Preliminary study on association between toxoplasmosis and breast cancer in Iran

Objective: To investigate the possible association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and breast cancer by examining the seropositivity and serointensity rate of anti-T. gondii antibodies in breast cancer patients and healthy volunteers. Methods: This study was carried out on 66 women with breast cancer which consists of 29 newly diagnosed patients (Group 1) and 37 cases undergoing treatment and regular checkups (Group 2). Also, 60 healthy women (Group 3) with no history of cancer confirmed by clinical examination and imaging participated in this study. The participants were tested for T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassays. Results: The mean age of Groups 1, 2 and 3 were 43.3±6.8, 41.8±5.5 and 42.3±4.9, respectively (P=0.72). Overall, 104 (82.5%) and 8 (6.3%) out of 126 women were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Higher seropositivity rate of anti-T. gondii antibodies (IgG) was seen in breast cancer patients (86.4%) compared with control group (78.3%) (P=0.24). IgG antibodies were detected in 89.2% of cancer patients under treatment, 82.7% of newly diagnosed patients (P=0.18). IgM antibodies were found in 3 (10.3%), 2 (5.4%) and 3 (5%) in Groups 1, 2 and 3. No significant difference was found between the mean titers of T. gondii IgG antibody among these groups (P=0.87). Conclusions: This study did not find any significant association between toxoplasmosis and breast cancer besides higher rates of seropositivity and serointensity in patients compared with healthy volunteers.

Radioprotective effects of kojic acid against mortality induced by gamma irradiation in mice

To evaluate the protective effects of kojic acid on mortality induced by gamma irradiation in mice. The efficacy was compared with amifostine as a reference radioprotector. This experimental study was conducted in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari and Babolsar Radiotherapy Hospital, Babolsar, Iran, between October 2006 and January 2008. Kojic acid was administrated subcutaneously as single doses of 142, 175, 232, and 350 mg/kg, one hour prior to a lethal dose of gamma irradiation [8 Gy]. Amifostine was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 200 mg/kg at a similar irradiation dose. The mortality was recorded 30 days after irradiation. The antioxidant activity of the kojic acid was assessed using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free stable radical [DPPH] method. One hundred and twenty NMRI mice were divided into 6 groups with 20 mice in each group. At 30 days after treatment, the percentage of survival in each group was: control, 5%; 142 mg/kg, 5%; 175 mg/kg, 0%; 232 mg/kg, 30%; 350 mg/kg, 40%; and amifostine, 40% one hour treatment prior gamma irradiation. The survival rate was statistically increased in animals treated with kojic acid [350 mg/kg], one hour prior irradiation, as compared with the irradiated control group. Kojic acid exhibited concentration-dependent scavenging activity on DPPH possessing strong antioxidant activity. Kojic acid with antioxidant activity reduced the mortality induced by gamma irradiation