Biological activities for 'Ficus carica' latex for potential therapeutics in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) related cervical cancers

Abstract Infection caused by high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are implicated in the aetiology of cervical cancer. Although current methods of treatment for cervical cancer can ablate lesions, preventing metastatic disseminations and excessive tissue injuries still remains a major concern. Hence, development of a safer and more efficient treatment modality is of vital importance. Natural products from plants are one of the principal sources of precursors to lead compounds with direct pharmaceutical application across all disease classes. One of these plants is Ficus carica, whose fruit latex, when applied on HPV-induced skin warts, has shown potential as a possible cure for this virus related lesions. This study explores the in vitro biological activities of fig latex and elucidates its possible mechanisms of action on cervical cancer cell lines CaSki and HeLa positive for HPV type 16 and 18, respectively. Our data shows that fig latex inhibits properties that are associated with HPV-positive cervical cancer transformed cells such as rapid growth and invasion and substantially downregulated the expression of p16 and HPV onco-proteins E6, E7. These findings suggest Ficus carica latex has the potential to be used in the development of therapeutic modalities for the possible treatment, cure and prevention of HPV related cervical cancer

The Role of Carpet Hand-weaving Cooperatives of Zanjan Province on Increasing the Exports of Hand-woven Carpets

Hand-woven Persian carpet as an art and a craft has been long precedent in Iran’s history. Despite of this historical record, there are numerous problems with adapting this valuable hand-woven product with modern international markets to achieve its true position. Therefore this study with the objective of examining the role of carpet hand-weaving cooperatives in developing the exports of this carpet was conducted in 2010. The statistical population was the managers of carpet hand-weaving cooperative companies of Zanjan Province, experts in Zanjan Department of Commerce, experts in the General Department of Cooperation in Zanjan, traders and exporters of Zanjan, and the  necessary data was collected from the sample (selected with random sampling method) through 25 questionnaires. The results of the study show that, although carpet hand-weaving cooperatives have improved their role in exports through governmental supports, however because education courses were not export oriented, the cooperatives could not utilized this tool to improve their role in increasing the exports of hand-woven carpets. Also most of carpet hand-weaving cooperatives could not completely identify target market to attend international exhibitions and therefore increase their role in development of hand-woven carpets of the country

The effect of bubble surface charge on phonophoresis: Implication in transdermal piroxicam delivery

It is over several decades that ultrasound is used to enhance the transdermal drug delivery (phonphoresis). The mechanism of the enhancement is not fully understood and the ability of ultrasound on the enhancement for some drugs is unclear. The effect of continuous wave 870 KHz ultrasound at intensity of 1 W/cm2 for 15 minutes on transdermal absorption of piroxicam from solution and gel formulations in hairless rat skin was studied. Exposure to ultrasound increased the rate of diffusion from gel and solution of piroxicam to 10 and 3 times higher than that in skins not exposed to ultrasound. We strongly believe that the lower diffusion of piroxicam from the solution is caused by extra-bubbles generated by ultrasound. It can be suggested that cavitation activity and its negative surface charges play a dominant rule in phonophoresis. Copyright © 2006 by Razi Institute for Drug Research (RIDR)

Role of screening for COVID-19 in hemodialysis wards, results of a single center study

Introduction. Seven months after the emergence of SARS-COV-2 virus, there is paucity of data regarding the epidemiology of the virus in hemodialysis patients. We aim to present the results of the screening program implied after outbreak of COVID-19 in a referral hemodialysis ward. Methods. We started clinical screening and obligatory mask wearing for dialysis patients and personnel on 20-Feb-2020. However 11 symptomatic COVID-19 patients emerged till day +36. On days +39 and +40 a screening program was implied including measurement of SARS-COV-2 PCR and immunoglobulin G and M (IgG/IgM) and chest computerized tomography (CT) scan. The results of chest CT scan, classified according to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) classification; as with very low (grade 1-normal), low, indeterminate, high, and very high likelihood of COVID-19 (grades 2, 3, 4, and 5; respectively), were used for compartmentalization of patients. Results. Among 178 patients (68.2 male, mean age = 58.7 ± 16.6 years), 11 got COVID-19 before screening, two of whom died. Chest CT scans were normal in 71.3 and grade 2, 3, 4, and 5 in 7.9, 4.5, 5.6, and 10.7; respectively. PCR and IgG and/or IgM were positive in 27 and 32 patients. Eighty-three patients had evidence of COVID-19 infection, who were significantly older (62.2 ± 16.6 vs. 56.1 ± 16.02, P <.05). There was no difference in the rate of infection considering gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and different blood groups. Conclusion. Asymptomatic SARS-COV 2 infection may affect a large number of dialysis patients. We highly recommend a screening strategy whenever the number of patients is increasing. © 2020, Iranian Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved

Metabolism of the novel dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers mebudipine and dibudipine by isolated rat hepatocytes

The prototype 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) nifedipine, indicated for the management of hypertension and angina pectoris, has drawbacks of rapid onset of vasodilating action and a short half-life. Several newer analogues have been designed to offset these problems and these include mebudipine and dibudipine. These analogues contain t-butyl substituents that have been selected to alter the fast metabolism without altering pharmacological activity. In this study, the metabolism of mebudipine and dibudipine by isolated rat hepatocytes has been investigated. These compounds were extensively metabolized in 2 h by oxidative pathways, analogous to those known for nifedipine, and by O-glucuronidation after hydroxylation of the t-butyl substituents. The in-vitro half-lives of mebudipine (22¯ 7.1 min) and dibudipine (40¯ 9.8 min) were significantly longer than that of nifedipine (5.5¯ 1.1 min), which was investigated in parallel in this study. These newer 1,4-DHPs address the problem of the short half-life of nifedipine and have potential for further development in view of their comparable potency to nifedipine

Potassium sorbate as an AGE activator for human serum albumin in the presence and absence of glucose

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are the predominant intermediates of glycation process, and mediate oxidative stress and complications of diabetes. Potassium sorbate (PS) as a widespread preservative is an oxidative agent and used in different dairy and drug products, which can readily enter biological matrices. Here we studied the PS interference with glycation of human serum albumin (HSA) in the presence of glucose (Glc) using various techniques. These included TNBSA assay, circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Th T assay, and atomic force microscopy. Our results indicated that HSA glycation was accelerated in the presence of PS. Furthermore, PS produced AGEs in the absence of glucose. Secondary and tertiary structural changes were also observed in HSA incubated with glucose in the presence or absence of PS through beta-sheet inducing effects. Th T assay demonstrated the role of PS in HSA fibril formation in the presence or absence of glucose. Atomic force microscopy determined different amyloid fibril formation in HSA incubated with PS in the presence or absence of glucose. Together our results indicated that PS has a stimulatory effect on glycation and fibrillation of HSA in the presence or absence of glucose, and could exacerbate complication of diabetes. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

Investigation of thermal reversibility and stability of glycated human serum albumin

Protein glycation, the process by which carbohydrates attach to proteins upon covalent binding, can alter protein thermal reversibility and stability. Protein stability and reversibility have important role in protein behavior and function. Also they are benefit properties for drug produce and protein industrial applications. In this research the thermal reversibility and stability changes in human serum albumin (HSA) were studied upon incubation with glucose (GHSA) under physiological conditions for 21 and 35 days. The thermal reversibility and stability changes in GHSA were evaluated using circular dichroism (CD), UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Our results showed that the glycation of HSA increased its thermal reversibility and stability, but decreased its conformational entropy compared to fresh native HSA and untreated HSA. Free lysine content assay (TNBSA test) indicated glucose can bind to protein covalently. These alterations were mainly attributed to the formation of crosslink between the lysine residues of HSA upon incubation with glucose. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

Antiamyloidogenic Effects of Ellagic Acid on Human Serum Albumin Fibril Formation Induced by Potassium Sorbate and Glucose

Oxidative stress has the main role in protein conformational changes and consequent direct involvement in different kind of diseases. Potassium sorbate as a widespread industrial preservative and glucose are two important oxidants that can be involved in oxidative stress. In this study the effect of ellagic acid as a phenolic antioxidant on amyloid fibril formation of human serum albumin upon incubation of potassium sorbate and glucose was studied using thioflavin T assay, surface tension, atomic force microscopy, Amadori product, and carbonyl content assays. The thioflavin T assay and atomic force microscopy micrographs demonstrated the antiamyloidogenic effect of ellagic acid on the human serum albumin fibril formation. This antioxidant also had the repair effect on surface tension of the modified human serum albumin (amyloid intermediates), which was destructed, caused by potassium sorbate and glucose. This mechanism takes place because of potent carbonyl stress suppression effect of ellagic acid, which was strengthening by potassium sorbate in the presence and absence of glucose. Copyright � 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd