Effect of Achillea millefolium, Artemisia absinthium & Juglans regia leaves extracts on Trichomonas vaginalis, in vitra

Background and aim: Genitourinary infections are of womens hygienic problems in health care systems. Trichomoniasis is one of the most important sexual diseases which are treated with Metronidazole. Due to side effects of the drug and also tendency of people in using herbal medicine, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of three herbs, Achillea millefolium, Artemisia absinthium and Juglans regia leaves extracts, on Trichomonas vaginalis. Methods: In an experimental study, ten tubes were selected and the extracts of these three herbs Achillea millefolium, Artemisia absinthium and Juglans regia leaf extracts with concentrations of 3.12, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/ml were prepared. Then different concentrations of Metronidazole and the three herbs extracts were diluted in 2%DMSO and added to the cell cultures. After 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours, samples were tested for dead or alive and also for their mobility of the parasite. Data were analyzed by ANOVA test. Results: The extracts of these three herbs caused an increase in immobility of the parasites. The rate of immobility had direct relationship with time and immobility was continuously increased after 24, 48 and 72 hours. The results were suggestive that Achillea millefolium, Artemisia absinthium & Juglans regia hydroalcoholic exteracts were significantly more effective in reduction of parasites, in vitro (P<0.05) however, Metronidazole after half an hour caused immobility of parasite versus 24 hour for plant extract. Conclusion: Our study showed that the extracts of the three mentioned herbs had effect on growth of Trichomonas vaginalis however, further studies are needed to show the effects of these herbs in animal models and volunteer infected people

Green synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles stabilized by a Garcinia mangostana fruit peel extract for hyperthermia and anticancer activities

Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) with multiple functionalities are intriguing candidates for various biomedical applications. Materials and Methods: This study introduced a simple and green synthesis of Fe3O4 NPs using a low-cost stabilizer of plant waste extract rich in polyphenols content with a well-known antioxidant property as well as anticancer ability to eliminate colon cancer cells. Herein, Fe3O4 NPs were fabricated via a facile co-precipitation method using the crude extract of Garcinia mangostana fruit peel as a green stabilizer at different weight percentages (1, 2, 5, and 10 wt.%). The samples were analyzed for magnetic hyperthermia and then in vitro cytotoxicity assay was performed. Results: The XRD planes of the samples were corresponding to the standard magnetite Fe3O4 with high crystallinity. From TEM analysis, the green synthesized NPs were spherical with an average size of 13.42±1.58 nm and displayed diffraction rings of the Fe3O4 phase, which was in good agreement with the obtained XRD results. FESEM images showed that the extract covered the surface of the Fe3O4 NPs well. The magnetization values for the magnetite samples were ranging from 49.80 emu/g to 69.42 emu/g. FTIR analysis verified the functional groups of the extract compounds and their interactions with the NPs. Based on DLS results, the hydrodynamic sizes of the Fe3O4 nanofluids were below 177 nm. Furthermore, the nanofluids indicated the zeta potential values up to −34.92±1.26 mV and remained stable during four weeks of storage, showing that the extract favorably improved the colloidal stability of the Fe3O4 NPs. In the hyperthermia experiment, the magnetic nanofluids showed the acceptable specific absorption rate (SAR) values and thermosensitive performances under exposure of various alternating magnetic fields. From results of in vitro cytotoxicity assay, the killing effects of the synthesized samples against HCT116 colon cancer cells were mostly higher compared to those against CCD112 colon normal cells. Remarkably, the Fe3O4 NPs containing 10 wt.% of the extract showed a lower IC50 value (99.80 μg/mL) in HCT116 colon cancer cell line than in CCD112 colon normal cell line (140.80 μg/mL). Discussion: This research, therefore, introduced a new stabilizer of Garcinia mangostana fruit peel extract for the biosynthesis of Fe3O4 NPs with desirable physiochemical properties for potential magnetic hyperthermia and colon cancer treatment

Fabrication of cellulose nanocrystals as potential anticancer drug delivery systems for colorectal cancer treatment

Polysaccharide nanocrystals have great potential to be used as improved drug carriers due to their low cost, high biodegradability, and biocompatibility. This study reports the synthesis of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) loaded with 5-fluorouracil (CNC/5FU) to evaluate their anticancer activity against colorectal cancer cells. X-ray and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that acid hydrolysis successfully degraded the amorphous cellulose to liberate the crystal regions. From transmission electron microscopy, CNC/5FU appeared as rod-like nanocrystals with an average length and width of 69.53 ± 1.14 nm and 8.13 ± 0.72 nm, respectively. The anticancer drug 5FU showed improved thermal stability after being loading onto CNC. From UV–vis spectroscopy data, the drug encapsulation efficiency in CNC/5FU was estimated to be 83.50 ± 1.52%. The drug release of CNC/5FU was higher at pH 7.4 compared to those at pH 4.2 and 1.2. From the cytotoxicity assays, CNC did not affect the viability of CCD112 colon normal cells. On the other hand, CNC/5FU exhibited anticancer effects against HCT116 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. The anticancer actions of CNC/5FU against HCT116 cells were then confirmed using an in vitro tumor-on-chip model and clonogenic assay. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that CNC/5FU killed the cancer cells by mainly inducing cell apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane damage. Overall, this study indicated that CNC/5FU could be a potential nanoformulation for improved drug delivery and colorectal cancer treatment

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Subharmonic resonance of phospholipid coated ultrasound contrast agent microbubbles

Phospholipid encapsulated ultrasound contrast agents have proven to be a powerful addition in diagnostic imaging and show emerging applications in targeted therapy due to their resonant and nonlinear scattering. Microbubble response is affected by their intrinsic (e.g. bubble size, encapsulation physics) and extrinsic (e.g. boundaries) factors. One of the major intrinsic factors at play affecting microbubble vibration dynamics is the initial phospholipid packing of the lipid encapsulation. Here, we examine how the initial phospholipid packing affects the subharmonic response of either individual or a system of two closely-placed microbubbles. We employ a finite element model to investigate the change in subharmonic resonance under ‘small’ and ‘large’ radial excursions. For microbubbles ranging between 1.5 and 2.5 µm in diameter and in its elastic state (σ0 = 0.01 N/m), we demonstrate up to a 10 % shift towards lower frequencies in the peak subharmonic response as the radial excursion increases. However, for a bubble initially in its buckled state (σ0 = 0 N/m), we observe a maximum shift of 8 % towards higher frequencies as the radial excursion increases over the same range of bubble sizes – the opposite trend. We studied the same scenario for a system of two individual microbubbles for which we saw similar results. For microbubbles that are initially in their elastic state, in both cases of a) two identically sized bubbles and b) a bubble in proximity to a smaller bubble, we observed a 6 % and 9 % shift towards lower frequencies respectively; while in the case of a neighboring larger bubble no change in subharmonic resonance frequency was observed. Microbubbles that are initially in a buckled state exert no change, 5 % and 19 % shift towards higher frequencies, in two-bubble systems consisting of a) same-size, b) smaller, and c) larger neighboring bubble respectively. Furthermore, we examined the effect of two adjacent bubbles with non-equal initial phospholipid states. The results presented here have important implications in ultrasound contrast agent applications

Attachment styles of patients with major depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and generalized anxiety disorders

Introduction: This study was conducted in order to compare the attachment styles of the patients suffering from major depression disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) with those of the healthy people. Methods: In this case-control study, a total number of 60 male/female patients with MDD and OCD were categorized into three 20-subject groups, then 20 healthy people were included in one control group. The study instruments were Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Style Questionnaire (version 1993), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The data were analyzed using chi-square test. Results: There was a significant difference between the attachment styles of the healthy people and the patients suffering from MDD (P < 0.001), OCD (P = 0.013) and GAD (P = 0.013). Moreover, a significant difference was observed between the attachment styles of patients with MDD, OCD (P = 0.012) and GAD (P = 0.010). These findings indicated that patients with MDD were more insecurely attached in comparison to patients with OCD and GAD. However, there was no significant difference between the attachment styles of patients with OCD and GAD (P = 0.089). Conclusion: This study indicated that there was a significant difference between the attachment styles of patients with MDD, OCD, and GAD, and the healthy people. This finding indicates that in the etiology of mental disorders, the effects of attachment styles should not be disregarded

Challenges for "National Blood Pressure Control Program": letters to the editor

According to medical studies, cardiovascular diseases are the most common and most important risk factor for mortality and disability in Iran. Hence, the National Blood Pressure Control Program was implemented throughout the country from May 17, 2018 (coinciding with the World Blood Pressure Control Day) to July 6th. One of the important issues in blood pressure screening is the correct diagnosis of high blood pressure according to clinical standards. In this paper, the challenges of "National Blood Pressure Control Program”, has been criticized

The potential anticancer activity of 5-fluorouracil loaded in cellulose fibers isolated from rice straw

Introduction: Green-based materials have been increasingly studied to circumvent off-target cytotoxicity and other side-effects from conventional chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Here, cellulose fibers (CF) were isolated from rice straw (RS) waste by using an eco-friendly alkali treatment. The CF network served as an anticancer drug carrier for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The physicochemical and thermal properties of CF, pure 5-FU drug, and the 5-FU-loaded CF (CF/5-FU) samples were evaluated. The samples were assessed for in vitro cytotoxicity assays using human colorectal cancer (HCT116) and normal (CCD112) cell lines, along with human nasopharyngeal cancer (HONE-1) and normal (NP 460) cell lines after 72-hours of treatment. Results: XRD and FTIR revealed the successful alkali treatment of RS to isolate CF with high purity and crystallinity. Compared to RS, the alkali-treated CF showed an almost fourfold increase in surface area and zeta potential of up to −33.61 mV. SEM images illustrated the CF network with a rod-shaped structure and comprised of ordered aggregated cellulose. TGA results proved that the thermal stability of 5-FU increased within the drug carrier. Based on UV-spectroscopy measurements for 5-FU loading into CF, drug loading encapsulation efficiency was estimated to be 83 ±0.8%. The release media at pH 7.4 and pH 1.2 showed a maximum drug release of 79% and 46%, respectively, over 24 hours. In cytotoxicity assays, CF showed almost no damage, while pure 5-FU killed most of the both normal and cancer cells. Impressively, the drug-loaded sample of CF/5-FU at a 250 µg/ mL concentration demonstrated a 58% inhibition against colorectal cancer cells, but only a 23% inhibition against normal colorectal cells. Further, a 62.50 µg/mL concentration of CF/5FU eliminated 71% and 39% of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and normal nasopharyngeal cells, respectively. Discussion: This study, therefore, showed the strong potential anticancer activity of the novel CF/5-FU formulations, warranting their further investigation

How Magnetic Composites are Effective Anticancer Therapeutics? A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Chemotherapy is the most prominent route in cancer therapy for prolonging the lifespan of cancer patients. However, its non-target specificity and the resulting off-target cytotoxicities have been reported. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies using magnetic nanocomposites (MNCs) for magnetothermal chemotherapy may potentially improve the therapeutic outcome by increasing the target selectivity. In this review, magnetic hyperthermia therapy and magnetic targeting using drug-loaded MNCs are revisited, focusing on magnetism, the fabrication and structures of magnetic nanoparticles, surface modifications, biocompatible coating, shape, size, and other important physicochemical properties of MNCs, along with the parameters of the hyperthermia therapy and external magnetic field. Due to the limited drug-loading capacity and low biocompatibility, the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as drug delivery system has lost traction. In contrast, MNCs show higher biocompatibility, multifunctional physicochemical properties, high drug encapsulation, and multi-stages of controlled release for localized synergistic chemo-thermotherapy. Further, combining various forms of magnetic cores and pH-sensitive coating agents can generate a more robust pH, magneto, and thermo-responsive drug delivery system. Thus, MNCs are ideal candidate as smart and remotely guided drug delivery system due to a) their magneto effects and guideability by the external magnetic fields, b) on-demand drug release performance, and c) thermo-chemosensitization under an applied alternating magnetic field where the tumor is selectively incinerated without harming surrounding non-tumor tissues. Given the important effects of synthesis methods, surface modifications, and coating of MNCs on their anticancer properties, we reviewed the most recent studies on magnetic hyperthermia, targeted drug delivery systems in cancer therapy, and magnetothermal chemotherapy to provide insights on the current development of MNC-based anticancer nanocarrier