Ameliorative effect on Nigella Sativa on aflatoxin B1-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Nigella Sativa is traditionally known in Middle Eastern countries as "Habbat Al-Baraka". Nigella is most famous for the saying of the Prophet Muhammad, 'Hold on to use of the Blackseed, for it has a remedy for every illness except death. The aim of this study was to assess the protective effect of Nigella Sativa [N. sativa] on aflatoxin B1 [AFB1]-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were orally administered of AFB1 [50 microg/kg, in 0.2 ml olive oil by gastric gavage] twice/ week for 8 weeks. The liver was isolated and processed for biochemical analysis. Changes in body weight were noted every week. Levels of markers indicative of hepatotoxicity such as aspartate aminotransferases [AST], alanine aminotransferases [ALT], gamma glutamyltransferase [gamma-GT] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] were assessed in the serum. The levels of hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TBARS] as index of lipid peroxidation and glutathione redox status were assayed. The enzyme activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px], glutathione reductase [GR], and glutathione-S-transferase [GST] were determined in the liver. The levels of serum AST, ALT, gamma-GT, and ALP were increased significantly in AFB1 injected group than the control group. The levels of hepatic GSH was significantly decreased while the oxidized form of GSH [GSSG] was significantly increased in AFB1 group. The leveis of hepatic TBARS in AFBt group war. significantly higher than control group. The activities of catalase, GSH-Px, GR and GST in liver tissues were significantly decreased in AFB1 group compared to their levels in controls. In rats which received N. sativa [4 9le body weight/day for 8 weeks] with AFBt, the levels of TBARS and GSSG in liver tissues were significantly reduced while GSH level and catalase, GSH-Px, GR, and GST activities were significantly increased compared to AF81 group. N. sativa administration per se did not cause any change compared to the controls. However concomitant treatment of N. sativa with AFB1 showed considerable decrease in levels of markers for hepatotoxicity compared to AFB1 treated group. it was concluded that AFB1 can induce hepatotoxicity in rats. Nigelia sativa treatment of rats could enhance liver enzymatic antioxidants systems and GSH redox status, which consequently reduce the hepatotoxicity and the oxidative stress markers in the liver. Thus, clinical application of N. sativa as therapy should take a great attention in case of aflatoxicosis

5-FU and mitomycin-C in conjunction with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma

To evaluate the outcome of concomitant radiocemotherapy [RCT] in terms of treatment response, tolerability, possibility of subsequent surgical resection and survival in locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma. Twenty patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma had been included in a prospective study. Patients had attended to Kas El Aini Center of Clinical Oncology and to the Menoufiya University Hospital and Liver institute, between September 1998 and December 2000. All patients were treated by RCT compirising 5400 cGy daily fractions of180 cGy 5 days a week, 5-Floruracil [5-FU] : 600mg/m2 by continuous intravenous infusion day 1-day 5 and Mitomycin-C': 10mg/m[2], i.v.-bolus day 2. Chemotherapy was repeated on day 29. patients were re-evaluated for the treatment outcome and the possibility of surgical resection 4 weeks after RCT Treatment response, toxicity and overall survival were the study end point. Twelve patients [60%] had decreased primary tumor size. Five cases appeared potentially respectable by CT and exp1plorative laparotomies were done but only four could be respected. The median survival of the study group was 10 months [range 4-21]. Themedian survival of patients who had undergone surgery was 19 ms [1421] response but appeared irresistible by the CT scan. The mediam survival of patients with stationary or progressive tumors was 6.5 ms [4-10]. The treatment applied in the study is feasible and have o significant acute toxicity. The respectability was improved but with no improvement of survival. Additional neoadjuvanl chemotherapy trials with new regimens may support the potential benefits of this line of treatmen

Use of temozolomide in the management of high grade gliomas at relapse.

This study was done at NEMROCK and other private as well as official governmental oncology centers, where 30 patients with residual or relapsed high grade gliomas received temozolomide at a dose of 200 mg/m2/day for five successive days to be recycled on day 21 for a total of six courses. Drug administration was quite safe with accepted toxicity profiles. The response parameters, including partial response, stationary disease and progressive neoplastic process, were documented in 33%, 45% and 22%, respectively

Lag time in diagnosis of head and neck malignancies

Delay in diagnosis of head and neck cancer was studied in a series of 832 cases of head and neck malignancies. Lag time was calculated as the interval between the onset of symptoms and the definite diagnosis of malignancy. The mean lag time of all head neck malignant tumors was 8.9 weeks. The type of tumors affected lag time by virtue of its site, clinical course and rate of growth. Laryngeal tumors constituting 40% of the series had a mean lag time of 8.5 weeks. Thyroid tumors [33% of the cases] had a mean lag time of 11 weeks. Maxillary tumors showed the longest values with a mean of 12.3 weeks. Salivary and oral cavity neoplasms displayed the shortest values with a mean lag time of 4.4 and 5.7 weeks, respectively