Laser immunotherapy with gold nanorods causes selective killing of tumour cells

Therapeutic approaches that exploit nanoparticles to deliver drugs selectively to cancer cells are currently considered one of the most promising avenues in the area of cancer therapeutics. Recently, gold nanorods (AuNRs) have shown promising biological applications due to their unique electronic and optical properties. In this paper, we have demonstrated the anti-cancer potential of gold nanorods with low power laser light. Gold nanorods (AuNRs), surface modified with poly (styrene sulfonate) PSS and functionalized with epidermal growth factor receptor antibody conjugated with gold nanorods (anti-EGFR-AuNRs) were successfully synthesised and characterized by UV-Visible-NIR spectrophotometry and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). Inductively Coupled Plasmon Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) and Immunofluorescence studies confirmed the efficient uptake of these functionalized gold nanorods by human squamous carcinoma cells, A431. The in vitro photothermal therapy was conducted in four groups - control, laser alone, unconjugated AuNRs with laser and anti-EGFR conjugated AuNRs with laser. Phase contrast images have revealed cell morphology changes and cell death after the laser irradiation. In order to determine whether the cell death occur due to apoptosis or necrosis, we have evaluated the biochemical parameters such as lactate dehydrogenase release, reactive oxygen species level, mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-3 activity. Flow cytometry analysis have shown the cell cycle changes after laser irradiation with antibody conjugated gold nanorods. Thus the results of our experiments confirmed that immunolabeled gold nanorods can selectively destruct the cancer cells and induce its apoptosis through ROS mediated mitochondrial pathway under low power laser exposure.     

Methanol extract of dried exudate of Commiphora mukul prevents bone resorption in ovariectomized rats

Context: Gum guggul, a resinous exudate of the plant Commiphora mukul Engl. (Burseraceae), has been found efficacious in the treatment of bone fractures, arthritis, and hyperlipidemic disorders. Objective: The present study is an effort to explore the anti-bone-resorptive potential of the dried methanol extract of the gummy exudate of C. mukul (MECM) in ovariectomized rat model. Materials and methods: The animals were randomly divided into five groups of equal size (n = 6). Animals in all the groups were ovariectomized except group 1, which was sham operated. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated with Raloxifene, MECM 250 mg/kg and MECM 500 mg/kg, respectively. The 2nd group was fed with vehicle. Assessment: biochemical estimations, viz., alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartarate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), serum calcium (Ca); biomechanical evaluations, and histopathological examinations. Results: The LD(50) of MECM was found to be > 2500 mg/kg orally. A significant elevation was observed in the ALP, TRAP, Ca and cholesterol levels in the 2nd group with a significant reduction in biomechnical strength. Groups 3, 4 and 5, showed a significant reduction in TRAP and ALP levels (p < 0.001). The Ca levels were normalized in the groups 4 and 5, while cholesterol levels dropped in group 5. The bone strength, however, was normalized in all the groups (p < 0.001) along with the histopathology. Discussion and conclusion: Findings suggested a significant gain in bone strength and nearly complete restoration of bone microarchitecture along with lowered levels of TRAP indicating the anti-bone resorptive potential of the extract.     

The evaluation of walking footwear on postural stability in healthy older adults: an exploratory study

Background

It has been proposed that walking footwear enhances postural stability in healthy older adults. The aim of the study is to evaluate differences between two different types of athletic footwear in relation to postural stability in healthy older adults.

Methods

A convenience sample of 21 healthy older adults with mean (SD) of 74 (5) years was recruited. Postural stability was measured using a force plate for anterior–posterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) centre of pressure excursion for 30 s with eyes closed and open using two different types of athletic footwear. Each participant performed three repetitions of bipedal standing. Two-way analysis of variance tested the interaction effect of the footwear and eye conditions on anterior–posterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) postural sway.

Findings

There was no significant footwear–eye condition interaction for anterior-posterior(AP) postural sway but there were significant main effects for both the footwear and eye conditions (P < 0.05). The significant main effects for the footwear conditions occurred between barefeet and the two shoe conditions, but not between the two shoe conditions. For mediolateral (ML) postural sway there was no significant interaction effect and no main effects for the footwear and eye conditions (P > 0.05).

Interpretation

The results suggest that older adults demonstrate an initial destabilisation effect which could possibly be of benefit to functional ability but the long-term effects of ability of athletic footwear to enhance postural stability requires further investigation.     

Links between nurses' organisational work environment and upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms: independently of effort-reward imbalance! The ORSOSA study

The role of psychosocial factors in the development of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders has now been clearly demonstrated. However, only a few studies have analysed the association between the organisational work environment and musculoskeletal disorders in health care workers. The main goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that some specific organisational constraints may be related to upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by registered nurses, independently of the effort/reward imbalance model and major confounding factors. In 2006, 2194 female registered nurses in 7 French teaching hospitals, recruited from the baseline screening of an epidemiological cohort study (the ORSOSA study), responded to valid self-report questionnaires (ERI [effort-reward imbalance], Nordic-style questionnaire). The organisational work environment was assessed by the self-rated Nursing Work Index-Extended Organisation scale. Multilevel models were used for analyses. We found that 2 organisational health care constraints: low level of shared values about work between members in the unit and lack of support from the administration were significantly associated with upper limb symptoms, independently of ERI perceptions. This study identified and quantified specific health care organisational factors that have an impact on nurses' upper limb symptoms, sometimes independently of ERI perception. A prospective study is needed to clarify the causal role of psychosocial and organisational work factors in upper limb injury in nurses. Organisational approaches may be more effective in improving health at work and may also have a longer-lasting impact than individual approaches.     

Serum Fetuin-A Levels Are Associated with Vascular Calcifications and Predict Cardiovascular Events in Renal Transplant Recipients

Summary

Background and objectives

Vascular calcifications predict cardiovascular disease, the major cause of death in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). We studied the determinants of fetuin-A, a potent circulating calcification inhibitor encoded by the AHSG gene, and tested its association with vascular calcifications and long-term survival and cardiovascular events (CVEs) in RTRs.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Two hundred seventy-seven prevalent RTRs from a single center were included. CVEs and deaths were prospectively recorded during a 5-year follow-up.

Results

Independent determinants of lower serum fetuin-A levels were lower plasma cholesterol, the AHSG rs4918 G allele, and history of smoking. Low serum fetuin-A level was a determinant of aortic calcifications (assessed using spiral CT). Low fetuin-A levels (≤0.47 g/L, first quintile) were independently associated with CVEs and deaths (hazard ratio = 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 3.04). The association was confirmed for all-cause mortality, and the major adverse cardiovascular endpoints were analyzed separately. Patients with low fetuin-A and high high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (>4.36 mg/L, fourth quintile) levels had a 3.5-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality and CVEs. In the presence of inflammation, CVE-free survival was influenced by common variants in the AHSG gene.

Conclusions

These data show that low fetuin-A levels are independently associated with aortic calcifications and a higher risk of CVEs and mortality. They support fetuin-A as a circulating biomarker able to identify RTRs at risk for vascular calcifications and CVEs.     

Exploring the Ability to Deceive in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The present study explored the relations among lie-telling ability, false belief understanding, and verbal mental age. We found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like typically developing children, can and do tell antisocial lies (to conceal a transgression) and white lies (in politeness settings). However, children with ASD were less able than typically developing children to cover up their initial lie; that is, children with ASD had difficulty exercising semantic leakage control—the ability to maintain consistency between their initial lie and subsequent statements. Furthermore, unlike in typically developing children, lie-telling ability in children with ASD was not found to be related to their false belief understanding. Future research should examine the underlying processes by which children with ASD tell lies.