Investigation on the Effect of Fluorescence Quenching of Calf Thymus DNA by Piperine: Caspase Activation in the Human Breast Cancer Cell Line Studies.

In this study, we determined the interaction of piperine and calf thymus DNA (ct DNA) in Tris-HCl buffer solution at pH = 6.8 and also evaluated the binding mechanism through the data of multi-spectroscopic techniques along with thermal melting and viscosity measurements. The outcomes of fluorescence quenching confirmed the occurrence of interactions between piperine and ctDNA and pointed out the role of piperine as the quencher. In addition, the KSV values were measured at three different temperatures of 298, 303, and 308 K to be 4.5 × 107 M-1, 5.65 × 107 M-1, and 9.36 × 107 M-1, respectively, which suggested the dominance of dynamic mechanism as the fluorescence quenching of piperine-ctDNA. The thermodynamic parameters revealed the predominance of hydrophobic forces in the interaction of ctDNA with piperine. According to the resonance light scattering data, the formation of a complex between piperine and ctDNA led to the creation of a larger particle. Ethidium bromide (EB) and acridine orange (AO) displacement studies, along with the ionic effects of NaCl and KI assessments, confirmed the interaction of piperine-ctDNA through a groove binding mode. The melting temperature assay of ctDNA upon the addition of piperine concentration indicated the probable groove binding of piperine to ctDNA, which was affirmed by relative viscosity measurement as well. The lack of detecting any alterations in the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of CD investigation verified as a characteristic sign of groove binding mechanism and also confirmed all the experimental results with regard to the binding of piperine-ctDNA complex. Next to observing a concentration and time-dependent cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells, the impact of piperine on increasing lipid peroxidation and decreasing the activity of superoxide dismutase was also noticed. Apparently, piperine is capable of inducing caspase-3 activity as well.

Diabetes is associated with higher mortality and severity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

As a novel cause of pneumonia, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly progressed worldwide. Previous studies have indicated COVID-19 patients with diabetes show higher mortality rates and more severe COVID-19 infection with an increased requirement for intensive care and hospital length of stay (LOS) compared to non-diabetic patients. The present study aimed to investigate the association of diabetes and COVID-19 outcome with severity of disease in hospitalized patients. The present case-control study included 268 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were hospitalized in Ayatollah Khoyi Hospital, Khoy, Iran. Diabetes was identified based on medical history and/or criteria of published documents. Out of 268 patients (median age of 59 years; 53.4 % male), 127 patients had diabetes (47 %). Diabetic patients had remarkably higher mortality rates (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 3.36; confidence interval, CI: 1.17-9.66), requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (aOR: 4.59; CI: 1.38-15.25), and LOS (aOR: 1.13; CI: 1.06-1.24) compared to patients without diabetes. Inflammatory biomarkers including C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were increased in patients with diabetes compared to non-diabetic patients (P < 0.05 for all the comparisons). In hospitalized patients with COVID-19, diabetes was correlated with increased disease severity and mortality.

Effect of chemical surface treatments and repair material on transverse strength of repaired acrylic denture resin.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the transverse strength of a denture base resin (H), repaired with an autopolymerizing acrylic resin (A) or a visible light-curing (VLC) resin (T) following the use of three chemical solvents: methyl methacrylate monomer, aceton or chloroform. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty specimens (65.0 x 10.0 x 3.3 mm) of H were fabricated and stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for seven days. Specimens were divided into eight equal groups of 10. In each group, specimens were sectioned in the middle to create a 10 mm gap. Two groups served as controls and had no surface treatment. They were repaired with A or T materials. In the remaining six experimental groups, specimen surfaces were treated with ac for 30 sec or mma for 180 sec or ch for 5 sec. Then A or T material was placed on the treated surfaces, using the same preparation molds. After seven days' storage at 37 degrees C, the transverse bond strength (MPa) of the specimens was measured using a three-point bending test. A two-way ANOVA and a Tukey HSD were performed to identify significant differences ( P < 0.05). The nature of the failures was noted as adhesive, cohesive or mixed. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the controls and experimental groups ( P < 0.05). In the control groups, repair with A showed significantly higher strength (60.3 MPa) than those repaired with T (51.3 MPa). Mean transverse strength of experimental specimens repaired with A was (75.06 MPa) which was significantly greater than those repaired with T (67.9 MPa). Although surface treatment increased repair strength, no significant differences were detected between the effects of the chemical etchants. CONCLUSIONS: The autopolymerizing resin exhibited significantly higher repair strength than VLC resin. The transverse strength of the repaired specimens was increased significantly after chemical treatments.