Effect of reminiscence group therapy on depression, self-esteem and loneliness among elderly women residing in old age home

Background: Elderly women residing in old age home requires greater adaptability. Prevalence of depression, low self-esteem and feelings of loneliness are more among them. RGT has proven as a most effective alternative intervention especially for elderly at minimizing these above outcomes. Therefore, the present study assessed the effect of RGT on depression, self-esteem and loneliness among elderly women residing in old age home.Methods: Quantitative Research approach and quasi- experimental design was adopted. A total of 50 elderly women aged ³60yrs residing in Nirmal Hriday, Missionaries of charity old age home, Bhubaneswar were selected for experimental (N=25) and control (N=25) group by using purposive sampling. Baseline data were collected by using Socio demographic data Performa, Geriatric depression scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale and UCLA loneliness scale after getting written informed consent from each participant. Total 3 biweekly reminiscence sessions for 45 minutes was held by dividing the experimental group into 4 groups.Results: Analysis revealed that after RGT, the experimental group showed that level of depression was decreased (before intervention 10.08±1.41 and after intervention 6.36±1.38), self-esteem was improved (before intervention 23.4±2.69 and after intervention 29.56±2.58) and loneliness was reduced (before intervention 36.92±4.57 and after intervention 20.96±5.09) significantly. There was a statistically significant difference found in depression, self-esteem and loneliness scores among experimental group as compared to control group (p<0.0001).Conclusions: On the findings of the study it was concluded that RGT yielded positive effects among elderly women residing in old age home

Tumor-Shed PGE2 Impairs IL2Rγc-Signaling to Inhibit CD4+ T Cell Survival: Regulation by Theaflavins

BACKGROUND:Many tumors are associated with decreased cellular immunity and elevated levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a known inhibitor of CD4+ T cell activation and inducer of type-2 cytokine bias. However, the role of this immunomodulator in the survival of T helper cells remained unclear. Since CD4+ T cells play critical roles in cell-mediated immunity, detail knowledge of the effect tumor-derived PGE2 might have on CD4+ T cell survival and the underlying mechanism may, therefore, help to overcome the overall immune deviation in cancer. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:By culturing purified human peripheral CD4+ T cells or Jurkat cells with spent media of theaflavin- or celecoxib-pre-treated MCF-7 cells, we show that tumor-shed PGE2 severely impairs interleukin 2 receptor gammac (IL2Rgammac)-mediated survival signaling in CD4+ T cells. Indeed, tumor-shed PGE2 down-regulates IL2Rgammac expression, reduces phosphorylation as well as activation of Janus kinase 3 (Jak-3)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (Stat-5) and decreases Bcl-2/Bax ratio thereby leading to activation of intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Constitutively active Stat-5A (Stat-5A1 6) over-expression efficiently elevates Bcl-2 levels in CD4+ T cells and protects them from tumor-induced death while dominant-negative Stat-5A over-expression fails to do so, indicating the importance of Stat-5A-signaling in CD4+ T cell survival. Further support towards the involvement of PGE2 comes from the results that (a) purified synthetic PGE2 induces CD4+ T cell apoptosis, and (b) when knocked out by small interfering RNA, cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2)-defective tumor cells fail to initiate death. Interestingly, the entire phenomena could be reverted back by theaflavins that restore cytokine-dependent IL2Rgammac/Jak-3/Stat-5A signaling in CD4+ T cells thereby protecting them from tumor-shed PGE2-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:These data strongly suggest that tumor-shed PGE2 is an important factor leading to CD4+ T cell apoptosis during cancer and raise the possibility that theaflavins may have the potential as an effective immunorestorer in cancer-bearer

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF GRAPHENE GRAFTED CHITOSAN/POLYANILINE NANOCOMPOSITES FOR CONTROLLED RELEASE OF ANTICANCER DRUG DOXORUBICIN

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to functionalized graphene (f-GE) grafted chitosan (CS)/Polyaniline (PANI) with Montmorillonite (MMT) was different feed ratio known as f-GE-g-(CS/MMT-PANI). Methods: The prepared f-GE-g-(CS/MMT-PANI) was formulated using the solvent casting method. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetric (DTG) and swelling in stimulated in the different biological fluid. The model drug Doxorubicin (DOX) was used for controlled drug delivery purpose. Results: From FTIR result was clearly demonstrated that the model drug DOX did not change in any molecular level at f-GE-(CS/MMT-PANI) (i.e. at&lt;10 nm scale). Additionally, in DSC result, DOX was interacted with nanocomposites at scale&gt;100 nm level. With CS as the carrier, 60% of the drug was released in SIF for the initial 120 min and this increased to 80–82% with f-GE-g-CS/MMT/PANI matrix. But in SGF, CS as the carrier, 46% of the drug was released in 140 min and this increased to 78% with f-GE-g-CS/MMT/PANI. In vitro drug release system was carried out by Korsmeyer Peppas’s power law. DOX and other drugs like Doxorubicin (DOX) was presented an exceptional higher drug result in different pH medium. Conclusion: It was observed that CS/MMT was decreasing less drug release rate compared to f-GE-g-(CS/MMT-PANI). So that it can be clearly understood that f-GE-g-(CS/MMT-PANI) grafted nanocomposites have enhanced drug release activity in different pH medium

Studies of structural, dielectric, electrical and ferroelectric characteristics of BiFeO3 and (Bi0.5K0.5)(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O-3

The polycrystalline samples of BiFeO3 and (Bi0.5K0.5)(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O-3 were prepared using a solid-state reaction technique. Using room-temperature X-ray diffraction data the formation of a single-phase hexagonal crystal system of (Bi0.5K0.5)(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O-3 was confirmed. Scanning electron micrographs confirming the polycrystalline nature of the samples contain uniform grain distribution of unequal size. Temperature-frequency dependence of dielectric studies does not show any dielectric anomaly or phase transition in the materials in the studied temperature range. However, existence of hysteresis loop at room temperature has confirmed the known ferroelectricity of BiFeO3 and (Bi0.5Li0.5)(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O-3. Analysis of complex impedance data has provided the amount of contributions of grain/grain boundary in the materials resistance. This analysis also shows that that the system has Negative temperature coefficient of resistance type behaviour. The electrical conductivity and relaxation characteristics of the system suggest the existence of thermally activated process, and their values suggest that the system has similar type of conductivity and relaxation species. The frequency dependence of the ac conductivity obeys Jonscher's universal power law

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Aspirin inhibits epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and migration of oncogenic K-ras-expressing non-small cell lung carcinoma cells by down-regulating E-cadherin repressor Slug

p53 mutation exerts increased migratory effect in combination with oncogenic K-ras-expressing system on NSCLC cells migration. Phase contrast images (left panels) depicting migration of NCI-H522 cells (oncogenic K-ras/mutant p53), mutant p53-reconstituted H1299 cells (wild type K-ras/mutated p53), A549 cells (oncogenic K-ras/wild type p53), and wild type p53 reconstituted H1299 cells (wild type K-ras/wild type p53). Graphical representation of percent cell migration in wound healing assay (right panel) with inset showing immunoblot analysis for the transfection efficiency of p53 - R175H clone in H1299 cells and p53 - cDNA in H1299 cells. Scale bar: 100 μm. (TIFF 2457 kb