RESUMEN

Owing to the importance of drug delivery, the synthesis of advanced nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery plays a considerable role in medical treatment. One of the most prominent nanomaterials is PIL, which is used as controlled anticancer drug delivery and significantly improves the half-life and antitumor effect. In this study, a stable and effective drug carrier containing silver nanoparticles was reported for the drug delivery with an antimicrobial effect, and the capability of the drug carrier . PILP was synthesized by radical polymerization, and silver nanoparticles were anchored into PIL voids by in-situ reduction, which developed the adsorption antimicrobial effect and capability of the drug carrier. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized. The Ag-PILP nanocomposite showed antibacterial activityagainst both E. coli and S. aureus with a MIC of 256 µg/mL, and bactericidal activity against E. coli and S. aureus strains with a MBC of 256 and 512 µg/mL, respectively.

RESUMEN

Background: Breast cancer is the most widespread cancer type, with more than half of the afflicted women suffering from sleep disorders and fatigue, as common complications of the treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acupressure and aerobic exercises on such women's sleep disorders. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on 99 women affected by breast cancer. Participants were divided to acupressure, exercise, and control groups. The acupressure group received the treatment 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The exercise group participated in aerobic exercises 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The control group received routine care in the oncology clinic. Sleep quality was assessed by Pittsburg sleep quality index. Result: The overall score of sleep quality scale in the acupressure and exercise groups was significantly less than that in the control group at weeks 4 (Medical Doctor: 2.7 with 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67 to 1.12) and 8 (MD: 0.07 with 95% CI: -1.21 to 1.03) of intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the acupressure and exercise groups. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that both acupressure and exercise methods can be effective and safe methods in reducing sleep disorders of breast cancer survivors and neither is superior to the other.

RESUMEN

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe clinical problem without effective treatment; the leading cause is neuroinflammation. High-mobility group box one protein (HMGB1) is an abundant protein in the cell nucleus of most mammalian cells, which exerts its function by binding to chromatin. The present study focused on the therapeutic effect of anti-HMGB1 on ICH via the downregulation of inflammatory pathways. The ICH mice models were created by collagenase IV injection in the striatum of mice. Then, mice were received different medications and divided into three groups: anti-HMGB1, anti-Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and non-treated ICH groups. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was obtained, and ELISA was carried out to determine the levels of inflammatory agents. Microglial cells were isolated from the cerebral hemispheres, and then Real-Time PCR and western blot were performed. The results showed that the anti-inflammatory effects of anti-HMGB1 were tremendous than anti-TLR4. Overall, the results showed that anti-HMGB1 had a more reducer effect on pro-inflammatory cytokines release (****P < 0.0001) and expression (****P < 0.0001) than anti-TLR4 when compared with the control group. It was also determined that anti-HMGB1 increased heme-oxygenase-1 (HO1) and nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) (****P < 0.0001) expression in comparison with the control group while it was not significant for anti-TLR4 (CLI-095). The present study suggested that anti-HMGB1 serves as a potential anti-inflammatory molecule via reducing TLR4-related signaling pathways, pro-inflammatory cytokines production, and increasing the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine along with heme-oxygenase-1 HO1 and NRF2 increment.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The formation of protein corona (PC) around nanoparticles (NPs) has been reported inside biological conditions. This effect can alter delivery capacity toward the targeted tissues. Here, we synthesized folic acid-modified chitosan NPs (FA-CS NPs) using different concentrations of folic acid (5, 10, and 20%). FA-CS NPs were exposed to plasmas of breast cancer patients and healthy donors to evaluate the possibility of PC formation. We also monitored uptake efficiency in in vitro conditions after incubation with human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and monocyte/macrophage-like Raw264.7 cells. Data showed that the formation of PC around FA-CS NPs can change physicochemical properties coincided with the rise in NP size and negative surface charge. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis revealed differences in the type and content rate of plasma proteins attached to NP surface in a personalized manner. Based on MTT data, the formation of PC around NPs did not exert cytotoxic effects on MDA-MB-231 cells while this phenomenon reduced uptake rate. Fluorescence imaging and flow cytometry analyses revealed reduced cellular internalization rate in NPs exposed to patients' plasma compared to the control group. In contrast to breast MDA-MB-231 cells, Raw264.7 cells efficiently adsorbed the bare and PC-coated NPs from both sources, indicating the involvement of ligand-receptor-dependent and independent cellular engulfment. These data showed that the PC formed on the FA-CS NPs is entirely different in breast cancer patients and healthy counterparts. PC derived from patients' plasma almost abolishes the targeting efficiency of FA-CS NPs even in different mechanisms, while this behavior was not shown in the control group. Surprisingly, Raw264.7 cells strongly adsorbed the PC-coated NPs, especially when these particles were in the presence of patients' sera. It is strongly suggested that the formation of PC around can affect delivering capacity of FA-CS NPs to cancer cells. It seems that the PC-coated FA-CS NPs can be used as an efficient delivery strategy for the transfer of specific biomolecules in immune system disorders.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Quality of life is an important indicator for quality of care. This study aimed to determine the quality of life (QOL) and its predictors in Iranian women with breast cancer who undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy to design effective interventions in improving patients' QOL. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 190 women with breast cancer who were referred to oncology centers for chemotherapy and radiotherapy in Arak city, the central part of Iran. The participants were recruited utilizing convenience sampling method in a period from April to July 2018. Data were collected using demographic and disease characteristics questionnaires, QOL-Cancer30, QOL-Breast Cancer 23, Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Supportive Care Needs Survey - Short Form 34. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze data. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) score of cancer QOL was 57.1 (25.8). On the other hand, the mean (standard deviation) scores of the symptom and functional domains of breast cancer QOL were 43.3 (17.9) and 44.3 (21.7), respectively. Predictive variables for cancer QOL were spouse education, insurance coverage, type of surgery, type of treatment, supportive care needs, and illness perception. Predictive variables for the domain of symptoms of breast cancer QOL included spouse education, income, supportive care needs, and illness perception, while for the functional domain of breast cancer QOL, the predictive variables were the type of surgery, spouse age, supportive care needs, and illness perception. CONCLUSION: Fulfilling supportive care needs, helping to understand the curative nature of cancer, as well as empowering complementary health insurances are among intervenable variables to improve QOL among women with breast cancer.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Release and storage of energy can be regulated by the metabolic parameter dependent on the central nervous system. Macrophages are one of the most professional antigen-presenting cells that are formed by the accumulation of dead or damaged cells or in response to the infection, which has the main function of phagocytosis, secretion of cytokines, and presenting antigen to T cells. A proper immune response is needed for the production of effector cytokines along with comprehensive and rapid cell proliferation and growth. Activation of the immune system and immune cells is needed to increase glucose metabolism. When the immune system responds to pathogens, chemokines inform immune cells such as macrophages and T cells to travel to the infected area. Although glucose is vital for the proper function of immune cells and their proliferation, a high amount of glucose may lead to impaired function of the immune system and pathological conditions. However, a suitable amount of glucose is indispensable for the immune system, but its elevated amount leads to excessive proinflammatory cytokines production. In this study, we focused on the master regulatory role of glucose on the immune system.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Cyclin Dependent Kinase 9 (CDK9) as a serine/threonine kinase belongs to a great number of CDKs. CDK9 is the main core of PTEF-b complex and phosphorylates RNA polymerase (RNAP) II besides other transcription factors which regulate gene transcription elongation in numerous physiological processes. Multi-functional nature of CDK9 in diverse cellular pathways proposes that it is as an appealing target. In this review, we summarized the recent findings on the molecular interaction of CDK9 with critical participant molecules to modulate their activity in various diseases. Furthermore, the presented review provides a rationale supporting the use of CDK9 as a therapeutic target in clinical developments for crucial diseases; particularly cancers will be reviewed.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Platinum compounds are the main drugs for treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Previous studies have shown that clinical outcome with platinum-based compounds depends on ERCC1 polymorphisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of a common polymorphism of ERCC1 gene (C8092A) in Iranian patients with advanced gastric cancer receiving platinum chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genetic analysis of the ERCC1 C8092A polymorphism was performed by the PCR - RFLP method using 50 paraffin-embedded tissue specimens. RESULTS: Of the 50 cases, 32% of individuals showed CC genotype, 24% of them had CA genotype and 44% of patients had AA genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, using of platinum-based chemotherapy would be expected to be specifically beneficial in only 32% of patients.

Asunto(s)