Profiling inflammatory mechanisms, hyperphosphorylated tau of hippocampal tissue and spatial memory following vitamin D3 treatment in the mice model of vascular dementia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D3 (VitD3) on inflammatory mechanisms, hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in the hippocampus, and cognitive impairment of the mouse model of vascular dementia (VaD). METHODS: In this study, 32 male mice were randomly assigned to the control, VaD, VitD3 (300 IU/Kg/day), and VitD3 (500 IU/Kg/day) groups. VaD and VitD3 groups were gavaged daily for 4 weeks with a gastric needle. For biochemical assessments, blood samples and the hippocampus were isolated. IL-1ß and TNF-α were analyzed by ELISA, and p-tau and other inflammatory molecules were measured by western blot. RESULTS: VitD3 supplements significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the level of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus and prevented apoptosis. However, regarding p-tau in hippocampal tissue, this decrease was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The results of behavioral assessments showed that VitD3 significantly improved the spatial memory of treated mice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the neuroprotective effects of VitD3 are mainly associated with their anti-inflammatory effects.

Margetuximab conjugated-PEG-PAMAM G4 nano-complex: a smart nano-device for suppression of breast cancer.

Abstract: Breast cancer due to its high incidence and mortality is the second leading cause of death among females. On the other hand, nanoparticle-based drug delivery is one of the most promising approaches in cancer therapy, nowadays. Hence, margetuximab- and polyethylene glycol-conjugated PAMAM G4 dendrimers were efficiently synthesized for targeted delivery of quercetin (therapeutic agent) to MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Synthesized nano-complexes were characterized using analytical devices such as FT-IR, TGA, DLS, Zeta potential analyzer, and TEM. The size less than 40 nm, - 18.8 mV surface charge, efficient drug loading capacity (21.48%), and controlled drug release (about 45% of drug release normal pH after 8 h) were determined for the nano-complex. In the biomedical test, the cell viability was obtained 14.67% at 24 h of post-treatment for 800 nM concentration, and IC50 was ascertained at 100 nM for the nano-complex. The expression of apoptotic Bax and Caspase9 genes was increased by more than eightfolds and more than fivefolds after treatment with an optimal concentration of nanocarrier. Also, more than threefolds of cell cycle arrest was observed at the optimal concentration synthetics, and 27.5% breast cancer cell apoptosis was detected after treatment with 100 nM nano-complex. These outputs have been indicating the potential capacity of synthesized nano-complex in inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells.

Hydatid cyst of the pancreas mimicking neoplasm.

Hydatid disease is a cyclozoonotic infection caused by the cestode genus Echinococcus. It occurs throughout the world and is especially common in sheep- and cattle-raising regions of Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India, the Middle East, South America, and the Mediterranean. The incidence of humans infected with hydatid disease is approximately 1-2:1000. It is higher in rural areas. Infection occurs via ingestion of infected meat. Hydatidosis is caused by sheep and cattle ingesting tapeworm eggs in dog feces. These eggs hatch in the duodenum and invade the liver, lungs, or bones of sheep and cattle. Humans are infected by ingesting the infected meat from these animals. In the organs, the embryo transforms into a cyst, which develops the germinal epithelium that produces capsules, larval forms, and eventually the infectious scolices. Although hydatid cyst of the pancreas is rare, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic lesions. We present a rare case.