Targeting effect of folate on cancer cell through curcumin carrier nano-system

Folate receptor (FR) is well known for its overexpression on surface of various cancer cell lines, which is identical to normal tissue. Folic-based targeting drug delivery systems, therefore, are one of the most effective targeting carriers that effectively bind to FR up-regulated cancer cells. Curcumin was used both for labeling and chemotherapy. The materials were characterized and structurally confirmed by FT-IR spectra, fluorescent images and FE-SEM images. Bioassays were conducted on HeLa and HT29 cancer cell lines after 4 and 12 hours. Results show that folic acid significantly enhanced both targeting efficiency and internalization of curcumin to FR-expressing cancer cells

Carrot hairy roots (Daucus carota L.) characterisation and optimisation for high β‐carotene extraction

Hairy roots are widely known as a biological system for the production of highly diverse biomolecules. β‐carotene – a precursor for vitamin A – is known to be an anti‐oxidant and anti‐gastric cancer and protection agent against cardiovascular disease, heart disease and stroke. β‐carotene has been chemically synthesised and consumed by humans. However, the chemical process often produces a by‐product that may be harmful to human health. Therefore, this study established a protocol to induce hairy roots (HRs) from a Vietnamese carrot variety and produce natural β‐carotene. The Rhizobium rhizogenes ATCC15834 harbouring Ri plasmid and a Vietnamese carrot variety were used as materials for genetic transformation and HR induction studies. The result showed that approximately 50 HR lines were obtained. Culture medium supplemented with 30 mg/L of sucrose that gave the highest biomass of HR was shown in carrot HR line 30, which had a doubling time of 6.5 days. The highest content of β‐carotene extraction, at 128 mg/100g hairy roots, was achieved with a ratio volume (v/v) of 2‐propanol and plant samples of 20:1, followed by two hours’ incubation with 2‐propanol at 60 °C. Our study reveals a highly efficient protocol for Vietnamese carrot hairy root establishment and multiplication. A very efficient protocol for β‐carotene extraction from the hairy root was established to produce natural β‐carotene that achieves the same β‐carotene quantity as that produced by normal roots. This study provides new insight into the production of high‐content and natural β‐carotene for therapeutic application

Sero-epidemiological status and risk factors of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Northern Vietnam

Background: In Vietnam, few studies have determined the epidemiological status of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and no routine prenatal screening is in place. This study was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of this zoonotic parasitic infection in pregnant women in Northern Vietnam and to assess the association with awareness, risk factors and congenital toxoplasmosis. Methods: Approximately 800 pregnant women were included in the study from two hospitals, one in Hanoi and one in Thai Binh province, which is known to have a dense cat population. Serological immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) detection was performed to estimate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and sero-incidence of maternal and congenital toxoplasmosis. In addition, a survey was conducted about awareness, clinical history, presentation of signs and symptoms relating to toxoplasmosis and to detect biologically plausible and socio-demographic risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis. Associations with seroprevalence were assessed using univariable and multivariable analysis. Results: The mean IgG seroprevalence after the full diagnostic process was 4.5% (95% confidence interval(CI): 2.7–7.0) and 5.8% (95% CI: 3.7–8.6) in Hanoi and Thai Binh hospital, respectively, and included one seroconversion diagnosed in Thai Binh hospital. Only 2.0% of the pregnant women in Hanoi hospital and 3.3% in Thai Binh hospital had heard about toxoplasmosis before this study. Conclusion: Since the percentage of seronegative, and thus susceptible, pregnant women was high and the awareness was low, we suggest to distribute information about toxoplasmosis and its prevention among women of child bearing age. Furthermore, future studies are recommended to investigate why such a low seroprevalence was seen in pregnant women in Northern Vietnam compared to other countries in South East Asia and globally

Synthesis and Optical Characterization of Dye Doped in Ormosil Nanospheres for Bioapplications

Dye-doped ORMOSIL (organically modified silicate) nanoparticles (NPs) have significant advantages over single-dye labeling in signal amplification, photostability and surface modification for various biological applications. The dyes: Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Rhodamine B (RB) were successfully incorporated into ORMOSIL nanoparticles fabricated by micellar nanochemistry from Trimethoxysilane CH$_3$Si(OCH$_3$)$_3$ precursor. The optical characterization of dye-doped ORMOSIL NPs was studied in comparison with it’s of free dye in solution. The results shown that the photostability of ORMOSIL dye doped nanospheres is much improved in comparison with it’s of dye in solution. Other studies of the photophysical properties such as anisotropy, fluorescence lifetime and energy transfer were also done

Targeting effect of folate on cancer cell through curcumin carrier nano-system

Folate receptor (FR) is well known for its overexpression on surface of various cancer cell lines, which is identical to normal tissue. Folic-based targeting drug delivery systems, therefore, are one of the most effective targeting carriers that effectively bind to FR up-regulated cancer cells. Curcumin was used both for labeling and chemotherapy. The materials were characterized and structurally confirmed by FT-IR spectra, fluorescent images and FE-SEM images. Bioassays were conducted on HeLa and HT29 cancer cell lines after 4 and 12 hours. Results show that folic acid significantly enhanced both targeting efficiency and internalization of curcumin to FR-expressing cancer cells

A modern purification by accelerated solvent extraction and centrifugal partition chromatography and biological evaluation of capsaicin from Capsicum chinense

A special alkaloid compound known as capsaicin, which can only be found in the fruit of the Capsicum plant, was isolated and tested for its anti-inflammatory activity. The purpose of this work is to establish a simple and quick approach for capsaicin purification utilizing centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) as well as an effective method - accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), for extracting capsaicin from Capsicum chinense. After purification, capsaicin was validated by HPLC-DAD at 281 nm to be > 90% purity. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated capsaicin was also investigated, and the IC50 value of the capsaicin was determined to be 57.61 µg/mL. The current work emphasizes how an ASE and CPC system may combine to extract high-purity capsaicin from Capsicum chinense, which have the anti-inflammatory activity, as we evaluated in the experiment

Depth-dose distribution in potatoes with low-energy X-rays

Irradiation is known as a handful measure to inhibit potato sprouting, kill harmful bacteria, and increase preservation. The absorbed dose is one of the essential characteristics of the irradiation process. In this study, the depth-dose distributions in potatoes and polymethyl methacrylate were investigated under low-energy X-ray irradiation by using the Fricke dosimeter and Gafchromic film dosimeter. The dose rates required for the rays to penetrate in polymethyl methacrylate were compared with those in potatoes. Polymethyl methacrylate could be used as a phantom in measuring the depth dose delivered in potatoes. The difference in depth-dose distribution in potatoes between one-sided and double-sided irradiation was also investigated. The calculated dose uniformity ratio values are 5.8 and 1.9 for potatoes irradiating one-sided and double-sided

Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever in the South of Vietnam during 1975-1992 and Its Control Strategy

The incidence of dengue (DEN) virus infection in Vietnam has increased dramatically in the past 30 years. From 1960 up to now, the number of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) cases has been continuing to increase and recorded as the greatest one in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific Regions. DHF was endemic in South Vietnam and 30-380 cases/100,000 population were reported annually. Major epidemics have occurred in a 3-4 years frequency, as in 1975, 1978-1979, 1983 and 1987. The 1987 outbreak was the largest one with 83,905 cases and 904 deaths. DHF epidemics usually took place from June to November every year. The peak transmission was recorded in July-August and September, coinciding with the rainy season and the breeding period of Aedes aegypti. The majority of confirmed cases was children of 5-6 year-old-group, in which there was no sex difference. In the virological surveillance in Ho Chi Minh City and in some surrounding provinces, several DEN virus strains were isolated from patients\u27 blood as well as from the mosquitoes. In the 1987 DHF outbreak, DEN-2 was the dominant sero-type (90.5%). But from 1990 the epidemic sero-type has changed, DEN-1 was introduced and was continuing to grow-up (58%). Then in 1992 outbreak, the DEN-2 was reintroduced, from 26.3% in 1991 has increased to 41.4%. Serological investigation of healthy persons in 12/17 southern provinces had demonstrated that there were relatively wide circulations of DEN, Japanese encephalitis (JE) and chikungunya (Chik) viruses and the endemic strains of DEN were found different in some studied areas. There had been augmentation of primary infection rate and decrease of the susceptibility rate in children prior to the DHF epidemic. Seven JE virus strains were isolated from dengue fever (DF) patients\u27 blood. This fact has introduced as a new concept in the isolation of JE virus. In the final pant of the report, the authors stressed on the "Active surveillance" as a new strategy for controlling the DHF epidemic in South Vietnam. The goal of this active surveillance is to have early warning and predictive capability for epidemic dengue, based on serological and clinical surveillance. Because dengue cases were detected in January-February of every year, so the base line is: when first cases of DF/DHF were detected, it needs to be promptly implemented the larval control and insecticide must be sprayed around the patient\u27s houses. But now almost Provincial Centers of Hygiene and Epidemiology often waited and when big DHF epidemic had already occurred, they started to implement its control measures, so it is too late to control the DHF outbreak