Correlates of sensitization to Blomia tropicalis and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in asthma in Barbados

BACKGROUND: Sensitivity to the mite Blomia tropicalis is related to asthma in tropical climates, but correlates of sensitivity to B. tropicalis and its relationship to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus sensitivity have not been widely examined in families with asthma. The main objective of this study was to determine prevalence and correlates of sensitivity to these mites in families with asthma and characteristics of persons sensitized to both. METHODS: Antibodies to major antigens (Blo t 5 and Der p 1) of these mites were measured by immunochemiluminescent assay in 481 members of 29 families from Barbados ascertained through two asthmatic siblings. RESULTS: Blo t 5 sensitivity was present in 261 subjects (46%) and was associated with younger age, higher total serum IgE level, and more than a three-fold increased prevalence of asthma (42 vs. 13%). Der p 1 sensitivity was less common (27%) and showed similar associations with age, IgE, and asthma. Of the 261 subjects sensitized to Blo t 5, 116 were also sensitized to Der p 1; they were younger, had higher total and Blo t 5 specific IgE levels, and had more than twice the asthma prevalence as those sensitized to Blo t 5 alone (59 vs. 29%). Der p 1 sensitivity without Blo t 5 sensitivity was uncommon; 90% of those sensitized to Der p 1 were also sensitized to Blo t 5. Geometric mean total IgE levels were lowest in the 207 participants without any mite sensitization (102 U/ml), intermediate in 158 sensitized to either Blo t 5 OR Der p 1 (609 U/ml), and highest in 116 sensitized to both (1,869 U/ml). CONCLUSIONS: Blo t 5 is the predominant sensitizing mite allergen in these Barbadian families with correlates similar to Der p 1. Concomitant sensitization to Der p 1 appears to identify a more reactive subgroup of individuals at a higher risk of asthma.     

Psychometric properties of Persian version of the Caregiver Burden Scale in Iranian caregivers of patients with spinal cord injury

Purpose: To investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) in caregivers of patients with spinal cord injury.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. After a forward–backward translation, the CBS was administered to 110 caregivers of patients with spinal cord injury (men?=?60, women?=?50). Factor structure was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis. The Internal consistency and test–retest reliability of the CBS were examined using Cronbach’s α and the intraclass correlation coefficient, respectively. Construct validity was assessed by examining the relationship among CBS and the World Health Organization Quality of Life, and the Beck Depression Inventory.

Results: The results of confirmatory factor analysis provided support for a five-factor model of CBS. All subscales of CBS revealed acceptable internal consistency (0.698–0.755), except for environment subscale (0.559). The CBS showed adequate test–retest reliability for its subscales (0.745–0.900). All subscales of CBS significantly correlated with both Beck Depression Inventory and World Health Organization Quality of Life, confirming construct validity.

Conclusions: The Persian version of the CBS is a valid and reliable measure for assessing burden of care in caregivers of patients with spinal cord injury.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Spinal cord injury leads to depression, high levels of stress and diminished quality of life due to the high physical, emotional, and social burdens in caregivers.

• Persian version of the Caregiver Burden Scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing burden in Iranian caregivers of patients with spinal cord injury.

     

Imaging prostate cancer (PCa) with [99mTc(CO)3]finasteride dithiocarbamate

This investigation aimed to modify finasteride ( 1 ) to finasteride dithiocarbamate ( 2 ) for subsequent synthesis of the rhenium analogue ( 3 ) and [^99mTc]tricarbonyl complexes ( 4 ), to assess its prostate cancer (PCa) targeting potential in a rat model. To validate the identity of ( 4) , reference ( 3) has been synthesized by using fac‐[Net₄]₂[ReBr₃(CO)₃] precursor and characterized by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, ESI‐MS, and elemental analysis. The analogue ( 4) was synthesized by using fac‐[^99mTc(H₂O)₃(CO)₃]⁺ precursor, and its structure was confirmed by comparative HPLC by using ( 3) as a reference. Further, the suitability of ( 4) as a PCa imaging agent was investigated in vitro and in vivo. At room temperature, ( 4) had ≥99% radiochemical purity and remained ≥84% stable in serum. In preclinical studies, biodistribution of ( 4) in histopathologically established rat model showed adequately high in vivo uptake in the prostate attracting the possibility of using it for noninvasive imaging of PCa.     

The relationship between lichen planus and hepatitis C in dermatology outpatients in Kerman, Iran

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus (LP) is classified as a papulosquamous disease. It has been associated with liver disease, particularly hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, in several studies. Most of these reports, especially the larger series, were conducted in Europe and Japan. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a case-control study in Kerman, Iran to explore the association between LP and HCV. METHODS: The study included 66 patients with LP (as cases; mean age = 39.7 +/- 15.8 years; 31 female, 35 male) and 140 volunteer blood donors (as controls; mean age = 29.5 +/- 8.4 years; 43 females, 97 males). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the presence of anti-HCV antibodies in all subjects in both groups. To confirm positive diagnoses, a second generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA II) test was performed. RESULTS: Lichen planus lesions were most frequently located on the trunk and extremities, and the most common clinical type was generalized LP (48.5%). One of the patients with LP (1.5%) and three of the controls (2.1%) were HCV-Ab positive. No significant difference was observed in HCV-Ab positive between the two groups (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.1-6.9). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that an investigation for HCV infection should not necessarily be performed in all patients with LP. It is recommended that further studies should focus on larger groups in other regions of Iran to determine whether testing for HCV infection is necessary in patients with LP.     

Star‐Like Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and Poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymers Self‐Arranged in Newfound Single Crystals and Associated Novel Class of Polymer Brush Regimes with V‐Type Tethers

Linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐block‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and star‐like three‐arm PEG‐star‐(PNIPAM)₂ copolymers having one PEG and two PNIPAM blocks are synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Single crystals of these block copolymers are grown from amyl acetate and toluene dilute solutions. To recognize PNIPAM and PEG thicknesses, small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) is applied. V‐type brushes behave differently from linear brushes because doubly grafted PNIPAM blocks from a common point onto PEG substrate exert a higher osmotic pressure, leading to a thinner crystal. In addition to three ordinary regimes, a fourth or extremely stretched regime is detected for V‐type PNIPAM brushes. Although in PEG₅₀₀₀‐star‐(PNIPAM)₂ single crystals with overall PNIPAM molecular weight of 37 000 g/mol, each PNIPAM arm is shorter than PNIPAM grafts in linear PEG₅₀₀₀‐block‐PNIPAM₂₆₀₀₀ single crystals, their switching point from second to third regime is significantly lower (22 vs 33 °C). The V‐type configuration of PNIPAM brushes cause them to be entered into the extremely stretched or fourth regime, which has not been previously detected for coily brushes. The boundary between third and fourth regimes for PEG₅₀₀₀‐star‐(PNIPAM)₂ single crystals is verified at 31.5 and 23.5 °C in amyl acetate and toluene, respectively.     

Regional distribution of endorphin,met5-enkephalin and leu5-enkephalin in the pigeon brain

The distribution of β-endorphin and enkephalin in the pigeon forebrain by immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay is essentially analogous to mammals. Both endorphin- and enkephalin-reactive fibers have a similar periventricular distribution, but the enkephalin fibers are more extensive and are also found in the paleostriatum, limbic regions and brain stem, pituitary stalk and notably, penetrating the organum vasculosum hypothalami. There was poor correlation between endorphin and enkephalin regional contents by radioimmunoassay. In contrast, a highly significant correlation was observed between Met⁵-enkephalin and Leu⁵-enkephalin regional distribution. These data support the view that enkephalin neurons and endorphin neurons are independent central neuronal systems.     

Tioxolone niosomes exert antileishmanial effects on Leishmania tropica by promoting promastigote apoptosis and immunomodulation

Objective: To explore the antileishmanial effect of tioxolone and its niosomal form against Leishmania tropica. Methods: Tioxolone niosomes were prepared by the hydration method and were evaluated for morphology, size, release study, and encapsulation efficiency. The cytotoxicity of tioxolone and its niosomal form was measured by MTT assay, leishmanicidal activity against promastigote and amastigote by MTT assay, apoptosis by flow cytometry, IL-12, IL-10 and metacaspase gene expression levels by q-PCR. Results: Span/Tween 40 and Span/Tween 60 niosomes had good physical stability as depicted in their size distribution curves and high encapsulation efficiency(99%). The release profile of the entrapped compounds showed Fickian's model of tioxolone delivery based on diffusion through lipid bilayers. With the IC50 value for amastigote as(24.5±2.1) μg/mL and selectivity index as 10.5, the Span/Tween 60 niosome(NT2) had a superior effect to other drugs. The CC50 value and IC50 of promastigote value for NT2 were(257.5±24.5) μg/mL and(164.8±20.6) μg/mL, respectively. The flow cytometric analysis showed that tioxolone and niosomal forms induced apoptosis of Leishmania tropica promastigotes in a dose-dependent manner. NT2 increased the expression level of IL-12 and metacaspase genes and decreased the expression level of the IL-10 gene.Conclusions: Niosomes of tioxolone play an immunomodulatory role in increasing Th1 cytokine profile and inhibiting the Th2 cytokine profile. It could be used for treatment of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.     

Co-Delivery of Curcumin and Chrysin by Polymeric Nanoparticles Inhibit Synergistically Growth and hTERT Gene Expression in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells

Nanoparticle (NP)-based combinational chemotherapy has been proposed as a potent approach for improving intracellular drug concentrations and attaining synergistic effects in colorectal cancer therapy. Here, two well-known herbal substances, Curcumin (Cur) and Chrysin (Chr), were co-encapsulated in PEGylated PLGA NPs and investigated their synergistic inhibitory effect against Caco-2 cancer cells.

Characterization of nanoformulated drugs was determined using DLS, FTIR, TEM, and SEM. Drug release study was performed using dialysis method. MTT and real-time PCR assays were applied to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of free and nano-encapsulated drugs on expression level of hTERT in Caco-2 cells.

The results showed that free drugs and nano-formulations exhibited a dose-dependent cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells and especially, Cur–Chr–PLGA/PEG NPs had more synergistic antiproliferative effect and significantly arrested the growth of cancer cells than the other groups (P < 0.05). Real-time PCR results revealed that Cur, Chr, and combination of Cur–Chr in free and encapsulated forms inhibited hTERT gene expression. Also, it was found that Cur–Chr–PLGA/PEG NPs than free combination forms could further decline hTERT expression in all concentration (P < 0.05).

In summary, our study represents the first report of nano-combinational application of the natural herbal substances with a one-step fabricated codelivery system for effective colorectal cancer combinational chemotherapy.