Exosomes and miRNAs in disease pathogenesis and opportunities for molecular targeting

Exosomes/extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived mixed-populations of vesicles released by almost all cells into the intercellular microenvironment, ending up in the circulation. Exosomes contain proteins, RNAs and lipid molecules reflecting the status of the parental cell at the time of release, making them promising candidates for biomarker discovery. The contents of exosomes are protected by a lipid bilayer, leading to better stability of bio-macromolecules. Recent evidence suggests a novel role for exosomes as conveyors of information among cells and across tissues, through horizontal transfer of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Exosomes have been the subject of numerous research in recent years; however, their roles still have to be identified in the pathogenesis of different diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small (18-25 nucleotide long) non-coding RNAs which play pivotal roles in the gene expression process and it is estimated that about one third of the human genome is controlled by miRNAs. miRNA regulatory processes have been found to influence many essential biological pathways, such as cellular development, proliferation, apoptosis, and cellular signaling. A great proportion of miRNAs has been reported to be associated with the exosome function of different biofluids. The aim of this research was to elucidate the role of exosomes/EVs as well as miRNAs in the pathogenesis of different diseases, including alcoholic liver disease, hepatitis C, and cancer. This knowledge may lead to the development of novel molecular diagnostic approaches, as well as innovative drug delivery modalities for small RNA-targeted therapy. My research resulted in a) the establishment of new methods and approaches to the study of exosomes/EVs, as well as comparative literature on the efficacy of several isolation and characterization techniques. b) identification of the role of exosomes and miRNA-122 in the cross talk between hepatocytes and immune cells in alcoholic liver disease c) identification of the role of exosomes in HCV pathogenesis, including the potential of molecular therapies based on miRNA and exosome targeting in vitro and in vivo d) understanding the bio-distribution of exosomes and miRNA in an in vivo murine model and f) exploring the utility of miRNA and exosomes in biofluids in cancer biomarker discovery

Effect of Rosemary and Sweet Marjoram on three Predacious Mites of the Family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The direct toxicity of two essential oils, Majorana hortensis, Moench and Rosmarinus officinalis L. to adult females of the predacious mites, Amblyseius zaheri Yousef and El-Borolossy, Amblyseius barkeri (Hughes) and Typhlodromus athiasae Porath and Swirski were tested. Rosemary oil was the most toxic to females of A. barkeri and the least to A. zaheri. In contrast,sweet marjoram oil was relatively toxic to T. athiasae and slightly toxic to A. barkeri. Both essential oils,decreased the food consumption rate at the concentration used for A.barkeri and A. zaheri. Females of A. barkeri and A. zaheri suffered a depression in reproduction when treated with 1% of rosemary oil.Both material used seems to be harmless to T. athiasae at 1%

Composition, repellent and fumigant toxicity of Mentha longifolia essential oil on Tetranychus urticae and three predatory mites of the family phytoseiidae (Acari: Tetranychidae: Phytoseiidae)

The chemical composition of essential oil extracted from leaves of the medicinal plant Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds growing in Egypt, were determined through Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry ( GC/MS). The analyses revealed that the major component of M. longifolia was Monterpene ketone (piperitone oxide). Mentha longifolia was potent for the pest Tetranychus urticae Koch with a significant increase in repellency. In addition, it exhibited strong oviposition deterrence to the pest based on a 99.4% reduction of the total number of eggs on leaf discs treated with the oil. The LC50 values of M. longifolia against eggs, nymphs and females of T. urticae by fumigant application, were 2.95, 3.47, 3.74 μL / L, while the LC90 values were 8.99, 9.41, 11.01 μL/ L, respectively. The toxicity of M. longifolia oil by fumigant application to females and eggs of 3 predatory phytoseiid mites was tested. Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) is extremely insusceptible to M. longifolia oil than the pest T. urticae and both phytoseiid mites, Neoseiuls barkeri (Hughes) and Typhlodromips swirskii (Athias Henriot) under laboratory conditions. When both stages of tested predatory mites, exposed to fumigant of LC50 and LC90 μL/L values reported on T. urticae, female’s mortality of N. californicus was lesser than that reported on N. barkeri and T. swirskii. These show that the fumigant toxicity of M. longifolia oil has the highest lethal activity to the pest T. urticae and the least to the predatory mite N. californicus. Results indicated that the mode of delivery of the essential oil was largely a result of action in the vapor phase via respiratory system. Data was suggested that M. longifolia oil have the potential agent to be used in the maintainable management of T. urticae combined with N. californicus

Effects of Diet on the Biology and Life Tables of the Predacious Mite Agistemus exsertus (Acari: Stigmaeidae)

The biology of Agistemus exsertus Gonzalez was studied using two different insect eggs, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller and Parlatoria zizyphus (Lucas) as the food source. The development was faster and reproduction was higher when A. exsertus fed on eggs of E. kuehniella. A total of 97.78 and 75.27 eggs per female were obtained when eggs of E. kuehniella and P. zizyphus were provided respectively. A diet of E. kuehniella (eggs) provided the greatest female longevity and mean total fecundity which resulted in the higher net reproductive rate (Ro) value (61.25), intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm = 0.196) and finite rate of increase (rm = 1.22) per day for A. exsertus. A diet of P. zizyphus (eggs) resulted in close values of T = 21.70; rm = 0.174; e r m = 1.19. The sex rate of the progeny was strongly female biased (female/total = 0.72 and 0.66) when both eggs of E. kuehniella and P. zizyphus were provided

How Did Participating In a Prenatal Nutrition and Exercise Program Influence Postpartum Experiences During COVID-19?

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(3): 1-11, 2023. Lifestyle interventions focusing on prenatal physical activity (PA) and healthy nutritional habits can carry forward into the postpartum period. As many health resources, like PA facilities and postpartum support groups, were inaccessible due to the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions, it may be plausible that individuals who participated in a prenatal lifestyle intervention continued engaging in positive health behaviours on their own. This study explored experiences of postpartum individuals during the pandemic who had engaged in a prenatal PA and nutrition program prior to COVID-19. Semi-structured interviews were completed with postpartum individuals following a qualitative description approach. The study objectives were to identify and summarize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA and nutritional behaviours postpartum, and the role of previous participation in a prenatal lifestyle intervention, pre-pandemic, on PA and nutritional habits during postpartum quarantine restrictions. Thirteen participants completed interviews and reported that overall, PA levels stayed the same however, there was a change in PA type, as walking became the prominent choice of PA. Diet became more limited and involved a great deal of meal planning. Participation in a prenatal lifestyle intervention prior to the pandemic positively impacted PA and nutritional habits postpartum during COVID-19 restrictions. Specifically, it enabled individuals to implement walking as a daily PA habit and encouraged important concepts such as mindful eating and meal planning. Prenatal lifestyle interventions can be beneficial in establishing healthy postpartum habits, even during pandemic restrictions

Magnesium Supplementation and the Effects on Wound Healing and Metabolic Status in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Hypomagnesemia is associated with the development of neuropathy and abnormal platelet activity, both of which are risk factors for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of magnesium administration on wound healing and metabolic status in subjects with DFU. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed among 70 subjects with grade 3 DFU. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups (35 subjects each group) to receive either 250 mg magnesium oxide supplements or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention wound depth and appearance were scored in accordance with the “Wagner-Meggitt’s” wound assessment tool. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after the 12-week intervention to assess related markers. After the 12-week treatment, compared with the placebo, magnesium supplementation resulted in a significant increase in serum magnesium (+0.3 ± 0.3 vs. −0.1 ± 0.2 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and significant reductions in ulcer length (−1.8 ± 2.0 vs. −0.9 ± 1.1 cm, P = 0.01), width (−1.6 ± 2.0 vs. −0.8 ± 0.9 cm, P = 0.02), and depth (−0.8 ± 0.8 vs. −0.3 ± 0.5 cm, P = 0.003). In addition, significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose (−45.4 ± 82.6 vs. −10.6 ± 53.7 mg/dL, P = 0.04), serum insulin values (−2.4 ± 5.6 vs. +1.5 ± 9.6 μIU/mL, P = 0.04), and HbA1c (−0.7 ± 1.5 vs. −0.1 ± 0.4%, P = 0.03) and a significant rise in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+0.01 ± 0.01 vs. −0.004 ± 0.02, P = 0.01) were seen following supplementation of magnesium compared with the placebo. Additionally, compared with the placebo, taking magnesium resulted in significant decrease in serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (−19.6 ± 32.5 vs. −4.8 ± 11.2 mg/L, P = 0.01) and significant increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentrations (+6.4 ± 65.2 vs. −129.9 ± 208.3 mmol/L, P < 0.001). Overall, magnesium supplementation for 12 weeks among subjects with DFU had beneficial effects on parameters of ulcer size, glucose metabolism, serum hs-CRP, and plasma TAC levels

Rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria in whole blood samples using 23S rRNA PCR assays

Purpose: Bloodstream infections are a general cause of death among hospitalized patients. Rapid diagnosis and timely treatment can reduce mortality. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the 23S rRNA PCR assays as a rapid detection method for diagnose of sepsis in patients with suspected bacteremia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Shahid Beheshti University Hospital in Kashan from November 2017 to December 2018. The blood samples of 265 patients with suspected bacteremia were studied by blood culture and 23S rRNA PCR techniques. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and Chi-square test. Results: Eighty (30.2) blood samples of 265 suspected patients, were identified as positive by PCR assays, whereas 27 (10.2) were identified as positive by the blood culture technique. The statistical analysis showed a significant association between the results of PCR assays and blood culture and factors such as prior antibiotic use and underlying diseases (P <0.05). Also a significant correlation was observed between laboratory and clinical criteria and the results of both PCR assays and blood culture (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The 23S rRNA PCR method is a rapid and sensitive technique specially for diagnosing sepsis among patients in whom bacteremia is difficult to diagnose with culture method including neonates and patients who have taken antibiotics before microbial culture. © 2019 Firoozeh et al. All rights reserved

The effect of educational- counseling program on general health of women as caregivers of patient, with Alzheimerdisease

زمینه و هدف: ارائه مراقبت طولانی مدت به بیماران مبتلا به آلزایمر، با افزایش خطرات ابتلا به بیماری جسمی و روانی برای مراقبین همراه است و فقدان تعلیمات لازم نیز مشکلات سلامتی آنها را دو چندان نموده است. این مطالعه با هدف تعیین تاثیر برنامه آموزشی- مشاوره ای بر سلامت عمومی زنان مراقبت کننده از سالمندان مبتلا به آلزایمر انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این پژوهش تجربی، 150 زن 18 تا 60 ساله که از وابستگان درجه یک سالمندان مبتلا به آلزایمر بوده و مراقبت مستقیم از آنها را به مدت حداقل 6 ماه به عهده داشتند، با روش نمونه گیری آسان انتخاب شدند و پس از انجام پیش آزمون شامل پرسشنامه اطلاعات دموگرافیک و سلامت عمومی گلدبرگ، با روش تصادفی بلوکه شده، به شکل تصادفی در دو گروه آزمون و کنترل قرار گرفتند. گروه آزمون در یک برنامه آموزشی – مشاوره ای شامل یک جلسه بحث گروهی، دریافت یک پمفلت آموزشی و دو مشاوره تلفنی شرکت نمودند. 6 هفته پس از مداخله، پس آزمون برای هر دو گروه انجام گرفت. برای مقایسه متغیرها از آزمون های آماری t زوجی، t مستقل، کای اسکوئر و آنالیز واریانس یک طرفه استفاده شد. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد که قبل از برنامه آموزشی- مشاوره ای 3/17 از نمونه های مورد پژوهش سلامت عمومی نامطلوب داشتند. پس از انجام برنامه آموزشی- مشاوره ای میانگین سلامت عمومی در گروه آزمون از 3/15±68/39 به 03/10±09/19 تقلیل یافت (001/0

Influence of Melissa officinalis essential oil and its formulation on Typhlodromips swirskii and Neoseiulus barkeri (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The toxicity of Melissa officinalis L. essential oil and its formulation (Melissacide) were evaluated against eggs and females of two predatory phytoseiid mites, Typhlodromips swirskii (Athias Henriot) and Neoseiulus barkeri (Hughes), using direct spray. Results indicate that both tested materials were potent on predatory females than egg stage. Typhlodromips swirskii was proved to be more sensitive to the oil and formulation than N. barkeri. Females mortality were (62-100%) in T. swirskii, and (46-69%) in N. barkeri, when both predatory mites were sprayed with LC50 and LC90 of the oil and Melissacide reported on Tetranychus urticae Koch. Females of both predators were suffered from reduction in food consumption when sprayed with two sublethal concentrations of Melissacide, while insignificant differences reported in daily number of eggs deposited by females of T. swirskii, when sprayed with its LC25 value of Melissacide and control

Development of a Stable TiO 2

A convenient and low-cost approach for the elaboration of a stable superhydrophobic coating is reported, involving the use of TiO2 nanoparticles via the spray coating method. This method can be used for preparing self-cleaning superhydrophobic coatings on large areas for different kinds of substrates. The synergistic effect of the micro/nanobinary scale roughness was produced by a multilayer RTV SR/TiO2 composite. The influence of the nanofiller concentration in a specific frequency range (40 Hz to 2 MHz) on the dielectric behavior was analyzed as well. It was found that the real relative permittivity (εr′) increases as the nanofiller concentration increases. Superhydrophobic behavior is analyzed by contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and profilometer. The stability of the developed coating also has been evaluated in terms of immersion in various aqueous solutions, heating, adhesion, and exposure to UV irradiation, and the results showed good stability against these factors. The coating retained its superhydrophobicity after several days of immersion in solutions of different pH levels (2, 4, 6, and 12) and different conductivities. In addition, they also exhibited exceptional stability against UV radiation and heating, as well as good mechanical stability