Role of cancer stem cells in hepatocarcinogenesis

There has been considerable interest in cancer stem cells (CSCs) among cancer biologists and clinicians, most likely because of their role in the heterogeneity of cancer and their potential application in cancer therapeutics. Recent studies suggest that CSCs play a key role in liver carcinogenesis. A small subpopulation of cancer cells with CSC properties has been identified and characterized from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, animal models and human primary HCCs. Considering the high mortality and ineffectiveness of current therapies for HCC, understanding the characteristics and function of CSCs is likely to lead to development of new therapies resulting in improvement of patient survival. This review summarizes recent progress in liver cancer stem cell research with regard to the identification, cell origin, regulation of self-renewal capacity, and therapeutic implications of liver CSCs

Correlation between gender and the antero-posterior diameter of normal pancreatic head

Background: Pancreatic carcinoma involving the head, accounts for most cases of extra hepatic obstruction of the hepato-biliary system and usually go undetected in its early stage. Also, reports show that gender is an independent risk factor for severity of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal diseases and many of these diseases including cases of pancreatic carcinoma, show a gender bias, hence the rationale for the study.Objective: To assess the relationship between the Antero-Posterior (AP) diameter of the pancreatic head and gender using Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) scan.Methods: Eighty (80) apparently normal computed tomography (CT) scan images of 41(51.25 %) male and 39 (48.75 %) female subjects were retrospectively, and prospectively, evaluated with their ages which rangedfrom 19 to 70 years, obtained from Image Diagnostics and the Georges Diagnostic Centres, both in PortHarcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria for a period of eight months (January - August, 2016).Results: The mean AP diameter of the pancreatic head in the study population was found to be 2.6 ± 0.3 cm. This result was however, smaller in the males (2.60 ± 0.3 cm) compared to the females (2.70 ± 0.3 cm) in the study population. A weak negative correlation (r = -0.327) was observed between pancreatic head AP diameter and gender (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Results obtained from the present study showed no significant relationship between the AP diameter of the pancreatic head and gender in the study population

Anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies in sera of MRL lpr/lpr and MRL +/+ autoimmune mice. Correlation of antibody production with delayed onset of lupus-like disease in MRL +/+ mice

This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://jem.rupress.org/content/162/6/1760.Sera from individual MRL/lpr and MRL/++ mice, which develop an autoimmune disease similar to human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), were screened over a period of approximately 30 wk for the presence of anti-RNA polymerase I and anti-ssDNA antibodies. Even though onset of the disease is delayed in MRL/++ as compared to MRL/lpr mice, anti-ssDNA antibodies were present in comparable concentrations in the sera of all mice by the age of 6 wk. As observed in sera of human SLE patients, anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies were detected in the sera of all MRL mice. However, unlike the anti-ssDNA antibodies, anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies were detected much later in MRL/++ mice (mean age, 22.8 wk) as compared to MRL/lpr mice (mean age, 9.6 wk). The presence of anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies in sera of MRL mice was thus a much better indicator of disease status than the presence of anti-ssDNA antibodies. The appearance and increase in anti-RNA polymerase I antibodies in the sera of MRL/++ mice correlated (R2 = 0.964) with a precipitous decrease in anti-ssDNA antibodies, starting at about 20 wk of age. These results suggest a possible relationship between the RNA polymerase I and DNA autoimmune reactions

Appraisal of Continuous Use of Public Debt on the Nation’s Growth and Development

The paper examines the continuous use of public debt in Nigeria, the effect of growth and development on the nation. The nature of public debt was discussed before considering reasons most nations including Nigeria go for public debt. The Ricardo Theory of public debt was the theoretical framework for the paper. The relationship between public debt and national development was also explored. Based on that conclusion was reached. Keywords: External debt; domestic debt; growth; development DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/78-03 Publication date:August 31st 202

Punicalagin Induces Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Influx to Macrophages

High levels of circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are a primary initiating event in the development of atherosclerosis. Recently, the antiatherogenic effect of polyphenols has been shown to be exerted via a mechanism unrelated to their antioxidant capacity and to stem from their interaction with specific intracellular or plasma proteins. In this study, we investigated the interaction of the main polyphenol in pomegranate, punicalagin, with apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB100) that surrounds LDL. Punicalagin bound to ApoB100 at low concentrations (0.25–4 μM). Upon binding, it induced LDL influx to macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner, up to 2.5-fold. In contrast, another polyphenol which binds to ApoB100, glabridin, did not affect LDL influx. We further showed that LDL influx occurs specifically through the LDL receptor, with LDL then accumulating in the cell cytoplasm. Taken together with the findings of Aviram et al., 2000, that pomegranate juice and punicalagin induce plasma LDL removal and inhibit macrophage cholesterol synthesis and accumulation, our results suggest that, upon binding, punicalagin stimulates LDL influx to macrophages, thus reducing circulating cholesterol levels

Phytochemical characterization of Tabernanthe iboga root bark and its effects on dysfunctional metabolism and cognitive performance in high-fat-fed C57BL/6J mice

Preparations of the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga have long been used in Central and West African traditional medicine to combat fatigue, as a neuro-stimulant in rituals, and for treatment of diabetes. The principal alkaloid of T. iboga, ibogaine, has attracted attention in many countries around the world for providing relief for opioid craving in drug addicts. Using a plant metabolomics approach, we detected five phenolic compounds, including 3- O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 30 alkaloids, seven of which were previously reported from T. iboga root bark. Following a report that iboga extracts contain insulinotropic agents, we aimed to determine the potential alleviating effects of the water extract of iboga root bark on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperglycemia as well as its effects on cognitive function in male C57BL/6J mice. Feeding a HFD to mice for 10 weeks produced manifestations of metabolic syndrome such as increased body weight and increased plasma levels of glucose, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, insulin, leptin, and pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, MCP-1, ICAM-1), as compared to mice fed a low-fat diet (LFD). Supplementation of HFD with iboga extract at ibogaine doses of 0.83 (low) and 2.07 (high) mg/kg/day did not improve these HFD-induced metabolic effects except for a reduction of plasma MCP-1 in the low dose group, indicative of an anti-inflammatory effect. When the HFD mice were tested in the water maze, the high-dose iboga extract caused hippocampus-dependent impairments in spatial learning and memory, as compared to mice receiving only a HFD.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Effect of Coolant Temperature on Surface Finish during Turning of Titanium Alloy Ti6Al4V

High temperature generated and stresses induced as a result of turning of Ti6Al4V results in poor surface finish. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of coolant temperature on the surface roughness of Ti6Al4V which is a core material used as an implant. A cooling system was developed to reduce the temperature of the coolant (soluble oil) from room temperature to 2oC. Ti6Al4V was turned in dry and cooled (at temperatures 5, 7, 9 and 11 oC) conditions. The experiment was designed using central composite design of (Response surface methodology) Design Expert 11.0 to generate an array and optimize the machining parameters. The machining parameters used were cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut and coolant temperature. Results analyses show that cutting speed and depth of cut had considerable effect on surface roughness of Ti6Al4V. Surface roughness reduced when coolant temperature was reduced. The results of this study shows that turning Ti6Al4V at a very low cutting temperature will ensure a better surface finish

MicroRNA-221/222 Confers Tamoxifen Resistance in Breast Cancer by Targeting p27\u3csup\u3eKip1\u3c/sup\u3e

We explored the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in acquiring resistance to tamoxifen, a drug successfully used to treat women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. miRNA microarray analysis of MCF-7 cell lines that are either sensitive (parental) or resistant (4-hydroxytamoxifen-resistant (OHTR)) to tamoxifen showed significant (50%) of seven miRNAs in OHT R cells compared with parental MCF-7 cells. Increased expression of three of the most promising up-regulated (miR-221, miR-222, and miR-181) and down-regulated (miR-21, miR-342, and miR-489) miRNAs was validated by real-time reverse transcription-PCR. The expression of miR-221 and miR-222 was also significantly (2-fold) elevated in HER2/neu-positive primary human breast cancer tissues that are known to be resistant to endocrine therapy compared with HER2/neu-negative tissue samples. Ectopic expression of miR-221/222 rendered the parental MCF-7 cells resistant to tamoxifen. The protein level of the cell cycle inhibitor p27Kip1, a known target of miR-221/222, was reduced by 50% in OHTR cells and by 28-50% in miR-221/222-overexpressing MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of p27Kip1 in the resistant OHT R cells caused enhanced cell death when exposed to tamoxifen. This is the first study demonstrating a relationship between miR-221/222 expression and HER2/neu overexpression in primary breast tumors that are generally resistant to tamoxifen therapy. This finding also provides the rationale for the application of altered expression of specific miRNAs as a predictive tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer marker

Dyspepsia Symptoms and Helicobacter pylori Infection, Nakuru, Kenya

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was studied in 138 patients with dyspepsia in a hospital in Nakuru, Kenya, and in 138 asymptomatic sex- and age-matched controls from the same population. Anti–H. pylori immunoglobulin (Ig) G was more prevalent in dyspeptic than asymptomatic persons (71% vs. 51%), particularly those <30 years old (71% vs. 38%). H. pylori seropositivity was associated with dyspepsia after adjusting for age, sex, and residence (urban or rural). Among adults, the association between H. pylori infection and dyspepsia remained after adjusting for the above factors and for educational attainment, family size, and manual occupation. H. pylori infection in asymptomatic residents of Nakuru, Kenya, was more prevalent in older persons, with a rate of 68%, than in those 31–40 years of age. However, young persons with dyspepsia had an unexpectedly high prevalence of H. pylori infection. H. pylori test-and-treat strategy should be considered in Kenyan patients with dyspepsia, particularly in persons <30 years of age