Potential Drug Interactions in Terminally-Ill Cancer Patients, a Report from the Middle East.

This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of potential drug interactions in terminally-ill cancer patients receiving exclusively supportive care. In this cross-sectional study, during a 6-month follow-up, we considered the medical record of terminally-ill cancer patients referred to palliative care at the cancer center in Isfahan, Iran. Potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were assessed by Lexi-Interact ver.1.1 online software. During the study period, 133 terminally-ill cancer patients were recruited. We detected 1678 DDIs with moderate or major severity levels. Among them, 330, 219, 32, 1075, and 51 interactions were categorized in B, C, D, and X drug interactions categories, respectively. One hundred and twenty-two patients (91.73%) encountered at least one potential drug-drug interaction during the end of life care. Mechanistically, most drug-drug interactions (64.5%) were pharmacodynamics. The most frequent pharmacological class of drugs responsible for DDIs were quetiapine (91 cases), oxycodone (87 cases), and sertraline (55 cases). Interaction between oxycodone and sertraline was found to be in the top 10 detected DDIs (13.7%). Our results showed that potentially moderate or major drug-drug interactions often occur among terminally-ill cancer patients and the clinical significance of DDIs should be considered meticulously in the palliative care cancer setting.

Dual Ni/Co-hemin metal-organic framework-PrGO for high-performance asymmetric hybrid supercapacitor.

In this study, we conducted direct synthesis of a dual metal-organic framework (Ni/Co-Hemin MOF) on phosphorous-doped reduced graphene oxide (PrGO) to serve as an active material in high-performance asymmetrical supercapacitors. The nanocomposite was utilized as an active material in supercapacitors, exhibiting a noteworthy specific capacitance of 963 C g-1 at 1.0 A g-1, along with a high rate capability of 68.3% upon increasing the current density by 20 times, and superior cycling stability. Our comprehensive characterization and control experiments indicated that the improved performance can be attributed to the combined effect of the dual MOF and the presence of phosphorous, influencing the battery-type supercapacitor behavior of GO. Additionally, we fabricated an asymmetric hybrid supercapacitor (AHSC) using Ni/Co-Hemin/PrGO/Nickel foam (NF) and activated carbon (AC)/NF. This AHSC demonstrated a specific capacitance of 281 C g-1 at 1.0 A g-1, an operating voltage of 1.80 V, an impressive energy density of 70.3 Wh kg-1 at a high power density of 0.9 kW kg-1. Notably, three AHSC devices connected in series successfully powered a clock for approximately 42 min. These findings highlight the potential application of Hemin-based MOFs in advanced supercapacitor systems.

Induction of chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells by low frequency electric field.

BACKGROUND: Since when the cartilage damage (e.g., with the osteoarthritis) it could not be repaired in the body, hence for its reconstruction needs cell therapy. For this purpose, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) is one of the best cell sources because by the tissue engineering techniques it can be differentiated into chondrocytes. Chemical and physical inducers is required order to stem cells to chondrocytes differentiating. We have decided to define the role of electric field (EF) in inducing chondrogenesis process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A low frequency EF applied the ADSCs as a physical inducer for chondrogenesis in a 3D micromass culture system which ADSCs were extracted from subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue. Also enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium, real time polymerase chain reaction and flowcytometry techniques were used for this study. RESULTS: We found that the 20 minutes application of 1 kHz, 20 mv/cm EF leads to chondrogenesis in ADSCs. Although our results suggest that application of physical (EF) and chemical (transforming growth factor-ß3) inducers at the same time, have best results in expression of collagen type II and SOX9 genes. It is also seen EF makes significant decreased expression of collagens type I and X genes. CONCLUSION: The low frequency EF can be a good motivator to promote chondrogenic differentiation of human ADSCs.

The effect of high frequency electric field on enhancement of chondrogenesis in human adipose-derived stem cells.

OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis (OA) is globally one of the most common diseases from the middle age onwards. Cartilage is an avascular tissue therefore it cannot be repaired in the body. Conservative treatments have failed as a good remedy and cell therapy as a decisive cure is needed. One of the best and easily accessible cell sources for this purpose is adipose-derived stem cells which can be differentiated into chondrocytes by tissue engineering techniques. Chemical and physical inducers have a key role in stem cell - chondrocyte differentiation. We have tried to determine the role of electric fields (EF) in promoting this kind of chondrogenesis process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) were extracted from subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue during cesarean section. A high frequency (60 KHz) EF (20 mv/cm), as a physical inducer for chondrogenesis in a 3D micromass culture system of ADSCs was utilized. Also, MTT, ELISA, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR techniques were used for this study. RESULTS: We found that using physical electric fields leads to chondrogenesis. Furthermore, results show that using both physical (EF) and chemical (TGFß3) inducers simultaneously, has best outcomes in chondrogenesis, and expression of SOX(9) and type II collagen genes. It also causes significant decreased expression of type I and X collagen genes in pure EF group compared with control group. CONCLUSION: The EF was found as a proper effective inducer in chondrogenic differentiation of human ADSCs micromass culture.