An Effectiveness of Need-Based Intervention on Level of Depression, Family Support, Quality of Life among elderly clients with depression in selected Rural Population.(video)

INTRODUCTION : Ageing is a universal process and it affects every individual, family, community and society. It is a normal, progressive and irreversible process. Ageing is generally defined as a process of decline in the functional capacity of an individual that results from structural changes, with advancement of age. It should be seen in the perspective not merely a matter of accumulating years but also a process of "adding life to years, not years to life", following the World Health Day theme in 2012 “Good health adds life to years”. The old age experiences many life stressors that can affect the level of depression such as loneliness, unemployment, poor financial support, chronic health problems, poor health status and poor functional capacity. A major component of the burden of illness for the elderly derives from prevalent chronic disabling conditions that often accompany ageing. This can be prevented or delayed, not only by medical but also by social, economic and environmental interventions. AIM : To assess the effectiveness of Need-based intervention on the level of depression, Family support, Activities of Daily Living, Quality of life among elderly clients with depression in a selected rural population. OBJECTIVES : The objectives of the study were: 1. To assess the pre and post test level of depression with associated factors Family support, Activities of daily living, Quality of life among elderly clients with depression in experimental and control group. 2. To assess the effectiveness of Need- based intervention on level of depression with associated factors Family support, Activities of daily living, Quality of life among elderly clients with depression within and between experimental and control group. 3. To correlate between the level of depression with associated factors Family support, Activities of daily living, Quality of life among elderly clients with depression in the experimental group. 4. To associate the mean difference score on the level of depression with associated factors Family support, Activities of daily living, Quality of life of elderly clients with depression with their selected demographic variables in experimental group. METHODOLOGY : The research design for the proposed research adopted for the present study was experimental design. The experimental group (intervention group) was compared with a control group of Depression on the same base line .The control group was exposed to the routine care intervention and namely the outcome variable was exposed to Need- based intervention by using randomization among the mild, moderate and severe depression. The severe cases were referred to Psychiatrist. RESULT : The findings of the study revealed that the overall the post test mean score of level of depression was 9.28 and11.56 with standard deviation of2.06 and 1.40. The calculated ‘t’ value was t=11.58 which showed a high statistical significance at p<0.001 between experimental and control group respectively, Family Support was 54.18 and 28.04 with standard deviation of 17.11and 8.60. The calculated ‘t’ value was t= 17.62 which showed a high statistical significance at p<0.001 between experimental and control group respectively, Activities of Daily Living was 4.41and 1.91 with standard deviation of 1.56.and 0.63. The calculated ‘t’ value was t=18.80 which showed a high statistical significance at p<0.001 between experimental and control group respectively, Quality of Life was 51.09 and 36.30 with standard deviation of 4.54 and 6.15. The calculated ‘t’ value was t=24.47which showed a high statistical significance at p<0.001 between experimental and control group respectively. Hence the study concluded that the effectiveness of Need-based intervention had significant improvement in Family support, Activities of daily living and Quality of life score of elderly clients in the experimental group. CONCLUSION : Old age experience many life stressors that can affect the level of depression such as loneliness, unemployment, poor financial support, chronic health problems, poor health status and poor functional capacity. Elderly persons with depression are more likely to experience poor Family support, lesser functioning on Activities of daily living, and poorer Quality of life than normal people. The findings of the study revealed that elderly are vulnerable and prone to depression. The major focus is on the Need-based intervention in the reduction of level of depression with improvement in Family support, Activities of daily living, Quality of life score of elderly clients in the experimental group and was found effective. Hence, Need-based intervention can be used as an interventional tool to reduce the level of depression and it also improves the Family support, Activities of daily living, Quality of life among elderly. The findings of the study will be incorporated in the Wellness Clinic Program of Omayal Achi Community Centre which not only addresses the physical health of the elderly, but also the mental health

Expression of Snail2 in long bone osteosarcomas correlates with tumour malignancy

Snail2 is a marker of malignancy in epithelial tumours; however, in sarcomas, it is not known if this protein is present. Here we examine the expression of Snail2 in one type of sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and explore its relationship to tumour grade, subtype and anatomical location in cases of long bone and cranial bone osteosarcoma. Long bone osteosarcomas typically have a much greater metastatic capability and a poorer prognosis. We find that Snail2 is expressed in the three main subtypes of long bone osteosarcoma—osteoblastic, chondroblastic and fibroblastic. Regression analysis showed that Snail 2 expression was statistically correlated with tumour grade (p = 0.014) in all of these subtypes. Snail2 was only expressed in high-grade cranial bone osteosarcomas, suggesting a link between Snail2 expression and metastasis. This is the first time Snail2 has been associated with any sarcoma, and this study shows that Snail2 may be a useful prognostic marker for this disease

Scientific validation of toxicological and anti-hyperglycemic effect of Bambusa tulda leaf

Bambusa tulda (Poaceae) is one of the most valuable bamboo species in terms of health-promoting effects. The goal of this research work was to carry out the in-vivo acute toxicity, anti-diabetic and anti-oxidative activities of hydro-methanolic extract of B. tulda leaves. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the hydro-methanolic extract of B. tulda leaves was found to be 6088.13 mg/kg body weight in mice. Supplementing the low (100 mg/kg) and high dose (200 mg/kg) of B. tulda leaf extract showed significant elevation in the endogenous enzymes level of superoxide dismutase (24.81%) and glutathione peroxidase (31.60%) with a decline in malondialdehyde levels (21.90%) when compared to untreated alloxan-induced diabetic control rats. The histopathological assessment of pancreas also showed an increase in β-cells, though not at a significant level. Hence the presence of phyto-constituents substantiates the pharmacological activities of hydro-methanolic extract of B. tulda leaf particularly as a potential candidate for anti-diabetic activity. However, detailed studies are needed to elucidate its exact mechanism of action against diabetes

Scientific validation of toxicological and anti-hyperglycemic effect of Bambusa tulda leaf

920-926Bambusa tulda (Poaceae) is one of the most valuable bamboo species in terms of health-promoting effects. The goal of this research work was to carry out the in-vivo acute toxicity, anti-diabetic and anti-oxidative activities of hydro-methanolic extract of B. tulda leaves. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the hydro-methanolic extract of B. tulda leaves was found to be 6088.13 mg/kg body weight in mice. Supplementing the low (100 mg/kg) and high dose (200 mg/kg) of B. tulda leaf extract showed significant elevation in the endogenous enzymes level of superoxide dismutase (24.81%) and glutathione peroxidase (31.60%) with a decline in malondialdehyde levels (21.90%) when compared to untreated alloxan-induced diabetic control rats. The histopathological assessment of pancreas also showed an increase in β-cells, though not at a significant level. Hence the presence of phyto-constituents substantiates the pharmacological activities of hydro-methanolic extract of B. tulda leaf particularly as a potential candidate for anti-diabetic activity. However, detailed studies are needed to elucidate its exact mechanism of action against diabetes

The E-cadherin repressor Snail is associated with lower overall survival of ovarian cancer patients

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among female genital malignancies. Reduced expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin was previously shown to be associated with adverse prognostic features. The role of the E-cadherin repressor Snail in ovarian cancer progression remains to be elucidated. We analysed formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens of 48 primary ovarian tumours and corresponding metastases for expression of E-cadherin and Snail by immunohistochemistry. We found a significant correlation between E-cadherin expression in primary cancers and their corresponding metastases (P<0.001). This correlation was found for Snail expression as well (P<0.001). There was a significant (P=0.008) association of reduced E-cadherin expression in primary ovarian cancer with shorter overall survival. Similarly, Snail expression in corresponding metastases (P=0.047) was associated with reduced overall survival of the patients. Additionally, the group of patients showing reduced E-cadherin and increased Snail immunoreactivity in primary tumours and corresponding metastases, respectively, had a significantly higher risk of death (P=0.002 and 0.022, respectively) when compared to the patient group with the reference expression profile E-cadherin positive and Snail negative. Taken together, the results of our study show that the E-cadherin repressor Snail is associated with lower overall survival of ovarian cancer patients

The putative Tumor Suppressor VILIP-1 Counteracts Epidermal Growth Factor-Induced Epidermal-Mesenchymal Transition in Squamous Carcinoma Cells

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial step for the acquisition of invasive properties of carcinoma cells during tumor progression. Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells provokes changes in the expression of lineage markers, morphological changes, and a higher invasive and metastatic potential. Here we show that chronic stimulation with EGF induces EMT in skin-derived SCC cell lines along with the down-regulation of the epithelial marker E-cadherin, and of the putative tumor suppressor VILIP-1 (visinin-like protein 1). In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung carcinoma the loss of VILIP-1 correlates with clinicopathological features related to enhanced invasiveness. VILIP-1 has previously been shown to suppress tumor cell invasion via enhancing cAMP-signaling in a murine SCC model. In mouse skin SCC cell lines the VILIP-1-negative tumor cells have low cAMP levels, whereas VILIP-1-positive SCCs possess high cAMP levels, but low invasive properties. We show that in VILIP-1-negative SCCs, Snail1, a transcriptional repressor involved in EMT, is up-regulated. Snail1 expression is reduced by ectopic VILIP-1-expression in VILIP-1-negative SCC cells, and application of the general adenylyl cyclase inhibitor 2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine attenuated this effect. Conversely, EGF-stimulation of VILIP-1-positive SCC cells leads to the down-regulation of VILIP-1 and the induction of Snail1 expression. The induction of Snail is inhibited by elevated cAMP levels. The role of cAMP in EMT was further highlighted by its suppressive effect on the EGF-induced enhancement of migration in VILIP-1-positive SCC cells. These findings indicate that VILIP-1 is involved in EMT of SCC by regulating the transcription factor Snail1 in a cAMP-dependent manner

The E-cadherin repressor slug and progression of human extrahepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>This study explored the expression and function of Slug in human extrahepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma (EHC) to identify its role in tumor progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The expression of Snail and Slug mRNA in 52 human tissue samples of EHC was investigated. The mRNA of Snail and Slug were quantified using reverse transcriptase-PCR, and correlations with E-cadherin expression and clinicopathological factors were investigated. We then investigated transfection of Slug cDNA in endogenous E-cadherin-positive human EHC FRH0201 cells, selectively induced the loss of E-cadherin protein expression, and then small interfering RNA (siRNA) for inhibition of Slug expression in endogenous Slug-positive human EHC QBC939 cells, selectively induced the loss of Slug protein expression. A Boyden chamber transwell assay was used for invasion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Slug mRNA was overexpressed in 18 cases (34.6%) of EHC compared with adjacent noncancerous tissue. E-Cadherin protein expression determined in the same 52 cases by immunohistochemistry was significantly down-regulated in those cases with Slug mRNA overexpression (P = 0.0001). The tumor and nontumor ratio of Slug mRNA was correlated with nodal metastasis(p = 0.0102), distant metastasis (p = 0.0001)and Survival time(p = 0.0443). However, Snail mRNA correlated with neither E-cadherin expression nor tumor invasiveness. By inhibiting Slug expression by RNA interference, we found that reduced Slug levels upregulated E-cadherin and decreased invasion in QBC939 cell. When the QBC939 cells was infected with Slug cDNA,, significant E-cadherin was downregulated and increased invasion in QBC939 cell.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results suggested that Slug expression plays an important role in both the regulation of E-cadherin expression and in the acquisition of invasive potential in human EHC. Slug is possibly a potential target for an antitumor therapy blocking the functions of invasion and metastasis in human EHCs.</p

An NF-κB and Slug Regulatory Loop Active in Early Vertebrate Mesoderm

BACKGROUND: In both Drosophila and the mouse, the zinc finger transcription factor Snail is required for mesoderm formation; its vertebrate paralog Slug (Snai2) appears to be required for neural crest formation in the chick and the clawed frog Xenopus laevis. Both Slug and Snail act to induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and to suppress apoptosis. METHODOLOGY & PRINCIPLE FINDINGS: Morpholino-based loss of function studies indicate that Slug is required for the normal expression of both mesodermal and neural crest markers in X. laevis. Both phenotypes are rescued by injection of RNA encoding the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL; Bcl-xL's effects are dependent upon IκB kinase-mediated activation of the bipartite transcription factor NF-κB. NF-κB, in turn, directly up-regulates levels of Slug and Snail RNAs. Slug indirectly up-regulates levels of RNAs encoding the NF-κB subunit proteins RelA, Rel2, and Rel3, and directly down-regulates levels of the pro-apopotic Caspase-9 RNA. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These studies reveal a Slug/Snail–NF-κB regulatory circuit, analogous to that present in the early Drosophila embryo, active during mesodermal formation in Xenopus. This is a regulatory interaction of significance both in development and in the course of inflammatory and metastatic disease

HER-2 overexpression differentially alters transforming growth factor-β responses in luminal versus mesenchymal human breast cancer cells

INTRODUCTION: Amplification of the HER-2 receptor tyrosine kinase has been implicated in the pathogenesis and aggressive behavior of approximately 25% of invasive human breast cancers. Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that aberrant HER-2 signaling contributes to tumor initiation and disease progression. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is the dominant factor opposing growth stimulatory factors and early oncogene activation in many tissues, including the mammary gland. Thus, to better understand the mechanisms by which HER-2 overexpression promotes the early stages of breast cancer, we directly assayed the cellular and molecular effects of TGF-β1 on breast cancer cells in the presence or absence of overexpressed HER-2. METHODS: Cell proliferation assays were used to determine the effect of TGF-β on the growth of breast cancer cells with normal or high level expression of HER-2. Affymetrix microarrays combined with Northern and western blot analysis were used to monitor the transcriptional responses to exogenous TGF-β1 in luminal and mesenchymal-like breast cancer cells. The activity of the core TGF-β signaling pathway was assessed using TGF-β1 binding assays, phospho-specific Smad antibodies, immunofluorescent staining of Smad and Smad DNA binding assays. RESULTS: We demonstrate that cells engineered to over-express HER-2 are resistant to the anti-proliferative effect of TGF-β1. HER-2 overexpression profoundly diminishes the transcriptional responses induced by TGF-β in the luminal MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and prevents target gene induction by a novel mechanism that does not involve the abrogation of Smad nuclear accumulation, DNA binding or changes in c-myc repression. Conversely, HER-2 overexpression in the context of the mesenchymal MDA-MB-231 breast cell line potentiated the TGF-β induced pro-invasive and pro-metastatic gene signature. CONCLUSION: HER-2 overexpression promotes the growth and malignancy of mammary epithelial cells, in part, by conferring resistance to the growth inhibitory effects of TGF-β. In contrast, HER-2 and TGF-β signaling pathways can cooperate to promote especially aggressive disease behavior in the context of a highly invasive breast tumor model