Antitumor Effects of Cannabinoids in Human Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell Line (Capan-2)-Derived Xenograft Mouse Model

BackgroundPancreatic cancer is considered a rare type of cancer, but the mortality rate is high. Cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis plant have been interested as an alternative treatment in cancer patients. Only a few studies are available on the antitumor effects of cannabinoids in pancreatic cancer. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the antitumor effects of cannabinoids in pancreatic cancer xenografted mouse model.Materials and MethodsTwenty-five nude mice were subcutaneously transplanted with a human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell line (Capan-2). All mice were randomly assigned into 5 groups including negative control (gavage with sesame oil), positive control (5 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil intraperitoneal administration), and cannabinoids groups that daily received THC:CBD, 1:6 at 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg body weight for 30 days, respectively. Xenograft tumors and internal organs were collected for histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe average tumor volume was increased in all groups with no significant difference. The average apoptotic cells and caspase-3 positive cells were significantly increased in cannabinoid groups compared with the negative control group. The expression score of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in positive control and cannabinoids groups was decreased compared with the negative control group.ConclusionsCannabinoids have an antitumor effect on the Capan-2-derived xenograft mouse model though induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner

Pathological study on the possible translocation pathways of the exposed nanoparticles at the air-blood barrier under the inflammatory condition induced by Asian sand dust and at the maternal-fetal barrier during pregnancy in mice

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Fabrication and biological properties of artificial tendon composite from medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate

Abstract Medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate (MCL-PHA), a biodegradable and biocompatible material, has a mechanical characteristic of hyper-elasticity, comparable to elastomeric material with similar properties to human tendon flexibility. These MCL-PHA properties gave rise to applying this material as an artificial tendon or ligament implant. In this study, the material was solution-casted in cylinder and rectangular shapes in the molds with the designated small holes. A portion of the torn human tendon was threaded into the holes as a suture to generate a composite tendon graft. The tensile testing of the three types of MCL-PHA/tendon composite shows that the cylinder material shape with the zigzag threaded three holes has the highest value of maximum tensile strength at 56 MPa, closing to the ultimate tendon tensile stress (50–100 MPa). Fibroblast cells collected from patients were employed as primary tendon cells for growing to attach to the surface of the MCL-PHA material to prove the concept of the composite tendon graft. The cells could attach and proliferate with substantial viability and generate collagen, leading to chondrogenic induction of tendon cells. An in vivo biocompatibility was also conducted in a rat subcutaneous model in comparison with medical-grade silicone. The MCL-PHA material was found to be biocompatible with the surrounding tissues. For surgical application, after the MCL-PHA material is decomposed, tendon cells should develop into an attached tendon and co-generated as a tendon graft

Feline Cyst-like Lymphocytic Cholangiohepatitis in a Cat: First Case Report

A 5-year-old female neutered domestic short-haired cat presented with abdominal enlargement. An abdominal ultrasound revealed that large multiple hepatic cysts with irregular walls, hypoechoic fluid, and internal septations occupied most of the liver parenchyma. Serum liver enzymes, bilirubin, and bile acids concentrations were within normal limits. A fecal examination using simple floatation and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques was negative for liver fluke (Platynosomum fastosum), intestinal protozoa, and other helminth eggs. Praziquantel was prescribed for two distinct courses one month apart without obvious improvement of the hepatic cysts. An abdominal laparotomy and histopathological examination finally enabled diagnosis of cyst-like lymphocytic cholangiohepatitis of the liver tissue. Twelve weeks of oral prednisolone resulted in marked ultrasonographic improvement of the hepatic cysts. The liver parenchyma was heterogeneous and filled with multiple small anechoic cavities. Twenty-three months after ceasing the prednisolone, there was no recurrence of hepatic cysts

Masculinization of Red Tilapia (<i>Oreochromis</i> spp.) Using 17α-Methyltestosterone-Loaded Alkyl Polyglucosides Integrated into Nanostructured Lipid Carriers

The aim of the present study was to optimize a masculinization platform for the production of all-male red tilapia fry by oral administration of 30 and 60 ppm of MT and alkyl polyglucoside nanostructured lipid carriers (APG-NLC) loaded with MT, respectively, for 14 and 21 days. The characterization, encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics of MT in lipid-based nanoparticles were assessed in vitro. The results showed that the MT-loaded nanoparticles were spherical, ranging from 80 to 125 nm in size, and had a negative charge with a narrow particle distribution. The APG-NLC loaded with MT provided higher physical stability and encapsulation efficacy than the NLC. The release rate constants of MT from MT-NLC and MT-APG-NLC were higher than those of free MT, which is insoluble in aqueous media. There was no significant difference in survival between the fish administered MT or the those fed orally with MT-APG-NLC fish. According to the logistic regression analysis, the sex reversal efficacy of MT-APG-NLC (30 ppm) and MT (60 ppm), resulted in significantly higher numbers of males after 21 days of treatment compared with the controls. The production cost of MT-APG-NLC (30 ppm) after 21 days of treatment was reduced by 32.9% compared with the conventional MT treatment group (60 ppm). In all the treatments, the length–weight relationship (LWR) showed negatively allomeric growth behavior (b n) of more than 1. Therefore, MT-APG-NLC (30 ppm) would seem to be a promising, cost-effective way to reduce the dose of MT used for the masculinization of farmed red tilapia

Anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect of cannabinoids on human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma xenograft in BALB/c nude mice model

Abstract Human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant and lethal tumor of the exocrine pancreas. Cannabinoids extracted from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa have been suggested as a potential therapeutic agent in several human tumors. However, the anti–tumor effect of cannabinoids on human PDAC is not entirely clarified. In this study, the anti–proliferative and apoptotic effect of cannabinoid solution (THC:CBD at 1:6) at a dose of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg body weight compared to the negative control (sesame oil) and positive control (5-fluorouracil) was investigated in human PDAC xenograft nude mice model. The findings showed that cannabinoids significantly decreased the mitotic cells and mitotic/apoptotic ratio, meanwhile dramatically increased the apoptotic cells. Parallelly, cannabinoids significantly downregulated Ki-67 and PCNA expression levels. Interestingly, cannabinoids upregulated BAX, BAX/BCL-2 ratio, and Caspase-3, meanwhile, downregulated BCL-2 expression level and could not change Caspase-8 expression level. These findings suggest that cannabinoid solution (THC:CBD at 1:6) could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in human PDAC xenograft models. Cannabinoids, including THC:CBD, should be further studied for use as the potent PDCA therapeutic agent in humans