ABSTRACT
Various kinds of schiff base metal complexes have been proven to induce apoptosis of tumor cells. However, it remains largely unknown whether schiff base zinc complexes induce apoptosis in human cancer cells. Here, we synthesized a novel schiff base zinc coordination compound (SBZCC) and investigated its effects on the growth, proliferation and apoptosis of human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells. A novel SBZCC was synthesized by chemical processes and used to treat MG-63 cells. The cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. The cell cycle progression, mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptotic cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The apoptosis-related proteins levels were determined by immunoblotting. Treatment of MG-63 cells with SBZCC resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Moreover, SBZCC significantly reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential and induced apoptosis, accompanied with increased Bax/Bcl-2 and FlasL/Fas expression as well as caspase-3/8/9 cleavage. Our results demonstrated that the synthesized novel SBZCC could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of MG-63 cells via activating both the mitochondrial and cell death receptor apoptosis pathways, suggesting that SBZCC is a promising agent for the development as anticancer drugs.
Subject(s)
Humans , Antineoplastic Agents , Pharmacology , Apoptosis , Caspase 3 , Genetics , Metabolism , Caspase 8 , Genetics , Metabolism , Caspase 9 , Genetics , Metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Cell Survival , Coordination Complexes , Pharmacology , Fas Ligand Protein , Genetics , Metabolism , G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial , Mitochondria , Metabolism , Pathology , Osteoblasts , Metabolism , Pathology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 , Genetics , Metabolism , Schiff Bases , Chemistry , Signal Transduction , Zinc , Chemistry , bcl-2-Associated X Protein , Genetics , Metabolism , fas Receptor , Genetics , MetabolismABSTRACT
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of pathologic gambling among substance-related disorder patients admitted at The Medical City Psychiatric Unit and describe the demographic characteristics of identified pathologic gamblers. Methods: Patients admitted under the pyschiatry service of The Medical City from June 2003 to March 2004 who fulfilled the DSM-IV TR diagnostic criteria for Substance-Related disorders were included in this study. The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), a validated and reliable instrument for screening populations with gambling problems was administered to determine the presence of pathologic gambling. Demographic data was also collected from patients. Results: Fifty one patients were eligible for the study but only 49 participated in the study since 2 did not give their consent. Eleven patients (22.45%) were identified as probable pathologic gamblers (PPG) and 21 patients (42.86%) were considered problem gamblers (PG). Majority of the PPG were male, ?40 years of age, received some college education, abused methamphetamine, and had a family history of gambling problems. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of pathologic gambling among patients with substance-related disorders. Thus, it is recommended that assessment of gambling problems should be part of the initial psychiatric evaluation of substance-related disorder patients. Further local research on this topic should also be conducted to validate results of this study.
ABSTRACT
Gastric, duodenal and peptic ulcers are collectively ranked as one of the causes of deaths in the country. Management of these diseases comes at a high cost. The researchers explored the use of indigenous narra (Pterocarpus indicus Will.) as a low cost alternative to other expensive medications. This study aimed to determine the presence and degree of ulcerations in Indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in male albino rats after treatment with either narra leaf decoction or sucralfate. It also aimed to compare the anti-ulcer effects of different dosages of narra leaf decoction with that of sucralfateTwenty-five male rats weighting 115-200 grams were randomly divided into five groups. Gastric ulcers were induced by orally administering 30 mg/kg body weight (BW) of Indomethacin in all rats. Treatments were divided as follows: Negative control (NSS)-10 mg/kg BW normal saline solution; positive control (SUC)-1 g/kg BW sucralfate; Narra group 1 (N1)-3.94 g/kg BW narra leaf decoction; Narra group 2 (N2)-9.89 g/kg BW narra leaf decoction; and, Narra group 3 (N3)-24.84 g/kg BW narra leaf decoction. All treatments were administered using oral gavage and were repeated at intervals of 24 hours for three days. Six hours after the last administration of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and their stomachs excised. Gross analysis was done using the Bests Ulcer Staging Index while histopathological analysis was performed according to the presence and degree of ulcers and hemorrhage. Results were analyzed using Kruskal- Wallis Test for one-way ANOVAOn gross analysis, ulcers and hemorrhages were seen in some of the rat stomachs but the difference in the effects of the treatments on the different groups was not statistically significant. On histopathological analysis, ulcers and hemorrhages were evident in the NSS group but were not noted in the SUC group. The difference between the SUC and NSS groups was statistically significant. Histopathologic studies also showed the following: 2/5 rats had ulcers in Narra group 1; 2/5 in Narra group 2; and, none in Narra group 3 (but all of these rats died before the end of the experiment). However, histopathological differences among the treatment groups were not statistically significantThese findings suggest that narra may have anti-ulcer effects. It is recommended that a dosage higher than 24.84 g/kg BW (the highest narra dosage administered for three days in this experiment) be used in further experiments. The duration of exposure to the drug should also be lengthened. (Author)