Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) kills some types of tumor cells in vitro and participates in tumor elimination in vivo. TNF has been shown to kill cells by altering their mitochondria structurally and functionally. The oncogene BCL-2 codes for a protein located in the inner membrane of mitochondria which is able to inhibit the commitment to cell death in various cell types. We have therefore invest...

Cocaine has been demonstrated to have a number of different effects on immune cell functions. We have reported alterations of cellular functions by macrophages (Mphi) exposed to cocaine in vitro, including the inhibition of mouse hepatitis virus replication. Here, we present evidence that cocaine stimulates the secretion of an antiviral product that is neutralized by anti-interferon (anti-IFN)....

The main objective of the present investigation is to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, cytotoxic and antiproliferative effect of Karumsurathi Thailam prescribed by the Traditional Siddha Practitioner of Kanyakumari District, India. The external form of Breast Cancer medicine prescribed above 18 years was prepared with 18 different plant ingredients. Phytochemical analysis of the Thailam...

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) are widely used in sunscreens, cosmetics and body implants, and this raises toxicity concerns. Although a large number of reports claim that they are safe to use, others claim that they induce reactive oxygen species formation and can be carcinogenic. In this study, the origins of toxic response to TiO₂ NPs were investigated by using Surface-enhanced Ra...

Organisms in the genus Mycobacterium cause a variety of human diseases. One member of the genus, M. ulcerans, causes a necrotizing skin disease called Buruli ulcer. Buruli ulcer is unique among mycobacterial diseases in that the organisms at the site of infection are extracellular and there is little acute inflammatory response. Previous literature reported the presence of a toxin in the cultur...

Biomaterials are substances manufactured for medical purposes in direct contact with the tissues of organisms. Prior to their use, they are tested to determine their usefulness and safety of application. Hydroxyapatites are used in medicine as a bony complement because of their similarity to the natural apatite therein. Thanks to their bioactivity, biocompatibility, stability and non-toxicity h...

a site of macromolecular synthesis with the established IFN.y-induced inhibition of rickettsial growth. A method was developed to measure the syntheses of DNA, rRNA, and protein by R. prowazekii during a 2-h pulse-labeling period while the rickettsiae were growing within cultured host cells that had intact macromolecular synthesis. This method involved incubation of the rickettsia-infected cell...

background: stress may cause damages to dna or/and change the ability of the cells to overcome these damages. it may also cause irregularities in the cell cycle and induce abnormal cell divisions through glucocorticoid-dependent functions. the abnormal cell divisions, in turn, lead to chromosomal mal-segregation and aneuploidy. in this study, the effects of the stress hormone, hydrocortisone (h...