Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Immunology, Endocrine and Metabolic Agents) - Volume 16, Issue 2, 2016

Lung cancer is one of the most common diseases globally, causing almost 1.3 million deaths in a year. 80% people get affected via Non-small cell lung cancer and about 20% to 30% are patients who have brain metastases. The prognosis of such patients is very small, even less than six months. The epidermal growth factor receptor is expressed over 60% with Non-small cell lung cancer patients. In males this cancer type is most common, but significantly increasing in women as well. 85% to 90% of this type is malignant for lung neoplasm. Lung cancer study in 2012 revealed that the first death in Poland due to cancer and the United Kingdom was of a woman. Many treatments and diagnoses are nowadays available to deal with lung cancer. This paper encapsulates a description of lung cancer, its types and immense contribution of imaging techniques for its detection. It mainly describes different types of segmentation and classification techniques used by computer aided diagnosis systems for lung cancer detection. Further, the paper elaborates a discussion on experiments performed by authors for cancer detection. This work will be useful for the specialists and researchers working in the related field.

Many studies showed that medicinal plants possessed immunological effects. The plants with immunological effects were included: Agrimonia eupatoria, Alpinia galanga, Althaea officinalis, Althaea officinalis, Althaea rosea, Avena sativa, Bauhinia variegata, Betula alba, Brassica rapa, Bryophyllum pinnatum, Caesalpinia cristaCalendula officinalis, Calotropis procera, Canna indica, Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens, Carthamus tinctorius, Carum carvi, Cassia occidentalis, Cichorium intybus, Cistanche tubulosa, Citrus species, Clerodendrum inerme, Clitoria ternatea, Convolvulus arvensis, Cordia myxa, Crocus sativus, Cuminum cyminum, Cydonia oblonga, Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus rotuntdus, Eupatorium cannabinum and Euphorbia hirta. This review will highlight the immunological effects of these medicinal plants.

Background: It is well established that consuming ≥3g high-molecular-weight (MW) oat β-glucan (OBG) reduces low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). However, the effect of OBG on LDL-C in people with an LDL-C <160 mg/dL, is not clear. Objective: To determine the effect of OBG on LDL-C in people with LDL-C <160 mg/dL. Method: We reanalyzed the results of a previously published randomized, controlled, double- blind clinical trial on the effect on LDL-C of consuming breakfast cereal containing 3g high-MW (3H), 4g medium-MW (4M), 3g medium-MW (3M), 4g low-MW (4L) OBG or a wheat-bran control (W) for 4-weeks. We included only the 247 (67%) of the 367 subjects with LDL-C <160 mg/dL at screening. Changes in LDL-C from 0- to 4-weeks on each treatment were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and individual means compared by Tukey’s test (2-tailed t<0.05) to adjust for multiple comparisons. OBG viscosity was measured after simulated digestion in an in-vitro system. Results: On W, 3H, 4M, 3M and 4L, respectively, LDL-C changed by (mean±SEM) +2.1±1.9, -8.1±2.1, -8.9±3.0, -4.8±2.9 and -1.0±2.6 mg/dL; the changes on 3H (MW=2,2000,000 g/mol) and 4M (MW=850,000 g/mol) differed significantly from that on W; the changes on 3M (MW=530,000 g/mol) and 4L (MW=210,000 g/mol) were not significant. Mean changes in LDL-C were negatively related to log (viscosity) (p=0.015). Conclusion: Consuming 3g oat β-glucan is effective in reducing LDL-C in people with healthy LDL-C levels, but a MW of at least 850,000 g/mol is required for an optimal effect.

Background: Hepatitis B is a disease which has caused major loss of life over the years. The treatment for the disease is very expensive and cure rate is less. Due to its high cost developing or underdeveloped countries are far out of reach from treatment to hepatitis B. There are vaccines produced against this disease but its cost has limited the use by the masses. In the recent years the plant based vaccines called edible vaccines which are cheap compared to the traditional vaccines have been current area of research. Objective: Edible vaccines using banana have been prepared for Hepatitis B but in this hypothetical paper we have put forward our idea on preparing edible banana vaccine for Hepatitis B thorough a different methodology. Theoretical Model: We hypothesised to increase the expression level of the transgene by using pBIN19 as a vector instead of traditional Agrobacterium Ti plasmid. The paper also focuses on mechanism of the mode of action of vaccine along with advantages, disadvantages, challenges and future prospects of edible banana vaccine.

Background: Chronic arthralgia and arthritis are the most common causes of activity limitation and disability among middle-aged and older adults. Rheumatoid arthritis is a persistent inflammation of the synovium of the joints, leading to destruction of the surrounding bone and cartilage and ultimately joint de formities. Several studies reported that carotenoid intake, including lutein, was associated with a decreased risk of rheumatoid arthritis. We examined the effects of lutein extract (LE) from Tagetes erecta on inflammatory suppression in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model rat. Method: CIA model rats were induced by injection of emulsion containing bovine type II collagen and Freund’s incomplete adjuvant to DA/slc male rats. The study was designed with four experimental groups referred to as: normal, vehicle, ibuprofen (30 mg/kg) and LE (1.5 mg/kg). Test substances were administrated orally after immunization for 31 days every day. Results: Arthritis scores and paw swelling were significantly suppressed by LE or ibuprofen administration. Histopathological analysis showed that LE suppressed synovial fibroblast proliferation, plasma cell accumulation, pannus formation and new bone formation in the hind paw, although no changes in inflammation and cartilage metabolism biomarkers in plasma were detected after LE administration. Furthermore, proliferation of rabbit synovial cells (HIG-82) was inhibited by the addition of lutein. Conclusion: We provide direct evidence that lutein suppresses inflammation in the collagen- induced arthritis model rat. It is expected that lutein may play a beneficial role in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Little is known regarding the possibility of predicting allergy in genetically susceptible individuals. Objective: We endeavored to measure the levels of IgE, IgA and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the umbilical blood of newborns of allergic parents. Method: We collected two groups of newborns, the first group of 20 subjects with nonatopic parents, and the second with 20 subjects with a history of allergy in one or both parents. Results: Neonates born to parents with allergies had increased levels of AGEs in their umbilical cord blood. Conclusion: This causes increased oxidative stress and an increased probability of allergy and asthma in a child ´s future. We therefore propose that such children should be followed with the aim of lowering AGEs and IgE throughout life.