Carnosol, radiation and melanoma: a translational possibility

PURPOSE: To compare the genoprotective and radioprotective effect of carnosol (COL) against damage induced by ionizing radiation with similar effects produced by different antioxidant compounds. METHODS: The genoprotective effect was studied by means of the micronucleus test for antimutagenic activity in which the reduction in the frequency of micronuclei was evaluated in cytokinesis-blocked cells of human lymphocytes. The radioprotective effects were studied by cell viability test (MTT) in PNT2 (normal prostate) and B16F10 (melanoma) cell lines when they were administered before exposure to different X-ray doses (4, 6, 8, 10 and 0 Gy). RESULTS: Carnosol shows a significant genoprotective capacity (p < 0.001) against radiation with a protection factor of 50 %, and a dose-reduction factor of 4.3. Cell survival obtained with COL administered before exposure to 10 Gy of X-rays showed a protection factor of 55.1 %, eliminating 39 % of radiation-induced cell death in normal epithelial cells of prostate (PNT2) (p < 0.001). However, in the melanoma cell lines (B16F10) assayed, COL acted not as a radioprotector, but as a sensitizing agent increasing the cellular death by 34 % (p < 0.01) and producing an enhancement ratio of 2.12. CONCLUSIONS: Carnosol may be developed as a radioprotective agent in the non-tumoral cells. However, in the B10F16 melanoma cells, melanogenesis is activated by COL leading to redistribution of the enzymatic balances of glutathione and cysteine-lyase production, which could compromise the intracellular redox defence system. This effect appears as an increase in the capacity of ionizing radiation-induced damage, and thus exhibits a paradoxical protective effect of COL on melanoma cells (AU)

Carnosol, radiation and melanoma: a translational possibility.

PURPOSE: To compare the genoprotective and radioprotective effect of carnosol (COL) against damage induced by ionizing radiation with similar effects produced by different antioxidant compounds. METHODS: The genoprotective effect was studied by means of the micronucleus test for antimutagenic activity in which the reduction in the frequency of micronuclei was evaluated in cytokinesis-blocked cells of human lymphocytes. The radioprotective effects were studied by cell viability test (MTT) in PNT2 (normal prostate) and B16F10 (melanoma) cell lines when they were administered before exposure to different X-ray doses (4, 6, 8, 10 and 0 Gy). RESULTS: Carnosol shows a significant genoprotective capacity (p < 0.001) against radiation with a protection factor of 50 %, and a dose-reduction factor of 4.3. Cell survival obtained with COL administered before exposure to 10 Gy of X-rays showed a protection factor of 55.1 %, eliminating 39 % of radiation-induced cell death in normal epithelial cells of prostate (PNT2) (p < 0.001). However, in the melanoma cell lines (B16F10) assayed, COL acted not as a radioprotector, but as a sensitizing agent increasing the cellular death by 34 % (p < 0.01) and producing an enhancement ratio of 2.12. CONCLUSIONS: Carnosol may be developed as a radioprotective agent in the non-tumoral cells. However, in the B10F16 melanoma cells, melanogenesis is activated by COL leading to redistribution of the enzymatic balances of glutathione and cysteine-lyase production, which could compromise the intracellular redox defence system. This effect appears as an increase in the capacity of ionizing radiation-induced damage, and thus exhibits a paradoxical protective effect of COL on melanoma cells.

Preliminary investigation of bovine tuberculosis in suspected beef from a metropolitan abattoir in Ghana with Ziehl-Neelsen microscopy.

Bovine tuberculosis is an important zoonotic disease transmissible through aerosols inhalation and the ingestion of contaminated milk and meat from cattle. Abattoirs in Ghana mainly depend on post-mortem examinations as means of diagnosing the presence of mycobacterium in meat (beef). A Ziehl-Neelsen microscopy was used to investigate the presence of Mycobacterium bovis as Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFBs) in beef samples from the Kumasi Metropolitan abattoir; thereby vetting post-mortem examinations at the abattoir. Lesioned lung tissues and calcified or puss-filled thoracic lymph nodes were collected at post-mortem as directed by an expert veterinarian. A total of 159 samples from 130 cattle (bulls and cows) were used in this study from April to July 2006. Ninety-five (i.e., 73.1%) of the 130 cattle sampled were positive for AFBs, whilst the remaining thirty-five (26.9%) were negative. Out of the total 159 individual samples specimen collected, 114 (71.7%) were found with AFBs. A total of 64 lung tissues and 95 lymph nodes were collected, respectively. Interestingly, 70.3% of the lung tissues were AFB-positive with 69 (72.6%) out of the 95 lymph nodes, also being positive. The ZN microscopy was effective in detecting the presence of mycobacteria, as 73.1% of the suspected samples were AFB-positive. It presupposes that, abattoir post-mortem examinations were also efficient however; the lapses of non-detection of asymptomatic carcasses could also pose a serious health risk to consumers. Also, lack of a functional on-site laboratory and a practical monitoring system was found to be unfavourable to the maintenance of meat quality. Detailed laboratory examinations (such as culture, PCR and other biochemical tests) to augment ZN microscopy is recommended for thorough detection of bovine tuberculosis.

Relationship between land use and groundwater quality in six districts in the eastern region of Ghana.

The chemical quality of groundwater in six district of the eastern region beneath the different types of land use areas of Ghana was examined to evaluate the effects of human activities on groundwater. Analyses indicate that groundwater in the studied area is fresh and generally suitable for most uses. The groundwater is generally characterised by a chemical facies of Ca-HCO3-, Na-Cl and mixed Na-Ca-HCO3 types and is weakly mineralised. Anthropogenic disturbances have had and continue to have an impact on the aquatic ecosystem of Ghana. High concentration of Cl- and TDS were found in wells in high residential areas while the highest levels of Na, Ca, SO4(2-) and NO3- were found in agricultural and high density residential areas. About 50% of boreholes sampled have elevated level of NO3(-)-N emanating from agricultural runoff.