Sexual Attitudes, Reasons for Forgoing Condom Use, and the Influence of Gender Power Among Asian-American Women: A Qualitative Study.
Sexual Attitudes, Reasons for Forgoing Condom Use, and the Influence of Gender Power among Asian-American Women: A Qualitative Study.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
J AIDS Clin Res. 2011 Dec 30;
Hahm HC, Lee CH, Choe JY, Ward A, Lundgren L
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: HIV/AIDS prevalence among Asian-American Pacific Islanders (APIs) is low yet rapidly increasing. Prior research from other populations indicates that HIV risk behaviors are associated with specific adverse/risk factors including depression, drug use, history of child sexual abuse, and forced sex. However, no studies have explored the attitudes about sexual risk behaviors and condom use between API women with adverse experiences versus women without such experiences. This qualitative study compares descriptions of sexual history and condom use between the two groups of women. METHODS: A random sample of 24 sexually active API women (16 in the adverse group and 8 in the non-adverse group) was selected for in-depth interviews from a larger study, which included 501 Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese survey participants. FINDINGS: 14 out of the 16 women in the adverse group described complex sexual histories, with greater number of partners, more casual partners, and the combined use of alcohol/drugs and sex. The 8 women in the non-adverse group had fewer partners who were more long term. However, for both groups of women, condom use was inconsistent. Also, the majority of the women in both groups reported that either they themselves or they together with their partners had decided whether or not to use condoms. Yet 4 women in the adverse group showed lower gender power, with their partners being the primary decision-maker for condom use. CONCLUSION: Given the inconsistent condom use for both groups, all women in this study were at risk for HIV/AIDS. Consistent with prior research, a sub-group of the women in the adverse group with lower gender power seemed particularly at higher risk. Future HIV prevention interventions need to target all API women while screening for lower gender power to identify those with the highest risk of HIV.
HubMed – drug
Combination of Sulindac and Dichloroacetate Kills Cancer Cells via Oxidative Damage.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
PLoS One. 2012; 7(7): e39949
Ayyanathan K, Kesaraju S, Dawson-Scully K, Weissbach H
Sulindac is an FDA-approved non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with documented anticancer activities. Our recent studies showed that sulindac selectively enhanced the killing of cancer cells exposed to oxidizing agents via production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction. This effect of sulindac and oxidative stress on cancer cells could be related to the defect in respiration in cancer cells, first described by Warburg 50 years ago, known as the Warburg effect. We postulated that sulindac might enhance the selective killing of cancer cells when combined with any compound that alters mitochondrial respiration. To test this hypothesis we have used dichloroacetate (DCA), which is known to shift pyruvate metabolism away from lactic acid formation to respiration. One might expect that DCA, since it stimulates aerobic metabolism, could stress mitochondrial respiration in cancer cells, which would result in enhanced killing in the presence of sulindac. In this study, we have shown that the combination of sulindac and DCA enhances the selective killing of A549 and SCC25 cancer cells under the conditions used. As predicted, the mechanism of killing involves ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction, JNK signaling and death by apoptosis. Our results suggest that the sulindac-DCA drug combination may provide an effective cancer therapy.
HubMed – drug
Synergistic antitumor effects of liposomal honokiol combined with cisplatin in colon cancer models.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Oncol Lett. 2011 Sep 1; 2(5): 957-962
Cheng N, Xia T, Han Y, He QJ, Zhao R, Ma JR
Honokiol, a novel antitumor agent, may induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of vascular endothelium in a number of tumor cell lines and xenograft models. It has been proposed that the antitumor effects of chemotherapy may be increased in combination with an antiangiogenesis agent as an anticancer strategy. In the present study, we examined the potential of honokiol to increase the antitumor effect of cisplatin (DDP) when the agent and drug were combined in murine CT26 colon cancer models, and investigated the underlying mechanism. Liposomal honokiol (LH) was prepared, and female BALB/c mice were administered LH at various doses to determine the optimum doses for honokial. Evaluation of cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry. Honokiol was encapsulated with liposome to improve its water insolubility. In vitro, LH inhibited the proliferation of CT26 cells via apoptosis and significantly enhanced the DPP-induced apoptosis of CT26 cells. In vivo, the systemic administration of LH plus DDP resulted in the inhibition of subcutaneous tumor growth beyond the effects observed with either LH or DDP alone. This growth reduction was associated with elevated levels of apoptosis (TUNEL staining) and reduced endothelial cell density (CD31 staining) compared with either treatment alone. Collectively, these findings indicate that LH may augment the induction of apoptosis in CT26 cells in vitro and in vivo, and this combined treatment has exhibited synergistic suppression in tumor progression according to the synergistic analysis. The present study may be significant to future exploration of the potential application of the combined approach in the treatment of colon cancer.
HubMed – drug
Beginning of personalized medicine in Panama: Molecular and pathological characteristics of gastrointestinal stromal tumors from archival paraffin-embedded tissue.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Oncol Lett. 2011 Sep 1; 2(5): 941-947
Mendoza Y, Singh C, Castillo Mewa J, Fonseca E, Smith R, Pascale JM
This is the first study from Central America to analyze genetic mutations and histopathological features associated with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Mutations found in the tyrosine kinase membrane receptors c-kit and pdgfra are associated with clinical and pathological characteristics of GIST. New drugs that inhibit the expression of these oncogenes at the molecular level substantially improve the quality of life for patients with this tumor. It is therefore essential for patient care in Panama that genetic analysis of GIST tumors continues to develop from the pilot study presented herein into routine clinical use. This study evaluated 39 cases of GIST in Panama, using samples archived at the Instituto Oncológico Nacional from 1994 to 2004. DNA from paraffin?embedded tumor tissues was isolated and amplified for the exons of c-kit and pdgfra associated with a high frequency of mutations. Direct PCR sequencing of specific exons was performed, and those with different alleles were cloned and re-sequenced. Amino acid sequences were inferred from DNA and aligned to Genbank reference sequences to determine the position and type of mutation. The highest frequency of mutations was found in exon 11 of the c-kit gene (70%). Mutations found in this exon were heterogeneous, while only one type of mutation (p.A502_Y503dup) was observed in c-kit exon 9. Mutations in the pdgfra gene constituted several substitutions, with the deletion p.D842V being observed most frequently. The observed GIST-associated mutations were previously described. Four patients with mutations associated with familial GIST were also found. The majority (66%) of patients with mutations in exon 11 (residues 550-591) were considered to be at high risk and 75% of patients with mutations specifically within residues 556-560 (exon 11) were considered to have high-risk GIST. This is the first molecular study of GIST in Central America. It was performed to gain a better understanding of the cancer-associated mutations of KIT and platelet?derived growth factor receptor ? (PDGFRA) receptors. This may aid in the prediction of clinical evolution and guide the use of specific drug treatments in patients with GIST in Panama.
HubMed – drug
Staff Bio – Devin K. Las Vegas Drug and Alcohol rehab (702) 228-8520 – Devin Kolovich explains his role at Solutions Recovery, Inc. a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, as well as his experiences. To find out more about addictions and how to treat them visit our website at www.solutions-recovery.com
More Drug And Alcohol Rehabilitation Information…