Bimetallic Core-Shell with Graphene Coating Nanoparticles: Enhanced Optical Properties and Slow Light Propagation

Plasmonics - In this paper, we study the optical properties and surface plasmon resonance of a bimetallic core-shell spherical nanoparticle exhibiting monolayer graphene coatings. The extinction...     

Expression of novel lhmlt fusion protein using plant viral vector and study of its anticancer effect

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Melittin peptide is the main component of honey bee venom with the cytotoxic and anti-cancer effect which can affect healthy and cancerous cells...     

Optimization of staged bioleaching of low-grade chalcopyrite ore in the presence and absence of chloride in the irrigating lixiviant: ANFIS simulation

In this investigation, copper was bioleached from a low-grade chalcopyrite ore using a chloride-containing lixiviant. In this regard, firstly, the composition of the bacterial culture media was designed to control the cost in commercial application. The bacterial culture used in this process was acclimated to the presence of chloride in the lixiviant. Practically speaking, the modified culture helped the bio-heap-leaching system operate in the chloridic media. Compared to the copper recovery from the low-grade chalcopyrite by bioleaching in the absence of chloride, bioleaching in the presence of chloride resulted in improved copper recovery. The composition of the lixiviant used in this study was a modification with respect to the basal salts in 9 K medium to optimize the leaching process. When leaching the ore in columns, 76.81 % Cu (based on solid residues of bioleaching operation) was recovered by staged leaching with lixiviant containing 34.22 mM NaCl. The quantitative findings were supported by SEM/EDS observations, X-ray elemental mapping, and mineralogical analysis of the ore before and after leaching. Finally, Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was used to simulate the operational parameters affecting the bioleaching operation in chloride–sulfate system.     

Positive correlation between vitamin D receptor gene TaqI variant and gastric cancer predisposition in a sample of Iranian population

Gastric cancer is the second cause of cancer-related mortality and the fourth most common cancers worldwide. Owing to the immune modulatory effect of vitamin D in the body, the role of vitamin D receptor gene in vitamin D regulation receives a great deal of research interest. The aim of the current study was to highlight the association between two variants of TaqI and FokI in the vitamin D receptor gene and gastric cancer predisposition in a sample of South Khorasan population. The present investigation consisted of 69 patients affected with gastric cancer and 100 healthy individuals. The genomic DNA was extracted by salting out the protocol from peripheral venous blood. Genotyping of TaqI and FokI variants were performed by PCR-RFLP method. Our findings manifested that TC genotype of TaqI polymorphism was statistically significant between the case and the control groups (p = 0.002). Moreover, the frequency of TC + CC genotypes was statistically significant between the two groups (p = 0.009). Furthermore, we could not find any meaningful association between FokI variant and the participant groups. The present results declared that, in our population, TC genotype of TaqI polymorphism has an association with gastric cancer susceptibility. In addition, more investigation with greater sample sizes is needed to confirm our results.     

Targeting AMPK signaling pathway by natural products for treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications

Diabetes affects a large population of the world. Lifestyle, obesity, dietary habits, and genetic factors contribute to this metabolic disease. A target pathway to control diabetes is the 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. AMPK is a heterotrimeric protein with α, β, and γ subunits. In several studies, AMPK activation enhanced glucose uptake into cells and inhibited intracellular glucose production. Impairment of AMPK activity is present in diabetes, according to some studies. Drugs used in the treatment of diabetes, such as metformin, are also known to act through regulation of AMPK. Thus, drugs that activate and regulate AMPK are potential candidates for the treatment of diabetes. In addition, many patients encounter important adverse effects, like hypoglycemia, while using allopathic drugs. As a result, the investigation of plant-derived natural drugs that lack adverse side effects and treat diabetes is necessary. Natural products like berberine, quercetin, resveratrol, and so forth have shown significant potential in regulating and activating the AMPK pathway which can lead to manage diabetes mellitus and its complications.     

Direct chemiluminescence determination of penicillin G potassium and a chemometrical optimization approach

A highly selective and simple chemiluminescence (CL) method for determination of penicillin G potassium (PGK) was developed. In the proposed method, CL was elicited from PGK upon its oxidation with H₂O₂. The light emission was enhanced in the presence of N‐cetyl‐N,N,N‐trimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB). An experimental design, central composite design (CCD), was used to realize the optimized variables, including pH, surfactant (CTMAB) and H₂O₂ concentrations. Under optimum condition, the calibration graph was linear in the range 3.3 × 10^?3–3.3 × 10^?1 mmol/L, with a detection limit of 8.8 × 10^?4 mmol/L for PGK. The precision was calculated by analysing samples containing 1.6 × 10^?1 mmol/L PGK (n = 5) and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.40%. The utility of this method was demonstrated by determining PGK in pharmaceutical formulations for injection. The proposed method was validated by a reference method. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inhibitory Effects of Akacid®plus on Growth and Aflatoxin Production by Aspergillus parasiticus

The effects of Akacid plus, a novel guanidine-based polymer first introduced as a biocidal and disinfectant agent were studied on Aspergillus parasiticus growth and its aflatoxin (AF) productivity. The fungus was cultured on yeast extract-sucrose (YES) broth in presence of various twofold serial dilutions of 25% Akacid plus (1.5-96 microL/50 mL medium) and then incubated in shaking condition with 150 rev./min at 28 degrees C for 96 h. Based on obtained results, Akacid plus was found to significantly inhibit both growth and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) synthesis in very low concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. Fungal growth inhibition was determined in the range of 9.6-99.6% in mycelia exposed to the total concentration range of 1.5-48 microL. A final concentration of 96 microL was necessary to completely inhibit the growth of fungus. Under similar conditions, AFB1 synthesis was found to be strongly inhibited by 8.1-98.0% in presence of 1.5-24 microL Akacid plus with a maximum of 100% by 48 microL concentration. With respect to the unique physico-chemical properties of Akacid plus, its marked inhibitory effects on A. parasiticus growth and its AFB1 synthesis shown for the first time in this study make it a promising candidate for application in prevention programmes of AF contamination of susceptible crops.     

Natural flavonoids for the prevention of colon cancer: A comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies

Flavonoids comprise a group of natural polyphenols consisting of more than 5,000 subtypes mostly existing in fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids consumption could potentially attenuate the incidence and recurrence risk of colorectal cancers through their antiperoxidative, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, these compounds regulate the mitochondrial function, balance the bacterial flora and promote the apoptosis process in cancerous cells. However, some previous data failed to show the effectiveness of flavonoids in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer. In this study, we have reviewed the efficacy of different flavonoids subtypes on the risk of colon cancer and molecular mechanisms involved in this process in both clinical and animal studies. In addition, we tried to elucidate the potential synergy between these compounds and current colorectal cancer treatments.