Synthesis of Novel Cationic Photosensitizers Derived from Chlorin for Application in Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer.

Background: Chlorins (dihydroporphyrins) are tetrapyrrole-based compounds that are more effective in photodynamic therapy than porphyrins. The instability of the compounds and their oxidation to porphyrin limits the use of these compounds. However, the design and synthesis of new stable chlorin-based cationic photosensitizers with the potential for use in cancer photodynamic therapy can be interesting.

Thermosensitive and biodegradable PCL-based hydrogels: potential scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

Due to a lack of sufficient blood supply and unique physicochemical properties, the treatment of injured cartilage is laborious and needs an efficient strategy. Unfortunately, most of the current therapeutic approaches are, but not completely, unable to restore the function of injured cartilage. Tissue engineering-based modalities are an alternative option to reconstruct the injured tissue.

Recent scaffold-based tissue engineering approaches in premature ovarian failure treatment.

Recently, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have received significant attention with outstanding advances. The main scope of this technology is to recover the damaged tissues and organs or to maintain and improve their function. One of the essential fields in tissue engineering is scaffold designing and construction, playing an integral role in damaged tissues reconstruction and repair.

Ultrasensitive and label free electrochemical immunosensor for detection of ROR1 as an oncofetal biomarker using gold nanoparticles assisted LDH/rGO nanocomposite.

In the present article, we developed a highly sensitive label-free electrochemical immunosensor based on NiFe-layered double hydroxides (LDH)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/gold nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode for the determination of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (ROR)-1. In this electrochemical immunoassay platform, NiFe-LDH/rGO was used due to great electron mobility, high specific surface area and flexible structures, while Au nanoparticles were prepared and coated on the modified electrodes to improve the detection sensitivity and ROR1 antibody immobilizing (ROR1Ab). The modification procedure was approved by using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry based on the response of peak current to the step by step modifications.

A comprehensive review of in silico approaches for the prediction and modulation of aldehyde oxidase-mediated drug metabolism: The current features, challenges and future perspectives.

The importance of aldehyde oxidase (AOX) in drug metabolism necessitates the development and application of the in silico rational drug design methods as an integral part of drug discovery projects for the early prediction and modulation of AOX-mediated metabolism. The current study represents an up-to-date and thorough review of in silico studies of AOX-mediated metabolism and modulation methods. In addition, the challenges and the knowledge gap that should be covered have been discussed.

Synthesis of 7,12-bis(4-(di(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methyl)phenyl)benzo[k]fluoranthene from a new dialdehyde as a novel fluorometric bis-Dipyrromethane derivative.

Dipyrromethanes are useful mediator structures which can be used as a part of other molecules such as bis-porphyrins and their derivations. Various methods have been developed for their synthesis. This study presents the synthesis of a new bis-dipyrromethane, 7,12-bis(4-(di(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methyl)phenyl)benzo[k]fluoranthene, using the Lewis acid catalyzed reaction between a new dialdehyde and pyrrole at room temperature.

Novel hybrid polyester-polyacrylate hydrogels enriched with platelet-derived growth factor for chondrogenic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.

Background: The goal of the present study was to create a new biodegradable hybrid PCL-P (HEMA-NIPAAm) thermosensitive hydrogel scaffold by grafting PNIPAAm-based copolymers with biodegradable polyesters to promote the chondrogenic differentiation of human progenitor cells (adipose-derived stem cells-hASCs) in the presence of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB). Different mixture ratios including 50 mmol ε-caprolactone and 10 mmol HEMA (S-1), 30 mmol ε-caprolactone and 10 mmol HEMA (S-2), 10 mmol ε-caprolactone and 30 mmol HEMA (S-3) were copolymerized followed by the addition of NIPAAm.

Results: A mild to moderate swelling and wettability rates were found in S-2 group copmpared to the S-1 ans S-3 samples.

Molecular Epidemiology of Outbreak in a Major Secondary-Care Hospital in Kuwait.

The emerging, often multidrug-resistant is increasingly being associated with outbreaks in healthcare facilities. Here we describe the molecular epidemiology of a outbreak during 18 months, which started in 2018 in the high dependency unit (HDU) of a secondary-care hospital in Kuwait. Demographic and clinical data for candidemia and colonized patients were prospectively recorded.

Therapeutic potentials of Apatinib in cancer treatment: Possible mechanisms and clinical relevance.

Metastasis is one of the main issues in cancer treatment and it has been documented that angiogenesis plays an important role in this process. Studies showed that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGFR) have elevated expression in tumors and are involved in tumor progression and metastasis; suggesting their potential for being a therapeutic target. In this regard, Apatinib or YN968D1, a specific inhibitor of VEGFR-2 has been suggested as a promising therapeutic agent for cancer that can prevent tumor angiogenesis and metastasis.

Developing a high-performance liquid chromatography fast and accurate method for quantification of silibinin.

Objective: Silibinin is an antioxidant agent and is shown to have anticancer effects in different cancers including lung, breast, colorectal, liver, prostate, and kidney. There are challenges in the clinical use of silibinin. The main limitation is low solubility, poor oral absorption, and extensive hepatic metabolism.

Application of hairpin DNA-based biosensors with various signal amplification strategies in clinical diagnosis.

Biosensors have been commonly used in biomedical diagnostic tools in recent years, because of a wide range of application, such as point-of-care monitoring of treatment and disease progression, drug discovery, commonly use food control, environmental monitoring and biomedical research. Additionally, development of DNA biosensors has been increased enormously over the past few years as confirmed by the large number of scientific publications in this field. A wide range of techniques can be used for the development of DNA biosensors, such as DNA nano-machines and various signal amplification strategies.

Targeted superparamagnetic nanoparticles coated with 2-deoxy-d-gloucose and doxorubicin more sensitize breast cancer cells to ionizing radiation.

Introduction: Nanoparticles are promising as a new approach to enhance chemo- radiotherapy efficiency in breast cancer mainly via targeted therapy.

Materials & Methods: SKBR3 and T47D breast cancer cells were treated with superparamagnetic mesoporous hydroxyapatite nanocomposites (SPmHANs)conjugated with 1 μM doxorubicin and 0.5 mM 2-Deoxy-d-Glucose and irradiated with 1 and 2 Gy gamma rays in vitro.

Acute and Subchronic Toxicity Study of the Median Septum of in Wistar Rats.

Median septum of Juglans regia L. (Juglandaceae) with anti-diabetic effects has been used in Iranian traditional medicine. The present study estimates both oral acute and subchronic toxicities.

Multifunctional Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles: From Synthesis to siRNA Delivery.

Background: Targeted delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to the specific tumor tissues and cells is the key challenge in the development of RNA interference as a therapeutic application.

Methods: To target breast cancer, we developed a cationic nanoparticle as a therapeutic delivery system. The successful synthesis of the magnetic nanoparticles modified by polyaspartate (PAA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) was confirmed using fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) measurements.

Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia K562 Cells by an Active Compound from the Dithio- Carbamate Family.

Previous studies suggested that dithio-carbamates are potent apoptosis and anti-apoptosis inducing agents in various cancer cells. Here, the anti-proliferative and apoptosis inducing effects of a new derivative (2-NDC) from the dithio-carbamate family was examined in human leukemia K562 cells. We use thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) to measure viability and cell growth inhibition.

Evaluation of the cytotoxic, apoptosis inducing activity and molecular docking of spiroquinazolinone benzamide derivatives in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Previous studies have suggested that quinazolinone derivatives are potent apoptosis-inducing agents in various cancer cell lines. In the present study, we have investigated cytotoxic, apoptosis induction, and molecular docking activities of the spiroquinazolinone benzamide derivatives family on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The MTT cytotoxicity assays and docking studies showed that 4t-CHQB was the most active compound among the prepared spiroquinazolinone benzamide compounds with IC50 of 50 ± 1.

Novel polyacrylate-based cationic nanoparticles for survivin siRNA delivery combined with mitoxantrone for treatment of breast cancer.

As a gene delivery method in breast cancer therapy, knocking down the undesired genes in the cancerous cells would be promising. Inhibitors of Apoptosis Protein (IAP) family genes are some of the genes whose responsibility is inhibition of apoptosis in cells. Silencing these genes seems to be helpful directing the tumor cells to death.

Inhibition of guinea pig aldehyde oxidase activity by different flavonoid compounds: An in vitro study.

Aldehyde oxidase (AO), a cytosolic molybdenum-containing hydroxylase, is predominantly active in liver and other tissues of mammalian species and involved in the metabolism of extensive range of aldehydes and nitrogen-containing compounds. A wide range of natural components including polyphenols are able to interfere with AO-catalyzed reactions. Polyphenols and flavonoids are one of the extensive secondary plant metabolites ubiquitously present in plants considered an important part of the human diet.

Nanoparticles promise new methods to boost oncology outcomes in breast cancer.

Different types of treatment are available for patients with breast cancer, the most being radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and combination therapy. Recently, nanoparticles have been emerging as promising agents for cancer therapy and are being investigated as contrast agents, drug carriers, radiosensitizers and also for hyperthermia effects. In this review the focus is on approaches for targeted treatment of breast cancer by combining nanoparticles, chemodrugs and radiation.

Combination therapy increases the efficacy of docetaxel, vinblastine and tamoxifen in cancer cells.

Introduction: Developing novel strategies to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy is an urgent need. We investigated the impact of combination therapy with docetaxel, or vinblastine with tamoxifen in inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and H1299 cells.

Materials And Methods: Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and the percentage of apoptotic cells was measured using DAPI staining.

Inhibition of survivin restores the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to docetaxel and vinblastine.

Combination therapy is considered a viable strategy to overcome the resistance to chemotherapeutics. Survivin as a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, which is involved in resistance to various drugs. We investigated the role of combination therapy in downregulating survivin and increasing drug's efficacy in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Targeted fluoromagnetic nanoparticles for imaging of breast cancer mcf-7 cells.

Purpose: To achieve simultaneous imaging and therapy potentials, targeted fluoromagnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and examined in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

Methods: Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through thermal decomposition of Fe(acac)3. Then, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) modified by dopamine-poly ethylene glycol (PEG)-NH2; finally, half equivalent fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and half equivalent folic acid were conjugated to one equivalent of it.

Hysterical paralysis and premature burial: a medieval Persian case, fear and fascination in the West, and modern practice.

Premature burial (taphophobia) is an ancient fear, but it became especially common in 18th and 19th century Europe and may have a modern-day counterpart. Examination of a well-documented case from medieval Persia reveals the importance of funeral practices in the risk of actual premature burial and sheds light on the question of why taphophobia became so prevalent in Europe during the early industrial revolution period. The medieval Persian case was attributed to hysterical paralysis (conversion).

Tamoxifen loaded folic acid armed PEGylated magnetic nanoparticles for targeted imaging and therapy of cancer.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely used as drug delivery nanosystems and contrast agent for imaging and detection. To engineer multifunctional nanomedicines for simultaneous imaging and therapy of cancer cells, in the current study, we synthesized tamoxifen (TMX) loaded folic acid (FA) armed MNPs to target the folate receptor (FR) positive cancer cells. To this end, Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through thermal decomposition of Fe(acac)3.