Unravelling the Anticancer Mechanisms of Traditional Herbal Medicines with Metabolomics

Metabolite profiling of cancer cells presents many opportunities for anticancer drug discovery. The Chinese, Indian, and African flora, in particular, offers a diverse source of anticancer therapeutics as documented in traditional folklores. In-depth scientific information relating to mechanisms of action, quality control, and safety profile will promote their extensive usage in cancer therapy. Metabolomics may be a more holistic strategy to gain valuable insights into the anticancer mechanisms of action of plants but this has remained largely unexplored. This review, therefore, presents the available metabolomics studies on the anticancer effects of herbal medicines commonly used in Africa and Asia. In addition, we present some scientifically understudied ‘candidate plants’ for cancer metabolomics studies and highlight the relevance of metabolomics in addressing other challenges facing the drug development of anticancer herbs. Finally, we discussed the challenges of using metabolomics to uncover the underlying mechanisms of potential anticancer herbs and the progress made in this regard.

Spontaneous macromutants "soft wheat" or a complete homolog of Tritcum kiharae Dorof. et Migusch

For the successful development of breeding, a genetically diverse source material is necessary. The decline in genetic diversity is a global problem affecting most cultivated crops, including wheat. In this regard, the creation of a homologous soft wheat form for the second phylogenetic branch is very attractive, since it will be a valuable source material for the selection improvement of Triticum aestivum L.. AuBD. Previously derived from T. kiharae Dorof. et Migusch., AbGD under the influence of N-HMM (nitrosomethyl urea), the complete homologue showed phenomenal both phenotypic and certain genotypic similarity to soft wheat and easily crosses with the varieties of the latter. Later, the homologous form of soft wheat obtained from it under the influence of colchicine, despite its phenotypic proximity to the latter, looked like an intermediate form. Spontaneous macromutants "soft wheat" are shown, isolated, in the first case, from T. kiharae plants that have previously changed color, and, in the second, from the so-called intermediate form. The identified soft wheat macromutants were significantly superior in their production characteristics to the original T. kiharae and can also be used as a starting material to improve the characteristics of T. aestivum.

A Content Analysis of YouTube™ Videos Related to Bladder Cancer

Objective: We examined the content of YouTube™ videos on urinary bladder cancer education and evaluated their usefulness in promoting early detection of the cancer. Material and Methods:A systematic search of YouTube™ for videos containing knowledge information on bladder cancer was conducted using the keywords ‘bladder cancer’. Details about demographics of videos, including type, length, source and viewers’ interaction were evaluated and 2 researchers independently assessed the videos for usefulness in promoting knowledge on bladder cancer.Results: A total of 100 YouTube™ videos (100 most viewed videos were reviewed and 48 videos were excluded including surgical technic videos, videos in non-English languages, patient testimonial videos and videos about complementary and alternative medicine. A total of 52 videos were analyzed. The highest number of videos were uploaded by medical websites (18, 34.6%), the mean number of views is highest in videos that were categorized as not useful (105,447), followed by very useful (74,940.6±120,980.8), slightly useful (46,219.6±101,261.4), moderately useful (34,941.0±35,413.1). The mean number of “likes” is highest in the very useful group (339.4±373.6), so is the “dislikes” (25.3±40.9).Conclusion: YouTube™ contains a diverse source of information on bladder cancer. Most videos on bladder cancer may not be informative for health education. Medical professionals, medical institutions, and professional organizations should improve the content of videos about bladder cancer to provide patients with reliable and useful information.

«RussianWorld» as a Political Technology and Tool of Aggression: New Analytical Structure (Yakubova L., Golovko V., Primachenko J. Russian peace in Donbass аnd in Crimea: Historical Origins, Political Technology, Instrument of Aggression: (Analytical Report.) – Kyiv, 2018. – 227 p.)

The article reviews a collective monograph of the scholars of the Institute of History of Ukraine at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine that comprehensively clarifies the historical origins of the concept of «Russian world», as well as its application as a political technology and tool of aggression. The study is characterized by a thorough and diverse source base. The authors presented a multifaceted analysis of the theory and practice of the «Russian world» concept, which should be the basis for the deconstruction of one of the most destructive ideologies of our time.

Yaroslavl Regional Elite Bureaucratic Practices in Working with Citizens’ Letters in the USSR of the 1960s

This article examines processes that took place in regional centers in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Issues of interaction between the regional party apparatus and ordinary citizens became particularly acute by the end of the Khrushchev era. This study is connected with the analysis of the problem of bureaucratic practices of the Yaroslavl regional elite in working with citizens’ letters in the USSR in the 1960s. We perform an analysis of a diverse source base: official regulatory documents, archival materials, sources of personal origin, including memoirs and interviews through a prism oral history. The context of the study is presented by the analysis of official documents revealing problems of the regional elite of the late socialist era: registry, forgery in state reporting, careerism. Consideration of various complaints took a serious place in the work of the regional bureaucracy. Critical letters in the absence of sociological institutions allowed the authorities to present the real moods and demands of the population. Complaints allowed us to identify the negative aspects of reality and respond to them. The materials contained in the letters were checked, and not always the facts they contained were confirmed. The regional nomenclature sought to protect its interests and not to give a reason for the center to perceive critical letters in its address as objective.

Total Phenolic Content of Organic and Conventionally Grown Gourd Vegetables

:The increasing consumers’ demands to acquire healthier fruits and vegetables as well as the urgency in looking to natural compounds with antioxidant activity (AOA) has encouraged a quick expansion of research studies about phenolic in vegetables. Gourd vegetables refer to the fruits of plants in the two Cucurbitaceae genera Lagenaria and Curcubita. There is a diverse source of polyphenols in plant materials. Method: Seven gourd vegetables grown conventionally (CV) were collected from the local market and a set of the same vegetables from certified organic farms (OG). They were analysed for the total phenolic (TP) content by the Folin-Ciocalteu method using Gallic acid as standard. Earlier each vegetable was extracted with ethanol, methanol and water separately for the estimation of TP. The TP content was expressed as µg of GAE/ g of FW. Results: Bitter gourd had the highest amounts of TP in both the conventional (1766.52 µg of GAE/ g of FW)) and organic (1962.0 µg of GAE/ g of FW)) samples. Conventional gourd vegetables had more TP when compared to organic varieties. Among the solvents the extraction of phenolics was the highest in water followed by methanol and ethanol. Conclusion: Gourd vegetables are widely available and can contribute significant amounts of phenolics to the diet