The Inhibitory Effect of Ginger Extract on Ovarian Cancer Cell Line; Application of Systems Biology

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original authors and source are cited. No permission is required from the authors or the publishers.Purpose: Ginger is a natural compound with anti-cancer properties. The effects of ginger and its mechanism on ovarian cancer and its cell line model, SKOV-3, are unclear. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of ginger extract on SKOV-3. Methods: SKOV-3 cells were incubated with ginger extract for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell toxicity assay was performed. Different data mining algorithms were applied to highlight the most important features contributing to ginger inhibition on the SKOV-3 cell proliferation. Moreover, Real-Time PCR was performed to assay p53, p21 and bcl-2 genes expression. For co-expression meta-analysis of p53, mutual ranking (MR) index and transformation to Z-values (Z distribution) were applied on available transcriptome data in NCBI GEO data repository. Results: The ginger extract significantly inhibited cancer growth in ovarian cancer cell line. The most important attribute was 60 μg/ml concentration which received weights higher than 0.50, 0.75 and 0.95 by 90%, 80% and 50% of feature selection models, respectively. The expression level of p53 was increased sharply in response to ginger treatment. Systems biology analysis and meta-analysis of deposited expression value in NCBI based on rank of correlation and Z-transformation approach unraveled the key co-expressed genes and coexpressed network of P53, as the key transcription factor induced by ginger extract. High co-expression between P53 and the other apoptosis-inducing proteins such as CASP2 and DEDD was noticeable, suggesting the molecular mechanism underpinning of ginger action. Conclusion: We found that the ginger extract has anticancer properties through p53 pathway to induce apoptosis

Comparison of Clinico-Pathological Features Between Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients With and Without Endometriosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: Women with endometriosis have a high risk of developing ovarian carcinoma that may occur due to endometriosis lesions. There is few research have so far focused on the clinical factors in patients with endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC). Accordingly, this study aimed at comparing the demographic and obstetric characteristics between ovarian cancer with and without endometriosis Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 20 EAOC patients and 140 non-EAOC individuals who had gone under surgery from 2011-17 at Al-Zahra hospital. Clinico-pathological characteristics of the two groups including first group only had malignant epithelial ovarian tumor (non-EAOC) and second group had both malignant epithelial ovarian tumor and endometriosis (EAOC). P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: EAOC cases were significantly younger (P=0.002) and had lower number of pregnancy (P=0.002), parity (P=0.004), and term pregnancy (P=0.005) than non-EAOC patients. A large proportion of EAOC cases had clear cell and endometrioid histopathology in comparison to non-EAOC individuals (P<0.001) and most of the tumors in these cases were unilateral (P=0.01). Conclusions: We found that age, parity, gravidity, and term pregnancy as well as laterality and histopathologic type of epithelial ovarian cancers vary in EAOC and non-EAOC individuals. Further research is required to identify these differences

Spontaneous Rupture of Pyometra in a Nonpregnant Young Woman

A 40-year-old woman presented with severe vaginal bleeding. Initial workup with an abdominal sonography revealed endometrium for about 3 mm and free fluid in the abdomen. Hemodynamic instability with abdominal pain and free fluid in the abdomen prompted blood transfusion and laparotomy. There were about 1000 cc blood and clots in the abdomen at laparotomy. There was a longitudinal rupture from fundus up to cervix at the left side of the uterus. Tearing was in full thickness from serosa to endometrium. Scar of previous cesarean was transvers and not associated with this tearing. There was not any myomectomy scar

Hysteroscopy as a minimally invasive surgery, a good substitute for invasive gynecological procedures

Background: Hysteroscopy is a safe and high efficient procedure so it is changing to a widespread procedure in dealing with many gynecologic and obstetrical conditions.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutical efficiency of hysteroscopy in managing the common conditions including abnormal uterine bleeding, abortion and infertility.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study to compare hysteroscopy as a minimally invasive approach with conventional laparatomy and hysterectomy or repair of mulerian anomalies and watch the uterine cavity for intrauterine pathology in cases of infertility. Overall 277 women underwent hysteroscopy were evaluated in three groups: with AUB 226 cases, with infertility 34 cases and with recurrent abortions with septate uterus17 cases. The overall success rate was recorded and analyzed after six months in order of indication of hysteroscopyResults: Hysteroscopy as sole diagnostic procedure in 16.5, 8.8 and 14.3%of AUB, infertility and abortion cases, respectively. In AUB cases, curettage, myomectomy, polypectomy and hysterectomy were the main diagnostic-therapeutical approaches along with hysteroscopy. In infertiles, myomectomy, polypectomy were the main diagnostic-therapeutical approaches In abortion group, laparoscopy guided, septum resection adhessiolysis , curettage and myomectomy were the main aproach. There was not any major complication. The diagnostic-therapeutically measures accompanying with the hysteroscopy were successful in 73.5% of the bleeding group and 33.3% of the infertility group in follow-up period.Conclusion: Based on our results, hysteroscopy is a safe, accurate and highly-efficient procedure in managing women with abnormal uterine bleeding, recurrent abortion due to septate uteru