced memory loss, acetylcholine esterase hyperactivity, oxidative stress, and enhanced expression of amyloid β protein biosynthesis-related markers. However, their role on AlCl₃-induced inflammation, caspase activation, Tau pathology, altered Akt/GSK 3β signaling pathway, and Aβ clearance marker has not yet been fully elucidated. Intraperitonial injection of AlCl₃ (100 mg/kg body weight) for 60 days significantly elevated the expressions of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK 5), and phosphoTau (pTau); inflammatory markers such as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), NF-kB, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS); and apoptotic markers including cytosolic cytochrome c (cyto c), caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9, and lowered expressions of mitochondrial cyto c, phospho-Akt (pAkt) and phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3β (pGSK-3β) in the hippocampus and cortex. Co-administration of hesperidin to AlCl₃ rats for 60 days significantly ameliorated the aluminum-induced pathological changes. The behavioral studies also supported the above findings. Our results imply that treatment with hesperidin might be a potent option for treating the symptoms of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease by targeting its most prominent hallmarks.     

Ameliorating effect of vitamin E on in vitro development of preimplantation buffalo embryos

Purpose  Oxidative stress has been implicated in the etiology of defective embryo development. Vitamin E is an effective lipid-soluble antioxidant, protecting cell membranes from peroxidative damage. In this context, this study was undertaken to find if supplementation of vitamin E in culture medium could ameliorate the developmental competence of preimplantation buffalo embryos. Methods  Vitamin E was supplemented in maturation/embryo culture medium at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 μM. The developmental competence of buffalo embryos was assessed by observing the cleavage, morulae, blastocyst rate, total cell count and comet assay. Results  Vitamin E had no significant effect in maturation medium. Vitamin E in embryo culture medium under 5% O₂ significantly reduced blastocyst formation in the 400 μM supplemented group. Culture under 20% O₂ enhanced the frequency of blastocyst formation, total cell count and significantly reduced comet tail in the 100 μM supplemented group (P < 0.001) when compared with the control. Vitamin E in ECM for the first 72 h of culture period enhanced blastocyst rate and total cell number in the 100 μM group (P < 0.001) when compared with the control. Conclusion  Our results demonstrate that the addition of Vitamin E may enhance the developmental competence of buffalo embryos in vitro by protecting them from oxidative stress. Capsule Buffalo embryos are prone to oxidative stress due to high lipid content; supplementation of vitaminE enhanced their developmental competence by protecting them from oxidative stress.     

Synthesis of non-toxic,biocompatible, and colloidal stable silver nanoparticle using egg-white protein as capping and reducing agents for sustainable antibacterial application

For nearly a decade, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been the most prevalent commercial nanomaterials products widely used in different biomedical applications due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. However, their poor long-term stability in different environments, namely, pH, ionic strength, and temperature, and cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells has restricted their more extensive applications. Hence, there is urgent need to develop highly biocompatible, non-toxic, and stable silver nanoparticles for wide-ranging environments and applications. In the present study, a simple, sustainable, cost-effective and green method has been developed to prepare highly stable aqueous colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-EW) using the ovalbumin, ovotransferrin, and ovomucoid of egg-white as reducing and capping agents accomplished under the irradiation of direct sunlight. Then, we evaluated the effects of freezing–drying (lyophilization) and freeze–thaw cycles on the stability of AgNPs-EW in aqueous solution under visual inspection, transmission electron microscopy, and absorbance spectroscopy. In addition, we studied the antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, carried out biocompatibility studies on chicken blood, and tested acute, chronic toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. The results suggest that AgNPs-EW did not aggregate upon freeze-thawing and lyophilization, thus exhibiting remarkable stability. The antibacterial activity results showed that the AgNPs-EW had the highest antibacterial activity, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AgNPs-EW for E. Coli and S. typhimurium were 4 and 6 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. The biocompatibility study revealed that the AgNPs-EW did not induce any hemolytic effect or structural damage to the cell membranes of chicken erythrocytes up to a concentration of 12 μg ml⁻¹. Similarly, no acute and chronic toxicity was observed on melanization, fecundity, hatchability, viability, and the duration of development in the 1^st generation of Drosophila melanogaster at the concentration range of 10 mg L⁻¹ to 100 mg L⁻¹ of AgNPs-EW, and all the flies completed their full developmental cycle. Therefore, the present study successfully demonstrated the green and sustainable preparation of non-toxic AgNPs-EW having good biocompatibility, enhanced colloidal stability, and antibacterial activity. Hence, the synthesized AgNPs-EW could be used for the development of an antimicrobial formulation for controlling microbial infection.

For nearly a decade, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been the most prevalent commercial nanomaterials products widely used in different biomedical applications due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.