Biomedicine & Aging Pathology最新文献

Aim of the study

The anti-anxiety activity of the ethanolic extract of leaves of Alstonia scholaris (Family: Apocynaceae) has been well established. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anti-anxiety activity of the dichloromethane fraction (known as DCM) fractionated from ethanolic extract of leaves of A. scholaris (known as EEAS).

Materials and methods

DCM fraction (10 and 30 mg/kg) was tested against various anti-anxiety models viz. elevated plus maze, open field, hole board, light dark test, mirror chamber and foot shock induced aggression models. The false positive results were overruled by actophotometer and rotarod tests. The change in brain monoamines was estimated. The possible dopaminergic effect was tested by haloperidol-induced catalepsy and 6-hydroxy dopamine induced Parkinsonism.

Results

The DCM fraction of EEAS was found to be significantly active in all the tested models of anxiety, which confirmed their anti-anxiety activity. Lack of significant change in locomotion test indicated that DCM did not have stimulant or sedative effects. There was also no significant change in the time spent in the rotarod, which indicated its lack of motor or muscle in coordination. Increase in brain dopamine levels and reversal of dopamine-induced catalepsy confirmed that the mechanism of anti-anxiety activity is mediated through dopamine. The effect of DCM in 6-hydroxy dopamine-induced anxiety was conclusive of its dopaminergic activity.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that DCM possess anti-anxiety and the apparent mechanism of action is through dopaminergic mediation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most lethal cancer and leading cause of cancer related death in the world. For more than a decade, natural dietary agents including fruits, vegetables and spices have drawn an immense deal of attention in the prevention of cancer. Naringin (4′,5,7-trihydroxy flavonone 7-rhamnoglucoside), a member of the flavanoid group, has been reported to possess chemopreventive potential against hepatocellular carcinoma in experimental rats. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of naringin on antiproliferative and apoptotic effect against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced experimental liver carcinogenesis in male Wistar rats model. Rats administered with DEN showed increase in the levels of argyrophillic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR)/nuclei and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), which was significantly reduced upon naringin treatment (40 mg/kg body weight). DNA fragmentation and transmission electron microscopy study of liver tissue also supports the chemopreventive potential of naringin. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that naringin exhibits potent anti-carcinogenic effect against DEN-induced hepatocellular carcinoma, which is attributed to its antiproliferative and apoptotic properties.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the radioprotective effect of Terminalia chebula Retzius extract against γ-irradiation-induced oxidative stress in rats. Major phenolic compounds such as total phenolics, flavonoids and triterpenoids contents of Terminalia chebula extract (TCE) were measured. Potential antioxidant activity of TCE was tested by free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) using 1,1,2,2-diphenyl-p-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), total antioxidant power (TAP) using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), metal chelating activity (MCA) and inhibition of DNA damage of plasmid (pBR322). In vitro studies showed that TCE possesses potential antioxidant activity and protected plasmid DNA against breakage induced by Fenton reactants. Endogenous spleen colony forming unit (CFU) assay, DNA damage using rat peripheral blood by single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) and intestinal histopathological studies in rats were performed in order to find the radioprotective effect of TCE. Animals were divided into various groups and pretreated with TCE (80 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) for 5 days prior to whole body γ-irradiation. The results showed that TCE administration prior to γ-irradiation significantly enhanced the CFU counts, reduced radiation-induced cellular DNA damage and gastrointestinal cell death. The results suggested that TCE is able to protect from γ-irradiation-induced oxidative stress and may considered as probable radioprotector.

Background

B-1 cells play a crucial role in innate immune responses and also in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Aging has long been reported to affect different arms of the immune system. Nevertheless, data regarding the potential association between B-1 cell frequency and age is still scarce. Hence, the present study was aimed at determining the percentage of B-1 cells in blood samples of different Iranian age groups.

Materials and methods

Blood samples were obtained from seven separate groups with respect to age and were assessed for the percentage of B-1 cells using flowcytometry. Furthermore, the correlation between B-1 frequency and aging was evaluated.

Results

B-1 cell frequency was significantly higher in cord blood and blood samples obtained from under one-year-old infants compared with other groups. Under one-year-old infants possessed the highest levels of B-1 cells in their peripheral blood. Furthermore, B-1 cell percentage diminished with advancing age.

Conclusion

Taken together, this study showed that the percentage of B-1 cells in the human blood varies at different age intervals. Moreover, aging inversely affected B-1cell frequency so that the blood samples from the elderly contained the lowest number of B-1 cells which could result in a more susceptibility to certain diseases. A better understanding of age-dependent impacts on human B-1 cell frequency would shed new light on the exact role these cells play in human diseases.

We present two cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who developed Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) encephalitis after completion of standard “3 + 7” induction remission chemotherapy. A 50-year-old patient developed disseminated cutaneous Herpes Zoster (HZ) 2 days after completion of induction chemotherapy for AML. The patient was treated with intravenous acyclovir 7 days and then orally. On the second day following intravenous acyclovir discontinuation confusion, cerebelar ataxia somnolescence and VZV encephalitis was diagnosed. The other 38-year-old patient developed neuroleukemia and VZV encephalitis without skin rash after completion of induction chemotherapy. In both patients the diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for VZV DNA in serum and liquor. The first patient completely recovered after reinstitution of intravenous acyclovir while the other patient a month later. This is unusual presentation of VZV encephalitis occurring in a patient with AML after standard induction remission chemotherapy which implies the significance of early diagnosis and screening for viral infections in AML patients with unusual neurologic presentation even in absence of rash. The screening for viral infections should be performed because antiviral prophylaxis is not routinely recommended for AML during standard induction chemotherapy by most clinical guidelines.

Demethoxycurcumin (DMC) is one of the main bioactive and stable constituent from the mixture of polyphenols, collectively referred as curcuminoids. The study aimed to investigate the anti-arthritic potential and possible mechanism of DMC in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) arthritis rat model. Rat paw edema, body weight changes, alterations in hematological (Hb, RBC, WBC and ESR) and biochemical parameters were observed. ELISA analysis was performed to detect serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 followed by real-time RT-PCR for determining pro/anti-inflammatory markers in synovium tissue. DMC (60 mg/kg b.w.) significantly ameliorated paw swelling and regained the body weight loss. Also DMC treatment brought back the altered hematological and biochemical parameters comparable to non-immunized rats. DMC administration remarkably suppressed the overproduction and mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in contrast to IL-10, which was markedly increased by DMC treatment. Dramatic inhibition of histopathological and radiological changes caused by FCA injection was observed in DMC treated group. Taken together, the study demonstrates that DMC is an effective anti-arthritic fraction from the group of curcuminoids responsible for the anti-inflammatory and reparative effects, which could be mediated via decrease in mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and increase of IL-10.

Purpose

The incidence of colorectal cancer in elderly patients has increased markedly in China. This study was aimed to analyze the efficacy and tolerance of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective analysis using date of 41 advanced colorectal cancer patients who received oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy with an age of 65 years or above.

Results

Among 41 enrolled patients, 24 received XELOX and 17 received FOLFOX. The overall response rate was 36.6%, the disease control rate was 73.2%, including 15 partial response, 15 stable disease and 11 progressive disease. The median progression-free survival and median overall survival was 7.5 months (95%CI: 6.54 ∼ 8.46 months) and 23.0 months (95%CI: 15.35 ∼ 30.64 months) respectively. Patients with lower CEA level (CEA ≤ 5 ng/ml) before treatment get a longer median progression-free survival than other patients (7.5 months vs 7.0 months; P = 0.026), but the overall survival differences did not reach statistical significance. The toxicity was tolerable, the main 3 or 4 grade hematological and non-hematological toxicities were neutropenia (n = 6,14.6%) and diarrhea (n = 2,4.8%). No treatment-related death was found.

Conclusions

The oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy was efficacy and safety in elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer, and should be considered as an effective treatment for Chinese elderly patients.