Improved Serodiagnosis of Hydatid Cyst Disease Using Gold Nanoparticle Labeled Antigen B in Naturally Infected Sheep

Background: Cystic echinococcosis caused by the metacestode of Echinococcus granulosus is a major problem in both humans and domestic animals health. There-fore, a standardized and approachable diagnostic tool (rapid tests) for the serodiag-nosis of cystic echinococcosis (CE) is still needed. Methods: In the present work, antigen B labeled with gold nanoparticles was used to detect antibodies against hydatid cyst disease. The prepared antigen B was ana-lyzed by SDS-PAGE. Tetra chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) was used to produce colloi-dal gold and antigen B labeled by gold nanoparticles, then it was tested by using rabbits antisera and sera from naturally infected sheep. The labeled antigen B was evaluated using Dot-immunogold staining (Dot-IGS) method. Results: Electrophoretic pattern of hydatid cyst fluid showed the quality of bands in the condensed fluid is better than crude fluid. SDS-PAGE analysis cyst fluid and antigen B revealed three specific protein bands that were detected at molecular weights of 24, 30 and 40 kDa that all are the subunits of antigen B. Evaluation of antigen B labeled by gold nanoparticles by using Dot-IGS technique showed 1/1 and 1/50 dilutions in comparison with another has the best immunoreaction. In this method, nanoparticles produced a typical purple color, when they binded to the strip at the site of immunoreaction. Conclusion: Therefore, using gold nanoparticles is a good candidate for detection of helminthiasis, also as selective tools of early detection, simple and cost-effective, regardless of specific skills and equipment with optimal durability

Evaluation of bronchiectasis in war chemically-injured patients via high resolution computed tomography

Background: Sulfur mustard (SM) gas as a vesicant chemical warfare was used in the Iran-Iraq war (1981–1989) against the Iranian warriors. Objective: This alkylating agent with the potential of producing chemical injury in the skin, eyes and lung, may damage both upper and lower respiratory tract, which in turn can cause different types of sequels such as asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis and lung fibrosis. Methods: This study was performed on 274 patients with documented history of SM gas exposure. All of the participants complained of respiratory problems. Patients with positive history of cigarette smoking, respiratory problems before the exposure to SM gas, cardiovascular problems, surgery of the lung, and exposure to occupational toxic chemicals were excluded from the study. Results of all chest HRCTs were evaluated by a radiologist. Results: HRCT findings showed that bronchiectasis involved 53 patients (19.34%) of all cases. Varicose bronchiectasis and cystic bronchiectasis was observed in 10 (18.9%) and 6 cases (11.3%) respectively. Among patients with bronchiectasis, the involvement rate of different lobes was as follows: Right upper lobe (RUL) 7.5%, right middle lobe (RML) 11.3%, left upper lobe (LUL) 15.1%, left lower lobe (LLL) 26.4% and right lower lobe (RLL) 39.6%. Discussion and conclusion: Findings of chest HRCT demonstrated tubular bronchiectasis was the most frequent type of this disease that involve the chemically injured patients and RLL had been the most frequently involved lobe of the lung with bronchiectasis

Simultaneous inhibition of ATR and PARP sensitizes colon cancer cell lines to irinotecan

Enhanced DNA damage repair is one mechanism involved in colon cancer drug resistance. Thus, targeting molecular components of repair pathways with specific small molecule inhibitors may improve the efficacy of chemotherapy. ABT-888 and VE-821, inhibitors of poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase (PARP) and the serine/threonine-kinase Ataxia telangiectasia related (ATR), respectively, were used to treat colon cancer cell lines in combination with the topoisomerase-I inhibitor irinotecan (SN38). Our findings show that each of these DNA repair inhibitors utilized alone at nontoxic single agent concentrations resulted in sensitization to SN38 producing a 1.4-3 fold reduction in the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of SN38 in three colon cancer cell lines. When combined together, nontoxic concentrations of ABT-888 and VE-821 produced a 4.5-27 fold reduction in the IC50 of SN38 with the HCT-116 colon cancer cells demonstrating the highest sensitization as compared to LoVo and HT-29 colon cancer cells. Furthermore, the combination of all three agents was associated with maximal G(2) -M arrest and enhanced DNA-damage (gamma H2AX) in all three colon cancer cell lines. The mechanism of this enhanced sensitization was associated with: (a) maximal suppression of SN38 induced PARP activity in the presence of both inhibitors and (b) ABT-888 producing partial abrogation of the VE-821 enhancement of SN38 induced DNA-PK phosphorylation, resulting in more unrepaired DNA damage; these alterations were only present in the HCT-116 cells which have reduced levels of ATM. This novel combination of DNA repair inhibitors may be useful to enhance the activity of DNA damaging chemotherapies such as irinotecan and help produce sensitization to this drug in colon cancer

Association between exercise and changes in gut microbiota profile: a review

Multiple diseases can decrease levels and changes in gut microbial populations, while increasing microbiota diversity causes an increase in the immune response. Evidence shows that exercise can affect the gut microbiota and, subsequently, the health of individuals. Also, regular exercise provides many benefits for health, protection against the spread of chronic diseases, and improved quality of life. Exercise can increase the number of helpful microbiota species, enrich microflora diversity, and improve the growth of commensal microbiota. This article reviews recent findings on the interaction of gut microbiota and exercise. Also, another purpose of this research is to suggest different mechanisms that using them can provide the way that the exercise factor can change the gut microbiota