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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide, is influenced by a myriad of clinic-pathological factors, including viral infections and genetic abnormalities. This study delineates the synthesis, characterization, and the biological efficacy of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and chitosan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-CS) against HCC. Analytical methods confirmed the successful synthesis of both nanoparticles, with Fe3O4-CS demonstrating a smaller, uniform spherical morphology and distinct surface and magnetic properties attributable to its chitosan coating. The prepared materials were analyzed using various techniques, and their potential cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cancer cells line for HCC were investigated. In biological evaluations against HepG2 cells, a notable distinction in cytotoxicity was observed. Fe3O4 showed modest anticancer activity with an IC50 of 383.71 ± 23.9 µg/mL, whereas Fe3O4 exhibited a significantly enhanced cytotoxic effect, with a much lower IC50 of 39.15 ± 39.2 µg/mL. The Comet assay further evidenced Fe3O4-CS potent DNA damaging effect, showcasing its superior ability to induce apoptosis through extensive DNA fragmentation. Biochemical analyses integrated into our results reveal that Fe3O4-CS not only induces significant DNA damage but also markedly alters oxidative stress markers. Compared to control and Fe3O4-treated cells, Fe3O4-CS exposure significantly elevated levels of oxidative stress markers: superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased to 192.07 U/ml, catalase (CAT) decreased to 0.03 U/L, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) rose dramatically to 18.76 U/gT, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels heightened to 30.33 nmol/gT. These results underscore the potential of Fe3O4-CS nanoparticles not only in inducing significant DNA damage conducive to cancer cell apoptosis but also in altering enzymatic activities and oxidative stress markers, suggesting a dual mechanism of action that may underpin their therapeutic advantage in cancer treatment. Our findings advocate for the further exploration of Fe3O4-CS nanoparticles in the development of anticancer drugs, emphasizing their capability to trigger oxidative stress and enhance antioxidant defense mechanisms.
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Introduction: The tendency to use dental materials of plant origin is one of the prevailing trends in dentistry to reduce exposure to materials that could have some toxic impact in the long term. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of calcium hydroxide combined with gingerols (Ginge-Cal) as a novel obturation material for treating infected primary teeth and decreasing the recurrence of infection. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 30 lower primary molars with infected pulp for children aged 4-8 years. The sample was randomly divided into two groups depending on the tested obturation material: Ginge-Cal group and the Metapex group. The evaluation was done by different parameters clinically and radiographically at various intervals up to 12 months. Results: Based on chi-squared and McNamara's test with a 5% significance level, the clinical results indicated that Ginge-Cal group was more effective than the Metapex group in reducing or eliminating pain (P=0.467) after 1 week, sensitivity to percussion (P=0.090) at 3 months of follow-up, purulent swelling (P=0.444) at 6 and 9 months of follow-up, fistula, and tooth mobility. The radiographic results, based on the periapical and furcation area radiolucency at 12 months of follow-up, favored Ginge-Cal group over the Metapex group (P=0.683), (P=0.456), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in pathological root resorption and periodontal space. The differences within the Ginge-Cal group were directly influenced by the time intervals in a statistically significant manner, ranging from (P=0.004) to (P < 0.001). The success percentage was 87.5% for Ginge-Cal group and 64.3% for Metapex group. Conclusions: Ginge-Cal can be considered a promising material for treating the infected root canal when used as an obturation material for the infected root canal. This trial is registered with NCT05181813.
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Phosphate-based glasses (PBG) with appropriate doping agents have been used as solid electrolytes in solid-state ionic devices. Therefore, more light was shed on the electrical, optical, and electrochemical behavior of the phosphate-based glasses (PBG), containing ZnO or CuO in the absence and existence of conductive polyaniline (PANI), since no publications are available concerning this work. The glass samples were prepared by the rapid quenching method, then mixing phosphate glass and polyaniline (PANI) with metal oxide (ZnO, CuO). They were characterized by different techniques; diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer (DRS), broadband dielectric spectrometer (BDS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and charge-discharge techniques. In the DRS study, the direct and indirect band gap were calculated from Tauc's relationship where CuO-doped glasses have higher values than ZnO-doped glasses. In the BDS study, the permittivity of all glass compositions decreased while AC conductivity increased with increasing frequency. AC conductivity of PBG doped with metal oxides and mixed with PANI exhibited semiconducting features (6.8 × 10-4 S/cm). Further, these composites exhibited lower loss tangent (0.11), and giant permittivity (186,000) compared to the pure PBG. Also, the electrochemical study exhibited that the composite with 7% CuO content has the highest specific capacitance value (82.3 F/g at 1.0 A/g) which increased to about 113% of its first cycle and then decreased to about 55% after 2500 cycles and finally increased again to 77% after 4500 cycles, indicating its good stability. The combination of optical, electrical, and electrochemical features of these composites suggests their use for energy generation and storage devices.
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El vasospasmo cerebral sigue siendo la causa más importante de invalidez y muerte posterior a la ruptura de aneurismas saculares intracerebrales. Las estrategias terapéuticas en el vasospasmo inducido por l a hemorragia subaracnoidea pueden ser agrupadas en cuatro categorías a saber: 1) terapias de prevención; 2)terapias de reversión; 3) terapias para el aumento dela perfusión cerebral; y 4) terapias de neuroprotección y rescate. Estudios experimentales recientes han permitido la realización de estudios clínicos fase II que sugieren resultados positivos con medicamentos que incluyen estatinas (simvastatina y pravastatina) y antagonistas de receptores tipo A de la endotelina-1(clasozentan). De igual manera, evidencias experimentales y clínicas han mostrado las ventajas del drenaje de líquido cefalorraquídeo, administración intratecal de donadores de óxido nítrico, y los efectos desinhibidores de la Ca2+ Protein Kinasa C (Fasudil) y catecolaminas sobre la vascularización cerebral. Este artículo resume el estado de investigación actual de posibles agentes y estrategias terapéuticas relevantes en el tratamiento del vasospasmo cerebral
Cerebral vasospasm is still the most important cause of death and disability after rupture of intracraniala neurysms. The therapeutic strategies in the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage induced vasospasm include four groups: 1) prevention of vasospasm;2) reversion of vasospasm; 3) improvement of cerebral perfusion; and 4) neuroprotection and rescue therapies. Recent experimental studies allowed the design of phase II clinical studies which demonstrated positive eresults with medications and compounds such asstatins (simvastatin and pravastatin) and endothelin-1receptor antagonists (clasozentan). Moreover, experimental and clinical evidences showed the advantages of early cerebrospinal fluid drainage, intrathecal administration of NO-donors, effects of Ca2+ protein kinase inhibitor (Fasudil) and catecholamines on the cerebral vessels. This review article summarizes the stage of investigation of these medications and therapeutic strategies which will be relevant in the treatment of cerebral vasospasm