Synthesis, Characterization, and Assessment of Anti-Cancer Potential of ZnO Nanoparticles in an In Vitro Model of Breast Cancer.

Advanced innovations for combating variants of aggressive breast cancer and overcoming drug resistance are desired. In cancer treatment, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) have the capacity to specifically and compellingly activate apoptosis of cancer cells. There is also a pressing need to develop innovative anti-cancer therapeutics, and recent research suggests that ZnO nanoparticles hold great potential. Here, the in vitro chemical effectiveness of ZnO NPs has been tested. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized using Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad by green methods approach. The generated ZnO was observed to have a hexagonal wurtzite crystal arrangement. The generated nanomaterials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy. The crystallinity of ZnO was reported to be in the range 50-60 nm. The NPs morphology showed a strong absorbance at 374 nm with an estimated gap band of 3.20 eV to 3.32 eV. Microscopy analysis proved the morphology and distribution of the generated nanoparticles to be around 50 nm, with the elemental studies showing the elemental composition of ZnO and further confirming the purity of ZnO NPs. The cytotoxic effect of ZnO NPs was evaluated against wild-type and doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. The results showed the ability of ZnO NPs to inhibit the prefoliation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 prefoliation through the induction of apoptosis without significant differences in both wild-type and resistance to doxorubicin.

The impact of COVID-19 on surgical practice in Jordan during the second outbreak: A survey.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is an acute respiratory pandemic with no available effective antiviral treatment or widely available effective vaccine. Surgical practice has faced widespread problems due to the pandemic including viral transmission risk and cross-infection, staffing problems, prioritizations of surgical procedures, and lack of beds due to occupancy of hospitals and ICU beds with COVID-19 patients. METHODS: A survey was conducted between October 31 to November 4, 2020, through google forms. The questionnaire involved 16 questions sent to consultants and specialists of all general and special surgical specialties and subspecialties in Jordan. RESULTS: We have got responses from surgeons of all public and private sectors in Jordan. There was a pronounced decline in the number of elective and emergency procedures performed during October 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic related reasons. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of COVID-19 on the surgical practice in Jordan during October 2020 was moderate to prominent. Measures that could be made to alleviate this impact include the assignment of certain hospitals for covid-19 patients as a step before the establishment of field hospitals and the cooperation between the private and the public health sectors.

A Potential MRI Agent and an Anticancer Drug Encapsulated within CPMV Virus-Like Particles.

BACKGROUND: Virus nanoparticles have been extensively studied over the past decades for theranostics applications. Viruses are well-characterized, naturally occurring nanoparticles that can be produced in high quantity with a high degree of similarity in both structure and composition. OBJECTIVES: The plant virus Cowpea Mosaic Virus (CPMV) has been innovatively used as a nanoscaffold. Utilization of the internal cavity of empty Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) for the inclusion of therapeutics within the capsid has opened many opportunities in drug delivery and imaging applications. METHODS: The encapsidation of magnetic materials and anticancer drugs was achieved. SuperscriptCPMV denotes molecules attached to the external surface of CPMV and CPMVSubscript denotes molecules within the interior of the capsid. RESULTS: Here, the generation of novel VLPs incorporating iron-platinum nanoparticles TCPMVFePt and cisplatin (Cis) (TCPMVCis) is reported. TCPMVCis exhibited a cytotoxic IC50 of TCPMVCis on both A549 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines of 1.8 µM and 3.9 µM, respectively after 72 hours of incubation. The TCPMVFePt were prepared as potential MRI contrast agents. CONCLUSION: Cisplatin loaded VLP (TCPMVCis) is shown to enhance cisplatin cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines with its potency increased by 2.3-folds.

A Case of Critical Lower-Limb Ischemia in a 29-Year-Old Man with Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1 (APS-1).

BACKGROUND Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is an extremely rare autoimmune disorder with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Its manifestations present in chronological sequence of the components mucocutaneous candidiasis, Addison disease, and hypoparathyroidism. Vascular calcification is a very rare manifestation of the disease, and it may be severe, causing critical lower-limb ischemia and significant morbidity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such case to be reported in Jordan and the Arab region. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 29-year-old patient diagnosed with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS-1). He has Addison disease, hypoparathyroidism, and mucocutaneous candidiasis. He presented with features of critical lower-limb ischemia and bacterial infection of the left foot. The patient underwent a successful angioplasty, and received management of his bacterial and fungal infections and the chronic endocrinopathies. CONCLUSIONS Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is a very rare disorder. Recognizing its syndromic nature will facilitate an active search for the component diseases and the possible complications, which would allow early diagnosis and management. This applies to the rare vascular complications, which can lead to significant morbidity.

Endovascular management of acute mesenteric ischemia in a young patient with thyrotoxicosis and atrial fibrillation: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Acute mesenteric ischemia caused by an embolism resulting from atrial fibrillation in a thyrotoxic young male patient is a rare event. Endovascular intervention is increasingly being considered as the primary modality of treatment in selected patients. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 41-years male known to have hyperthyroidism presented with atrial fibrillation, acute mesenteric ischemia, splenic infarction, and left renal infarction. He was successfully managed with endovascular intervention of the superior mesenteric artery. DISCUSSION: Acute mesenteric ischemia has a high mortality rate. CT angiography is the investigation of choice for diagnosis of the mesenteric vessels occlusion and assessment of bowel ischemia. The clinical presentation guides into the treatment and the choice between open surgery and endovascular intervention as the primary modality of treatment. Thyrotoxicosis is a risky comorbid condition for any procedure to be done, so proper perioperative management is essential to decrease morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: Prompt diagnosis and management of acute mesenteric ischemia is essential to decrease the morbidity and mortality rates. Endovascular management can be considered as a primary modality of treatment in selected cases.

COVID-19: Underpinning Research for Detection, Therapeutics, and Vaccines Development.

BACKGROUND: The newly emerged coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, first reported in December 2019, has infected about five and a half million people globally and resulted in nearly 9063264 deaths until the 24th of June 2020. Nevertheless, the highly contagious virus has instigated an unimaginably rapid response from scientific and medical communities. OBJECTIVES: Pioneering research on molecular mechanisms underlying the viral transmission, molecular pathogenicity, and potential treatments will be highlighted in this review. The development of antiviral drugs specific to SARS-CoV-2 is a complicated and tedious process. To accelerate scientific discoveries and advancement, researchers are consolidating available data from associated coronaviruses into a single pipeline, which can be readily made available to vaccine developers. METHODS: In order to find studies evaluating the COVID-19 virus epidemiology, repurposed drugs and potential vaccines, web searches and bibliographical bases have been used with keywords that matches the content of this review. RESULTS: The published results of SARS-CoV-2 structures and interactomics have been used to identify potential therapeutic candidates. We illustrate recent publications on SARS-CoV-2, concerning its molecular, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics, and focus on innovative diagnostics technologies in the production pipeline. This objective of this review is to enhance the comprehension of the unique characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and strengthen future control measures. Lay Summary: An innovative analysis is evaluating the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to increase knowledge of possible viral detection methods, which highlights several new technology limitations and advantages. We have assessed some drugs currently for patients (Lopinavir, Ritonavir, Anakinra and Interferon beta 1a), as the feasibility of COVID-19 specific antivirals is not presently known. The study explores the race toward vaccine development and highlights some significant trials and candidates in various clinical phases. This research addresses critical knowledge gaps by identifying repurposed drugs currently under clinical trials. Findings will be fed back rapidly to the researchers interested in COVID 19 and support the evidence and potential of possible therapeutics and small molecules with their mode of action.