Effect of purslane seed supplementation on inflammatory cytokines,oxidative stress and muscle damage in response to high-intensity intermittent exercise in national athlete runners

Sport Sciences for Health - Purslane supplementation has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, skeletal muscle-relaxant activities. However, it is unknown if the ingestion of purslane will affect the...     

Predictive ability of C-reactive protein for early mortality after ischemic stroke: comparison with NIHSS score

We aimed to compare the association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score with mortality risk and to determine the optimal threshold of CRP for prediction of mortality in ischemic-stroke patients. A series of 162 patients with first-ever ischemic-stroke admitted within 24 h after onset of symptoms was enrolled. CRP and NIHSS score were estimated on admission and their predictive abilities for mortality at 7 days were determined by logistic-regression analyses. Receiver-Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were depicted to identify the optimal cut-off of CRP, using the maximum Youden-index and the shortest-distance methods. Deceased patients had higher levels of CRP and NIHSS on admission (8.87 ± 7.11 vs. 2.20 ± 4.71 mg/l for CRP, and 17.31 ± 6.36 vs. 8.70 ± 4.85 U for NIHSS, respectively, P < 0.01). CRP and NIHSS were correlated with each other (r ² = 0.39, P < 0.001) and were also independently associated with increased risk of mortality [odds ratios (95 % confidence interval) of 1.16 (1.05–1.28) and 1.20 (1.07–1.35) for CRP and NIHSS, respectively, P < 0.01]. The areas under the ROC curves of CRP and NIHSS for mortality were 0.82 and 0.84, respectively. The CRP value of 2.2 mg/l was identified as the optimal cut-off value for prediction of mortality within 7 days (sensitivity: 0.81, specificity: 0.80). Thus, CRP as an independent predictor of mortality following ischemic-stroke is comparable with NIHSS and the value of 2.2 mg/l yields the optimum sensitivity and specificity for mortality prediction.     

Systematic review and metaanalysis of air pollution exposure and risk of diabetes

The present systematic review and metaanalysis of published observational studies was conducted to assess the health effects of exposure to air pollution on diabetes risk. Online databases were searched through January 2013, and the reference lists of pertinent articles reporting observational studies in humans were examined. Pooled relative risks and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated with a random-effects model. Exposure to air pollution was associated with slight increase in risk of diabetes and susceptibility of people with diabetes to air pollution. These results were consistent between time-series, case-crossover and cohort studies and between studies conducted in North America and Europe. The association between exposure to air pollution and diabetes was stronger for gaseous pollutants than for particulate matter. Our metaanalysis suggests that exposure to air pollution may be a risk factor for diabetes and increase susceptibility of people with diabetes to air pollution.     

CD44‐Targeted Docetaxel Conjugate for Cancer Cells and Cancer Stem‐Like Cells: A Novel Hyaluronic Acid‐Based Drug Delivery System

A CD44‐targeted macromolecular conjugate of docetaxel was prepared via a pH‐sensitive linkage to hyaluronic acid and was characterized using NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. The conjugated species were further evaluated in terms of drug release, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, cell cycle inhibition, and subacute toxicity in mice. Cellular microscopic studies revealed that CD44‐expressing cells including MCF‐7 cancer stem cells and MDA‐MB‐231 metastatic breast cancer cells had internalized the conjugates via a selective receptor‐mediated mechanism, leading to cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Hyaluronic acid–docetaxel conjugates showed specific toxicity only in CD44‐expressing cells in vitro, along with a decreased risk of neutropenia and dose‐dependent mortality in vivo. Hyaluronic acid–drug conjugates represent a promising and efficient platform for solubilization of sparingly soluble molecules as well as active and selective targeted delivery to cancer cells and cancer stem cells.     

Application of different fertilizers on morphological traits of dill (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anethum graveolens</Emphasis> L.)

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of nitroxin biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer on the growth, yield, and essential oil composition of dill. The experiment was conducted under field condition in randomized complete block design with three replications and two factors.

Results

The first factor was the concentrations of nitroxin biofertilizer (0%, 50%, and 100%) of the recommended amount (1 l of biological fertilizer for 30 kg of seed). The second factor was the following chemical fertilizer treatments: no fertilizer (control) and 50 and 100 kg ha^?1 urea along with 300 kg ha^?1 ammonium phosphate. Different characteristics such as plant height, number of umbel per plant, number of umbellet per umbel, number of grain per umbellet, 1,000 seed weight, grain yield, biological yield, and oil percentage were recorded. According to the results, the highest height, biological yield, and grain yield components (except harvest index) were obtained on biological fertilizer. The results showed the highest essential oil content detected in biological fertilizer and chemical fertilizer. Identification of essential oil composition showed that the content of carvone increased with the application of biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers. The results indicated that the application of biofertilizers enhanced yield and other plant criteria in this plant.

Conclusions

Generally, it seems that the use of biofertilizers or combinations of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer could improve dill performance in addition to reduction of environmental pollution.

     

Antibacterial,antibiofilm, and antiquorum sensing activities of phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles fabricated from Mespilus germanica extract against multidrug resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical strains

The aim of the present work was to investigate the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antiquorum sensing activities of phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) fabricated from Mespilus germanica extract against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Fifty strains of K. pneumoniae were isolated from various clinical specimens. Biofilm-forming strains were identified using Congo red agar and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Subsequently, the antibacterial activity of phytosynthesized AgNPs on MDR K. pneumoniae strains was investigated by broth microdilution assay and agar well-diffusion method. Finally (in the last step), the antibiofilm activity of phytosynthesized AgNPs was determined using microtiter plate assay and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) methods for the analysis of type 3 fimbriae (mrkA) and quorum-sensing system (luxS) gene expression. The results of this study showed that the phytosynthesized AgNPs had a spherical nanostructure with the mean size of 17.60 nm. The AgNPs exhibited dose-dependent antibacterial activity. The results of the microtiter plate and RT-PCR methods show that AgNPs inhibited the biofilm formation in MDR K. pneumoniae strains, and the expressions of mrkA and luxS genes were downregulated significantly in MDR strains after treatment with a subminimum inhibitory concentration of AgNPs. In conclusion, AgNPs effectively prevent the formation of biofilms and kill bacteria in established biofilms, which suggests that AgNPs might be a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of biofilm-related infections caused by MDR K. pneumoniae strains.     

Mental and personality disorders in infertile women with polycystic ovary: a case-control study

BackgroundPolycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of infertility in women.ObjectiveThe current study investigated mental and personality disorders in infertile women with and without PCOS.MethodsThis case-control study evaluated 400 infertile women who referred to the Infertility Center in Babol city (North of Iran). Participants were categorized into the case group (201 PCOS) and the control group (199 without PCOS). All of the participants completed the Millon Clinical Multi-axial Inventory-III (MCMI-III).ResultsThe mean scores for clinical personality patterns were significantly higher for six personality disorders (schizoid, avoidant, antisocial, depressive, sadistic, and negativistic) and for three classes of severe personality disorder patterns (schizotypal, borderline, and paranoid) in infertile women with PCOS than in women without PCOS. The mean scores for eight clinical disorders (somatoform, manic disorder, dysthymia, alcohol-dependence, drug-dependence, post-trauma stress disorder, major depression, and delusion disorder) were also higher in infertile women with PCOS than in women without PCOS.ConclusionThe scores of many mental and personality disorders are higher in infertile women with PCOS than in women without PCOS. Thus, clinicians should prioritize recognizing and treating psychological problems of infertile women with PCOS.     

From genes polymorphisms to mucosal expression of cytokines: evaluating IL-23/IL-17 axis in adult patients with gastritis

Background and ObjectiveChronic inflammation is the typical sign of gastritis that may shift into gastric cancer. IL-17A and IL-17F as a novel inflammatory cytokines subset of CD4+Th play the main role in inflammation. A key cytokine receptor in the inflammatory IL-17/IL-23 axis, the interleukin 23 receptor (IL23R), may be related to gastritis. We evaluated the correspondence between IL-17A G197A, IL-17F A7488G and IL23R+2199 A/C polymorphisms with TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-23 mucosal mRNAs expression in uninfected H. Pylori (HP) chronic gastritis patients.Materials and MethodsTotal RNA and genomic DNA were separated from gastric biopsies of 44 patients with gastritis. Subsequently, mucosal mRNAs expression of TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-23 were assessed by real-time PCR. To polymorphisms determination of IL-17A G197A, IL-17F A7488G and IL-23R +2199A/C the PCR-RFLP was used in gastric biopsies.ResultsResults point that IL-17A G197A, IL-17F A7488G and IL23R +2199A/C polymorphisms did not influence the mucosal expression of TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-21 (p> 0.05). In an opposite result, we don''t find a correspondence between IL-17A G197A, IL-17F A7488G polymorphisms and mucosal expression of IL-23 (p> 0.05). In a contrary, we found a correlation between IL23R +2199A/C polymorphism and mucosal expression of IL-23 in patients with chronic gastritis (p< 0.05).ConclusionThese findings propose that IL23R +2199A/C polymorphism may change the mucosal expression of IL-23 pattern in patients with gastritis disease in the absence of HP, but to support the conclusion, more research may be required.     

Comparing the effect of Toll-like receptor agonist adjuvants on the efficiency of a DNA vaccine

We have investigated whether poly(I:C) Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and resiquimod Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonists can serve as vaccine adjuvants and promote the efficiency of therapeutic DNA vaccination against tumors expressing the human papilloma virus 16 (HPV-16) E7 protein. For this purpose, C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with 2 × 10⁵ TC-1 cells, and they were then immunized with HPV-16 E7 DNA vaccine alone or with 50 μg of resiquimod or poly(I:C) individually. We found that poly(I:C) and resiquimod could induce more antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation and cytolytic activity compared to vaccination with E7 DNA alone. While E7 DNA had no significant inhibitory effect on tumor growth, co-administration of poly(I:C) and resiquimod with E7 DNA induced significant tumor regression. Peripheral and local cytokine assays demonstrated that co-administration of poly(I:C) and resiquimod with E7 DNA induced circulating antigen-specific IFN-γ and nonspecific intratumoral IL-12. TLR3 and TLR7 agonists can be used to enhance the immune response to DNA vaccine immunogens. Taken together, these data indicate that combined vaccination with DNA encoding HPV-16 E7 plus TLR agonists provides a strategy for improving the efficacy of a vaccine as a possible immunotherapeutic strategy for cervical cancer.     

Systems Medicine: from molecular features and models to the clinic in COPD

Background and hypothesis

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients are characterized by heterogeneous clinical manifestations and patterns of disease progression. Two major factors that can be used to identify COPD subtypes are muscle dysfunction/wasting and co-morbidity patterns. We hypothesized that COPD heterogeneity is in part the result of complex interactions between several genes and pathways. We explored the possibility of using a Systems Medicine approach to identify such pathways, as well as to generate predictive computational models that may be used in clinic practice.

Objective and method

Our overarching goal is to generate clinically applicable predictive models that characterize COPD heterogeneity through a Systems Medicine approach. To this end we have developed a general framework, consisting of three steps/objectives: (1) feature identification, (2) model generation and statistical validation, and (3) application and validation of the predictive models in the clinical scenario. We used muscle dysfunction and co-morbidity as test cases for this framework.

Results

In the study of muscle wasting we identified relevant features (genes) by a network analysis and generated predictive models that integrate mechanistic and probabilistic models. This allowed us to characterize muscle wasting as a general de-regulation of pathway interactions. In the co-morbidity analysis we identified relevant features (genes/pathways) by the integration of gene-disease and disease-disease associations. We further present a detailed characterization of co-morbidities in COPD patients that was implemented into a predictive model. In both use cases we were able to achieve predictive modeling but we also identified several key challenges, the most pressing being the validation and implementation into actual clinical practice.

Conclusions

The results confirm the potential of the Systems Medicine approach to study complex diseases and generate clinically relevant predictive models. Our study also highlights important obstacles and bottlenecks for such approaches (e.g. data availability and normalization of frameworks among others) and suggests specific proposals to overcome them.