Prevention of methylprednisolone acetate-induced osteoporosis with calcium administration in rat model

Glucocorticoid steroids are widely used as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications and are well known to induce osteoporosis. In Present study 24 rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=6): Group A (control), Group B (sham)that was treated only by normal saline for 1 month.Group C that was treated by methylprednisolone acetate alone (0.2 mg/kg) for 1 month. Group D that was treated by methylprednisolone acetate (0.2 mg/kg) and oral calcium supplementation (15 mg/kg) for 1 month. Changes in concentration of bone metabolic markers such as osteocalcine, acid phosphatase and calcium were evaluated before and after treatment. Bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar vertebrae was also measured by dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The results showed that concentration mean of serum acid phosphatase was increased significantly (P � 0.05) in C and D groups in compared to A and B groups. The concentration mean of serum osteocalcine in group C was decreased significantly (P � 0.05) in comparison to A and B groups but increased significantly in the group D in comparison to group C. The concentration mean of serum calcium was decreased significantly (P � 0.05) in C and D groups in compared to A and B groups. The bone mineral density (g/cm2) was decreased significantly (P � 0.05) in group C in compared to A and B groups. This increased significantly in group D in compared to group C. These results are compatible with the view that low doses of methylprednisolone acetate decreases bone formation and increase bone resorption in the lumbar vertebrae of rats. Calcium administration decreased effects of methylprednisolone. © 2009 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Effects of different doses of hyaloronan on human sperm motility, vitality and morphology

Important aspect of sperm function such as motility and capacitation appear to be mediated at least partially though hyaloronic acid (HA). Present study investigated effects of different doses of HA on sperm motility and vitality in human. Sperm was obtained from 20 male from IVF clinic in Imam Khomeini Hospital. Sperm motility and vitality in human semen was analyzed according to WHO criteria before and 4 hours after treatment with different doses of HA (0.750, 1000 and 1250 μg/ml). The results showed that in 1000 μg/ml the percent of stage 3 and 4 increased compare to control group. Percent of stage 1 and 2 decreased in group with 1000 μg/ml HA, there was an increase in the percentage of stage 3 and 4 and decrease in percentage of stage 1 and 2 compare to control. In the group treated with 1250 μg/ml stage 1 and 2 increased while stage 3 and 4 decreased. Vitality in all groups decreased except of the group treated with 1000 μg/ml HA. The group with 1250 μg/ml showed significantly decrease in vitality compare to fresh group (P < 0.05). The present study showed that the effects of HA on sperm motility and vitality is dose dependant and 1000 μg/ml HA had the effective role on sperm parameters. © 2009 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel: a big nano for the treatment of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Patients with unresectable GC can be treated with chemotherapy such as paclitaxel, which is a microtubule stabilizer. The use of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-ptx) avoids hypersensitivity reactions due to the absence of solvent needed to dissolve paclitaxel and it can be administered at higher doses. The ABSOLUTE randomized phase-3 clinical trial showed the non-inferiority of the nab-ptx used every week compared to the solvent-based paclitaxel used every week. This review describes the current advancements of the use of nab-ptx in GC in preclinical and clinical study investigations. The possibility of combining nab-ptx with other medications to improve response of patients to their specific molecular needs will also be debated

Synthesis and characterization of Sm2(MoO4)3, Sm2(MoO4)3/GO and Sm2(MoO4)3/C3N4 nanostructures for improved photocatalytic performance and their anti-cancer the MCF-7 cells

Samarium molybdate nanoparticles (Sm2(MoO4)3) were prepared through a hydrothermal procedure and were used to form various composites with graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nitride (C3N4). The changes in the dimensions and morphology of the products were prepared using template agents like cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (�90), Triton X-100 (90), Polyvinyl alcohol (95), Ethylene glycol (�99), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). DRS analysis indicated band gap for the Sm2(MoO4), Sm2(MoO4)3/GO, and Sm2(MoO4)3/C3N4 as 3.75, 3.15, and 3.4 respectively. The characteristics of the prepared nanostructures were studied through X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, the activity of the prepared Sm2(MoO4)3 as photo-catalysts for the degradation of different organic dyes such as methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB), and rhodamine B (Rh B) was evaluated. The photocatalytic property of Sm2(MoO4)3/C3N4 and Sm2(MoO4)3/GO for the degradation of MO, was obtained. Based on the empirical data Sm2(MoO4)3/C3N4 had the strongest photodegradation effect as compared to the other compounds tested after around 40 min. BET analysis revealed that the specific surface area of the Sm2(MoO4)3 nanocomposite prepared using C3N4 is 15 times that of in the absence of C3N4. Also, the cytotoxicity of synthesized samples was evaluated using MTT assay against human cell lines MCF-7 (cancer), and its IC50 was about 125 mg/L. © 202

A modified sensitive carbon paste electrode for 5-fluorouracil based using a composite of praseodymium erbium tungstate

This paper describes the modification of a modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) using nanoparticles of praseodymium erbium tungstate (Pr:Er). The modified electrode was used for the sensitive voltammetric detection of an anticancer drug (5-fluorouracil (5-FU)) using. The modified-CPE was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the resulting data showed the irreversible 5-fluorouracil oxidation peak around 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Some key parameters such as pH, the amount of the modifier, potential amplitude, step potential and frequency were studied and optimized. The square wave voltammetry (SWV) analytical calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.01�50 μM, with a detection limit of 0.98 nM analyses. The electron transfer coefficient (α) was also determined to be 0.76. The analyte concentration was also determined in pharmaceutical formulations and recovery percentages were found to be in the range of 96�102. The sensor had good reproducibility and repeatability with acceptable RSD values of 3.6, and 1.02 and a rather long-term stability of around one month. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were also characterized using FESEM, TEM, FTIR and XRD techniques. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Electrochemical determination of the antipsychotic medication clozapine by a carbon paste electrode modified with a nanostructure prepared from titania nanoparticles and copper oxide

A nanostructure was prepared from titania nanoparticles and copper oxide (TiO2NP@CuO) and used to modify a carbon paste electrode (CPE). The modified CPE is shown to enable sensitive voltammetric determination of the drug clozapine (CLZ). The sensor was characterized by various techniques and some key parameters were optimized. Under the optimum conditions and at a working potential of 0.6 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), the modified CPE has two linear response ranges, one from 30 pmol L�1 to 4 nmol L�1 of CLZ, the other from 4 nmol L�1 to 10 μmol L�1. The detection limit is as low as 9 pM. The transfer coefficient (α) and catalytic rate constant (kcat) were calculated and the reliability of the sensor was estimated for CLZ sensing in real samples where it gave satisfactory results. Figure not available: see fulltext.. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature

Sonochemical synthesis of ErVO4/MnWO4 heterostructures: Application as a novel nanostructured surface for electrochemical determination of tyrosine in biological samples

Present strategy introduces a novel method established for the synthesis of spherical shape ErVO4/MnWO4 heterostructures by a sonochemical method. This heterostructures with optima morphology can be synthesized by changing power and time ultrasound irradiation without any capping agent. BET analysis revealed that ErVO4/MnWO4 prepared in the presence of ultrasonic procedure has 75 times specific surface area as much as that of those was produced in the absence of ultrasonic rays. A variety of analyses (i.e., BET, XRD, TEM, EDS, FT-IR, and SEM) were applied for characterization of the ErVO4/MnWO4. Next, a selective and sensitive nanostructured sensor based on ErVO4/MnWO4 nanocomposite modified carbon paste electrode (ErVO4/MnWO4/CPE) was constructed for electrochemical detection of tyrosine (Tyr). The electrochemical characterizations were performed using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Compared with the unmodified CPE, the oxidation peak current was significantly enhanced for Tyr. The impact of effective parameters on voltammetric response of Tyr was analyzed with design of experiments (DOE) and response surface methodology (RSM). Under the optimized conditions, the oxidation peak current of Tyr was linear over a range of 0.08�400.0 μM with a detection limit of 7.7 nM. Finally, the usage of the proposed method was confirmed by the recovery tests of Tyr in biological samples. © 201

Aharonov-Bohm effect in graphene

We investigate experimentally transport through ring-shaped devices etched in graphene and observe clear Aharonov-Bohm conductance oscillations. The temperature dependence of the oscillation amplitude indicates that below 1 K the phase coherence length is comparable to or larger than the size of the ring. An increase in the amplitude is observed at high magnetic field, when the cyclotron diameter becomes comparable to the width of the arms of the ring. By measuring the dependence on gate voltage, we also observe an unexpected linear dependence of the oscillation amplitude on the ring conductance, which had not been reported earlier in rings made using conventional metals or semiconducting heterostructures.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

First report of Dinocampus coccinellae (Hym.: Braconidae) from Iran

در نمونه‌برداری‌هایی که طی شهریور تا آبان ماه 1389 در مزرعه تحقیقاتی دانشگاه بوعلی سینا در دستجرد همدان جهت بررسی میزان پارازیتیسم کفشدوزک Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Col.: Coccinellidae) انجام شد، زنبور پارازیتوئید Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank) جمع‌آوری گردید. این زنبور برای اولین‌بار از ایران گزارش می‌شود