Clinical and nutritional benefits of cysteine-enriched protein supplements.

Purpose Of Review: To review recently published research into the use of dietary cysteine and/or its derivatives as functional food supplements that will enhance antioxidant status and improve outcome in certain diseases.

Recent Findings: L-cysteine is now widely recognized as a conditionally essential or (indispensible) sulphur amino acid. It plays a key role in the metabolic pathways involving methionine, taurine and glutathione (GSH), and may help fight chronic inflammation by boosting antioxidant status.

Process evaluation of a community-based intervention promoting multiple maternal and neonatal care practices in rural Nepal.

Background: The challenge of delivering multiple, complex messages to promote maternal and newborn health in the terai region of Nepal was addressed through training Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) to counsel pregnant women and their families using a flipchart and a pictorial booklet that was distributed to clients. The booklet consists of illustrated messages presented on postcard-sized laminated cards that are joined by a ring. Pregnant women were encouraged to discuss booklet content with their families.

Are birth-preparedness programmes effective? Results from a field trial in Siraha district, Nepal.

The birth-preparedness package (BPP) promotes active preparation and decision-making for births, including pregnancy/postpartum periods, by pregnant women and their families. This paper describes a district-wide field trial of the BPP implemented through the government health system in Siraha, Nepal, during 2003-2004. The aim of the field trial was to determine the effectiveness of the BPP to positively influence planning for births, household-level behaviours that affect the health of pregnant and postpartum women and their newborns, and their use of selected health services for maternal and newborn care.

Farnesylthiosalicylic acid: inhibition of proliferation and enhancement of apoptosis of hormone-dependent breast cancer cells.

Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) are being developed to block Ras-mediated actions, but current data suggest that the FTIs act through other non-Ras pathways. A new agent, farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS), blocks the binding of Ras to membrane acceptor sites and causes a marked reduction in Ras levels. Accordingly, FTS could be a useful new agent for the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer.

The novel Ras antagonist, farnesylthiosalicylate, suppresses growth of prostate cancer in vitro.

Background: The majority of men with advanced prostate cancer (PCa) respond to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with objective evidence of tumor regression. However, these tumors will regrow in the presence of low-androgen levels after 12-18 months. Regrowth after ADT is associated with upregulation of growth factor (GF) mediated pathways.

Linkage of rapid estrogen action to MAPK activation by ERalpha-Shc association and Shc pathway activation.

E2 rapidly activates MAPK in breast cancer cells, and the mechanism for this effect has not been fully identified. Since growth factor-induced MAPK activation involves signaling via the adapter protein Shc (Src-homology and collagen homology) and its association with membrane receptors, we hypothesized that breast cancer cells utilize similar signaling mechanisms in response to E2. In the present study, we demonstrated that E2 rapidly induced Shc phosphorylation and Shc-Grb2 (growth factor receptor binding protein 2)-Sos (son of sevenless) complex formation in MCF-7 cells.