Effect of different parameters on sonochemical synthesized nanocrystalline TiO2 particles

An ultrasonic-assisted method to directly prepare nanocrystalline TiO2 has been used. TiO2 was synthesized by the hydrolysis of Tetraisopropyl titanate (TIPT) in the presence of de-ionized water and ethanol under high-intensity ultrasonic irradiation (24 KHz, 300 W/cm2) at different conditions. The effect of water content, water-to-TIPT ratio, water-to-ethanol ratio and sonication time on the particle size of TiO2 has been investigated by using design of experiment (DOE). The water content, water-to-TIPT ratio, water-to-ethanol ratio and sonication time were varied in the range 100-150 ml, 50-75 v/v, 20-30 v/v and 3-4 hr, respectively. Particle size of TiO2 was characterized using particle size analyzer. The results of DOE show that water content has the greatest effect on the particle size of TiO2

Metformin improves diabetic kidney disease.

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance in production of reactive oxygen and the biological ability to detoxify the reactive intermediates or repair the resulting damage. Herbal medicines commonly fight these complications with their antioxidant properties. However, it should be noted that herbal drugs extracts are abundant sources of polyphenols and these compounds are unstable and might be subjected to polymerization. Thus, it is essential to check that the observed biological properties are not due to polymerization of phenolic compounds

The effect of berberine nanomicelles on hepatic cirrhosis in bile duct-ligated rats

Objective (s): The anti-fibrotic effect of chronic berberine (BBR) had demonstrated previously in a rat model of bile duct ligation (BDL). The aim of present study was to investigate hepatoprotective effect of BBR nanomicelles on liver cirrhosis induced by BDL in male rats.Materials and methods: After 21 days of drugs’ treatments, the serum and tissue levels of hepatic markers were measured and pathologic evaluations performed.Results: BDL could markedly increase aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), LDH, and total bilirubin (TBIL) serum levels and tissue tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) level along with reductions in tissue levels of key antioxidants glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as total protein. On the other hand, silymarin (100 mg/kg, p.o.), BBR (100 mg/kg) and BBR nanomicelles (50 mg/kg, p.o.) markedly decreased AST and ALT while enhanced GSH. In addition, BBR nanomicelles (50 mg/kg, p.o.), silymarin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) and BBR (100 mg/kg, p.o.) groups showed a considerable increase in SOD. BBR nanomicelles (50 mg/kg, po.) significantly lowered TNF-α. In addition, nanoBBR treatment prevented liver cirrhosis in histopathologic analysis.Conclusion: Formulation of BBR may represent a worthy approach to enhance the effect of it in liver injuries

Addressing the Younger Age at Onset in Breast Cancer Patients in Asia: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of Fifty Years of Quality Data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer

There is an established fact that Asian breast cancer patients are, on average, younger than their European counterparts. This study aimed to utilize the data from the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents I through XIII (published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer) to examine what contributes to the younger age at onset in the Asian population. Material and Methods. Data (number of breast cancer cases and corresponding population figures) for 29 registries in Europe and 9 registries in Asia for the period of 1953–2002 was accessioned and pooled to form two distinct populations, Asia and Europe. The age specific rates were defined and analyzed cross-sectionally (period wise) and longitudinally (cohort wise). The magnitude and the pattern of age specific rates were analyzed using the age-period-cohort analysis. The constrained generalized linear model with a priority assumption of cohort effect as contributing factor to changing rates was used to analyze the data. Result. During the last 50 years, the rate of breast cancer increased for both populations with an estimated annual percent change of 1.03% (with 95% CI of 1.029, 1.031) for Asia and 1.016% (95% CI of 1.015, 1.017) for Europe. There were stronger cohort effects in the magnitude of rates among the Asian population compared to the European population. The cohort effects, expressed as the rate ratio with cohort born in 1970 as reference, ranged from 0.06 (95% CI 0.05, 0.08) to 0.94 (95% CI 0.93, 0.96) for Asians and 0.35 (95% CI 0.33, 0.36) to 1.03 (95% CI 1.02, 1.04) for Europeans. The estimated longitudinal age specific rates (adjusted for cohort and period effects) showed similar patterns between the two populations. Conclusion. It was concluded that a strong cohort effect contributes to the younger age at onset among Asian breast cancer patients

Effect of glycyrrhetinic acid and glycyrrhizic acid on the expression of CXCR4 in epithelial cells of gastric carcinoma

Background and purpose: Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and the second common cause of cancer death worldwide. Surgery is the only treatment for gastric cancer but about 50% percent of patients have inoperable tumors. For these patients, combined chemotherapy is the primary treatment which has some side effects. CXCR4 that is expressed on the surface of tumor cells plays a role in metastasis and chemotaxis of tumor cells to different tissues. Licorice compounds are known to have anticancer properties, so this study aimed at investigating their effects on the expression of CXCR4 receptor in gastric cancer AGS cells. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 106 cells were poured in all wells of 6 pieces plates and exposed to various concentrations of Glycyrrhetinic acid and Glycyrrhizic acid for 24 hours. The CXCR4 gene expression levels were determined by Real−Time PCR and the level of expression in the groups was compared using ANOVA and Dunntt's post hoc test in prism software. P <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The results showed a significant decrease in CXCR4 gene expression in cells exposed to acid Glycyrrhizic and acid Glycyrrhetinic at 24 hours compared with that of the control group. In fact, decreased expressions of CXCR4 reduced the rates of metastasis and chemotaxis Conclusion: The compounds used in this study reduced the CXCR4 gene expression, so, they could be used as effective treatments for gastric cancer

Vaccine-associated Paralytic Poliomyelitis in Immunodeficient Children, Iran, 1995–2008

To determine the prevalence of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) in immunodeficient infants, we reviewed all documented cases caused by immunodeficiency-associated vaccine-derived polioviruses in Iran from 1995 through 2008. Changing to an inactivated polio vaccine vaccination schedule and introduction of screening of neonates for immunodeficiencies could reduce the risk for VAPP infection

Non-Pharmacologic Interventions in COVID-19 Pandemic Management; a Systematic Review

Introduction: Different countries throughout the world have adopted non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce and control SARS - CoV-2. In this systematic approach, the impact of non-pharmacologic interventions in management of COVID-19 pandemic was assessed. Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, systematic search was carried out on the basis of a search strategy on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and WHO databases on COVID-19. The impact of travel ban, personal protective equipment, distancing, contact tracing, school closure, and social distancing and the combined effect of interventions on COVID-19 were assessed. Results: Of the 14,857 articles found, 44 were relevant. Studies in different countries have shown that various non-pharmacological interventions have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The travel ban, either locally or internationally in most of the countries, movement restriction, social distancing, lockdown, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), quarantine, school closure, work place closure, and contact tracing had a significant impact on the reduction of mortality or morbidity of COVID-19. Conclusion: Evidence shows that the implementation of non-pharmacologic interventions (NPIs), for example, social distancing, quarantine, and personal protective equipment’s are generally effective and the best way to prevent or reduce transmission. However, this study suggests that the effectiveness of any NPI alone is probably limited, thus, a combination of various actions, for example, social distancing, isolation, and quarantine, distancing in the workplace and use of personal protective equipment, is more effective in reducing COVID-19