ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The unmanageable side effects caused by current chemotherapy regimens to treat cancer are an unresolved problem. Although many phytonutrients are useful as chemoprevention without side effects, their effects are slower and smaller than conventional chemotherapy. In the present work, we examined the cumulative effect of two phytonutrients, curcumin and citral, on breast cancer cell lines and compared their effect with the known chemotherapy regimen of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil. METHODS: Using cultured breast cancer and normal epithelial cells, the cytotoxic and apoptotic effect of curcumin and citral was evaluated in vitro. The synergistic effect of curcumin and citral was calculated by a combination index study using the method by Chou and Talalay. Cell death pathways and mechanisms were analyzed by measuring intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic protein levels. RESULTS: Curcumin and citral caused dose and time dependent cell death and showed a synergistic effect at effective concentration EC50 and above concentrations in breast cancer cells without disturbing normal breast epithelial cells. With combination curcumin and citral treatment, apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in breast cancer cells were observed. Curcumin and citral generated ROS and activated p53 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 mediated apoptotic pathways. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that curcumin and citral in combination may be a useful therapeutic intervention for breast cancer.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis , Breast Neoplasms , Breast , Cell Cycle Checkpoints , Cell Cycle , Cell Death , Cell Line , Chemoprevention , Curcumin , Cyclophosphamide , Drug Therapy , Epithelial Cells , Fluorouracil , Methotrexate , Phytochemicals , Reactive Oxygen SpeciesABSTRACT
To evaluate Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] detection by histological staining methods, and to compare with those of Gram staining and polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Shree P. M. Patel Paramedical College, Anand, Gujarat, India on 436 patients attending the Deep Surgical Hospital, Anand, Gujarat between February 2008 and October 2011. Biopsies were subjected to histological staining using Hematoxylin and Eosin [H and E], Giemsa, and Warthin-Starry stains, as well as with Gram staining. The PCR was performed on 71 biopsy samples. Sensitivity and negative predictive values of all 3 histological stains [Warthin-Starry, H and E, and Giemsa] were excellent. Gram staining showed excellent results pertaining to sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy. Sensitivity of PCR was remarkably low compared to all the staining methods. The sensitivity of all histological stains was found better than PCR. From the findings in our study, we conclude that in a mediocre laboratory, where PCR facility is not available, histological stain can be a better substitute for the diagnosis of H. pylori. Our findings also confirm the assertion that Gram staining is a preferred stain, affordable, reliable, and simple means for identifying H. pylori compared with both histology and PCR
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Bioremediation technology has gained importance because microbes could be the convenient source of bio-absorption/bioaccumulation of metals from effluent streams.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The nickel-resistant bacterial isolates (NiRBI) were selected from various bacterial isolates from industrial effluent and grown in nutrient broth containing different concentrations of nickel sulfate (0.3-3.0 mmol/L) and their capability of accumulating metal from the medium.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Well-defined growth of NiRBI was observed in the medium containing up to 2.5 mmol/L of nickel. The isolate was identified using 16S rRNA and closely related to Pseudomonas fragi. Maximum accumulation of nickel (0.59 mg/g dry weight of bacterial cells) was observed when NiRBI was grown in media containing 2 mmol/L of nickel. The protein profile of the NiRBI cellular extract by SDS-PAGE showed two metal stress-induced proteins of molecular weight 48 KD and 18 KD with a simultaneous down regulation of four proteins of 46.7 KD, 42.2 KD, 19.7 KD, and 4.0 KD.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>48 KD and 18 KD proteins play a role in metal resistance mechanism by NiRBI.</p>