Potassium permanganate in treatment of diabetic foot ulcer: A randomized clinical trial.

Background and Aims: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a severe complication in diabetes patients, often resulting in significant morbidity and mortality due to non-healing. This study investigated the effectiveness of 5% topical potassium permanganate on these ulcers. Methods: A clinical trial was conducted on 23 patients with Wagner grade I and II DFU. Patients in the control group received standard treatment, while those in the intervention group also received 5% potassium permanganate topically. Data were recorded at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days for analysis. Results: Among 23 patients studied, 7 (30.4%) were male and 16 (43.7%) female, with an average age of 59 ± 4 years. Both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in wound size and infection over time (p < 0.001). The intervention group, however, had a more substantial reduction in wound size and infection rate (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Potassium permanganate, when applied topically, is both well-tolerated and effective in enhancing wound healing and reducing infection in DFU, suggesting its potential as a complementary treatment.

Knowledge, attitude, and sources of information towards burn first aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran.

Optimal management of burns begins with first aid from the first hours of injury. Adequate knowledge of how to perform first aid for burns can reduce the consequences of injury. Therefore, this study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude, and sources of information assessment towards burn First aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude, and sources of information towards burn first aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran in 2023. In this survey, a convenience sampling method was adopted. The variables consisted of four items on socio-demographic information, 15 items on knowledge, ten items on attitude, and one item on sources of information related to burn First aid. A total of 371 individuals responded to the survey. The mean age of participants was 31.90 ± 8.49 years old. The mean score of the total knowledge of the participants in the research was 6.04 ± 3.05. There was a statistically significant relationship between the variables of age, sex, marital status, place of residence, level of education, and history of receiving first aid training with the participants' knowledge level. The average score of the total attitude of the participants was 44.08 ± 3.88. Out of 371 participants, 214 people (57.7%) had an average attitude, and 157 people (42.3%) had a good attitude towards burn first aid. There was a statistically significant relationship between place of residence, level of education, and history of receiving first aid training with the participants' attitudes in the research. In addition, the level of knowledge had a statistically significant relationship with the participants' attitude level in the research (p-value <0.001). The majority of participants have limited knowledge of burn first aid. This lack of knowledge could lead to severe consequences. Therefore, healthcare organizations should review and promote consistent guidelines for burn first aid to tackle and minimize the effect of this grave injury.

Non-apoptotic cell death programs in cervical cancer with an emphasis on ferroptosis.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer, a pernicious gynecological malignancy, causes the mortality of hundreds of thousands of females worldwide. Despite a considerable decline in mortality, the surging incidence rate among younger women has raised serious concerns. Immortality is the most important characteristic of tumor cells, hence the carcinogenesis of cervical cancer cells pivotally requires compromising with cell death mechanisms. METHODS: The current study comprehensively reviewed the mechanisms of non-apoptotic cell death programs to provide possible disease management strategies. RESULTS: Comprehensive evidence has stated that focusing on necroptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy for disease management is associated with significant limitations such as insufficient understanding, contradictory functions, dependence on disease stage, and complexity of intracellular pathways. However, ferroptosis represents a predictable role in cervix carcinogenesis, and ferroptosis-related genes demonstrate a remarkable correlation with patient survival and clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: Ferroptosis may be an appropriate option for disease management strategies from predicting prognosis to treatment.

Concurrent ipsilateral fractures of acetabular posterior wall and femoral shaft associated with posterior hip dislocation: A case report and literature review of a rare injury.

INTRODUCTION: A floating hip injury involving the acetabulum and femur, often complicated by hip dislocation, necessitates a timely and appropriate management strategy to preserve the extremity and patient well-being. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 20-year-old male with concurrent fractures of the acetabular posterior wall, a comminuted femoral shaft, and posterior hip dislocation. Reduction of the dislocated hip posed a challenge due to the femoral shaft fracture. We successfully employed an innovative technique, using pins proximal and distal to the shaft fracture in conjunction with a temporary external fixator, later replaced by an interlocking nail after hip reduction. Subsequently, we addressed the acetabular fracture through a posterior hip approach, enabling the patient to regain full weight-bearing capacity within a few months. DISCUSSION: In managing concurrent injuries in a floating hip, particularly when a femoral shaft fracture is involved, innovative approaches, such as the one described in this study, are crucial for timely hip reduction. Following hip reduction, a series of surgeries are required to address the multiple lower extremity injuries, prioritizing those with the highest risk of adverse events and neurovascular complications. CONCLUSION: Urgent procedures for multiple fractures in orthopedic trauma surgery are pivotal for the best long-term outcomes. Prioritizing these urgent procedures, even through unconventional transient methods when conventional means are unavailable, can prevent long-term complications such as avascular necrosis. Effective and timely management is paramount for optimal patient recovery.

The constructive and destructive impact of autophagy on both genders' reproducibility, a comprehensive review.

Reproduction is characterized by a series of massive renovations at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Recent studies have strongly tended to reveal the involvement of basic molecular pathways such as autophagy, a highly conserved eukaryotic cellular recycling, during reproductive processes. This review comprehensively describes the current knowledge, updated to September 2022, of autophagy contribution during reproductive processes in males including spermatogenesis, sperm motility and viability, and male sex hormones and females including germ cells and oocytes viability, ovulation, implantation, fertilization, and female sex hormones. Furthermore, the consequences of disruption in autophagic flux on the reproductive disorders including oligospermia, azoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, globozoospermia, premature ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, and other disorders related to infertility are discussed as well.Abbreviations: AKT/protein kinase B: AKT serine/threonine kinase; AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; ATG: autophagy related; E2: estrogen; EDs: endocrine disruptors; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; FSH: follicle stimulating hormone; FOX: forkhead box; GCs: granulosa cells; HIF: hypoxia inducible factor; IVF: in vitro fertilization; IVM: in vitro maturation; LCs: Leydig cells; LDs: lipid droplets; LH: luteinizing hormone; LRWD1: leucine rich repeats and WD repeat domain containing 1; MAP1LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; NFKB/NF-kB: nuclear factor kappa B; P4: progesterone; PCOS: polycystic ovarian syndrome; PDLIM1: PDZ and LIM domain 1; PI3K: phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PtdIns3P: phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate; PtdIns3K: class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; POI: premature ovarian insufficiency; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SCs: Sertoli cells; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; TSGA10: testis specific 10; TST: testosterone; VCP: vasolin containing protein.

Deep Learning-Based Classification of Subtypes of Primary Angle-Closure Disease With Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

PRCIS: We developed a deep learning-based classifier that can discriminate primary angle closure suspects (PACS), primary angle closure (PAC)/primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), and also control eyes with open angle with acceptable accuracy. PURPOSE: To develop a deep learning-based classifier for differentiating subtypes of primary angle closure disease, including PACS and PAC/PACG, and also normal control eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anterior segment optical coherence tomography images were used for analysis with 5 different networks including MnasNet, MobileNet, ResNet18, ResNet50, and EfficientNet. The data set was split with randomization performed at the patient level into a training plus validation set (85%), and a test data set (15%). Then 4-fold cross-validation was used to train the model. In each mentioned architecture, the networks were trained with original and cropped images. Also, the analyses were carried out for single images and images grouped on the patient level (case-based). Then majority voting was applied to the determination of the final prediction. RESULTS: A total of 1616 images of normal eyes (87 eyes), 1055 images of PACS (66 eyes), and 1076 images of PAC/PACG (66 eyes) eyes were included in the analysis. The mean ± SD age was 51.76 ± 15.15 years and 48.3% were males. MobileNet had the best performance in the model, in which both original and cropped images were used. The accuracy of MobileNet for detecting normal, PACS, and PAC/PACG eyes was 0.99 ± 0.00, 0.77 ± 0.02, and 0.77 ± 0.03, respectively. By running MobileNet in a case-based classification approach, the accuracy improved and reached 0.95 ± 0.03, 0.83 ± 0.06, and 0.81 ± 0.05, respectively. For detecting the open angle, PACS, and PAC/PACG, the MobileNet classifier achieved an area under the curve of 1, 0.906, and 0.872, respectively, on the test data set. CONCLUSION: The MobileNet-based classifier can detect normal, PACS, and PAC/PACG eyes with acceptable accuracy based on anterior segment optical coherence tomography images.

Development of a network of carcinogenicity adverse outcome pathways and its employment as an evidence framework for safety assessment

The traditional paradigm for safety assessment of chemicals for their carcinogenic potential to humans relies heavily on a battery of well-established genotoxicity tests, usually followed up by long-term, high-dose rodent studies. There are a variety of problems with this approach, not least that the rodent may not always be the best model to predict toxicity in humans. Consequently, new approach methodologies (NAMs) are being developed to replace or enhance predictions coming from the existing assays. However, a combination of the data arising from NAMs is likely to be required to improve upon the current paradigm, and consequently a framework is needed to combine evidence in a meaningful way. Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) represent an ideal construct on which to organize this evidence. In this work, a data structure outlined previously was used to capture AOPs and evidence relating to carcinogenicity. Knowledge held within the predictive system Derek Nexus was extracted, built upon, and arranged into a coherent network containing 37 AOPs. 60 assays and 351 in silico alerts were then associated with KEs in this network, and it was brought to life by associating data and contextualizing evidence and predictions for over 13,400 compounds. Initial investigations into using the network to view knowledge and reason between evidence in different ways were made. Organizing knowledge and evidence in this way provides a flexible framework on which to carry out more consistent and meaningful carcinogenicity safety assessments in many different contexts.

Combined phacoviscocanalostomy versus phacoemulsification alone in patients with coexisting cataract and mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma; a randomized-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Management of concomitant cataract and glaucoma depends on the stage of glaucoma and the patient's situation. There are different surgical options for handling visually significant cataract and mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma (OAG). We aimed to compare the one-year results of phacoemulsification alone versus phacoviscocanalostomy in these patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This was a parallel-arm, single-masked, randomized-controlled trial, conducted at Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran between January 2016 and January 2018. We enrolled 89 eyes from 89 patients with mild-to-moderate primary OAG or pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) with visually significant age-related cataract. They randomly underwent phacoemulsification alone (n = 44) or combined phaco-viscocanalostomy (n = 45). All patients had a 12-month follow-up period, and the mean intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of antiglaucoma medications, and complete and qualified success rates were compared. RESULTS: After the 1st and 3rd months, the mean IOP showed significantly decreased in the phaco-visco group compared to the phaco group (P < 0001 and P = 0.004, respectively), but it was not statistically significant at 6th and 12th months (P = 0.540 and P = 0.530). The need for antiglaucoma medication and the complete and qualified success rates were significantly in favour of the phaco-visco group in all postoperative visits (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although both phacoemulsification alone and phacoviscocanalostomy procedures can be considered for patients with mild-to-moderate OAG, we found better success rates using phacoviscocanalostomy. Therefore, if the surgeon is an expert in performing this technique, this non-penetrating procedure can be applied in patients with visually significant cataract and earlier stages of OAG, especially in patients with PEXG.

The effect of natural polyphenols Resveratrol, Gallic acid, and Kuromanin chloride on human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression in HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma: role of SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway and oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that low doses or physiological concentrations of certain natural polyphenols enhance the activity of telomerase. However, the precise mechanism by which natural polyphenols regulate telomerase activity remains unclear. Recent research indicates that NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) are involved in human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) regulation. Thus, in order to better comprehend the mechanism by which polyphenols regulate hTERT, the present study investigated the effects of the natural polyphenols Resveratrol, Gallic acid, and Kuromanin chloride on hTERT, Nrf2, and SIRT1 expression as well as oxidative stress in HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: The trypan blue dye exclusion assay was used to assess cell viability. The level of mRNA for hTERT, Nrf2, and SIRT1 was then determined using real-time PCR. A spectrophotometric analysis was conducted to quantify oxidative stress markers. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that Resveratrol induces the expression of hTERT and the SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway in a dose-dependent manner. Gallic acid at concentrations of 10 and 20 µM also increased the expression of the hTERT and SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway. Furthermore, dose-dependent overexpression of hTERT and Nrf2 was induced by Kuromanin chloride at 10 and 20 µM. Moreover, we found that Resveratrol and Kuromanin chloride ameliorated oxidative stress, whereas Gallic acid exacerbated it. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that low doses of polyphenols (Resveratrol, Gallic acid, and Kuromanin chloride) upregulate the expression of the hTERT gene in the HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, possibly via induction of the SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. Therefore, by targeting this pathway or hTERT, the anti-cancer effect of polyphenols can be enhanced.

Comparing corneal biomechanics and intraocular pressure between healthy individuals and glaucoma subtypes: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The utilization of corneal biomechanical features in evaluating glaucoma and its progression has received particular attention. The severity of corneal biomechanical changes can play an essential role in response to medical or surgical treatment. The present study evaluated the biomechanical features of the cornea in glaucoma patients in different subtypes and compared them with the normal condition. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, glaucoma patients and healthy individuals were referred to the tertiary hospital in 2021. Both eyes underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, intraocular pressure measurement, and corneal biomechanical parameters using Corvis and ORA devices. Finally, data from both groups were compared. Results: Based on the ORA evaluation, Lower CRF and CH were seen in glaucoma patients. In the Corvis evaluation, minor differences were observed in glaucoma as increased pachy, radius, and pachy slope, and decreased HC deformation amplitude, HC deflection amplitude, HC deflection area, deflection amplitude max, dArc length max, max inverse radius, and integrated radius. Lower ACD and higher CCT differentiated PACG from others. Lower CCT and higher C/D and WTW indicated NTG. Based on ORA, the highest CRF and CH were related to PACG and the lowest related to PEXG. In contrast, based on Corvis, higher pachy and radius and lower max inverse radius and integrated radius were specified for PACG. PEXG also had the highest values of the last two parameters. Conclusion: Evaluation of corneal biomechanical parameters and other indicators can be beneficial in assessing the status and severity of glaucoma and distinguishing between disease subtypes.

Comparison of Vascular Density and Structural Patterns Between Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To compare the pattern of vascular density and structural damage in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) in the optic nerve head, circumpapillary, and macular regions, respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-one eyes of 82 patients (53 eyes with PACG and 78 eyes with POAG) were enrolled in this study. The patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination, Bruch membrane opening minimum rim width, circumpapillay retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL), and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) measurements and vascular density determination of the peripapillary and macular area with OCT and OCTA. A linear mixed model was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of age ( P =0.94) and visual field mean deviation ( P =0.78). Female-to-male ratio was higher in PACG patients than the POAG group ( P =0.02), and AL was shorter in PACG eyes ( P <0.001). cpRNFL and GCC were not different between the 2 groups (all P values>0.05, except for nasal segment cpRNFL). Vessel densities in the peripapillary and macular areas were comparable between the 2 groups (all P values>0.05). Although Bruch membrane opening minimum rim width was thicker in PACG eyes on univariate analysis, the multivariable analysis showed no significant difference between the 2 groups ( P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PACG and POAG eyes with similar visual field damages have comparable structural damage patterns in the peripapillary and inner macular thickness and vessel density measurements.

The role of optical coherence tomography angiography in moderate and advanced primary open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between structure and function in moderate and advanced primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and to determine the accuracy of structure and vasculature for discriminating moderate from advanced POAG. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 25 eyes with moderate and 40 eyes with advanced POAG were enrolled. All eyes underwent measurement of the thickness of circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) of the optic nerve head (ONH) and macula. Visual field (VF) was evaluated by Swedish interactive threshold algorithm and 24-2 and 10-2 patterns. The correlation between structure and vasculature and the mean deviation (MD) of the VFs was evaluated by a partial correlation coefficient. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was applied for assessing the power of variables for discrimination moderate from advanced POAG. RESULTS: Including all eyes, whole image vessel density (wiVD) of the ONH area, and vessel density (VD) in the inferior quadrant of perifovea were the parameters with significant correlation with the mean deviation (MD) of the VF 24-2 in OCTA of the ONH and macula (r = .649 and .397; p < .05). The greatest AUCs for discriminating moderate and advanced POAG belonged to VD of the inferior hemifield of ONH area (.886; 95% CI (.805, .967)), and VD in the inferior quadrant of perifovea (.833; 95% CI (.736, .930)) without statistically significant difference (.886 Versus .833; p = .601). CONCLUSION: Among vascular parameters of the ONH area, wiVD had the strongest correlation with the MD of the VF 24-2 while VD of the inferior hemifield of the ONH area had the greatest AUC for discriminating moderate and advanced POAG. Vessel density in the inferior quadrant of perifovea had a significant correlation with the MD of VF 24-2 and also the greatest AUC for discriminating moderate and advanced POAG.

The effect of benzo[alpha]pyrene on DNA methylation and telomerase activity in human normal and cancer cells.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) exposure has been associated with an increased risk of carcinogenesis. We investigated the effects of BaP on cell viability, the promoter methylation of 11 tumor-associated genes, the global DNA methylation, and telomerase enzyme activity in 5 human cancer cell lines (HCT116, PC3, MDA-MB-231, A549, and HepG2) and normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs). BaP inhibited the proliferation of cells in a dose-dependent manner, as measured by MTT assay. Human normal cells were more sensitive to BaP cytotoxicity than cancer cells. After treatment with the minimally toxic concentration of BaP (5 µM for 72 h), 3 differentially methylated genes (genes with different promoter methylation status) were identified between BaP-treated and untreated control cells, as verified by MSP analysis. BaP induced hypomethylation of COX-2 and MSH2 in normal PBMCs and hypermethylation of APC in HCT116 CRC cells. BaP also non-significantly decreased global methylation levels in 3 cancer cell lines (HCT16, PC3, and A549), as measured by ELISA assay. BaP also reduced telomerase enzyme activity in human AD-MSC cells in a dose-dependent manner. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BaP-effects on telomerase activity and DNA methylation in human normal and cancer cells.

Intraocular pressure trend following myopic photorefractive keratectomy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP) trend and risk factors for IOP rise after myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One eye of each patient undergone PRK for myopia was randomly assigned to this study. All eyes underwent tonometry by CorVis Scheimpflug Technology (CST) tonometer (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany) 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 4 months after surgery. The eyes with IOP rise more than 5 mmHg and the risk factors were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier graph and multiple Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 348 eyes of 348 patients were enrolled in this study. Forty-three eyes (12.35%) experienced a steroid-induced IOP rise of more than 5 mmHg. Eyes with IOP rise had higher baseline IOP (Median 19 mmHg (IQR 18-22) versus Median 15 mmHg (IQR 14-16); p < 0.001). Baseline central corneal thickness (CCT) was higher in eyes without IOP rise (Median 520 µm (IQR 509-541) versus Median 535 µm (IQR 518-547); p = 0.009). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, higher baseline IOP was a risk factor for IOP rise (Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.59 (95% CI 1.43-1.77); p < 0.001) while higher baseline CCT was protective (HR 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.98); p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Eyes with higher baseline IOP and lower baseline CCT are at increased risk of IOP rise after PRK and should be monitored more frequently.

Management of Malignant Glaucoma.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of various invasive and noninvasive approaches to the treatment of malignant glaucoma. Methods: Glaucoma-related keywords were looked up in PubMed and Google Scholar, and related articles up to 2022 were used to put together this review article. Results: Numerous surgical methods and techniques have been introduced in the past few years. This review outlined current knowledge regarding the nonsurgical and surgical management of malignant glaucoma. In this regard, we first briefly outlined the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of this disorder. Then, the current evidence on the management of malignant glaucoma was reviewed. Finally, we discuss the need for treatment of the other eye and the factors that might affect the outcome of surgical intervention. Conclusions: Fluid misdirection syndrome, or malignant glaucoma, is a severe disorder that can occur spontaneously due to surgical intervention. The pathophysiology of malignant glaucoma is complicated, and numerous theories exist about the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to the disease. Malignant glaucoma can be treated conservatively using medications, laser therapy, or surgery. Laser treatments and medical treatments have been adequate for the treatment of glaucoma, but the effects have generally been short-lived, and surgical treatment has proved to be the most effective. There have been a variety of surgical methods and techniques introduced. Still, none have been studied in a large proportion of patients as a control case to compare effectiveness, outcomes, and recurrence. Pars plana vitrectomy with irido-zonulo-capsulectomy still seems to have the best results.

Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Telomerase Effects of Blackberry Juice and Berry- Derived Polyphenols on HepG2 Liver Cancer Cells and Normal Human Blood Mononuclear Cells.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have provided strong evidence for the anticancer activity of berry fruits. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the effects of blackberry juice and three berry- polyphenolic compounds on cell proliferation and telomerase activity in human hepatoma HepG2 and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). METHODS: The cell viability and telomerase activity were measured by MTT and TRAP assay, respectively. Berry effects on the expression of genes were determined by quantitative RT-PCR assay. RESULTS: Blackberry, gallic acid, and resveratrol inhibited proliferation of both HepG2 and PBMC cells in a dosedependent manner. Resveratrol was more effective than gallic acid for reducing the viability of HepG2 cells, but both showed the same level of growth inhibition in PBMC cells. Berry, resveratrol, and gallic acid significantly inhibited telomerase activity in HepG2 cells. The antiproliferative effect of berry was associated with apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Gallic acid was more effective for reducing telomerase activity than resveratrol, but anthocyanin moderately increased telomerase activity in cancer cells. Telomerase activity was induced by all three polyphenols in PBMCs. Overall, Krumanin chloride was more effective to induce telomerase than gallic acid and resveratrol in PBMC cells. There was no significant difference in hTERT, hTR, and Dnmts expressions between berry treated and the control untreated HepG2 cells. But, a significant downregulation of HDAC1 and HDAC2 and upregulation of SIRT1 were observed in berry-treated cells. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the berry anticancer effect is associated with antitelomerase activity and changes in HDACs expression. The data also suggest that berry antitelomerase activity is mainly related to its gallic acid and resveratrol, but not anthocyanin content.

Evaluation of Anterior Segment Parameters in Pseudoexfoliation Disease Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

PURPOSE: To compare anterior segment and angle parameters between pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) and PEX glaucoma (PEXG) and normal control subjects using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) imaging. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: One hundred and two subjects with PEXG, PEX, and normal eyes as the control group were recruited from an academic referral institution. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, axial length measurement, and AS-OCT imaging. Anterior segment and angle parameters were evaluated. RESULTS: After excluding 4 eyes because of poor imaging of the scleral spur, data from 34 eyes with PEXG, 33 eyes with PEX, and 31 eyes of normal control subjects were analyzed. Anterior chamber depth was significantly shallower in eyes with PEXG compared with eyes of control subjects (P < .001). The differences in anterior chamber angle parameters (AOD500, AOD750, TISA500,and TISA750) were significant among study groups, with lower values in the PEXG group compared with the PEX and control subject groups. Lens vault (mean [mm]±SD) was higher in the PEXG (0.46 ±0.21) and PEX (0.427 +0.28) groups compared with the control group (0.305+ 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: PEXG eyes have the narrowest anterior chamber angle parameters. There is a progressive decrease in angle parameters from control subjects to the PEX group to the PEXG group. Narrow anterior chamber angle and anterior chamber depth may have a role in the progression of PEX to PEXG. Detection of narrow angle in these patients may help clinicians manage the disease more properly.

A novel promising delivery system for cuminaldehyde using gelled lipid nanoparticles: Characterization and anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities.

This work aimed to develop a novel nanoencapsulation system for food colloidal formulations using gelled lipid nanoparticles (GLNs) to improve the functionality, stability, and bioactivity of cuminaldehyde as a highly volatile and poor hydrophilic food additive. Cuminaldehyde-loaded GLNs with diameters of 117-138 nm were fabricated through a hot emulsification process with monoglyceride (10 and 15 g/100 g lipid phase) as a lipid gelator at two concentrations of cuminaldehyde (500 and 1000 mg/L). All samples remained stable towards macroscopic phase separation and creaming during 28 days of storage at 4 °C, which could be related to the rigid structure of dispersed particles in the gelled state and retarding droplet movement. Moreover, all samples were stable to creaming after subjecting to the environmental changes including temperature (30, 60, and 90 °C for 30 min), ionic strength (100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl), and pH (3, 5, and 7). Measurement of apparent viscosity showed non-Newtonian shear thinning nature in all samples, which was more pronounced at higher concentrations of the gelator. Interestingly, higher cytotoxic effects of cuminaldehyde against human lung and colorectal cancer cells were observed after encapsulation within GLNs. However, weak toxicity was also found against normal peripheral blood mononuclearcells.On the other hand, the antioxidant activity and lipid oxidation stability were improved by increasing cuminaldehyde concentration, while it was reduced at higher monoglyceride concentration. All samples exhibited stronger antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus than Eschershia coli. These findings suggest the significant potential benefits of GLNs as novel nanocarriers to enrich various food and beverage formulations with essential oils, flavors, and aromas.

An electro-conductive hybrid scaffold as an artificial Bruch's membrane.

Many research groups have investigated the various kinds of scaffolds to mimic the natural Bruch's membrane (BM) and support the retinal pigmented epithelial cells to form an organized cellular monolayer. While using prosthetic BM is identified as a promising treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a degenerative and progressive retinal disease, the effects of different signals such as electrical and morphological cues on the retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells are still unknown. In this study, a laminated and conductive hydrogel/fiber composite scaffold by adding conductive polyaniline (PANi) to the scaffold's nanofibrous phase was prepared. This hybrid scaffold offers the closest morphology to the native structure of the human Bruch's membrane by imitating the inner and outer collagenous layer and induces the electrical signal to the scaffold to assess the electrical cue on behaviors of polarized retinal pigmented epithelial cells in the retina. The electrospun nanofibrous phase consisted of gelatin-Polyaniline in different ratios incorporated into the hydrogel precursor, a blend of gelatin and 4-armed PEG. We used a novel dual crosslinking process by incorporating the exposure of gamma irradiation and glutaraldehyde vapor treatment to construct the scaffold's hydrogel phase. The results showed the best composition was the sample which included the 40/60, Polyaniline/gelatin nanofiber sheets ratio because this scaffold revealed a 2.66 ± 0.33 MPa, Young's modulus and 1.84 ± 0.21 S/cm, electrochemical conductivity, which are close to the main features of native Bruch's membrane. In addition, this scaffold showed good biocompatibility by reaching 83.47% cell viability.