Lacrimal Drainage Anomalies in Goldenhar, Rubinstein-Taybi, and Ectodermal-Ectrodactyly-Clefting Syndromes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe in detail the lacrimal drainage system anomalies and review of literature in patients with Goldenhar syndrome, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS), and Ectodermal-Ectrodactyly-Clefting syndrome (EECS), their management and outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective chart review from January 2011-June 2023 of all cases presenting to the Dacryology clinic with Goldenhar syndrome, RTS, and EECS was obtained. Data collected included demographics, laterality, clinical presentations, proximal and distal lacrimal drainage anomalies, associated systemic features, management, and outcomes. RESULTS: Eight children with Goldenhar syndrome (n = 13), three with RTS (n = 5) and three with EECS (n = 5) presented with lacrimal drainage system involvement. Cases with Goldenhar syndrome showed male predominance (5/8), and the mean age at presentation was 14.75 months. Four cases had simple CNLDO, seven cases with complex CNLDO (4 - buried probe and 3 - atonic sacs) and a single neonate presented with bilateral dacryocele. Patients with RTS presented with mean age of 36.33 months with male predominance. Probing under endoscopic guidance explored the anatomy thoroughly and those with altered nasal anatomy increased the probability of complex CNLDO. Those with EECS (n = 5) presented with a greater involvement of proximal lacrimal drainage system compared with Goldenhar syndrome and RTS, including anomalies like punctal agenesis, incomplete punctal canalization (IPC), ectopic puncta, canalicular stenosis, and complex CNLDO. CONCLUSIONS: A step-wise approach to assessing the proximal and lacrimal drainage system in those affected with craniofacial malformations and addressing them can result in satisfactory outcomes for the majority of patients.

Association of future cancer metastases with fibroblast activation protein-α: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP-α) is a vital surface marker of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and its high expression is associated with a higher tumor grade and metastasis. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were performed to associate future metastasis with FAP-α expression in cancer. Methods: In our meta-analysis, relevant studies published before 20 February 2024 were systematically searched through online databases that included PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The association between FAP-α expression and metastasis, including distant metastasis, lymph node metastasis, blood vessel invasion, vascular invasion, and neural invasion, was evaluated. A pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was reported as the measure of association. Results: A total of 28meta-analysis. The random-effects model for five parameters showed that a high FAP-α expression was associated with blood vessel invasion (OR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.54-5.99, I 2 = 63%, P = 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (OR: 3.56, 95% CI: 2.14-5.93, I 2 = 0.00%, P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.96-3.81, I 2 = 65%, P < 0.001), and distant metastasis (OR: 2.59; 95% CI: 1.16-5.79, I 2 = 81%, P < 0.001). However, our analysis showed no statistically significant association between high FAP-α expression and neural invasion (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 0.84-2.93, I 2 = 38%, P = 0.161). Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicated that cancer cells with a high FAP-α expression have a higher risk of metastasis than those with a low FAP-α expression. These findings support the potential importance of FAP-α as a biomarker for cancer metastasis prediction.

Development of minimum data set and dashboard for monitoring adverse events in radiology departments.

Background: To reduce the risk of errors, patient safety monitoring in the medical imaging department is crucial. Interventions are required and these can be provided as a framework for documenting, reporting, evaluating, and recognizing events that pose a threat to patient safety. The aim of this study was to develop minimum data set and dashboard for monitoring adverse events in radiology departments. Material and methods: This developmental research was conducted in multiple phases, including content determination using the Delphi technique; database designing using SQL Server; user interface (UI) building using PHP; and dashboard evaluation in three aspects: the accuracy of calculating; UI requirements; and usability. Results: This study identified 26 patient safety (PS) performance metrics and 110 PS-related significant data components organized into 14 major groupings as the system contents. The UI was built with three tabs: pre-procedure, intra-procedure, and post-procedure. The evaluation results proved the technical feasibility of the dashboard. Finally, the dashboard's usability was highly rated (76.3 out of 100). Conclusion: The dashboard can be used to supplement datasets to obtain a more accurate picture of the PS condition and to draw attention to characteristics that professionals might otherwise overlook or undervalue.

Dilemmas in the management of lacrimal drainage anomalies in BOSMA (congenital arhinia-microphthalmia) syndrome.

Congenital arhinia-microphthalmos syndrome or BOSMA syndrome is an exceptionally rare clinical syndrome characterized by unilateral or bilateral complete absence of the nasal cavity associated with several craniofacial, ocular, and systemic anomalies. Lacrimal drainage anomalies are secondary to absent nasolacrimal duct and usually present as dilated lacrimal sac or mucoceles. While navigation-guided dacryocystorhinostomies into the contralateral nasal cavity are described for unilateral arhinia, the way forward for the complete absence of the nose and nasal cavity is still unclear. A multidisciplinary team from the specialties of genetics, plastic surgery, ophthalmic plastics and reconstructive surgery, otorhinolaryngology, and endocrinology should get involved very early on for better continuity of care.

Endosulfan induces reproductive & genotoxic effect in male and female Swiss albino mice.

BACKGROUND: Toxicity by pesticide has become a global health issue and leaves a harmful impact on human health via various ways. The people exposed to pesticides in the rural population get affected by the harmful effects of it as they enter the human body system through skin, inhalation, oral administration, food chain and many more ways. The present work is designed to study the toxic effect of endosulfan in male (n=30) and female (n=30) Swiss albino mice. Endosulfan was administered by oral gavage (oral administration) method, at the dose of 3.5 mg/Kg body weight daily for period of 3 weeks, 5 weeks and 7 weeks. After the completion of the treatment, the mice were sacrificed and their ovary and testis tissues were dissected out to check the degeneration. The blood was collected for karyotyping, biochemical and hormonal analysis of pesticide induced genotoxicity. After 7 weeks of administration with Endosulfan, various abnormalities were observed in male and female mice. RESULTS: Treatment with endosulfan at the dose of 3.5 mg/Kg body weight caused a higher degree of degeneration in the reproductive organ of Swiss albino mice . Treatment by this pesticide generated degeneration in long duration of dosage for 3,5 and 7 weeks. Ovaries of endosulfan administered groups showed degenerated germinal epithelium, Graffian follicles and corpus luteum. In testis of endosulfan treated mice, microscopic examination showed that there is significant damage and reduction in the tissue of seminiferous tubules and primordial germ cells. High degree of degeneration caused the disarrangement and deformation of spermatogonia with the decrease in the number of Sertoli cells. Biochemical and hormonal properties was also affected by endosulfan treatment. There was significant 5 folds decrease in the testosterone value of endosulfan in 7 weeks treated mice in comparison to control (p < 0.0001) and similarly there was significant elevation in the estrogen levels found in 7th week endosulfan treated mice. It also influenced the level of free radicals as there was significant decrease (p < 0.0001) in the value in catalase levels in 7 weeks endosulfan treated male and female mice, while significant (p < 0.0001) increase in the values of lipid peroxidation levels as 8 folds and 10 folds in 7 weeks endosulfan treated male and female Swiss albino mice respectively. This study hence speculates that the endosulfan exposed population are at the risk of reproductive health hazards. CONCLUSIONS: The present study thus concludes that, endosulfan after 7 weeks of exposure caused significant reproductive damage to both male and female Swiss albino mice groups. Moreover, the karyotyping study also correlated the genotoxic damage in the mice.

Validity and reliability of anxiety literacy (A-Lit) and its relationship with demographic variables in the Iranian general population.

Introduction: Anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental disorders. This cross-sectional research aimed to determine anxiety literacy (A-Lit) psychometric properties among the Iranian population in 2022. Methods: This research was conducted on 690 people in Iran in 2022. In this study, people were selected by proportional stratified sampling, and the validity and reliability of the A-Lit designed by Griffiths were assessed. Validity of A-Lit was assessed by face validity, content validity, and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability of A-Lit was evaluated by the McDonald's omega coefficient, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and test- retest. In analytical sections, the tests of One-way ANOVA, Chi-squared test, and independent samples t-test were used. Results: The rates of S-CVI/Ave and CVR for A-Lit were 0.922 and 0.774, respectively. In confirmatory factor analysis, three items were deleted because the factor loading was less than 0.4, and goodness-of-fit indexes (Some of goodness-of-fit indexes: χ2/df = 4.175, GFI: 0.909, RMSEA = 0.068, PCFI = 0.745, AGFI = 0.883) were confirmed as the final model with 19 items. For all items, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.832, the McDonald's omega coefficient was 0.835, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.874. According to the results of this study, 1.3% (n = 9) did not answer any questions correctly and 8.4% (n = 58) were able to answer 1-6 questions correctly. Approximately 72% (n = 495) were able to answer 7-12 questions, and eventually only 18.6% (n = 128) were able to answer 13 questions and more. There was a significant relationship between sex, age group, occupation status, marital status, and get information related to mental illness with A-Lit level (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The Persian version of A-Lit was confirmed with 19 items, and this scale is a reliable tool for measuring A-Lit in the general population. The results also showed that a few people have a higher level of anxiety literacy and that educational and intervention programs need to be designed and implemented for the public population.

The association of blood biomarkers with cerebral white matter and myelin content in bipolar disorder: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Evidence from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and postmortem studies has demonstrated white-matter (WM) deficits in bipolar disorder (BD). Changes in peripheral blood biomarkers have also been observed; however, studies evaluating the potential relationship between brain alterations and the periphery are scarce. The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the relationship between blood-based biomarkers and WM in BD. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO were used to conduct literature searches. Cross-sectional or longitudinal studies reporting original data which investigated both a blood-based biomarker and WM (by neuroimaging) in BD were included. RESULTS: Of 3,750 studies retrieved, 23 were included. Several classes of biomarkers were found to have a significant relationship with WM in BD. These included cytokines and growth factors (interleukin-8 [IL-8], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-a], and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 [IGFBP-3]), innate immune system (natural killer cells [NK]), metabolic markers (lipid hydroperoxidase, cholesterol, triglycerides), the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, kynurenic acid [Kyna]), and various gene polymorphisms (serotonin-transporter-linked promoter region). CONCLUSION: This systematic review revealed that blood-based biomarkers are associated with markers of WM deficits observed in BD. Longitudinal studies investigating the potential clinical utility of these specific biomarkers are encouraged.

Long-term survival after hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases: a single-center study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection of colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) has been associated with improved survival in these patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of liver metastasectomy, also finding independent factors related to survival after liver metastasectomy. METHODS: In a retrospective study, all patients with CRLM who underwent resection of liver metastases between 2012 and 2022 at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex in Tehran, Iran, were enrolled. All patients were actively followed based on clinicopathologic and operative data. RESULTS: A total of 248 patients with a median follow-up time of 46 months (Range, 12 to 122) were studied. Eighty-six patients (35.0%) underwent major hepatectomy, whereas 160 (65.0%) underwent minor hepatectomy. The median overall survival was 43 months (Range, 0 to 122 months), with estimated 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates of 91%, 56%, and 42%, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a metastasis size > 6 cm, major hepatectomy, rectum as the primary tumor site, and involved margin (< 1 mm) were independent factors associated with decreased overall survival (OS). CONCLUSION: Surgical resection is an effective treatment for patients with CRLM that is associated with relatively favorable survival. A negative margin of 1 mm seems to be sufficient for oncological resection.

Structural Analyses of Polysaccharides Extracted from Cyanobacterial Extracellular Gels and Oriented Liquid Crystalline Microfiber Processing by Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Assisted Electrospinning.

Sacran is a supergiant cyanobacterial polysaccharide that forms mesogenic supercoil rods that exhibit liquid crystalline (LC) gels at deficient concentrations of around 0.5 wt%, and has several bioactive stimuli-responsive functions. Here, we attempted to form oriented microfibers of sacran by electrospinning, following structural analyses of the sacran rods. A heterogeneous acid-hydrolysis method using a protonated cation-exchange resin was adopted to examine the short-time exposition of concentrated acid to sacran rods. From the supernatant, the oligomeric fraction that was soluble in water and methanol was isolated. The oligomeric fraction had a main sugar ratio of α-Glc:ß-Glc:α-Xyl:ß-Xyl:α-Rha of 2:5:1.5:1.5:4 (Glc:Xyl:Rha = 7 (=4 + 3):3:4), and it was speculated that the sacran structure includes rhamnoglucan and xyloglucan (4:3), which are generally rigid enough to exhibit LC. To make oriented microfibers of LC sacran, solubility testing was performed on sacran to find good new solvents of polyhydroxy alcohols such as ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, and glycerol. The oriented film was prepared from a sacran aqueous solution where calcium compound particles deposited on the film are different from polyhydroxy alcohol solutions. Although sacran could not form microfibers by itself, polymer composite microfibers of sacran with poly(vinyl alcohol) were prepared by electrospinning. Cross-polarizing microscopy revealed the molecular orientation of the microfibers.

Evaluation of non-invasive diagnostic tools for diarrhea: a systematic review of point-of-care tests and biomarkers.

Background: Diarrhea is a prevalent condition affecting millions worldwide. However, current standard diagnostic methods have many drawbacks. This review examines various non-invasive point-of-care (POC) tests and biomarkers aiding rapid diagnosis of diarrhea from different causes. Methods: PubMed, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched from 2013 to present for relevant literature. Two reviewers independently assessed included studies' quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. Results: The search yielded 1453 studies, of which 39 were included after screening and applying eligibility criteria. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was the POC test in 25 studies, providing consistent sensitivity and specificity. For biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP), fecal calprotectin, and procalcitonin offered high sensitivity and specificity for conditions like acute pediatric diarrhea, microscopic colitis, and inflammatory diarrhea, respectively. Conclusion: PCR proved the ideal POC test for rapid diarrhea diagnosis, while the procalcitonin biomarker helps differentiate inflammatory from non-inflammatory diarrhea. Other reviewed tools also demonstrated promising diagnostic performance, though improvements in sensitivity, specificity, and usability are still needed.

Survival after Trastuzumab Therapy in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic HER2-Positive Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: In the Trastuzumab for Gastric Cancer study, it was found that trastuzumab combined with doublet chemotherapy (fluoropyrimidine and platinum) was the gold-standard treatment for gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) that was locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic (HER2+). Materials and Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized phase II/III studies testing trastuzumab in combination or alone. Results: This meta-analysis's findings involved 2048 patients in total. The treatment arm and hormone receptor status were used to stratify the combined HR. Overall, the PFS (Random model) HR [0.80] and 95% confidence intervals (CI) [0.68-0.95] were significantly higher for regimens containing trastuzumab, fluoropyrimidine, and platinum compared to regimens containing fluoropyrimidine and platinum. Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis provide additional support for trastuzumab's use in treating HER2-positive GEA, particularly in cases where the disease lacks a HER2+ receptor.

A Cross-sectional Survey-based Study of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Uses of Cosmetics and Cosmetovigilance in India.

Background: In India, the cosmetics industry has expanded significantly because of changing lifestyles and increased awareness. In terms of earning the most money from the personal care and cosmetics industry in 2021, India is ranked fourth globally. Many cosmetics sold in India include ingredients that cannot be used on humans. Objective: To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice toward the uses of cosmetics and cosmetovigilance in India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, from April to May 2022, among the general population living in the Delhi NCR region, India. Study questionnaires (printed and survey link) were distributed in public as well as at workplaces for the survey. Results: Around 268 (54.78%) females and 223 (45.21%) males participated in the survey. Amongst the total respondents - 407 (83%) agreed that they are using cosmetic products on a daily basis, females 229 (85.44%), being the majority users compared to males 178 (80%), with a significant P value = 0.011. Most of the people reported side effects of shampoos - 7.13% (hair fall, hair thinning, dryness of the scalp, itching), followed by allergic reactions to moisturizers - 5.70%. Conclusion: Because of the right safety and effectiveness mentorship of cosmetics, regulatory agencies and stakeholders should adopt this broadly. Cosmetovigilance needs to be put into practice.

Marine litter along the shores of the Persian Gulf, Iran.

Plastic wastes -including cigarette butts (CBs)- are dangerous for marine ecosystems not only because they contain hazardous chemicals but also because they can finally turn into micro- or even nano-particles that may be ingested by micro- and macro-fauna. Even large pieces of plastics can trap animals. In this research, the pollution status of macroplastics (abundance, size, type, and colour) and cigarette butts (CBs, number/m2) on the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf has been investigated. A total of 19 stations were explored in Bushehr province (Iran), which covers a length equivalent to 160 km of the Persian Gulf coastline. Among the collected plastic waste (2992 items), disposable mugs were the most frequent (18 %). Plastics with sizes 5-15 cm were the most abundant, and the most common type of plastic was PET (P-value <0.05). The origin of most macroplastics was domestic (2269 items). According to the Index of Clean Coasts (ICC), most surveyed beaches were extremely dirty. The average number and density of CBs in this study were 220 and 2.45 items/m2, respectively. Household litter was the most abundant type of waste in the studied beaches, and this problem can be better managed by training and improving the waste disposal culture. In general, it is suggested that an integrated and enhanced management for fishing, sewage and surface water disposal, and sandy recreational beaches be implemented in Bushehr to control plastic waste.

Geometric morphometric anatomy of the lacrimal punctum in normal population: Punctum update (PUP) study - Paper 5.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the geometric morphological differences of the lacrimal punctum by analyzing its shape in relation to age and sex in a normal population. METHODS: 960 high-magnification slit-lamp images were obtained from 320 puncta of normal asymptomatic Indian individuals across eight decades of life. Using advanced geometric morphometric techniques, including Elliptic Fourier Analysis and Principal Component Analysis, the intricate details of the lacrimal punctum's shape in a diverse population sample were categorized by age and sex. High-resolution images of the lacrimal punctum underwent standardization for scale and orientation, followed by precise landmark identification and coordinate data extraction. RESULTS: The geometric morphometry of the lacrimal punctum shows significant changes as one ages. However, the gender differences, in isolation, without consideration of age, remain subtle and are not pronounced. Interestingly, detailed Principal Component scores analysis revealed potential sex- and age-related variations specifically for the left and right lower puncta, which warrant further investigation. These changes could reflect unique aging changes in the proximal lacrimal drainage system. CONCLUSION: The study is a starting point for geometric morphometric analysis of the lacrimal punctum and provides valuable insights into the punctal changes in size, orientation, and overall morphology across different age groups and between sexes. These findings highlight the significance of considering individual age-wise anatomical variations to better understand the lacrimal punctum.

Erythrocyte membrane-camouflaged mesoporous silica composite nanoparticles for loading and controlled release of the hepatoprotective agent silibinin: A-synthesis and physicochemical characterization.

OBJECTIVES: Milk thistle has long been used in the treatment of liver and biliary disorders. In the present study, to make a long-acting delivery system for silibinin (SBN, a major active constituent of milk thistle seeds with antioxidant and hepatoprotective function), mesoporous silica composite nanoparticles (NC) were synthesized and coated with RBC membrane. METHODS: A modified Stöber method was used for NC synthesis, which was then characterized using FE-SEM, DLS, TEM, FTIR, and EDAX techniques. A suitable lysis buffer was used to prepare RBC-ghost, and sonication was used to coat SBN-loaded NC (SBN-NC). The RBC-ghost coated SBN-NC (SBN-NC-RBCG) was evaluated by SDS-PAGE, Bradford, TEM, EDAX, and DLS methods. SBN release was then compared for the SBN-NC and SBN-NC-RBCG samples. KEY FINDINGS: the RBC membrane proteins were recovered from the coating of SBN-NC-RBCG, and SBN release was sustained over 24 h when compared with the SBN-NC. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, through prolonging circulation in the bloodstream and evading the immune system, the developed system can improve SBN bioavailability in liver inflammation and fibrosis conditions that need further research.

Comparative evaluation of hesperetin-loaded graphene oxide nanosheets (Hsp-GO) as a drug delivery system for colon cancer: synthesis and anticancer efficiency assessment.

BACKGROUND: Graphene oxide nanosheets (GONS) are recognized for their role in enhancing drug delivery and effectiveness in cancer treatment. With colon cancer being a prevalent global issue and the significant side effects associated with chemotherapy, the primary treatment for colon cancer alongside surgery, there is a critical need for novel therapeutic strategies to support patients in combating this disease. Hesperetin (HSP), a natural compound found in specific fruits, exhibits anti-cancer properties. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of GONS on the LS174t colon cancer cell line. METHODS: In this study, an anti-cancer nano-drug was synthesized by creating a hesperetin-graphene oxide nanocomposite (Hsp-GO), which was subsequently evaluated for its efficacy through in vitro cell toxicity assays. Three systems were investigated: HSP, GONS, and HSP-loaded GONS, to determine their cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic impacts on the LS174t colon cancer cell line, along with assessing the expression of BAX and BCL2. The morphology and properties of both GO and Hsp-GO were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). RESULTS: The Hsp-GO nanocomposite displayed potent cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects on LS174t colon cancer cells, outperforming individual treatments with HSP or GONS. Cell viability assays showed a significant decrease in cell viability with Hsp-GO treatment. Analysis of BAX and BCL2 expression revealed elevated BAX and reduced BCL2 levels in Hsp-GO treated cells, indicating enhanced apoptotic activity. Morphological analysis confirmed successful Hsp-GO synthesis, while structural integrity was supported by X-ray diffraction and FTIR analyses. CONCLUSIONS: These study highlight the potential of Hsp-GO as a promising anti-cancer nano-drug for colon cancer therapy.

Noni enhances the anticancer activity of cyclophosphamide and suppresses myelotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in tumor-bearing mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Morinda citrifolia fruit juice (noni) is an herbal remedy documented to have antioxidant properties. It has been suggested that prevention of carcinogen-DNA adduct formation and the antioxidant activity of NJ may contribute to the cancer preventive effect. In the present study, the antitumor activity of noni was investigated in the presence of cyclophosphamide (CYL) in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: In vitro breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-468) were used to measure the percentage of inhibition and the IC50. The in vivo antitumor activity of noni was studied by monitoring the mean survival time (MST), percentage increase in life span (%ILS), viable and non-viable cell count, tumor volume, body weight, and hematological and serum biochemical parameters in mice. Treatment with noni and CYL exhibited dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity toward breast cancer cells. RESULTS: Individual treatment of noni and CYL exhibited dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity on breast cancer cell lines, while in combination therapy of noni and CYL, noni enhances cytotoxic effect of CYL at 48 h than that at 24 h. Similar result was found in in vivo studies, the results of which revealed that alone treatment of CYL and noni suppressed tumor growth. However, combination treatment with CYL and noni presented better tumor inhibition than that of alone treatment of CYL and noni. On the contrary, CYL alone drastically attenuated hematological parameters, i.e., RBC, WBC, and Hb compared to normal and control groups, and this change was reversed and normalized by noni when given as combination therapy with CYL. Moreover, the levels of serum biochemical markers, i.e., AST, ALP, and ALT, were significantly increased in the control and CYL-treated groups than those in the normal group. In the combination treatment of noni and CYL, the above biochemical marker levels significantly decreased compared to CYL alone-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that CYL treatment can cause serious myelotoxicity and hepatic injury in cancer patients. In conclusion, the combined use of noni with CYL potentially enhances the antitumor activity of CYL and suppresses myelotoxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by CYL in tumor-bearing mice.

Investigating the effects of Thymus vulgaris essential oil, Allium cepa extract, and their active compounds (thymol and quercetin) on expression profile of genes related to Alzheimer's disease in PC12 model cell.

Thymus vulgaris and Allium cepa are plants with great medicinal importance. Thymol monoterpene and quercetin, which are present in these plants, have anti-Alzheimer's and antioxidant effects. The objectives of this research were investigating the effects of these compounds on the pathogenesis and progress of Alzheimer's disease in cells modeled by formaldehyde. MTT, flow cytometry, and RT-PCR were used to investigate the toxicity, survival rate and apoptosis of the cells, and the expression level of PP2A, GSK3, NMDAR, BACE1, and APP genes, respectively. Also, the total antioxidant capacity of the modeled cells was measured. The results showed that the two compounds as well as the plants extract and essential oil were able to increase the percentage of cell survival; among them, Thymus vulgaris essential oil had the greatest effect (93.55316 % in 48 h exposure). In addition, quercetin was able to reduce the rate of apoptosis in Alzheimer's cells (4.73 %) which was greater than the effects of other compounds. In general, the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris compared to thymol; and quercetin compared to Allium cepa extract showed more improving effects on the expression of genes involved in the disease. All four compounds increased the antioxidant capacity of the modeled cells compared to the control group, and these effects were almost equal between the compounds. According to the obtained results, both plants, especially Thymus vulgaris can be proposed as candidates to be included in the diet of Alzheimer's patients. In addition, polyphenols thymol and quercetin as derivates from the studied plants can be used in new drugs development for Alzheimer's disease, with greater safety than currently used drugs. These results are significant because most of the drug for Alzheimer's treatments such as cholinesterases (e.g. rivastigmine and donepezil) and memantine are chemically based and have many side effects.