Acanthamoeba in Southeast Asia - Overview and Challenges.

Acanthamoeba, one of free-living amoebae (FLA), remains a high risk of direct contact with this protozoan parasite which is ubiquitous in nature and man-made environment. This pathogenic FLA can cause sight-threatening amoebic keratitis (AK) and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) though these cases may not commonly be reported in our clinical settings. Acanthamoeba has been detected from different environmental sources namely; soil, water, hot-spring, swimming pool, air-conditioner, or contact lens storage cases.

Synergistic effects of melphalan and Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon (Simaosong) extracts on apoptosis induction in human cancer cells.

Background: This study aims to determine the synergistic effects of the chemotherapeutic drug melphalan and the phytoconstituents extracted from Pinus kesiya Royle ex Gordon (Simaosong) in human cancer cells.

Methods: P. kesiya twigs extracted from 50 % ethanol-water were evaluated alone (6-500 µg/mL) and in combination with melphalan (0.

Sesamol induces mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in HCT116 human colon cancer cells via pro-oxidant effect.

Aims: Sesamol lignan is a phenolic compound found in sesame seeds. We investigated the effect of different concentrations of sesamol on oxidative stress in colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT116).

Main Methods: Antioxidation in vitro was determined from elimination of the DPPH radical, ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP), O2(-), and peroxyl radical scavenging activity.

Induction of apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by extracts of Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr. and Diospyros castanea (Craib) Fletcher.

Background: Herbal plants are a preferred source of anticancer agents. This study aims to screen the anticancer activity of a crude extract of twigs of (a) Bombax anceps Pierre var. anceps (BA); (b) Catunaregam tomentosa (Blume ex DC.

Apoptosis-inducing effects of jujube (Zǎo) seed extracts on human Jurkat leukemia T cells.

Background: Jujube (Zǎo) seeds exhibited anticancer effects and used in Chinese medicine for many years. This study aims to investigate the apoptosis-inducing effects of seed extracts from eight different cultivated species ('Apple', 'Bombay', 'Jumbo', 'Kaew', 'Nomsod', 'Rianthong', 'Samros', and 'Taiwan') on human Jurkat leukemia T cells.

Methods: We evaluated the effects of seed extracts from eight jujube cultivated species on human Jurkat leukemia T cells.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus genotypes in northeastern Thai blood samples.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important cause of liver cancer in Thailand. The highest prevalence of anti-HCV positive among Thai blood donors is found in the northeastern region. The present analysis of the genotype distribution among anti-HCV positive northeastern-Thai blood donors was conducted to provide a base for the epidemiological pattern of HCV infection in this region.

Antioxidant, antimelanogenic, and skin-protective effect of sesamol.

Sesame contains high nutritional value and important bioactive lignans which are good for health-promoting effects including sesamol. Sesamol is found in trace amounts in sesame. The biological action from the trace amounts of sesamol found might indicate its efficacy.

Cratoxylum formosum (Jack) Dyer ssp. pruniflorum (Kurz) Gogel. (Hóng yá mù) extract induces apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells through caspase-dependent pathways.

Background: Cratoxylum formosum (Jack) Dyer ssp. pruniflorum (Kurz) Gogel. (Hóng yá mù) (CF) has been used for treatment of fever, cough, and peptic ulcer.

Application of FTIR microspectroscopy for characterization of biomolecular changes in human melanoma cells treated by sesamol and kojic acid.

Background: Hyperpigmentation is aesthetic undesirable. Sesamol and the standard antimelanogenic agent (kojic acid) were shown to hinder melanogenesis by blocking tyrosinase and reducing melanin content.

Objective: The FTIR microspectroscopy was used in an attempt to find a novel method to define biological alternation in a melanogenesis inhibition of sesamol and kojic acid.

Synergistic anticancer effect of the extracts from Polyalthia evecta caused apoptosis in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells.

Objective: To evaluate the anticancer activity of the extract fraction of Polyalthia evecta (P. evecta) (Pierre) Finet & Gagnep and the synergistic anticancer effect of the extracts from P. evecta by using the ATR/FT-IR spectroscopy.

Anticancer effect of the extracts from Polyalthia evecta against human hepatoma cell line (HepG2).

Objective: To investigate the anticancer activity of Polyalthia evecta (P. evecta) (Pierre) Finet & Gagnep against human hepatoma cell line (HepG2).

Methods: The anticancer activity was based on (a) the cytotoxicity against human hepatoma cells (HepG2) assessed using a neutral red assay and (b) apoptosis induction determined by evaluation of nuclei morphological changes after DAPI staining.

Evaluation of the anticancer potential of six herbs against a hepatoma cell line.

Background: Six herbs in the Plant Genetics Conservation Project that have been used as complementary medicines were chosen on the basis of their medicinal value, namely Terminalia mucronata, Diospyros winitii, Bridelia insulana, Artabotrys harmandii, Terminallia triptera, and Croton oblongifolius. This study aims to evaluate the potential anticancer activity of 50% ethanol-water extracts of these six herbs.

Methods: Fifty percent ethanol-water crude extracts of the six herbs were prepared.

FTIR microspectroscopy discriminates anticancer action on human leukemic cells by extracts of Pinus kesiya; Cratoxylum formosum ssp. pruniflorum and melphalan.

Apoptosis is the principal molecular goal of chemotherapeutics for effective anticancer action. We studied the effect of 50% ethanolic-water extracts of Pinus kesiya, Cratoxylum formosum ssp. pruniflorum and melphalan on cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction for human leukemic U937 cells, and explored the mode of action using FTIR microspectroscopy.

Viral hepatitis B, C infection and genotype distribution among cholangiocarcinoma patients in northeast Thailand.

The prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among 295 cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients in northeast Thailand was analyzed. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in 8.8% (26/295 cases) and antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) in 2.

Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of six herbal plants against the human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line.

Background: Six plants from Thailand were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) as compared to normal African green monkey kidney epithelial cell lines.

Methods: Ethanol-water crude extracts of the six plants were tested with neutral red assay for their cytotoxicity after 24 hours of exposure to the cells. Apoptotic induction was tested in the HepG2 cells with diamidino-2-phenylindole staining.

Torquetenovirus infection among northeastern Thai blood donors.

Semi-nested polymerase chain reaction technique was used to detect Torquetenovirus (TTV) DNA in 234 healthy blood donors in northeast Thailand. The incidence of TTV was 28% in 101 healthy blood donors negative for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody, 25% in 71 HBsAg carriers and 29% among 62 with anti-HCV antibody. No association of TTV infection was found with gender, age, and HBV or HCV infection.