Green synthesis of mixed metallic nanoparticles using room temperature self-assembly

Bimetallic nanoparticles of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) were synthesized at room temperature using Curcumin. Reduction process of silver and gold ions with different molar ratios leads to production of different nanostructures including alloys and core-shells. Produced nanoparticles were characterized simultaneously with FTIR, UV/vis. spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX). UV/vis. optical absorption spectra of as synthesized nanoparticles reveals presence of surface palsmon resonance (SPR) of both silver at (425 nm) and gold at (540 nm) with small shift and broadness of gold band after mixing with resucing and capping agent in natural extract which suggest presence of bimetallic nano structure (Au/Ag). FTIR and EDAX data approve the presence of bimetallic nano structure combined with curcumin extract. TEM micrographs shows that silver and gold can be synthesized separately in the form of nano particles using curcumin extract. Synthesis of gold nano particles in presence of silver effectively enhance and control formation of bi-metallic structure

Antioxidant effects of captopril against lead acetate-induced hepatic and splenic tissue toxicity in Swiss albino mice

Considering that lead caused a lot of health problems in the world, the present study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of captopril as antioxidants to reduce liver and spleen toxicity induced by lead. Animals were divided into 3 groups, the 1st group served as control group, the 2nd group received 20 mg/kg of lead acetate and the 3rd group received 50 mg/kg of captopril one hour prior to lead administration for 5 days. Results showed that lead intake caused severe alterations in the liver and spleen manifested by hepatocytes degeneration, leukocytic infiltration, fibrosis in liver and moderate to severe liver pathological score. Spleen showed ill-defined architecture, presence of large macrophages and lymphoid necrosis. Administration of captopril reduced hepatotoxicity, liver fibrosis and decrease in pathological scoring system. Moreover, reduced toxicity in spleen is represented by reduction in necrotic areas, more or less healthy lymphoid follicles and decreasing in pathological scoring system. Keywords: Captopril, Mice, Liver, Splee

Mechanism Underlying Triple VEGFR Inhibitor Tivozanib-Induced Hypertension in Mice Model

Tivozanib is a triple vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor, recently approved for the treatment of refractory advanced renal cell carcinoma. Clinical studies showed that around 46% of patients who received tivozanib suffer from hypertension in all grades. Thus, the present study was conducted to identify the role of angiotensin-II (AngII) in the mechanism underlying tivozanib-induced vascular toxicity and hypertension. C57BL/6 male mice received tivozanib (1 mg/kg) with or without losartan (10 or 30 mg/kg) for 3 weeks. Blood pressure was recorded every 3 days, and proteinuria was measured every week. On day 21, all mice were euthanized, and samples were harvested for further analysis. Tivozanib elevated blood pressure until systolic blood pressure reached 163 ± 6.6 mmHg on day 21 of treatment with low urination and high proteinuria. AngII and its receptors, endothelin-1, and oxidative stress markers were significantly increased. While nitric oxide (NO) levels were reduced in plasma and aortic tissues. AngII type 1 receptor blockade by losartan prevented these consequences caused by tivozanib and kept blood pressure within normal range. The results showed that AngII and ET-1 might be potential targets in the clinical studies and management of hypertension induced by tivozanib

Size and time-dependent induction of proinflammatory cytokines expression in brains of mice treated with gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are among the ideal nano-sized materials for medical applications such as imaging and drug delivery. Considering the significance of recent reports on acute phase induction of inflammatory mediators by GNPs, we studied the effect of GNPs on proinflammatory cytokines gene expression in mouse brain. Group 1 served as control whereas groups 2–4 were given only one intraperitoneal dose of 5, 20 and 50 nm GNPs, respectively and sacrificed after 24 h. The animals in groups 5–7 also received the same treatment but sacrificed after 7 days. Groups 8–10 received two injections of GNPs (5, 20 and 50 nm, respectively), first at the beginning of study and second on day 6, and sacrificed on day 7. Total RNA was extracted from the cerebral tissue and analyzed for the gene expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. A single injection of 5 nm diameter GNPs significantly increased the mRNA expression of IL-1β and IL-6 in mouse brain on day 7, which was not augmented by the second dose of the same GNPs. Larger size GNPs (20 nm and 50 nm) did not cause any significant change in the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in mouse brain. In conclusion, systemic administration of small sized GNPs (5 nm) induced a proinflammatory cascade in mouse brain indicating a crucial role of GNPs size on immune response. It is important to use the right sized GNPs in order to avoid an acute phase inflammatory response that could be cytotoxic or interfere with the bioavailability of nanomaterials. Keywords: Gold nanoparticles, Proinflammatory cytokines, Brain, Inflammation, Mic

Hypertensive disorders in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: insights from the ESC EORP PPCM Registry

Aims: Hypertensive disorders occur in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). How often hypertensive disorders co-exist, and to what extent they impact outcomes, is less clear. We describe differences in phenotype and outcomes in women with PPCM with and without hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Methods: The European Society of Cardiology PPCM Registry enrolled women with PPCM from 2012-2018. Three groups were examined: 1) women without hypertension (‘PPCM-noHTN’); 2) women with hypertension but without pre-eclampsia (‘PPCM-HTN’); 3) women with pre-eclampsia (‘PPCM-PE’). Maternal (6-month) and neonatal outcomes were compared. Results: Of 735 women included, 452 (61.5%) had PPCM-noHTN, 99 (13.5%) had PPCM-HTN and 184 (25.0%) had PPCM-PE. Compared to women with PPCM-noHTN, women with PPCM-PE had more severe symptoms (NYHA IV in 44.4% and 29.9%, p<0.001), more frequent signs of heart failure (pulmonary rales in 70.7% and 55.4%, p=0.002), higher baseline LVEF (32.7% and 30.7%, p=0.005) and smaller left ventricular end diastolic diameter (57.4mm [±6.7] and 59.8mm [±8.1], p<0.001). There were no differences in the frequencies of death from any cause, re-hospitalization for any cause, stroke, or thromboembolic events. Compared to women with PPCM-noHTN, women with PPCM-PE had a greater likelihood of left ventricular recovery (LVEF≥50%) (adjusted OR 2.08 95% CI 1.21-3.57) and an adverse neonatal outcome (composite of termination, miscarriage, low birth weight or neonatal death) (adjusted OR 2.84 95% CI 1.66-4.87). Conclusion: Differences exist in phenotype, recovery of cardiac function and neonatal outcomes according to hypertensive status in women with PPCM