The effects of Nobiletin, Hesperetin, and Letrozole in a combination on the activity and expression of aromatase in breast cancer cells

Nobiletin (NOB) and hesperetin (HES) are the citrus polymethoxyflavone and flavonone. Aromatase or cytochrome P450 (CYP19) enzyme is a key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis. The objective of this study was to investigate the combinational effects of HES, NOB and letrozole (LET) as aromatase inhibitors on the activity and expression of aromatase in MCF-7 cells. In this study, aromatase enzyme activity based on the conversion of androgen substrate testosterone to 17β-Estradiol was determined. Estradiol concentrations were measured using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. CYP19 gene expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Our findings demonstrated that none of combinations including LET+NOB, LET+HES, LET+NOB+HES, and NOB+HES had no significant effects on aromatase activity and expression. The present study showed for the first time that the combination of HES, NOB, and LET had no effects on activity and expression of aromatase in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

The effect of educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior aimed at mothers on osteoporosis prevention behaviors in lower secondary school female students

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is mainly characterized by a low bone mineral density and a sharp architectural and biomechanical deterioration in bone tissue required to maintain bone homeostasis. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) can be considered as one of the leading theories when designing an evidence-based intervention. This study was carried out based on the TPB to determine the effect of an educational intervention aimed at mothers on the prevention of osteoporosis in female students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of seventy mothers of lower secondary school students in Tehran, Iran, participated in this experimental study which was conducted in 2019-2020. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups, namely experimental and control groups. Based on the TPB, a demographic and a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of five sections were used in order to collect data. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires were confirmed before data collection. Four 45-60 min training programs were delivered to the subjects using the TPB. Data were collected before, immediately after, and 1 month following the training program. Finally, IBM SPSS Statistics 21 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in terms of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and osteoporosis prevention-related behavior between the experimental and control groups before proceeding with the intervention (P > 0.05). However, the mean scores of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and behavior were significantly higher in the experimental group compared to those of the control group following the educational intervention (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that such interventions based on the TPB can, in fact, produce a significant effect on osteoporosis prevention-related behaviors. Thus, it can serve as a useful model for planning educational interventions.

The individual or combinational effects of Hesperetin and Letrozole on the activity and expression of aromatase in MCF-7 cells

Aromatase catalyzes the last and rate-limiting step in estrogen biosynthesis. Inhibition of estrogen production is a common strategy for breast cancer treatment. Citrus flavonoids have been confirmed to exhibit efficacious biological activities, particularly in cancer therapy. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of hesperetin on the activity and expression of aromatase and compare this property with letrozole as an aromatase inhibitor in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays in this study demonstrated that hesperetin at a concentration of 200 μM decreased cell viability in a time dependent manner (P<0.05). Aromatase activity assay, based on 17β-Estradiol (E2) production from testosterone, revealed that hesperetin had no effect. Real-time PCR results indicated that treatment with 1μM concentration of hesperetin for 48 h significantly decreased relative aromatase expression (P =0.004). Combination of letrozole and hesperetin also had no effect on aromatase. The changes in activity paralleled the expression of aromatase. Likely, the reduction in aromatase activity was delayed in time along with the reduction in expression ratio; however additional studies are needed to confirm this. In conclusion, the present study showed that hesperetin could decrease expression of aromatase at low concentrations in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Study of intraventricular hemorrhage in VLBW neonates admitted in Al-Zahra Hospital, Tabriz, Iran

INTRODUCTION AND AIM

Intra-ventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is an important predictor of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. IVH risk factor identification may conduct improvement of quality of care in neonatal intensive care units. The aim of the current study was to determine possible risk factors associated with IVH in VLBW neonates admitted in our hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All neonates with birth weight below 1500 gr admitted to NICU. Cranial ultrasonography was done for premature neonates weighed <1000 g in 3 to 5 days and in 1 month again. In premature infants weighed >1000 g, sonography was done in 7 days and 30 days of life respectively. If there is any conditions such as apnea, seizure, significant decrease in level of hemoglobin, increased head circumference, increased oxygen consumption, and other significant changes another sonography was done again. Exclusion criteria were cerebral malformations, metabolic disturbances, chromosomal anomalies, central nervous system infection, and genetic syndromes. Data was analyzed by SPSS ver 16.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA).

RESULTS

In this study 64 cases with IVH and without IVH were included. Mean of gestational age was 28.78 +/- 12.08. From neonates, 54.6% were boys and 45.4% were girls. Vaginal delivery and cesarean section was done in 56 (32.2%) and 118 (67.8%) cases respectively. Mean +/- SD of pH in cases with IVH and without IVH was 7.19 +/- 0.22 and 7.30 +/- 0.12 respectively (p = 0.001). Mean ISD of pco2 in cases with IVH and without IVH was 65.15 +/- 29.89 and 49.88 +/- 40.89 respectively(p = 0.001). Mean of 5th min APGAR score in patients required CPR was 7.36 +/- 1.57 and in patients without CPR was 8.68 +/- 1.25 (P = 0.001). From cases with IVH, hydrocephaly was detected in 20 cases. From cases without IVH, hydrocephaly was detected in 6 cases. Result of chi-square show significant correlation between IVH and prematurity (chi2 = 21.94, df=1, P < 0.001). From cases with IVH, 18 cases (28.1%) expired. From cases without IVH, 11 cases (10%) expired (chi2 = 9.398, df=1, P = 0.002). Results of chi-square test showed that there were a corelation between IVH and PDA, pressure support, surfactant therapy drug administration, vaginal delivery, neonatal resuscitation, and antenatal corticosteroid therapy (p < 0.05). Hyaline membrane disease, history of preclampsia in mother was significantly higher in cases without IVH (chi-square, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PDA, pressure support, surfactant therapy, inotrop drug administration, vaginal delivery, neonatal resuscitation, and antenatal corticosteroid therapy were significantly higher in cases with IVH. Hyaline membrane disease and preeclampsia in mother was significantly higher in cases without IVH.

Multi-variate multi-objective optimization of production conditions for electro-spun skin scaffold using RSM and investigation of gamma irradiation effects on the properties of the optimized sample

Developing electro-spun scaffolds with ideal mechanical properties for skin purposes can profit from using the Response Surface Methodology technique to define and optimize the outcome quality and required sterilization for use in vivo. This study investigated the effects of four main independent electrospinning variables for polycaprolactone nanofibers scaffold using multi-variable and multi-objective optimization. It was done to determine significant parameters on responses and find optimal conditions to reach the preferred properties. Young's modulus, elongation-at-break, and tensile strength were the responses. After obtaining appropriate models, the impact share of variables on the responses was determined using Sobol sensitivity analysis. The results showed that flow rate is the most significant parameter of elastic modulus and tensile strength responses, with 76.45 % and 41.27 % impact shares, respectively. The polymer concentration is the following significant parameter on elongation at break, tensile strength and, Young's modulus responses with 64.35 %, 39.485 and, 14.28 % impact share, respectively. Based on the optimized results, a skin scaffold with desired mechanical properties was achieved (under solution concentration of 10 % w/v, flow rate of 2 mL/h, nuzzle-collector distance of 15 cm, and applied voltage of 20 kV). Then it was sterilized with gamma radiation of various doses (25, 40, and 55 kGy) to use in vivo. The SEM analysis indicated no significant change in fibrous morphology due to gamma irradiation at any dosage. FTIR analysis demonstrated the breakup of ester bonds due to gamma irradiation. For samples irradiated by 25 kGy, the crystallinity percentage decreased and chains crosslinking without losing the mechanical stability was dominant. The studies demonstrated that 25 kGy of gamma irradiation could improve the mechanical properties of the optimized PCL skin scaffold, which is very promising for wound healing.