Magnetic Resonance-Guided Prostate Biopsy.

The optimal strategy for prostate cancer diagnosis is to avoid overdiagnosis, defined as diagnosis of clinically insignificant disease, and undersampling of the gland, which leads to missing clinically significant disease. Targeted prostate biopsy is a potential solution for decreasing the rate of both overdiagnosis and undersampling of prostate cancer. We focus here on different techniques for targeting prostate lesions identified on multiparametric MR imaging and review different clinical settings in which MR imaging-targeted prostate biopsies are performed.

In vitro antitumor activity of parent and nano-encapsulated mono cobalt-substituted Keggin polyoxotungstate and its ctDNA binding properties.

The parent and nanosized starch, and lipid encapsulated K6[SiW11O39Co(H2O)]·nH2O (abbreviated as SEP, LEP and SiW11Co, respectively), as potent antitumor candidates, were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, ICP, TG analysis, SEM and TEM images. The results show that the SiW11Co retains its parent structure after encapsulation by starch and lipid nanoparticles. Antitumor activity tests of SiW11Co and its encapsulated forms were carried out on two types of human cancer cells, MCF-7 and HEK-293 by MTT method. The encapsulated forms exhibited the higher antitumor activity compared to the parent SiW11Co. However, this observed enhancement for the lipid encapsulated form is more than the starch counterpart, which can be related to its smaller size. These results showed that these compounds can be novel antitumor candidates. The calf thymus DNA (abbreviated as ctDNA) binding ability of SiW11Co was also investigated, using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence quenching and fluorescence Scatchard plots. Absorption spectra tracing reveal 10% hyperchromism for SiW11Co. The values of 1.8×10(4) and 1.2×10(4)M(-1) were obtained for association binding constant of SiW11Co to ctDNA at R⩾1 and R<1, respectively (R is defined as the mole ratio of SiW11Co to ctDNA). It was shown that the interaction of SiW11Co with ctDNA depended on the R values. The obtained results of absorption titration rejected the intercalating binding mode and suggest the groove or outside stacking binding for SiW11Co. These results were authenticated by fluorescence quenching experiments and scatchard plots.

ctDNA binding affinity and in vitro antitumor activity of three Keggin type polyoxotungestates.

The ctDNA-binding properties and in vitro antitumor activity of three water soluble Keggin type polyoxometalates (POMs): K6H[CoW11O39CpZr]·nH2O, K6H[CoW11O39CpTi·nH2O and K7H2[CoW11O39CpFe]·nH2O (abbreviated as CoWCpZr, CoWCpTi and CoWCpFe, respectively) were investigated using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectrophotometry, cyclic voltammetry and MTT assay. The results of UV-Vis, fluorescence and cyclic voltammetry rule out intercalating binding mode and propose the groove or outside stacking binding of these POMs with ctDNA. The values of 1.30×10(4) M(-1), 1.15×10(4) M(-1) and 3.10×10(3) M(-1) were obtained for binding constant of CoWCpZr, CoWCpTi and CoWCpFe to ctDNA, respectively. The redox potential of POMs shift to more negative values in the presence of ctDNA which can be related to domination of electrostatic interaction in this system. The antitumor activity tests of these polyoxometalates (POMs) were carried out on two types of human cancer cells, MCF-7 and HEK-293 by MTT method. The results show the higher antitumor activity of CoWCpFe respect to two other that is related to its highest penetrating effectiveness for MCF-7 cells. Therefore, the antitumor activity of these POMs depends not only on their affinity to ctDNA but also strongly on their penetration ability to the cell membrane.

Profile of cytokine gene polymorphisms in Iranian multiple sclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Cytokine gene polymorphisms have been extensively studied in association with different diseases. The role of cytokine gene polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis (MS), as a chronic immune-mediated neurodegenerative disease, has been previously reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA samples were collected from 44 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and 140 unrelated healthy subjects. All participants in this study were matched for ethnicity. Cytokine gene SNPs were determined using the PCR-SSP method. RESULTS: and discussion We found no significant differences between MS patients and controls in most of the studied cytokine genes. Remarkable results were obtained for IL-2 GG-330 genotype (P =0.06), IL-6 C-174 allele (P =0.06), CG and GG genotypes (P <0.001), and GG (P =0.02) and CG (P <0.001) haplotypes, and TNF-alpha A-238 allele (P <0.001), GG (P =0.003) and GA (P <0.001) haplotypes. These results suggest that polymorphic variations of these pro-inflammatory cytokines play an important role in susceptibility to MS.

Th1 and Th2 cytokine gene polymorphisms in two indigenous ethnic groups in Iran.

Cytokines are important immunomodulatory molecules in immune responses against microorganisms and also have an important role in the setting of disorders affecting immune system. Cytokine single nucleotide polymorphisms have been extensively studied in different normal populations as well as in relation to diseases. Some of these polymorphisms (SNP) affect cytokine gene transcription and expression. The polymorphisms of cytokine genes are potentially important as genetic predictors of the disease susceptibility and clinical outcome or as a tool for anthropological studies. In this study, samples have been collected from 261 healthy individuals located in two different regions of Iran (Tehran and Yazd). The allele and genotype frequencies of Th1 and Th2 cytokines SNP including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma have been investigated, using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primer method. The allele and genotype frequencies in Tehran and Yazd populations were similar except for the IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10. The IL-4 C allele, C/C -33 and T/T -1098 genotype were significantly more frequent in Tehran than in Yazd population (P = 0.04, P = 0.004 and P = 0.001, respectively). The G/A genotype of the IL-6 (nt565) and IL-10 (-1082) was significantly less frequent in Tehran than in Yazd population (P = 0.01 and P = 0.003, respectively). The GT haplotype of the IL-2 (-330, +166) was significantly less frequent in Tehran than in Yazd population (P = 0.0002). We have also compared our whole samples with the reported data from other countries showing that Iranian population have cytokine gene polymorphism profile similar to that of Caucasians, especially Italian population.

A comparison of tissue reaction to MTA and an experimental root-end restorative material in rats.

The purpose of this study was to compare the biocompatibility of a new experimental root-end filling material, "Cold Ceramic" (CC), with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in rats. After anaesthetising 10 rats and raising tissue flaps, tablets of the material were placed subcutaneously. Five rats were followed for seven days and five for 30 days. An incision without any implanted material was used as a control. Histological analyses were performed with regard to number, type and location of the inflammatory cells and type of surrounding tissue. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney statistical tests were used. Comparing inflammatory reactions between the two experimental groups (MTA and CC) and the control group showed significant differences after seven days (p = 0.031). There were no significant differences between CC and MTA groups after seven days (p = 0.222) and after 30 days (p = 0.063). The results suggested that MTA and CC are both biocompatible. It appears that MTA induces less inflammatory response in short periods of observation, but CC may be more biocompatible for slightly longer periods.