ABSTRACT
Objective: The exploration of the anticancer potential of polysaccharide isolated from the methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia (T. cordifolia) stem bark against breast cancer in DMBA-induced female albino Wistar rat models were examined by various hematological parameters. Methods: Analysis of Red blood cell (RBC), White blood cell (WBC) and platelet level, Tumor markers Carcino Embryonic Antigen (CEA) and Cancer Antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3) in the serum, was done in the normal, cancer and compound treated rats using specific kits. Histological studies were performed to examine the changes in the tissue morphology and cell patterns in breast tissue. Results: The decreased levels of RBC, WBC and platelets in 7,12-Dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer (Group III) animals were revived to the normal conditions in polysaccharide treated breast cancer (Group IV) animals as that of normal (Group I). The level of tumor markers CEA and CA 15.3, was found elevated in serum of DMBA-induced breast cancer groups (Group III) when compared to their levels in the normal groups (Group I) whereas polysaccharide treatment (Group IV) prevented this rise in the levels of tumor markers. The histological studies on the breast tissue samples of all the groups showed the appropriate features where the normal (Group I) animals were characterized with normal cells uniformly arranged without any change in orientation and morphology, DMBA-induced cancer (Group III) animals showed an improper orientation of cells arranged as glandular structures, as nest, or cords of various sizes or as solid sheets foci of necrosis in some areas with margins infiltrating, pushing, circumcised or mixed and the polysaccharide treated (Group IV) animals showed results resembling that of the normal (Group I) animals. Conclusion: Thus, polysaccharide is proved as an effective chemo preventive agent against breast cancer.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Social Networking Sites (SNS) are gaining popularity across different cultures and age groups with its increasing role in the day-to-day life of its users. Objective of the present investigation is to study the SNS use and its relationship with online and real-life social capital, self-esteem and interpersonal relationships in normal and clinical population. Methods: The sample consisted of 93 participants of the age range 17-37 years, 63 participants from the general population and 30 from the clinical population with a diagnosis of any depressive or anxiety spectrum disorder. The tools used for this study are Basic Data Sheet, the Facebook Intensity Scale, Internet addiction Test, Internet Social Capital Scale. Results: The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Sentence Completion Test Results show that Facebook use has a positive correlation with online bonding and bridging capital. A significantly higher percentage of participants from the clinical group met the criteria for problem use of the Internet. Compared to average users, problem users of the Internet are found to have higher mean scores for online bridging capital and conflicts in inter-personal relationships and lower mean scores for real life bonding capital and self-esteem. Conclusions: It necessitates an exploration of Facebook's use patterns in routine evaluation and management of clinical conditions and implies the need for further research to develop explanatory models and management strategies for problematic use of the Internet.