Phytochemicals Screening and Anti-proliferative Activities of Anacardium occidentale Shoot Extract in Breast Cancer Cells

@#Introduction: Anacardium occidentale or cashew are popular traditional food and have raised research interest for complementary cancer treatment. Cancer has become leading cause of death and treatment involved severe side effects. In present study, we aim to study the anti-proliferative effects of cashew shoots in breast cancer (MDAMB-231), colorectal cancer (HT-29) and liver cancer (HepG2) cell lines. Methods: Cell lines were treated with 70% ethanolic cashew extract for cytotoxicity test with MTT assay. AO/PI dual fluorescent assay and RNase/PI staining were used to determine apoptosis induction effects. Phytochemicals screening was carried out by using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS). Results: The cytotoxicity assay of cashew shoot extract demonstrated IC50 of 81.1 ± 0.11 μg/ml for MDA-MB-231, 307.5 ± 2.31 μg/ml for HT-29 and 272.6 ± 1.91 μg/ml for HepG2 cell lines. The apoptotic bodies include chromatin condensation, cell blebbing and nuclear fragmentation and apoptosis induction were shown by AO/PI staining. There was significant increase of cell count in sub-G0 phase in MDA-MB-231 cell lines treated with cashew shoot extract. It was demonstrated that cashew shoot extract contained 38 compounds from GCMS such as sitosterol, tannin, pyrogallol, phenol and 20 compounds from LCMS such as citric acid, gallic acid, myricetin and hinokiflavone that may give rise to its anti-cancer effect. Conclusion: Cashew shoot extract demonstrated potential anti-cancer properties thus further study is required to investigate its mechanism as anti-cancer agent.

Anti-proliferative and Apoptosis-Inducing Effects of Morinda citrifolia L. Shoot on Breast, Liver, and Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines

@#Introduction: Morinda citrifolia or also known as noni is commonly consumed raw or blanched as side dishes or ‘ulam’. As cancer is one of the most leading causes of death in the world, we aimed to evaluate the anti-proliferative potential of noni shoot against various types of cancer cell lines. Methods: The breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), liver cancer (HepG2), and colorectal cancer (HT-29) cell lines were treated with 70% ethanol extract of noni shoot for cytotoxicity testing using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Apoptosis induction effects were examined using AO/PI dual fluorescent assay and cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) was also carried out to characterize the active compounds in noni shoot. Results: The cytotoxicity assay demonstrated noni shoot had IC50 of 49.72 µg/mL, 307.5 µg/mL and 65.43 µg/ mL against MDA-MB-231, HepG2, and HT-29 cell lines, respectively. The AO/PI staining showed apoptotic bodies such as cell blebbing, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation was markedly induced in the selected cancer cell lines-treated with noni shoot extract. Apoptosis induction by noni shoot was showed by a significant increase in sub G0/G1 phase in MDA-MB-231 and HT-29 cell lines of cell cycle analysis. It was found that noni shoot extract contained mostly acetic acid and ethriol that may contribute to its anti-cancer properties. Conclusion: These findings showed the potential anticancer properties of noni shoot extract thereby, further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of noni as anti-cancer agent and possibility to be developed as a nutraceutical or functional food products.

Association between rs6759298 and ankylosing spondylitis in iranian population

Background: Ankylosing Spondylitis [AS] is a chronic autoinflammatory Spondyloarthropathy [SpA] which is characterized by sacroiliitis, which progresses to the axial skeleton. It seems that non-Human Leukocyte Antigen [HLA] and also HLA-B27 are associated with the susceptibility and pathogenesis of the disease. The recent Genome- Wide Association Studies [GWASs] have reported intergenic rs6759298 to be associated with AS etiology. The aim of this study was investigation of the rs6759298 polymorphism in Iranian AS patients. In addition, probable correlations with clinical indices and manifestations were considered

Methods: This study included 403 patients with AS. The control group consisted of 506 healthy individuals who were matched for sex, age, and ethnicity with AS group. Genotyping of rs6759298 was determined using the Amplification-Refractory Mutation System-Polymerase Chain Reaction [ARMS-PCR]

Results: The GG genotype and G allele were found to be significantly more prevalent in the patient group in comparison to the control group [[p=2×10[-6] and 7.44×10[-9]; OR [95% CI] =2.16 [1.56-2.98] and 1.73 [1.43-2.08]],respectively

Conclusion: No associations were found between patients with three genotypes and any disease manifestations or clinical indices. This investigation confirmed a highly significant association of rs6759298 with disease susceptibility, with no effect on disease progress or clinical presentations. Since rs6759298 belongs to the 2p15 gene desert, further studies would elucidate the exact role of this polymorphism in the pathogenesis of AS

Tetanus immunization. Knowledge amongst healthcare workers of the emergency department at a tertiary care hospital

Background: A high prevalence rate of neonatal and adult tetanus in Pakistan reflects the failure of health care systems to provide adequate immunization. Health care workers [HCWs] of emergency departments [ED] are generally at the frontline to deal with patients of road traffic accidents, trauma and burns. However, it has been observed that these patients receive incomplete preventive measures to combat tetanus

Objective: To assess the knowledge of tetanus immunization among healthcare workers [HCW] of the emergency department [ED] at a tertiary care hospital

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 104 HCWs of ED of Ziauddin University. A structured questionnaire was filled by HCWs during April and May 2014. Data were analyzed on SPSS 20.0. Categorical variables were presented as frequency and percentage, while continuous variables were presented as mean. P value of <0.05 was considered significant

Results: Total 104 HCWs from ED participated in the study. Only 11.8% [12] HCWs were aware of the correct dosing schedule in children under 12 years of age. 56.3% [58] and 68% [70] were aware of correct schedule in adult population and in pregnant females, respectively. Knowledge of tetanus immunization in different types of wounds according to previous immunization status of patients was also found inadequate

Conclusion: HCWs of ED have inadequate knowledge about tetanus prone injuries and its immunization, which needs to be addressed