Redox cycling metals: Pedaling their roles in metabolism and their use in the development of novel therapeutics

Essential metals, such as iron and copper, play a critical role in a plethora of cellular processes including cell growth and proliferation. However, concomitantly, excess of these metal ions in the body can have deleterious effects due to their ability to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, the human body has evolved a very well-orchestrated metabolic system that keeps tight control on the levels of these metal ions. Considering their very high proliferation rate, cancer cells require a high abundance of these metals compared to their normal counterparts. Interestingly, new anti-cancer agents that take advantage of the sensitivity of cancer cells to metal sequestration and their susceptibility to ROS have been developed. These ligands can avidly bind metal ions to form redox active metal complexes, which lead to generation of cytotoxic ROS. Furthermore, these agents also act as potent metastasis suppressors due to their ability to up-regulate the metastasis suppressor gene, N-myc downstream regulated gene 1. This review discusses the importance of iron and copper in the metabolism and progression of cancer, how they can be exploited to target tumors and the clinical translation of novel anti-cancer chemotherapeutics

Unraveling the relation between mandarin tones and musical melody

Journal of Chinese Linguistics351128-14

Stop smoking clinics in Malaysia: characteristics of attendees and predictors of success

Introduction: As Stop Smoking Clinics (SSCs) become more common across the globe, it is important to know how far one can make broad generalisations concerning characteristics of smokers who attend these clinics and factors that predict their success. This involves accumulation of data from different countries. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify characteristics of smokers and factors leading up to quitting with clinics in Malaysia. Method: Records from 629 smokers who had sought help from five selected SSCs in Malaysia from January 2006 to June 2007 were analysed. Results: The characteristics of smokers attending Malaysian smoking clinics were broadly similar to those in Western countries. Consistent with the findings from other countries, older age and longest duration of previous quit attempts were associated with successful smoking cessation. Greater baseline carbon-monoxide readings (OR 0.96, 95 CI 0.93-0.99: p = 0.013). but not Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), predicted failure to quit at six-month in multivariate analysis. Success rates varied greatly between clinics even after adjusting for all other predictors. Conclusion: In these rare data from a non-Western culture some predictors of successful smoking cessation appeared to generalise from Western smokers but the universal validity of the FTND in particular needs to be examined further. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Predictors of 3-month abstinence in smokers attending stop-smoking clinics in Malaysia

Introduction: Much is known about the predictors of success in quitting smoking. In particular, nicotine dependence, but not strength of motivation to stop, appears to predict abstinence. However, to date, studies have come almost exclusively from Western countries. More data are needed on the cross-cultural generalizability of these findings. Methods: One hundred and ninety-eight smokers attending 5 stop-smoking clinics in Malaysia completed a questionnaire prior to their target quit date and were followed up 3 months after this date. Predictors included sociodemographic variables, smoking patterns, past history of quitting, characteristics of current quit attempt, and smoking motives as well as nicotine dependence (Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence FTND) and self-rated strength of motivation of stop. Results: At 3-month follow-up, 35.4% (95% CI: 28.7-42.0) of participants reported being abstinent. A backward elimination multiple logistic regression identified a number of significant predictors of success, including strength of motivation to stop (adjusted odds ratio OR: 3.05, 95% CI: 1.28-7.25). FTND did not predict success. Conclusions: Motivation and nicotine dependence may play different roles in explaining variation in ability to stop smoking in different cultures

Factors affecting the ascorbate- and phenolic-dependent generation of hydrogen peroxide in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium

10.1080/10715760310001607041Free Radical Research37101123-1130FRAR

Evidence of viral replication in HBsAg positive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: measurement of serum hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV-DNA).

Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore1818-1

Enhanced boron activation in strained-Si/Si1-xGex substrate using laser annealing

10.1149/1.2209374ECS Transactions1301-

Should the threshold for expired-air carbon monoxide concentration as a means of verifying self-reported smoking abstinence be reduced in clinical treatment programmes? Evidence from a Malaysian smokers' clinic

Background: It has been proposed that the expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) threshold for confirming smoking abstinence in clinical practice be reduced below 10. ppm. Optimal thresholds may vary across regions. Data are needed to assess the impact of such a change on claimed success. Methods: A total of 253 smokers who attended the Tanglin quit smoking clinic in Malaysia were followed-up 1, 3 and 6. months after the target quit date. All participants received a standard behavioural support programme and were prescribed either varenicline or nicotine replacement therapy. Expired-air CO was measured at every visit. Respondents' smoking status was assessed using a range of different CO thresholds (3, 5 and 10. ppm) and the impact on quit rates was calculated. Predictors of success as defined using the different thresholds were assessed. Results: The 6-month abstinence rates were: 1. month - 54.9% at 10. ppm, 54.9% at 5. ppm and 48.6% at 3. ppm; 3. months - 36.0% at 10. ppm, 35.2% at 5. ppm and 30.4% at 3. ppm; 6. months - 24.1% at 10. ppm, 24.1% at 5. ppm and 20.6% at 3. ppm. Older smokers were more likely to be recorded as abstinent at 6. months regardless of the threshold used. Conclusions: Reducing the threshold for expired-air carbon monoxide concentrations to verify claimed smoking abstinence from 10. ppm to 5. ppm makes minimal difference to documented success rates in Malaysian smoker's clinic patients. Reducing to 3. ppm decreases success rates slightly. Predictors of success at stopping appear to be unaffected by the threshold used

Characterization and field emission performance of electrochemically synthesized FeOOH nanowalls

10.1166/jnn.2007.870Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology793301-330