Vitamin E and its anticancer effects

Abstract

Vitamin E is a lipid soluble vitamin comprising of eight natural isoforms, namely, α, β, δ, γ isoforms of tocopherol and α, β, δ, γ isoforms of tocotrienol. Many studies have been performed to elucidate its role in cancer. Until last decade, major focus was on alpha tocopherol and its anticancer effects. However, major clinical trials using alpha-tocopherol like SELECT trial and ATBC trial did not yield meaningful results. Hence there was a shift of focus to gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol and tocotrienol. Unlike alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and delta-tocopherol can scavenge reactive nitrogen species in addition to reactive oxygen species. Antiangiogenic effect, inhibition of HMG CoA reductase enzyme and inhibition of NF-κB pathway make the anti-cancer effects of tocotrienols unique compared to other vitamin E isoforms. Preclinical research on non-alpha tocopherol isoforms of vitamin E showed promising data on their anticancer effects. In this review, we deal with the current understanding on the potential mechanisms involved in the anticancer effects of vitamin E and the controversies in this field over last three decades. We also highlight the need to conduct further research on the anticancer effects of non-alpha-tocopherol isoforms in larger population and clinical setting.     

BioPACE

While developing the specifications for electronically enabled Machine Readable Travel Documents, the ICAO paid significant attention to security aspects related to the digital information stored in this type of electronic document. This has resulted in Passive and Active Authentication, Basic Access Control and Extended Access Control. The goal of Basic Access Control (BAC) is preventing unauthorized access to the chip data stored on eMRTDs. The PACE protocol has been developed as a future-proof method to overcome the limitations of BAC and to replace BAC in the future. In this paper the BioPACE protocol is proposed as a supplement to the PACE protocol. Besides verifying if the document holder is indeed the rightful owner, the BioPACE protocol provides a higher convenience for the bearer of the document.     

Synthesis,crystal growth,thermal studies and scaled quantum chemical studies of structural and vibrational spectra of the highly efficient organic NLO crystal: 1-(4-Aminophenyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one

A new chalcone derivative, 1-(4-aminophenyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one (DMAC) was synthesized and single crystals were grown by slow evaporation technique. The FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra of the sample were recorded in the region 3700–100 cm⁻¹ and 4000–400 cm⁻¹, respectively. The spectra were interpreted with the aid of normal coordinate analysis following structure optimizations and force field calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory. Normal coordinate calculations were performed using the DFT force field, corrected by a recommended set of scaling factors, yielding fairly good agreement between the observed and calculated wavenumbers. DMAC is thermally stable up to 220.0 °C and optically transparent in the visible region. Information about the size, shape, charge density distribution and site of chemical reactivity of the molecule has been obtained by mapping electron density isosurface with electrostatic potential surfaces (ESP). The SHG efficiency of DMAC is observed to be 10 times that of standard urea crystal of identical particle size.     

Socially-Aware Multimedia Dissemination in Personal Mobile Networks

Wireless Personal Communications - Mobile multimedia entertainment is pervasive on mobile devices, leading people to access, store and disseminate a diversity of multimedia contents anytime and...     

Integrating operational and risk information with system risk models in air traffic control

Cognition, Technology & Work - The next generation Air Transport Management (ATM) requires performance-based safety management that is fully integrated into seamless operational management. To...     

A Posteriori Analysis of a Positive Streamwise Invariant Discretization of a Convection-Diffusion Equation

We consider the finite element discretization of a convection-diffusion equation, where the convection term is handled via a fluctuation splitting algorithm. We prove a posteriori error estimates which allow us to perform mesh adaptivity in order to optimize the discretization of these equations. Numerical results confirm the interest of such an approach.     

Polylactide latex/nanofibrillated cellulose bionanocomposites of high nanofibrillated cellulose content and nanopaper network structure prepared by a papermaking route

Previous attempts to use polylactide (PLA) latex particles and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) in papermaking processing have been limited to low NFC content. In the present study, a bionanocomposite material was successfully produced using a PLA latex and NFC. The components were mixed using a wet mixing method and bionanocomposite films were made by filtration followed by hot pressing. In composite materials, the dispersion of the reinforcing component in the matrix is critical for the material properties. Biopolymers such as PLA are non-polar and soluble only in organic solvents; NFC is, however, highly hydrophilic. By utilizing latex, i.e., an aqueous dispersion of biopolymer micro-particles, wet mixing is possible and the problem of aggregation of the hydrophilic nanocellulose in organic solvent is avoided. The properties of the resulting NFC/PLA latex bionanocomposite films were analyzed. Thorough blending resulted in good dispersion of the reinforcing component within the matrix. Adding increasing amounts of NFC improved the Young's modulus, tensile strength, and strain at break of the bionanocomposite material. The increase in the tensile properties was linear with increasing NFC content as a result of the good dispersion. The NFC also improved the thermal stability of the bionanocomposite material. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Recent developments in membrane-based technologies for CO2 capture

Developing new methods and technologies that compete with conventional industrial processes for CO₂ capture and recovery is a hot topic in the current research. Conventional processes do not fit with the current approach of process intensification but take advantage due to their maturity and large-scale implementation. Acting in a precombusion scenario or post-combustion scenario involves the separation of CO₂/H₂ or CO₂/N₂, respectively.