Regulatory effects of statins on Akt signaling for prevention of cancers.

Statins, which are primarily used as lipid-lowering drugs, have been found to exhibit anti-tumor effects through modulating and interfering with various signaling pathways. In observational studies, statin use has been associated with a significant reduction in the progression of various cancers, including colon, lung, prostate, pancreas, and esophagus cancer, as well as melanoma and B and T cell lymphoma. The mevalonate pathway, which is affected by statins, plays a crucial role in activating Rho, Ras, and Rab proteins, thereby impacting the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells. Statins block this pathway, leading to the inhibition of isoprenoid units, which are critical for the activation of these key proteins, thereby affecting cancer cell behavior. Additionally, statins affect MAPK and Cdk2, which in turn reduce the expression of p21 and p27 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. Akt signaling plays a crucial role in key cancer cell features like proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis by activating multiple effectors in downstream pathways such as FOXO, PTEN, NF-κB, GSK3ß, and mTOR. The PI3K/Akt signaling is necessary for many events in the metastatic pathway and has been implicated in the resistance to cytostatic drugs. The Akt/PTEN axis is currently attracting great interest for its role in carcinogenesis. Statins have been shown to activate the purinergic receptor P2X7 and affect Akt signaling, which may have important anti-cancer effects. Hence, targeting Akt shows promise as an effective approach to cancer prevention and therapy. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion on the specific impact of statins through Akt signaling in different types of cancer.

Resveratrol relieves HFD-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle tissue through antioxidant capacity enhancement and the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Resveratrol has received much attention due to its beneficial effects including antioxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of resveratrol treatment on oxidative stress and insulin resistance in the skeletal muscle of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed animals. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 30 six-week-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly allocated to three groups (10 animals in each group): The control group in which mice were fed a normal chow diet (NCD); the HFD group in which mice were fed an HFD for 26 weeks; and the HFD-resveratrol group in which HFD was replaced by a resveratrol supplemented-HFD (400 mg/kg diet) after 10 weeks of HFD feeding. At the end of this period, gastrocnemius muscle samples were examined to determine insulin resistance and the oxidative status in the presence of HFD and resveratrol. Resveratrol supplementation in HFD-fed mice reduced body and adipose tissue weight, improved insulin sensitivity, and decreased oxidative stress as indicated by lower malonaldehyde (MDA) levels and higher total antioxidant capacity. The supplement also increased the expression and activity of antioxidative enzymes in gastrocnemius muscle and modulated Nrf2 and Keap1 expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that resveratrol is effective in improving the antioxidant defense system of the skeletal muscle in HFD-fed mice, indicating its therapeutic potential to combat diseases associated with insulin resistance and oxidative stress.

The Effects of Curcumin Plus Piperine Co-administration on Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: The beneficial effects of curcumin against various chronic disorders have been shown in the last few decades. However, due to its low bioavailability, therapeutic effects are less than expected. Piperine has been used in scientific evaluations as an effective compound to increase the bioavailability of curcumin. The present review investigated the impact of curcumin plus piperine intake on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers of Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs). METHODS: Using relevant keywords, we searched Cochrane Library, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science between January 1st, 1970, and September 30th, 2022. A comprehensive search for RCTs was performed. Continuous data were pooled by Standard Mean Difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval. All related statistical analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software. RESULTS: A total of 13 articles were incorporated into the final meta-analysis. According to the current meta-analysis, curcumin plus piperine administration showed a significantly increased SOD activity and GSH levels while significantly decreased MDA concentrations. In addition, our study revealed that curcumin plus piperine significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that curcumin plus piperine administration could effectively reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.

Comparison of labetalol and lidocaine in induction of controlled hypotension in tympanoplasty: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of labetalol and lidocaine in tympanoplasty surgery, specifically evaluating their impact on hemodynamic changes and perioperative outcomes. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 64 patients scheduled for tympanoplasty. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 0.5-2 mg/min labetalol or 1.5 mg/kg/h lidocaine 1% to achieve controlled hypotension during surgery. The efficacy of the drugs was assessed by comparing the Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), surgeon's satisfaction, time to target MAP, bleeding volume, postoperative pain scores, the need for analgesic medication in recovery, sedation, and other additional parameters. RESULTS: The hemodynamic parameters showed a similar trend over time in both the labetalol and lidocaine groups. The median bleeding volume in the labetalol group (10 cc) was lower than that in the lidocaine group (30 cc), although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.11). Similarly, surgeon's satisfaction level, pain intensity, and sedation level in the recovery room did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). The duration of surgery, recovery stay, and extubation time also did not significantly differ between the groups. Both medications took approximately the same time (20 min) to reach the target MAP and exhibited comparable hemodynamic responses (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both labetalol and lidocaine effectively achieved controlled hypotension during tympanoplasty surgery, thereby improving surgical conditions. The choice of medication should be based on individual patient characteristics and the anesthesiologist's judgment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Comparison of the Efficacies of Topical Liposomal Amphotericin B and Topical Clotrimazole in the Treatment of Pityriasis Versicolor.

INTRODUCTION: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) often exhibits recurrence even despite treatment, and a standardized therapy with a complete cure rate remains elusive. Given the fungicidal property of amphotericin B, its potential for PV treatment warrants investigation. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of topical liposomal amphotericin B and clotrimazole cream in treating PV. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 44 PV patients, aged 15 to 70 years, who were equally assigned to either the amphotericin or clotrimazole group. The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials on March 7th, 2022. PV diagnosis was confirmed in all patients through positive microscopic results. The amphotericin group received topical gel containing liposomal amphotericin B 0.4%, while the other group received topical cream containing clotrimazole 1%. Both treatments were applied twice daily to the affected skin lesions for 14 days. The primary outcomes assessed were mycologic cure, clinical cure, and complete cure at day 14 post-treatment. RESULTS: Both drugs demonstrated successful treatment outcomes, with comparable rates of mycologic cure (77.3%), clinical cure (63.6%), and complete combined cure (63.6%). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the degree of cure (P=0.75). Adjustments for age, sex, lesion extent, and lesion site yielded insignificant risk ratio and risk difference estimates for the complete cure rate (P>0.05).

Comparison of HVT-ND recombinant and convection-based Newcastle disease vaccination programs in the protection against the genotype VII NDV challenges: an experimental study.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) belongs to the Avulavirus genus and Paramyxoviridae family virus that causes acute, highly infectious Newcastle disease in poultry. The two proteins of haemagglutinin neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) are key virulence factors with an important role in its immunogenicity. Genotype VII NDV is still among the most serious viral hazards to the poultry industry worldwide. In this study, a commercial vector vaccine (HVT-NDV) was evaluated compared to the conventional vaccination strategy against Iranian genotype VII. This experiment showed that the group receiving the conventional vaccination strategy had higher antibodies, fewer clinical signs, and lower viral loads in tracheal swabs and feces. Also, two vaccine groups showed significant difference, which could have resulted from two extra vaccine doses in the conventional group. However, except for antibody levels in commercial chickens in the Iran new-generation vaccine, this difference was minor. Further, both groups showed 100% protection in the challenge study. Despite the phylogenetic gap between the NDV-F gene placed in the vector vaccine and the challenge virus (genotypes I and VII, respectively), the rHVT-NDV vaccine offered strong clinical protection and decreased challenge virus shedding considerably.

The urolithin B nanomicellar delivery system as an efficient selective anticancer compound.

BACKGROUND: Urolithin B (UB), the antioxidant polyphenol has a protective impact on several organs against oxidative stress. However, its bioactivity is limited by its hydrophobic structure. In the current study, UB was encapsulated into a liposomal structure to improve its bioactivities anticancer, and antimicrobial potential. METHOD: The UB nano-emulsions (UB-NE) were synthesized and characterized utilizing FESEM, DLS, FTIR, and Zeta-potential analysis. The UB-NMs' selective toxicity was studied by conducting an MTT assay on MCF-7, PANC, AGS, and ASPC1 cells. The AO/PI analysis verified the UB-NMs' cytotoxicity on ASPC1 cell lines and approved the MTT results. Finally, the antibacterial activity of the UB-NMs was studied on both gram-positive (B. subtilis, S. aureus) and gram-negative (E. Coli, P. aeruginosa) bacteria by conducting MIC and MBC analysis. RESULT: The 68.15 nm UB-NMs did not reduce the normal HDF cells' survival. However, they reduced the cancer cells' (PANC and AGS cell lines) survival at high treatment concentrations (> 250 µg/mL) compared with normal HDF and cancer MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the IC50 doses of UB-NMs for the ASPC1 and PANC cancer cells were measured at 44.87, and 221.02 µg/mL, respectively. The UB-NMs selectively exhibited apoptotic-mediated cytotoxicity on the human pancreatic tumor cell line (ASPC1) by down-regulating BCL2 and NFKB gene expression. Also, the BAX gene expression was up-regulated in the ASPC1-treated cells. Moreover, they exhibited significant anti-bactericidal activity against the E. coli (MIC = 50 µg/mL, MBC = 150 µg/mL), P. aeruginosa (MIC = 75 µg/mL, MBC = 275 µg/mL), B. subtilis (MIC = 125 µg/mL, MBC = 450 µg/mL), and S. aureus (MIC = 50 µg/mL, MBC = 200 µg/mL) strains. CONCLUSION: The significant selective cytotoxic impact of the UB-NMs on the human pancreatic tumor cell line makes it an applicable anti-pancreatic cancer compound. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of UB-NMs has the potential to decrease bacterial-mediated pancreatic cancer. However, several bacterial strains and further cancer cell lines are required to verify the UB-NMs' anticancer potential.

Effect of Nigella sativa Consumption on Lipid Profile and Glycemic Index in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a multifactorial disorder and genetics, lifestyle, and aging play important roles in its prevalence. Nigella sativa has several pharmacological benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and hypolipidemic effects. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assesses the effect of N. sativa consumption on lipid profile and glycemic indices in patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: We systematically researched Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The literature research identified 171 studies with duplication. Of those, 73 articles were screened for titles and abstracts, and 7 studies were finally selected for the meta-analysis. Because of the high degree of heterogeneity, we performed subgroup analyses based on the dose of N. sativa (<=500 mg/day or >500 mg/day). RESULTS: The results revealed that N. sativa intake significantly decreased total cholesterol (SMD: -0.71; 95% CI, -1.44 to -0.38; P = 0.00), LDL-C (SMD: -1.06; 95% CI, -1.45 to -0.66; P = 0.00) and HDL-C (SMD: -0.31; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.53; P = 0.01) concentrations. In addition, N. sativa significantly decreased FBS (SMD: -0.8; 95% CI, -1.21 to -0.39; P = 0.00) and HbA1c (SMD: -0.37; 95% CI, -0.66 to -0.09; P = 0.01) concentrations. No publication bias was observed, and sensitivity analysis showed stable results. CONCLUSION: The current systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that N. sativa could improve lipid profile and glycemic index in patients with metabolic syndrome.

The Combinational Effect of Inulin and Resveratrol on the Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Level in a Rat Model of Diabetic Nephropathy.

Background: Using inulin can enhance resveratrol's effects by improving the intestinal microbiome and the stability of resveratrol. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effect of therapeutic intervention with combined inulin and resveratrol on kidney function in diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetic model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Afterward, rats were divided into 6 groups: control, diabetic without treatment, diabetic treated with insulin, diabetic treated with resveratrol, diabetic treated with inulin, and diabetic treated with a combination of inulin and resveratrol. After 10 wk, the creatinine, urea, insulin, urinary proteins, and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were evaluated. Pathologic changes were examined in kidney tissues. Results: Renal dysfunction, accompanied by increased inflammation and oxidative stress, was observed. Our results showed that treatment with resveratrol and inulin had antidiabetic effects and was associated with reduced renal dysfunction, oxidative stress, and kidney inflammation. In addition, it was observed that combined treatment with inulin and resveratrol outperformed monotherapies in improving kidney function and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Conclusions: Treatment with resveratrol and inulin can have renoprotective effects by improving oxidative stress and inflammation in kidney tissues. Therefore, employing these 2 compounds is suggested as an inexpensive and available method for diabetic nephropathy.

Comparison of chitosan nanoparticles containing Lippia citriodora essential oil and citral on the induction of apoptosis in A375 melanoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Using nanoparticles containing L. citriodora EO and citral has shown potential in treating skin disorders such as melanoma. METHODS: In this study, GC‒MS was used to analyze the chemical composition of L. citriodora essential oil (EO). The ion gelation method prepared free chitosan nanoparticles and chitosan nanoparticles containing L. citriodora EO and citral. The successful loading of the EO and citral was evaluated using ATR-FTIR. The DPPH assay measured the antioxidant effect of citral, L. citriodora EO, Citral-ChiNPs, L. citriodora-ChiNPs, and Free-ChiNPs. A375 melanoma cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. The qPCR technique was employed to evaluate the expression of apoptotic genes, and flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis. RESULTS: This study showed that in equal concentrations, the antioxidant properties of chitosan nanoparticles containing citral were greater than those of chitosan nanoparticles containing L. citriodora. The IC50 values of chitosan nanoparticles containing citral, L. citriodora EO, and their nonformulated states were 105.6, 199.9, 136.9, and 240 µg/ml, respectively. The gene expression results showed that the ratio of the expression of the apoptosis gene to the inhibitory gene was higher than 1 in all the samples, indicating that the conditions for apoptosis were present. Flow cytometry confirmed cell apoptosis, with 93.5 ± 0.3% in chitosan nanoparticles containing citral, 80 ± 0.2% in chitosan nanoparticles containing L. citriodora EO, 63 ± 0.3 in citral, and 42.03% in L. citriodora EO-treated cells. CONCLUSION: The results showed that using the Nano form of L. citriodora and citral increased their efficiency in apoptosis pathways and their toxicity against 375 melanoma cancer cells.

Effect of Nigella sativa Intake on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that the intake of N. sativa has a beneficial effect on metabolic syndrome and related disorders. In this meta-analysis, our primary objective was to assess the impact of Nigella sativa consumption on inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers among individuals diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and its associated conditions. METHODS: Our search was conducted on prominent online databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and EMBASE, utilizing relevant keywords until August 2023. RESULTS: This meta-analysis was performed on 16 RCTs comprising 1033 participants. Our results showed that intake of nigella sativa significantly decreased CRP [SMD: -0.60; (95% CI: from -0.96 to -0.23); P = 0.00], TNF-α [SMD: -0.53; (95% CI: from -0.74 to -0.53); P = 0.00]; IL-6 [SMD: -0.54 ; (95% CI: from -1.01 to -0.07); P = 0.02], and MDA: [SMD: -1.28; (95% CI: from -2.11 to -0.46); P = 0.00] levels. In addition, SOD: [SMD: 1.35; (95% CI, from 0.77 to 1.93); P = 0.00] and TAC [SMD: 2.82; (95% CI, from 0.55 to 5.084); P = 0.01] levels significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that THE consumption of N. sativa could be associated with improved oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders.

The Effects of Resveratrol Supplementation on the Metabolism of Lipids in Metabolic Disorders.

Lipids are stored energy sources in animals, and disturbance of lipid metabolism is associated with metabolic disorders, including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes. Modifying dysregulated lipid metabolism homeostasis can lead to enhanced therapeutic benefits, such as the use of statin therapy in cardiovascular disease. However, many natural compounds may have therapeutic utility to improve lipid metabolism. Resveratrol is a polyphenol extracted from dietary botanicals, including grapes and berries, which has been reported to affect many biological processes, including lipid metabolism. This review evaluates the effects of resveratrol on lipid metabolism dysregulation affecting atherosclerosis, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In addition, it details the mechanisms by which resveratrol may improve lipid metabolism homeostasis.

miR-27a/b Level is Associated with ABCA1 Expression and is a Potential PBMC-Based Biomarker for Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of cardiac disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the expression of miR-27a and miR-27b as biomarkers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with CAD and investigated its correlation with cholesterol-efflux transporter, ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). Method: This study was performed on 54 men with CAD and 51 healthy, sex- and age-matched control participants. The expression of miR-27a/b and ABCA1 genes in PBMCs were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein expression of ABCA1 was assessed by Western blotting. Concurrently, the specificity and sensitivity of miR-27a/b was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The significance level adopted in the statistical analysis was 5%. Results: We found that miR-27a and miR-27b expression were significantly increased, while both mRNA and protein expression of ABCA1 were markedly reduced in the PBMCs of CAD patients in comparison to non-CAD controls. miR-27a/27b expression was also shown to be inversely correlated with ABCA1. ROC analysis showed that the miR-27a had an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of about 92.6 (sensitivity 83.3٪ and specificity 86.6٪) and miR-27b had an AUC of about 93.0 (sensitivity 86.6٪ and specificity 80.0 (%, suggesting the diagnostic potential of miR-27a/b in CAD patients. Conclusions: Our data suggested a possible role of miR-27a/b in CAD pathogenesis. Additionally, we proposed that miR-27a/b expression in PBMCs may have potential clinical implications in the diagnosis of CAD patients, but further validations in large cohorts are required.

Fish Meal Replacement and Early Mild Stress Improve Stress Responsiveness and Survival of Fish after Acute Stress.

Stress responsiveness and fish meal (FM) replacement are two of the most important concerns toward achieving sustainable aquaculture. The purpose of this study was to see how early mild stress (netting) and FM replacement with meat and bone meal (MBM) affected oscar (Astronotus ocellatus; 5.2 ± 0.9 g) growth, hematology, blood biochemistry, immune responses, antioxidant system, liver enzymes, and stress responses. Oscars were subjected to a 3 × 3 experimental design (three fish meal replacement levels: 250, 180 and 110 g/kg of FM in diets; three stress periods: 0-, 2- and 3-times early mild stress). After ten weeks of the experiment, FM levels in diets did not affect growth data, but the survival rate after the acute confinement (AC) stress was lower in 11FM treatments (47.7% compared to 67.7%) than others. Fish exposed to the 3Stress schedule had a lower growth (31.03 ± 6.50 g) and survival rate (55.5%) after the AC stress than the 2Stress group (38.92 ± 6.82 g and 70.0%). Lower survival and growth rate in the 3Stress and 11FM groups coincided with the lowest blood performance, total protein, lysozyme, complement C4, complement C3, immunoglobulin, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and the highest glucose, cortisol, low-density lipoprotein and aspartate aminotransferase serum levels. Altogether, this study revealed that it is possible to replace FM with MBM up to 28% (180 g/kg of FM) without negative effects on the growth and health of juvenile oscar as dietary 110 g/kg of FM impaired fish health. While fish welfare should be considered, we can conclude that mild stress (2Stress) during the farming period, but without adding excessive alternative protein sources, can improve the stress responsiveness of oscar.

Stent underexpansion is associated with high wall shear stress: a biomechanical analysis of the shear stent study.

Coronary stent underexpansion is associated with restenosis and stent thrombosis. In clinical studies of atherosclerosis, high wall shear stress (WSS) has been associated with activation of prothrombotic pathways, upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases, and future myocardial infarction. We hypothesized that stent underexpansion is predictive of high WSS. WSS distribution was investigated in patients enrolled in the prospective randomized controlled study of angulated coronary arteries randomized to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention with R-ZES or X-EES. WSS was calculated from 3D reconstructions of arteries from intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and angiography using computational fluid dynamics. A logistic regression model investigated the relationship between WSS and underexpansion and the relationship between underexpansion and stent platform. Mean age was 63±11, 78% were male, 35% had diabetes, mean pre-stent angulation was 36.7°±14.7°. Underexpansion was assessed in 83 patients (6,181 IVUS frames). Frames with stent underexpansion were significantly more likely to exhibit high WSS (> 2.5 Pa) compared to those without underexpansion with an OR of 2.197 (95% CI = [1.233-3.913], p = 0.008). There was no significant association between underexpansion and low WSS (< 1.0 Pa) and no significant differences in underexpansion between R-ZES and X-EES. In the Shear Stent randomized controlled study, underexpanded IVUS frames were more than twice as likely to be associated with high WSS than frames without underexpansion.

The importance of presoaking to improve the efficiency of MgCl2-modified and non-modified biochar in the adsorption of cadmium.

Investigating the effect of presoaking, as one of the most important physical factors affecting the adsorption behavior of biochar, on the adsorption of heavy metals by modified or non-modified biochar and presoaking mechanism is still an open issue. In this study, the water presoaking effect on the kinetics of cadmium (Cd) adsorption by rice husk biochar (produced at 450 °C, B1, and at 600 °C, B2) and the rice husk biochar modified with magnesium chloride (B1 modified with MgCl2, MB1, and B2 modified with MgCl2, MB2) was investigated. Furthermore, the effect of pH (2, 5, and 6), temperature (15, 25, and 35 °C), and biochar particle size (100 and 500 µm) on the kinetics of Cd adsorption was also investigated. Results revealed that the content of Cd adsorbed by the presoaked biochar was significantly higher than that by the non-presoaked biochar. The highest Cd adsorption capacity of MB2 and MB1 was 98.4 and 97.6 mg g-1, respectively, which was much better than that of B1 (7.6 mg g-1) and B2 (7.5 mg g-1). The modeling of kinetics results showed that in all cases pseudo-second-order model was well-fitted (R2>0.99) with Cd adsorption data. The results also indicated that the highest Cd adsorption values were observed at pH 6 in presoaked MB1 with size of 100 µm as well as at the temperature of 35 °C in presoaked MB2, indicating the optimum conditions for this process. The presoaking process was not affected by biochar size and pH, and the difference in adsorbed Cd content between presoaked biochars and non-presoaked ones was also similar. However, the temperature had a negative effect on presoaking. The presoaking process decreased micropores (<10 µm) in the biochars but had no effect on biochar hydrophobicity. Therefore, presoaking, which could significantly increase Cd adsorption and reduce equilibrium time by reducing the micropores of biochars, is suggested as an effective strategy for improving the efficiency of modified biochars or non-modified ones in the adsorption of contaminants (Cd) from aquatic media.

PEGylated Lecithin-Chitosan-Folic Acid Nanoparticles as Nanocarriers of Allicin for In Vitro Controlled Release and Anticancer Effects.

In this study, chitosan-lecithin nanoparticles modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and folic acid (FA) were used to deliver allicin (AC) to colon cancer cells. AC-loaded polyethylene glycol (PEG) and folic acid (FA)-modified chitosan-lecithin nanoparticles (AC-PLCF-NPs) were fabricated via self-assembling procedure. HPLC for AC encapsulation and FA binding, MTT for viability assay, ABTS and DPPH for antioxidant capacity, disc diffusion, MIC and MBC for antibacterial assay, qPCR and AO/PI staining for apoptotic, and CAM assay for angiogenesis effects of AC-PLCF-NPs were used. AC-PLCF-NPs (113.55 nm) were synthesized as single dispersed (PDI: 0.28) and stable (ZP: + 33.18 mV) with 81% AC encapsulation and 48% FA binding. The antioxidant power of AC-PLCF-NPs was confirmed by inhibiting free radicals ABTS (74.25 µg/mL) and DPPH (366.214 µg/mL) and its antibacterial capacity with very high inhibitory effects against gram-negative bacterial strains. MTT results showed higher toxicity of AC-PLCF-NPs (68.06 µg/mL) compared to AC (171.45 µg/mL). Increased expression of caspase 3 and 9 genes showed activation of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in treated cells, and on the other hand, reduction of vascular and embryonic growth factors in CAM model confirmed the anti-angiogenesis effects of AC-PLCF-NPs. AC-PLCF-NPs can be suggested as a promising therapeutic agent for studies in the field of colon cancer treatment.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of the curcumin and piperine combination on lipid profile in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by multiple metabolic disorders. Several studies indicated that curcumin plus piperine could affect lipids profiles in various diseases. The present meta-analysis aims to assess the effect of curcumin plus piperine on lipid profiles in patients with MetS and associated disorders using a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Trials were searched by several electronic databases up to May 2022. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) version3 software carried out this systematic review and meta-analysis. Random-effects model and the inverse variance method were used to conduct the meta-analysis. We evaluated the publication bias and heterogeneity of all eligible studies. In addition, subgroup analyses and sensitivity assessments were performed to assess potential sources of heterogeneity. The combined results by the random-effects model demonstrated that curcumin plus piperine significantly decreased total cholesterol and LDL-C in patients suffering from metabolic syndrome. In comparison, the results of the overall effect size did not show any significant change in triglyceride concentrations. Our results were robust in sensitivity analysis and were not dependent on the dose of curcumin, the dose of piperine, and the duration of treatment. Our results showed that co-administration of piperine and curcumin supplementation improves the lipid profile in metabolic syndrome. However, further long-term RCTs are required to ascertain their clinical benefit.

Necrotic herpes simplex lymphadenitis imitating Richter's transformation in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia - A case report.

Richter Transformation (RT) is the phenomenon of progression from Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) into an aggressive Large-Cell Lymphoma and is typically characterized by diffuse lymphadenopathy combined with the classical "B symptoms". While rare, other causes of sudden onset diffuse lymphadenopathy in patients with CLL can occur; one of the rarest being necrotic herpes simplex lymphadenitis. We report a case that presented similarly to Richter Transformation including PET-CT scan findings consistent with RT but was histologically proven to be necrotic herpes simplex lymphadenitis. We identified less than 20 reported cases of this phenomenon in English language literature. Our patient was successfully treated with appropriate antiviral therapy due to timely recognition of the correct disease process. Our case reinforces the importance of maintaining diagnostic suspicion when approaching sudden onset lymphadenitis in this patient population.

Boswellic acids as promising agents for the management of brain diseases.

Boswellic acid (BA)s are pentacyclic triterpenic acids present in gum resin of Boswellia species (such as B. serrata and B. carterii). They possess a variety of pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-excitotoxic effects. These properties may have potential therapeutic implication in neurological disorders. Notably, the BAs-induced neuroprotection is proposed to be associated with the ability to reduce neurotoxic aggregates, decrease oxidative stress, and improve cognitive dysfunction. Recently, BAs have been suggested as potential agents for the treatment of brain tumors due to their potential to attenuate cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, angiogenesis, and promote apoptosis during both in vitro and in vivo studies. The present review aims to address these studies and highlights the possible underlying mechanisms of the observed effects. Besides, novel formulations and improving pharmacokinetic properties may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of BAs.