Acute Impacts of Ionizing Radiation Exposure on the Gastrointestinal Tract and Gut Microbiome in Mice.

Radiation therapy for abdominopelvic malignancies often results in damage to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and permanent changes in bowel function. An overlooked component of the pathophysiology of radiation-induced bowel injury is the role of the gut microbiome. The goal of this research was to identify the impacts of acute radiation exposure on the GIT and gut microbiome.

Complementary administration of curcumin in PCOS: a systematic review.

Introduction: The clinical benefit of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, among women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is unclear. In this systematic review, we aim to provide a brief review of the existing literature on the association between curcumin supplementation and PCOS.

Evidence Acquisition: Published articles relevant to the topic was obtained through extensive search using relevant keywords such as "polycystic ovarian syndrome," "PCOS," "turmeric," and "curcumin.

RNA disruption indicates CHOP therapy efficacy in canine lymphoma.

Background: Assessment of the efficacy of a multi-agent chemotherapy protocol in which cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP) are administered in canine lymphoma is generally performed by physical measurement of lymph node diameter. However, no consistent correlation has been made with prognostic indicators and the length or absence of clinical remission based on lymph node size. RNA disruption measured mid-therapy has been correlated with increased disease-free survival in recent studies of human cancer and was assessed in this study of canine lymphoma patients.

RNA disruption is associated with response to multiple classes of chemotherapy drugs in tumor cell lines.

Background: Cellular stressors and apoptosis-inducing agents have been shown to induce ribosomal RNA (rRNA) degradation in eukaryotic cells. Recently, RNA degradation in vivo was observed in patients with locally advanced breast cancer, where mid-treatment tumor RNA degradation was associated with complete tumor destruction and enhanced patient survival. However, it is not clear how widespread chemotherapy induced "RNA disruption" is, the extent to which it is associated with drug response or what the underlying mechanisms are.

Role of Drug Metabolism in the Cytotoxicity and Clinical Efficacy of Anthracyclines.

Many clinical studies involving anti-tumor agents neglect to consider how these agents are metabolized within the host and whether the creation of specific metabolites alters drug therapeutic properties or toxic side effects. However, this is not the case for the anthracycline class of chemotherapy drugs. This review describes the various enzymes involved in the one electron (semi-quinone) or two electron (hydroxylation) reduction of anthracyclines, or in their reductive deglycosidation into deoxyaglycones.

Molecular analysis of red maple (Acer rubrum) populations from a reclaimed mining region in Northern Ontario (Canada): soil metal accumulation and translocation in plants.

Red maple (Acer rubrum) species is one of the most widespread deciduous (hardwood) trees of eastern North America. It is among the dominant tree species in the Northern Ontario after land reclamation. To date, the effects of heavy metal contamination from the mining activities on terrestrial ecosystems are not well understood.

Distinct genetic alterations occur in ovarian tumor cells selected for combined resistance to carboplatin and docetaxel.

Background: Current protocols for the treatment of ovarian cancer include combination chemotherapy with a platinating agent and a taxane. However, many patients experience relapse of their cancer and the development of drug resistance is not uncommon, making successful second line therapy difficult to achieve. The objective of this study was to develop and characterize a cell line resistant to both carboplatin and docetaxel (dual drug resistant ovarian cell line) and to compare this cell line to cells resistant to either carboplatin or docetaxel.

Comparative soil metal analyses in Sudbury (Ontario, Canada) and Lubumbashi (Katanga, DR-Congo).

DR-Congo is a main world producer of copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co). Several hydrometallurgical plants and smelters also produced zinc, arsenic, and cadmium as by-products. In Sudbury (Canada), the production of nickel, copper and other metals has been maintained at high levels while industrial SO(2) emissions have been reduced by approximately 90% through combination of industrial technological developments and legislated controls.