Evaluation of the gastric antiulcerogenic effects of Portulaca oleracea L. extracts in mice

Portulaca oleracea is commonly used in Iranian folk medicine. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were studied in mice for their ability to inhibit gastric lesions induced by HCl or absolute ethanol. In addition, their effects on gastric acid secretion were measured. Both extracts showed a dose-dependent reduction in severity of ulcers. The highest dose of extracts exerted similar activity to sucralfate. The oral and intraperitoneal administration of extracts reduced the gastric acidity in pylorus-ligated mice. These results suggest that Portulaca oleracea has gastroprotective action and validates its use in folk medicine for gastrointestinal diseases.     

Known and potential molecules associated with altered B cell development leading to predominantly antibody deficiencies

Predominantly antibody deficiencies (PADs) encompass a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by low immunoglobulin serum levels in the presence or absence of peripheral B cells. Clinical presentation of affected patients may include recurrent respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, invasive infections, autoimmune manifestations, allergic reactions, lymphoproliferation, and increased susceptibility to malignant transformation. In the last decades, several genetic alterations affecting B-cell development/maturation have been identified as causative of several forms of PADs, adding important information on the genetic background of PADs, which in turn should lead to a better understanding of these disorders and precise clinical management of affected patients. This review aimed to present a comprehensive overview of the known and potentially involved molecules in the etiology of PADs to elucidate the pathogenesis of these disorders and eventually offer a better prognosis for affected patients.     

Using bipedicled myocutaneous Tripier flap to correct ectropion after excision of lower eyelid basal cell carcinoma

Many techniques have been described for correcting ectropion, but when the ectropion follows skin cancer excision, only a technique that replaces missing skin should be used. The bipedicled Tripier flap tends to give some excess bulk at each end but gives an excellent correction of ectropion. The aim of this study was to apply musculocutaneous bipedicled Tripier flap from upper lid for correction of ectropion due to previous excision of lower-lid malignancies and evaluate its outcome. This was a prospective case-series study. In this study, 15 patients (6 women, 9 men), ranging from 35 to 72 years old (mean, 51 years) underwent operation with Tripier flap for reconstruction of ectropion because of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) resection. In patients with ectropion, Tripier flap with or without ear or nasal septal cartilage was used for reconstruction of deformities 3 months after lower-lid reconstruction with local flaps. All patients were satisfied, and ectropion was corrected in all cases. There were no complications such as dry eye or corneal abrasion after operation. Also, we had not any case of ischemic flap. We suggest that Tripier flap is one of the best methods for reconstruction of lower-lid retraction or ectropion. This is a desirable method, functionally and aesthetically.     

A simple quantitative affinity capturing assay of poliovirus antigens and subviral particles by single-domain antibodies using magnetic beads

Recently, single-domain recombinant antibody fragments (VHHs or nanobodies) against poliovirus type 1 were isolated. To examine the antigenicity of poliovirus using these recombinant VHHs, an alternative technique mimicking protein A immunoprecipitation had to be developed that was designed specifically for VHHs. The current study validated an affinity capturing assay that is based on the magnetic separation of unbound antigen and antigen-VHH complexes. The technique is simple, fast, reliable, quantitative and inexpensive and was employed to assess the reactivity of 15 VHHs for native infectious poliovirus (N antigen), heat-denatured virus (H antigen) and 14S subviral particles. Three distinct subsets of VHHs were tentatively distinguished based on their specificity for the antigens: one that binds only to 14S precursors, another that binds to the H antigen and a third that binds to the N antigen. Some VHHs of the latter two subsets bound 14S subviral particles with equal affinity but others had at least 100-fold less affinity for the precursors. All neutralizing VHHs were demonstrated to recognize N antigen and all N-specific VHHs were shown to be neutralizing. This study corroborates the findings that VHHs mainly target conformational epitopes and that they target additional epitopes as compared to classical antibodies. The described technique may be useful for epitope mapping and tracking conformational changes of proteins.     

Characteristics,sources, and health risks of atmospheric PM10-bound heavy metals in a populated middle eastern city

ABSTRACT

This study reports on the characteristics, sources, and health risks of atmospheric PM₁₀-bound heavy metals (HMs) on citizenship living in different regions of Ahvaz, Southwest of Iran were investigated during 2016–2017. A total of 84 samples were analyzed from different regions: (S1) industrial, (S2) high traffic, and (S3) residential. Blood samples were collected from people who came to the east health center of Ahvaz. High volume air samplers, equipped with quartz fiber filters (8?×?10) were utilized for sampling in this study. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was also used for HMs. Risk assessment and hazard index of these pollutants were estimated, using USEPA’s exposure parameters. Based on the results, the highest and the lowest concentration of HM were observed in industrial and residential areas. Blood’s HMs concentration for chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were 2.932, 4.199, 8.425, and 71.2?μg/dL, respectively. In conclusion, increasing exposure concentration of HMs would have a significant potential for increased cancer and risk of diseases. The results of this study show that increasing exposure concentration to HM in the studied scenarios have a significant potential for generating different health endpoints, although exposing to HMs led to generating diseases in individuals particularly in polluted and populated districts; so, environmental measures should be considered by urban air authorities to mitigate the concentration of these pollutants in ambient air.     

A ratiometric fluorescent sensor for detection of metformin based on terbium–1,10-phenanthroline–nitrogen-doped-graphene quantum dots

Metformin (MTF), an effective biguanide and oral antihyperglycemic agent, is utilized to control blood glucose levels in patients with type II diabetes mellitus, and the determination of its concentration in biological fluids is one of the main issues in pharmacology and medicine. In this work, highly luminescent nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) were modified using terbium (Tb³⁺)–1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) nanoparticles (NPs) to develop a dual-emission ratiometric fluorescent sensor for the determination of MTF in biological samples. The synthesized N-GQDs/Tb–Phen NPs were characterized using different techniques to confirm their physicochemical properties. The N-GQDs/Tb–Phen NPs showed two characteristic emission peaks at 450 nm and 630 nm by exciting at 340 nm that belong to N-GQDs and Tb–Phen NPs, respectively. The results indicated that the emission intensity of both N-GQDs and Tb–Phen NPs enhanced upon interaction with MTF in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, a good linear correlation between the enhanced fluorescence intensity of the system and MTF concentration was observed in the range of 1.0 nM–7.0 μM and the limit of detection (LOD) value obtained was 0.76 nM. In addition, the prepared probe was successfully used for the estimation of MTF concentration in spiked human serum samples. In conclusion, the reported dual-emission ratiometric fluorescent sensor can be used as a sensitive and simple fluorimetric method for the detection of MTF in real samples.

Shcematic representation of the MTF detection by an enhancing mechanism.     

Effects of subacute lead acetate administration on nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase pathways in rat isolated aortic ring.

Low level exposure to lead increases blood pressure in human and rats. In this study, we investigated the contribution of the nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase pathways of aortic rings of 28-day lead-treated and control rats, to the responsiveness to phenylephrine and acetylcholine. There were no differences in phenylephrine contractions between the two groups. N(omega)-nitro-L-Arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME), a NO synthase inhibitor, caused attenuation in contraction response to phenylephrine in the aortic rings of the lead-treated rats, while endothelium-denudation caused attenuation in those of controls. This may be due to either endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor(s) (such as reactive oxygen species or endothelins) or a source of NO in smooth muscle cells. There is a left-shift in acetylcholine relaxation response. Indomethacin incubation caused a left-shift in relaxation response to acetylcholine in controls but without any effect on lead-treated ones. Indomethacin incubation caused attenuation in contraction to phenylephrine in both groups. The relaxation response to sodium nitroprusside is not different between the two groups, suggesting that smooth muscle relaxation component is intact. However, the relaxation response to glyceryl trinitrate is impaired in aortic rings of lead-treated rats. It can be concluded that NO and cyclooxygenase pathways are altered in aortic rings of lead-treated rats, with possible involvement of endothelium-derived vasoconstrictors.     

Investigation of the chronic effects of NPY by subcutaneous implantation of 6-23 cells producing NPY in WAG rats

OBJECTIVE: In this experiment, we studied the chronic effects of NPY, as there were no data on long-term effects of NPY in vivo. METHODS: Complementary DNA encoding NPY was isolated, sequenced and cloned into the expression vector, pCEP4. The 6-23 clone 6 cell line was transfected with this clone. Two groups of 10 adult male WAG rats (180-250 g body weight) were injected with either untransfected 6-23 clone 6 or 6-23 clone 6 transfected with NPY cDNA [6-23 (NPY)]. After 8 weeks, the animals were killed, their plasma assayed for insulin. Pancreatic glucagon (PG), by RIA, and plasma glucose were measured. RESULTS: The transfected cells were shown to be producing fully processed, bioactive NPY. The expression of NPY was also confirmed by Northern blot analysis. The animals injected with 6-23 (NPY) cells gained significantly more weight than the controls, (on day 54, 31.89 +/- 3.56 vs. 24.1 +/- 4.12 g, n = 10, P < 0.05). Plasma insulin and PG increased significantly in NPY animals compared to controls. The total RNA extracted from tumours was analysed by Northern blotting and showed NPY mRNA expression in NPY animals, but not in controls. CONCLUSION: The long-term effects of NPY was confirmed by injection of the cells producing this peptide.     

Cisplatin nephrotoxicity and protection by milk thistle extract in rats

The protective effect of methanolic extract of milk thistle seeds and silymarin against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity in male rats after a single intraperitoneal injection of 3 mg kg cisplatin were studied. Over 5 days, cisplatin-treated rats showed tubular necrosis and elevation in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr). Pretreatment of animals with silymarin (50 mg kg) or extract (0.6 g kg) 2 h before cisplatin prevented the tubular damage. Rats treated with silymarin or extract 2 h after cisplatin had BUN and Scr significantly lower than those receiving cisplatin, but mild to moderate necrosis was observed. These results suggested that milk thistle may protect against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity and might serve as a novel combination agent with cisplatin to limit renal injury.