Nanotechnology-Abetted Astaxanthin Formulations in Multimodel Therapeutic and Biomedical Applications.

Astaxanthin (AXT) is one of the most important fat-soluble carotenoids that have abundant and diverse therapeutic applications namely in liver disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer treatment, protection of the nervous system, protection of the skin and eyes against UV radiation, and boosting the immune system. However, due to its intrinsic reactivity, it is chemically unstable, and therefore, the design and production processes for this compound need to be precisely formulated. Nanoencapsulation is widely applied to protect AXT against degradation during digestion and storage, thus improving its physicochemical properties and therapeutic effects.

Controlled Gene Delivery Systems: Nanomaterials and Chemical Approaches.

Successful gene therapy depends on the design of effective gene delivery systems. A gene delivery system is considered a powerful tool for the release of genetic material within cells resulting in a change in cell functions and protein production. The release of genes in a controlled manner by using appropriate carriers facilitates their release without side effects and increases the expression of genes at the released site.

Stimulus-Responsive Sequential Release Systems for Drug and Gene Delivery.

In recent years, a range of studies have been conducted with the aim to design and characterize delivery systems that are able to release multiple therapeutic agents in controlled and programmed temporal sequences, or with spatial resolution inside the body. This sequential release occurs in response to different stimuli, including changes in pH, redox potential, enzyme activity, temperature gradients, light irradiation, and by applying external magnetic and electrical fields. Sequential release (SR)-based delivery systems, are often based on a range of different micro- or nanocarriers and may offer a silver bullet in the battle against various diseases, such as cancer.

Aptamer Hybrid Nanocomplexes as Targeting Components for Antibiotic/Gene Delivery Systems and Diagnostics: A Review.

With the passage of time and more advanced societies, there is a greater emergence and incidence of disease and necessity for improved treatments. In this respect, nowadays, aptamers, with their better efficiency at diagnosing and treating diseases than antibodies, are at the center of attention. Here, in this review, we first investigate aptamer function in various fields (such as the detection and remedy of pathogens, modification of nanoparticles, antibiotic delivery and gene delivery).

The Pimpled Gold Nanosphere: A Superior Candidate for Plasmonic Photothermal Therapy.

Background: The development of highly efficient nanoparticles to convert light to heat for anti-cancer applications is quite a challenging field of research.

Methods: In this study, we synthesized unique pimpled gold nanospheres (PGNSs) for plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT). The light-to-heat conversion capability of PGNSs and PPTT damage at the cellular level were investigated using a tissue phantom model.

Apelin attenuates streptozotocin-induced learning and memory impairment by modulating necroptosis signaling pathway.

Apelin is a neuropeptide that plays an important role in neuronal protection. In this study, we investigated the effects of apelin intracerebroventricular administration on spatial learning and memory-related behaviors, and necroptosis signaling pathways in the hippocampus of streptozotocin (STZ) -injected rats. Apelin treatment was implemented following STZ-induced dementia for 15 days.

Penetration Depth in Nanoparticles Incorporated Radiofrequency Hyperthermia into the Tissue: Comprehensive Study with Histology and Pathology Observations.

In present study, the effective penetration of radiofrequency (RF) induced gold decorated iron oxide nanoparticles (GS@IONPs) hyperthermia was investigated. The effective penetration depth of RF also the damage potency of hyperthermia was evaluated during histopathology observations which were done on the chicken breast tissue and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) models. The thermal damages are well- documented in our previous cellular study which was engaged with potency of RF hyperthermia in Epithelial adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and fibroblast (L-929) cells deaths [1].

Electrospun essential oil-polycaprolactone nanofibers as antibiofilm surfaces against clinical Candida tropicalis isolates.

Objective: As an approach to prevent biofilm infections caused by Candida tropicalis on various surfaces, determination of effect of biodegradable polycaprolactone nanofibers (PCLNFs) with different concentrations of two different essential oils were tested in this study.

Results: Both of the tested essential oils exhibited antifungal effect (minimal inhibitory concentration; 0.25-0.

Thymulin treatment attenuates inflammatory pain by modulating spinal cellular and molecular signaling pathways.

Thymulin is a peptide hormone which is mainly produced by thymic epithelial cells and it has immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of different doses and various timings of thymulin intraperitoneal administration on spinal microglial activity and intracellular pathways in an inflammatory rat model of Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Thymulin treatment was implemented following CFA-induced inflammation for 21 days.

Time-course study of high fat diet induced alterations in spatial memory, hippocampal JNK, P38, ERK and Akt activity.

Consumption of high fat diet (HFD) is a health concern in modern societies, which participate in wide range of diseases. One underlying mechanism in the HFD mediated pathologies is disruption of insulin signaling activity. It is believed that HFD activates several stress signaling molecules such as MAPKs signaling pathway and these molecules participate in harmful effects in different cell populations including hippocampal cells.

Survival and reoperation after valve-sparing root replacement and root repair in acute type A dissection.

Objective: Optimal treatment of the dissected root in type A dissection is still controversial. Valve-sparing techniques offer the advantage of better valve performance compared with mechanical valves or bioprostheses. The role of the different valve-preserving methods-root repair and replacement-needs further evaluation.

Effect of green gold nanoparticles synthesized with plant on the flexural strength of heat-polymerized acrylic resin.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gold nanoparticle on the flexural strength of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

Materials And Methods: PMMA specimens (65 mm × 10 mm × 3.3 mm) containing different sizes (45 nm, 55 nm, and 65 nm) and concentrations (0.

Optical assays based on colloidal inorganic nanoparticles.

Colloidal inorganic nanoparticles have wide applications in the detection of analytes and in biological assays. A large number of these assays rely on the ability of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, in the 20 nm diameter size range) to undergo a color change from red to blue upon aggregation. AuNP assays can be based on cross-linking, non-cross linking or unmodified charge-based aggregation.

Point-of-care microfluidic devices for pathogen detection.

The rapid diagnosis of pathogens is crucial in the early stages of treatment of diseases where the choice of the correct drug can be critical. Although conventional cell culture-based techniques have been widely utilized in clinical applications, newly introduced optical-based, microfluidic chips are becoming attractive. The advantages of the novel methods compared to the conventional techniques comprise more rapid diagnosis, lower consumption of patient sample and valuable reagents, easy application, and high reproducibility in the detection of pathogens.

Presence of reduced regional left ventricular function even in the absence of left ventricular wall scar tissue in the long term after repair of an anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

Background: We sought to assess left ventricular regional function in patients with and without left ventricular wall scar tissue in the long term after repair of an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

Methods: A total of 20 patients aged 12.8±7.

Low noise patch-clamp current amplification by nanoparticles plasmonic-photonic coupling (analysis and modelling).

In this article, a patch-clamp low noise current amplification based on nanoparticles plasmonic radiation is analyzed. It is well-known, a very small current is flowing from different membrane channels and so, for extra processing the current amplification is necessary. It is notable that there are some problems in traditional electronic amplifier due to its noise and bandwidth problem.

Anti-biofilm effect of nanometer scale silver (NmSAg) coatings on glass and polystyrene surfaces against P. mirabilis, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis strains.

Purpose: Nowadays, in order to terminate biofilm associated infections, coating of particular biomaterial surfaces with particular substances, via some nanotechnological tools, is being applied. Therefore, in the present study, investigation of anti-biofilm effects of nanometer scale silver (NmSAg) coatings on glass and polystyrene surfaces against clinical strains of Proteus mirabilis, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis was aimed.

Methods: In this study, glass and polystyrene slabs with 1.

Myocardial perfusion, scarring, and function in anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery syndrome: a long-term analysis using magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart defect. We aimed to examine the role of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the long-term surveillance of repaired ALCAPA with regard to myocardial scarring, wall motion abnormalities, perfusion deficits, and myocardial function.

Methods: Twenty-one patients after direct reimplantation of ALCAPA (median age at operation, 2.

Autologous CD133+ bone marrow cells and bypass grafting for regeneration of ischaemic myocardium: the Cardio133 trial.

Aims: Intra-myocardial transplantation of CD133(+) bone marrow stem cells (BMC) yielded promising results in clinical pilot trials. We now performed the double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled CARDIO133 trial to determine its impact on left ventricular (LV) function and clinical symptoms.

Methods And Results: Sixty patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease and impaired LV function (left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF <35%) were randomized to undergo either coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and injection of CD133(+) BMC in the non-transmural, hypokinetic infarct border zone (CD133), or CABG and placebo injection (placebo).

Hemodynamic outcomes of geometric ring annuloplasty for aortic valve repair: a 4-center pilot trial.

Objectives: A geometric annuloplasty ring could improve efficacy and stability of aortic valve repair. Toward this goal, a 1-piece 3-dimensional titanium annuloplasty ring with Dacron covering was developed and tested successfully in animals. The purpose of this study was to define hemodynamic outcomes with this device used as the annuloplasty component of human aortic valve repair.

Cardiac cell therapy and bypass surgery.

More than 10 years ago, the first clinical application of cardiac cell therapy was performed in a patient undergoing coronary bypass grafting (CABG). Ever since, catheter-based cell delivery approaches have dominated the field, but surgical cell therapy continues to provide important information on safety and efficacy of various cell therapy strategies. The open chest offers unrivalled simplicity and precision of intramyocardial cell injection, and the cardiac surgical patient population includes those with very advanced heart disease who are in greatest need of innovative regeneration concepts.

Repair of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in infants and children.

Objective: Although mortality after direct aortic reimplantation for anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) has significantly decreased, many questions remain unanswered.

Methods: Between 1986 and June 2010, we operated on 27 consecutive pediatric patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). All patients underwent reestablishment of a dual coronary system with direct aortic reimplantation of the left coronary artery into the aorta.

Combined anterior mitral valve leaflet retention plasty and septal myectomy in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: Septal myectomy is the treatment of choice for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) with significant left-ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. In some HOCM patients, however, systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the anterior mitral leaflet significantly contributes to LVOT obstruction, resulting in mitral regurgitation and insufficient release of the obstruction after myectomy. We, therefore, developed a strategy of combined myectomy and anterior leaflet retention plasty (ALRP), and investigated its results in adult HOCM patients with manifest SAM.

Onset of pulmonary stenosis after arterial switch operation for transposition of great arteries with intact ventricular septum.

Introduction: Pulmonary stenosis remains the most frequent complication and cause of reintervention after the arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries We investigated the onset, incidence, and outcome of pulmonary stenosis after arterial switch operation in neonates with transposition of the great arteries and intact ventricular septum.

Methods: Arterial switch operation using Lecompte maneuver was performed in 222 neonates with transposition of great arteries and intact ventricular septum. Complete medical records with serial echocardiograms were available for 174 (73%) patients and were reviewed for incidence of postoperative pulmonary stenosis defined as a thickened and doming pulmonary valve and/or a pressure gradient of >25 mmHg.