Anti-cancer effect of nano-encapsulated boswellic acids, curcumin and naringenin against HepG-2 cell line.

BACKGROUND: liver cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. So far, there is no gold standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. We conducted this in vitro study to assess the effect of three natural products: Boswellic acids, curcumin and naringin versus corresponding nanoparticles (NPs) on Hep G2 cells proliferation. METHODS: Boswellic acid, curcumin, naringin-loaded NPs were prepared using nanoprecipitation method. Human liver (HepG2) cell line was cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM). The cell growth inhibition and cytotoxicity were evaluated by MTT assay. RESULTS: Boswellic acid, curcumin, naringin were able to inhibit HepG2 cells proliferation. IC50 at 24 h, 48 h showed significant lower values in NPs versus Free herbs. IC50 values of free Boswellic acids and NPs at 24 h were (24.60 ± 1.89 and 7.78 ± 0.54, P < 0.001), at 48 h were (22.45 ± 1.13 and 5.58 ± 0.27, P < 0.001) respectively. IC50 values of free curcumin and NPs at 24 h were (5.89 ± 0.8 and 3.46 ± 0.23, P < 0.05), at 48 h were (5.57 ± 0.94 and 2.51 ± 0.11, P < 0.05), respectively. For free and naringenin NPs, IC50 values at 24 h were (14.57 ± 1.78 and 7.25 ± 0.17, P < 0.01), at 48 h were (11.37 ± 1.45 and 5.21 ± 0.18, P < 0.01) respectively. CONCLUSION: Boswellic acid, curcumin, naringin and their nanoprecipitation prepared nanoparticles suppressed Hep G2 cells proliferation.

An international study on psychological coping during COVID-19: Towards a meaning-centered coping style.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: This study examined the role of different psychological coping mechanisms in mental and physical health during the initial phases of the COVID-19 crisis with an emphasis on meaning-centered coping. METHOD: A total of 11,227 people from 30 countries across all continents participated in the study and completed measures of psychological distress (depression, stress, and anxiety), loneliness, well-being, and physical health, together with measures of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping, and a measure called the Meaning-centered Coping Scale (MCCS) that was developed in the present study. Validation analyses of the MCCS were performed in all countries, and data were assessed by multilevel modeling (MLM). RESULTS: The MCCS showed a robust one-factor structure in 30 countries with good test-retest, concurrent and divergent validity results. MLM analyses showed mixed results regarding emotion and problem-focused coping strategies. However, the MCCS was the strongest positive predictor of physical and mental health among all coping strategies, independently of demographic characteristics and country-level variables. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the MCCS is a valid measure to assess meaning-centered coping. The results also call for policies promoting effective coping to mitigate collective suffering during the pandemic.

ANTECEDENTES/OBJETIVO: Este estudio examinó el papel de diferentes estrategias de afrontamiento psicológico en la salud mental y física durante las fases iniciales de la crisis de COVID-19. MÉTODO: 11,227 personas de 30 países representando todos los continentes participaron en el estudio y completaron medidas de malestar psicológico (depresión, estrés y ansiedad), soledad, bienestar, salud física, medidas de afrontamiento centrado en el problema y en la emoción, y una medida denominada Escala del Afrontamiento Centrado en el Sentido (MCCS) que fue desarrollada en este estudio. El análisis de validación de la MCCS se realizó en todos los países, y los datos se evaluaron mediante un modelo multinivel. RESULTADOS: La MCCS mostró una estructura unifactorial en 30 países con buenos resultados de validez test-retest, concurrente y divergente. Los análisis mostraron resultados mixtos en cuanto a las estrategias de afrontamiento centradas en la emoción y en el problema. La MCCS fue el predictor positivo más fuerte de salud física y mental, independientemente de las características demográficas y las variables a nivel de país. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados sugieren que la MCCS es un insrumento fiable para medir afrontamiento centrado en el sentido. Estos resultados pueden servir para dirigir políticas que promuevan un afrontamiento eficaz con el fin de mitigar el sufrimiento colectivo durante la pandemia.

Tanta Protocol for Management of COVID-19: Perspectives from a Developing Country.

In late 2019, SARS-COV-2 disease was firstly discovered in Wuhan, China and then it infected millions of people worldwide. Later, the World Health Organization (WHO) described COVID-19 as the first pandemic invading the world in the 21st century. The WHO has declared that the emerging infection will last long enough to force adjustments not only in people's lifestyles but also in the health care system. This amendment is expected to spread through many medical practices and specialties. A lot of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities have been proposed for COVID-19 management. The best strategy for the management of patients requires a multi-disciplinary team approach with correct decisions regarding the right timing of each modality of treatment. The participating multidisciplinary team for COVID-19 management includes six infectious diseases experts in Tanta University; one critical care management expert, an emergency medicine expert and two pharmacists in Tanta University. In this review, we reported our multi-disciplinary team experience with up to date literature guidance to propose a valid protocol for the management of COVID-19 patients in a limited resources setting.

Redox status, inflammation, necroptosis and inflammasome as indispensable contributors to high fat diet (HFD)-induced neurodegeneration; Effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC).

Adequate dietary intake has a crucial effect on brain health. High fat diet (HFD) rich in saturated fatty acids is linked to obesity and its complications as neurodegeneration via inducing oxidative stress and inflammation. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of HFD on cerebral cortex in addition to shedding the light on the modulatory role of N-acetylcytsteine (NAC) and its possible underlying biochemical and molecular mechanisms. Twenty eight male Wistar rats were equally and randomly divided into four groups. Group III, and group IV were fed on HFD (45% kcal from fat) for 10 weeks. Group II and group IV were treated with NAC in a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight via intraperitoneal route. Body weight, blood glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance index, cerebral cortex redox and inflammatory status were evaluated. Cerebral cortex receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase3 (RIPK3), mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), nod like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), interleukin (IL)-18 levels were determined by immunoassay. In addition, apoptosis-associated speck-like proteins (ASC) expression by real-time PCR; inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), glial fibrillary activating protein (GFAP) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression by immunohistochemistry were evaluated. NAC supplementation protected against HFD-induced gain of weights, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance. Furthermore, NAC improved redox and inflammatory status; decreased levels of RIPK3, MLKL, NLRP3, IL-18; down-regulated ASC, iNOS, GFAP and MMP-9 expression; and decreased myeloperoxidase activity in cerebral cortex. NAC could protect against HFD-induced neurodegeneration via improving glycemic status and peripheral insulin resistance, disrupting oxidative stress/neuroinflammation/necroptosis/inflammasome activation axis in cerebral cortex. NAC may represent a promising strategy for conserving brain health against metabolic diseases-induced neurodegeneration.

Luteolin and 5-flurouracil act synergistically to induce cellular weapons in experimentally induced Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma: Realistic role of P53; a guardian fights in a cellular battle.

BACKGROUND: Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma (SEC) is an undifferentiated tumor used in tumor studies and chemotherapy investigations. AIM: to assess the anti-tumor potential of luteolin when used either alone or combined to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) against SEC. METHOD: SEC was induced in 40 female mice; they were categorized into 4 equal groups; group I (untreated SEC), group II (5-FU treated SEC), group III (luteolin treated SEC) and group IV (5-FU + luteolin treated SEC). Tumor volume and weight were calculated. P53, p21, caspase 3 and damage regulated autophagy modulator (DRAM) were assessed. Biomarkers of oxidant/antioxidant status in addition to immunohistochemistry for cylin D1 were evaluated. RESULTS: combined administration of luteolin and 5-FU in SEC model increased levels of p53, p21, caspase 3, DRAM and survivability while, tumor volume, weight, thioredoxin reductase one (TR1) activity and cyclin D1 expression showed the reverse with restoration of oxidant/antioxidant indices. CONCLUSION: current results proved the antitumor therapeutic effects of luteolin alone or combined with 5-FU as a novel strategy for cancer therapy.

Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Partially Reverse Infertility in Chemotherapy-Induced Ovarian Failure.

INTRODUCTION: Chemotherapy is the most commonly used modality to treat human cancers; however, in many cases it causes irreversible ovarian failure. In this work, we plan to evaluate the restorative function of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in a chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure mouse model. METHODS: Acclimatized 4 to 6 week-old female mice (C57BL/6) were assigned randomly to a vehicle-treated control group (group 1), chemotherapy-treated group followed by vehicle alone (group 2), or chemotherapy-treated group followed by stem cell intraovarian injection (group 3). Outcomes were evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC), serum hormonal assays, and estrous cycle monitoring and breeding potential. RESULTS: Post BMSCs administration, group 3 promptly showed detectable vaginal smears with estrogenic changes. Increase in total body weight, ovarian weight, and weight of estrogen-responsive organs (uterus and liver) was observed at 2 weeks and continued to end of the experiment. Hematoxylin and Eosin histological evaluation of the ovaries demonstrated a higher mean follicle count in group 3 than in group 2. Group 3 had lower follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels ( P = .03) and higher anti-Müllerian hormone serum (AMH) levels ( P = .0005) than group 2. The IHC analysis demonstrated higher expression of AMH, FSH receptor, inhibin A, and inhibin B in growing follicles of group 3 versus group 2. Tracking studies demonstrated that human BMSCs evenly repopulated the growing follicles in treated ovaries. Importantly, breeding data showed significant increases in the pregnancies numbers, 2 pregnancies in group 1 and 12 in group 3 ( P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Intraovarian administered BMSCs are able to restore ovarian hormone production and reactivate folliculogenesis in chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure mouse model.