Appearance of acute myelogenous leukemia [AML] in a patient with breast cancer after adjuvant chemotherapy: case report and review of the literature

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia [AML] is an aggressive hematologic malignancy that cause by abnormal proliferation and accumulation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. A 37-year-old woman referred to oncologic clinic with a self-detected mass and pain in her left breast. The stage of tumor was IIIA. She was treated with the combination of anthracycline and cyclophosphamide for four courses, followed by four courses of paclitaxel with trastuzumab for one year. After 18 months of the first treatment for breast cancer, her bone marrow biopsy was compatible with AML-M2. Here, we are reporting a young woman case with breast cancer that developed AML malignancy during short interval of therapy

Does long-term administration of a beta-blocker (timolol) induce fibril-based cataract formation in-vivo?

Timolol is a non-selective beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist administered for treating glaucoma, heart attacks and hypertension. In the present study, we set out to determine whether or not timolol can provoke cataract formation, thus the influence of timolol on the amyloid-type aggregation of crystallin was investigated. We then provided experimental evidence of crystallin aggregation and its induction by timolol using different spectroscopic measurements. Turbidimetric measurements as well as ThT fluorescence data indicated that timolol induce extent of crystallin amyloid formation. The kinetic of protein aggregation was also changed in presence of increasing concentrations of the drug suggesting that long-term drug administration may contribute to the development of cataract. Since the consequence of timolol-crystallin interaction has yet to be identified, additional data on it may help us to postpone amyloid cataract formation

Protective effects of accompanying proteins on light- and water-mediated degradation of Curcumin

Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound with anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidation properties. Low water solubility and rapid hydrolytic degradation are two challenges limiting use of curcumin as therapeutic agent. In the current study, the role of the Bovine Serum Albumin [BSA], beta-lactoglobulin and casein, as food-grade biopolymers and safe drug delivery systems, on the physical activity of curcumin were surveyed. It appears that BSA and casein as protein vehicles are useful tools to increase stability of curcumin, as a health promoting agent

Evidence of human hemoglobin interaction with chorionic gonadotropin hormone: Prospects for the use of hemoglobin as ligand in affinity chromatography for the purification of the hormone

The purification of biomolecules is a necessary step in many biochemical researches. In this regard, developments of convenient, specific and low cost methods of purification are of particular interest. Given the human hemoglobin [Hb] affinity toward some charged carbohydrates, interaction of this molecule with human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] which is a glycoprotein hormone containing sialic acid, was examined. In the current study, we gathered evidence of free hCG and free Hb interaction using spectroscopic and radiometric techniques. Then, based on the affinity of hemoglobin [Hb] toward charged carbohydrates on human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG], a known sialic acid containing glycoprotein hormone, Hb-sepharose as well as native and denatured globin columns for isolation of the hormone were prepared. Sepharose-6B was activated by cyanogens bromide. Native Hb, normal globin and denatured globin were bound to cyanogen bromide-activated sepharose. Then, uptake of hCG by these gels were compared. Among the columns only native hemoglobin-sepharose column was able to catch a limited number of serum proteins such as hCG. Using the above column hCG hormone was purified with fold purification of 34 and efficiency of 80%. The chromatographic behavior of growth hormone [GH] and hCG in binding to the DEAE-Cellulose column were identical but GH showed no binding to Hb-sepharose column, indicating that the retention mechanism of hCG to Hb-sepharose column is not a simple ion exchange mode. Since globin had no property to attach to hCG but native Hbsepharose was able to catch hCG, the BPG cavity of Hb is suggested as the possible binding site for hCG to Hb

Synthesis and investigation of antioxidant activities of 2-benzylidene-3-coumaranones

A number of 6-hydroxy-2-benzylidene-3-coumaranones were synthesized from condensation of 6-hydroxy-3-coumaranone with appropriate aldehydes and were evaluated for their antioxidant activities. The antioxidant activity was assessed using two methods, including, 1,1-biphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] radical scavenging, and reducing power assays. Some of the benzylidene coumaranones showed antioxidant activity more than Trolox as reference antioxidant

Antibacterial effects of Scrophularia striata seed aqueous extract on staphilococcus aureus

Plant-based drugs are regarded promising recently. Scrophularia has been shown various biological activities such as antimicrobial, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties. According to pervious researches, bacteria are becoming resistant to some kinds of antibiotics, so it is prominent to find more reliable sources against them. Here Staphylococcus aureus as a common type of Gram- positive bacteria has been chosen for this in vitro study. After culturing this bacterium, it was treated with various dosages of Scrophularia striata seed aqueous extract and tetracycline, and then its antibacterial effect was assessed by spectrophotometery method based on bacteria population alteration after 24h incubation. In order to investigate probable side effects of the seed extract its effect on human fibroblast cells has been studied. MTT assay was applied for cell survival determination of human fibroblast cells after 24h. Findings indicate that bacterial population has been declined between 1 to 20 micro g mL-1 dosages of the extract, which 5 micro g mL-1 is the most effective dosage without containing any cytotoxic effect on human fibroblast cells. In fact extract not only has no antiproliferation properties but also has evoked cell profileration, so it can be consider as a cell growth factor. Tetracycline, on the contrary, showed its potent impact merely in highest dosages with noticeable side effects. It can be concluded that, Scrophularia striata could be possibly a promising antibiotic which shows significant antibacterial properties, and with lesser side effects

Effect of essential oil of Rosa Damascena on human colon cancer cell line SW742

In this study, we report the effect of the essential oil of Rosa Damascena on human colon cancer cell line [SW742] and human fibroblast cells. Colon cancer is the second most common fatal malignancy. Owing to the existence of many side effects and problems related to common treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, alternative treatments are being investigated. Some herbal medicines have shown promising results against different types of cancers. Herbal medicines used have included the use naturally occurring essential oils. The essential oil of Rosa Damascena was obtained by distillation and its effect on SW742 cell-line and fibroblast cells were investigated with cell culture. The cells were cultured and different volumes of essential oil were induced to the cells. After 48h incubation, cell survival was measured and using statistical analysis, the findings were evaluated and reported. This study showed that soluble part of Rosa Damascena oil increases cell proliferation in high volumes and the non-soluble component decreases cell proliferation. The effects of essential oils, such as Rosa Damascena, on cell proliferation require more thorough investigation

Serum lipid profile in psoriatic patients in Kermanshah: a survey on vascular adhesion protein-1

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by excessive cellular replication. Vascular adhesion protein-1 [VAP-1] is an adhesion molecule with an enzymatic activity that partakes in the migration process of lymphocytes into sites of inflammation. The current study aimed to investigate the plasma lipids and VAP-1 in serum of psoriatic patients in Kermanshah [Iran]. This was a descriptive analytical study carried out on 80 psoriatic patients, and 80 healthy volunteers as control group. Serum lipids [triglyceride [TG], cholesterol [Ch], HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol] were determined by enzymatic methods. The level of VAP-1 protein was evaluated by ELISA method. The mean levels of cholesterol, TG, HDL and LDL in patients were 167.7, 123.4, 44.1 and 112.3 mg/dl, respectively. However, these values in control group were 156.7, 113.3, 45.5 and 102.4 mg/dl, respectively. In addition, the mean of VAP-1 protein in psoriatic patients and control group was 289.8 and 192.7 ng/ml, respectively. Cholesterol level and VAP1 protein in psoriatic patients were found to be significantly higher than those of control group. The current study showed that the levels of cholesterol and VAP-1 in psoriasis patients were significantly higher than control group. This higher level may be account for high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among these patients and it may be useful to do early screening and treatment of psoriatic patients to prevent the atherosclerosis and its complications