Physico-chemical properties of curcumin nanoparticles and its efficacy against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.

Curcumin is a bioactive component with anticancer characteristics; nevertheless, it has poor solubility and fast metabolism, resulting in low bioavailability and so restricting its application. Curcumin loaded in nano emulsions (Cur-NE) was developed to improve water solubility and eliminate all the limitations of curcumin. Size distribution, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements, UV-Visible spectra, IR spectra and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), were used to characterize the prepared Cur-NE. Cancer therapeutic efficacy was assessed by oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), DNA damage, apoptotic proteins (caspase-3 and 9), besides investigating tumor histology and monitoring tumor growth. Additionally, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the liver, kidney, heart, and spleen tissues were examined to gauge the adverse effects of the treatment method's toxicity. The results showed that Cur-NE is more effective than free curcumin at slowing the growth of Ehrlich tumors while significantly increasing the levels of apoptotic proteins. On the other hand, Cur-NE-treated mice showed some damage in other organs when compared to mice treated with free curcumin. Cur-NE has a higher efficacy in treating Ehrlich tumor.

Efficacy of iron-silver bimetallic nanoparticles to enhance radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the primary cancer treatment methods. Radiosensitizers are used to enhance RT and protect healthy tissue. Heavy metals have been studied as radiosensitizers. Thus, iron oxide and iron oxide/silver nanoparticles have been the main subjects of this investigation. A simple honey-based synthesis of iron (IONPs) and iron-silver bimetallic nanoparticles (IO@AgNPs) were prepared followed by characterization with transmission electron microscope (TEM), absorption spectra, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Additionally, Ehrlich carcinoma was induced in 30 adult BALB/c mice and divided into 6 groups. Mice of group G1 were not treated with nanoparticles or exposed to irradiation (control group), and group G2 and G3 were treated with IONPs and IO@AgNPs respectively. Mice of group G4 were exposed to a high dose of gamma radiation (HRD) (12 Gy). Groups G5 and G6 were treated with IONPs and IO@AgNPs followed by exposure to a low dose of gamma radiation (LRD) (6 Gy) respectively. The impact of NP on the treatment protocol was evaluated by checking tumor growth, DNA damage, and level of oxidative stress in addition to investigating tumor histopathology. Additional research on the toxicity of this protocol was also evaluated by looking at the liver's cytotoxicity. When compared to HRD therapy, combination therapy (bimetallic NPs and LRD) significantly increased DNA damage by about 75% while having a stronger efficacy in slowing Ehrlich tumor growth (at the end of treatment protocol) by about 45%. Regarding the biosafety concern, mice treated with combination therapy showed lower alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in their liver tissues by about half the value of HRD. IO@AgNPs enhanced the therapeutic effect of low-dose radiation and increased the efficacy of treating Ehrlich tumors with the least amount of harm to normal tissues as compared to high radiation dosage therapy.

Elastic, optoelectronic and photocatalytic properties of semiconducting CsNbO3: first principles insights.

The cubic phase of CsNbO3 (CNO) perovskite has been hypothesized to investigate the elastic, electronic, photocatalytic, and optical properties for various technological applications using first-principles method. The pressure dependent structural stability has been confirmed from computed elastic constants. Relatively high value of elastic moduli, large hardness and toughness suggested that CNO would be applicable to design industrial machineries. The ductile to brittle transition is noticed at 20 GPa. The indirect bandgap of CNO proclaims its suitability for photovoltaic and IR photodetector applications. The total and partial density of states are calculated to show in evidence the contribution of individual atomic orbitals in the formation of bands. The pressure changes orbitals hybridization which can be substantiated by the change in the bandgap. Strong covalency of the Nb-O bond and antibonding character of Cs-O have been anticipated by the Mulliken population analysis and by the contour maps of electron charge density. The low carrier effective mass and high mobility carriers predict the good electrical conductivity of the material. The calculated values of conduction and valance band edge potential illustrate the excellent water-splitting and environmental pollutants degradation properties of CNO.

Dose-dependent biological toxicity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles in rat's brain.

Metal nanoparticles, in general, and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), in particular, have been the focus of numerous studies over the last two decades. Recently, the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles has been favored over chemical synthesis due to its low toxicity and easy preparation. The present study aims to investigate the dose-dependent toxicity of green synthesized AgNPs on rats' brains. Thirty-four Wistar male rats were divided into four groups. The first, second, and third groups were administered for 14 days with three different doses (0.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) of AgNPs, respectively. The fourth group, which served as a control group, was given normal saline for the same period. The toxicity of the green synthesized AgNPs on the cortical and hippocampal levels of the oxidative stress markers (MDA, NO, and GSH) as well as the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and the monoamine neurotransmitters (DA, NE, and 5H-T) were investigated. AgNPs showed minimal oxidative stress in the cortex and hippocampus for the administered doses. However, AgNPs showed an inhibitory effect on AchE activity in a dose-dependent manner and a decrease in the 5H-T and NE levels. The green synthesized AgNPs showed an ultrastructural change in the cellular membranes of the neurons. The green synthesis of AgNPs has reduced their cytotoxic oxidative effects due to their capping with biologically compatible and boosting molecules such as flavonoids. However, another neurotoxicity was observed in a dose-dependent manner.

Pattern of cesarean deliveries among women in an urban and rural district in Egypt.

Aim: to compare patterns of delivery at an urban and a rural district in Egypt over 3 years. Methods: This retrospective study included 500 women and 50 obstetricians from each district from January, 2013 till December, 2015. Women answered a questionnaire about their deliveries. Obstetricians answered a questionnaire about their practice of CS. Results: CS rate in the rural district was 57.2% compared to 54.8% in the urban district in 2013. In 2014 and 2015, CS rates increased to 65.3% and 69%, respectively in the rural district compared to 56% and 57.7%, respectively in the urban district. 66% of obstetricians in the rural district performed CS for more than 50% of their patients compared to 76% of obstetricians in the urban district. 52% and 4% of obstetricians in the rural and urban districts, respectively, performed CS upon maternal request. 70.3% of women in the rural district who delivered by CS preferred to deliver vaginally. 51.4% of urban women who delivered by CS preferred to deliver vaginally. Level of education was the only factor showing statistical significance. Conclusion: CS rates increased over time with higher rates in the rural area. Level of women's education was the only factor affecting delivery choice.

Prescribing errors among adult patients in a large tertiary care system in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have investigated medication errors in hospitals in Saudi Arabia; however, prevalence data on prescribing errors and associated factors remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: Assess the prevalence, type, severity, and factors associated with prescribing errors. DESIGN: Retrospective database review. SETTING: Large tertiary care setting in Riyadh. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We described and analyzed data related to prescribing errors in adults (>14 years of age) from the Medication Error Electronic Report Forms database for the two-year period from January 2017 to December 2018. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The prevalence of prescribing errors and associated factors among adult patients. SAMPLE SIZE: 315 166 prescriptions screened. RESULTS: Of the total number of inpatient and outpatient prescriptions screened, 4934 prescribing errors were identified for a prevalence of 1.56%. The most prevalent types of prescribing errors were improper dose (n=1516; 30.7%) and frequency (n=987; 20.0%). Two-thirds of prescribing errors did not cause any harm to patients. Most prescribing errors were made by medical residents (n=2577; 52%) followed by specialists (n=1629; 33%). Prescribing errors were associated with a lack of documenting clinical information (adjusted odds ratio: 14.1; 95% CI 7.7-16.8, P<.001) and prescribing anti-infective medications (adjusted odds ratio 2.9; 95% CI 1.3-5.7, P<.01). CONCLUSION: Inadequate documentation in electronic health records and prescribing of anti-infective medications were the most common factors for predicting prescribing errors. Future studies should focus on testing innovative measures to control these factors and their impact on minimizing prescribing errors. LIMITATIONS: Polypharmacy was not considered; the data are from a single healthcare system. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Description of pharmacists' reported interventions to prevent prescribing errors among in hospital inpatients: a cross sectional retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Prescribing errors (PEs) are a common cause of morbidity and mortality, both in community practice and in hospitals. Pharmacists have an essential role in minimizing and preventing PEs, thus, there is a need to document the nature of pharmacists' interventions to prevent PEs. The purpose of this study was to describe reported interventions conducted by pharmacists to prevent or minimize PEs in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the electronic medical records data was conducted to identify pharmacists' interventions related to reported PEs. The PE-related data was extracted for a period of six-month (April to September 2017) and comprised of patient demographics, medication-related information, and the different interventions conducted by the pharmacists. The study was carried in a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh region. The study was ethically reviewed and approved by the hospital IRB committee. Descriptive analyses were appropriately conducted using the IBM SPSS Statistics. RESULTS: A total of 2,564 pharmacists' interventions related to PEs were recorded. These interventions were reported in 1,565 patients. Wrong dose (54.3 %) and unauthorized prescription (21.9 %) were the most commonly encountered PEs. Anti-infectives for systemic use (49.2 %) and alimentary tract and metabolism medications (18.2 %) were the most common classes involved with PEs. The most commonly reported pharmacists' interventions were dose adjustments (44.0 %), restricted medication approvals (21.9 %), and therapeutic duplications (11 %). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, PEs occurred commonly and pharmacists' interventions were critical in preventing possible medication related harm to patients. Care coordination and prioritizing patient safety through quality improvement initiatives at all levels of the health care system can play a key role in this quality improvement drive. Future studies should evaluate the impact of pharmacists' interventions on patient outcomes.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a new thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-based urea derivative with potential antitumor activity against tamoxifen sensitive and resistant breast cancer cell lines.

Breast cancer (BC) and endocrine resistance to chemotherapy are challenging problems where angiogenesis plays fundamental roles. Thus, targeting of VEGFR-2 signalling pathway has been an attractive approach. In this study, we synthesised a new sorafenib analogue, thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine based urea derivative, KM6. It showed 65% inhibition of VEGF2 tyrosine kinase activity and demonstrated a potential antitumor activity in TAM-resistant, LCC2, and its parental MCF7 BC cells. KM6 retained the sensitivity of LCC2 through upregulation of key enzymes of apoptosis and proteins of cell death including caspases 3, 8, 9, P53, BAX/BCL-2 ratio and LDH in media. It downregulated mRNA expression of Ki-67, survivin, Akt, and reduced levels of ROS and glucose uptake. Moreover, KM6 reduced the levels of inflammation markers PGE2, COX2, IL-1ß and IL6 and metastasis markers MMP-2 and MMP-9. In conclusion, KM6 is a promising compound for ER + and TAM-resistant BC with many potential antitumor and polypharmacological mechanisms.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of gold nanorods assisted photothermal therapy against Ehrlich carcinoma in-vivo.

AIM: Preparation of pegylated gold nanorods (PEG-AuNRs) that are capable of converting near infrared (NIR) light into heat. Evaluation of cancer therapeutic efficacy and long-term toxicity of the proposed photothermal therapy in comparison with other conventional modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prepared PEG-AuNRs were characterized by measuring their absorption spectra, zeta potential, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Cancer therapeutic efficacy was assessed by monitoring tumor growth, measuring DNA damage and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in addition to examining tumor histopathology. Further analysis concerning the toxicity of all the proposed treatment modalities was also assessed by evaluating the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in liver and kidney tissues. KEY FINDINGS: The results demonstrated that both photothermal therapy (PEG-AuNRs + NIR laser) and chemotherapy (cisplatin) have higher efficacy in diminishing Ehrlich tumor growth with significance DNA damage over the other treatment modalities. Concerning the biosafety issue, mice treated photothermally exhibited lower MDA level and higher SOD activity in liver and kidney tissues compared with other treated groups. DNA damage represented by tail moment and olive moment of kidney tissues exhibited lower values for photothermal treated group and higher values for cisplatin treated group. SIGNIFICANCE: Photothermal therapy (PEG-AuNRs + NIR laser) potentiates higher efficacy in treating Ehrlich tumor with minimum toxicity in comparison with other conventional treatment modalities.

Magnetic fields enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of low dose cisplatin and reduce the nephrotoxicity.

The present work was to examine a combination of therapy for a low dose of cisplatin and a magnetic field (MF) on Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice. In this study, a total of 50 BALB/C female mice were equally distributed into five groups. Mice from the control group did not receive MF or cisplatin. The low and high dose cisplatin groups were injected intraperitoneal (i.p.) with 3 and 6 mg/kg cisplatin, respectively, on the experimental days (1, 4, and 8). Mice group of cisplatin + MF was injected with a low dose of cisplatin followed by MF exposure (50 Hz, 50 mT), and the MF group was exposed to MF only. The impact of MF and cisplatin on the tumor and kidney were evaluated by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, DNA injury (comet assay), histopathological investigation of tissues, and tumor progress. The results suggested that the combination of a low dose of cisplatin with MF was significantly elevated in MDA levels, reduced SOD activity, and GSH levels. Furthermore, it caused a rise in comet parameters and inhibition in tumor growth. These results showed that MF enhances the therapeutic efficacy of low cisplatin doses and reduces nephrotoxicity.

Screening of Cervical Cancer: Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and Site of Lesion Verified by Multiple Punch Biopsies.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the tenth most frequent cancer in Egyptian women. The Papanicolaou screening test is not suitable for rural area as most follow-up consultations never take place. AIM: To evaluate visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid as a screening test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to the inclusion criteria, women aged 25-60 years commuting to a gynecological out-patient clinic at the University Hospital went through a visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA). Exclusion criteria were women below 25 years, unmarried, pregnant, menstruating, known to have cancer, having a precancerous lesion or a cervical operation. Multiple punch biopsies were done for all VIA positive cases and a subsample of the VIA negative cases underwent the same. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was evaluated. In addition, the site of the lesion was assessed. SPSS was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 379 screened women, 17.1% were found to be VIA positive. The sensitivity was found to be 91.3% (79.6%-96.5%) and the specificity 68.5% (57.1%-77.9%). Significantly more women with positive punch biopsies complained of contact bleeding than those with negative punch biopsies. CIN2 and CIN3 were mostly found (77.8%) in the right quadrant, while 74% of CIN1 was found in the lower right and left quadrant. CONCLUSION: VIA is weak as a test to stand alone but may need a combination with other indicators such as the location of the lesion on the right side of the cervix or contact bleeding. A combined indicator may detect precancerous cervix.

Antioxidant activities of α-lipoic acid free and nano-capsule inhibit the growth of Ehrlich carcinoma.

To evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress, DNA damage, and suppression of tumor growth induced by lipoic acid free and nano-capsule. Lipoic acid nano-capsule was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antitumor activity of lipoic acid free and nano-capsule was investigated in Ehrlich solid tumor bearing mice. The endpoints measured were superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, DNA damage (comet assay), histopathological examination of tissues and tumor growth volume. Treatment with α-lipoic acid (A-LA) free and nano-capsule (1.2, 2.4 mg/kg) showed a significant depression (67-28%) in MDA levels and elevated (38-98%) in SOD activity. Additionally, A-LA free and nano-capsule caused a 3-10-fold increase in comet parameters such as % tail DNA and suppressed Ehrlich solid tumor growth in mice. In conclusion, the present study revealed that A-LA free and nano-capsule have antitumor activity. This might be possible via its redox activity.

Radio-protective potential of lipoic acid free and nano-capsule against 99mTc-MIBI induced injury in cardio vascular tissue.

BACKGROUND: SPECT MPI (Single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging) is an essential tool for diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, but it also involves considerable exposure to ionizing radiation. OBJECTIVE: To determine the radioprotective potential of lipoic acid free and nano-capsule against 99mTc-MIBI-induced injury in cardiovascular tissue. METHODS: The radioprotective ability was assessed by blood count, histopathology and heart enzymes in different groups of mice. Hearts of mice from all groups were dissected and prepared for oxidative stress analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, levels of DNA damage in heart and bone marrow cells were evaluated by alkaline comet assay technique. The same measurements were estimated after treating the mice with lipoic acid. RESULTS: Comparing mice injected by radiopharmaceutics with control group showed a significant depression in the count of white blood cells (WBC) by about 40 % at 24 &72 hrs post-radiopharmaceutical administration. Moreover, platelets count was decreased by 27% at 72 hrs post-radiopharmaceutical administration. Radiation also dropped in super oxide dismutase (SOD) and increased in activity of heart enzymes and level of MDA (Malondialdehyde). Additionally, histopathological observation was characterized by focal necrosis of cardiac myocytes. 99mTc-MIBI induced DNA damage had significant increase. Nevertheless, pretreatment with free and lipoic acid nano-capsules (LANC's) prevented the reduction induced in WBCs and platelets, and improved their counts significantly. Conversely pre-treatment with lipoic acid free and nano-capsule significantly increased the activity of SOD and decreased the level of MDA and therefore protected the cardiovascular tissues and reduced DNA strand-break, consequently and enhanced the body weight of the mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the efficacy of lipoic acid free and nano-capsule as a radio protector.

Antitumor activity of silver nanoparticles in Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have a wide range of industrial and biomedical applications. The aim of the present study was to determine the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of AgNPs on Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice. AgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of AgNPs were evaluated using a series of assays: superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, DNA damage (comet assay), and histopathological examination of tissues and tumor size in Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice. Treatment of Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice with various concentrations of AgNPs (6, 24, and 48 mg/kg) injected intra peritoneal (IP) and intra tumor (IT) revealed that AgNPs significantly elevated the levels (0.5- to 5-fold) of MDA and reduced the activity (32-64%) of SOD. Furthermore, AgNPs caused a 2- to 3-fold increase in comet parameters such as percent tail DNA. Additionally, AgNPs inhibit the promotion of Ehrlich carcinoma by masses of necrotic and fragmented tumor cells. Consequently, the volume of tumor reduced by about 31-95% compared to control one. The results indicate that AgNPs possess cytotoxic and genotoxic effects against Ehrlich tumor and confirm the antitumor properties of AgNPs.

Melanin nanoparticles: Antioxidant activities and effects on γ-ray-induced DNA damage in the mouse.

The radioprotective and antioxidant activities of melanin nanoparticles (MNP) were investigated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in vitro and BALB/C mice in vivo. The endpoints measured were cell viability, superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, DNA damage (comet assay), and histopathological examination of tissues. Irradiated groups showed decreased SOD activity and increased MDA levels. Irradiation caused a 3-10-fold increase in comet parameters such as % tail DNA. Treatment with MNP protected cells from DNA damage and death, restored SOD activity, and decreased MDA production. Synthetic MNPs have both antioxidant and radioprotective activities.

Assessment of DNA damage in Ehlrich carcinoma after treatment with doxorubicin encapsulated in nanoscales thermosensitive liposomes in combination with localized hyperthermia.

Nanoscales thermosensitive liposomes (TSL) composed of synthetic lipids (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, and distearoylphosphatidylcholine), were used for doxorubicin encapsulation with 70% encapsulated efficiency. The liposomes were characterized by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and turbidity method. Additionally, the liposomes exhibited a significant release of doxorubicin (Dox) by 60% within 5 min at 42°C. To assess the therapeutic efficacy of Dox in combination with hyperthermia, Dox free and encapsulated TSL were administered directly to Ehrlich tumor bearing mice at 1 mg/kg dose. Immediately after the drug administration, hyperthermia was applied to mention the temperature inside the tumor site at 42°C either for 5 min and 30 min. The results indicate a significant increase in the percent of apoptotic and necrotic cells in the treated group. Moreover, disrupts the integrity and the amount of intact DNA in tumor cells. In conclusion, Dox and hyperthermia may serve as a useful targeted drug delivery system for management of Ehrlich carcinoma.

Evaluation of varying physical acquisition parameters in gamma camera gated cardiac SPECT.

BACKGROUND: There are various physical factors that limit the quality of the Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) images such as number of frames per projection, number of projections per scan and time per projection in gated myocardial SPECT scan. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present work was to evaluate physical acquisition parameters affecting the cardiac imaging to optimize the patient's examination time and image quality that are acquired with the gamma camera and workers radiation protection (through reducing time of radiation exposure) in cardiac SPECT facility. Cardiac functional parameters like ejection fraction (EF), end diastole volume (EDV), end systole volume (ESV) and total perfusion defect (TPD) were evaluated. METHODS: Thirty patients were divided into three groups as follows: 1- Group (1): contains two sub-groups, one scanned with 8 frames per projection, the other with 16 frames per projection. 2- Group (2): contains two sub-groups, one scanned with 32 projections per scan, the other with 16 projections per scan. 3- Group (3): contains two sub-groups, one scanned at a time per projection of 20 s and the other scanned at 10 s per projection. Parameters such as the Ejection Fraction (EF), End Diastole Volume (EDV), End Systole Volume (ESV) and Total Perfusion Defect (TPD) in SPECT were compared for each group. RESULTS: There was insignificant difference in the EF, EDV, ESV and TPD between the different groups concerning the number of frames per projection, number of projections per scan and time per projection. CONCLUSION: The reduction of scan time to half or the number of projections per scan to half or increasing the number of frames per scan from 8 to 16 at the same duration has insignificant effect in the cardiac functional parameters used with gated SPECT scan.

Melanin nanoparticles (MNPs) provide protection against whole-body ɣ-irradiation in mice via restoration of hematopoietic tissues.

During radiotherapy, ionizing irradiation interacts with biological systems to produce free radicals, which attack various cellular components. The hematopoietic system is easily recognized to be radiosensitive and its damage may be severe. Melanin nanoparticles (MNPs) act as free radical scavengers prepared by polymerization of dopamine. In this study, a total of 110 male BALB/C mice were divided into five equal groups. Each group contained 22 mice. Mice of group A did not receive MNPs or irradiation (control group), group B was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 50 mg/kg MNPs. Mice of group C and D were exposed to a dose of 7 Gy É£-irradiation and injected with the same dose of MNPs as in group B either 30 min pre- or post-irradiation, and group E was exposed to a dose of 7 Gy É£-irradiation only. The impact of MNPs on peripheral blood, spleen, and DNA damage induced by irradiation was evaluated by blood count, histopathology of the spleen, and comet assay for the DNA in the bone marrow at 1, 4, 8, and 12 days post-irradiation. Results of group E compared with control group (A) showed a significant depression in complete blood count. Additionally, histopathological observation showed the absence of megakaryocytes with delayed time post-irradiation, deposition of eosinophilic protein of their spleen appeared, as well as a remarkable decrease in spleen size was observed. Moreover, É£-irradiation-induced DNA damage as can be inferred from a significant increase by about 5-10 folds in all comet parameters (% of DNA, tail length, tail moment, and olive moment) in the DNA of the bone marrow. In contrast, pre-post treatment with MNPs protected hematopoietic tissues against radiation damage, and therefore, enhanced the survival of mice with 40 % in groups (C&D) compared with 10 % to group (E) till 30 days post-irradiation. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that synthetic MNPs provide significant radioprotection to the hematopoietic tissues.

Extremely low-frequency magnetic field enhances the therapeutic efficacy of low-dose cisplatin in the treatment of Ehrlich carcinoma.

The present study examines the therapeutic efficacy of the administration of low-dose cisplatin (cis) followed by exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF), with an average intensity of 10 mT, on Ehrlich carcinoma in vivo. The cytotoxic and genotoxic actions of this combination were studied using comet assay, mitotic index (MI), and the induction of micronucleus (MN). Moreover, the inhibition of tumor growth was also measured. Treatment with cisplatin and ELF-MF (group A) increased the number of damaged cells by 54% compared with 41% for mice treated with cisplatin alone (group B), 20% for mice treated by exposure to ELF-MF (group C), and 9% for the control group (group D). Also the mitotic index decreased significantly for all treated groups (P < 0.001). The decrement percent for the treated groups (A, B, and C) were 70%, 65%, and 22%, respectively, compared with the control group (D). Additionally, the rate of tumor growth at day 12 was suppressed significantly (P < 0.001) for groups A, B, and C with respect to group (D). These results suggest that ELF-MF enhanced the cytotoxic activity of cisplatin and potentiate the benefit of using a combination of low-dose cisplatin and ELF-MF in the treatment of Ehrlich carcinoma.

Assessment of genotoxic and cytotoxic hazards in brain and bone marrow cells of newborn rats exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic field.

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between whole body exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) and genotoxic , cytotoxic hazards in brain and bone marrow cells of newborn rats. Newborn rats (10 days after delivery) were exposed continuously to 50 Hz, 0.5 mT for 30 days. The control group was treated as the exposed one with the sole difference that the rats were not exposed to magnetic field. Comet assay was used to quantify the level of DNA damage in isolated brain cells. Also bone marrow cells were flushed out to assess micronucleus induction and mitotic index. Spectrophotometric methods were used to measure the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results showed a significant increase in the mean tail moment indicating DNA damage in exposed group (P < 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001). Moreover ELF-MF exposure induced a significant (P < 0.01, 0.001) four folds increase in the induction of micronucleus and about three folds increase in mitotic index (P < 0.0001). Additionally newborn rats exposed to ELF-MF showed significant higher levels of MDA and SOD (P < 0.05). Meanwhile ELF-MF failed to alter the activity of GSH. In conclusion, the present study suggests an association between DNA damage and ELF-MF exposure in newborn rats.