CONTEXT:

Premna resinosa (Hochst.) Schauer (Lamiaceae) is used in many places to treat bronchitis, respiratory illness and convulsions of the rib cage.

OBJECTIVE:

This study evaluates the anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of P. resinosa, and isolates some responsible constituents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

BACKGROUND::

Varicose veins and the complications of venous disease are common disorders in humans.

OBJECTIVE::

To study the effects of bleomycin as a potential new sclerosing agent and its adverse events in treating varicose veins.

METHODS::

Novel sulfonamides 3-19 with a biologically active 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl moiety were designed and synthesized. The structures of the synthesized compounds were established using elemental analyses, IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR spectral data and mass spectroscopy.

In the current study, 5-FU-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), di-block poly lactide-cocaprolactone (PLCL) and tri-block poly L-lactide-co-caprolactone-co-glycolide (PLCLG). The influence of these polymers on the particle sizes, morphology, drug loading, and in vitro drug release was investigated. The anticancer activity was assessed utilizing MTT assay in three human cancer cell lines of different tissue origin; brain (Daoy), liver (HepG2), and colorectal (HT29) using suitable negative and positive controls.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the different types of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the ultra-structure and number of melanosomes in normal cultured human melanocytes. Specific effects of various types of LLLT on the ultra-structure of melanosomes have not yet been reported. Melanocytes were exposed to LLLT at an energy level of 2.0 J/cm2, using a blue (457 nm), red (635 nm), or ultraviolet (UV) (355 nm) laser.

IQ motif-containing GTPase-activating proteins (IQGAPs) belong to a conserved family, and they are involved in various intracellular processes. IQGAP1 is expressed in all cells, while IQGAP2 and IQGAP3 are mainly expressed in hepatic cells. IQGAP1 has been suggested to be an oncogene, while IQGAP2 is considered a tumor-suppressor gene. However, the relationship between RAS family genes and IQGAP genes remains unclear. We recently demonstrated this interaction in a chemically induced mouse liver cancer.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. The transcription factor NF-κB is overexpressed in human MB and is a critical factor for MB tumor growth. NF-κB is known to regulate the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), the chemokine that enhances cancer cell growth and resistance to chemotherapy. We have recently shown that thymoquinone (TQ) suppresses growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in part by inhibiting NF-κB signaling.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the organic extract of the Red Sea sponge Xestospongia testudinaria led to the isolation of 13 compounds including two new sterol esters, xestosterol palmitate (2) and xestosterol ester of l6'-bromo-(7'E,11'E,l5'E)-hexadeca-7',11',l5'-triene-5',13'-diynoic acid (4), together with eleven known compounds: xestosterol (1), xestosterol ester of 18'-bromooctadeca-7'E,9'E-diene-7',15'-diynoic acid (3), and the brominated acetylenic fatty acid derivatives, (5E,11E,15E,19E)-20-bromoeicosa-5,11,15,19-tetraene-9,17-diynoic acid (5), 18,18-dibromo-(9E)-octadeca-9,17-di