Enhancement of arsenic trioxide-mediated changes in human induced pluripotent stem cells (IPS).

Induced pluripotent stem cells (IPS) are an artificially derived type of pluripotent stem cell, showing many of the same characteristics as natural pluripotent stem cells. IPS are a hopeful therapeutic model; however there is a critical need to determine their response to environmental toxins. Effects of arsenic on cells have been studied extensively; however, its effect on IPS is yet to be elucidated.

Fractionated Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract inhibit prostate cancer (PC3·AR) cells growth by reducing androgen receptor and survivin levels.

In this study, the antiproliferative activity of the organic solvent-soluble and aqueous extracts of Ocimum gratissimum leaf against the prostate cancer cells PC3·AR were evaluated by their inhibitory effects on the Androgen Receptor (AR) and Survivin protein. Two organic solvent-soluble extracts P2 and P3-2, and a water- soluble extract, PS/PT1, were found to reduce AR and Survivin levels in a time-dependent manner. In addition, extract PS/PT1, also exhibited the inhibitory activity in a dose-dependent manner.

Identification of drought-responsive universal stress proteins in viridiplantae.

Genes encoding proteins that contain the universal stress protein (USP) domain are known to provide bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and plants with the ability to respond to a plethora of environmental stresses. Specifically in plants, drought tolerance is a desirable phenotype. However, limited focused and organized functional genomic datasets exist on drought-responsive plant USP genes to facilitate their characterization.

Potential cancer-fighting Ocimum gratissimum (OG) leaf extracts: increased anti-proliferation activity of partially purified fractions and their spectral fingerprints.

Introduction: Cancer causes about 13% of all deaths. According to the American Cancer Society, world-wide cancer deaths were 7.6 million in 2007.

Comparing cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in HaCaT cells caused by 6-aminochrysene and 5,6-chrysenequinone under ultraviolet A irradiation.

Chrysene is one of the basic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are toxic environmental pollutants. The photoproducts of 6-aminochrysene (6AC) include 5,6-chrysenequinone (5,6-CQ) along with some minor products. In this study, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of 6AC and 5,6-CQ to a human skin cell line, HaCaT, were measured with the fluorescein diacetate uptake (FDA) test and comet assay, respectively, in the presence or absence of ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation.

Ultraviolet radiation increases the toxicity of pyrene, 1-aminopyrene and 1-hydroxypyrene to human keratinocytes.

Over the past several years, a great deal of interest has been focused on the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to human skin. UV light has been implicated in aging, sunburn and skin cancer. Few studies, however, have been done to determine the effects that UV light, in conjunction with other environmental contaminants, may have on human skin.

Bacillus subtilis is a potential degrader of pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of compounds that pose many health threats to human and animal life. They occur in nature as a result of incomplete combustion of organic matter, as well as from many anthropogenic sources including cigarette smoke and automobile exhaust. PAHs have been reported to cause liver damage, red blood cell damage and a variety of cancers.

DNA damage produced in HaCaT cells by combined fluoranthene exposure and ultraviolet A irradiation.

Fluoranthene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and a principal constituent of PAH-contaminated aquatic systems. In the present study, fluorescein diacetate uptake and the Comet assay were used to assess the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of fluoranthene in HaCaT (human adult low calcium high temperature) cells in the presence or absence of ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. Exposure of cells to 0.