Tunable Plasmonic Absorber Based on TiN-Nanosphere Liquid Crystal Hybrid in Visible and Near-Infrared Regions

In this paper, a tunable plasmonic absorber based on TiN-nanosphere/liquid crystal (LC) nanocomposite in visible and near-infrared regions is proposed. TiN-nanosphere/LC nanocomposite is a combination of titanium nitride (TiN) nanospheres dispersed in a host of LC and plays the main role in post fabrication tunability. The proposed absorber has three more than 90% absorption peaks and the absorption tunability of about 76 nm. It is shown that TiN-nanospheres are able to support localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The Maxwell-Garnett theory is utilized to approximate the permittivity of the composite structure. Also, the effect of geometric parameters on the absorption is studied. Moreover, a single sheet of graphene is utilized to compensate the decrement of the absorption caused by the geometric parameters.     

Investigating the inhibition of NMDA glutamate receptors in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala on the pain and inflammation induced by formalin in male Wistar rats

Background

The role of the amygdala in controlling emotional pain has been emphasized in several studies. In this study, the role of the NMDA glutamate receptors in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) in regulating inflammation and emotional pain, induced by formalin, was studied in male rats.

Methods

Male Wistar rats, weighing 250±20 g, were injected with 20 μL of 2% formalin into the paw of the right hind limb. Memantine, at doses of 1 and 5 mg/rat, was injected bilaterally into the BLA five minutes prior to injecting formalin. Following the injection, the pain and inflammation of the paws were measured using Dubbison-Dennis and mercury immersion methods, respectively. The behavior of the animals, including licking time and foot volume, was assessed.

Results

The results showed that the inactivation of the NMDA receptors in the BLA in the acute phase of pain reduced the licking time (the emotional aspect of pain). However, at a high dose (5 μg/rat), memantine exacerbates the pain induced by formalin in the chronic phase. Additionally, the inhibition of the NMDA receptors in the BLA by memantine enhanced the formalin-induced increase in foot volume (inflammation) in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion

The study showed that the NMDA glutamate receptors in the BLA are crucial for the emotional pain and inflammation in both chronic and acute phases of formalin-induced pain. However, their roles are more pronounced in the chronic phase than in the acute phase of pain.

     

The promise of stem cell markers in the diagnosis and therapy of epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer. Epithelial dysplasia is often initiated in the cells and cell nuclei adjacent to the epithelial cell membrane. Reduced cell–cell adhesions enable cancer cells to detach from the tumor and disseminate to other organs. The mutations in epithelial dysplasia markers such as E‐cadherin and epithelial cell adhesion molecules (CD326) can lead to proliferation, growth and survival of the tumor cells and persistence of numerous malignancies that play a key role in epithelial dysplasia of OSCC. Accordingly, these genes can be considered prognostic markers or potential therapeutic targets for the tailored management of patients with OSCC. The gene expression profile of OSCC stem cells indicates a differential pattern that facilitates establishing a cell signature. Owing to the highly tumorigenic behavior of cancer stem cells and the role of these cells in tumor differentiation, treatment resistance, relapse, and metastasis, we reviewed the role of stem cell markers in epithelial dysplasia and OSCC.     

Association of −604G/A and −501A/C Ghrelin and Obestatin Prepropeptide Gene Polymorphisms with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Ghrelin hormone has an important role in a wide range of metabolic and non-metabolic processes. Polymorphisms of ghrelin gene could be associated with a large number of diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of ?604G/A and ?501A/C polymorphisms in ghrelin and obestatin prepropeptide gene (GHRL) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in a sample of Iranian women. One hundred and fifty-two women with PCOS and 162 age-matched apparently healthy women as control group were enrolled in this study. The study subjects were genotyped for polymorphisms in the ghrelin gene using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism-based methods. Biochemical parameters, serum prolactin, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, and testosterone were estimated by chemiluminescence assay. Serum lipids and lipoproteins were determined by standard enzymatic methods. The association between the risk of PCOS and ghrelin gene polymorphisms was examined using Multivariate analysis. The frequency of the ?604G/A and ?501A/C polymorphisms was not statistically different between patients and the control group of women (p = 0.12 and p = 0.21, respectively). A significantly higher level of LDL-C was found in the wild-type AA genotype compared with CC genotype of ?501A/C polymorphism (p = 0.02). Our findings indicate that neither ?604G/A and nor ?501A/C polymorphisms of ghrelin gene are associated with PCOS, but suggest a relation between the presence of polymorphic allele of ?501A/C polymorphism and LDL-C level in a sample of Iranian women.