A Novel Biocompatible and Biodegradable Electrospun Nanofibers Containing M. Neglectum: Antifungal Properties and In Vitro Investigation.

In the present study, biocompatible nanofibers containing aqueous extracts from Muscari neglectum (M. neglectum) plants (produced nanofiber) were prepared and their antifungal and cytotoxicity effects were investigated. For this purpose, the extracts obtained from flowers, stem leaves, and fresh onion from M. neglectum were lyophilized at various concentrations. Produced nanofibers were prepared using electrospinning techniques. During the electrospinning process, two auxiliary natural polymers including gelatin and chitosan were used. After synthesis, the physicochemical properties of the nanofibers were confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray energy diffraction spectroscopy (EDS or EDX), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The electrospun produced nanofibers have continuous and uniform structures. The cytotoxicity assay of these electrospun nanofibers were done on Human dermal fibroblast cell (HDF) and HUVEC cell (Human Umbilical Endothelial Cells) lines and results showed that nanofiber doesn't have any toxicity to normal cell lines. For anti-fungal activity tests, the appropriate amounts of nanofibers containing M. neglectum were placed in media with five different fungal species utilizing two methods: disc diffusion and well diffusion. In vitro results showed that all electrospun nanofibers containing M. neglectum had strong antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Glabrata, Parapacillus, Guillermoides, Crocus fungi species. Our findings also showed that nanofibers containing 86.88% polyvinyl alcohol/ gelatin/ chitosan/ M. neglectum root extract (produced nanofibers) were had better swelling and physicochemical properties and stronger antifungal activity than others (fiber formed with plant root). In a nutshell, natural nanofibers can be used as a beneficial drug delivery system.

The impact of carbon monoxide inhalation on developing noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is one of the most common types of fatal poisonings worldwide. Acute exposure to high levels of CO as well as chronic exposure to low levels of CO and excessive noise can lead to high frequency hearing loss. In this study, twelve guinea pigs were randomly divided into two groups: (1) exposed to noise and (2) exposed to noise plus CO. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured prior to the experiment and immediately, 5, 10 and 15 days post exposures. There was a significant difference between the ABR thresholds before and immediately after exposure to noise at frequencies of 4, 8, and 16 kHz and the most threshold shift was observed at 8 kHz. There was also a significant difference between the ABR thresholds before and immediately after exposure to noise and CO at frequencies of 2, 4, 8, and 16 kHz which demonstrated a temporary hearing loss after exposure to noise and CO and the major impact of CO on developing noise induced hearing loss occurred at 8 kHz. No significant difference was observed between the ABR thresholds recorded before conducting the experiments and the ones obtained 5, 10 and 15 days after simultaneous exposure to noise and CO at none of frequencies. Simultaneous exposure to noise and CO contributes to transient hearing loss in guinea pigs with the most evident temporary shift at 8 kHz. The methods were accepted in the Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Science (registration No. CTRI/2016/01/017170) on January 18, 2016.

FRET-based nanobiosensor for detection of scopolamine in hairy root extraction of Atropa belladonna.

A simple, sensitive, selective, and rapid optical nanobiosensor based on FRET was designed to detect tropane alkaloids as anti-cholinergic agents in natural and transgenic hairy roots extracts of Atropa belladonna. To achieve that, conjugation of tioglycolyic acid capped cadmium telluride quantum Dots, M2 muscarinic receptor (Cd/Te QDs-M2R) and conjugation of scopolamine-rhodamine123 (Sc-Rho123) were performed. More specifically, proportional amounts of M2 muscarinic receptor and quantum dots (QDs) were conjugated while scopolamine (as a tropane alkaloid) and rhodamine123 were also combined and these moieties functioned as donor and acceptor pairs, respectively. The system response was linear over the range of 0.01-4µmolL-1 of scopolamine hydrochloride concentration with a detection limit of 0.001µmolL-1. The developed nanobiosensor was successfully used for in vitro recognition of scopolamine as an anti-cholinergic agent in the investigated plant extracts. In addition, Agrobacterium rhizogenesis mediated gene transfer technique was employed to generate hairy roots and to enhance the production of tropane alkaloids in the studied medicinal plant.

Reactive oxygen species-mediated cardiac-reperfusion injury: Mechanisms and therapies.

Reperfusion injury is an inherent response to the restoration of blood flow after ischemia. It is a complex process involving numerous mechanisms occurring in the intracellular and extracellular environments, and it is mediated in part by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The imbalance between the cellular formation of free radicals and cells' capacity to defend against them can cause cardiac tissue injuries. In this context, ROS play an essential role in both the organ injury and repair processes. After reperfusion, infiltration into the myocardium of inflammatory leucocytes, such as macrophages and neutrophils, causes further ROS production beyond the initiation of the inflammatory cascade. In this case, ROS overproduction is crucial in cardiac injury, and it can increase the complications related to cardiac reperfusion. In myocardial tissue, ROS can be produced from several sources, such as xanthine oxidase, cytochrome oxidase, cyclooxygenase, mediated unsaturated fatty acid oxidation, oxidation of catecholamines, mitochondrial oxidation, activation of leukocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, iron release, and reduction-oxidation reaction cycling; all of these sources reduce molecular oxygen in the reperfused myocardium. This review discusses about the molecular and therapeutic aspects of cardiac-reperfusion injuries generated by ROS. Experimental and clinical evidence with respect to the use of ischemic preconditioning, Ca2+, nitric oxide, and conventional antioxidants in cardiac-reperfusion injury are summarized, and causal therapy approaches with various antioxidants are discussed.

Effects of Hyperbilirubinemia on Auditory Brainstem Response of Neonates Treated with Phototherapy.

INTRODUCTION: One of the most common pathologies in neonates is hyperbilirubinemia, which is a good marker for damage to the central nervous system. The sensitivity of the auditory system to bilirubin has been previously documented, with much discrepancy in its effects on Auditory Brainstem Response results. Thus the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hyperbilirubinemia on Auditory Brainstem Response of neonates treated with phototherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia, who underwent phototherapy participated in this cross sectional study. The recording of Auditory Brainstem Response was made shortly after confirming that the total serum bilirubin level was greater than 15 µg/dl. Latency of waves I, III, V and inter-peak latencies of the waves were measured. To test the hypothesis about the difference of means between the two groups, continuous variables were compared using either the t-test (normal distribution) or the Mann-Whitney test (non-normal distribution). RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the absolute latencies of waves III and V, and I-III and I-V inter-peak latencies of the sample group compared to the control group in both ears (P<0.05). However, wave I absolute latency and III-V inter-peak interval did not show a significant difference between the two study groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study underline the importance of the Auditory Brainstem Response Test as an efficient tool for monitoring the auditory brainstem pathway in neonates who are at risk of neurotoxicity and for diagnosing the earliest stages of auditory damage caused by high levels of bilirubin.

Effect of Growth Hormone treatment on Height Velocity of Children with Pycnodysotosis.

OBJECTIVE: Pycnodysostosis is a rare autosomal recessive osteochondrodysplasia resulting from osteoclast dysfunction. Growth hormone (GH) secretion impairment and low insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-I) concentrations have been reported in these patients. The present study aims to describe GH effect on linear growth of eight children with pycnodysostosis. METHODS: This study was conducted on 8 children suffering from pycnodysostosis. After evaluating systemic diseases, adrenal insufficiency, and hypothyroidism, bone age, height standard deviation score (HtSDS), body mass index (BMI), and some demographical characteristics were measured. To measure the serum GH, we performed two clonidine tests in two different days with an interval of 24 hours. With initiation of the trial, human GH was injected subcutaneously once a day 6 days a week for a period of 1.5 years. The patients were followed up every 3 months to document their height and BMI until 6 months after the end of the treatment. FINDINGS: All of the patients had growth hormone deficiency. HtSDS at the first visit continued to decrease during the 6 months before starting the treatment; however, HtSDS started to increase after beginning of GH administration. This value again declined after discontinuing the GH. Overall, the mean of linear growth was improved after GH administration in the patients. CONCLUSION: The present clinical study revealed that GH administration had a positive impact on the linear growth of the children suffering from pycnodysostosis.

Oxytocin has therapeutic effects on cancer, a hypothesis.

Oxytocin (OT) is the first peptide hormone structurally assessed and chemically synthesized in biologically active form. This hormone acts as an important factor in a human reproductive system particularly during pregnancy and lactation in women. So far, different therapeutic roles for OT have been identified as a spectrum from central and peripheral actions on male and female reproductive systems, circulatory system, musculoskeletal system, etc. Some in vitro and in vivo studies also revealed that OT is responsible for bivariate biological functions involved in cancer as following. By activating OT receptor in tumoral cells, OT enacts as a growth regulator, whether activator or inhibitor. Regarding the increase of OT in some conditions such as breastfeeding, exercise, and multiparity, we can relate the effect of these conditions on cancer with OT effects. Based on this hypothesis, we present a review on the effects of this neuropeptide on various types of cancer and also the influence of these conditions on the same cancer.