Wafa Majeed

Breast cancer: major risk factors and recent developments in treatment.

Breast cancer is the most common in women worldwide, with some 5-10% of all cases due to inherited mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Obesity, hormone therapy and use of alcohol are possible causes and over-expression of leptin in adipose tissue may also play a role. Normally surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy allow a good prognosis where screening measures are in place. New hope in treatment measures include adjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant therapy, and introduction of mono-clonal antibodies and enzyme inhibitors.

Haematopoietic effects of Angelica sinensis root cap polysaccharides against lisinopril-induced anaemia in albino rats

Abstract Context: Angelica sinensis L. (Umbelliferae) has medicinal properties. Objectives: The present study evaluates the haematopoietic effects of A. sinensis polysaccharides (ASP) against lisinopril-induced anaemia. Materials and methods: Thirty healthy adult male albino rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6). Group I was control group. Group II was treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI, 20 mg/kg/day) to induce anaemia. In group III, erythropoietin (EPO, 100 IU/kg/each) was administered in combination with ACEI. Group IV was treated with ASP (1 g/kg/day), extracted from A. sinensis root caps. In Group V, ASP (1 g/kg/day) was treated with ACEI. After 28 days, blood and tissue samples were collected for haematological and histopathological analysis, respectively. Results: The results showed that ACEI significantly reduced the haemoglobin (Hb, 10.0 g/dL), packed cell volume (PCV, 39.5%), red blood cells (RBCs, 6.2 million/mm3), mean corpuscular volume (MCV, 53.5 fL) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH, 16.2 pg/cell) values. In the group treated with ASP, the Hb (13.7 g/dL) and RBCs (7.8 million/mm3) increased significantly (p < 0.05). The combination of ASP and ACEI led to the significant (p < 0.05) reduction in Hb (10.7 g/dL), PCV (33.3%), RBCs (6.0 million/mm3), MCV (54.42 fL) and MCH (16.44 pg/cell) values. While histopathological examination of the liver and kidney cells showed a mild degree of toxicity in the ASP-treated group. Conclusion: ASP has a potentiating effect on haematological parameters when given alone. However, when administered simultaneously with lisinopril, it showed an unfavourable effect with more complicated anaemia so it should not be used with ACEIs.

ANTITUMOR ACTIVITY OF BERBERINE AGAINST BREAST CANCER: A REVIEW

As the prevalence of breast cancer has been increasing day by day in almost every part of the world, there is need to develop alterna tive therapeutic measures for breast cancer control. To fulfill this need, chemoprevention is a novel approach. E fforts have been made to identify synthetic or natural products that can prevent the pre - neoplastic events preceding the occurrence of detectab le cancer. Berberine (quaternary ammonium salt from the protoberberine group of isoquinoline alkaloids) is one such compound . In this review in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities of berberine have been summarized . The m echanisms of action of berberine include ; inhibition of tumorigenic microorganisms, regulation of oncogene, interaction with DNA and RNA, inhibition of carcinogenesis related enzymes and induction of apoptosis. Berbrine has synergistic activity of when given in combined medication while it is also responsible for reduction of multidrug resistance in breast cancer treatment.

EVALUATION OF BIOMEDICAL IMPORTANCE OF CHLOROGENIC ACID IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN IN-VIVO ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RAT MODELS.

Attiq Ur Rehman 1 , * Wafa Majeed 2 , Bilal Aslam 2 , Muhammad Naeem Faisal 2 , Asra Iftikhar 2 and Aisha Sultana 2 . 1. Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 2. Institute of Pharmacy, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. ...................................................................................................................... Manuscript Info Abstract ......................... ........................................................................ Manuscript History

Diverse Signaling Pathways and Current Status of Molecular Targeted Treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of death associated with cancer. Various molecular mechanisms are involved in HCC development. Alterations in these molecular mechanisms include chromosomal instability, gene mutations, and variations in protein expressions. A number of cell signaling pathways that are associated with the occurrence of apoptosis, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis provide new prospects for the development of HCC treatments. Newly designed, potential therapeutic regimens target specific receptors, kinases, and vital proteins. Sorafenib is the only FDA-approved drug for HCC treatment, and it has been found that the complex genomic aberrations in HCC can be overcome using combination therapy. For example, therapeutic benefits have been gained using sorafenib with doxorubicin, oxaliplatin, cisplatin, and monoclonal antibodies. In addition, elumetinib, carbozantinib, and refametinib may be effective when used in combination with sorafenib. Drugs that target several signaling pathways have shown promising results in phase 3 clinical trials, and clinical studies using these drugs have changed the management strategy for HCC, particularly with the use of combination therapeutic regimens. Such research has improved the current standards of care and influenced clinical decision making.