Gold nanoparticles combined baker's yeast as a successful approach for breast cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND: Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) has been demonstrated in vitro to sensitize several breast cancer cell lines and to be a safe, non-toxic drug with anti-skin cancer action in mice. Furthermore, plasmonic photothermal treatment using gold nanorods has been authorized as a novel method for in vitro and in vivo cancer therapy. RESULTS: When compared to tumor-free rats, the treatment with S. cerevisiae conjugated to gold nanospheres (GNSs) lowered Bcl-2 levels while increasing FasL, Bax, cytochrome c, and caspases 8, 9, and 3 levels. Histopathological results showed changes reflecting the ability of nanogold conjugated heat-killed yeast to induce apoptosis is greater than heat-killed yeast alone as the nanogold conjugated with heat-killed yeast showed no tumor, no hyperplasia, no granulation tissue formation, no ulceration, and no suppuration. Nanogold conjugated with heat-killed yeast-treated breast cancer group displayed normal levels of ALT and AST, indicating relatively healthy hepatic cells. CONCLUSION: Our results proved that nanogold conjugated heat-killed yeast can initiate apoptosis and can be used as a safe non-invasive method for breast cancer treatment more effectively than the yeast alone. This, in turn, gives us new insight and a future hope for the first time that breast cancer can be treated by non-invasive, simple, safe, and naturally originated method and achieves a hopeful treatment and a novel method for in vivo cancer therapy.

Baker's Yeast Induces Apoptotic Effects and Histopathological Changes on Skin Tumors in Mice.

The current study investigates the apoptotic effect of Baker's yeast (S. cerevisiae) on chemically-induced skin cancer in mice. Intra-tumoral treatment with yeast caused: increases in Ca2+ in skin homogenate, modulated the intrinsic/extrinsic pathways by downregulating Bcl-2 and FasL, upregulating Bax, and increased the expression of cytochrome-c and caspases 9, 8, and 3. Histopathological changes were detected, including mild dysplasia, atypia, tumor regression, and absence of basaloid cell proliferation. No toxic effects were detected, as examined by histopathological, biochemical, and body weight analysis. These results show that yeast exerts anti-skin cancer activity, suggesting its possible use for treatment of human skin cancer.

Medically Graded Honey Supplementation Formula to Preterm Infants as a Prebiotic: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of medically graded enteral honey supplementation on the intestinal microbiota, immune response, and somatic growth of preterm infants. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted on preterm infants with gestational age ≤34 weeks and postnatal age >3 days. After reaching 1/2 goal enteral feeds, medically graded bee honey was added to milk at a dose of 5, 10, 15, and 0 g/day for 2 weeks in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Anthropometric measurements, CD4 and CD8 cytokines, stool cultures, and stool polymerase chain reaction assays for molecular detection of microbiomes were performed at 0, 7, and 14 days of intervention. Analysis of variance test was used to detect differences among the 4 groups. RESULTS: A total of 40 subjects were enrolled; 10 in each arm of the study. Compared with group D, all 3 intervention groups demonstrated significant increase in weight (P < 0.0001). Head circumference increased in groups B and C (P = 0.0056). There were no changes in CD4 or CD8 cytokines (P = 0.24 and P = 0.11, respectively). Enterobacter stool colonization decreased in groups A and B (P = 0.002), whereas Bifidobacterium bifidum colony counts increased in groups A, B, and C (P = 0.002) and lactobacilli colony counts increased in group B (P < 0.0001). Applying real-time polymerase chain reaction, B bifidum and lactobacilli increased in group C (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of milk formula with medically graded honey was associated with changes in physical growth and colonic microbiota of preterm infants. Further studies are needed to examine the sustainability of these effects and associated long-term outcomes.

Does positioning affect tracheal aspiration of gastric content in ventilated infants?

OBJECTIVES: Gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration can occur in premature infants who are supported with mechanical ventilation. The relation between physical positioning and gastric aspiration in ventilated infants has not been studied. Pepsin measured in tracheal aspirate (TA) emerged as a specific marker for aspiration. The objective of our study was to assess pepsin in TA of ventilated infants at 2 different positions: supine and right lateral. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial on premature infants who were enterally fed and supported with mechanical ventilation. Patients were randomized into intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, infants were placed supine for 6 hours before a sample of TA was obtained. A second sample was collected 6 hours later while lying in the right lateral position. In the control group, the 2 samples of TA were obtained while infants remained in the supine position during the entire study time. Pepsin in TA was measured while blinded to the group assignment. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients were enrolled and randomized to intervention (n = 17) and control (n = 17) groups. Gestational age was 32.7 ± 2.7 weeks, and birth weight was 1617 ± 526 g; both groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Pepsin concentration did not differ between groups at baseline. In the intervention group, pepsin concentration significantly declined from 13 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 11.9-38.7) to 10 ng/mL (IQR 7-12; P < 0.001), whereas it did not change in the control group (P = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: The right lateral positioning is associated with decreased TA pepsin. The implications of the present study on hospital practice and clinical outcomes need further investigations.

Oxidative stress in Egyptian hemodialysis children.

INTRODUCTION: Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the endothelium-dependent relaxing factors released by the vascular endothelium. It is decreased in chronic kidney disease. It was found that higher levels of circulating proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, and IL-13 are associated with mortality. The aim of our study was to evaluate the disturbance in NO in chronic kideny failure and its relationship with hypertension and inflammatory and nutritional parameters, as indirect indexes of uremic oxidative stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 31 children consisting of 23 children, aged from 4 to 18 years old, with ESRD, on regular hemodialysis, and 8 children admitted to hospital for other diseases (control group). Predialysis blood samples were tested for IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and NO, and were compared with the control group. RESULTS: Serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were significantly higher in children on hemodialysis as compared to the control group (TNF-alpha, 104.54 +/- 17.31 pg/mL versus 48.19 +/- 6.28 pg/mL, P = .005; IL-1beta, 5.35 +/- 0.75 pg/mL versus 2.13 +/- 0.61 pg/mL, P = .02; respectively). However, the levels of NO, albeit higher in this group had no significant difference with the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of cytokines are high in pediatric patients on hemodialysis, which reflects a state of oxidative stress.

Melatonin and sleep-related problems in children with intractable epilepsy.

Children with epilepsy have high rates of sleep problems. Melatonin has been advocated in treatment of sleep disorders, and its beneficial effect has been confirmed in insomnia. The aim of this study was to assess melatonin levels in children with intractable epilepsy and its relation to pattern of sleep and characteristics of seizure disorder, as well as the effect of melatonin therapy on those parameters. The study was conducted on 23 children with intractable epilepsy and 14 children with controlled seizures. Patients were evaluated by psychometric sleep assessment and assay of diurnal and nocturnal melatonin levels. Children with intractable epilepsy received oral melatonin before bedtime. They were reassessed after 3 months. Children with intractable epilepsy had higher scores for each category of sleep walking, forcible teeth grinding, and sleep apnea. At the end of therapeutic trial, patients with intractable epilepsy exhibited significant improvement in bedtime resistance, sleep duration, sleep latency, frequent nocturnal arousals, sleep walking, excessive daytime sleepiness, nocturnal enuresis, forcible teeth grinding, sleep apnea, and Epworth sleepiness scores. There was also significant reduction in seizure severity. Thus, use of melatonin in patients with intractable seizures was associated with improvement of both many sleep-related phenomena and the severity of seizures.

Fish liver oil and propolis as protective natural products against the effect of the anti-epileptic drug valproate on immunological markers of bone formation in rats.

Epilepsy is a major public health problem affecting nearly 50 million people world wide. Treatment with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) is generally chronic if not life long and may be associated with significant metabolic effects including decreased bone mass and increased fractures. The aim of this work was to investigate the protective role of fish liver oil and propolis against the effect of the drug valproate that is widely used for treatment of epilepsy. Group of 40 rats was divided into four groups each contain 10 rats. The first group (group I) is healthy normal rats, as control. Epilepsy was conducted in the rest of the rats. The epileptic rats were divided into three subgroups: group II was epileptic group, supplemented orally with valproate. The third group was epileptic group which supplemented orally with valproate in concomitant with fish liver oil, the last group; group IV was epileptic group which supplemented orally with valproate in concomitant with propolis. In the present study oral administration of valproate to the epileptic rats by a dose of 400mg/kg/daily for six months (group II) resulted in a significant increase of bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and N-telepeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX) relative to the control group. There were increase of receptor activator of NF kappa B ligand (RANKL), tumor necrosis factor - alpha (TNF-alpha) and decrease of osteoprotegrin (OPG) compared to normal control. Administration of fish liver oil orally in a dose of 0.4mg/kg daily in concomitant with valproate 400mg/kg daily for six months (group III), result in reduction of N-telepeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX) in comparison to group II and with no significant increase than the control (group I). There were high significant increase of bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin compared to control group I. There was high significant increase of bone alkaline phosphatase than group II and increase in osteocalcin, and decrease in N-telepeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX) compared to group II. A significant increase in osteoprotegrin (OPG) in comparison to group II and to control (group I) with a decrease in RANKL compared to group II and with no significant increase than normal control (group I). The TNF-alpha showed a significant decrease compared to group II with no significant increase than normal control. Administration of propolis orally in a dose of 50mg/kg daily in combination with valproate 400mg/kg/daily for six months (group IV) cause increase in bone alkaline phosphatase with no statistical difference between osteocalcin and N-telepeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX) and normal control (group I). There were increase in bone alkaline phosphatase than group II but less than group III. The increase in osteocalcin in-group III (fish oil group) was significantly higher than in-group IV and there was no statistical difference between it and group II. Where the N-telepeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX) the bone resorption marker was significantly higher than Group III and significantly lower than group II. There was a decrease of RANKL in comparison to group II with no significant difference than group III and a significant increase than control group. There was an increase in osteoprotegrin (OPG) in comparison to control (group I), group II and from group III. There was decrease in TNF-alpha than group III, group I and group II. In conclusion, in epileptic rats treated with valproate (which cause osteoporosis) fish liver oil and propolis increase the bone formation markers and decrease the bone resorption one's. They increase the OPG and decrease TNF-alpha, and RANKL which inhibit the osteoclastogenesis. We recommend the use of Fish Oil, or propolis as a prophylactic treatment for epileptic patients using valproate against the side effect of valproate on bone.

Cognitive functions in protein-energy malnutrition: in relation to long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Aiming to find out a correlation between plasma LC-PUFA levels and neurodevelopmental status of malnourished infants, the present study was conducted on 42 infants suffering from PEM, with a mean age of 11.28 +/- 4.59 months. They were divided clinically into edematous and non-edematous groups. Fifteen age and sex matched well nourished apparently healthy infants were chosen to serve as controls. All patients were subjected to a 3-phase workup, while controls were subjected only to phase 1. Phase I: includes clinical assessment, laboratory investigations including plasma LC-PUFA levels and Neurodevelopmental assessment. In Phase II: An interventional program of 8 weeks duration; where all patients were receiving an initial supportive treatment followed by nutritional rehabilitation according to WHO guidelines, 1999 as well as developmental stimulation. According to the formula supplied to patients, they were randomly divided into either PUFA supplemented (+ve group) or nonBsupplemented (-ve group). In Phase III: All patients were re-assessed clinically and neurodevelopmentaly as well as re-evaluation for plasma LC-PUFA levels. The study revealed that, the mean plasma AA and DHA levels as well as the mean MDI and PDI scores of BSID-II were significantly lower in PEM patients compared to those levels after nutritional rehabilitation and to controls. Moreover, the mean MDI score was significantly lower in edematous subgroup compared to non-edematous one. Meanwhile, the mean rate of change in plasma DHA level was significantly higher in edematous subgroup compared to non-edematous one. However, there was no significant difference in the mean of rate of change in AA level or MDI and PDI scores between the 2 subgroups. Further, the mean rate of change in plasma AA and DHA levels as well as MDI score were significantly higher in PUFA +ve patients compared to PUFA Bve ones after nutritional rehabilitation. Finally, the study showed significant positive correlations between plasma AA and DHA levels and both MDI and PDI scores. From the course of this study we concluded that malnourished infants had impaired neurodevelopmental functions that could be related to the poor status of plasma LC-PUF. Thus, we recommend early intervention including nutritional rehabilitation and LC-PUFA supplementation as well as stimulation program, so as to have a better effect on future cognitive abilities of these infants.

Role for leptin and prolactin in human juvenile rheumatic diseases.

This study was done to evaluate the relation between the level ofleptin, prolactin, IL-4 and IL-5 with the activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study included 33 patients divided into two groups. Group 1 included twenty-one patients with Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (13 males and 8 females) with age 11.9 +/- 3.6 years and twelve patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were enrolled as group 2 (2 males and 10 females) with age 15.8 +/- 2.9 years. Twenty-one healthy children with matched age, sex and anthropometrics measures were included in the study to serve as control group (group 3). There were significant increases in the levels of Leptin (<0.038), Prolactin (p < 0.021) IL-4 (p < 0.005) in Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis group with insignificant decrease in IL-5 (p < 0.724) in comparison to control group. Systemic Lupus group show a significant increase in level of Leptin (p < 0.05), Prolactin (p < 0.02) and IL-4 (p < 0.000) with an insignificant increase in IL-5 (p < 0.685) in comparison to control group. RA patients show a positive significant correlation between Prolactin, IL-5 and activity with negative insignificant correlation between IL-4 and activity. Where in Lupus patients there was a positive significant correlation between Prolactin, IL-4 and activity with negative insignificant correlation between IL-5 and activity. There was no correlation between Leptin and activity in both diseases (RA, SLE). There's a highly significant positive correlation between serum Leptin levels and BMI among all patients of RA and Lupus (p < 0.000, p < 0.003), respectively. There was a difference in the Leptin level between male and female patients with a significant increase in the female than male (p < 0.05). We can conclude from our results that Leptin cannot be used to assess disease activity in RA and SLE where Prolactin can be used to assess disease activity in RA and SLE.