Vector-Mediated Cancer Gene Therapy Reduces Toxicity and Inhibition of Lung Carcinoma Growth in Nude Mice

Replication-competent oncolytic adenovirus (TOA2) gene therapy is a recently introduced anti-tumor treatment regimen with superior results. The biodistribution studies of virus vector-based medicine seem more cautious and have been given much attention recently in terms of its quality and safety in preclinical trials. The current study determined the biodistribution and safety of a replication-competent adenovirus in different organs to predict its toxicity threshold. The present study has used TOA2, while biodistribution analysis was performed in human lung carcinoma A549-induced tumor-bearing nude mice model. Intratumoral injection was applied onto tumor-bearing mice with the adenovirus (3×1010 VP per mouse). Mice were sacrificed at the end of the experiment and the organs were dissected. Biodistribution analysis was done with complete hexon gene detection in each organ using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The biodistribution and concentration profiles showed that the TOA2 is well distributed in the entire tumor tissue. After dose 3 at day 11, the concentration of the virus has increased in the tumor tissue from 2240.54 (± 01.69) copies/100 ng genome to 13,120.28 (± 88.21) copies/100 ng genome on the 18th day, which eventually approached 336.45 (± 23.41) copies/100ng genome on the day 36. On the contrary, the concentration of the same decreased in the order of the liver, kidney, spleen, lung, and heart over time but no distributional traces in gonads. But the concentration found decreased dramatically in blood and other organs, while at the end of the experiment no detectable distribution was seen besides tumor tissue. The study confirms that adenovirus-based tumor therapy using conditionally replicating competent oncolytic TOA2 exhibited great efficiency with no toxicity at all.

The Emergence of TRP Channels Interactome as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Integral membrane proteins, known as Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels, are cellular sensors for various physical and chemical stimuli in the nervous system, respiratory airways, colon, pancreas, bladder, skin, cardiovascular system, and eyes. TRP channels with nine subfamilies are classified by sequence similarity, resulting in this superfamily's tremendous physiological functional diversity. Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. Moreover, the development of effective treatment methods for pancreatic cancer has been hindered by the lack of understanding of the pathogenesis, partly due to the difficulty in studying human tissue samples. However, scientific research on this topic has witnessed steady development in the past few years in understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie TRP channel disturbance. This brief review summarizes current knowledge of the molecular role of TRP channels in the development and progression of pancreatic ductal carcinoma to identify potential therapeutic interventions.

What Is New in the Preventive and Therapeutic Role of Dairy Products as Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods?

Nutraceuticals have taken on considerable significance due to their supposed safety and possible nutritional and medicinal effects. Pharmaceutical and dietary companies are conscious of monetary success, which benefits healthier consumers and the altering trends that result in these heart-oriented value-added products being proliferated. Numerous nutraceuticals are claimed to have multiple therapeutic benefits despite advantages, and unwanted effects encompass a lack of substantial evidence. Several common nutraceuticals involve glucosamine, omega-3, Echinacea, cod liver oil, folic acid, ginseng, orange juice supplemented with calcium, and green tea. This review is dedicated to improving the understanding of nutrients based on specific illness indications. It was reported that functional foods contain physiologically active components that confer various health benefits. Studies have shown that some foods and dietary patterns play a major role in the primary prevention of many ailment conditions that lead to putative functional foods being identified. Research and studies are needed to support the possible health benefits of different functional foods that have not yet been clinically validated for the relationships between diet and health. The term "functional foods" may additionally involve health/functional health foods, foods enriched with vitamins/minerals, nutritional improvements, or even conventional medicines.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Electronic Cigarettes: Awareness among Medical Students

Background: Whereas the use of electronic nicotine devices, such as e‐cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapy, is on the rise, the awareness of these treatment options among health workers especially medical students is not well investigated.  Objective: This study was aimed to determine the knowledge and perception of the nicotine, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and e‐cigarettes among medical students. Methodology: This study is a descriptive study in which the research is measuring the knowledge and perception regarding tobacco cigarettes, nicotine, NRT and e‐cigarettes, as well as observing the smoking rate in a given population simultaneously. A questionnaire was designed and applied to medical students in all 5 years. The sample size targeted was 200 with equal distribution among pre-clinical and clinical medical students. However, the number of responses obtained during the process of data collection was 184. Results: The results of this study showed the knowledge and perception of the tobacco smoking hazards towards health and its substitutes had 46.0% and 53.6% on moderate knowledge levels and the majority 91.0% and 97.6% did not smoking among the preclinical and clinical respectively. The overall findings regarding opinion and knowledge on health risk among all participants are shown the majority participants 93 (76.9%) the tobacco cigarettes caused health risk. Regarding NRT, majority of preclinical 42(57.6%) and clinical 33 (69.8%) participants having low knowledge of NRT of health risk with a P value of 0.08 between the two groups. Also, majority of participants showed extremely agreed the smoking-related to the lung cancer, atherosclerosis in coronary and peripheral arteries. Majority of the participants in both preclinical and clinical agreed with the smoking addiction and agreed that facts on electronic cigarettes contain tobacco. Majority of preclinical and clinical students showed low knowledge of health risk and dependence potential. Conclusion: medical students are not reasonable and overestimate the true hazards of tobacco smoking towards health. Additionally they are not knowledgeable about nicotine, NRT and e-cigarettes. Although, a large proportion of participants were exposed frequently to smokers, especially clinical phase students, they lack the knowledge and the correct perception regarding nicotine replacement therapy.

Medical education in Malaysia: quality versus quantity

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An unusual case of bilateral vestibulopathy, chronic subjective dizziness and spondyloarthropathy

OBJECTIVE

Vertigo and dizziness are two common symptoms seen in everyday practice. However, in some cases, making a diagnosis can be challenging. This case report shows the relevance of a careful psychiatric history, which led to the diagnosis of chronic subjective dizziness associated with bilateral peripheral vestibulopathy.

METHODS

A case of a 33-year-old lady with multiple episodes of vertigo attack after a minor head injury is reported.

RESULTS

A comprehensive audiometric and vestibular evaluation reviewed bilateral peripheral vestibulopathy. The frequency of the vertigo attacks decreased after treatment with betahisdine, but the patient still experienced chronic dizziness. Interestingly, when she developed spondyloarthropathy (SpA) 2 years later, both the vertigo and dizziness disappeared. When the patient went into clinical remission for SpA, she once again felt the vertigo and dizziness. The symptoms were initially thought to be part of the autoimmune disease. However, a course of oral prednisolone was ineffective. She was later diagnosed with agoraphobia without panic attack and chronic subjective dizziness, and was successfully treated with a course of benzodiazepine.

CONCLUSION

The case presented demonstrates the importance of a biopsychosocial approach to patient management as vertigo and dizziness are often accompanied by psychological problems that must not be overlooked.

Lung cancer knowledge among secondary school male teachers in Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study is to determine knowledge about lung cancer among secondary school male teachers in Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among three secondary schools located in Kudat district, Sabah, Malaysia during the period from June until September 2012. The protocol of this study was approved by ethics committee of Management and Science University, Malaysia. The aims were explained and a consent form was signed by each participant. Respondents were chosen randomly from each school with the help of the headmasters. Self-administrated questionnaires, covering socio-demographic characteristics and general knowledge of lung cancer, were distributed. Once all 150 respondents completed the questionnaire, they passed it to their head master for collecting and recording. All the data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 13. ANOVA and t-test were applied for univariate analysis; and multiple linear regression for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 150 male secondary school teachers participated in this study. Their mean age was 35.6 ∓ 6.5 (SD); maximum 50 and minimum 23 years old. More than half of the participants were Malay and married (52%, 79%; respectively). Regarding the knowledge about lung cancer, 57.3% of the participants mentioned that only males are affected by lung cancer. Some 70.7% mentioned that lung cancer can be transmitted from one person to another. More than half (56.7%) reported that lung cancer is not the leading cause of death in Malaysian males. As for risk factors, the majority reported that family history of lung cancer is not involved. However, 91.3% were aware that cigarettes are the main risk factor of lung cancer and more than half (52%) believed that second-hand smoking is one of the risk factor of lung cancer. More than half (51.3%) were not aware that asbestos, ionizing radiation and other cancer causing substances are risk factors for lung cancer. Quitting smoking, avoiding second-hand smoking and avoiding unnecessary x-ray image of the chest (53.3%, 96.0%, 87.3%; respectively) are the main preventive measures mentioned by the participants. For the factors that influence the participants knowledge, univariate and multivariate analysis showed that only race was significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the knowledge of school male teachers about lung cancer was low. However, few items were scored high: cigarettes are the main risk factor; avoiding second-hand smoking; and avoiding x-rays. Interventions to increase lung cancer awareness are needed to improve early detection behavior. Increase the price of pack of cigarettes to RM 20 and banning smoking in public places such as restaurants are highly recommended as primary preventive measures.

Mammography screening: Female doctors'attitudes and practice in Sana'a, Yemen

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the main hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen to determine the attitude and practice of Yemen female doctors on mammography screening. Study subjects were all female doctors who were on duty during the questionnaire distribution. Those who agreed to participate were given the questionnaire to complete. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse socio-demographic variables and variables related to general health. Participants in this study were 105 female doctors with mean age of 32.1 years (SD = 7.17). Thirty-four respondents (36.6%) did not send asymptomatic women for mammography screening. The reasons were because of high cost (58.0%, n= 25), availability of other methods (23.3%, n= 10), instrument not available (11.6%, n= 5) and high risk of radiation (7.0%, n= 3). Twenty-five participants (26.9%) sent patients on regular basis if there was a family or personal history of breast cancer. Twenty-three participants (24.7%) sent the patients for mammogram screening every year regardless of the patients'history or symptoms. Although most doctors (36.5%) do not refer patients for mammography screening, seventy-seven (74.0%) indicated that they would refer patients for mammography screening on personal request by the patients. This study showed a low percentage of doctors who referred patients for routine mammography. The major reason given was the high cost of the procedure.