Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid enhances the efficacy of the phytomedicine chrysin against cisplatin induced toxicity in submandibular salivary glands

Chemotherapy, particularly cisplatin, is a prevalent cancer treatment. Unfortunately, many tissues, for instance the submandibular salivary glands, are toxically affected by cisplatin. Of significant interest, phytopharmaceuticals rich in flavonoids have demonstrated exceptional defense against chemotherapy induced toxicity, like chrysin (Chr); nevertheless, its low solubility and poor bioavailability have remained cornerstone issues. Accordingly, Chr was successfully encapsulated in the poly(d, l-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) scaffold. The developed chrysin-loaded poly(d, l-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (Chr-loaded PLGA NPs) were meticulously evaluated via comprehensive in vitro-in vivo investigations. Saliently, the outcomes of in vivo studies exhibited admirable in vivo counteraction effectiveness against cisplatin-induced toxicity in submandibular salivary glands in Albino rats upon comparing Chr-loaded PLGA NPs treated group with pure Chr as well as blank NPs treated ones. Inclusively, Chr-loaded PLGA NPs can be regarded as promising therapy to create recent vistas for dampening myriad adverse effects of different chemotherapies.

miRNAs: possible regulators of toll like receptors and inflammatory tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked as the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third cause of cancer related deaths. CRC is greatly attributed to genetic and epigenetic mutations and immune dysregulation. Tumor aberrant expression of Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) can contribute to tumorigenesis. Recent studies suggested that microRNAs act as direct ligands of TLRs altering their expression and signaling pathways.

AIM

To prove our concept that specific miRNA mimics may act as antagonists of their specific toll like receptors inhibiting their expression that could limit the release of pro-inflammatory and pro-tumorigenic cytokines leading to apoptosis of tumor cells.

METHODS

From public microarray databases, we retrieved TLRs and miRNAs related to CRC followed by in silico docking of the selected miRNA ligands into the TLRs. Clinical validation after co-immunoprecipitation of TLRs and their interacting miRNA ligands was done. Expression of TLRs 1, 7,8 was determined by ELISA while miRNAs was measured by RT-qPCR. In addition, microRNA mimics of the down regulated miRNAs were transfected into human CRC cell lines.

RESULTS

Our data demonstrate that TLRs 1, 7, 8 are up regulated in CRC compared to controls. Further, three miRNAs (-122, -29b and -15b) are relatively downregulated, while 4 miRNAs (-202, miRNA-98, -21 and -let7i) are upregulated in CRC patients compared to those with benign tumor and healthy controls. Transfection of down regulated miRNA mimics into CRC cell lines resulted in a significant reduction of the number and viability of cells as well as down regulating the expression of TLRs 1, 7 and 8 with ultimate reduction of downstream effector IL6 protein, suggesting that these miRNAs are negative regulators of carcinogenesis.

CONCLUSION

MicroRNAs could act as antagonistic ligands of TLRs limiting the inflammatory tumor microenvironment.

The impact of education level on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards COVID-19 in Edo State, Nigeria

BACKGROUND

For effective Public Health measures, factors that influence Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) need to be understood. In this paper, we document the relationship between levels of education on the KAP towards COVID-19 among the population of Edo State, Nigeria.

METHODS

A cross-sectional KAP questionnaire was delivered across 13 communities. The study population was dichotomized into those who had or had not completed secondary education. Chi-square tests were conducted to determine statistical significance.

RESULTS

Of the 538 participants, 30% had completed secondary education. Those with secondary education were significantly more likely to recognize symptoms of COVID-19 (P < 0.001). For attitudes, only one option showed a statistically significant association with 78.4% of those who did not complete secondary education having a high confidence in the church compared with 66% of those who had (P = 0.022). For practices, those who have completed secondary education practiced all of the supplied measures more than those who had not, except for taking herbal supplements.

DISCUSSION

Higher levels of education impacts on knowledge and practices but has less impact on attitudes regarding how well certain individuals/organizations can handle the pandemic. Findings highlighted the importance of tailoring public health communication and strategies to local populations to improve the efficacy.

Immunohistochemical Study of Cancer Stem Cell marker, Tight Junction Protein, and Lymphatic Density in Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors

Background: CD117/c-kit, is a powerful stem cell marker for malignant salivary gland tumors in which dysregulation of c-kit is closely associated with impairment of cell adhesion molecules and cancer metastasis. Objective: The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of c-kit, and claudin-1 and measure the density of lymph vessels (LVD) in common malignant salivary gland tumors by using podoplanin (D2-40) antibody. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical staining with streptavidin peroxidase was used to analysis the expression of c-kit, claudin-1 and stained podoplanin (D2-40) lymphatic vessels on fifty archival paraffin blocks of malignant salivary gland tumor (MSGTs) cases included 20 cases of AdCC, 11 cases of MEC, 10 cases of CXPA,              6 cases of AcCC, and 3 cases of PAC. Results: The immunopositivity of c-kit (CD117) was detected in 44/50 (88%) of studied cases, whereas, claudin-1 protein was observed in 35 (70%) of our specimens of MSGTs.  Count down of stained lymph vessels between examined cases was, MEC on the top, followed by CXPA, AdCC, PAC and AcCC. A direct correlation was observed between c-kit and lymphatic density, on the other hand, the inverse correlation was found d between c-kit and cld-1, as well as, between cld-1 and lymphatic density Conclusion: Up regulation of cancer stem cell marker c-kit (CD117) expression is associated with decrease of tight junction protein cld-1 and increase the density of stained lymphatic vessels by podoplanin (D2-40) antibody which confirms the using of c-kit inhibitor to improve treatment strategy of malignant salivary gland tumors.