In vitro synergistic cytoreductive effects of zoledronic acid and radiation on breast cancer cells

INTRODUCTION: Bisphosphonates are mostly used in the treatment of bone metastases. They have been shown to act synergistically with other chemotherapeutic agents. It is not known, however, whether similar synergistic effects exist with radiation on breast cancer cells. METHODS: Human MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with up to 100 μM zoledronic acid, were irradiated with up to 800 cGy or were exposed to combinations of both treatments to determine the antiproliferative effects of zoledronic acid and radiation. RESULTS: Zoledronic acid and radiation caused a dose-dependent and time-dependent decrease in cell viability (approximate 50% growth inhibition values were 48 μM and 20 μM for 24 hours and 72 hours, respectively, for zoledronic acid and 500 cGy for radiation). A synergistic cytotoxic effect of the combination of zoledronic acid and radiation was confirmed by isobologram analysis. CONCLUSION: These data constitute the first in vitro evidence for synergistic effects between zoledronic acid and radiation. This combination therapy might thus be expected to be more effective than either treatment alone in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma

Polyurethane composite adsorbent using solid phase extraction method for preconcentration of metal ion from aqueous solution

Polyurethane composite adsorbent polymeric material was prepared and investigated for selected solid-phase extraction for metal ions, prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The surface characterisation was done using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The separation and preconcentration conditions of the analytes investigated includes influence of pH, sample loading flow rate, elution flow rate, type and concentration of eluents. The optimum pH for the highest efficient recoveries for all metal ions, which ranged from 70 to 85 %, is pH 7. The metal ions were quantitatively eluted with 5 mL of 2 mol/L HNO3. Common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation. The percentage recovery of the metal ions ranged between 70 and 89 %, while the results for the limit of detection and limit of quantification ranged from 0.249 to 0.256 and 0.831 to 0.855, respectively. The experimental tests showed good preconcentration results of trace levels of metal ions using synthesised polyurethane polymer adsorbent composite

Volatile organic compounds in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) grafted onto 21 local and two commercial bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) rootstocks

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are responsible for flavour development in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). The objective of this study was to investigate the rootstock effects of 21 local bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.] accessions collected from the Mediterranean region (Turkey) on the concentrations of VOCs in watermelon over 2 years. The watermelon cultivar 'Crimson Tide' was used as the scion and two commercial bottle gourd rootstocks were also used for comparison. The VOCs in each rootstock-scion combination were analysed using static headspace (SHS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 24 VOCs were identified in watermelon fruit, including 11 aldehydes, seven alcohols, four ketones, one heterocyclic compound, and one acid. Acetaldehyde (25.9 - 39.5% of the total peak areas), propanal (5.0 - 8.3%), 2-propanone (2.5 - 4.9%), pentanal (2.1 - 3.6%), hexenal (14.5 - 22.6%), (E)-2-hexenal (0.4 - 2.3%), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (10.0 - 19.05%), nonanal (1.6 - 4.4%), (Z)-6-nonenal (4.0 - 9.8%), (E)-2-nonenal (0.6 - 2.0%), (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal (2.1 - 3.7%), (Z)-6-nonenol (1.0 - 3.2%), and (E,Z)-3,6-nonadienol (1.0 - 3.7%) were the most abundant VOCs found in all watermelon scions.There was no significant effect (P ? 0.05) of rootstock on the concentrations of acetaldehyde, propanal, pentanal, heptanal, ethanol, 1-pentanol, 2-propanone, 2-pentyl furan, or acetic acid. Propanal, 2-propanone, and acetic acid were identified as VOCs in watermelon for the first time. Hexanal, (Z)-6-nonanal, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one concentrations were strongly affected by rootstock.The results showed that the local bottle gourd accessions 07-06 and 31-09, in particular, were the most promising genotypes in terms of producing favourable VOCs. Except for the local bottle gourd accessions 33-35, 01-17, and 07-04, the other 18 gourds accessions had high potential as rootstocks for breeding programmes in watermelon with regard to desirable VOC concentrations. Rootstock 31-09 should be considered for commercial production in terms of improved disease resistance, fruit yield, and fruit quality

Congenital vulvar teratoma in a newborn

Savas, Mustafa Cagri/0000-0001-6454-5323WOS: 000167792300018PubMed: 11283890The most common site of teratomas in neonates is in the sacrococcygeal region. Herein the authors describe a congenital teratoma, and to their knowledge it is the first reported case of vulvar site in a newborn. Tumor was removed on the fourth day of life, and she was completely normal 18 months after the operation. Because of possible malignancy or recurrence, complete surgical excision of the tumor and the careful follow-up is the treatment of choice. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company

The acute effects of cold, CO2 containing forearm water both on skin microcirculation and pain thresholds

Purpose: The study was arranged to investigate the immediate effects of high concentrated CO2 containing cold water bath on the microcirculation of the skin, on the pain thresholds (pressure, heat, cold) and on the local subjective heat sensitivity and the thermal comfort perception. Material and method: 17 healthy male subjects got unilateral forearm baths with mineral water containing 3500 mg/l CO2 and with tap water respectively. Both baths were carried out at a temperature of 18-19degreesC and the duration of the baths was 16 minutes. Results: During the application Of CO2 bath, a 2 fold increase in the skin microcirculation values was measured via Laser Doppler Flowmetry in comparison with the initial values. However, during tap water bath application, skin blood flow values were decreased 50%. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Furthermore the subjects mentioned that they felt warmer (p < 0.05) and more comfortable (p < 0.01) with CO2 containing water bath. But despite the improvement in the values there were not any statistically significant differences between the baths for the pressure pain threshold (+16.7%; p<0.01), the cold pain threshold (-41.6%; p < 0.05) and the heat pain threshold (+2.5%, n.s.). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that CO2 containing cold water bath is more effective in increasing the skin microcirculation, inhibiting the cold dependent vasoconstriction and leading to a warm and more comfortable subjective sensation in comparison with tap water. The analgesic effects were similar for both baths