Rosmarinic acid suppresses inflammation, angiogenesis, and improves paclitaxel induced apoptosis in a breast cancer model via NF3 κB-p53-caspase-3 pathways modulation.

Rosmarinic acid is a natural polyphenolic compound that is found in different plant species and used for different medicinal purposes. This study aimed to investigate the chemo-preventive effect of rosmarinic acid and evaluate its antitumor efficacy alone or in combination with Paclitaxel in breast cancer mice model. Ehrlich induced mice mammary solid tumor model was used in the study. Mice were treated with oral rosmarinic acid and intraperitoneal Paclitaxel. Inflammation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis were checked. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real time PCR, and immunohistochemical methods were performed. Rosmarinic acid used prior to tumor induction suppressed NF-κB, TNF-α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) serum levels, and VEGF receptors. It also triggered apoptosis by restoring the levels of P53, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3. Furthermore, in Ehrlich solid tumor mice, rosmarinic acid, and/or Paclitaxel significantly suppressed tumor growth with an increase in apoptotic markers P53 and Caspase-3 levels, and suppressed the Bcl2/Bax ratio. Rosmarinic acid exerted chemo-preventive and therapeutic potential alone or in combination with Paclitaxel. Moreover, rosmarinic acid targets numerous signaling pathways associated with breast cancer.

Fetal and neonatal responses following maternal exposure to mobile phones.

OBJECTIVE: To study fetal and neonatal heart rate (HR) and cardiac output (COP), following acute maternal exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by mobile phones. METHODS: The present study was carried out at Benha University Hospital and El-Shorouq Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, from October 2003 to March 2004. Ninety women with uncomplicated pregnancies aged 18-33 years, and 30 full term healthy newborn infants were included. The pregnant mothers were exposed to EMF emitted by mobile telephones while on telephone-dialing mode for 10 minutes during pregnancy and after birth. The main outcome were measurements of fetal and neonatal HR and COP. RESULTS: A statistical significant increase in fetal and neonatal HR, and statistical significant decrease in stroke volume and COP before and after use of mobile phone were noted. All these changes are attenuated with increase in gestational age. CONCLUSION: Exposure of pregnant women to mobile phone significantly increase fetal and neonatal HR, and significantly decreased the COP.

Pitfalls in the diagnosis of herpes simplex infection in respiratory cytology.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and potential pitfalls in making an accurate diagnosis of respiratory herpetic infection. STUDY DESIGN: Eighteen cases with the diagnosis of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection were identified from a total of 7,501 (0.24%) respiratory specimens. All cases were evaluated for classic cytomorphologic features of HSV infection and associated cytologic findings. The parameters studied included number of cells with HSV cytopathic effect, intranuclear inclusions, multinucleation, presence of atypical squamous cells, reparative changes, presence and degree of inflammation and associated obscuring factors. RESULTS: Only a minority of cases (28%) had numerous cells with classic viral cytopathic change. Four (22%) of 18 cases showed atypical squamous cells, and 5 (28%) revealed reparative changes. The majority of the cases were associated with inflammation, which was severe in 4 cases (22%). Blood and degenerative changes obscured the cytologic findings in 3 cases (17%). One case showed a necrotic background. CONCLUSION: Due to the low prevalence of HSV infection in respiratory cytology, a high index of suspicion is necessary for an HSV diagnosis. Pitfalls for a false negative diagnosis include limited number of cells with viral cytopathic change, only mononuclear cells with viral changes and obscuring inflammation or blood. Pitfalls for a false positive diagnosis of malignancy include atypical keratinized squamous cells, atypical repair, cellular degeneration and necrotic background.

Azorhodanine derivatives as inhibitors for acidic corrosion of nickel.

Azorhodanine derivatives (HL1-HL5) were tested as corrosion inhibitors for nickel in 2M HNO3 solution using weight loss and galvanostatic polarization techniques. The results showed that these derivatives act as inhibitors for nickel in this medium. The inhibition was assumed to occur via adsorption of the inhibitor molecule on the metal surface. Polarization measurements indicated that these compounds act as mixed-type inhibitors, but the cathode is more polarized when an external current was applied. This means that these compounds retard the rate of hydrogen evolution and the rate of dissolution of the metal. Results showed that azorhodanine derivatives are adsorbed on the nickel surface following Temkin's adsorption isotherm. The activation energy and thermodynamic parameters were calculated and discussed at different temperatures (30-45 degrees C).

Substrate metabolism in the isolated perfused dog kidney.

The relationships between substrate utilization and renal work were investigated in an isolated, perfused dog kidney preparation: substrate utilization included free-fatty acid (FFA), glucose, and oxygen, whereas work was assessed by measuring TNa+. The magnitude of TNa+ was varied by altering glomerular filtration rate as a consequence of changing renal blood flow. As the rate of renal blood flow was reduced, both Qo2, and QFFA decreased while Qglucose increased. The reduction in QFFA and Qo2 paralleled the decrease in TNa+. An inverse relationship was noted between QFFA and Qglucose in all experiments. The results suggest that FFA and perhaps glucose may serve as a significant substrate for providing energy for TNA+ in the kidney. Further, since QFFA and Qglucose are inversely related to each other, glucose may substitute for FFA as an energy source at times when QFFA is reduced.