Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Induction by Coumarins in CLL

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the leukemia types. Leukemia is cancer of the body\u27s blood-forming cells. Cancer is a disease that is often characterized by too little apoptosis and uncontrolled duplicate of body cells. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a normal component of the development and health of multicellular organisms. Cells die in response to a variety of stimuli during apoptosis. During cancer, pathophysiology apoptosis of the cancerous cells is disrupted, so one of the strategies for cancer chemotherapy is inducing apoptosis in cancerous cells. Myeloid cell leukemia type 1 (Mcl-1) is one of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins. It has been shown that the expression of Mcl-1 in CLL is significantly associated with a failure to achieve complete remission following cytotoxic therapy, so regulation of Mcl-1 expression by coumarins could be one of the mechanisms of CLL chemotherapy. Coumarins consist of a large class of phenolic substances found in plants. Different pharmacologic effects of coumarins were reported. One of these effects is cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction in cancerous cells by coumarins. In this chapter, the cytotoxic activity of coumarins and their role in Mcl-1 regulation are discussed

COMPARISON OF THE CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF UMBELLIPRENIN AND AURAPTENE

Umbelliprenin and auraptene structurally belong to the class of coumarins. Umbelliprenin can be synthesized chemically or extracted by maceration at room temperature. Various biological effects for both umbel lip renin and auraptene have been reported. One of their most important effects is cytotoxicity. This finding has increased interest in the application of umbelliprenin and auraptene as novel chemotherapeutic agents. In several studies, umbelliprenin and auraptene were successfully evaluated for anti-cancer effect. Moreover, mechanistic studies have attempted to find the mechanism of action of umbelliprenin and auraptene. In this review, we describe the cytotoxic effects of umbelliprenin and auraptene and compare them with each other. Umbelliprenin and auraptene share some cytotoxic and apoptotic induction properties but have differences in the suggested mechanisms.Â

Hybrid AC/DC Provisional Microgrid Planning Model Considering Converter Aging

Building integrated photovoltaics is one of the key technologies when it comes to electricity generation in buildings, districts or urban areas. However, the potential of building façades for the BIPV system, especially in urban areas, is often neglected. Façade-mounted building integrated photovoltaics could contribute to supply the energy demand of buildings in dense urban areas with economic feasibility where the availability of suitable rooftop areas is low. This paper deals with the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) of building integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV) in the capitals of all the European member state countries plus Norway and Switzerland and presents a metric to investigate a proper subsidy or incentive for BIPV systems. The results showed that the average LCOE of the BIPV system as a building envelope material for the entire outer skin of buildings in Europe is equal to 0.09 Euro per kWh if its role as the power generator is considered in the economic calculations. This value will be 0.15 Euro per kWh if the cost corresponding to its double function in the building is taken into the economic analysis (while the average electricity price is 0.18 Euro per kWh). The results indicate that the BIPV generation cost in most case studies has already reached grid parity. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that on average in Europe, the BIPV system does not need a feed-in tariff if the selling price to the grid is equal to the purchasing price from the grid. Various incentive plans based on the buying/selling price of electricity from/to the main grid together with LCOE of the BIPV systems is also investigated. View Full-TextpublishedVersio

Biological and pharmacological activities of essential oils of Ocimum basilicum L. grown with Zn-salicylic acid nano-complex

A greenhouse study was conducted to investigate the impact of different rates of application of Zn-EDTA, salicylic acid (SA) and zinc-salicylic acid nano-complex (n[Zn(SA)2]) on the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oil (EO) of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Sixty-one compounds were detected in the EOs after Zn and SA sources were applied to the plants. GC-MS analysis showed that the main components of the EOs after the treatment were epi-α-Cadinol and trans-α-Bergamotene. The highest amount of epi-α-Cadinol (29.06±1.31%) and trans-α-Bergamotene (11.90±1.1%) in the EO were observed at 0.2% n[Zn(SA)2] treatment. In general, the application of 0.2% n[Zn(SA)2] significantly increased percentages of phenolic and flavonoid compounds of extract. HPLC analysis showed that the predominant phenolic compound after treatments with different Zn and SA sources were rosmarinic acid and quercetin, respectively. The lowest IC50 values for RNS, ROS, TBARS and H2O2, scavenging activities were obtained in EOs of basils which were treated with 0.2% n[Zn(SA)2]. Zinc-salicylic nano-complex was the most effective treatment to inhibit fungal and bacterial growth. Our results are quite encouraging since the Eos of n[Zn(SA)2] treated basil exhibited potent antioxidant effect, antimicrobial activities comparable with synthetic drugs

Some physical properties of almond nut and kernel and modeling dimensional properties

Three main dimensions of nut and kernel of almonds were measured.  Then some dimensional properties of nut and kernel were calculated.  Effect of the moisture content on bulk density, true density, porosity and coefficient of friction of kernels and nuts were studied.  Angle of repose on iron, plywood and galvanized sheet were measured.  Also in order to examine the correlation between two dimensions of kernels and nuts and correlation between one dimension of nuts and similar dimension of kernels, linear and quadratic regression were used.  Length, width and thickness distributions of nuts and kernels were modeled using normal, log normal, Weibull and Generalized Extreme Value distributions.  For modeling other dimensional properties, only Generalized Extreme Value was used.  The estimated parameters of the PDF for three main dimensions of nuts and kernels indicated that G.E.V was best fit.  With increasing moisture content of the kernels from 4.20% to 29.64% (w.b.), true density and porosity were increased from 939.629 to 1,077.428 kg m-3 and 37.704% to 57.088%, respectively; and bulk density was decreased from 585.350 kg m-3 to 462.343 kg m-3.  When the moisture content of the nuts increased from 4.03% to 28.13% (w.b.), true density and porosity were increased from 1,025.124 kg m-3 to 1,149.700 kg m-3 and 38.562% to 56.55%, respectively, and bulk density was decreased from 629.81 kg m-3 to 499.532 kg m-3.  Values of coefficient of friction on all surfaces were increased with increasing moisture content.   Keywords: gravimetric properties, regression, log likelihood, normal distribution, Weibull distribution,generalized extreme value distribution, almond nu

Nurses’ understanding of evidence-based practice: Identification of barriers to utilization of research in teaching hospitals

BACKGROUND: In medical organizations, utilizing evidence-based practice (EBP) helps nurses and patients make the best decision in health care in certain clinical settings. Hence, recognizing its educational barriers is so important.METHODS: The present study was a descriptive-analytical research that was conducted using a cross-sectional design in 6 teaching hospitals of Qazvin City, Iran, in 2014. The study sample consisted of 260 nurses. Based on the number of the nurses working in each hospital, the study sample was chosen by a stratified random method. Two questionnaires were employed to collect the required data. The first questionnaire was Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ) that evaluates nurses’ understanding of EBP. The second questionnaire was related to measuring the barriers to utilization of research by the nurses that was developed by Funk et al. For analyzing the collected data, frequency distribution tables, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression coefficient were used.RESULTS: The total mean of EBP among the nurses was at a level above average. The subscales of knowledge/skill (3.74) and attitude (3.87) had a lower average compared to the subscale of practice (4.14). The total mean of the barriers was 3.07. According to the results of the present study, organization and adopter had the highest and lowest means, respectively.CONCLUSION: Identifying the barriers that affect effective EBP implementation can help nurses achieve their goals by removing these obstacles, building the necessary infrastructure, and providing human, physical, and financial resources

Comparison of the Effect Of 0.2% Chlorhexidine and Xylitol Plus 920 Ppm Fluoride Mouthwashes on Count of Salivary Streptococcus Mutants, a Pilot Study

Statement of the Problem: Dental caries is a common chronic disease. Mouthwashes and other preventive approaches play an important role in caries prevention. Finding the most efficient mouthwash in the market is always a concern for dentists and patients. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effect of chlorhexidine (Behsa, Iran) and xylitol plus 920 ppm fluoride (FX) (Fuchs, Germany) mouthwash on salivary Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), which is the main microorganism responsible for dental caries. Materials and Method: This single-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 30 dental students, divided into two groups. The salivary count of S. mutans was measured at the beginning of the study. Group 1 students used chlorhexidine mouthwash while group 2 used FX mouthwash for two weeks. Saliva samples were collected again and salivary count of S. mutans was determined. Data were analyzed using Mann Whitney and Wilcoxon signed rank tests Results: Salivary count of S.mutans significantly decreased in the two groups after using the mouthwashes (p 0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the results showed that both mouthwashes could decrease S. mutans count

The effects of saffron supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

IntroductionCardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the world and is estimated to involve more people in the next years. It is said that alternative remedies such as herbs can be used to manage the complications of this disease. For this reason, we aimed to conduct this meta-analysis to systematically assess and summarize the effects of saffron supplementation as an important herb on cardiovascular risk factors in adults.MethodsA systematic search was done in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to find eligible articles up to September 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of saffron on lipid profiles, glycemic control, blood pressure, anthropometric measures, and inflammatory markers were included. In the meta-analysis, 32 studies were taken into account (n = 1674).ResultsConsumption of saffron significantly decreased triglyceride (TG) (WMD = −8.81 mg/dl, 95%CI: −14.33, −3.28; P = 0.002), total cholesterol (TC) (WMD = −6.87 mg/dl, 95%CI: −11.19, −2.56; P = 0.002), low density lipoprotein (LDL) (WMD = −6.71 mg/dl, 95%CI: −10.51, −2.91; P = 0.001), (P = 0.660), fasting blood glucose (FBG) level (WMD = −7.59 mg/dl, 95%CI: −11.88, −3.30; P = 0.001), HbA1c (WMD = −0.18%, 95%CI: −0.21, −0.07; P < 0.001), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (WMD = −0.49, 95%CI: −0.89, −0.09; P = 0.016), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (WMD = −3.42 mmHg, 95%CI: −5.80, −1.04; P = 0.005), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) (WMD = −2.54 pg/ml, 95%CI: −4.43, −0.65; P = 0.008), waist circumference (WC) (WMD = −1.50 cm; 95%CI: −2.83, −0.18; P = 0.026), malondialdehyde (MDA) (WMD = −1.50 uM/L, 95%CI: −2.42, −0.57; P = 0.001), and alanine transferase (ALT) (WMD = −2.16 U/L, 95%CI: −4.10, −0.23; P = 0.028). Also, we observed that saffron had an increasing effect on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (WMD = 0.07 mM/L, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.13; P = 0.032). There was linear regression between FBG and the duration of saffron intake. Additionally, the non-linear dose-response analysis has shown a significant association of saffron intervention with HDL (P = 0.049), HOMA-IR (P = 0.002), weight (P = 0.036), ALP (P = 0.016), FBG (P = 0.011), HbA1c (P = 0.002), and TNF-α (P = 0.042). A non-linear association between the length of the intervention and the level of HDL and DBP was also found.DiscussionThat seems saffron could effectively improve TG, TC, LDL, FBG, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, SBP, CRP, TNF-α, WC, MDA, TAC, and ALT

In vitro Cytotoxicity Effect of Lactobacillus casei on Kyse-30 Human Esophageal Cancer Cells

One of the top causes of cancer-related deaths globally is esophageal cancer. In investigations of cell toxicity, the MTT test is one of the most often used cell viability/cytotoxicity assays for cellular metabolic activity. Nowadays, lactobacilli with probiotic effectiveness are now acknowledged as a prophylactic agent against cancer. The anti-tumor product of these bacteria have been designated in numerous studies. This investigation examined the probiotic Lactobacillus casei's in vivo impact on esophageal cancer. The MTT technique was used in this work to evaluate the cytotoxicity of L. casei (supernatant and full cell culture) to 5fu on the cancer cell line Kyse30. L. casei was able to decrease cell survival in supernatant and full cell culture (Kyse30). The possible impact of L. casei, particularly their supernatant, on esophageal cancer was initially evaluated in this research. As a result, lactobacilli species show promise for future research and development as cancer treatments

Tick Ectoparasites of Animals in Borderline of Iran-Iraq and Their Role on Disease Transmission

Background: Since ticks are potent vectors of various diseases, identification of these species are clinically important to protect the public health and control veterinary problems in the communities. We aimed to figure out the frequency of ticks on cows, goats, sheep, lambs, turtles and also obscure hosts in Kurdistan Province, bordered with Iraq June 2012 to May 2013. Methods: The hosts were selected randomly and examined individually for tick infestation. In case of infestation, ticks were collected using forceps and then preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol. All collected specimens were preserved in tubes and relative information was recorded and then identified based on morphological characteristics. Results: Totally, 1209 ticks were collected. The prevalence of ticks on cows, sheep, goats, lambs, turtles, poultry and obscure hosts was 11.33%, 55.41%, 6.53%, 5.95%, 0.9%, 8.02% and 11.82% respectively. The mean number of ticks on each animal was 1.6. Number of 5 genera, including Rhipicephalus, Argas, Ornithodoros, Hyalomma and Haem­aphysalis and 9 species; including R. sanguineus (60.05%), R. bursa (0.08), Hy. anatolicum (12.33), Hy. asiaticum (1.49), Hy. aegyptium (0.91), Hy. marginatum (0.08), Haemaphysalis parva (4.22), Hyalomma sp. (0.99), Orni­thodoros lahorensis (11.83), and Argas persicus (8.02) were identified. Conclusion: The most abundant species in this study area was Rh. sanguineus (60.05%). Due to high prevalence of tick specimens and a variety of collected species from sheep (55.41%), the vaccination of sheep and control of tick vectors are recommended