In vitro cytotoxic and anti-cancer effects of body wall for sea cucumber (Holothuria leucospilota)

In recent years efforts to find bioactive compounds from live organisms especially marine animals have been increased. In the present study, the anticancer and cytotoxic effects of sea cucumber body walls (Holothuria leucospilota) were investigated. For this purpose, sea cucumbers were collected from Larak Island at depths of 10 to 30 m and extraction process was done with methanol and diethyl ether solvent which then concentrated by rotary evaporator (40℃) following lyophilization with vacuum freeze dryer. XTT method was used to investigate anticancer and cytotoxic effects of body wall extracts. The results showed that the methanolic extract could prevent proliferation of human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells (KB) at concentrations of 100 and 500 μg/ml. The diethyl etheric extract also could prevent proliferation of KB at 500 μg/ml concentration. Overall result showed that sea cucumber body wall had a strong cytotoxic effect on normal cell line (Human embryonic kidney cell [HEK]) which can be used as potent cytotoxic material. However these extracts did not show significant therapeutic value against KB cells

Comparison of transthoracic echocardiography and right heart catheterization for assessing pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with congenital or valvular heart defects

Background- Although right heart catheterization (RHC) has acceptable accuracy for the measurement of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), significant risks and cost issues are worrisome. Thus, a non-invasive technique such as echocardiography for assessing PAP would clearly be of great clinical value. We aimed to compare estimated systolic PAP (SPAP) by echocardiogram with the actual RHC measurements in the two groups of congenital and valvular heart diseases (CHD and VHD, respectively), in whom pulmonary hypertension (PHT) was clinically suspected. Methods- A total of 103 consecutive patients with confirmed CHD or VHD referred to our center between January and December 2009 were studied. Participants underwent transthoracic echocardiography and RHC within 4 hours of each other. Results- The mean SPAP in the CHD group was no different measured by RHC or echo (46.49 ± 29.04 vs. 46.45 ± 23 mmHg, p = 0.541). The mean SPAP in the VHD group measured by RHC was significantly higher than that measured by echo (48.70 ± 14.50 vs. 44.90 ± 11.0 mmHg, p = 0.041). Fifty-one (49.5) patients were found to have PHT at RHC. Echocardiography correctly identified 48 of these patients (sensitivity= 94.1). Nineteen of the 52 patients without PHT on RHC were correctly identified by echocardiography (specificity= 36.5). The positive and negative predictive values for echocardiography in assessing the presence or absence of PHT were 59.3 and 86.4, respectively. Conclusion- Integration of hemodynamic data with the echo examination can appropriately provide comprehensive assessment of PHT with high sensitivity in individual patients with congenital or valvular heart defects

Numerical simulation of LDL particles mass transport in human carotid artery under steady state conditions

AbstractIn this study, Lumen Surface Concentration (LSC) of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) particles in arteries with a permeable wall and up to 60% stenosis under steady state conditions, for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, has been numerically investigated. The results show the Concentration Polarization (CP) phenomenon. Also, an increase in wall suction velocity (high blood pressure) and a reduction in Wall Shear Stress (WSS) are introduced as factors for an increase in LSC. Maximum LSC are observed for 40% stenosis

The Effect of some Factors on the Efficacy of Pheromone Traps for Capturing Leopard Moth in Walnut Orchards

Introduction: The leopard moth, Zeuzera pyrina (L.) (Lepidoptera, Cossidae), is an important xylophagous pest on different trees such as walnut, Juglans regia (L.), which weaken the host trees by canalling in the trunks. Regarding type of damage and host range of the pest, it is so difficult to control. Catching of the male moths by traps containing sex pheromone lures is a promising method to control the pest. There are many factors influencing potential of pheromone traps. Some of these factors, such as trap shape, trap color and height of trap placement, can be manipulated by the user or grower. One of the components of the pheromone blend of leopard moth is (E, Z)-2, 13-octadecadien-1-ol acetate, which seems to be the pheromone compound of the current clearwing moth Synanthedon tipuliformis (Clerck) (Sesiidae). Materials and Methods: Separate experiments were conducted in walnut orchards (each having more than 10 years of damage history and area of 0.5-3.5 ha) of Najaf-Abad County (Isfahan, Iran). Pheromone traps were placed on the trees in late April. The traps were inspected at 5-day intervals until late July. The number of catched lthe moth males was recorded and also, during the growth season average of the capturing per trap per night was calculated. Lures were replaced monthly. In the present study the effects of four factors (pheromone type, trap shape, trap color and height of trap placement) on the number of catched leopard moth males were evaluated. The experiments for different factors were conducted as follows: 1. Pheromone type and lures of pheromones of S. tipuliformis and Z. pyrina, both of which were provided from Agriscense Company, were compared. 2. Trap shape, four shapes (cylindrical or standard, delta, wing and funnel) were compared. The experiment was conducted using white-colored traps placed at the height of 1.5m above the ground and had S. tipuliformis lures. 3. Trap color, three separate experiments were conducted as follows: delta traps with 3 colors (white, yellow and green), delta traps with 6 colors (white, yellow, green, glossy gray, normal gray and red), cylindrical traps with 4 colors (green, yellow, with and normal gray). In the experiments, traps with height of 2m above the ground had S. tipuliformis lures. 4. Height of trap placement, two separate experiments with delta and cylindrical traps were conducted for comparison of three placement heights of 1.5, 3 and more than 6 meters above the ground. The experiment was conducted using white - colored traps which had S. tipuliformis lures. All above experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with three or four replications. Analysis of variance was performed after data transformation, using log (x+1). In all experiments means were compared using Tukey̕s test, except for the experiment of pheromone type, which compared using t-student test. Results and Discussion: In the present study the catching was started on 4th of May and lasted till 26 July. During 105 nights of trapping, traps, which were continuing lures of S. tipuliformis and Z. pyrina, were captured in total 77 and 7 leopard moth males, respectively. Means of capturing per trap per night were 0.18 and 0.01, respectively. Results showed that catching of male moths were significantly higher on traps containing lures of S. tipuliformis than those containing lures of Z. pyrina. In comparison to shape of traps, significantly the highest catches belonged to funnel trap. The superiority of the funnel traps could be related to its specific structure. Comparison of 6 colors with delta traps showed that green and yellow colors had the highest and the lowest catching, respectively. However, in comparison of 4 colors with cylindrical trap, the highest and the lowest catching belonged to normal gray and yellow, respectively. In the present study, ranking of trap colors changed by trap shape. The phenomenon might be related to the interactions between the factors of traps̕ shape and color. In the experiments of height of trap placement, the highest catching was obtained at the height more than 6 m with both delta and wing traps. It shows that the amount of catching is increasing by increasing in the height of trap placement. Conclusion: Pheromone traps could be used as a useful method for catching leopard moths males. However efficacy of the pheromone traps was influenced by several factors, including type of pheromone, trap shape, trap color and height of trap placement

Deferoxamine Preconditioning of Neural-Like Cells Derived from Human Wharton�s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Strategy to Promote Their Tolerance and Therapeutic Potential: An In Vitro Study

Transplantation of neural-like cells is considered as a promising therapeutic strategy developed for neurodegenerative disease in particular for ischemic stroke. Since cell survival is a major concern following cell implantation, a number of studies have underlined the protective effects of preconditioning with hypoxia or hypoxia mimetic pharmacological agents such as deferoxamine (DFO), induced by activation of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and its target genes. The present study has investigated the effects of DFO preconditioning on some factors involved in cell survival, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis of neural-like cells derived from human Wharton�s jelly mesenchymal stem cells (HWJ-MSCs) in presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). HWJ-MSCs were differentiated toward neural-like cells for 14 days and neural cell markers were identified using immunocytochemistry. HWJ-MSC-derived neural-like cells were then treated with 100 µM DFO, as a known hypoxia mimetic agent for 48 h. mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1 target genes including brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) significantly increased using RT-PCR and Western blotting which were reversed by HIF-1α inhibitor, while, gene expression of Akt-1, Bcl-2, and Bax did not change significantly but pAkt-1 was up-regulated as compared to poor DFO group. However, addition of H2O2 to DFO-treated cells resulted in higher resistance to H2O2-induced cell death. Western blotting analysis also showed significant up-regulation of HIF-1α, BDNF, VEGF, and pAkt-1, and decrease of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as compared to poor DFO. These results may suggest that DFO preconditioning of HWJ-MSC-derived neural-like cells improves their tolerance and therapeutic potential and might be considered as a valuable strategy to improve cell therapy. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Interaction of a Vanadyl Schiff Base Complex with DNA and BSA: A Combination of Experimental and Computational Studies

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cancer is the primary cause of death in the world. Vanadium (IV) is a metal ion complex which has been proposed as a suitable candidate for cancer treatment. In this study, the interaction of the oxido-vanadium (IV) complex VOL(bipy) with salmon sperm DNA and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) was investigated through experimental and computational approaches. With the results of this experimental study, the mechanism and parameters related to the interaction of VOL(bipy) with DNA and BSA were determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The kinetic interaction of DNA and BSA with VOL(bipy) was determined using absorption titration and fluorescence quenching, respectively. Moreover, the possible interactions were calculated by molecular docking prediction using the available software. RESULTS: The binding constant (Kb) of the complex-DNA interaction was calculated to be 2.34Ã�104 M-1, indicating a relatively strong interaction between the complex and DNA. It was found that the V(IV) complex interacted with DNA through the groove binding mode followed by partial intercalation into the DNA helix. The Kb values obtained for VOL(bipy)-BSA interaction were in the range of 1.07Ã�103-5.82Ã�104 M-1. The V(IV) complex was found to prefer the domain I binding pocket of BSA with the Î�Gb value of -7.52 kcal/mol. CONCLUSION: Both experimental and computational analyses confirmed the interaction of the vanadium complex with DNA and BSA. The moderate affinity of VOL(bipy) for BSA indicates that this protein is a good candidate for transferring the complex. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at [email protected]