pH-Sensitive nanoparticles containing 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin as an improved anti-cancer option for colon cancer

Parenteral administration of chemotherapeutic drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV), is commonly used to treat large bowel carcinomas such as colon cancer (CC) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Our study aims to design a novel nanoparticulate drug-delivery vehicle for oral use capable of colon-specific release. A modified double-emulsion solvent evaporation method was used in the preparation of pH-responsive Eudargit S100 polymeric nanoparticles, loaded with 5-FU/LV combination (5-FU/LV-loaded Eudargit S100 NPs). Our optimized drug-loaded NP showed a pH-responsive drug release and exhibited significantly more cytotoxic actions in cancer-cell lines than free drugs. These findings open the way for conducting clinical trials for colon malignancies treated with nanoparticles

pH-sensitive nanoparticles containing 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin as an improved anti-cancer option for colon cancer.

Parenteral administration of chemotherapeutic drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV), is commonly used to treat large bowel carcinomas such as colon cancer (CC) and colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Our study aims to design a novel nanoparticulate drug-delivery vehicle for oral use capable of colon-specific release. A modified double-emulsion solvent evaporation method was used in the preparation of pH-responsive Eudargit S100 polymeric nanoparticles, loaded with 5-FU/LV combination (5-FU/LV-loaded Eudargit S100 NPs). Our optimized drug-loaded NP showed a pH-responsive drug release and exhibited significantly more cytotoxic actions in cancer-cell lines than free drugs. These findings open the way for conducting clinical trials for colon malignancies treated with nanoparticles

Relativistic Compact Objects in Isotropic Coordinates

We present a matrix method for obtaining new classes of exact solutions for Einstein's equations representing static perfect fluid spheres. By means of a matrix transformation, we reduce Einstein's equations to two independent Riccati type differential equations for which three classes of solutions are obtained. One class of the solutions corresponding to the linear barotropic type fluid with an equation of state $p=\gamma \rho$ is discussed in detail.Comment: 9 pages, no figures, accepted for publication in Pramana-Journal of Physic

Levi-Civita Solutions Coupled with Electromagnetic Fields

The local and global properties of the Levi-Civita (LC) solutions coupled with an electromagnetic field are studied and some limits to the vacuum LC solutions are given. By doing such limits, the physical and geometrical interpretations of the free parameters involved in the solutions are made clear. Sources for both the LC vacuum solutions and the LC solutions coupled with an electromagnetic field are studied, and in particular it is found that all the LC vacuum solutions with $\sigma \ge 0$ can be produced by cylindrically symmetric thin shells that satisfy all the energy conditions, weak, dominant, and strong. When the electromagnetic field is present, the situation changes dramatically. In the case of a purely magnetic field, all the solutions with $\sigma \ge 1/\sqrt{8}$ or $\sigma \le - 1/\sqrt{8}$ can be produced by physically acceptable cylindrical thin shells, while in the case of a purely electric field, no such shells are found for any value of $\sigma$.Comment: Typed in Revtex, including two figure

Bacterial Distribution in the Rhizosphere of Wild Barley under Contrasting Microclimates

Background: All plants in nature harbor a diverse community of rhizosphere bacteria which can affect the plant growth. Our samples are isolated from the rhizosphere of wild barley Hordeum spontaneum at the Evolution Canyon (‘EC’), Israel. The bacteria which have been living in close relationship with the plant root under the stressful conditions over millennia are likely to have developed strategies to alleviate plant stress. Methodology/Principal Findings: We studied distribution of culturable bacteria in the rhizosphere of H. spontaneum and characterized the bacterial 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCd) production, biofilm production, phosphorus solubilization and halophilic behavior. We have shown that the H. spontaneum rhizosphere at the stressful South Facing Slope (SFS) harbors significantly higher population of ACCd producing biofilm forming phosphorus solubilizing osmotic stress tolerant bacteria. Conclusions/Significance: The long-lived natural laboratory ‘EC ’ facilitates the generation of theoretical testable and predictable models of biodiversity and genome evolution on the area of plant microbe interactions. It is likely that the bacteria isolated at the stressful SFS offer new opportunities for the biotechnological applications in our agro-ecologica

Repurposing the oncolytic virus VSV∆51M as a COVID-19 vaccine

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic imposes an urgent and continued need for the development of safe and cost-effective vaccines to induce preventive responses for limiting major outbreaks around the world. To combat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), we repurposed the VSV∆51M oncolytic virus platform to express the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) antigen. In this study, we report the development and characterization of the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine. Our findings demonstrate successful expression of the RBD gene by the VSV∆51M-RBD virus, inducing anti-RBD responses without attenuating the virus. Moreover, the VSV∆51M-RBD vaccine exhibited safety, immunogenicity, and the potential to serve as a safe and effective alternative or complementary platform to current COVID-19 vaccines

Septoria-like pathogens causing leaf and fruit spot of pistachio

Several species of Septoria are associated with leaf and fruit spot of pistachio (Pistacia vera), though their identity has always been confused, making identification problematic. The present study elucidates the taxonomy of the Septoria spp. associated with pistachio, and distinguishes four species associated with this host genus. Partial nucleotide sequence data for five gene loci, ITS, LSU, EF-1a, RPB2 and Btub were generated for a subset of isolates. Cylindroseptoria pistaciae, which is associated with leaf spots of Pistacia lentiscus in Spain, is characterised by pycnidial conidiomata that give rise to cylindrical, aseptate conidia. Two species of Septoria s. str. are also recognised on pistachio, S. pistaciarum, and S. pistaciae. The latter is part of the S. protearum species complex, and appears to be a wide host range pathogen occurring on hosts in several different plant families. Septoria pistacina, a major pathogen of pistachio in Turkey, is shown to belong to Pseudocercospora, and not Septoria as earlier suspected. Other than for its pycnidial conidiomata, it is a typical species of Pseudocercospora based on its smooth, pigmented conidiogenous cells and septate conidia. This phenomenon has also been observed in Pallidocercospora, and seriously questions the value of conidiomatal structure at generic level, which has traditionally been used to separate hyphomycetous from coelomycetous ascomycetes. Other than DNA barcodes to facilitate the molecular identification of these taxa occurring on pistachio, a key is also provided to distinguish species based on morphology

Profit Evaluation of a Repairable System with Three-Stage Deterioration

This paper deals with the cost analysis of a repairable system subject to deterioration. The system has three different modes: normal, deterioration and failure. The deterioration can be minor, medium or major. Failure time follows an exponential distribution, while repair time rate and preventive maintenance follow a general distribution. We analyzed the system using supplementary variable technique and developed explicit expressions for availability, busy period and profit function for the system. Laplace transforms of the probabilities of the states of the system have been obtained. Availability, steady-state availability, mean time to system failure (MTSF), and the profit function of the system are studied. Tables and graphs have also been given at the end. Based on assumed numerical values given to the system parameters, some particular cases have also been discussed graphically to see the effect of deterioration, failure and repair rates on profit. The results have indicated that deterioration and failure rates decrease the profit while repair and major maintenance rates increase the profit