ZIF-8 Nanoparticle: A Valuable Tool for Improving Gene Delivery in Sperm-Mediated Gene Transfer.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials with unique characteristics that make them well-suited for drug delivery and gene therapy applications. Among the MOFs, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) has emerged as a promising candidate for delivering exogenous DNA into cells. However, the potential of ZIF-8 as a vector for sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) has not yet been thoroughly explored.This investigation aimed to explore the potential of ZIF-8 as a vector for enhancing genetic transfer and transgenesis rates by delivering exogenous DNA into sperm cells. To test this hypothesis, we employed ZIF-8 to deliver a plasmid expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) into mouse sperm cells and evaluated the efficiency of DNA uptake. Our findings demonstrate that ZIF-8 can efficiently load and deliver exogenous DNA into mouse sperm cells, increasing GFP expression in vitro. These results suggest that ZIF-8 is a valuable tool for enhancing genetic transfer in SMGT, with important implications for developing genetically modified animals for research and commercial purposes. Additionally, our study highlights the potential of ZIF-8 as a novel class of vectors for gene delivery in reproductive biology.Overall, our study provides a foundation for further research into using ZIF-8 and other MOFs as gene delivery systems in reproductive biology and underscores the potential of these materials as promising vectors for gene therapy and drug delivery.

Effect of Ramadan fasting on urinary risk factors for calculus formation.

INTRODUCTION: Even though dehydration could aggravate formation of urinary calculi, the effects of fluid and food restriction on calculus formation is not thoroughly defined. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of fluid and food restriction in Ramadan fasting on urinary factors in kidney and urinary calculus formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven men aged 30 to 55 years old, including 37 recurrent calcium calculus formers and 20 with no history of kidney calculi were evaluated for blood tests, ultrasonography investigations, urinalysis, urine culture, and also 24-hour urine collection test. Metabolites including calcium, oxalate, citrate, uric acid, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, sodium, and creatinine were measured before and during Ramadan fasting. The values of calculus-precipitating solutes as well as inhibitory factors were documented thoroughly. RESULTS: Total excretion of calcium, phosphate, and magnesium in 24-hour urine and also urine volume during fasting were significantly lower than those in the nonfasting period. Urine concentration of calcium during fasting was significantly lower than nonfasting (P < .001). Urine concentrations of uric acid, citrate, phosphate, sodium, and potassium during fasting were significantly higher than nonfasting. Uric acid supersaturation was accentuated, and calcium phosphate supersaturation was decreased significantly during fasting. There was no significant increase in calcium oxalate supersaturation during the fasting period. CONCLUSIONS: Fasting during Ramadan has different effects on total excretion and concentrations of urinary precipitate and inhibitory factors contributing to calculus formation. We did not find enough evidence in favor of increased risks of calculus formation during Ramadan fasting.

The most important metabolic risk factors in recurrent urinary stone formers.

PURPOSE: To evaluate different urinary factors contributing to idiopathic calcium stone disease for determining appropriate medical treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two 24-hour urine samples were collected from 106 male recurrent idiopathic calcium stone formers and another 109 randomly selected men as the control group matching for age. RESULTS: Cases had significantly higher mean urine oxalate, calcium, uric acid, and chloride in comparison with the healthy controls (P < .001). After necessary adjustment, only mean urine levels of oxalate and uric acid were higher in stone formers than those in controls. The mean value of supersaturation for calcium oxalate was significantly higher in patients than the controls (P = .001); whereas supersaturation for calcium phosphate and uric acid did not reach statistical significance (P = .675 and P = .675, respectively). Hyperoxaluria and hypercalciuria were among the most frequent abnormalities. After categorizing urine parameter values into four quartiles, the risk of stone formation was found to increase as the urine calcium, oxalate, uric acid, chloride, and citrate rise. In contrast, the risk of stone formation decreased with the increase of urine potassium. CONCLUSION: Oxalate seems to play the most important role as urinary stone risk factor in our population followed by calcium and uric acid. In addition to the risk factors, it seems that supersaturation as the sum of all risk factors probably has a high predictive value.