Women's College, Kolkata

About: Women's College, Kolkata is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Breast cancer. The organization has 4552 authors who have published 5906 publications receiving 178809 citations.

Case-control study of factors associated with failure to detect breast cancer by mammography.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Although mammography is widely used to detect breast cancer, it is recognized that not all cancers can be seen on mammographic images. PURPOSE Our purpose was to examine factors associated with failure to detect breast cancer by mammography. METHODS A case-control study was carried out in which subjects in whom histologically verified breast cancer was not detected by mammography (false negatives) were contrasted with subjects in whom breast cancer had been detected by mammography (true positives). Mammograms from individuals with histologically confirmed breast cancer were classified independently by two radiologists who were unaware of the clinical or other characteristics of the subjects. Histologic slides of all tumors were reviewed by one pathologist. RESULTS Three variables were found to be independently and significantly associated with failure to detect breast cancer by mammography. Breast cancer was less likely to be detected by mammography in the presence of extensive parenchymal densities (odds ratio [OR] = 9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8-44.3), a tumor of lobular histology (OR = 7; 95% CI = 2.2-22.1), and tumors of small size (OR = 0.10; 95% CI = 0.0-0.9). CONCLUSION Our results indicate that biologic factors are associated with failure to detect some breast cancers by mammography and indicate directions for future research in breast imaging.

Oncogenes and tumor angiogenesis: the HPV-16 E6 oncoprotein activates the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene promoter in a p53 independent manner.

Abstract: Like other types of pre-malignant lesions and carcinoma, angiogenesis is associated with high-grade cervical dysplasia and with invasive squamous carcinoma of the cervix. Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) is known to be one of the most important inducers of angiogenesis and is upregulated in carcinoma of the cervix. Human Papilloma Virus 16 (HPV-16) has been etiologically linked to human cervical cancer, and the major oncogenic proteins encoded by the viral genome, E6 and E7, are involved in the immortalization of target cells. Because several oncogenes including mutant ras, EGF receptor, ErbB2/Her2, c-myc and v-src upregulate VEGF expression, we asked whether HVP-16 E6 oncoprotein could act in a similar fashion. We found that HPV-16 E6-positive cells generally express high levels of VEGF message. Furthermore, co-expression of the VEGF promoter-Luc (luciferase) reporter gene with E6 in both human keratinocytes and mouse fibroblast showed that E6 oncoprotein upregulates VEGF promoter activity, and does so in a p53 independent manner. An E6 responsive region which comprises four Sp-1 sites, between −194 and −50 bp of the VEGF promoter, is also necessary for constitutive VEGF transcription. Taken together, our results suggest the possibility that the HPV oncoprotein E6 may contribute to tumor angiogenesis by direct stimulation of the VEGF gene.

Growth factor enhancement of peripheral nerve regeneration through a novel synthetic hydrogel tube.

Abstract: Object. The authors’ long-term goal is repair of peripheral nerve injuries by using synthetic nerve guidance devices that improve both regeneration and functional outcome relative to an autograft. They report the in vitro processing and in vivo application of synthetic hydrogel tubes that are filled with collagen gel impregnated with growth factors. Methods. Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-MMA) porous 12-mm-long tubes with an inner diameter of 1.3 mm and an outer diameter of 1.8 mm were used to repair surgically created 10-mm gaps in the rat sciatic nerve. The inner lumen of the tubes was filled with collagen matrix alone or matrix supplemented with either neurotropin-3 at 1 � g/ml, brain-derived neurotrophic factor at 1 � g/ml, or acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF1) at 1 or 10 � g/ml. Nerve regeneration through the growth factor‐enhanced tubes was assessed at 8 weeks after repair by histomorphometric analysis at the midgraft level and in the nerve distal to the tube repair. The tubes were biostable and biocompatible, and supported nerve regeneration in more than 90% of cases. Nerve regeneration was improved in tubes in which growth factors were added, compared with empty tubes and those containing collagen gel alone (negative controls). Tubes filled with 10 � g/ml of FGF-1 dispersed in collagen demonstrated regeneration comparable to autografts (positive controls) and showed significantly better regeneration than the other groups. Conclusions. The PHEMA-MMA tubes augmented with FGF-1 in their lumens appear to be a promising alternative to autografts for repair of nerve injuries. Studies are in progress to assess the long-term biocompatibility of these implants and to enhance regeneration further.

Update on the Chemopreventive Effects of Ginger and its Phytochemicals

Abstract: The rhizomes of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), commonly known as ginger, is one of the most widely used spice and condiment. It is also an integral part of many traditional medicines and has been extensively used in Chinese, Ayurvedic, Tibb-Unani, Srilankan, Arabic, and African traditional medicines, since antiquity, for many unrelated human ailments including common colds, fever, sore throats, vomiting, motion sickness, gastrointestinal complications, indigestion, constipation, arthritis, rheumatism, sprains, muscular aches, pains, cramps, hypertension, dementia, fever, infectious diseases, and helminthiasis. The putative active compounds are nonvolatile pungent principles, namely gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and zingerone. These compounds are some of the extensively studied phytochemicals and account for the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, and gastroprotective activities. A number of preclinical investigations with a wide variety of assay systems and carcinogens have shown that ginger and its compounds possess chemopreventive and antineoplastic effects. A number of mechanisms have been observed to be involved in the chemopreventive effects of ginger. The cancer preventive activities of ginger are supposed to be mainly due to free radical scavenging, antioxidant pathways, alteration of gene expressions, and induction of apoptosis, all of which contribute towards decrease in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. This review provides concise information from preclinical studies with both cell culture models and relevant animal studies by focusing on the mechanisms responsible for the chemopreventive action. The conclusion describes directions for future research to establish its activity and utility as a human cancer preventive and therapeutic drug. The above-mentioned mechanisms of ginger seem to be promising for cancer prevention; however, further clinical studies are warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of ginger.