Survival of the Halophilic Archaeon Halovarius luteus after Desiccation,Simulated Martian UV Radiation and Vacuum in Comparison to Bacillus atrophaeus

Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres - Extraterrestrial environments influence the biochemistry of organisms through a variety of factors, including high levels of radiation and vacuum,...     

The Impacts of Prepared Plasma-Activated Medium (PAM) Combined with Doxorubicin on the Viability of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells: A New Cancer Treatment Strategy

Background:For many years, the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX) has been used to treat various cancers; however, DOX initiates several critical adverse effects. Many studies have reported that non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma can provide novel, but challenging, treatment strategies for cancer patients. To date, tissues and cells have been treated with plasma-activated medium (PAM) as a practical therapy. Consequently, due to the harmful adverse effects of DOX, we were motivated to elucidate the impact of PAM in the presence of DOX on MCF-7 cell proliferation.Methods:MTT assay, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) assay, and flow cytometry analysis were utilized in this research.Results:The results demonstrated that 0.45 µM DOX combined with 3-min PAM significantly induced apoptosis (p< 0.01) through intracellular ROS generation in MCF-7 when compared with 0.45 µM DOX alone or 3-min PAM alone. In contrast, after treatment with 0.45 µM DOX plus 4-min PAM, cell necrosis was increased. Hence, DOX combined with 4-min PAM has cytotoxic effects with different mechanisms than 4-min PAM alone, in which the number of apoptotic cells increases.Conclusion:Although further investigations are crucial, low doses of DOX plus 3-min PAM could be a promising strategy for cancer therapy. The findings from this research may offer advantageous and innovative clinical strategies for cancer therapy using PAM.Key Words: Apoptosis, Breast cancer lymphedema, Doxorubicin, Plasma-activated medium (PAM), Necrosis     

Non-thermal plasma modified growth and physiology in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum via</Emphasis> generated signaling molecules and UV radiation

The current research was carried out to reveal the possible impacts of cold plasma on growth and physiology of wheat, as a new approach in plant science. Short and long-term impacts of different types of plasma (nitrogen and helium) with surface power density of 0.4 W cm^-2, exposure times (15, 30, 60, and 120 s), and repetitions (1, 2, and 4 times with 24 h intervals) were evaluated. Single-time applied helium or nitrogen derived plasma significantly promoted total root and shoot lengths, in contrast to four times application, and the root system was more sensitive than the shoot one. In addition, seedlings were more sensitive to nitrogen derived plasma, compared with helium. The physiological responses to plasma treatment were analyzed via protein assay and peroxidase or phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activities measurements. Plasma generated signaling molecules, especially ozone, nitric oxide, and/or UV radiation induced promotions in the peroxidase and PAL activities as well as increase in protein content in leaves, especially when times and/or repetitions increased. Plants were perished by the nitrogen derived plasma at the highest exposure time and number of repetitions. However, the seedlings with inhibited growth not only caught up control one month after, but even the growth rate and biomass accumulation in the shoot and leaves were accelerated. Increased leaf soluble phenol content was recorded in plasma treated seedlings, especially at longer times and more repetitions.