Serum copper, zinc levels, and the Cu/Zn ratio were evaluated in 31 patients with breast cancer and 35 healthy controls. Copper and zinc were determined by atomic absorbtion spectrophotometry. The mean serum copper level and the mean Cu/Zn ratio in patients with breast cancer were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). In addition, the mean serum zinc level in patients with breast cancer was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.001). Neither serum copper and zinc levels nor the Cu/Zn ratio were of value in discriminating of the disease activity and severity. Interestingly, the Cu/Zn ratio in premenopausal patients was higher than postmenopausal patients (p < 0.05) and this was not related to age. The further combined biological and epidemiological studies are necessary to investigate the roles of copper and zinc in breast cancer.

No abstract

No abstract

Because of spore formation, Bacillus anthracis is considered the most resistant biological warfare agent known. The present study aimed to assess and compare well-known decontamination routes to inactivate the spores on daily-use environmental tools contaminated previously. To simulate the agent, Bacillus atrophaeus was used. Various environmental samples (such as tile, fabric clothing, wood, protective suit, glass, paper, soil, water, plastic, and metal) that may be contaminated after a biological incident were used as test carriers and inoculated with B. atrophaeus. Sodium hypochlorite, free chlorine, autoclaving, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet irradiation, and boiling decontaminated the samples. Glutaraldehyde (2%) and free chlorine solution (10,000 mg/L) were also found to be effective in decontaminating the samples and are recommended as alternatives to the use of sodium hypochlorite solution. Soil, tile, paper, and metal were determined to be the most difficult materials to decontaminate. It was concluded that 5% hypochlorite adjusted with acetic acid might also be used for decontamination. Decontamination strategies to reduce contamination of the environment by biological warfare agents need to be applied to mitigate the number of victims, in terms of prominent characteristics like cost-effectiveness and user-friendliness.

This study is to evaluate the effect of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 PUFA) and/or calcium supplementation on colon tissue of the carcinogenic N-methyl-N-nitrosurea (NMU)-injected rats and to investigate this effect by the assessment of the oxidative stress. The rats were divided into four groups: those fed with a standard diet, with a diet supplemented by omega-3 PUFA, those fed with a diet with calcium, and those fed with a standard diet with the combination of omega-3 PUFA and calcium. Rats were injected with an intrarectal NMU. After 32 weeks, colon tissue specimens and plasma were taken to histopathologically investigate and analyze tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activities and erythrocyte MDA levels. The tumor incidences in supplemented-diet groups II and IV were found to be significantly lower when compared with those of the controls (P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase antioxidative enzyme activities in colorectal tissue were increased in the study groups when compared with control rats (P < 0.001) and MDA levels were significantly lower than in the controls (P < 0.001) while the levels in group IV were rather decreased than those in group III (P = 0.011). These results suggest that the dietary supplementation of PUFA and/or calcium may be useful in the prevention of colorectal tumor formation.