Investigation of ROS generating capacity of curcumin-loaded liposomes and its in vitro cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cell lines using photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is highly efficient in eradicating targetlesions by using photosensitizers (PS) triggered by external light energy. Nanotechnology may help increase the solubility and effective delivery of PS towards improving its efficacy. Curcumin (Cur) was used as a natural PS for PDT in the present work. Briefly, curcumin was encapsulated in liposomes (LPs) using the thin film hydration method and optimized using the QbD approach through the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) to optimize the responses like entrapment efficiency and drug loading with a smaller vesicle size. The in vitro release studies performed using a dialysis bag (MWCO 12 KDa) suggested a sustained release of the Cur over 72 h in pH 7.4 PBS following the Weibull drug release kinetics. In addition, the ROS generating capabilities upon application of blue light (460 nm) and resulting cytotoxicity were evaluated in MCF-7 cell lines. The Cur-loaded liposome exhibited significant ROS generation and cytotoxicity to the cancer cells than free curcumin. Thus, the Cur-loaded liposomes could be used to treat breast cancer with photodynamic therapy.

Green Synthesis of CeO2 Nanoparticles from the Abelmoschus esculentus Extract: Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antibacterial, and Wound-Healing Activities.

Metal oxide nanoparticles synthesized by the biological method represent the most recent research in nanotechnology. This study reports the rapid and ecofriendly approach for the synthesis of CeO2 nanoparticles mediated using the Abelmoschus esculentus extract. The medicinal plant extract acts as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The characterization of CeO2 NPs was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The in vitro cytotoxicity of green synthesized CeO2 was assessed against cervical cancerous cells (HeLa). The exposure of CeO2 to HeLa cells at 10-125 µg/mL caused a loss in cellular viability against cervical cancerous cells in a dose-dependent manner. The antibacterial activity of the CeO2 was assessed against S. aureus and K. pneumonia. A significant improvement in wound-healing progression was observed when cerium oxide nanoparticles were incorporated into the chitosan hydrogel membrane as a wound dressing.

Selenium: A sole treatment for erosive oral lichen planus (Randomized controlled clinical trial).

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic disease with immune-mediated pathogenesis. Selenium (Se), an antioxidant, plays a role in modulating immunity. The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate two Se forms (novel topical hydrogel and oral capsules), solely, in treating erosive OLP based on clinical evaluation and salivary oxidative stress markers. Patients were allocated into one of three groups: group I, topical corticosteroids; group II, topical Se; and group III, systemic Se. Treatment lasted for 6 weeks; patients were clinically evaluated at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks. Biochemical analysis for salivary malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels at baseline and 6 weeks was performed. There was a significant reduction in signs and symptoms in response to all treatment modalities. However, there was no significant difference among the three groups at 6 weeks. At 12 weeks, group II had significantly lower pain scores compared with group I. Salivary MDA levels showed a significant decrease in patients of group I and group III. TAC levels showed no significant difference in response to treatment. Selenium can be proposed as a treatment for OLP. Salivary MDA levels can be a biomarker for OLP disease severity.

The capability of L-carnitine-mediated antioxidant on cock during aging: evidence for the improved semen quality and enhanced testicular expressions of GnRH1, GnRHR, and melatonin receptors MT 1/2.

Precise natural anti-oxidative compounds have facilitated the research of infertile gametes and the development of novel bio-therapeutics, especially the molecules that are based on the reduction of oxidative stress, such as L-carnitine (LC). In addition to, the defect in the functioning of sperm mitochondrial and the decreasing seminal antioxidant ability due to aging, its essential role in permitting the mitochondrial import and oxidation of long chain fatty acids is worthy. Therefore, current study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary LC on semen quality, seminal antioxidant activity, and their implications for the fertility in aged cocks for 12 wk. Supplementation of the feed with two different doses of LC (50 and 150 mg/kg body weight/day) for 12 wk showed significantly increased in the reproductive activity of cock, in comparison to the control group. Seminal analysis showed that supplementation of LC significantly increased (P < 0.05) the sperm motility, concentration, livability, semen quality factor, seminal malondialdehyde concentration, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities. In addition, addition of LC significantly increased (P < 0.05) the plasma concentration of testosterone and prostaglandin E2 but posed no significant effect on the concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone. Furthermore, the findings of artificial insemination showed significant increased (P < 0.05) in the percentage of fertility in LC groups, while the percentage hatchability and mortality remained unchanged. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that LC significantly increased (P < 0.05) the testicular immunopositivity of MT1 and MT2. Moreover, the administration of LC to the aged cocks enhanced (P < 0.05) GnRH1 and GnRHR mRNA levels when compared with untreated cocks. The results of the present study suggest that LC treatment of aged cocks increases the seminal antioxidant enzymes and sexual hormones levels, which may improve the semen quality by increasing the expression of GnRH1 and melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) activities. Collectively, LC could be a suitable feed supplementation to increase reproductive activities through enhancing semen quality in aging cocks.

Cancer cell death induced by nanomagnetolectin.

Magnetic nanoparticles represent a new paradigm for molecular targeting therapy in cancer. However, the transformative targeting potential of magnetic nanoparticles has been stymied by a key obstacle-safe delivery to specified target cells in vivo. As cancer cells grow under nutrient deprivation and hypoxic conditions and decorate cell surface with excessive sialoglycans, sialic acid binding lectins might be suitable for targeting cancer cells in vivo. Here we explore the potential of magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with wheat germ lectin (WGA) conjugate, so-called nanomagnetolectin, as apoptotic targetable agents for prostate cancer. In the presence of magnetic field (magnetofection) for 15min, 2.46nM nanomagnetolectin significantly promoted apoptosis (∼12-fold, p value <0.01) of prostate cancer cells (LNCaP, PC-3, DU-145) compared to normal prostate epithelial cells (PrEC, PNT2, PZ-HPV-7), when supplemented with 10mM sialic acid under nutrient deprived condition. Nanomagnetolectin targets cell-surface glycosylation, particularly sialic acid as nanomagnetolectin induced apoptosis of cancer cells largely diminished (only 2 to 2.5-fold) compared to normal cells. The efficacy of magnetofected nanomagnetolectin was demonstrated in orthotopically xenografted (DU-145) mice, where tumor was not only completely arrested, but also reduced significantly (p value <0.001). This was further corroborated in subcutaneous xenograft model, where nanomagnetolectin in the presence of magnetic field and photothermal heating at ∼42°C induced apoptosis of tumor by ∼4-fold compared to tumor section heated at ∼42°C, but without magnetic field. Taken all together, the study demonstrates, for the first time, the utility of nanomagnetolectin as a potential cancer therapeutic.

Nutrient-deprived cancer cells preferentially use sialic acid to maintain cell surface glycosylation.

Cancer is characterized by abnormal energy metabolism shaped by nutrient deprivation that malignant cells experience during various stages of tumor development. This study investigated the response of nutrient-deprived cancer cells and their non-malignant counterparts to sialic acid supplementation and found that cells utilize negligible amounts of this sugar for energy. Instead cells use sialic acid to maintain cell surface glycosylation through complementary mechanisms. First, levels of key metabolites (e.g., UDP-GlcNAc and CMP-Neu5Ac) required for glycan biosynthesis are maintained or enhanced upon Neu5Ac supplementation. In concert, sialyltransferase expression increased at both the mRNA and protein levels, which facilitated increased sialylation in biochemical assays that measure sialyltransferase activity as well as at the whole cell level. In the course of these experiments, several important differences emerged that differentiated the cancer cells from their normal counterparts including resistant to sialic acid-mediated energy depletion, consistently more robust sialic acid-mediated glycan display, and distinctive cell surface vs. internal vesicle display of newly-produced sialoglycans. Finally, the impact of sialic acid supplementation on specific markers implicated in cancer progression was demonstrated by measuring levels of expression and sialylation of EGFR1 and MUC1 as well as the corresponding function of sialic acid-supplemented cells in migration assays. These findings both provide fundamental insight into the biological basis of sialic acid supplementation of nutrient-deprived cancer cells and open the door to the development of diagnostic and prognostic tools.

Preferential lectin binding of cancer cells upon sialic acid treatment under nutrient deprivation.

The terminal monosaccharide of glycoconjugates on a eukaryotic cell surface is typically a sialic acid (Neu5Ac). Increased sialylation usually indicates progression and poor prognosis of most carcinomas. Here, we utilize two human mammary epithelial cell lines, HB4A (breast normal cells) and T47D (breast cancer cells), as a model system to demonstrate differential surface glycans when treated with sialic acid under nutrient deprivation. Under a starved condition, sialic acid treatment of both cells resulted in increased activities of α2→3/6 sialyltransferases as demonstrated by solid phase assay using lectin binding. However, a very strong Maackia amurensis agglutinin I (MAL-I) staining on the membrane of sialic acid-treated T47D cells was observed, indicating an increase of Neu5Acα2→3Gal on the cell surface. To our knowledge, this is a first report showing the utility of lectins, particularly MAL-I, as a means to discriminate between normal and cancer cells after sialic acid treatment under nutrient deprivation. This method is sensitive and allows selective detection of glycan sialylation on a cancer cell surface.

Occupational health in Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is rapidly industrializing, and the economy is now less dependent on oil. The future of industrial growth is very bright. Two industrial complexes (at the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea coasts) of eight provide the basis for the Kingdom s programs to develop hydrocarbon-based and energy-intensive industries. Expatriates form the driving workforce in industry. Today, more Saudis are being recruited and trained to man the factories. Occupation-related disorders in industry vary from minor irritations to injuries and cancers. However, the risk of massive releases of toxic chemicals is not great. The national Occupational Health Service directorate is based at the Ministry of Health. Together with the Ministry of Labor, it assumes the overall supervision of industrial health and safety. However, there are constraints the most important of which is the lack of enough qualified Saudis in this field.