Journal of Integrative Oncology

Recent challenges of pollution and climate change in our environment stems from the over-dependence on fossil fuel through the extraction, processing, and exploitation for petrochemical-based products. This has caused severe havoc to the environment and its natural habitats, leading to deaths and displacements into unfavorable conditions. Researchers in the US Department of Energy (DoE) in 2004 identified itaconate, one of the twelve attractive platform chemicals, as a potential chemical suitable for bio-based industrial products using biological routes. Previous research has also shown that itaconate has the potential to replace petroleumbased products such as petrochemical-based acrylic and methacrylic acid; and detergents, surface active agents and biosynthesized plastics for industrial applications with bio-based products. This can be achieved through biological or chemical conversions and be subsequently converted into several high-value bio-based chemicals and materials from biomass. Research also discovered that itaconate is naturally produced by microorganisms such as Candida sp., Ustilago madis and Aspergillus terreus although many microorganisms have been genetically engineered for the biosynthesis of itaconate. It is, therefore, necessary for the current generation to identify various sustainable and cleaner processes for chemical, fuel and energy production. HPLC was used to estimate the concentration of itaconate consumed. The purpose of this research was to identify the genes involved in itaconate metabolism and abolish its metabolism. To investigate itaconate metabolism on host organism Cupriavidus necator H16, the growth of mutants was observed using itaconate as a sole carbon source. Single, double and triple knock-outs of ict genes involved in itaconate conversion to itaconylCoA (itaconate-CoA transferase activity) were generated. Growth and itaconate consumption assays were performed establishing that only H16_RS22140 gene is clearly involved in itaconate metabolism. This study revealed that other genes can be involved in itaconate degradation and therefore further research to investigate the function of these genes is required. Cupriavidus necator has gone through a series of name changes. In the first half of the 20th century, many micro-organisms were isolated for their ability to use hydrogen. Hydrogen-metabolizing chemolithotrophic organisms were clustered into the group Hydrogenomonas C.

Overexpression of Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) and Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-kB) has a key role in various cancers. Blockade of RAS and NF-kB pathway has been suggested to reduce cancer cell proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the role of angiotensin II and NF-kB pathway in liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line (HepG2) proliferation by using azilsartan (as a novel Ag II antagonist) and Bay11-7082 (as NF-kB inhibitor). HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of azilsartan and Bay11- 7082. Cytotoxicity was determined after 24, 48, and 72 h by MTT assay. Reactive Oxygen Spices (ROS) generation and cytochrome c release were measured following azilsartan and Bay11-7082 treatment. Apoptosis was analyzed qualitatively by DAPI staining and quantitatively through flow cytometry methodologies and Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels were assessed by real-time PCR and ELISA methods, respectively. The cytotoxic effects of different concentration of azilsartan and Bay11-7082 on HepG2 cells were observed as a reduction in cell viability, ROS formation, cytochrome c release, and apoptosis induction. These effects were found to correlate with a shift in Bax level and a downward trend in the expression of Bcl-2. These findings suggest that azilsartan and Bay 11- 7082 in combination or alone have strong potential for development as an agent for prevention against liver cancer after further studies. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of primary liver cancer in adults and is currently the most common cause of death in people with cirrhosis. HCC is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide It occurs in the setting of chronic liver inflammation, and is most closely linked to chronic viral hepatitis infection (hepatitis B or C) or exposure to toxins such as alcohol, aflatoxin, or pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Certain diseases, such as hemochromatosis and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, markedly increase the risk of developing HCC. Metabolic syndrome and NASH are also increasingly recognized as risk factors for HCC. As with any cancer, the treatment and prognosis of HCC vary depending on the specifics of tumor histology, size, how far the cancer has spread, and overall health. The vast majority of HCC and lowest survival rate after

An attempt was made to analyze the Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) profile and to isolate and identify aetiological agents from the specimens from children with suspected acute bacterial meningitis. Among total 79 samples, 65 (82.3%) were crystal clear, 9 (11.4%) were moderately turbid, 2 (2.5%) highly turbid and remaining 3 (3.8%) were high blood mixed. The total cell (leucocyte) count of the CSF was proportionate to the turbidity. In case of crystal clear CSFs, total leucocyte counts were normally ranging from 0 to 700 per mm3 with predominant lymphocytes. Moderately turbid fluid showed 200 to 2,000 cells per mm3 and highly turbid fluid and highly blood mixed showed more than 40,000 cells per mm3. In the later cases, differential counts demonstrated polymorph nuclear predominancy. In 65 cases whose CSF were crystal clear, total protein and sugar concentration ranged from 20 to 400mg/dl and 20 to 180mg/dl respectively. In turbid CSFs, total protein and sugar concentration varied from 70 to 500mg/dl and 10 to 200mg/dl respectively, while in the highly turbid CSFs, they ranged from 50 to 800mg/dl and 40 to 140mg/dl respectively. Among total 79 CSF samples, Pandeys tests were positive for 16.9% and negative for 9.2% in cases of the crystal clear. In case of moderately turbid and highly turbid CSFs, Pandeys test was positive for 88.9% and 100% cases respective. C - Reactive Protein (CRP) were positive (12mg/dl) for 3 (3.79%) samples. A total of 79 CSF was culture. There were 5 culture positive cases, which included Escherichia coli (20%), Haemophilus influenzae (20%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (60%). Using the latex agglutination test, the detection rate was higher than that of culture. Most of meningitis positive cases showed an increased total cell counts as well as proteins concentration and decreased serum sugar concentrations. High resistant rate to cotrimoxazole was observed among the invasive isolates. On the other hand, none of these invasive strains showed resistant to ceftriaxone. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) is a medical diagnostic test that is quick and easy to perform. RDTs are suitable for preliminary or emergency medical screening and for use in medical facilities with limited resources. They also allow point-of-care testing in primary care for things that formerly only a laboratory test could measure. 

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in females. It is also a leading cause of cancer deaths among females. Any abnormal growth in breast which has a potential to spread elsewhere too is breast cancer. Almost every woman feels some kind of changes in her breast during her life, some type of lumps and bumps but fortunately most of them are harmless, however every lump in breast warrants a careful clinical examination and further investigations if required. Most of the breast cancers present as a painless lump which is slowly increasing in size over a period of weeks and months. Since it is painless to start with therefore it is neglected for a long time and patients present late. Other features include retraction of nipple, nipple discharge, eczematous lesion on nipple and areola. Dimpling of skin or orange peel like appearance. In advance stage the lady may present with a large mass with ulceration, bleeding pain. They also present with a mass in armpit due to enlarged lymph nodes. If you notice any breast changes or a mammogram shows something suspicious, then physical examination is needed, checking both breast and the lymph nodes above your collar bone and above your arms. A mammogram is a low dose x-ray that can find changes that are too small to be felt during a physical examination. If a mammogram picks up breast changes you may have an ultrasound. This is a painless scan using sound waves to make a picture of your breast. If breast cancer is suspected, a doctor removes some of the breast tissue for examination by a pathologist under a microscope. Systemic treatments are intended to kill cancer cells that may have left the original tumor location and be elsewhere in the body. These treatments affect all cells in the body, not just cancer cells. So make sure you discuss possible side effects with your healthcare provider.

The anatomy of the oral cavity is particularly challenging because there are many diverse types of tissue located in this relatively small area. The oral cavity initiates at the lips and extends backwards to the front part of the tonsils. Beginning at the front of the upper and lower lips is the very specific tissue called the vermilion border, which lines the lips. Once inside the mouth, this entire region is coated with a lining that is focused to provide lubrication of the oral cavity. The bone of the lower jaw called the mandible and of the upper jaw, called the hard palate, is also included in this area as well as the teeth. The lining of the mouth becomes thick overlying this bone. Directly behind the lower teeth is a smooth gutter, known as the floor of mouth. Here, the lower saliva gland empties saliva through specialized ducts just under the tip of the tongue. The front two thirds of the tongue are also included within the oral cavity. The tongue consists of the specialized thick lining on the top and sides, which contains the taste buds. Underneath this are numerous specialized and coordinated muscles that provide movement of the tongue. The last part of the oral cavity, located in the rear of this region, is the retromolar trigone. This is a firm area just behind the back molars in the lower jaw. The oral cavity has numerous functions. One function is called oral competence, which is the ability to hold food and saliva in the mouth without drooling. The specialized lining of the mouth as well as the many saliva glands provide lubrication which aide in speech, swallowing and in the digestion of food. The grinding and crushing of food, which occurs in the oral cavity, is also important for digestion. Once foods are prepared for swallowing, the oral cavity helps in swallowing as the tongue and the mouth push the food backward towards the swallowing tube the esophagus. Finally, our highly coordinated and specialized speech, which is so important to communication, would not be possible without the structures of the oral cavity.