International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Leptin decreases the sensitivity of human colon cancer cell HT-29 to 5-flurouracil

Lei Shen^1,2*, He-sheng Luo^1,2, Jun Sun^1,2 and Liang Zhao^1,2

¹Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

²238, Jiefang Road, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, Zip code: 430060, China.

Accepted 20 June, 2015

Abstract

To verify whether leptin attenuated the sensitivity of colon cancer cells to 5-flurouracil (5-FU). HT-29 cells were treated with 5-FU in the absence or presence of various concentrations of leptin. The cytoprotective effect of leptin was detected by MTT and flow cytometer. The expression of caspase-9 was measured by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Leptin attenuated the cytotoxic response of HT-29 cells to 5-FU by facilitating cells survival and antagonizing apoptosis. In addition, leptin decreased the expression of caspase-9 in HT-29 cells induced by 5- FU. Leptin treatment reduces the susceptibility of colon cancer cells to 5-FU by promoting cell survival. Attenuation of caspase-9 expression is one of the mechanisms underlying the cytoprotective role of leptin in HT-29 cells.

Key words: Leptin, apoptosis, caspase-9, drug resistance, 5-flurouracil.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-010, January, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Syndemics theory and its applications to HIV/AIDS public health interventions

Matt Douglas-Vail

Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Canada. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 29 December, 2015

Abstract

Medical anthropologists have recently introduced the term “syndemic” to explain the synergistic interaction of two or more diseases and the social situations in which these diseases develop (Singer 2003). The term syndemic is a portmanteau of “synergy” and “epidemic”, “pandemic” and “endemic”. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, lends itself to examination using the syndemics framework. In this paper, the concept of syndemics were defined and the importance of this concept was demonstrated. Next, examples of syndemics were outlined and the application of the concept to studying HIV was highlighted. The advantages and limitations of this theoretical framework were also explored. The integrity of the concept of syndemics was examined as it has been applied to varying HIV syndemics. Finally, the utility and applicability of HIV syndemics theory was examined in the context of HIV prevention programs and public health practices. All of these serve to highlight the importance of syndemics theory as a valuable and underused perspective with which to tackle the global problem of HIV.

Key words: Syndemics, HIV, public health, diseases, biological synergism.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 4 (5), pp. 001-006, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antioxidant activities and RP-HPLC identification of polyphenols in the acetone 80 extract of Salvadora persica

Emira Noumi¹*, Hafedh Hajlaoui¹, Najla Trabelsi³, Riadh Ksouri³, Amina Bakhrouf¹, Mejdi Snoussi^1,2

¹Laboratoire d’Analyse, Traitement et Valorisation des Polluants de l’Environnement et des Produits, Département de Microbiologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Monastir, Tunisie. Université de Monastir

²Laboratoire de Traitement des Eaux Usées, Centre de Recherches et des Technologies des Eaux (CERTE), Technopole de Borj-Cédria, BP 273- Soliman 8020.

³Laboratoire d’adaptation des plantes aux stress abiotiques, Centre de Biotechnologie, Technopole de Borj-Cédria (CBBC), BP 901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisie.

Accepted 13 June, 2014

Abstract

Salvadora persica L. is one of the oldest known oral hygiene tools with high therapeutic effects on cariogenic bacteria and periodontal pathogens due to its well documented chemical constituents. In this paper, and for the first time, we report the use of RP-HPLC technique to identify the polyphenols in the acetone 80 extract obtained from stems of S. persica. The antioxidant properties (total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and tannin content, DPPH, reducing power, and -carotene bleaching tests) of the extract were also investigated. Our results showed the presence of eleven compounds: caffeic acid (5.82%), rutin trihydrate (2%), trans-cinnamic acid (1.58%), gallic acid (1.53%), resorcinol (1.33%), chlorogenic acid (1.14%), quercetin dihydrate (0.67%), naphtho-resorcinol (0.48%), catechine hydrate (0.24%), p-coumaric acid (0.11%), and 3.4 dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (0.01%). The diluted acetone extract showed weak antioxidant activities comparatively to the BHT (DPPH IC ₅₀ 75 µg/ml; reducing power EC₅₀, 1940 mgml^-1 and IC₅₀= 460 µg/ml for the -carotene bleaching test) . The total antioxidant activity was estimated at 0.528 mg GAE.g ^-1 DW, the total phenolic content was 0.443 mg GAE.g^-1 DW and the total condensed tannin were 0.39 mg EC.g ^-1 DW. These results confirm the wide range of the biological activities of S. persica and reinforce the use of this plant of a natural source of antioxidant compounds with benefic properties for Human health.

Key words: Salvadora persica, RP-HPLC, polyphenols, antioxidant activities.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 4 (5), pp. 001-009, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities of Roselle juice on Caov-3, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and HeLa cancer cell lines

Abdah Akim¹*, Lim Chooi Ling¹, Asmah Rahmat² and Zainul Amiruddin Zakaria¹

¹Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

²Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Accepted 12 November, 2011

Abstract

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn) extract has been scientifically proven to possess high antioxidant activity, anti- proliferation and anti-carcinogenic properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidative capacity of commercialized Roselle juice (RJ) at three storage periods and its anti-proliferative effect on breast (MCF- 7 and MDA-MB -231), ovarian (Caov-3) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines. The antioxidant activity of 1 week (WRJ), 1 month (MRJ) and 1 year (YRJ) juice samples each at 0.001 to 10% concentration range were determined through 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay with L-ascorbic acid as positive control. EC₅₀ values of WRJ, MRJ, and YRJ were found to be 3.733±0.247, 3.717±0.637 and 3.383±0.711%, respectively. These values were compared to 0.217±0.616% for positive control. The difference in antioxidant activity between different storage periods of RJ was not significant (p>0.05) but all samples exhibited increasing activity with increasing concentrations. RJ at the same concentrations were tested using the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay on the four cell lines to obtain the percentage viability of the cells. The cells were incubated for 72 h after inoculation with RJ and the control group was without treatment. The IC₅₀ was found to be highest for Caov-3 cells (2.267±1.193%) whereas MCF-7 cells exhibited the lowest (0.432±0.278%) IC₅₀ value after treatment with MRJ. All determinations were analyzed using ANOVA through SPSS with p<0.05 considered as significant. Increasing concentrations of sample corresponded to lower percentage viability of cells for all samples, however the interaction within and between cell type and storage period was not significant (p>0.05). The study showed that commercialized Roselle juice has strong antioxidant capacity and anti-proliferative activity on the four cancer cell lines despite different storage periods. However, further study should be conducted to establish its anti-cancer mechanisms.

Key words: Hibiscus sabdariffa, antioxidant activity, anti-proliferation properties, anti-carcinogenic properties, breast cancer cell line, cervical cancer cell line, ovarian cancer cell line.

International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 5 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Case Report

Intracranial tumor noticeable in the 2^nd week of pregnancy

¹ James Kelechi Okeke, Ikeji Njoku² and Afigbo Michael Mbadiwe³

¹Department of Clinical Imaging, Image Diagnostics, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

²Department of Radiology,University of PortHarcourt Teaching Hospital,  PortHarcourt, Nigeria.

³Department of Radiography,Nnamdi Azikiwe teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.

Corresponding author’s email: [email protected].

Accepted 21 March, 2015

Abstract

The presence of a brain tumor complicating pregnancy is a relatively rare phenomenon. Though several cases have been recorded, there is scanty data describing such an occurrence in Nigeria and particularly cerebellar glioma. Pregnancy often masks the presence of an intracranial neoplasm, and may increase the risk of mis-diagnosis. This is because symptoms such as headache, vomiting, visual disturbance which are signs of raised intracranial pressure, are often encountered in pregnancy with or without pre-eclampsia. A high index of suspicion on the part of the obstetrician is key to timely diagnosis. Although an enhanced brain CT is able to make the diagnosis readily and facilitate further management, MRI is superior in defining the exact relationships of intracranial S.O.L, but may not be readily available in developing countries as in the present circumstance. Diagnostic imaging such as CT scan performed timely, is extremely useful in demonstrating the size, location and relationship of a possible lesion. Furthermore, because it is more widely available than MRI, it is often an invaluable tool in the initial assessment of normo-tensive pregnant patients presenting with features of raised ICP. Once diagnosis is made, the management can be successfully tailored to suit individual patients’ need. Despite the challenges posed by non-surgical management of glioma during pregnancy, normal delivery and healthy live birth is still possible.

Keywords: Intracranial tumor, glioma, pregnancy, manifestation, appearances

Key word: Williams- Beuren Syndrome, cytogenetics, FIS