• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.9-14
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• 2016

Tamoxifen is an antagonist of the estrogen receptor and currently used for the treatment of breast cancer. The current treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with pentavalent antimony compounds is not satisfactory. Therefore, in this study, due to its antileishmanial activity, effects of tamoxifen on the growth of promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major Iranian strain were evaluated in vitro. Promastigotes and amastigotes were treated with different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20, and $50{\mu}g/ml$) and time periods (24, 48, and 72 hr) of tamoxifen. After tamoxifen treatment, MTT assay (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 biphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay) was used to determine the percentage of live parasites and Graph Pad Prism software to calculate $IC_{50}$. Flow cytometry was applied to investigate the induction of tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in promastigotes. The half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) of tamoxifen on promastigotes was $2.6{\mu}g/ml$ after 24 hr treatment. Flow cytometry analysis showed that tamoxifen induced early and late apoptosis in Leishmania promastigotes. While after 48 hr in control group the apoptosis was 2.0%, the $50{\mu}g/L$ concentration of tamoxifen increased it to 59.7%. Based on the in vitro antileishmanial effect, tamoxifen might be used for leishmaniasis treatment; however, further researches on in vivo effects of tamoxifen in animal models are needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권16호
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• pp.6997-7002
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• 2015

Background: In cervical cancer patients it has been reported that there in a significant Ki-67/MIB-1 expression is correlated with survival in cervical cancer patients. However, the prognostic value is still not well understood. Materials and Methods: In the present meta-analysis the prognostic value of Ki-67/MIB-1 with regard to overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in cervical cancer was investigated. The databases of PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, Science Direct and Wiley Online Library were used to identify appropriate literature. Results: In order to explore the relationship between Ki-67/MIB-1 and cervical cancer, we have included 13 studies covering 894 patients in the current meta-analysis. The effect of Ki-67/MIB-1 on OS for pooled random effects HR estimate was 1.63 (95%confidence interval (CI) 1.09-2.45; P<0.05). The pooled HR for DFS was 1.26 (95%CI 0.58-2.73; P>0.05) and the subgroup analysis indicated Ki-67/MIB1 was associated with DFS (HR=3.67, 95%CI 2.65-5.09) in Asians. Conclusions: According to this meta-analysis, Ki-67/MIB-1 has prognostic value for OS in patients suffering from cervical cancer. For better evaluation of the prognostic role of Ki-67/MIB-1 on DFS, studies with larger numbers of patients are needed to validate present findings in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권16호
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• pp.7337-7342
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• 2015

The study aimed to investigate the profile of alkaloids in two ethyl acetate soluble fractions, namely fractions A and B from an ethanolic extract of Ficus septica leaves and cytotoxic effect on T47D breast cancer cells. Preparation of both fractions involved maceration of leaves with 70% (v/v) ethanol, filtration with $Al_2O_3$, precipitation with 0.1 N HCl, Mayer reagent, and 0.1 N NaOH, and also partition with ethyl acetate. Qualitative thin layer chromatography (TLC) was conducted to determine the profile of alkaloids in the two fractions, using alkaloid specific reagents such as Dragendorff, sodium nitrite, and Van Urk-Salkowski. Cytotoxic effects of both fractions on T47D cells were evaluated using MTT assay with a concentration series of 1.56; 3.12; 6.25; 12.5; 25 and $50{\mu}g/mL$. The TLC test showed that fractions A and B contained alkaloids with Rx values of 0.74 and 0.80 for fraction A and 0.74, 0.84, 0.92 for fraction B with regard to yohimbine using the mobile phase of n-buthanol:glacial acetic acid:distilled water (3:1:1 v/v/v). Moreover, an indole alkaloid was detected with Rx values of 0.80 and 0.84, respectively. Fractions A and B exhibited high cytotoxic effects on T47D cells with IC50 values of 2.57 and $2.73{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. In conclusion, overall the results of this study showed that fractions of Ficus septica contain alkaloids including indole alkaloid or its derivatives and possess a cytotoxic effect on T47D cells. This research supports the idea that alkaloids in F. septica have anticancer activity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권11호
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• pp.4677-4681
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• 2014

Background: This study aimed to characterize the histopathological pattern of lymph node pathology among Saudi patients and to highlight the age and gender variations of these lesions as base line data. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data from lymph node biopsy specimens received at the Department of Pathology, King Fahad Hospital, Madinah, Saudi Arabia from January 2006 to December 2013. Results: Of the 289 lymph node biopsy specimens received, 154 (53.3%) were from males and 135 (46.7%) from females giving a male: female ratio of 1.14:1. Age of the patients ranged from 2.5 to 96 years with a mean age 33.9 years. The commonest lymph node group affected was the cervical (30.4%) followed by axillary (9.7%) and inguinal (8.7%). Malignant lymphoma [71 Hodgkin's disease (HD), 57 non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)] 128 (44.3%), reactive hyperplasia 68 (23.5%), and tuberculosis 41 (14.2%) were the common causes of lymph node enlargement. While HD, reactive hyperplasia and tuberculosis were commonest in young adult patients (10-29 years old) and rare above the age of 50 years; NHL was the predominant cause of lymph node enlargement above 50 years. Conclusions: Lymph node biopsy plays an important role in establishing the cause of lymphadenopathy. Among the biopsied nodes, lymphomas were the most common (44.3%) followed by non-specific reactive hyperplasia (23.5%) and tuberculous lymphadenitis (14.2%).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.3975-3978
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• 2013

Background: Proteases play a regulatory role in a variety of pathologies including cancer, pancreatitis, thromboembolic disorders, viral infections and many others. One of the possible strategies to combat these pathologies seems to be the use of protease inhibitors. LC-pi I, II, III and IV (Lavatera cashmerian-protease inhibitors) have been found in vitro to strongly inhibit trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase, proteases contributing to tumour invasion and metastasis, indicated possible anticancer effects. The purpose of this study was to check in vitro anticancer activity of these four inhibitors on human lung cancer cell lines. Material and Methods: In order to assess whether these inhibitors induced in vitro cytoxicity, SRB assay was conducted with THP-1 (leukemia), NCIH322 (lung) and Colo205, HCT-116 (colon) lines. Results: LC-pi I significantly inhibited the cell proliferation of all cells tested and also LC-pi II was active in all except HCT-116. Inhibition of cell growth by LC-pi III and IV was negligible. $IC_{50}$ values of LC-pi I and II for NCIH322, were less compared to other cell lines suggesting that lung cancer cells are more inhibited. Conclusion: These investigations might point to future preventive as well as curative solutions using plant protease inhibitors for various cancers, especially in the lung, hence warranting their further investigation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.3809-3813
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• 2013

Background: X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) plays a key role in the base excision repair pathway, as a scaffold protein that brings together proteins of the DNA repair complex. XRCC1 is reported to be a candidate influence on cancer risk. The aim of our present study was to assess the association of rs1799782 (Arg194Trp) and rs25487 (Arg399Gln) XRCC1 gene polymorphisms with breast cancer in the Saudi population. Materials and Methods: The two SNP's were analyzed in breast cancer patients and healthy control subjects. Genotypes were determined by TaqMan SNP genotype analysis technique and data were analyzed using Chi-square or t test and logistic regression analysis by SPSS16.0 software. Results and Conclusions: Results showed that rs1799782 significantly increased susceptibility to breast cancer with Arg/Trp, Arg/Trp+Trp/Trp genotypes and at Trp allele overall study. It also increased risk of breast cancer in older age patients (above 48) and with the ER positive category. XRCC1rs25487 (Arg399Gln) did not showed any significant association. In conclusion the XRCC1rs1799782 polymorphism may be involved in the etiology of breast cancer in the Saudi population. Confirmation of our findings in larger populations of different ethnicities is warranted.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.317-321
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• 2016

Background: This study was conducted with aim of providing an overview of the current status of occupational health services and identifying the most common harmful agents at workplaces of Iranian self-employed enterprises (Nano-Scale Enterprises). Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among a random sample including 1,758 employees engaging in self-employed enterprises with 5 and less employees. Results: Coverage of occupational health surveillance was very poor, annual health examinations were been conducted only for 64 (3.64%) of males and 31 (1.76%) of females, and occupational health trainings were not included of the services at all. Personal Protective Equipment were available in 462 (26.3%) of the enterprises. only in 0.4% of the enterprises working processes were been equipped by a local exhaust ventilation system. Difficult postures were the most common (81.5%) adverse working conditions. Conclusion: This study revealed a poor level of the implementation of occupational health services in Iranian self-employed enterprises. Based on the findings, providing basic training on the occupational health, more enforcing in conduction of health examinations and providing PPE, and taking appropriate strategies aimed at eliminating or minimizing work environment harmful agents are the major factor that should be considered to improve the level of occupational health services among the studied enterprises.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제57권7호
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• pp.26.1-26.5
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• 2015

Background: Rice bran is a by-product of the rice-milling process, which remains largely underutilized; however, efficient processing treatments may improve its feeding value for chickens. This is of great economic and environmental importance, as this can lower the production costs, and offer an opportunity for valorization of a low-quality agricultural by-product, to a high-value feed source. Methods: This experiment was conducted to study the effect of extruded rice bran on performance and phosphorous (P) bioavailability in broiler chickens. In a completely randomized design, 200 seven-day-old broilers (Cobb 500) were allotted to five treatments with five replicates per treatment and 8 chicks per replicate, and fed with their respective diet during the starter (8 to 21 days) and grower (22 to 42 days) periods. Diets were a basal corn-soybean based diet (T1), or diets containing 20 % rice bran (T2), 30 % rice bran (T3), 20 % extruded rice bran (T4), or 30 % extruded rice bran (T5). Results: Birds feeding on T4 and T5 diets had a higher body weight gain and lower feed-to-gain ratio compared to those feeding on T2 and T3 diets (p < 0.05). Birds receiving diets containing extruded rice bran had higher total P availability and tibia ash content, as compared with those receiving diets containing un-extruded rice bran (p < 0.05). Relative weight of the pancreas was higher in birds receiving T2 and T3 diets. Conclusions: The results confirmed the beneficial effect of extrusion treatment of rice bran on performance and P availability in broilers. Up to 30 % extruded rice bran may be included in the broiler diet without apparent adverse effects on the performance.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.325-353
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• 2018

Agricultural systems in South Asian countries are dominated by smallholder farmers. Additionally, these farmers have limited access to pre- and post-harvest technologies due to their high initial cost. The lack of these technologies in postharvest handling is responsible for 20% to 44% of fruit and vegetable losses. These high losses are largely the result of a generally weak basic postharvest infrastructure for the preservation of products, which avoids damage from improper handling, transportation, packaging, and storage. High postharvest losses of products negatively affect food availability, food security, and nutrition, as the producer is able to sell less of the farm yield and the net availability of these food commodities for consumption is reduced. An underlying cause of these postharvest losses is the limited awareness and knowledge bases of stakeholders (researchers, farmers, governments, non-governmental organizations, and merchants) in the traditional supply chains in which these losses occur. The analysis presented in this paper explores the state of postharvest practice in South Asian countries and discusses options for low-cost postharvest technologies in the region that can support small-scale farmers and provide a viable pathway for supply to the market, joining with modern value chains and bringing about individual and regional reduction in postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables. The improvement of basic and simple low-cost technologies through precise research efforts has the potential to prevent such huge losses of products, and help meet the ever-increasing demand for food in South Asian countries.

• 한국농업기계학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국농업기계학회 2017년도 춘계공동학술대회
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• pp.44-44
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate firmness, and sweetness index (SI) of tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) by using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in the range of 1000-1400 nm. The mean spectra of the 95 matured tomato samples were extracted from the hyperspectral images, and the reference firmness and sweetness index of the same sample were measured and calibrated with their corresponding spectral data by partial least squares (PLS) regression with different preprocessing method. The results showed that the regression model developed by PLS regression based on Savitzky-Golay (S-G) second-derivative preprocessed spectra resulted in better performance for firmness, and SI of tomatoes compared to models developed by other preprocessing methods, with correlation coefficients (rpred) of 0.82, and 0.74 with standard error of prediction (SEP) of 0.86 N, and 0.63 respectively. Then, the feature wavelengths were identified using model-based variable selection method, i.e., variable important in projection (VIP), resulting from the PLS regression analyses and finally chemical images were derived by applying the respective regression coefficient on the spectral image in a pixel-wise manner. The resulting chemical images provided detailed information on firmness, and sweetness index (SI) of tomatoes. Therefore, these research demonstrated that HIS technique has a potential for rapid and non-destructive evaluation of the firmness and sweetness index of tomatoes.