There are more clinical outcome studies with LDR, but HDR offers the potential see more for improved dosimetry as well as new and creative dose and fractionations that might improve

therapeutic ratios. Radiation safety is better with PDR and HDR remote afterloading. The advantages of BT are a more targeted dose distribution, the low integral dose, and shorter treatment times. Adjuvant BT monotherapy is appropriate for lesions of the trunk and extremity after complete surgical resection with negative margins. BT alone is also particularly helpful in pediatric and previously irradiated patients. Other cases, such as large, incompletely resected, or recurrent (not previously irradiated) lesions, may be best managed with a combination of BT and EBRT. “
“The Board of the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) invited a leading author in the field (JMC) to draft a statement for penile brachytherapy with international participation. CH-M was invited to coauthor the statement. Subsequently, review and input were sought from those practitioners personally known to have experience in the field (AAM, DJD, and JJM). The final draft was approved by the ABS Board of Directors and by the Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie and the European Society of Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology Council.

Literature review revealed an absence of randomized studies. One multicenter retrospective review from Rozan et al. (1) in France and a handful of reported series from single www.selleckchem.com/products/ldk378.html institutions provide Level 3 evidence. Nonetheless we believe this consensus statement will provide valuable guidance. Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis is a relatively rare malignancy in the developed world, with an incidence of approximately 1 per 100,000 men (2), although much higher in some third world countries being more than 4 per 100,000 in Paraguay (3),

to and cited as up to 1% by age of 75 years in some parts of Uganda (4). It is highly curable in its early stages. Surgical amputation (penectomy) is often the first or only treatment method considered, but traditional amputative surgery is associated with a high level of psychosexual morbidity [5], [6] and [7]. Surgery, however, is not the only potentially curative treatment. Organ-sparing definitive radiation therapy, with or without local resection, can provide both cure and a high rate of penile preservation. Many urologists may only see one or two cases in a lifetime of practice, so awareness of this therapeutic alternative may be limited. Because penile-sparing approaches are being used more frequently in centers with experience, referral to such centers is recommended. This review is designed to inform radiation oncologists, urologists, and other physicians about the role of radiation therapy in the treatment of carcinoma of the penis. Carcinoma of the penis is most frequently located on the glans and prepuce (8).

The same could be observed for the total phenolic content (PHEN), highlighting sample PDI, which presented a similar total phenolic content to that of sample SPB. The sample SPI showed a higher total phenolic compound content than the wine

TI, contradicting the conclusion of Jackson (2008) that the pumping process optimized the extraction of phenolic and colorant compounds. The color indexes of the Bordô KU-60019 wines were higher than those of the Isabel wines. The results showed the effectiveness of the pre-drying process, since in addition to concentrating the grape soluble solids, it also concentrated the phenolic compounds and colorants, favoring a more attractive wine color with the indexes for the red hue (OD 520 nm) being higher than those for the yellow and violet hues (OD 420 nm and OD 620 nm, respectively). The higher value found for the violet hue in the PDB sample was due to the higher concentration of anthocyanins in this BEZ235 supplier wine. It was expected that drying would be a negative factor for the color of the grapes and wines, since the anthocyanins would be degraded during this process due to the use of heat (Cacace & Mazza, 2003). However,

the physicochemical results suggested the opposite, i.e., the colored compounds were concentrated, showing that the anthocyanins were present in the flavonoid (algycone) component bound to the sugar (Jackson, 2008), which represents an interesting result. The stability of anthocyanins is influenced by the acylation degree of the molecule, since the higher the degree of acylation of the molecule, the greater the heat stability of the anthocyanin (Sapers, Taffer, & Ross, 1981). In their studies, Nixdorf and Hermosín-Gutiérrez (2010) and Lago-Vanzela et al. (2011) discovered that Vitis labrusca grapes presented a high proportion of coumaroylated anthocyanidin 3,5-diglucosides in their composition, which provided great resistance to

the high temperatures applied during the drying process. Eighty untrained consumers (43 women, 53.75% and 37 men, 46.25%) evaluated the acceptance of the wines. The average age of the panelists was 24.3 years old with a standard deviation of 8.4. The results of the evaluation demonstrated triclocarban that the wines produced using the novel and traditional winemaking processes presented greater acceptance than the commercial wines (Table 2), representing a positive outcome of the study. With respect to the wines from the novel and traditional treatments, there was emphasis on the acceptance of the appearance and body for the PDB, TB and SPI samples, showing significant differences amongst these samples (P < 0.05). This fact revealed that the acceptance of the innovative wines was fairly close to that of the traditional ones, representing another positive outcome of the study.

Stenosis was successfully prevented. Biopsy proved antral HP-negative mucosa. 1 1/2 years later the patient is free of complaints. This first case of a successful gastro-esophageal endoscopic mucosal transplant with one year follow-up after wide- spread ESD in the esophagus for an early squamous cell cancer opens a new perspective for systematic research in this field. “
“Indeterminate pancreatico-biliary strictures remain a difficult diagnostic dilemma with currently available endoscopic imaging. find more We present scanning fiber endoscopy as a novel platform for improving diagnostic accuracy and present three cases where this platform has been used successfully in human subjects. In all three cases, endoscopic

retrograde cholangiography was performed using a standard side viewing endoscope and fluoroscopy check details to obtain biliary access. Once access was obtained, the scanning

fiber endoscope was advanced into the bile duct and images were obtained. Scanning fiber endoscopy is a novel platform for endoscopic imaging with improved resolution. A pancreatic duct endoscope is already available for testing in human subjects and currently in design are models with tip deflection, fluorescence imaging and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as novel devices for directed curettage and brushing. Importantly, scanning fiber endoscopy as a platform brings much needed new tools to bear on the question of benign versus malignant biliary strictures. “
“Total esophageal liminal occlusions secondary to lye induced strictures have significantly decreased in incidence in the last decade, but still present a formidable management challenge. If there

is complete obstruction, patients Etofibrate have aphagia and in addition to nutritional problems have poor quality of life due to inability to handle secretions and loss of taste. Gastrostomy tubes address hydration and nutrition but not morbidity and quality of life. Esophageal surgery continues to be associated with significant morbidity and possible mortality. This has prompted endoscopic efforts at esophageal luminal restoration, in most cases for strictures 3 cm or less. We present a case of luminal restoration for a 12 cm long lye induced stricture and patient employed self dilation to maintain luminal opening. The gastrostomy tube was removed and the tract was dilated to 10 mm.The 5.9mm endoscope was used in a retrograde fashion and advanced to the cardia and then the lower esophagus where after 2 cm of normal tissue a narrowing was seen. The GI team worked to complete a rendezvous with our ENT colleagues who worked per orum. The tissue was dissected with the pediatric biopsy forceps and the scope was advanced few cm until a complete obstruction was reached. We then used biplanar fluoroscopy and dissected the tissue with the biopsy forceps until we reached an area where a rigid knife was passed orally to make the rendezvous. A 0.

2); BGN (Bgn, Gene ID: 12111) (forward 5′-TAGGAAAGATGGATAGACCACAC-3′; reverse 5′-GAACTTGTTGAAGAGAGAACACC-3′; amplicon with 145-bp, GenBank NM_007542.4). The reaction Ku 0059436 solution was carried out in 96-well plates with a final volume of 20 μL, containing 1 μL of cDNA, 1 μL of probe or set of primers (5 pmol), 10 μL of Jump Start SYBR Green Taq Ready Mix and 8 μL of Nuclease-Free water. The SYBR Green amplification conditions consisted in a initial denaturation of 5 min at 95 °C, followed by 40 cycles of 15 s at 95 °C (denaturation), 30 s at 54 °C (COL1); 59 °C (MMP-2; BIGL); 60 °C (ALP); 60 °C (DSPP) (annealing temperature),

and 30 s at 72 °C (extension). The threshold was set above the non-template control background and within the linear phase of target gene amplification to calculate the cycle number at which the transcript was detected, denoted Cp (Crossing point). Target genes expression were normalized by the reference housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (Gapdh, Gene ID: 14433) (forward 5′-GTGCTGAGTATGTCGTGGAGT-3′; reverse 5′-TTGTCATATTTCTCGTGGTTCA-3′; amplicon 154-pb, GenBank NM_008084.2) and the mean value for the Control group was

set to 100% of mRNA expression and served as a reference. To evaluate whether PTH administration affect the MMP-2 secretion, MDPC-23 cells were cultured as previously describe in 96-well plate (n = 4). At the end experimental period (3 cycles × 48 h), the cells were washed with PBS and cultured in the absence of FBS for 24 h Tangeritin at 37 °C in an atmosphere of high humidity and 5% Bleomycin clinical trial CO2 for MMPs secretion. Then, cell culture medium (DMEM) containing the secreted MMPs was collected and frozen at −70 °C. After thawing the protein concentration was determined by a Bio-Rad Protein Assay (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA), using the Bradford method. Fifteen nanograms of the each sample was mixed with non-reducing sample buffer (2% SDS; 125 mM Tris–HCl, pH 6.8, 10% glycerol, and 0.001% bromophenol blue) and resolved in 10% sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels copolymerized with 1.6 mg/mL of gelatin (Sigma–Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) as substrate. Protein

renaturation was done by incubation of the gels in 2% Triton X-100 (Sigma–Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), and then the gels were immersed in activation buffer (50 mM Tris–HCl, pH 7.4, 5 mM CaCl2) for 16 h at 37 °C. Gelatinolytic activity was detected after staining with Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250 (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). To confirm that the bands were related to MMP-2 activity, a molecular weight was used and also control reaction was made to inhibit the gelatinolytic activity by adding 2 mM of 1.10-phenanthroline (Sigma–Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA), a nonselective zinc chelator, to the activation buffer, confirming the specificity of the reactions. The gel image was obtained by Gel Logic 212 PRO (Carestream Health, Inc., USA) using a Molecular Image Software 5.

, 1989, Ho et al., 1998, Polack et al., 1998, Baldinger, 1999 and Barber and Swygert, 2000). The involvement of these bacteria, especially Aeromonas spp. and P. aeruginosa on the development of severe and persistent secondary infection after tissue injury is well documented ( McManus et al., 1985, Semel and Trenholme, 1990 and Gang et al., 1999). In addition, many other types of bacteria present in the soil and aquatic environment can be involved in secondary infections ( van Elsas et al., 2011), and the extent of infection cause by them can be determined

by how many of them are present, their ability to survive on damaged tissue and to produce toxins able to induce cytokine release and destroy host cells ( Bhakdi et al., 1986, Lallier and Higgins, 1988, Paraje et al., 2005, Markov et al., 2007 and Domingos et al., 2009). Because of the considerable number of accidents mTOR inhibitor Caspase inhibitor caused by Potamotrygon spp. stingrays in the region of Três Lagoas, and the increasing importance of environmental Gram-negative bacteria as emergent pathogens responsible for secondary infections acquired in aquatic settings, the species of bacteria encountered in the mucus of P. motoro stingrays and in the Alto Paraná river water were

determined and their capacity to release toxins, cause injury to epithelial cells, resist antibiotics and survive in the presence of stingray venom was evaluated. Mucus and tissue extract samples were obtained from twenty four P. motoro stingrays collected in the upper end of the Alto Paraná river, in the region of Três Lagoas, Mato Grosso do Sul state (BR). Briefly, the stingrays were restrained and samples of the mucus that covers their external surface were collected with sterile swabs from three cAMP different regions of their dorsal area. The tissue extracts were obtained from integumentary tissue covering the sting as previously described ( Barbaro et al., 2007). The protein content of tissue extract pools (from

now on referred to as venom) utilized in this work was determined by bicinchoninic acid albumin method ( Smith et al., 1985), using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a standard. The procedures involving animals were conducted in conformity with national laws and policies (protocol number CGEN 02001.005111/2008, SISBIO 15702-1). The environmental water samples were collected from the surface and the bottom of the Alto Paraná river at the same points where P. motoro stingrays were restrained for mucus sampling. The HEp-2 cell line used in this study was obtained from Institute Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, Brazil, previously acquired from the American Type Culture Collection (CCL2). The mucus samples were collected with sterile swabs, placed in Cary-Blair transportation media and after 18 h of incubation at 37 °C, the bacterial strains were isolated in blood-agar plates.

Some systematic reviews have identified capacity of preferences to impact on trial outcomes

[7] whereas others have not [8]. Zelen designs have also been developed for situations where seeking consent to be randomized may be problematic [9]. Systematic reviews provide evidence of the use of Zelen and patient preference designs in many areas [8] and [10], which might suggest that the underlying problems associated with disappointment, and their implications, are well understood. There have been valuable studies of public understanding of various aspects of randomization [11] and [12]. Qualitative studies have identified preferences to be potentially complex and dynamic, as well as being amenable to dedicated interventions [13]. How information about STA-9090 cost randomization is presented in seeking informed consent has received scrutiny [14] Epacadostat cell line and dedicated interventions have successfully enhanced informed consent and

recruitment to trials [15]. There are also qualitative studies investigating whether and how trial participants react to being randomized [16], though most such studies have been undertaken in clinical contexts where contextual effects may be pronounced, such as neo-natal intensive care units [17]. Cook and Campbell [3] have suggested possible responses to disappointment, ranging from control group participants trying harder by accessing interventions outside trials (termed

“compensatory rivalry”) to participants giving up as a result of disappointment (“resentful demoralization”). Without control of such reactions, trials may be vulnerable to performance bias (1). One leading trialist [18] has gone as far as to suggest that “the next substantive milestone in the history of efforts to create unbiased comparison groups may be erected when someone solves the interesting methodological conundrum presented by biases resulting from patient preferences”. Randomized controlled trials, like other research studies, involve interactions between participants and researchers. Patient preferences may have 4��8C implications for the actual conduct of these studies, although trial design seeks to preclude this possibility, along with any impact on trial outcomes. This preliminary investigation explores how patient preferences may be associated with performance bias in one trial by examining reasons for participation and participant engagement with the research study. In so doing, it seeks to offer a participant-centered view of what it is like to become involved in a trial, in order to better appreciate the potential for biases that stem from research participation itself, which may not be well understood [19]. Case studies are investigations which pay particular attention to the contexts in which data are produced [20].

Coa_NP2 failed to relax endothelium-intact aortic rings that were precontracted with an isosmotic potassium Krebs–Henseleit solution (Fig. 6). Unfortunately, when searching for homologous sequences (for the structural model of Coa_NP2), using the Blast tool, no adequate sequences for ANP or BNP were found stored in the RCSB Protein Data Bank. The best homology (95%) was achieved with a CNP complexed with its receptor (1JDP) [16]. To better understand our structure, we removed the receptor from the global complex and used the CNP (GLSKGCFGLKLDRIGSMSGLGC)

as a model, because its consensus domain is similar to that of the Coa_NP2 (SYGISSGCFGLKLDRIGTMSGLGCWRLLQDSP). After applying the methods of molecular modeling and energy refinement, the most probable structure for Coa_NP2 is shown in Fig. 7A. The overlap of Coa_NP2 after refinement check details and use of the CNP model is shown in Fig. 7B. The structural differences (RMSD 1.79 Å) should be noted; these are probably related to the extensions of the portions C and N terminal Coa_NP2 in relation

to CNP. The overlap (RMSD 0.54 Å) of Coa_NP1 and Coa_NP2 shows that both molecules have very similar structures (Fig. 7C). The comparative analysis between the sequences of Coa_NP1 and Coa_NP2 show a 90% homology approximately (Table 2). This study describes the isolation of a new natriuretic peptide from C. o. abyssus venom (Coa_NP2), whose primary structure selleck screening library was determined as SYGISSGCFGLKLDRIGTMSGLGCWRLLQDSP.

Its purity and average molecular mass were confirmed by mass spectrometry as being 3419.88 Da ( Fig. 2) (the theoretical average molecular mass is 3418.94 Da, monoisotopic molecular mass is 3416.66 Da and PI is 7.78). The primary structure revealed two half cysteines, suggesting the presence of one disulfide bridge. Tertiary structure of Coa_NP2 prevision, when compared to CNP (human), revealed a RMSD difference of 1.79 Å and this effect is probably caused by the extension of the C-terminal of Coa_NP2, but when compared to the structure of Coa_NP1 [5], the RMSD difference is only 0.54 Å. It was expected because Coa_NP1 Idelalisib supplier and Coa_NP2 sequences have homologies of around 90%. We found that the natriuretic peptide isolated from C. o. abyssus venom (Coa_NP2) presented a homologous structure to ANP and BNP. Furthermore, the mean functional findings of this present study were (i) the Coa_NP2 produced a dose-dependent decrease in the mean arterial pressure (Coa_NP2 infusion of 0.25 or 0.50 μg/ml; Fig. 3); (ii) this hypotensive effect occurred along with a significant increase of nitric oxide formation in plasma ( Fig. 4 and Fig. 5); and (iii) the vasorelaxation produced by the natriuretic peptide, Coa_NP2, in thoracic aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine was endothelium-dependent. As it was demonstrated by the vasorelaxation abolition in endothelium-denuded ring preparations ( Fig.

An experimental soil (20 cm depth) was collected from Jodhpur, India (26°18′N 73°01′E), then air dried and sieved through 2 mm mesh. The soil was classified as loamy sand. Organic carbon was estimated by following the method of Walkley and Black [14]. Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were analyzed by Jackson [15]. In addition, pH and electrical conductivity were also measured. The fungi was isolated from rhizosphere soil by initial plating on Martin Rose Bengal Agar medium (Hi-Media, India, pH 7.2) followed by serial dilutions over potato dextrose agar medium supplemented

with chloramphenicol (Sigma–Aldrich, St. Louis, USA) at a concentration of 10 μg mL−1. Isolated fungi was identified up to molecular level by partial sequencing of 18S and 28S rRNA and complete sequence of internal transcribed sequence 1 (ITS-1), Natural Product Library mouse ITS-2 and 5.8S rRNA. The sequence was compared with gene library data available on National Centre of Biotechnology Information (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) using nucleotide blast algorithms, to identify isolated fungal strain using bioinformatics tool ‘blastn’. To synthesize TiO2 nanoparticles,

A. flavus TFR 7 was developed in broth medium (pH 5.8) supplemented Ivacaftor cost with of 0.3% malt extract, 1% sucrose, 0.3% yeast extract, and 0.5% peptone. The culture was kept on shaker at 150 rpm at 28 °C for 72 h to develop fungal ball of mycelia. These mycelia were separated out by filtration Whatman filter paper no. 1 (Whatman, UK) followed by triple washing with deionized water. Reaped mycelia (10 g fresh biomass) were re-suspended in 100 mL deionized water and incubated for 48 h at 28 °C under the same shaking condition as above. The obtained cell Ureohydrolase free filtrate containing extracellular enzymes was used for synthesis of TiO2 NPs, in which precursor salt (Bulk TiO2) was mixed at a concentration of 10−3 M and incubated for 36 h

at 150 rpm and 28 °C to yield fine monodisperse TiO2 NPs, Synthesized nano-crystals were characterized morphologically by transmission electron microscopy (TEM; JEOL JEM-2100F) including high resolution (HR)–TEM mode for crystal phase confirmation, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS; Thermo Noran equipped with TEM) for surface elemental analyses. Since particles were dispersed in water, hydrodynamic diameter was analyzed using dynamic light scattering (DLS; Beckman DelsaNano C, USA). The certified seed (obtained from institutional seed house) were surface-sterilized using 10% sodium hypochlorite solution followed by triple wash with deionized water. After that, five seeds were sown at 3 cm depth in each pot. The pots were placed in a greenhouse with 16 h photoperiod and 30/20 °C day–night temperature, 60% relative humidity and 360 μmol m−2 s−1 photoactive radiation intensity. After 10 days of germination, seedlings were thinned to three per pot. The pots were completely randomized and re-positioned weekly to minimize uneven environmental effects.

The blot was washed twice again for 5 min with T-TBS and twice for 5 min with TBS. The blot was then developed using a chemiluminescence ECL kit. Immunoblots were quantified by scanning the films with a Hewlett-Packard Scanjet 6100C scanner and determining optical densities with an OptiQuant version 02.00 software (Packard Instrument Company). Optical density values were obtained for the studied proteins. RNA

was isolated from striatum PD-0332991 in vivo using the TRIzol Reagent (Invitrogen). Approximately 2 μg of total RNA were added to each cDNA synthesis reaction using the SuperScript-II RT pre-amplication system. Reactions were performed at 42 °C for 1 h using the primer T23 V (5′ TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTTTTV). Quantitative

PCR amplification was carried out using specific primer pairs designed with Oligo Calculator version 3.02 (http://www.basic.nwu.edu/biotools/oligocalc.html) and synthesized by IDT (MG, Brazil). The sequences of the primers used are listed in Table 1. Quantitative PCRs were carried out in an Applied-Biosystem StepOne Plus real-time cycler and done in quadruplicate. Reaction settings were composed of an initial denaturation step of 5 min at 95 °C, followed by 40 cycles of 10 s at 95 °C, 10 s at 60 °C, 10 s at 72 °C; samples were kept for 1 min at 60 °C for annealing and then heated from 55 to 99 °C with a ramp of 0.3 °C/s to acquire data to produce the denaturing curve of the amplified products. Quantitative PCRs were made in a 20 μl final volume composed of 10 μl of each reverse transcription sample diluted 50–100 Target Selective Inhibitor Library supplier times, 2 μl of 10 times PCR buffer, 1.2 μl of 50 mM MgCl2, 0.4 μl of 5 mM dNTPs, 0.8 μl of 5 μM primer pairs, 3.55 μl of water, 2.0 μl of SYBRgreen (1:10,000 Molecular Probe), and 0.05 μl of Platinum Taq tuclazepam DNA polymerase

(5 U/μl). All results were analyzed by the 2 − DDCT method (Livak and Schmittgen, 2001). TBP (TATA box binding protein) was used as the internal control gene for all relative expression calculations. Twelve pups (six per group) were anesthetized using ketamine/xylazine (75 and 10 mg/kg, respectively, i.p.) and were perfused through the left cardiac ventricle with 40 ml of 0,9% saline solution, followed by 40 ml of 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.4, and the descendent aorta was clamped. After the perfusion the brains were removed, post-fixed in the same fixative solution for 4 h at room temperature and cryoprotected by immersing in 15% and after in 30% sucrose solution in PBS at 4 °C. The brains were then frozen by immersion in isopentane cooled with CO2 and stored in a freezer (− 80 °C) for later analyses. Serial coronal sections (40 μm) of striatum were obtained using a cryostat at − 20 °C (Leica).

, 2003). Cltx binds effectively to MMP-2 endogenously expressed by glioma cells ( Deshane et al., 2003 and Veiseh et al., 2007) and exposure results in loss of gelatinase activity, disruption in chloride channel currents, reduction in both MMP-2 and chloride channel expressions, and internalization of chloride channels ( Deshane et al., 2003, McFerrin and Sontheimer, 2006, Soroceanu et al., 1998 and Veiseh et al., 2007). A synthetic version of this peptide (TM601) is being produced by the pharmaceutical industry coupled to iodine 131 (131I-TM601), to carry radiation to tumor cells ( Mamelak and Jacoby, 2007). Pre-clinical studies and phase I clinical trials have been concluded

in patients with recurring glioma. These studies have shown that the intracavitary dose selleck screening library of Selleckchem Bioactive Compound Library 131I-TM601 used was safe, with minimum toxicity, and it bound specifically and effectively to

malignant gliomas for long periods of time. A phase II clinical trial with higher doses of radioactivity and repeated administration of local doses was performed, but the results have not been release yet ( Mamelak et al., 2006 and NIH, 2010). A recent study shows that TM601 inhibited angiogenesis stimulated by pro-angiogenic factors in cancer cells, and when TM601 was co-administered with bevacizumab, the combination was significantly more potent than a ten-fold increase in bevacizumab dose ( Jacoby et al., 2010). Cltx is easily manipulated, binds selectively to glioma cells Dichloromethane dehalogenase and displays low toxicity,

representing a potentially important agent against gliomas. Cltx isolated from the venom of L. quinquestriatus displays amino acid sequence similarity with other animal peptides ( Fig. 1). Among them, there is a 35-amino acid peptide belonging to the family of insectotoxins (ITs), called PBITx1, which was isolated from the venom of the scorpion Parabuthus schlechteri ( Tytgat et al., 1998). ITs belong to a large family of mammalian Na+ channel-selective toxins. Due to the similarities between Cltx and PBITx1, Tytgat et al. (1998) suggest that the new peptide alone could also act specifically on chloride channels ( Fig. 1). Another polypeptide composed of 37 amino acids cross-linked by four disulfide bridges, with high sequence homology to other short toxins such as Cltx, was isolated from the venom of Mesobuthus tamulus and named ButaIT (Buthus tamulus insect toxin) ( Wudayagiri et al., 2001). A recent study shows that ButaIT displays a satisfactory anti-insecticidal activity ( Fitches et al., 2010). There are no studies exploring the possible anti-cancer activity of either ButaIT nor PBITx1; nevertheless, they both show high amino acid sequence homology with Cltx, which might indicate a similar action mechanism upon cancer cells.