ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Doxorubicin (DOX) and gemcitabine (GEM) are anticancer drugs that were combined in a nanoemulsion (NE) to reduce their adverse side effects. AIM: To detect the antitumor activity of the combination formulas of GEM and DOX, loaded either in water (GEM+DOX-Sol) or in NEs (GEM-DOX combination/loaded NE [GEM+DOX/LNE]), in female Swiss albino mice inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The anticancer assessment of the NE formulas was implemented in 200 mice, which were divided into 10 groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It includes the detection of the change in body weight, analysis of the hematological and serum biochemical profiles, and study of the histopathologic alterations of the heart tissues. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One-factor analysis of variance was used. RESULTS: Mice treated with GEM + DOX/LNE, which have an z-average of 155.38±2.33nm and zeta potential of -38.5±1.3 mV, recorded a considerable improvement in the mean survival time (MST), which was 60 days, as compared to the EAC control group, which has an MST of 28 days. It also restored the hematological and serum biochemical parameters toward normal values. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of GEM and DOX in NE has significantly diminished the cardiotoxicity of DOX and hematotoxicity of GEM while improving their antitumor properties.
ABSTRACT
Schistosomiasis leads to structural and functional changes which may result from unbalanced release of some inflammatory mediators. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of intestinal parasitic infection on nitric oxide release and to evaluate the neural plasticity that leads to motility disturbance. Experiments were performed in Swiss mice 8- and 12-weeks following infection with Schistosoma mansoni compared to untreated controls. Jejunal motility was assessed using a Trendelenburg preparation to study aboral directed peristaltic pressure waves. Histological examination was used to determine the pathological characteristics of inflammation. Parasitic infection produces diffuse inflammatory infiltrate in both 8- and 12-weeks infected animals. Inflammation had significant effect on peristaltic pressure waves amplitude and intervals at 8-weeks compared to control; whereas, in 12-weeks post infection there was a significant decrease in peristaltic pressure waves amplitude and interval compared to 8- weeks and control. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME 100 µM) induced a significant increase in amplitude and decrease in intervals in control, 8- and 12- weeks infected animals. In conclusion, parasitic infection leads to disturbance in the release of the inflammatory mediators. This study indicated the role of nitric oxide in developing granulomatous inflammation and participating in motility disturbance.