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“Induction

of oxidative stress and inhibition of DNA repair are possible modes of arsenic-induced carcinogenesis. In West Bengal, India, several districts contain high levels of arsenic, which are far above the WHO-recommended standard. Prevention of arsenic-induced oxidative stress and induction of repair enzymes by curcumin, an active ingredient of turmeric, may be an effective strategy to combat the adverse effects of arsenic. This study aimed at observing the role of curcumin in reducing 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine formation and enhancing DNA repair capacity in the arsenic-exposed population of West Bengal. Chronically find more arsenic-exposed volunteers (n=66), who were asymptomatic, were selected for this study. Our results indicated that curcumin suppressed the 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine level and OGG1 expression, which were increased by arsenic. Curcumin also induced DNA repair enzymes involved in the both base excision repair and nonhomologous end-joining pathways. In this study, both the protein expression and genetic profile were observed for poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1, DNA beta polymerase, X ray repair cross complement 1, DNA ligase III, DNA protein kinase catalytic sub-unit, X ray repair cross complement 4, DNA ligase IV, and topoisomerase II beta. The results indicated that arsenic-inhibited DNA repair was induced by curcumin, both at

protein and genetic levels. Thus, curcumin intervention may Alvocidib concentration be a useful modality for the prevention of arsenic-induced carcinogenesis. European Journal of Cancer Prevention 20: 123-131 buy Fer-1 (C) 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“The jacitara palm (Desmoncus polyacanthos Mart.) is widely used by the artisans of the Amazon Basin region of Negro River, Brazil, and is known to provide excellent fiber characteristics and appearance. However, there is a lack of technical/scientific information about this important vegetable fiber. The objective of this study was to evaluate the main properties of jacitara fibers for their future technological

application as reinforcement in composites. Anatomical, ultrastructural, chemical, physical and mechanical tests were performed. The coefficient of rigidity, fraction wall, Runkel index and aspect ratio results showed the potential of the jacitara fibers as reinforcement in composites. The range of the microfibrillar angle of the fibers was 12.8-16.5. The average contents of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives and mineral components were 66.9%, 18.4%, 14.7%, 11.6% and 1.8%, respectively. Fibers extracted from the bottom or from the medium part of the jacitara stem showed higher modulus of elasticity (1.9 GPa and 1.7 GPa, respectively) and tensile strength (74.4 MPa and 70.6 MPa, respectively) than that extracted from the upper part. The properties of the jacitara fibers are in the same range of other lignocellulosic materials.