Pulsed sonodynamic therapy of melanoma cancer cells using nanoparticles of and mesoporous platinum.

OBJECTIVE: Noble metal nanomaterials have been introduced as ideal sonosensitizers for sonodynamic therapy (SDT) of cancer. In this research, platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) and mesoporous platinum (MPt) were first synthesized and then evaluated as novel sonosensitizers. METHODS: Ultrasound waves were radiated at two different power densities and two different pulse ratios to develop a pulsed radiation route for SDT of the malignant melanoma cell line C540 (B16/F10). Fluorescence emission was recorded as an indicator of intracellular reactive oxygen generation during the treatment. RESULTS: Platinum nanoparticles had an average diameter of 12 ± 7 nm and a zeta potential of -17.6 mV; also, MPt had a sponge-like and highly porous structure with a pore size <11 nm and a zeta potential of -39.5 mV. Both PtNPs and MPt, particularly the latter, enhanced the rate of inhibition of tumor cell growth on ultrasound radiation at an output power density of 1.0 W cm-2 and pulse ratio of 30% over 10 min without intensifying temperature. CONCLUSION: Use of the developed pulsed (rather than continuous) radiation in SDT and PtNPs or MPT, without hyperthermia, resulted in a new effective cancer treatment method based on the mechanisms of cavitation and/or ROS generation.

Adding a back care package to the primary healthcare; a community-based cluster-randomized trial.

Introduction: The clinical course of LBP is complex and chronicity is more frequent than once thought. Moreover, insufficient evidence was found in support of any specific approach at the level of the general population. Research question: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of providing a back care package through the primary healthcare system in decreasing the rate of CLBP in the community. Material and methods: Clusters were primary healthcare units with the covered population as participants. The intervention package comprised both exercise and educational content in the form of booklets. Data regarding LBP were collected at baseline, 3 and 9-month follow-ups. The LBP prevalence and the incidence of CLBP in the intervention group compared to the control group were analyzed using logistic regression through GEE. Results: Eleven clusters were randomized including 3521 enrolled subjects. At 9 months, the intervention group showed a statistically significant decrease in both the prevalence and the incidence of CLBP, compared to the control group (OR â€‹= â€‹0.44; 95% CI â€‹= â€‹0.30-0.65; P â€‹< â€‹0.001 and OR â€‹= â€‹0.48; 95% CI â€‹= â€‹0.31-0.74; P â€‹< â€‹0.001, respectively). Discussion and conclusion: The population-based intervention was effective in reducing the LBP prevalence and CLBP incidence. Our results suggest that preventing CLBP through a primary healthcare package including exercise and educational content is achievable.

Fractionated Sonodynamic Therapy Using Gold@Poly(ortho-aminophenol) Nanoparticles and Multistep Low-Intensity Ultrasound Irradiation to Treat Melanoma Cancer: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer treatment using ultrasound irradiation with low intensities along with a sonosensitizer has been found to have significant advantages, such as high penetration depth in tissues, non-invasive therapeutic character, minor side effects, good patient adherence and preferential tumor area treatment. In the present study, gold nanoparticles covered by poly(ortho-aminophenol) (Au@POAP NPs) were synthesized and characterized as a new sonosensitizer. METHODS: We investigated Au@POAP NPs efficacy on fractionated ultrasound irradiation for treatment of melanoma cancer in vitro as well as in vivo. DISCUSSION: In vitro examinations revealed that although Au@POAP NPs (with a mean size of 9.8 nm) alone represented concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against the B16/F10 cell line, multistep ultrasound irradiation (1 MHz frequency, 1.0 W/cm2 intensity, 60 s irradiation time) of the cells in the attendance of Au@POAP NPs led to efficient cell sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and death. Histological analyses revealed that in vivo fractionated SDT toward melanoma tumors of male balb/c mice led to no residual viable tumor cell after 10 d. CONCLUSION: A deep sonosensitizing effectiveness of Au@POAP NPs on fractionated low-intensity ultrasound irradiation was attained with the main mechanism of tumor cell eradication of promotion of apoptosis or necrosis through dramatically increased reactive oxygen species levels.

Aldose reductase C-106T gene polymorphism in type 2 diabetics with microangiopathy in Iranian individuals.

BACKGROUND: Aldose reductase (AR) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the glucose metabolism, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular complications (MVCs). Frequent C-106T polymorphism in the promoter of the AR gene may change the expression of the gene. AIMS: The aim of the following study is to study the association between AR C106T genotypes and diabetic MVCs in Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 206 type 2 diabetic patients categorized into two groups according to the presence or absence of diabetic microangiopathy. The cases of interest were diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy identified during clinical and or laboratory examination. In addition, 114 age- and sex-matched individuals were selected to serve as a control group. AR genotyping was done using an amplification gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The frequency of CC genotype was specifically higher in subjects with diabetic retinopathy as compared to those without it (53.2% vs. 38.1%, P = 0.030). Patients with diabetic microangiopathy in general; however, did not differ significantly between AR genotype groups. CONCLUSION: The C-106T polymorphism in the AR gene is likely a risk factor for development of only retinal complication of diabetes microvascular in Iranian individuals.

Relationship between Type 2 Diabetic Retinopathy and Periodontal Disease in Iranian Adults.

BACKGROUND: Periodontal disease in diabetic patients can compromise a patient's ability to maintain a proper metabolic control and may be associated with diabetic complication. AIMS: This study was designed to evaluate the frequency of periodontal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and how this was related with the presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparison was made of periodontal parameters (plaque index (PI), community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN), periodontal disease severity measured in quartiles of probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL)) in a group of diabetic patients with retinopathy (n = 84) versus a group of diabetic patients without retinopathy (n = 129). In addition, 73 age- and sex-matched individuals were selected to serve as the control group. Analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between periodontal disease and DR. RESULTS: In terms of PI, no statistically significant differences were observed, so, oral hygiene was similar in both groups. Diabetic patients with retinopathy had greater CPITN (P < 0.001) and more severe periodontal disease (P < 0.001) than no retinopathy. Also, our results indicated a relationship between type 2 DM and periodontal disease. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with diabetes retinopathy appear to show increased periodontal disease susceptibility.

Haptoglobin polymorphism in individuals with type 2 diabetic microangiopathy.

BACKGROUND: Haptoglobin is an acute phase protein with antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Gene polymorphism may be a risk factor for diabetic vascular disease in Iranian population. AIMS: The study investigates the existence or not of an association between haptoglobin genotypes and prevalence of diabetic microangiopathy in individuals with type 2 diabetic microangiopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 206 type 2 diabetic patients (<5 years duration) categorized into two groups according to the presence or absence of diabetic microvascular complications. The cases of interest were diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy identified during clinical and or laboratory examination. In addition, 114 age- and sex-matched individuals were selected to serve as a control group. Haptoglobin genotyping was done using an amplification gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The frequency of haptoglobin phenotype 2-1 in diabetic patients was 70/206 (33.9%) as compared with 54/114 (47.3%) in nondiabetics (P = 0.01). However, the frequency of haptoglobin phenotype 2-2 was greater in diabetics (126/114, 61.1%) than in those without diabetes (56/114, 49.1%; P = 0.02). Patients with diabetic microangiopathy; however, did not differ significantly between haptoglobin phenotype groups. CONCLUSIONS: Haptoglobin phenotype 2-2 is considered to be a major susceptibility gene for type 2 diabetic patients. Moreover, haptoglobin phenotype 2-1may be good prognostic factors for the development of diabetes mellitus.