ABSTRACT
Chemotherapy is the most widely used treatment for cancer therapy, but its efficacy is limited by the side effects of non-specificcytotoxic drugs. Ligand-based targeting drug-delivery system is a solution to circumvent this issue. In this study, an ABCG2aptamer–doxorubicin complex was prepared, and its efficacy in targeted drug delivery to mitoxantrone-resistance breast cancer cellline (MCF7/MX) was evaluated. The formation of aptamer–doxorubicin physical complex was analyzed by fluorometric analysis.The cytotoxicities of doxorubicin and aptamer–doxorubicin complex on MCF7 and MCF7/MX cell lines were evaluated by theMTT assay, and IC50 values were obtained. Cellular uptake of aptamer–doxorubicin complex was assessed by flow cytometrycellular uptake assay. Results: Fluorometric analysis of aptamer–doxorubicin showed 1–1.5 molar ratio of the drug to the aptamercould efficiently quench Dox fluorescence. MTTassay results showed that MCF7/MX cells were more resistant to doxorubicin thanMCF7 cells (IC50 : 3.172 ± 0.536 and 1.456 ± 0.154 lM, respectively). Flow cytometry and MTT assay results showed that theaptamer–doxorubicin complex could increase the uptake and cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in MCF7/MX cell line in comparison withfree doxorubicin, while the same treatments had no effect on IC50 of Dox on MCF7 cells. The results proposed that the ABCG2aptamer–drug complex can be effectively used for specific drug delivery to ABCG2-overexpressing cells.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate leishmanicidal effects of Euphorbia erythadenia plant extract. Methods:Extraction was done using methanolic Soxhlet of dried and ground aerial parts of the plant. Then, five different extract concentrations, in addition of positive, negative and solvent controls were prepared and added to a 24-well plate containing 40 000 parasites/well. The extract concentrations were 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125 and 0.062 5 mg/mL. Amphotricin B (0.5 mg/mL) was used as positive control while negative control contained only culture medium. After 3 d incubation at 25 °C the amount of parasites in each well was determined on each day of experiment microscopially using Neubar chamber. Results:Soxhlet extract as well as amphotricin B killed all parasites at concentration of 1 mg/mL. The leshmanicidal activity of lower doses of extract was dose-dependent. The EC50 for Soxhlet extracts in dimethylsulfoxide was 0.30 mg/mL. The EC50 for Soxhlet extracts in methanol was 0.23 mg/mL. No obvious effects from the control solvent on the Leishmania major promastigotes were observed. Conclusions: The Soxhlet extract of Euphorbia erythadenia showed suitable leishmanicidal activity, especially in higher concentration fractions.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Thymus transcaspicus (T. transcaspicus) against Anopheles stephensi (An. stephensi). Methods:An. stephensi were exposed to 31, 63, 125 and 250 μg/L of essential oil of T. transcaspicus for 24 h. Results:The most toxicity was observed at 250 μg/L of essential oil with the LC50 values of 134.1 μg/L after 24 h. Conclusions:The essential oil of T. transcaspicus exhibited strong insecticidal activity against An. stephensi which can be attributed to its constituent especially carvacrol and thymol phenols.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Enterobius vermicularis and the occurrence of acute appendicitis. Over a ten year period of time, all appendix specimens received by the department of pathology were reviewed for pathologic changes and the existence of E. vermicularis. Logistic regression was carried out to determine the odds ratio (OR) of the relationship between E. vermicularis and acute appendicitis. A total of 5048 specimens were reviewed. E. vermicularis was found in 144 (2.9%) cases. After separating by sex and adjusting for age logistic regression analysis showed the OR of E. vermicularis appendiceal infestation was 1.275 (95% CI = 0.42-3.9) for males and 1.678 (95% CI = 0.61-4.65) for females. Age was an independent risk factor for acute appendicitis in males (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 1.003-1.017) and females (OR = 1.012, 95% CI = 1.005-1.02).