Search

Purpose: Proton beam therapy (PBT) has been a preferred modality in pediatric malignancies requiring radiotherapy. We report our preliminary experience of treating consecutive patients younger than 25 years with image-guided pencil beam scanning PBT from the first and only center on the Indian subcontinent., Methods: Patients were selected for PBT on the basis of a multidisciplinary tumor board decision. Patient demographic data, as well as tumor and treatment-related characteristics of the cohort, were captured. Patient and treatment-related factors and their association with acute toxicities were analyzed using univariable and multivariable analyses., Results: Forty-seven patients (27 with CNS and 20 with non-CNS tumors) with a median age of 9 years (range, 2-25 years) were evaluated. Most common diagnoses were ependymoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and glioma. Seventy-seven percent of patients traveled more than 500 km, and 70% of them lived in metropolitan cities. Forty-nine percent of patients had recurrent disease at presentation, and 15% had received a previous course of radiation. The median dose delivered was 54.8 cobalt gray equivalents (range, 40.0-70.4 cobalt gray equivalents) to a median clinical target volume of 175 mL (range, 18.7-3,083.0 mL), with 34% of patients requiring concurrent chemotherapy (CCT). Acute grade 2 and grade 3 dermatitis, mucositis, and hematologic toxicity was noted in 45% and 2%, 34% and 0%, and 38% and 30% of patients, respectively. Grade 2 fatigue was noted in 26% of patients. On multivariable analysis, for CNS tumors, both CCT and craniospinal irradiation were independently associated with ≥ 2 grade hematologic toxicity, whereas among non-CNS tumors, a clinical target volume > 150 mL was associated with ≥ 2 grade fatigue, head and neck irradiation was associated with ≥ 2 grade mucositis, and CCT was associated with grade ≥ 2 hematologic toxicity., Conclusion: This study demonstrates safe implementation of a PBT program for children and young adults on the Indian subcontinent. Image-guided pencil beam scanning PBT in judiciously selected patients is feasible and can be delivered with acceptable acute toxicities.

Diabetes is a major noncommunicable life-threatening chronic and pervasive condition that is consuming the world health in a petrifying rate. The circulatory system is one of the major sources of hyperglycemia-induced ROS generation. Historically, garlic has been revered as part of a healthful diet. Organosulfur compounds have been attributed to the medicinal properties and health benefits of garlic. The present study focuses on the ameliorative role of allyl methyl sulfide (AMS) in combating diabetic complications in diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. Experimental diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection (i.p), of streptozotocin (STZ) (40 mg/kg b.w). STZ treated diabetic rats showed significant augment in plasma glucose level, lipidperoxidative (LPO) markers, glycoprotein components (hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid, and fucose), and significant decline in plasma insulin level, nonenzymatic antioxidants and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the circulatory system and tissues. Further, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining of hepatic and renal tissues revealed positive stain accumulation and Western blot investigation of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT 2) in pancreas of STZ-induced hyperglycemic rats. Dietary intervention with AMS (100 mg/kg b.w) for 30 days demonstrated significant protective effects on all the biochemical parameters studied. Besides, biochemical findings were corroborated by histological exertion and Western blot study. The findings of current investigations recommended that AMS can ameliorate the consequences of diabetes due to their antioxidant efficacy and can be used as a potential therapeutic approach. Further studies are warranted to explore the clinical application of AMS.

Therapeutic approaches based on dietary compounds obtained from food products to handle diabetes involving oxidative stress and inflammation. Garlic is a common spice and has a long history as a folk remedy. Allyl methyl sulfide (AMS) is a potential garlic-derived organosulfur compound displaying a substantial range of optimistic actions in various diseases. Herein, we investigated the potential role of AMS in ameliorating the effects of oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced experimental rats. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of STZ (40 mg/kg/b.w). STZ-induced hyperglycemic rats received daily intragastric doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/b.w of the AMS for 30 days. Dietary intervention of AMS (100 mg/kg b.w) resulted in significant attenuation in blood glucose and expression of pro-inflammatory markers TNF-α, IL-6, NF-κB p65 unit and significant elevation in the plasma insulin level. Moreover, AMS instigated a marked enhance in the levels of hepatic tissue non enzymatic antioxidants and the activities enzymatic antioxidants of diabetic rats with significant decline in lipid peroxides and hydroperoxides formation, serum biomarkers of liver damage, thus representing the protecting efficacy of AMS in hyperglycemic state. The pathological abnormalities in hepatic tissues of diabetic rats were significantly ameliorated by AMS supplementation and offered great support to the biochemical findings. These conclusions explicate the prospective use of AMS as a promising compound against glucotoxicity mediated hepatic oxidative dysfunction in rats. Clinical trials in validating this benefit for optimizing the AMS nutrition are however warranted., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

This study hypothesized to evaluate the effect of betanin, a chromoalkaloid on plasma and altered tissues glycoprotein components in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg b.w.) dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.5) 15 min after the i.p. administration of nicotinamide (110 mg/kg b.w.). Experimental rats were administered betanin at the dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. and glibenclamide (600 µg/kg b.w.) once a day for 30 days. Diabetic rats revealed significant (p < 0.05) increase in the levels of glucose, HbA 1C , hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid and fucose in the plasma; decrease in the levels of plasma insulin, Hb and sialic acid in the liver and kidney; significant (p < 0.05) increase in hexose, hexosamine and fucose in the liver and kidney. Moreover, periodic acid-Schiff staining of tissues revealed positive-stain accumulation in diabetic rats. On co-supplementation of betanin and glibenclamide to diabetic rats for the period of 30 days brought back the levels of plasma and tissues glycoprotein components. Based on the present study, we propose that betanin possesses significant protective effect on glycoprotein components in plasma and tissue of diabetic rats.

Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. & Wendl, is a traditional edible leaves as a form of decoction, extracts used as a herbal medicine, and consumed for health promoting profiles. The present investigation was carried out to evaluate antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation level of anticancer activity of Solanum xanthocarpum (SXC) on Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced hepato carcinogenesis in male Wistar albino rats. Hepatic cancer was developed on the liver of Wistar rats treated by DEN or vehicle three times a week for 16 weeks. Tumour incidence, tumour volume, tumour burden, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant, liver marker enzymes and histopathological changes were assessed in DEN alone and in DEN+SXC leaves extract treated rats. Hundred percent tumour incidences with an imbalance in carcinogen metabolizing enzymes and cellular redox status were observed in rats treated with DEN alone. Oral administration of SXC aqueous leaves extract treatment at a dose of 150mg/kg b.w. to DEN treated rats were prevented tumour incidence and restored the elevated activities of liver marker enzymes and antioxidant status to near normal with decreased lipid peroxide levels. The biochemical consistent with histopathological observations suggesting marked hepatoprotective effect of the leaves extract in a dose dependent manner. These results clearly suggest that SXC aqueous leaves extract treatment prevents liver damage, lipid peroxidation, protects the antioxidant defense system and anti-carcinogenic potential in DEN induced hepatic carcinogenesis., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

P-coumaric acid (p-CA, 3-[4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-propenoic acid), the major component widely found in nutritious plant foods, has various antioxidant, antiinflammatory and anticancer property. To evaluate the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic mechanisms, via the effects on carbohydrate, lipids and lipoproteins responses in adult male albino Wistar rats were examined by treated with p-CA. Rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ, 40mg/kg b.w.) by intraperitonially (i.p.) 30days for the induction of experimental diabetes mellitus. Diabetic rats were treated with p-CA orally at a dose of 100mg/kg b.w. The potential defending character of p-CA against diabetic rats was evaluated by performing the various biochemical parameters and glucose transporter such as GLUT2 mRNA expression of pancreas. Administration of p-CA significantly lowers the blood glucose level, gluconeogenic enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase whereas increases the activities of hexokinase, glucose-6 phosphatase dehydrogenase and GSH via by increasing level of insulin. p-CA reduces the total cholesterol and triglycerides in both plasma and tissues i.e. liver and kidney. p-CA also decreases the LDL-C, VLDL-C and it considerably increase the level of HDL-C. A significant decreased expression of GLUT 2 mRNA in the pancreas was recorded in the supplementation of p-CA treated groups. Taken together, these results suggest that p-CA modulates glucose and lipid metabolism via GLUT 2 activation in the pancreatic and has potentially beneficial effects in improving or treating metabolic disorders., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The estrogenic monomer bisphenol-A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical used in the production of epoxy resins, plastic food and beverage containers, leading to ubiquitous human exposure. Environmentally relevant doses of BPA have profound effects on mice endocrine pancreas. It increases pancreatic insulin content and favors postprandial hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in male mice. Skeletal muscle plays a crucial role in maintaining systemic glucose metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the possible effects of BPA on insulin-signaling molecules and glucose oxidation in skeletal muscle of male rat. Adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups. Group I: control (vehicle treated) and groups II and III were administered with BPA orally (20 and 200 mg/kg bw/day, respectively). Although there was no change in the levels of insulin receptor (IR), Akt (protein kinase B) and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) messenger RNA, BPA significantly decreased the IR, Akt and GLUT4 protein levels (both plasma membrane and cytosolic fraction) of the gastrocnemius muscle. There was an increase in serum insulin and decrease in serum testosterone levels but fasting blood glucose level remained unaltered. In conclusion, BPA has adverse effects on phosphorylation of Akt, GLUT4 translocation and (14)C-glucose oxidation.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) has been classified as an endocrine disruptor which disrupts normal cell function by acting as an estrogen agonist. Environmentally relevant doses of the Bisphenol-A have profound effects on rat endocrine pancreas, an essential organ involved in glucose homeostasis. Bisphenol-A acts on insulin releasing β-cells whereby it increases the pancreatic insulin content and secretion and also favours post prandial hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in male mice. Liver plays a central role in the control of glucose production and regulation of insulin secretion. It is one of the primary organs that are initially confronted by damage from toxic substances, xenobiotics and environmental hormones. The present study was designed to assess the effect of Bisphenol-A on insulin signal transduction and glucose oxidation in liver of adult male albino rat. Wistar strain albino rats were selected and divided into three groups, Group-I: Control, Group-II: 20 mg BPA treated, Group-III: 200 mg BPA treated. The IR (insulin receptor) and Akt (PKB: protein kinase B) mRNA and protein showed a decreased expression pattern in the high dose group. Eventhough there was an increase in serum insulin and a decrease in serum testosterone levels in the high dose group, the fasting blood glucose level remained unaltered. Glucose oxidation and glycogen content were found to be decreased in both high and low dose treated groups. Results of this study suggest that Bisphenol-A treatment impairs hepatic glucose oxidation and glycogen content through defective insulin signal transduction., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of diagnosis of cancer on the parents, to study the coping response adopted by the child and the family and to evolve counseling strategies., Methods: Prospective questionnaire based. Thirty-four parents of children suffering from cancer were included, of which 15 belonged to joint families and 19 to nuclear families., Results: The family support played an important role in giving emotional sustenance, besides shared care of the child, the sibling and the household. Emotional and psychological impact was maximum on the mothers. Siblings of the cancer child were also affected both by way of behaviour problems and school performance. Behaviour problems in the cancer child included temper tantrums, as also verbal and physical abuse of mothers. Group therapy was useful for sharing emotional trauma and exchanging day to day problems of childcare. Positive outlook helped in better care of the cancer child., Conclusion: The family structure was the foundation for emotional and psychological security. Psychological support by professional tumour support group would enhance this.

A 25-year-old man presented with nontraumatic cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and meningitis. On investigation, he was found to have a multiloculated intracerebral cystic lesion of the right frontal lobe with a bony lesion inside the cyst, just above the right cribriform plate. Surgery revealed multiple grape-like cystic pedunculated lesions with narrow stalks attached to a bony outgrowth which was adherent to the right cribriform plate. Macroscopically and microscopically, the excised lesions were similar to nasal polyps.