Removal of sulfadimethoxine antibiotic from aqueous solutions using carbon nanotubes

Abstract Background and aim: Antibiotics are a category of organic pollutants that can cause serious environmental problems through their disposal and uncontrolled release to the environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the removal of sulfadimethoxine from aqueous solutions using carbon nanotubes. Materials and Methods: The present work was an experimental study in which the effects of different parameters, such as PH, time, doses of carbon nanotubes, and different concentrations of sulfadimethoxine, on the removal of antibiotic from solutions were examined. All experiments were carried out in a 100-mL reactor at laboratory temperature (24 ± 2 ° C) using a magnetic stirrer at 350 rpm. Results: The results showed that the maximum removal efficiency (94.5%) was occurred at pH = 6, adsorbent dosage 0.04 g, contact time of 30 min, and initial concentration of 20 mg/L. The findings on the effect of pH showed that the adsorption capacity increases with increasing pH, and at pH = 6, it reaches its maximum and then decreases again. The extent of removal was increased by increasing the dose of carbon nanotubes and the optimum amount for initial concentration of 100 mg/L (50 mL) was 0.04 g. The amount of absorption increased with increasing contact time and the maximum absorption occurred when the contact time was 30 min. The sulfadimethoxine antibiotic isotherm followed the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9800) and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.9937). Conclusion: The results showed that carbon nanotubes have a high potential for removal of sulfadimethoxine from aqueous solutions, due to its properties like its high surface area

Low Level Laser Irradiation Effects on Proliferation and Apoptosis in Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Low level laser irradiationis an effective method in treating some diseases and it could improve regeneration and wound healing. Some studies have reported that low level laser irradiation could enhance proliferation by increasing ATP level in the cells mitochondria.Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a kind of stem cells which are capable of differentiating to other cells. Nowadays, MSCs are an appropriate option for regenerative medicine. In this study we want to investigate the optimum protocol for using low level laser irradiation to improve proliferation and make less apoptosis in Mesenchymal stem cells. The Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from femur and tibia of a male rat and cultured in culture media. The isolated cells were differentiated to adipocyte and osteocyte to confirm their multi potency. The cells were irradiated with different exposure protocols of 808 nm diode laser. After exposure the stem cells markers (CD90, CD44 and CD45), doubling time, colony forming frequency and Caspase 3 activity (for apoptosis evaluation) were assessed.Both 640 mW (8th group) and 830 mW (14th group) have best result in colony forming and doubling time; however the 8th group had the least Caspase 3 activity. The patterns of stem cells markers expression have not changed after laser irradiation.The protocol used in 8th group could improve Mesenchymal stem cells proliferation more than the rest protocols and also it might make the apoptosis less than the other group. This irradiation protocol could be useful in regenerative medicine due to its effects on Mesenchymal stem cells

Low Level Laser Irradiation Effects on Proliferation and Apoptosis in Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Low level laser irradiationis an effective method in treating some diseases and it could improve regeneration and wound healing. Some studies have reported that low level laser irradiation could enhance proliferation by increasing ATP level in the cells mitochondria.Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a kind of stem cells which are capable of differentiating to other cells. Nowadays, MSCs are an appropriate option for regenerative medicine. In this study we want to investigate the optimum protocol for using low level laser irradiation to improve proliferation and make less apoptosis in Mesenchymal stem cells. The Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from femur and tibia of a male rat and cultured in culture media. The isolated cells were differentiated to adipocyte and osteocyte to confirm their multi potency. The cells were irradiated with different exposure protocols of 808 nm diode laser. After exposure the stem cells markers (CD90, CD44 and CD45), doubling time, colony forming frequency and Caspase 3 activity (for apoptosis evaluation) were assessed.Both 640 mW (8th group) and 830 mW (14th group) have best result in colony forming and doubling time; however the 8th group had the least Caspase 3 activity. The patterns of stem cells markers expression have not changed after laser irradiation.The protocol used in 8th group could improve Mesenchymal stem cells proliferation more than the rest protocols and also it might make the apoptosis less than the other group. This irradiation protocol could be useful in regenerative medicine due to its effects on Mesenchymal stem cells

targets and mechanisms of sulforaphane derivatives obtained from cruciferous plants with special focus on breast cancer contradictory effects and future perspectives

Abstract Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Therefore, discovery of new and effective drugs with fewer side effects is necessary to treat it. Sulforaphane (SFN) is an organosulfur compound obtained from cruciferous plants, such as broccoli and mustard, and it has the potential to treat breast cancer. Hence, it is vital to find out how SFN targets certain genes and cellular pathways in treating breast cancer. In this review, molecular targets and cellular pathways of SFN are described. Studies have shown SFN inhibits cell proliferation, causes apoptosis, stops cell cycle and has anti-oxidant activities. Increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) produces oxidative stress, activates inflammatory transcription factors, and these result in inflammation leading to cancer. Increasing anti-oxidant potential of cells and discovering new targets to reduce ROS creation reduces oxidative stress and it eventually reduces cancer risks. In short, SFN effectively affects histone deacetylases involved in chromatin remodeling, gene expression, and Nrf2 anti-oxidant signaling. This review points to the potential of SFN to treat breast cancer as well as the importance of other new cruciferous compounds, derived from and isolated from mustard, to target Keap1 and Akt, two key regulators of cellular homeostasis

May Measurement Month 2018: a pragmatic global screening campaign to raise awareness of blood pressure by the International Society of Hypertension

Aims Raised blood pressure (BP) is the biggest contributor to mortality and disease burden worldwide and fewer than half of those with hypertension are aware of it. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global campaign set up in 2017, to raise awareness of high BP and as a pragmatic solution to a lack of formal screening worldwide. The 2018 campaign was expanded, aiming to include more participants and countries. Methods and results Eighty-nine countries participated in MMM 2018. Volunteers (≥18 years) were recruited through opportunistic sampling at a variety of screening sites. Each participant had three BP measurements and completed a questionnaire on demographic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. In total, 74.9% of screenees provided three BP readings. Multiple imputation using chained equations was used to impute missing readings. 1 504 963 individuals (mean age 45.3 years; 52.4% female) were screened. After multiple imputation, 502 079 (33.4%) individuals had hypertension, of whom 59.5% were aware of their diagnosis and 55.3% were taking antihypertensive medication. Of those on medication, 60.0% were controlled and of all hypertensives, 33.2% were controlled. We detected 224 285 individuals with untreated hypertension and 111 214 individuals with inadequately treated (systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg) hypertension. Conclusion May Measurement Month expanded significantly compared with 2017, including more participants in more countries. The campaign identified over 335 000 adults with untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. In the absence of systematic screening programmes, MMM was effective at raising awareness at least among these individuals at risk

Potential advantages of genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of acute and chronic liver diseases

Abstract Liver damage caused by toxicity can lead to various severe conditions, such as acute liver failure (ALF), fibrogenesis, and cirrhosis. Among these, liver cirrhosis (LC) is recognized as the leading cause of liver-related deaths globally. Unfortunately, patients with progressive cirrhosis are often on a waiting list, with limited donor organs, postoperative complications, immune system side effects, and high financial costs being some of the factors restricting transplantation. Although the liver has some capacity for self-renewal due to the presence of stem cells, it is usually insufficient to prevent the progression of LC and ALF. One potential therapeutic approach to improving liver function is the transplantation of gene-engineered stem cells. Several types of mesenchymal stem cells from various sources have been suggested for stem cell therapy for liver disease. Genetic engineering is an effective strategy that enhances the regenerative potential of stem cells by releasing growth factors and cytokines. In this review, we primarily focus on the genetic engineering of stem cells to improve their ability to treat damaged liver function. We also recommend further research into accurate treatment methods that involve safe gene modification and long-term follow-up of patients to increase the effectiveness and reliability of these therapeutic strategies

Differentiation of Human Breast-Milk Stem Cells to Neural Stem Cells and Neurons

Objectives. Human breast milk contains a heterogeneous population of cells that have the potential to provide a noninvasive source of cells for cell therapy in many neurodegenerative diseases without any ethical concern. The objectives of this study were to differentiate the breast milk-derived stem cells (BMDSC) toward neural stem cells and then into the neurons and neuroglia. Materials and Methods. To do this, the BMDSC were isolated from human breast milk and cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium/F12 (DMEM/F12) containing fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The cells were then characterized by evaluation of the embryonic and stem cell markers. Then, the cells were exposed to culture medium containing 1% B27 and 2% N2 for 7–10 days followed by medium supplemented with B27, N2, bFGF 10 µg/mL, and endothelial growth factor (EGF) 20 µg/mL. Then, the sphere-forming assay was performed. The spheres were then differentiated into three neural lineages by withdrawing growth factor in the presence of 5% FBS (fetal bovine serum). The immunofluorescence was done for β-tubulin III, O4, and GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein). Results. The results indicated that the cells expressed both embryonic and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) markers. They also showed neurospheres formation that was nestin-positive. The cells were also differentiated into all three neural lineages. Conclusion. The BMDSC can behave in the same way with neural stem cells. They were differentiated into oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes as well as neurons

Effect of amniotic membrane/collagen scaffolds on laryngeal cartilage repair

Abstract Objectives Laryngeal cartilage defects are a major problem that greatly impacts structural integrity and function. Cartilage repair is also a challenging issue. This study evaluated the efficacy of a collagen scaffold enveloped by amniotic membrane (AM/C) on laryngeal cartilage repair. Study Design Experimental animal study. Methods Fourteen Dutch rabbits were enrolled in the study. A 5 mm cartilage defect was created in the right and left thyroid lamina. The animals were divided into two groups randomly. Group 1 collagen scaffolds and group 2 AM/C were applied to the right side defects. Left side defects were not repaired, serving as control. Histologic evaluation was done 45 and 90 days following collagen and AM/C application with criteria of tissue and cell morphology, lacuna formation, vascularization, and inflammation. Results Significant improvement in cartilage repair was observed in the AM/C side compared to the control side in all histologic criteria after 45 days (p<.05). After 90 days, cartilage repair improved in cell morphology, lacuna formation, and inflammation significantly (p<.05). Conclusion The combination of amniotic membrane and collagen scaffolds provides a promising treatment modality for improving the repair of laryngeal cartilage defects. Level of Evidence NA

Application of intelligent packaging for meat products: A systematic review

Abstract Background Today, in response to consumer demand and market trends, the development of new packaging with better performance such as intelligent packaging has become more important. This packaging system is able to perform intelligent functions to increase shelf life, increase safety and improve product quality. Objectives Recently, various types of packaging systems are available for meat products, especially cooked, fresh and processed meats. But because meat products are very perishable, monitoring their quality and safety in the supply chain is very important. This systematic article briefly reviews some of the recent data about the application of intelligent packaging in meat products. Methods The search was conducted in Google Scholar, Science Direct, Elsevier, Springer, Scopus, and PubMed, from April 1996 to April 2021 using a different combination of the following keyword: intelligent packaging, and meat. Results The results showed that the intelligent packaging presents several benefits compared to traditional packaging (e.g., antimicrobial, antioxidant, and shelf life extension) at the industrial processing level. Thus, these systems have been applied to improve the shelf life and textural properties of meat and meat products. Conclusions It is necessary to control the number of intelligent compounds that are included in the packaging as they clearly influence the quality and nutritional properties as well as the final cost of the food products

The characterization of CD marker profile of breast milk-derived stem cell

Background  The mammary gland in humans is a dynamic organ that undergoes significant developmental changes during pregnancy, lactation, and involution. Stem cells derived from human breast milk possess the adult stem cell-like characteristics such as self-renewal, proliferative and differentiate potential. This source of stem cells avoids invasive procedures and the ethical controversy of embryonic stem cells. In this study we aimed at identifying the human breast milk as a source of stem cells by the expression of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells markers using flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry assay. Methods  Human milk samples were collected in sterile tubes manually. The samples were collected from day 0 until month 6 post-delivery, usually in the morning. The breast milk was diluted 1:2 with DMEM medium, centrifuged at 300g for 20 min. The cell pellet was washed twice with PBS contains 7% FBS. The cells were subjected to analysis of cell surface antigenic using flow cytometry. Results  The study provides evidence for the existence of mesenchymal stem cells in human breast milk. Flow cytometric analysis illustrated that breast milk stem cells were positive for surface markers associated with stromal and/or mesenchymal stem cells such as CD90(41.6_+0.4), CD44( 88.3_+4.3),CD271(81.2_+5.8),CD106 (9.5_+1.4) and TRA 60-1(10.55_+0.75) while lacking CD105(2.64_+0.55),CD 73(3.8_+0.51). They had negative reaction for hematopoietic markers CD34 (2.7_+2.1), CD123 (4.6_+1.1), CD133 (2.85_+0.65) and also positive for embryonic markers like OCT 4, NANOG, SOX2 which was shown by immunocytochemistry. Conclusion  The presence of multipotent stem cells in human milk suggests that breast milk could be an alternative, non-invasive, accessible source of stem cells for autologous cell therapy in future. Keywords: Human breast milk, Mesenchymal stem cells, Multipotent ability