Antioxidant intake and status, and oxidative stress in relation to breast cancer risk: a case-control study.

A case control study was carried out to investigate associations between breast cancer risk, antioxidant status and oxidative stress among women in Klang Valley and Selangor. A total of 57 newly diagnosed cases aged 30 to 66 years old participated and were matched for age and ethnicity with 139 controls with no diagnosis of cancer or other chronic diseases. An interview based questionnaire designed to collect information on demographic and socioeconomic status, as well as reproductive, medical and dietary history was used. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height, waist and hip circumference were made and a 10 ml fasting venous blood sample was taken for glucose testing and analysis of plasma vitamin antioxidants and malondialdehyde. Hair and toenail samples were taken for selenium analysis. Results showed that the mean intake of vitamin A, vitamin E and selenium among cases (606.8 +/- 334.8 microg/d, 6.1 +/- 2.4 g/d, 56.9 +/- 16.2 microg/d) was lower than controls (724.7 +/- 414 microg/day, 6.9 +/- 3.0 g/d, 60.8 +/- 17.5 microg/d, respectively) (p<0.05 for all parameters). A similar trend was noted for plasma vitamin A and E and also selenium in hair and toenails. Poor antioxidant status as indicated by low plasma vitamin A (<284.3 microg/l or <366.3 microg/l) increased risk of breast cancer by approximately two fold, whilst low plasma vitamin E (<2.5 mg/dl, <2.8 mg/dl and <3.1 mg/dl) increased the risk by two to three fold [Adjusted OR 2.97 (95% CI 1.38-3.48), 2.32 (95% CI 1.07-2.41) and 2.12 (95% CI 1.00-4.21)]. Cases had a greater level of malondialdehyde 4.4 +/- 1.1 mmol/g protein), an indicator of oxidative stress, as compared to controls (3.2 +/- 1.7 mmol/g protein) (p<0.05). A high level of MDA (> or = 4.8 mmol/g protein) was associated with breast cancer [Adjusted OR 6.82 (95% CI 1.95-23.9)]. It is concluded that a poor antioxidant status and high oxidative stress are associated with breast cancer risk. Thus, it is essential for Malaysian women to obtain a good antioxidant status by consuming a diet rich in vitamins A and E as well as selenium and adopt healthy behaviour to reduce oxidative stress in order to prevent breast cancer.

in vitro effects of graded concentrations of methanol extract of randia nilotica plant on the utilization of exogenous glucose by schistosoma mansoni worms

The efficacy of Methanol extract of R. nilotica plant in treatment of mansonial schistosomiasis in comparison with praziquantel drug in mice has been evaluated. To investigate how Randia nilotica eradicates schistosoma mansoni. The extract of Randia nilotica was obtained by a routine measurement. Cercariae of S. mansoni were obtained by infecting Biomphalaria pefeffri snails with miracidia. Fecal eggs were detected by the standard methods Mice were infected by 150 cercariae for each mouse using paddling method. The worms were recovered from those infected mice from the mesenteric and portal veins by the perfusion techniques and were incubated in Bueding medium at 37 Co. The same experiment was repeated after adding graded concentrations of the methanol extract to the medium. Quantitative analysis of glucose in the media was carried out. The mean percentage of glucose uptake by the normal worms from the medium after four hrs of incubation was 36% where as that of worms exposed to different concentrations [50 ppm, 500 ppm, 2000 ppm and 5000 ppm] of methanol extract of R. nilotica were 26%, 8%,6%,5% respectively. The inhibition of glucose uptake by this extract may be a major factor in the eradication of the worms. However, reaching that conclusion mandates prior knowledge of the effects of the R. nilotica on the enzymes and substrates of the glycolitic process of S. mansoni. The possibility of purifying an extract as a new drug against S. mansoni from this plant has to be considered

Efficacy of Randia nilotica methanol extract against Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice

Schistosomiasis is an important parasitic disease in the tropics. Emergence of praziquantel-resistence strains urged the need for new drugs. To scientifically evaluate the effectiveness of a plant [Randia nilotica] used traditionally to treat Schistosomiasis Albino mice were experimentally infected with single dose of 150 cercariae of the Sudan strain of Schistosoma mansoni. All the cercariae penetrated the shaved tail of the mouse. The mice were treated with single i.p [intraperitoneal] dose of 1 ml of R. nilotica methanol extract [prepared from fruit part of the plant] in concentration of 5000 ppm and double doses through the same route of administration with 1 ml of R. nilotica methanol extract in concentrations of 1000 and 500 ppm. This resulted in total worm burden reductions at 87% 76% 68% respectively. The reductions in female worm burden were 99%, 97%, and 95% respectively. Oral administration with the same concentrations [single dose of 5000 ppm and double doses of 1000 and 500 ppm] resulted in total and female worm burden reductions. There was obvious reduction in the number of eggs in liver and intestinal tissues of the treated mice and improvement of their health when compared with the control group. We conclude that the methanol extract of R. nilotica is effective against Schistosoma mansori

pattern of indications and complications of splenectomy in Eastern Saudi Arabia

The indications for splenectomy have changed over the past decade. Trauma and hematological diseases are emerging as common indications since the early eighties of the last century. This study looks at the pattern of indications and complications of splenectomy at Dammam Central Hospital, Dammam, Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A retrospective study of all patients who underwent splenectomy at Dammam Central Hospital over the 5-year period [1996-2000]. There were 55 patients [47 males and 8 females] who underwent splenectomy over the study period. The mean age was 57.5 [range 4-65] years. The most common indication was trauma [43.6%] followed by hematological reasons [25.5%], which were mainly in sickle cell disease [SCD] patients [N=9]. Splenic sequestration crises were the most common indication in SCD patients [77.7%]. The mean weight of the excised spleen was 882.7 [range 85-1350] grams. There were 16 [29%] postoperative complications mostly encountered in patients with portal hypertension [46.2%]. There were 2 deaths [3.6%] as a result of pulmonary embolism in a trauma patient and multi-organ failure in SCD. There was no reported postsplenectomy sepsis after a follow-up period of 18-72 months

Studies on virulence determinants of Plesiomonas shigelloides.

Virulence determinants of nineteen strains of Plesiomonas shigelloides isolated from stool samples of diarrhoeal children were studied. Heat-labile toxin was detected in seven strains using rat ileal loop model and in none of the strains using Chinese hamster ovary cell assay system and by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Rat ileal loop model was used for the first time to assay toxin in P. shigelloides and is suggested to be a cheap and effective method of detecting labile toxin in the organism. Heat stable toxin, cytotoxin, hemolysin and hemagglutinin were not detected in the strains tested. Invasiveness could not be established by using HEp-2 cell assay system. The results of this study provide some experimental support for an etiological role for P. shigelloides in the production of diarrhoea.