Free radicals and antioxidants in normal versus cancerous cells — An overview

Oxygen is vital for aerobic processes of metabolism and respiration- It has been also implicated in many diseases and degenerative conditions. Free radicals formed from reactive oxygen and nitrogen species act as key players in the initiation and progression of tumor cells and enhance their metastatic potential. The imbalance in the formation and use of free radicals in the tissue creates oxidative stress. Inadequacy in normal cells antioxidant defense system or excessive free radical formation or even both can cause the cell to experience the oxidative stress. This review outlines the involvement of free radicals in different aspects of cancer, from prevention to initiation, progression, treatment and to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Morphological Study of Cadaveric Human Spleen.

Background: This study deal with the morphology of spleen regarding to shape, notches, and fissure on superior, inferior and diaphragmatic, visceral surface and compared with different study done previously. Methods: This study was done in the department of Anatomy, Chattishgarh Institute of Medical Science, Bilaspur, C.G. India. The study was done on 50 formalin fixed human middle age cadaveric spleen. The spleen was observed grossly and photograph was taken. The data was displayed in tabulated form. Results: The present study was done on 50 formalin fixed human cadaveric spleen, out of which 23(46%) spleen showed wedge shape, 19 (38%) spleen showed tetrahedral shape, 8(16%) spleen showed triangular shape. Among 50 spleen 35 (70%) exhibit notches on the superior border ,4(8%) exhibit notches on the inferior border, 6 (12%) exhibit no notches on either border of spleen, 5(10%) exhibit notches on the both border of spleen, 3 (6%) having fissures on the diaphragmatic surface of spleen . Notches on the superior border are commonly observed but it varies between 1 to 6 and in majority of spleen, it exhibits 1-3 notches respectively. Conclusion: This study provide knowledge about shape, notches, fissures of spleen hence this study useful for clinicians, surgeon, anatomist, radiologist for proper diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Diversity and Versatility of Actinomycetes and its Role in Antibiotic Production.

This review summarizes about the actinomycetes and their capability to produce bioactive secondary metabolites, many of which have been successfully isolated and turned into useful drugs and other organic chemicals. Microbial pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant to available treatments so new antibiotics are needed, but the channel of compounds under development is scarce. There is frantic need of new microbial agents to fight against the antibiotic resistant strains of pathogenic microorganisms, which are rapidly increasing gradually. Therefore, actinomycetes hold a prominent position due to their diversity and proven ability to produce new bioactive compounds predominantly used in antibiotic production. A critical element in a drug discovery based on microbial extracts is the isolation of unexploited groups of microorganisms that are at the same time good producers of secondary metabolites. Few of the antibiotics produced by actinomycetes are included in this review along with their activities to prove the versatility of this powerful microbial organism. Many ecological niches still remain unexplored yet which needs to be studied for a greater diversity of novel actinomycetes. Different strains of actinomycetes generally produce different compounds. For this reason intensive efforts can be increased for isolation and screening of new strains to discover new compounds.

Activation of macrophages with N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine: involvement of protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase.

N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) a potent chemotactic peptide stimulates immune responses by activating macrophages and other cells of the immune system. The present study reports inhibition of fMLP-induced activation of murine peritoneal and P388D-1 macrophage cell line by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, H-7 and chelerythrine chloride. Similarly, tumoricidal activity was also downregulated by protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors genestein and lavendustin A. Further, fMLP increased tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in murine macrophages, which were inhibited in presence of genestein and lavendustin A. These findings suggest the involvement of PKC and PTK in the activation of murine macrophages with fMLP.