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GBC predominantly a disease of females belonged to fourth and fifth decade of life. Among 328 cases of GBC only 75 were male and 253 female (M:F = 1:3.37). Majority of GBC patients were above 40 years and multiparous females. Family history of GBC was higher in GBC patients. Majority of GBC patients were of low socioeconomic status and hailed from rural background. This group tends to consume open mustard oil and water from hand pump. This study emphasizes the usefulness of demographic evaluation in diagnosis of GBC and a systematic approach to assessment of demographic features of GBC is recommended.

A new class of copper(II) nanohybrid solids, LCu(CH(3)COO)(2) and LCuCl(2), have been synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and IR spectroscopy, and have been found to be capped by a bis(benzimidazole) diamide ligand (L). The particle sizes of these nanohybrid solids were found to be in the ranges 5-10 and 60-70 nm, respectively. These nanohybrid solids were evaluated for their in vitro antimalarial activity against a chloroquine-sensitive isolate of Plasmodium falciparum (MRC 2). The interactions between these nanohybrid solids and plasmepsin II (an aspartic protease and a plausible novel target for antimalarial drug development), which is believed to be essential for hemoglobin degradation by the parasite, have been assayed by UV-vis spectroscopy and inhibition kinetics using Lineweaver-Burk plots. Our results suggest that these two compounds have antimalarial activities, and the IC(50) values (0.025-0.032 microg/ml) are similar to the IC(50) value of the standard drug chloroquine used in the bioassay. Lineweaver-Burk plots for inhibition of plasmepsin II by LCu(CH(3)COO)(2) and LCuCl(2) show that the inhibition is competitive with respect to the substrate. The inhibition constants of LCu(CH(3)COO)(2) and LCuCl(2) were found to be 10 and 13 microM, respectively. The IC(50) values for inhibition of plasmepsin II by LCu(CH(3)COO)(2) and LCuCl(2) were found to be 14 and 17 microM, respectively. Copper(II) metal capped by a benzimidazole group, which resembles the histidine group of copper proteins (galactose oxidase, beta-hydroxylase), could provide a suitable anchoring site on the nanosurface and thus could be useful for inhibition of target enzymes via binding to the S1/S3 pocket of the enzyme hydrophobically. Both copper(II) nanohybrid solids were found to be nontoxic against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and were highly selective for plasmepsin II versus human cathepsin D. The pivotal mechanism of antimalarial activity of these compounds via plasmepsin II inhibition in the P. falciparum malaria parasite is demonstrated.

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The problem of cancer is universal; the only variation occurs in the type, site or other clinicoepidemiological parameters. Peculiarly enough, oral cancers caused by chewing tobacco are common in India and some parts of the Indian sub-continent. Oral cancers caused by other carcinogens are not common in these areas. The present study shows a significant association (P less than 0.001) between the use of Indian chewing tobacco and oral cancer. Number of quids, mean quantity of tobacco and mean duration of keeping the quids in the mouth had direct dose and effect relationships in causation of oral cancer. A dose of 10 gms of chewing tobacco for about 26 years was observed to have produced cancerous lesions in the buccal cavity.

The present study showed that GBC influences the nutritional status of the patients. Forty-three percent of GBC patients were malnourished with low body mass index (BMI). A significant reduction in all the anthropometric measures was observed for GBC patients compared to those with GSD. GBC patients had significantly low hemoglobin and serum albumin levels compared to the control group. The hemoglobin levels in case and control groups were 10.87 g/dl (+/-1.81 SD) and 11.62 g/dl (+/-1.89 SD), respectively (P < 0.001). Intake of almost all the nutrients was far below the recommendations of Indian Council of Medical Research. GBC patients had anorexia and weight loss.

The results of several studies indicate that a diet rich in fresh vegetables protects against several common epithelial neoplasms. This probable effect has been related to specific micronutrients contained in vegetables. In the present case-control study a systematic assessment of the relationship between vegetable intake and the risk of gallbladder cancer has been undertaken. The study is of particular interest in order to better understand the quantifying effect of vegetable consumption with regard to gallbladder cancer. One hundred and fifty-three patients with gallbladder cancer and 153 controls with gallstone disease were included. Each patient's consumption of vegetables was assessed by using a food frequency questionnaire. The frequency of vegetable consumption was divided into three levels: > or =3 days/week, 1-2 days/week and no or rare consumption. Participants were divided into three groups according to the level of vegetable intake. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were computed for subsequent levels of vegetable consumption compared with the high level of consumption. A low consumption of vegetables showed an increase in odds ratio for gallbladder cancer for almost all the vegetables studied. A significant inverse trend was observed for green leafy vegetables and gallbladder cancer. An inverse association was observed for amaranth with an OR of 3.45 for the low vs. high level of consumption. Corresponding values were 2.14 for spinach, 1.86 for bathua, 1.02 for bengalgram leaves, 2.26 for cabbage, 3.06 for fenugreek leaves, 1.95 for mustard leaves and 1.44 for radish leaves. An inverse relationship between the risk of gallbladder cancer and the level of vegetable consumption was observed.

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