The aim of this study was to examine the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in cervical can... more The aim of this study was to examine the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in cervical cancer, and investigate their correlation with the apoptotic index (AI), telomerase activity, human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and clinicopathological characteristics. Fifty cervical cancer samples and 20 normal cervical tissues were assessed for the protein expression of survivin, Bcl-2, Cox-2, p53 and p73 by immunohistochemistry. HPV DNA was detected by PCR, telomerase activity by PCR-ELISA, and AI by TUNEL assay. 46/50 cervical tumors (92%) showed an increased telomerase activity as compared to 3/20 (15%) controls. 45/50 (90%) cervical tumors were positive for HPV, of which 30 were HPV-16 positive and 5 were HPV-18 positive. 24/50 (48%) tumors were positive for survivin, 14 (28%) for Bcl-2, 13 (26%) for Cox-2, 19/45 (42%) for p73, 10/45 (24%) for p53. Telomerase activity was highest in tumors with the poorest grade. A positive correlation was seen between survivin and Bcl-2, survivin and tumor stage, Bcl-2 and Cox-2, p73 and p53 and p73 and the AI. Despite the overexpression of various antiapoptotic proteins, no significant difference was observed in the AI between tumors and controls. Since deregulation of the apoptotic pathway appears to occur in cervical cancer, some apoptosis-related proteins could be assessed as potential markers for progression/prognosis in cervical cancer. Additionally, newer proteins such as p73 may play a compensatory role for the nonfunctional proteins such as p53.
Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is known for high mutation rates caused by lack of protecti... more Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is known for high mutation rates caused by lack of protective histones, inefficient DNA repair systems, and continuous exposure to mutagenic effects of oxygen radicals. Alterations in the non-coding displacement (D) loop of mitochondrial DNA are present in many cancers. It has been suggested that the extent of mitochondrial DNA mutations might be useful in the prognosis of cancer outcome and/or the response to certain therapies. In order to investigate whether a high incidence of mutations exist in mitochondrial DNA of cervical cancer patients, we examined the frequency of mutations in the D-loop region in 19 patients of cervical cancer.
Background: The rapid pace of life, eating habits, and environmental pollution have increased str... more Background: The rapid pace of life, eating habits, and environmental pollution have increased stress levels and its related disorders. The complex molecular response to stress is mediated by stress genes and a variety of regulatory pathways. Oxidative stress is internal damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Increasing evidence suggests that chronic psychosocial stress may increase oxidative stress, which in turn may contribute to aging, and etiology of coronary diseases, cancer, arthritis, etc. Psychophysiological concomitants of meditation have been extensively researched, but there are very little data available on biochemical activity leading to relieving stress by causing a relaxation response by Sudarshan Kriya (SK). SK is a breathing technique that involves breathing in three different rhythms. It is preceded by Ujjayi Pranayam (long and deep breaths with constriction at the base of throat) and Bhastrika (fast and forceful breaths through nose along with arm movements). Methods: Forty-two SK practitioners and 42 normal healthy controls were recruited for our study. The practitioners had practiced SK for at least 1 year.
Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathophysiology of many chronic diseases. Since psychosoci... more Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathophysiology of many chronic diseases. Since psychosocial stress increases oxidative stress, we conducted an exploratory study to investigate the effects of stress reduction with the Sudarshan Kriya (SK) program, on superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione and blood lactate levels in practitioners and non-practitioners of SK. Blood samples of ten practitioners of SK and 14 non-practitioners of any formal stress management technique were analyzed for SOD, catalase, glutathione and lactate levels. Differences between groups and subgroups were analyzed by t-test and correlations between variables compared using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Significantly lower levels of blood lactate (P=3.118e−10) and higher levels of SOD (P=0.0001415), glutathione (P=2.038e−06) and catalase (P=0.001565) were found in practitioners as compared to non-practitioners of SK, thereby suggesting that lower levels of blood lactate and better antioxidant status in practitioners are associated with regular practice of SK technique. However, this study needs to be conducted on a larger sample size to confirm this effect.
The aim of this study was to examine the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in cervical can... more The aim of this study was to examine the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in cervical cancer, and investigate their correlation with the apoptotic index (AI), telomerase activity, human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and clinicopathological characteristics. Fifty cervical cancer samples and 20 normal cervical tissues were assessed for the protein expression of survivin, Bcl-2, Cox-2, p53 and p73 by immunohistochemistry. HPV DNA was detected by PCR, telomerase activity by PCR-ELISA, and AI by TUNEL assay. 46/50 cervical tumors (92%) showed an increased telomerase activity as compared to 3/20 (15%) controls. 45/50 (90%) cervical tumors were positive for HPV, of which 30 were HPV-16 positive and 5 were HPV-18 positive. 24/50 (48%) tumors were positive for survivin, 14 (28%) for Bcl-2, 13 (26%) for Cox-2, 19/45 (42%) for p73, 10/45 (24%) for p53. Telomerase activity was highest in tumors with the poorest grade. A positive correlation was seen between survivin and Bcl-2, survivin and tumor stage, Bcl-2 and Cox-2, p73 and p53 and p73 and the AI. Despite the overexpression of various antiapoptotic proteins, no significant difference was observed in the AI between tumors and controls. Since deregulation of the apoptotic pathway appears to occur in cervical cancer, some apoptosis-related proteins could be assessed as potential markers for progression/prognosis in cervical cancer. Additionally, newer proteins such as p73 may play a compensatory role for the nonfunctional proteins such as p53.
Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is known for high mutation rates caused by lack of protecti... more Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is known for high mutation rates caused by lack of protective histones, inefficient DNA repair systems, and continuous exposure to mutagenic effects of oxygen radicals. Alterations in the non-coding displacement (D) loop of mitochondrial DNA are present in many cancers. It has been suggested that the extent of mitochondrial DNA mutations might be useful in the prognosis of cancer outcome and/or the response to certain therapies. In order to investigate whether a high incidence of mutations exist in mitochondrial DNA of cervical cancer patients, we examined the frequency of mutations in the D-loop region in 19 patients of cervical cancer.
Background: The rapid pace of life, eating habits, and environmental pollution have increased str... more Background: The rapid pace of life, eating habits, and environmental pollution have increased stress levels and its related disorders. The complex molecular response to stress is mediated by stress genes and a variety of regulatory pathways. Oxidative stress is internal damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Increasing evidence suggests that chronic psychosocial stress may increase oxidative stress, which in turn may contribute to aging, and etiology of coronary diseases, cancer, arthritis, etc. Psychophysiological concomitants of meditation have been extensively researched, but there are very little data available on biochemical activity leading to relieving stress by causing a relaxation response by Sudarshan Kriya (SK). SK is a breathing technique that involves breathing in three different rhythms. It is preceded by Ujjayi Pranayam (long and deep breaths with constriction at the base of throat) and Bhastrika (fast and forceful breaths through nose along with arm movements). Methods: Forty-two SK practitioners and 42 normal healthy controls were recruited for our study. The practitioners had practiced SK for at least 1 year.
Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathophysiology of many chronic diseases. Since psychosoci... more Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathophysiology of many chronic diseases. Since psychosocial stress increases oxidative stress, we conducted an exploratory study to investigate the effects of stress reduction with the Sudarshan Kriya (SK) program, on superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione and blood lactate levels in practitioners and non-practitioners of SK. Blood samples of ten practitioners of SK and 14 non-practitioners of any formal stress management technique were analyzed for SOD, catalase, glutathione and lactate levels. Differences between groups and subgroups were analyzed by t-test and correlations between variables compared using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Significantly lower levels of blood lactate (P=3.118e−10) and higher levels of SOD (P=0.0001415), glutathione (P=2.038e−06) and catalase (P=0.001565) were found in practitioners as compared to non-practitioners of SK, thereby suggesting that lower levels of blood lactate and better antioxidant status in practitioners are associated with regular practice of SK technique. However, this study needs to be conducted on a larger sample size to confirm this effect.
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Papers by Archna Singh