Pan masala advertisements are surrogate for tobacco products.

BACKGROUND: Pan masala is a comparatively recent habit in India and is marketed with and without tobacco. Advertisements of tobacco products have been banned in India since 1st May 2004. The advertisements of plain pan masala, which continue in Indian media, have been suspected to be surrogate for tobacco products bearing the same name. The study was carried out to assess whether these advertisements were for the intended product, or for tobacco products with same brand name. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The programme of a popular television Hindi news channel was watched for a 24-h period. Programmes on the same channel and its English counterpart were watched on different days to assess whether the advertisements were repeated. The total duration of telecast of a popular brand of plain pan masala (Pan Parag) was multiplied by the rate charged by the channel to provide the cost of advertisement of this product. The total sale value of the company was multiplied by the proportion of usage of plain pan masala out of gutka plus pan masala habit as observed from a different study, to provide the annual sale value of plain pan masala product under reference. RESULTS: The annual sale value of plain Pan Parag was estimated to be Rs. 67.1 million. The annual cost of the advertisement of the same product on two television channels was estimated at Rs. 244.6 million. CONCLUSION: The advertisements of plain pan masala seen on Indian television are a surrogate for the tobacco products bearing the same name.

Effect of vitamin C on 9, 10 dimethyl 1-2 benzanthracene-induced oral carcinogenesis in rat, histological and histochemical studies

This study was done to investigate the effect of 9, 10 dimethyl 1-2 benzanthracene [DMBA] on rat buccal mucosa of the cheek pouch and to evaluate the possible protective role of vitamin C against this effect. Thirty male albino rats were used in this study. They were divided into three groups; 10 animals each. Group [1] was used as control. Group [2]: The animals buccal mucosa was topically treated with [DMBA] 3 times/week for 6 weeks. Group [3] was injected with Vitamin C via the caudal vein and DMBA was applied concomitantly in the same mentioned dose and duration as used in group two. This study showed that DMBA caused increase in the thickness of oral epithelial mucosa in most of the studied animals. Enzymological study of acid phosphatase revealed increased activity which interpreted to be due to DMBA effect in the initiation of the lysosomal acid phosphatase enzyme activity and this was considered as a precursor of the oral lesion. The animals treated with DMBA plus vitamin C showed markedly improved histological and enzymological alterations evidenced by significant decrease in epithelium mucosal thickness and keratinization associated with a decrease in acid phosphatase activity when compared with the DMBA treated group. The results indicated that vitamin C played an important role as an antioxidant in the inhibition of abnormal cell growth

Oxidative stress and experimental carcinogenesis.

The focus of this review is to provide state-of-the-art knowledge on the involvement of oxygen free radicals (OFR) in carcinogenesis with a particular reference to skin model system as the process of cancer development is best understood in this organ. However, a brief description of the role of OFR in other organs is also provided. The term OFR refers to forms of oxygen exhibiting high reactivity and having at least one unpaired electron. The role of OFR in different stages of carcinogenesis such as initiation, promotion and progression is described. Out of many mechanisms described for the chemical initiation of tumorigenesis, a number of them may involve free radicals in the cascade of reactions. Evidences that support the involvement of free radicals in tumor promotion include (i) a number of free radical-generating compounds are found to be tumor promoters in various animal model systems, (ii) ROS generating systems can mimic the biochemical action of tumor promoters, (iii) some tumor promoters stimulate the production of ROS, (iv) tumor promoters modulate the cellular antioxidant defense systems, and (v) free radical scavengers, detoxifiers and antioxidants inhibit the process of tumor promotion. The role of ROS in the progression stage of carcinogenesis is evident from the fact that a number of different free radical generating compounds enhance the malignant conversion of benign papillomas into carcinoma and their effectiveness may be related to the type of radicals produced into the biological system.

Inhibition by Ginseng of Colon Carcinogenesis in Rats

The inhibitory effects of ginseng on the development of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon were investigated in rats. Male, 6-week-old rats were injected with DMH once a week for 4 weeks. Rats in Groups 1 and 2 were fed diets containing red and white ginseng, rerspectively, at a dose of 1% for 5 weeks, starting one week before the first treatment of DMH. Animals in Groups 3 and 4 received red or white ginseng for 8 weeks starting after DMH treatment. Group 5 served as a carcinogen control group. Numbers of ACF with at least four crypts were significantly reduced in the colon of Group 2 treated with red ginseng combined with DMH. Moreover, rats were injected with DMH 4 times at one-week intervals. They were also fed diets containing 1% red or white ginseng or the control diet throughout 30 days of the experiment. Treatment with red ginseng resulted in a significant decrease of 5- bromo-2'-deoxyuridine labeling indices in colonic crypts comprising ACF. These findings suggest that dietary administration of red ginseng in combination with DMH suppresses colon carcinogenesis in rats, and the inhibition may be associated, in part, with inhibition of cell proliferation, acting on ACF in the colonic mucosa.

Wound healing and colon carcinogenesis: enhancing effects of skin wounding on development of colon tumors induced by 1, 2 Dimethylhydrazine in the rat

This study demonstrates the tumor promoting effect at a distant site of skin wounding, in a model of colon carcinogenesis induced by 1,2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in the rat. Six-week-old male Wistar rats were given subcutaneous injections of DMH, 20mg/kg, or saline, once a week, for eight weeks. One week after the last DMH injection the animals received a full thickness skin wound in their dorsal skin and the wound was left open to heal by second intention. Control and DMH-treated rats, with or without skin wounds were killed at the 12th week, just after healing of the skin wound was complete. The colons were removed and divided into proximal and distal parts. Each segment was rolled as "Swiss roll"and processed for histology. The incidence, distribution and morphology of the colon tumors was recorded. The total number of tumors in the colonic mucosa and the number of tumors per rat was significantly higher in the skin-wounding DMH- treated group than in the unwounded group. In the histopathological analysis of the colon the number of poorly differentiated mucin-secreting carcinomas was 6-fold in the skin-wounding DMH-treated group than in the unwounded group and the majority of tumors were located near to lymphoid aggregates. The present results suggest that wound healing enhances tumor development at a distant site, such as the colon, and this effect seems to be related to tumor histology.

Identificación de trihalometanos en agua de red tratada en el sudeste de Córdoba (Argentina) / Trihalometanes in drinking water in Cordoba eastern (Argentina)

Se estudiaron durante tres años (1997-1999) los trihalometanos (subproductos de la cloración del agua) en dos plantas potabilizadoras del sudeste de Córdoba, Argentina que utilizan hipoclorito como desinfectante. Se analizó la cantidad y los tipos de trihalometanos (THMs) presentes en el agua. De acuerdo a los resultados de las aguas, el THM que predomina es el cloroformo siendo la media para la ciudad de Bell Ville de 102,6 ug/l y 100,3 ug/l para la localidad de San Marcos. Estos datos sugieren la utilización de metodologías alternativas para minimizar la cantidad de cloro a consumir por los humanos

Nervous system cancer mortality in an industrialized area of Brazil 1980 - 1993

OBJECTIVES: The industrialization process and nervous system cancer (NSC) mortality in a urban region of Brazil. METHOD: From registries of the State System of Data Analysis Foundation (SEADE), 103 males deaths by NSC (ICD-9) in Baixada Santista (BS), from 1980 to 1993 were selected. Mortality ratios were calculated comparing the standardized mortality rate for ages over 10 years old (G1) and for the age group from 35 to 64 years old, in the industrialized and non-industrialized areas in three periods: 1980-1993, 1980-86, 1987-93. RESULTS: A statiscally significant high mortality was observed in the industrialized area, for ages over 10 in all periods and only from 1980 to 1993 for ages from 34 to 64. The highest mortality ratio occurred from 1980-86 for ages over 10 - 4.12 (CI 1.79-9.42). CONCLUSION: High mortality was probably related to the environmental and occupational exposure to many organic and inorganic chemical substances, considered carcinogenics, such as aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorinated, formaldehyde, nitrogenated compounds and heavy metals, found in the port and industrial complex. We discuss the importance of case-control studies in characterizing the association of these and other risk factors in the determination of NSC.

Toxoplasmose cerebral após transplante alogênico de medula óssea / Central nervous system toxoplasmosis after bone marrow transplantation

As cpmplicaçöes relacionadas ao sistema nervoso central nos pacientes submetidos a transplante autólogo ou alogênico de medula óssea apresentam uma incidência média de 2 a 8 por cento, que correlacionam com o grau de imunossupressäo, doença enxerto contra o hospedeiro e a doença de base. Por este motivo observa-se maior incidência dessas complicaçöes nos tranplantes alogênicos. Dentre as mais comumentes encontradas, destacam-se as de causas infecciosas, como encefalites secundárias, o toxoplasma, aspergilus, cândida, citomegalovírus e outros vírus. Excluindo-se as infecçöes, destacam-se as hemorragias e a encefalopatia metabólica. Apesar da incidência de 3 a 8 por cento, a mortalidade dos pacientes acometidos atinge 67 por cento dos casos. Por este motivo é que torna-se importante a avaliaçäo sorológica dos pacientes previamente ao transplante e a investigaçäo dos agentes etiológicos em pacientes imunocomprometidos, após o transplante de medula óssea.

Estudo das alteraçöes morfológicas causadas pela induçäo concomitante de DMBA e bebidas alcoólicas de alto teor na carcinogênese química bucal / Study of morphologic changes caused by concomitant induction of DMBA and heavy alcoholic drinks in oral chemical carcinogenesis

Realizou-se este trabalho com o objetivo de observar o comportamento biológico, macro e microscópico, da mucosa lingual lateral de hamsters sírios dourados Mesocricetus auratus após contato direto com bebidas de alto teor alcoólico (cachaça e uísque) associadas ao 9,10 dimetil 1,2-benzantraceno (DMBA). Sessenta animais foram divididos em três grupos experimentais: grupo 1 - DMBA + cachaça; grupo 2 - DMBA + uísque; grupo 3 - DMBA. Dez animais de cada grupo experimental foram sacrificados após 13 e 20 semanas. Os resultados mostraram que após 13 semanas ocorreu a formaçäo de alteraçöes displásicas em 70 por cento, 60 por cento e 80 por cento, na língua dos animais dos grupos 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente. Após 13 semanas, carcinomas de células escamosas papiliforme estavam presentes em todos os grupos experimentais sendo que em 30 por cento dos animais do grupo 1 os carcinomas eram pequenos (0,1-0,2cm); no grupo 2, 30 por cento dos animais apresentavam carcinomas pequenos e 10 por cento eram microinvasivos; no grupo 3 todos os carcinomas presentes eram microinvasivos (20 por cento). Após 20 semanas, ocorreu a formaçäo de alteraçöes displásicas em 10 por cento, 10 por cento e 30 por cento dos animais dos grupos 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente; carcinomas microinvasivos em 20 por cento dos animais do grupo 1; carcinomas de células escamosas papiliforme tamanho pequeno em 50 por cento, 30 por cento e 60 por cento dos animais dos grupos 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente; e os carcinomas de células escamosas papiliformes grandes (>0,5cm) em 20 por cento, 60 por cento e 10 por cento dos animais dos grupos 1, 2 e 3 respectivamente. Assim, pode-se concluir que as bebidas de alto teor alcoólico (cachaça e uísque) tem potencial carcinogênico promotor sobre a mucosa bucal e o uísque tem potencial carcinogênico de progressäo sobre a mucosa bucal

Mesotelioma maligno de pleura com associaçäo etiológica a asbesto: a propósito de três casos clínicos / Malign mesothelioma of pleura with etiological association to asbestos: apropos of 3 clinical cases

O mesotelioma maligno de pleura (MM) é tumor de ocorrência rara e nosso meio e tem-se mostrado, quando em elevada incidência, relacionado à exposiçäo pregressa a asbesto ou amianto nas séries descritas em outros países. OBJETIVO. A partir de casos clínicos atendidos no Hospital de Clínicas da UNICAMP, procurou-se evidenciar tal associaçäo epidemiológica, visando alertar profissionais médicos quanto à possível elevaçäo da incidência de tal tumor nesta década e, futuramente, por características próprias da história natural desse tipo de tumor. MÉTODOS. Säo descritos três casos de MM de pleura ocorridos na regiäo de Campinas, SP, num período de dois anos, dos pontos de vista clínico, laboratoriais complementares e anatomopatológico, incluindo minuciosa investigaçäo anamnésica ocupacional e ambiental. RESULTADOS. Todos os casos foram confirmados do ponto de vista anatomopatológico, incluindo microscopia eletrônica, como casos de MM. Os três casos mostraram relaçäo epidemiológica, comprovada por meio de história ocupacional, com exposiçäo a asbesto no passado. Um dos casos teve exposiçäo ocupacional pregressa de curta duraçäo (cerca de um ano); outro teve exposiçäo doméstica a partir de asbesto trazido do ambiente de trabalho por seu pai, durante sua infância, e o terceiro caso com contaminaçäo ocupacional indireta. CONCLUSÃO. A ocorrência de MM de pleura relacionada à exposiçäo a asbesto, no passado, parece ser realidade em nosso meio, como mostram estes três casos clínicos. Destaca-se a necessidade da anamnese ocupacional e ambiental detalhadas na abordagem desses casos, alertando-se para maior atençäo no diagnóstico dos tumores primários da pleura e do peritônio, nos próximos anos, em funçäo de provável aparecimento de novos casos relacionados a exposiçäo a asbesto pregressa, tendo em vista o intervalo de tempo entre o início da manipulaçäo do asbesto em nosso país e o aparecimento destes primeiros casos coincidir com o tempo de latência médio esperado para a ocorrência de MM. Destacam-se, ainda, as necessidades de definiçäo precisa de critérios diagnósticos, para esse tipo de tumor, e criaçäo de registro centralizado de casos.

Mesotelioma maligno primário difuso em cavidade abdominal / Diffuse primary malignant mesothelioma in abdominal cavity

Säo analisados dois casos de mesotelioma maligno difuso presentes na cavidade abdominal. Este tumor primário origina-se do mesotélio peritoneal, da pleura visceral e parietal, pericárdio e túnica vaginal. Todos eles, infra ou supra-diafragmáticos, associam-se com exposiçäo a asbestos em pelo menos 80 por cento dos casos. Dificuldade existe, no entanto, em explicar como asbestos inalados induzem ao aparecimento da neoplasia peritoneal. Estes aspectos säo importantes para realizaçäo do diagnóstico predominantemente definido por laparotomia ou laparoscopia e biopsias das lesöes e, ocasionalmente, pela identificaçäo de células mesoteliais malignas no líquido ascítico. Säo, também, estabelecidas consideraçöes sobre diagnóstico realizado na maioria dos casos em fases avançadas, apresentando grave evoluçäo e opçöes terapêuticas baseadas em ressecçäo cirúrgica radical das lesöes, radio ou quimioterapia isoladas ou combinadas.

Estudo das alteraçöes morfológicas na carcinogênese química bucal comparando-se a induçäo pelo DMBA e bebidas alcoólicas de alto teor / Study of morphologic changes in the oral chemical carcinogenesis with induction by DMBA and heavy concentration of alcohol in alcoholic drinks

Com o objetivo de observar o comportamento biológico, macro e microscópio, da mucosa lingual lateral de hamsters sírios dourados Mesocricetus auratus após contato direto com bebidas alcoólicas de alto teor (cachaça e uísque) e de uma revisäo literária sobre o relacionamento álcool/câncer bucal, realizou-se este trabalho. Os animais foram divididos em três grupos experimentais, sendo estes subdivididos em dois períodos experimentais de 13 e 20 semanas, respectivamente. Os hamsters do Grupo I recebiam três aplicaçöes semanais de cachaça na borda lateral da língua, com o auxílio de pincel número zero. O Grupo II recebia aplicaçöes de uísque e o Grupo III aplicaçöes de 7,12 dimetil-benzantraceno (DMBA), sendo o grupo controle/positivo. As alteraçöes macro e microscópicas foram anotadas e avaliadas, constatando-se: 1) a induçäo à carcinogênese bucal pelo uso do DMBA na mucosa lingual lateral promoveu carcinomas em 50 por cento dos animais após 13 semanas e em 100 por cento dos animais após 20 semanas; 2) o tempo experimental influenciou na obtençäo de carcinomas DMBA/induzidos; 3) o uso da bebida alcoólica de alto teor näo foi suficiente para, isoladamente, iniciar a carcinogênese na mucosa lingual lateral; 4) as principais modificaçöes morfológicas no epitélio da mucosa lingual lateral de hamsters que indicam a carcinogênese säo: hiperplasia e hiperqueratose com projeçöes papiliformes...

Evaluación de la actividad mitótica de la carcinogénesis oral con el empleo de un analizador de imágenes Leitz ASM-68K / Evaluation of the mitotic activity of oral carcinogenesis using a Leitz ASM-68K image analizer

Con el objetivo de precisar la actividad mitótica epitelial en la mucosa labial de ratones IBF1 tratados tópicamente con condensado de humo de cigarros, se realizó una evaluación cuantitativa de la mitosis/micra cuadrada y comparación con los restantes grupos de diseño experimental atendiendo al tiempo de aplicación del carcinógeno. Los especímenes seleccionados fueron procesados por la técnica clásica de inclusión en parafina y coloreados con hematoxilina y eosina, efectuándose una evaluación cuantitativa con un sistema computarizado analizador de imágenes ASM-68K, siguiendo las especificacionse operacionales del software correspondiente. Se ejecutaron 10 mediciones de área por cada caso, previa calibración en micras, con los respectivos conteos celulares dentro de las mismas, según el cálculo a efectuar (mitosis/micra2). Se observó un incremento de la actividad mitótica/micras cuadradas, en los casos tratados con carcinógenos, principalmente en los que recibieron condensado de humo (p<0.05)

Respiratory effects of occupational exposure to asbestos.

Ventilatory capacities of 73 Libyan men working in the Asbestos-Cement Pipe factory in Jenzur, a residential area near Tripoli, Libya and those of 73 age-matched healthy Libyan men unexposed to asbestos were determined. The mean values of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) for men unexposed to asbestos were 3.89 +/- 0.084 and 3.64 +/- 0.082 liters respectively. The respective values for men exposed to asbestos were 3.62 +/- 0.082 and 3.29 +/- 0.097 liters. Thus, there has been a significant decrease in the ventilatory function of the men exposed to asbestos as compared with age-matched unexposed counterparts.

Diet, nutrition & cancer--the Indian scenario.

Cancer continues to be a major health problem despite advances in medical technology for its diagnosis and treatment. Hence prevention strategies are needed to decrease the burden of the disease. Of all the environmental factors, dietary components appear to play an important role in the initiation/progression of the disease. Nutrients and non-nutrients in the diet can influence the carcinogenic process at various stages, from initiation to overt manifestation. The National Institute of Nutrition has conducted studies on several aspects of diet-cancer inter-relationships. These include studies on metabolic susceptibility, case-control approach to determine the risk factors and intervention studies to determine the role of nutrients and non-nutrient components on preneoplastic events. Extensive work has been carried out demonstrating the antimutagenic/anticarcinogenic potential of some commonly consumed spices and vegetables such as turmeric, mustard, green leafy and allium species of vegetables. Dietary intervention for cancer prevention is needed to control the disease besides avoiding risk factors such as smoking and alcoholism and exposure to genotoxicants. Public education and awareness about the beneficial effects of consuming a healthy diet including plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits with spices such as turmeric in adequate amounts to prevent cancer are required.

La etnobotánica de pteridium aquilinum (L) Kuhn en Venezuela y sus posibles riesgos asociados de carcinogenesis / The ethnobotany of pteridium aquilinum (L) Kuhn in Venezuela and possible associated carcinogenic risks

En este trabajo se presenta la etnobotánica de Pteridium aquilinum (L) Kuhn en Venezuela. El trabajo de campo ha puesto de manifiesto la presencia de dos variedades y al menos una forma ecotípica. Tomando como base la literatura reciente y los resultados de las investigaciones realizadas en todas las regiones montañosas del país, sustentadas en coleccciones intensivas y entrevistas, la etnobotánica del género Pteridium muestra una amplia gama de usos que sugieren un alto riesgo de carcinogénesis en humanos. Se recomiendan investigaciones epidemiológicas y medidas preventivas en aquellas zonas de alta incidencia del helecho, tales como los estados de la región andina.