Colorectal carcinoma: nucleosomes, carcinoembryonic antigen and ca 19-9 as apoptotic markers; a comparative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colorectal carcinoma is a common and often fatal disease in which methods of early detection and monitoring are essential. The present study was conducted for measuring serum levels of nucleosomes, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA 19-9 in patients newly diagnosed with colorectal carcinoma and confirmed by clinicopathological study.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>Thirty subjects were included in the current study: six normal subjects as a control group with mean age (45.6 ± 7.9) and twenty four colorectal carcinoma patients with mean age (46.9 ± 15.6), which were classified pathologically according to the degree of malignant cell differentiation into well differentiated (group I), moderately differentiated (group II) and poorly differentiated (group III). Fasting venous blood samples were collected preoperative.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results revealed a significant increase in serum level of nucleosomes in patients with poorly differentiated tumors versus patients with well differentiated tumors (p = 0.041). The levels of CEA and CA19-9 showed no significant increase (p = 0.569 and 0.450, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, serum level of nucleosomes provides a highly sensitive and specific apoptotic marker for colorectal carcinoma.</p

Prevalence of Self-Reported and Doctor-Diagnosed Food Allergies among Schoolchildren Aged 6-14 in Al-Karak Governorate: A Questionnaire-Based Survey

Food allergies are common in children and could be potentially fatal. This study used a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey to estimate the prevalence of self-reported and doctor-diagnosed food allergies. Its further aim was to identify the common food allergens and food allergy symptoms among schoolchildren aged 6-14 in Al-Karak Governorate in South Jordan. Among the 1241 children evaluated, the overall prevalence of self-reported food allergy of 11.2% was determined, while the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed food allergy was 3.4%. In terms of relative frequency, egg accounted for more than a third of all reactions. The second most common allergen was fish (26.1%), followed by co

cis-Tetra­chloridobis(1H-imidazole-κN 3)platinum(IV)

In the title complex, cis-[PtCl4(C3H4N2)2], the PtIV ion lies on a twofold rotation axis and is coordinated in a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry. The dihedral angle between the imidazole rings is 69.9 (2)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network

Liquid and vapour-phase antifungal activities of selected essential oils against candida albicans: microscopic observations and chemical characterization of cymbopogon citratus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Use of essential oils for controlling <it>Candida albicans </it>growth has gained significance due to the resistance acquired by pathogens towards a number of widely-used drugs. The aim of this study was to test the antifungal activity of selected essential oils against <it>Candida albicans </it>in liquid and vapour phase and to determine the chemical composition and mechanism of action of most potent essential oil.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) of different essential oils in liquid phase, assayed through agar plate dilution, broth dilution & 96-well micro plate dilution method and vapour phase activity evaluated through disc volatilization method. Reduction of <it>C. albicans </it>cells with vapour exposure was estimated by kill time assay. Morphological alteration in treated/untreated <it>C. albicans </it>cells was observed by the Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and chemical analysis of the strongest antifungal agent/essential oil has been done by GC, GC-MS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Lemon grass (<it>Cymbopogon citratus</it>) essential oil exhibited the strongest antifungal effect followed by mentha (<it>Mentha piperita</it>) and eucalyptus (<it>Eucalyptus globulus</it>) essential oil. The MIC of lemon grass essential oil in liquid phase (288 mg/l) was significantly higher than that in the vapour phase (32.7 mg/l) and a 4 h exposure was sufficient to cause 100% loss in viability of <it>C. albicans </it>cells. SEM/AFM of <it>C. albicans </it>cells treated with lemon grass essential oil at MIC level in liquid and vapour phase showed prominent shrinkage and partial degradation, respectively, confirming higher efficacy of vapour phase. GC-MS analysis revealed that lemon grass essential oil was dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes (78.2%); α-citral or geranial (36.2%) and β-citral or neral (26.5%), monoterpene hydrocarbons (7.9%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (3.8%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Lemon grass essential oil is highly effective in vapour phase against <it>C. albicans</it>, leading to deleterious morphological changes in cellular structures and cell surface alterations.</p

Effect of Achillea santolina essential oil on bacterial biofilm and its mode of action

Increased multidrug resistance prompted researchers to search for a new drug that has the ability to overcome antibiotic resistant pathogens. Essential oils have been used in folk medicine for centuries, therefore, they could be employed as an effective alternative to antibiotics without having secondary side effects

Effects of a topical essential oil-containing formulation on biofilm-forming coagulase-negative staphylococci

Aims: To evaluate the antimicrobial effects of PolytoxinolTM (PT), a topical essential oil-based formulation, against biofilm positive strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Methods and Results: Using a microtitre plate assay we measured inhibitory effects for PT against a selection of biofilm-forming clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Susceptibility varied considerably (MIC = 0·6–20 000 ppm). For the most tolerant clinical isolate (Staphylococcus warneri) biofilm growth was inhibited by a 32-fold lower PT concentration than planktonic growth. This inhibition of biofilm development, which was not observed with the other test isolates, was related to an inhibition of the initial phase of S. warneri cell adherence to the polystyrene surface. Conclusion: The antimicrobial efficacy of PT was verified against clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci in vitro. PT was able to inhibit biofilm formation in the most tolerant isolate at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Significance and Impact of the Study: These observations indicate that an ability to prevent biofilm formation, independently of effects on cell viability may contribute to the in vivo topical efficacy of essential oils