The role of nanotechnology in current COVID-19 outbreak

COVID-19 has recently become one of the most challenging pandemics of the last century with deadly outcomes and a high rate of reproduction number. It emphasizes the critical need for the designing of efficient vaccines to prevent virus infection, early and fast diagnosis by the high sensitivity and selectivity diagnostic kits, and effective antiviral and protective therapeutics to decline and eliminate the viral load and side effects derived from tissue damages. Therefore, non-toxic antiviral nanoparticles (NPs) have been under development for clinical application to prevent and treat COVID-19. NPs showed great promise to provide nano vaccines against viral infections. Here, we discuss the potentials of NPs that may be applied as a drug itself or as a platform for the aim of drug and vaccine repurposing and development. Meanwhile, the advanced strategies based on NPs to detect viruses will be described with the goal of encouraging scientists to design effective and cost-benefit nanoplatforms for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. © 202

Preparation, characterization, and evaluation of the anticancer activity of artemether-loaded nano-niosomes against breast cancer

Background: The aim of this study was to develop nonionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes) as a promising nanocarrier to enhance the anticancer activity of artemether. Methods: The niosomes were prepared by thin-film hydration method containing a mixture of Span, Tween and cholesterol (Chol) in different molar ratios. All formulations were characterized in terms of size, entrapment efficiency (EE), release profile and morphology. The optimized niosomal formulation (F7), artemether and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were intratumorally administrated to mice as the nano-niosome group, the free drug group and the control group, respectively (n = 4 per group). Tumor volume was measured during the 12-day experiment, then mice were sacrificed to evaluate the necrosis, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation of tumor tissues by H&E, CD34 and Ki-67 immunostaining, respectively. Results: Both artemether and nano-niosome groups could decrease angiogenesis and proliferation of tumor cells. However, in nano-niosome group superior tumor necrosis and smaller tumor volume were observed compared to both artemether and control groups. Conclusions: The niosomal formulation could be a promising carrier for breast cancer treatment. © 2019, The Japanese Breast Cancer Society

Insufficient Physical Activity Among Adults and Human Development Index: A Global Study

Background: Insufficient physical activity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, plays an important role in the spread of non-communicable diseases. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the insufficient physical activity and its relationship with the human development index (HDI) in the world. Methods: This is an ecological study, and the study data, including the human development index and the incidence of insufficient physical activity, were extracted from the World Bank's database. The descriptive analysis included mean and standard deviation. The inferential analysis consisted of two-way correlation and ANOVA at a significance level of less than 0.05. The analyses were performed using Stata-14 software. Results: The highest insufficient physical activity in both sexes (39.26 37.42, 40.95) was found in the Americas, especially in highincome regions. There was a significant positive correlation between the incidence of insufficient physical inactivity and HDI in the world (r = 0.446, P < 0.0001). This correlation was also significant in Asia and Africa (P < 0.05). The results showed a positive correlation between components of HDI (i.e., gross national income per 1000 capita, mean years of schooling, life expectancy at birth, and expected years of schooling) and insufficient activity (P < 0.0001). The results of ANOVA also exhibited a significant relationship between the mean prevalence of physical inactivity and the level of development (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Given the significant correlation between the incidence of insufficient physical inactivity and HDI, understanding this correlation and its components, especially in low- and middle-income countries can alleviate the impact of physical inactivity epidemics in the future, thereby contributing to the effective global prevention of non-communicable diseases

UV-Related Melanoma Cancer and Its Association with the Human Development Index (HDI): GLOBOCAN Sources and Methods

Background: Exposure to radiation is a major risk factor for skin cancer so that 65 to 90 of skin cancers can be attributed to the exposure with sunlight. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the association between the human development index and the incidence of UV-related melanoma. Methods: This is an ecological study. Data on the incidence of UV-induced melanoma were extracted from the GLOBOCAN estimates (GLOBOCAN 2012), and data on the human development index were extracted from theWorld Health Organization (WHO) database. Data analysis was conducted by Stata software (Ver. 14). The descriptive analysis involved mean and standard deviation. The correlation method was used to evaluate the association between the population attributable fraction (PAF) of melanoma for ultraviolet (UV) and the HDI components. A P value 0.05). In Africa, a negative correlation was observed, though it was not statistically significant (r = -0.301, P > 0.05). The results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant statistical relationship between the incidence of UVrelated melanoma and the levels of development (F = 25.1, P < 0.0001) so that the higher the score of HDI, the higher the incidence of this cancer. Conclusions: Since there is a positive correlation between UV-related melanoma and HDI, further attention should be paid to this risk factor, especially in countries with a high HDI to reduce the UV-induced melanoma cancer

Evaluation of Candida Infection after Six Months of Transplantation in Pediatric Liver Recipients in Iran

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is the standard treatment of end-stage liver diseases (ESLD). Invasive fungal infection is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality after transplantation.Objective: To determine the incidence of late-onset (after 6 months of LT) Candida infection in recipients.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate 50 pediatric patients after LT for 8 years at the LT Unit of Nemazee Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. We followed the patients until 6 months post-LT for episodes of Candida infection proven by culture.Results: One recipient (2%) developed late-onset esophageal candidiasis with improvement after intravenous amphotricin therapy but finally expired with a diagnosis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).Conclusions: The incidence of late-onset Candida infection is not significant in pediatric liver recipient, but it still remains a significant problem. Control of Candida colonization would reduce the risk of invasive fungal infections and possibly more fatal complications

Small nucleolar RNA host genes promoting epithelial�mesenchymal transition lead cancer progression and metastasis

The small nucleolar RNA host genes (SNHGs) belong to the long non-coding RNAs and are reported to be able to influence all three levels of cellular information-bearing molecules, that is, DNA, RNA, and proteins, resulting in the generation of complex phenomena. As the host genes of the small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), they are commonly localized in the nucleolus, where they exert multiple regulatory functions orchestrating cellular homeostasis and differentiation as well as metastasis and chemoresistance. Indeed, worldwide literature has reported their involvement in the epithelial�mesenchymal transition (EMT) of different histotypes of cancer, being able to exploit peculiar features, for example, the possibility to act both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Moreover, SNHGs regulation is a fundamental topic to better understand their role in tumor progression albeit such mechanism is still debated. Here, we reviewed the biological functions of SNHGs in particular in the EMT process and discussed the perspectives for new cancer therapies. © 2021 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Atualidade da teologia da libertação

This article deals with the current state of the Theology of Liberation. It starts explaining the double sense of the expression Liberation Theology (theological praxistheological theory) and the “central intuitions” which internally characterize and structure it (primacy of praxis and the perspective of the poor/oppressed). Then, it is contrasted with the current issues facing this Theology (presence, visibility, relevance, appropriateness). Finally, the text presents its most important and fundamental challenges: God’s partiality regarding the poor, faith as the realization of God’s will, the problems of mediation, the theologicalprophetical character of popular struggles, and the relation between theory and praxis.Artigo trata a atualidade da teologia da libertação. Começa explicitando o duplo sentido da expressão teologia da libertação (práxis teologal-teoria teológica) e as “intuições centrais” que a caracterizam e a estruturam internamente (primado da práxis e perspectiva do pobre/oprimido). Em seguida se confronta com problemática da atualidade dessa teologia (presença, visibilidade, relevância, pertinência). Por fim, aborda o que consideramos seus desafios mais importantes e mais fundamentais: parcialidade de Deus pelos pobres, fé como realização da vontade de Deus, problemática das mediações, caráter teologal-profético das lutas populares e relação teoria-práxis

In vivo gene delivery mediated by non-viral vectors for cancer therapy

Gene therapy by expression constructs or down-regulation of certain genes has shown great potential for the treatment of various diseases. The wide clinical application of nucleic acid materials dependents on the development of biocompatible gene carriers. There are enormous various compounds widely investigated to be used as non-viral gene carriers including lipids, polymers, carbon materials, and inorganic structures. In this review, we will discuss the recent discoveries on non-viral gene delivery systems. We will also highlight the in vivo gene delivery mediated by non-viral vectors to treat cancer in different tissue and organs including brain, breast, lung, liver, stomach, and prostate. Finally, we will delineate the state-of-the-art and promising perspective of in vivo gene editing using non-viral nano-vectors. © 2020 Elsevier B.V