Simultaneous application of cisplatin and static magnetic field enhances oxidative stress in HeLa cell line

In this study, we reported the effects of simultaneous application of static magnetic field (SMF) and cisplatin as an anticancer drug on the oxidative stress in human cervical cancer (HeLa) cell line and normal skin fibroblast cells (Hu02). The cells were exposed to different SMF intensities (7, 10, and 15 mT) for 24 and 48 h. IC₅₀ concentrations of cisplatin were obtained by MTT assay. The cytotoxic effects of combined treatment were studied by measuring the intracellular reactive oxygen species content using flow cytometric method and estimation of membrane lipid peroxidation by spectrophotometry. Statistical analysis was assessed using one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test. Based on the obtained results, the highest and lowest death rate, respectively, in HeLa and Hu02 cell lines was observed at the intensity of 10 mT. Also, we found that membrane lipid peroxidation in cancer cells is higher than that of normal counterparts. SMF potently sensitized human cervical cancer cells to cisplatin through reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation while it had small effects on normal cells. The combination of both treatments for 48 h led to a marked decrease in the viability percentage of HeLa cells by about 89% compared to untreated cells. This study suggests that conjugation of both physical and chemical treatments could increase the oxidative stress in HeLa cell line and among three optional intensities of SMF, the intensity of 10 mT led to the higher damage to cancer cells in lower doses of drug.     

Theoretical study of chemisorption of cyanuric fluoride and S-triazine on the surface of Al-doped graphene

We studied the adsorption of cyanuric fluoride (CF) and s-triazine (ST) molecules on the surface of pristine as well as Al-doped graphenes using density functional theory calculations. Our results reveal low adsorption on the surface of pristine graphene; but by modification of surface using aluminium, resulted Al-doped graphene becomes more reactive towards both CF and ST molecules. We aimed to focus on the adsorption energy, electronic structure, charge analysis, density of state and global indices of each system upon adsorption of CF and ST molecules on the above-mentioned surfaces. Our calculated adsorption energies for the most stable position configurations of CF and ST on Al-doped graphene were ?76.53 kJ mol^?1 (?57.45 kJ mol^?1 BSSE corrected energy) and ?115.55 kJ mol^?1 (?86.87 kJ mol^?1 BSSE corrected energy), respectively, which point to the chemisorption process. For each CF and ST molecule, upon adsorption on the surface of Al-doped graphene, the band gap of HOMO-LUMO was reduced considerably and it becomes a p-type semiconductor, whereas there is no hybridisation between the above-mentioned molecules and pristine graphene.     

Trends in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in People with and without Diabetes Mellitus: A Middle Eastern Cohort Study

Aims/Hypothesis

To investigate secular trends in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors during a decade of follow-up in a Middle Eastern cohort, and to compare observed trends between diabetic and non-diabetic populations.

Methods

In a population of 6181 participants (2622 males and 3559 females), diabetes status and CVD risk factors were evaluated in 4 study phases from 1999–2011. 1045 subjects had type 2 diabetes mellitus at baseline and 5136 participants were diabetes-free. To examine the trends of CVD risk factors, generalized estimation equation models were constructed. The interaction between the diabetes status and each phase of the study was checked in a separate model.

Results

During the follow-up period diabetic females significantly gained better control of their blood pressure, serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol and general and central obesity measures compared to non-diabetic counterparts, although 60% of them had high BP and 64% had high serum LDL-C levels till the end of the study. Diabetic males however, experienced significantly better control on their serum LDL-C and general and central obesity measures compared to their non-diabetic controls; but 24% of them were still smoker, 63% had high BP and 60% had high serum LDL-C levels at the end of the follow-up (all Ps _interaction <0.05). Use of lipid-lowering and antihypertensive medications increased consistently in both diabetic and non-diabetic populations.

Conclusions/Interpretation

Although CVD risk factors have been controlled to some extent among diabetic population in Iran, still high numbers of people with diabetes have uncontrolled CVD risk factors that prompt more attention.     

A Significant Reduction in the Plasma Levels and Gene Expression of CCL2 in Patients with Osteoarthritis following Intervention with Krocina™

Background:inflammatory chemokines such as CCL2 and CCL5 are involved in the progress of osteoarthritis. Crocin with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA). This study was performed investigate the effect of Krocina™, on the gene expressions and plasma levels of CCL2 and CCL5 in OA patients.Methods:The study included 35 patients that were randomized in the Krocina™ and placebo groups. The intervention was Krocina™ 15mg daily for four months. Clinical and paraclinical parameters were measured. CCL2 and CCL5 genes expression and plasma levels were determined using the SYBR Green Real-Time RT-PCR and Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) techniques.Results:The C-reactive protein (CRP) value in the Krocina™ group and the visual analogue scale (VAS) value in the Krocina™ and placebo groups decreased significantly after the intervention. The gene expression of CCL2 in the Krocina™ and placebo groups decreased significantly. On the contrary, the gene expression of CCL5 in the Krocina™ and placebo groups increased significantly. Moreover, the plasma levels of CCL2 in the Krocina™ and placebo groups decreased meaningfully. There was no difference regarding the plasma levels of CCL5 within the Krocina™ and placebo groups before and after the intervention in either of the groups.Conclusion:Administration of Krocina™ reduced the clinical signs of inflammation and CRP and VAS value. Also, Krocina™ significantly decreased the plasma levels and gene expression of CCL2 in osteoarthritis patients.Key Words: CCL2, CCL5, Krocina™, Osteoarthritis     

The effect of mesenchymal stem cells and imatinib on macrophage polarization in rat model of liver fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a disorder in which inflammatory reactions play an important role, and central to the progression and pathogenesis of this disease are the immune-specific cells known as macrophages. Macrophage types are distinguished from each other by the expression of a series of surface markers. STAT6 and Arg1 play an important role in the polarization of macrophages, so these two factors are downstream of interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-13 cytokines and cause to differentiate M2. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the independent effects of imatinib and mesenchymal cell treatment on the polarization of macrophages in rat models of liver fibrosis. The liver fibrosis was induced by the injection of CCL4 for 6 weeks in Sprague–Dawley rats. Then, rats were divided into four different groups, and the effects of imatinib and mesenchymal cells on the expression of Arg1, Ly6c, and STAT6 were evaluated. Histopathology experiments considered the amelioration effect of treatments. Our results showed that Arg1 expression was significantly increased in the groups treated with mesenchymal cells and imatinib compared to the control group. On the other hand, expression of STAT6 was significantly increased in the imatinib-treated mice compared to mesenchymal and control groups. Moreover, the expression of LY6C significantly decreased in imatinib and mesenchymal treated groups compared to the control group. Therefore, our data showed that mesenchymal stem cells and imatinib significantly modulate the fibrotic process in rat models of fibrosis, probably by polarizing macrophages towards an anti-inflammatory profile and increasing the frequency of these cells in liver tissue.