Vitamin D and docosahexaenoic acid inhibit proliferation of the ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR4

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in women. Improved preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies are needed. Certain dietary patterns and nutrients such as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids are associated with reduced cancer risk, but their effects on ovarian cancer remain to be fully elucidated, and their combined effects have not been explored.

AIM

To determine the individual and combined effects of the active vitamin D metabolite, calcitriol, and the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid, on cell growth, and the abundance of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), proteins that modulate cell cycle progression, and apoptotic markers.

METHODS

OVCAR4 cells, a model of ovarian cancer, were treated with calcitriol, and docosahexaenoic acid, either alone or in combination. Effects on cell growth were determined by the sulforhodamine B assay. Changes in VDR, the cell cycle promotor c-Myc, the cell cycle inhibitor p27 and cleaved PARP, were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTS

While OVCAR4 cell growth was inhibited by individual treatment with either calcitriol or docosahexaenoic acid, the combined treatment revealed enhanced growth inhibition as compared to either treatment alone. Furthermore, long-term treatment (12 days) yielded stronger growth inhibition at lower concentrations as compared to short-term treatments (3 days). Accompanying this growth inhibition was a decrease in c-Myc, and an increase in p27.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed reduction in cell growth mediated by calcitriol and docosahexaenoic acid highlights the need for further research utilizing these nutrients, alone and especially in combination, to support ovarian cancer prevention and treatment.

Impact of school-based health centers on children with asthma

PURPOSE

To quantitatively assess the impact of school-based health centers (SBHCs) on hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits for children with asthma.

METHODS

The study was conducted at four SBHC intervention school districts and two comparable non-SBHC school districts in Greater Cincinnati, Ohio. A longitudinal quasi-experimental time-series repeated measures design was used with a study period from 1997 to 2003. Children with asthma with at least 2 years of continuous enrollment who had medical claims for asthma diagnosis and antiasthmatic medications were selected. The primary data sources were student enrollment data from the schools and the Ohio Medicaid claims database. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis and analysis of covariance were used to assess the intervention effect before and after the SBHC program.

RESULTS

Asthma was one of the major diseases for SBHC encounters. Major prescription drugs that SBHC staff managed for children with asthma included albuterol, montelukast, fluticasone, budesonide, and triamcinolone. Of 273 children (196 in SBHC schools and 77 in non-SBHC schools), 42% were female, 41.7% African-Americans, and the average age was 8.2 years. After the opening of the SBHC, relative risks of hospitalization and ED visits in the SBHC group decreased 2.4-fold and 33.5%, respectively. The cost of hospitalization per child decreased significantly over time for children in SBHC schools (F = 4.115, p = .044). After SBHCs opened, cost of hospitalization decreased for African-American children (F = 5.198, p = .023). Costs of ED visits for children in SBHC schools were significantly lower than children in non-SBHC schools (F = 19.8, p < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of hospitalization and ED visits for children with asthma decreased significantly with SBHC programs. The potential cost-savings for hospitalization was estimated as 970 dollars per child.