A Potent Lead Induces Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Pancreatic cancer is considered a lethal and treatment-refractory disease. To obtain a potent anticancer drug, the cytotoxic effect of 2-(benzo[d]oxazol-3(2H)-ylmethyl)- 5-((cyclohexylamino)methyl)benzene-1,4-diol, dihydrochloride (NSC48693) on human pancreatic cancer cells CFPAC-1, MiaPaCa-2, and BxPC-3 was assessed in vitro. The proliferation of CFPAC-1, MiaPaCa-2, and BxPC-3 is inhibited with IC50 value of 12.9±0.2, 20.6±0.3, and 6.2±0.6 µM at 48 h, respectively. This discovery is followed with additional analysis to demonstrate that NSC48693 inhibition is due to induction of apoptosis, including Annexin V staining, chromatins staining, and colony forming assays. It is further revealed that NSC48693 induces the release of cytochrome c, reduces mitochondrial membrane potential, generates reactive oxygen species, and activates caspase. These results collectively indicate that NSC48693 mainly induces apoptosis of CFPAC-1, MiaPaCa-2, and BxPC-3 cells by the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway. Excitingly, the study highlights an encouraging inhibition effect that human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) and liver (HL-7702) cells are more resistant to the antigrowth effect of NSC48693 compared to the three cancer cell lines. From this perspective, NSC48693 should help to open up a new opportunity for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer

COVID 19 infection during first and second wave in Madhya Pradesh, Central India

India has experienced a massive surge of COVID 19 cases and death since its appearance in January 2020. In the present cohort study, the percent positivity of non-hospitalized COVID-19 cases among male and female of different age group were analysed, during both first and second wave. A total of 1,75,739 patients, from non-hospitalised settings, were referred/walked-in to our diagnostic centre in the present cohort study between August 2020-June 2021. The collection and testing were approved by NABL, Government of India.: Of the tested samples, 40999 (39.15%) males and 28730 (40.46%) females were positive for COVID-19. The second wave (February 2021-June 2021) detected higher number of positive cases (13,922 vs 55,807, p&amp;#60;0.001). During the first wave (August 2020-January 2021), percent positivity was more amongst male (31.28±10.75%), but second wave recorded higher percent positivity amongst female (56.8±12.24%). Asymptomatic female cases were higher during both waves (2,769; 54.05±5.85% vs 14,166; 59.48±9.88%). The highest percent positivity was amongst older &amp;#62;60 years of age (37.47±16.69) in both waves and lowest amongst 18-30 years (23.17±13.86%). Fever was the predominant symptom in both waves (95%) followed by cough (70% vs 86%). Abdominal pain, nausea and chest pain were prominent in the first wave. Few reports are available from India on non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients. This study will help for developing knowledge on the role of symptomatic and asymptomatic cases in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Central part of India amongst non-hospitalized cases and will help for developing strategies to prepare for impending subsequent waves in disparate population groups across India.</jats:p

Socioeconomic consequences of HIV/AIDS in the family system

Introduction: HIV/AIDS can lead to poverty affecting particularly women and young people and can halt or reverse socioeconomic development of a country. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the socioeconomic consequences of HIV/AIDS within the family.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among patients admitted in in-patient department and those attending integrated counseling and testing centre (ICTC) of School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata. Data were gathered by interviewing the patients by using a predesigned questionnaire. Results: For prolonged duration and severity of disease, higher proportion of indoor patients reported loss of job, decreased family income, increased expenditure for care seeking, and faced greater economic consequences, reflected by selling assets. Loss of job was mainly due to illness (86.8%), disclosure of serostatus (13.2%), and predominantly among skilled workers. Assets were sold mainly to meet the cost of own illness for indoor patients, but more to meet the expenditure for husband’s illness, in the case of ICTC patients. High school dropout seen in both groups was mainly due to economic reasons. HIV/AIDS status was known to other members of family for 84.8% of indoor patients out of which 15.4% experienced rejection by family members. Out of 72 ever married women indoor patients whose in-laws were aware of their HIV/AIDS status, 41.7%, 40.9%, and 33.33% reportedly were blamed for spouse’s illness, and had strained relation with in-laws and spouse, respectively. Conclusion: Intensive behavior change communication and provision of care and support are required to curb AIDS-related stigma, discrimination, and to maintain physical, mental, and social wellbeing of people living with HIV/AIDS.Key words: HIV/AIDS, people living with HIV/AIDS, sero-status, socioeconomic consequence

Socioeconomic consequences of HIV/AIDS in the family system

Introduction: HIV/AIDS can lead to poverty affecting particularly women and young people and can halt or reverse socioeconomic development of a country. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the socioeconomic consequences of HIV/AIDS within the family. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among patients admitted in in-patient department and those attending integrated counseling and testing centre (ICTC) of School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata. Data were gathered by interviewing the patients by using a predesigned questionnaire. Results: For prolonged duration and severity of disease, higher proportion of indoor patients reported loss of job, decreased family income, increased expenditure for care seeking, and faced greater economic consequences, reflected by selling assets. Loss of job was mainly due to illness (86.8%), disclosure of sero-status (13.2%), and predominantly among skilled workers. Assets were sold mainly to meet the cost of own illness for indoor patients, but more to meet the expenditure for husband′s illness, in the case of ICTC patients. High school dropout seen in both groups was mainly due to economic reasons. HIV/AIDS status was known to other members of family for 84.8% of indoor patients out of which 15.4% experienced rejection by family members. Out of 72 ever married women indoor patients whose in-laws were aware of their HIV/AIDS status, 41.7%, 40.9%, and 33.33% reportedly were blamed for spouse′s illness, and had strained relation with in-laws and spouse, respectively. Conclusion: Intensive behavior change communication and provision of care and support are required to curb AIDS-related stigma, discrimination, and to maintain physical, mental, and social wellbeing of people living with HIV/AIDS