Breast cancer cells imaging by targeting methionine transporters with gadolinium-based nanoprobe

Purpose: Early cancer diagnosis using MRI imaging is of high global interest as a non-invasive and powerful modality. In this study, methionine was conjugated on gadolinium-based mesoporous silica nanospheres to evaluate intra-cellular uptake and its accumulation in human breast cancer cells. Procedures: The contrast agent was synthesized and characterized using different techniques including N2 physisorption, thermal gravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The intra-cellular uptake of Gd3+ was measured by ICP-AES, fluorescent microscopy, and flow cytometry. Finally, cellular and tumor MR imaging were performed to determine in vitro and in vivo relaxometry. Results: According to the results, the contrast agents accumulated in tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. There was no significant cellular toxicity on either normal or cancer cells along with strong intense signal on T1 compared to the unlabeled cells. Conclusions: The results showed that the novel contrast agent could become a useful tool in early detection of cancer. © 2014 World Molecular Imaging Society

Detecting endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies in patients with giardiasis

Celiac disease is a genetic disease diagnosed to be associated with chronic intestinal inflammation. Endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies are the best serum markers for celiac disease (CD) diagnosis. This research aimed to determine the levels of endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies in patients with giardiasis. Forty cases of giardiasis were selected among the referees to Milad Hospital in Tehran, as well as a children�s hospital and some health centers in Karaj. Euro-immune IgA immunofluorescence and ELISA were utilized to measure their titers of endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies, respectively. Twenty random serum samples of negative Giardia and 16 serum samples of positive anti-(tissue transglutaminase) tTG antibodies were evaluated by using ELISA and endomysium antibody through immunofluorescence techniques. Among the 40 cases of giardiasis, 16 positive endomysial and transglutaminase antibodies (40) were detected. Sixteen positive samples of endomysial antibody (EMA) were also positive for anti-tTG, and 20 random negative samples were negative for EMA and anti-tTG. The chi-square test revealed a significant association between antibodies and giardiasis (P = 0.001). Atrophy of the intestinal villi can arise after giardia infection by mimicking the behavioral patterns of anti-EMA and anti-tTG antibodies. Due to low specificity, anti-gliadin antibody test is not helpful in detecting CD in patients with giardiasis. In the present study on anti-EMA and anti-tTG in patients with giardiasis, these antibodies were positive in giardiasis. Thus, the best and most reliable way to diagnose CD and treat giardiasis is intestinal biopsy as the gold standard method. © 2018, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature

Numerical Solutions of Duffing Van der Pol Equations on the Basis of Hybrid Functions

In the present work, a new approximated method for solving the nonlinear Duffing-Van der Pol (D-VdP) oscillator equation is suggested. The approximate solution of this equation is introduced with two separate techniques. First, we convert nonlinear D-VdP equation to a nonlinear Volterra integral equation of the second kind (VIESK) using integration, and then, we approximate it with the hybrid Legendre polynomials and block-pulse function (HLBPFs). The next technique is to convert this equation into a system of ordinary differential equation of the first order (SODE) and solve it according to the proposed approximate method. The main goal of the presented technique is to transform these problems into a nonlinear system of algebraic equations using the operational matrix obtained from the integration, which can be solved by a proper numerical method; thus, the solution procedures are either reduced or simplified accordingly. The benefit of the hybrid functions is that they can be adjusted for different values of n and m, in addition to being capable of yield greater correct numerical answers than the piecewise constant orthogonal function, for the results of integral equations. Resolved governance equation using the Runge-Kutta fourth order algorithm with the stepping time 0.01 s via numerical solution. The approximate results obtained from the proposed method show that this method is effective. The evaluation has been proven that the proposed technique is in good agreement with the numerical results of other methods

New salen-type manganese(III) Schiff base complexes derived from meso -1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylenediamine: In vitro anticancer activity, mechanism of action, and molecular docking studies

Four new manganese(III) Schiff base complexes (1-4) were synthesized and characterized. The complexes have general formula MnClLx in which L represents a Schiff base ligand derived from condensation of meso-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylenediamine with salicylaldehyde or its 3-OMe-, 5-Br-, or 5-OMe-derivatives (x = 1-4, respectively). The crystal structure of MnClL1 (1) was characterized by X-ray crystallography. The in vitro anticancer activity of these complexes was evaluated by MTT and apoptosis assays against human breast (MCF-7) and liver (Hep G2) cancer cells. The complexes exhibited considerable antiproliferative activity against both cell lines (IC50 = 10.8-21.02 M) comparable to cis-platin, except 4 (MCF-7). The highest activity was found for 1 with IC50 values of 13.62 M (MCF-7) and 10.8 M (Hep G2). Flow cytometry experiments showed that 1 induced apoptosis on MCF-7 tumor cell line. Docking simulations using AUTODOCK were also carried out. The results showed that all complexes fitted into the minor groove region of DNA. © 2015 Taylor & Francis

Crystal structures and in vitro anticancer studies on new unsymmetrical copper(II) Schiff base complexes derived from meso-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylenediamine: a comparison with related symmetrical ones

Two new unsymmetrical copper(II) Schiff base complexes, CuLn(py)ClO4 (n = 1, 2) in which Ln represents a tridentate N2O type Schiff base ligand, were synthesized. Lns were derived from monocondensation of meso-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylenediamine with salicylaldehyde or 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde. The reaction between CuLn(py)ClO4 and other salicylaldehyde derivatives resulted in new N2O2 unsymmetrical tetradentate CuII complexes, CuL3�6. Crystal structures of CuL1(py)ClO4, CuL4, and CuL5 were obtained. These new complexes as well as a series of related symmetrical ones (i.e. CuL7�12) were tested for their in vitro anticancer activity against human liver cancer cell line (Hep-G2) by MTT and apoptosis assay. All of the complexes showed considerable cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines (IC50 = 5.13�16.24 μg mL�1). The symmetrical CuL7 was the most potent anticancer derivative (IC50 = 5.13 μg mL�1) compared to the control drug 5-FU (IC50 = 5.4 μg mL-1, p < 0.05). Flow cytometry experiments showed that the copper derivatives especially CuL2(py)ClO4 and CuL7 induced more apoptosis on Hep-G2 tumor cell lines compared to 5-FU. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group