A mechanism for anti-asialo GM 1 antibody-induced anaphylactoid response in mice infected with Trichinella pseudospiralis

Intravenous injection of anti-asialo GM 1 antibody into mice infected with Trichinella pseudospiralis resulted in rapid acute illness or death accompanied by a dramatic rise in hematocrit values in these animals. The described antibody-induced changes were reversible by intravenous infusion of Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS). These effects were not seen in uninfected mice or in Trichinella spiralis-infected mice injected with anti-asialo GM 1 antibody. Viability of T. spiralis or T. pseudospiralis infective L1 larvae, both isolated worms and those housed in muscle, was unaffected by exposure to anti-asialo GM 1 antibody and complement. Infectivity of larvae of T. pseudospiralis decreased significantly following exposure to anti-asialo GM 1 antibody. Release of protein by T. pseudospiralis infective L1 larvae during incubation in the presence of anti-asialo GM 1 antibody was significantly greater than that released by worms incubated in normal rabbit serum or HBSS. Protein released by infective L1 larvae of T. pseudospiralis was identified as Trichinella excretory/secretory antigens by immunoblot. Intravenous injection of T. pseudospiralis excretory/secretory products resulted in anaphylaxis in T. pseudospiralis-infected mice but not in uninfected or T. spiralis-infected mice. Excretory/secretory product-induced anaphylactoid response also was reversible by the intravenous injection of HBSS or by injection of an antihistamine. Significantly higher levels of total IgE were observed in sera from mice infected with T. pseudospiralis compared to uninfected or T. spiralis-infected mice. Binding of anti-asialo GM 1 antibody to the surface of T. pseudospiralis muscle larvae induced release of excretory/secretory antigen by the parasite.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Preparation,Characterization, and Optimization of Folic Acid-Chitosan-Methotrexate Core-Shell Nanoparticles by Box-Behnken Design for Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery

The objective of this study was to investigate the combined influence of independent variables in the preparation of folic acid-chitosan-methotrexate nanoparticles (FA-Chi-MTX NPs). These NPs were designed and prepared for targeted drug delivery in tumor. The NPs of each batch were prepared by coaxial electrospray atomization method and evaluated for particle size (PS) and particle size distribution (PSD). The independent variables were selected to be concentration of FA-chitosan, ratio of shell solution flow rate to core solution flow rate, and applied voltage. The process design of experiments (DOE) was obtained with three factors in three levels by Design expert software. Box-Behnken design was used to select 15 batches of experiments randomly. The chemical structure of FA-chitosan was examined by FTIR. The NPs of each batch were collected separately, and morphologies of NPs were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The captured pictures of all batches were analyzed by ImageJ software. Mean PS and PSD were calculated for each batch. Polynomial equation was produced for each response. The FE-SEM results showed the mean diameter of the core-shell NPs was around 304 nm, and nearly 30% of the produced NPs are in the desirable range. Optimum formulations were selected. The validation of DOE optimization results showed errors around 2.5 and 2.3% for PS and PSD, respectively. Moreover, the feasibility of using prepared NPs to target tumor extracellular pH was shown, as drug release was greater in the pH of endosome (acidic medium). Finally, our results proved that FA-Chi-MTX NPs were active against the human epithelial cervical cancer (HeLa) cells.     

Age-specific reference intervals for routine biochemical parameters in healthy neonates,infants, and young children in Iran

Age and sex need to be considered in the establishment of reference intervals (RIs), especially in early life when there are dynamic physiological changes. Since data for important biomarkers in healthy neonates and infants are limited, particularly in Iranian populations, we have determined age-specific RIs for 7 laboratory biochemical parameters. This cross-sectional study comprised a total of 344 paediatric participants (males: 158, females: 186) between the ages of 3 days and 30 months (mean age: 12.91 ± 7.15 months). Serum levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, calcium, phosphate, vitamin D and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured using an Alpha classic-AT plus auto-analyser. We determined age-specific RIs using CLSI Ep28-A3 and C28-A3 guidelines. No sex partitioning was required for any of the biomarkers. Age partitioning was required for kidney function tests and phosphate. The serum concentration of urea and creatinine increased with age, while phosphate and uric acid decreased with age. Age partitioning was not required for serum calcium, vitamin D, and hs-CRP, which remained relatively constant throughout the age range. Age-specific RIs for 7 routine biochemical markers were determined to address critical gaps in RIs in early life to help improve clinical interpretation of blood test results in young children, including neonates. Established age partitions demonstrate the biochemical changes that take place during child growth and development. These novel data will ultimately better disease management in the Iranian paediatric population and can be of value to clinical and hospital laboratories with similar populations.     

Smart scaffolds in bone tissue engineering: A systematic review of literature

AIM: To improve osteogenic differentiation and attachment of cells.METHODS: An electronic search was conducted inPub Med from January 2004 to December 2013. Studies which performed smart modifications on conventional bone scaffold materials were included. Scaffolds with controlled release or encapsulation of bioactive molecules were not included. Experiments which did not investigate response of cells toward the scaffold(cell attachment, proliferation or osteoblastic differentiation) were excluded. RESULTS: Among 1458 studies, 38 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The main scaffold varied extensively among the included studies. Smart modifications included addition of growth factors(group Ⅰ-11 studies), extracellular matrix-like molecules(group Ⅱ-13 studies) and nanoparticles(nano-HA)(group Ⅲ-17 studies). In all groups, surface coating was the most commonly applied approach for smart modification of scaffolds. In group I, bone morphogenetic proteins were mainly used as growth factor stabilized on polycaprolactone(PCL). In group Ⅱ, collagen 1 in combination with PCL, hydroxyapatite(HA) and tricalcium phosphate were the most frequent scaffolds used. In the third group, nano-HA with PCL and chitosan were used the most. As variable methods were used, a thorough and comprehensible compare between the results and approaches was unattainable.CONCLUSION: Regarding the variability in methodology of these in vitro studies it was demonstrated that smart modification of scaffolds can improve tissue properties.