In vitro inhibition of Helicobacter pylori urease with non and semi fermented Camellia sinensis

Purpose: Helicobacter pylori is the etiological agent in duodenal and peptic ulcers. The growing problem of antibiotic resistance by the organism demands the search for novel compounds, especially from natural sources. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Camellia sinensis extracts on the urease enzyme that is a major colonization factor for H. pylori. Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations of nonfermented and semifermented C. sinensis methanol: water extracts were assessed by broth dilution method. Examination of the urease function was performed by Mc Laren method, and urease production was detected on 12% SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from whole cell and membrane bound proteins. Results: Both extracts had inhibitory effects against H. pylori and urease production. At a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml of nonfermented extract and 3.5 mg/ml of semifermented extract the production of Ure A and Ure B subunits of the urease enzyme were inhibited completely. A concentration of 4 mg/ml of nonfermented and 5.5 mg/ml of semifermented extract were bactericidal for H. pylori. Conclusions: C. sinensis extracts, especially the nonfermented, could reduce H. pylori population and inhibit urease production at lower concentrations. The superior effect of nonfermented extract is due to its rich polyphenolic compounds and catechin contents

The effect of black and green-tea extracts on dental-plaque forming Streptococci

زمینه و هدف: چای از پرمصرف‌ترین نوشیدنی‌ها در ایران است. اثرات ضد میکربی چای روی میکروارگانیسم‌های متعددی به اثبات رسیده است و یافتن فرآورده های طبیعی مانند مشتقات چای، که فاقد مخاطرات بر سلامت انسان باشند جهت کاهش ارگانیسم های پاتوژن ضروری بنظر می رسد. لذا این پژوهش با هدف بررسی اثر عصاره چای سیاه و سبز ایرانی بر استرپتوکوک‌های دهانی (استرپتوکوکوس موتانس، استرپتوکوکوس میتیس و استرپتوکوکوس سنگوییس) و اثر بازدارندگی آنها از تشکیل بیوفیلم، روی عوامل ایجاد کنندۀ پلاک‌های دندانی و پوسیدگی دندان انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی پس از عصاره گیری نمونه ها با حلال متانول50 و جدا نمودن مجدد در فاز اتیل استـــات، عصاره ها توسط فیلتر 44/0 میکرون استریل شده و در 4 درجۀ سانتیگراد نگهداری شدند. از روش تهیۀ رقت های متوالی در محیط مایع برای محاسبۀ حداقل غلظت بازدارندگی و با تلقیح باکتری‌ها به درون ارلن های حاوی لام‌های شیشه‌ای برای سنجش تشکیل بیوفیلم استفاده شد. تشکیل بیوفیلم با کشت نمونه از روی لام ها و شمارش کلنی‌ها و همچنین مقایسۀ آنها در زیر میکروسکوپ فاز کنتراست با نمونۀ شاهد (محیط های تیمار نشده) مقایسه گردید. میانگین اندازه گیری‌ها در سه بار تکرار بیان و خطاها در هر نمونه با استفاده از آزمون آماری استاندارد (ANOVA) تعیین گردید. یافته ها: میکروسکوپ فاز کنتراست کاهش فوق العاده ای را در چسبیدن میکروارگانیسم های تیمار شده به یکدیگر در مقایسه با نمونۀ شاهد نشان داد. در غلظت 1 میلی گرم در میلی لیتر از عصارۀ چای سیاه بیوفیلم تشکیل نشد و غلظت 5/1 میلی گرم در میلی لیتر از عصارۀ چای سبز نیز بازدارندۀ کامل تشکیل بیوفیلم بود. عصاره های چای سیاه و سبز، به ترتیب در غلظت 5/2 و 3 میلی گرم در میلی لیتر اثر باکتریسایدی روی استرپتوکوکوس موتانس، استرپتوکوکوس میتیس و استرپتوکوکوس سنگوییس داشتند. نتیجه گیری: عصاره های چای به هر دو صورت چای سیاه و سبز خاصیت باکتریسایدی داشتند و اثر ضد میکربی چای سیاه بر روی استرپتوکوک های دهانی و ممانعت از تشکیل بیوفیلم توسط آنها بیشتر از چای سبز است

Food Insecurity is Associated with Food Consumption Patterns and Anthropometric Measures but not Serum Micronutrient Levels in Adults in Rural Tanzania.

The purpose of the present paper is to assess the relationship between food insecurity and food consumption patterns, anthropometric measures and serum micronutrient levels in rural Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out between March and May of 2005. Rural Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Analysis was restricted to 1014 adults aged 15-44 years with children and complete data. A large majority of the participants (91 %) reported some kind of food insecurity. Food insecurity was significantly associated with age, marital status and occupation. Participants reporting food insecurity were significantly less likely to frequently consume animal products, fruits and vegetables compared with participants categorized as food secure. Women categorized as experiencing individual food insecurity had a larger waist circumference than food-secure women (P = 0.026) while the mean BMI of women appeared to decline if they had a child who was food insecure (P = 0.038). There were no observed differences in serum micronutrient levels by food insecurity status. Food insecurity is highly prevalent and associated with food consumption patterns, waist circumference and BMI of women in rural Tanzania. Further studies should apply self-report measures in assessing food insecurity to larger and more diversified populations

An overview of the current status of engineered therapeutic monoclonal antibodies

Since the commercialization of the first therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) product in 1986, this class of biopharmaceutical products have grown significantly. Due to the enhanced antigen binding and reduced cellular toxicity, they result in more efficacy in treatment of variety of diseases. The global sales of mAbs which was 95.1 b$in 2017 have grown annually due to the dramatic increase in cancer and severe diseases rates and are estimated to reach 131.33 b$ by 2023, this represents a clear accelerating trend with more than 5.53% growth. In this review, we discuss some of these mAbs which have been approved by the FDA as well as others that are experiencing or being evaluated in clinical phases. Global sales of some monoclonal antibodies in 2016 are also considered, suggesting a significant increase in sales of mAbs over the years ahead. &nbsp

Phage shock protein g, a novel ethanol-induced stress protein in salmonella typhimurium

Exposure to ethanol is a stress condition that Salmonella typhimurium often encounters during its life cycle. Food, beverage, drugs, and cosmetics have a long history of using alcohols to control pathogens. Ethanol is also commonly used for disinfecting medical instruments. This study was conducted to evaluate the ethanol stress variations on the protein profile, cell structure, and serologic features of S. typhimurium. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the phage shock protein G (pspG), a new ethanol-induced stress protein in cells adapted to 10% ethanol. The result was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The maximum quantity of this 9.02-kDa protein was produced in 12.5% (v/v) of ethanol-treated cultures. Scanning electron microscopy has demonstrated new phenotypic characteristics in bacterial structure. The cells were unable to undergo binary fission. This phenomenon explains the tight attachment of bacteria in a colony. Overall, ethanol extreme stress induced expression of new proteins like PspG and repression of some other proteins in S. typhimurium. These induction and repression processes have inflicted dramatic changes on Salmonella behaviors. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Dehydroepiandrosterone Stimulates Nerve Growth Factor and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Cortical Neurons

Due to the increasing cases of neurodegenerative diseases in recent years, the eventual goal of nerve repair is very important. One approach for achieving a neuronal cell induction is by regenerative pharmacology. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are neurotrophins that play roles in neuronal development, differentiation, and protection. On the other hand, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a neurosteroid which has multiple actions in the nervous system. DHEA could be an important agent in regenerative pharmacology for neuronal differentiation during tissue regeneration. In this study, we investigated the possible role of DHEA to modulate NGF and BDNF production. The in vivo level of neurotrophins expression was demonstrated by ELISA in rat harvested brain cortex. Also neurotrophins expression after DHEA treatment was revealed by the increased neurite extension, immunostaining, and BrdU labeling in rats. Anti-NGF and anti-BDNF antibodies were used as suppressive agents on neurogenesis. The results showed that NGF and BDNF are overproduced after DHEA treatment but there is not any overexpression for NT-3 and NT-4. Also DHEA increased neurite extension and neural cell proliferation significantly. Overall, DHEA might induce NGF and BDNF neurotrophins overproduction in cortical neurons which promotes neural cell protection, survival, and proliferation. © 2013 Anahita Rahmani et al

Endometrial stem cells in regenerative medicine

First described in 2004, endometrial stem cells (EnSCs) are adult stem cells isolated from the endometrial tissue. EnSCs comprise of a population of epithelial stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and side population stem cells. When secreted in the menstrual blood, they are termed menstrual stem cells or endometrial regenerative cells. Mounting evidence suggests that EnSCs can be utilized in regenerative medicine. EnSCs can be used as immuno-modulatory agents to attenuate inflammation, are implicated in angiogenesis and vascularization during tissue regeneration, and can also be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells. Furthermore, EnSCs can be used in tissue engineering applications and there are several clinical trials currently in place to ascertain the therapeutic potential of EnSCs. This review highlights the progress made in EnSC research, describing their mesodermal, ectodermal, and endodermal potentials both in vitro and in vivo

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injection in Two Patients Suffer From Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain

Background: Discogenic low back pain is one of the leading causes of pain and disability across the world.  A growing interest in the area of regenerative medicine, led by an improved understanding of the role of mesenchymal stem cells in tissue homeostasis and repair.Cases Report: We had two patients suffered from chronic discogenic low back pain. They were underwent injection of intra-discal 1.5 cc of Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (ADMSC) and followed up for 6 months. After this period of time, there was a significant reduction in both VAS and ODI scores in patients.Conclusion: These data warrant further studies so that we can enhance our understanding of the other unknown mechanisms, which may exist behind stem cell injection. If the effectiveness of such injection to reduce pain and improve function is shown in the upcoming studies, it may provide a new insight for increasing this method of treatment as a proper option in the near future