Adenocarcinoma cells isolated from patients in the presence of cerium and transferrin in vitro

AIM

Cerium as a trace element in the periodic table is a member of the lanthanide group. Cerium ionic radius and its binding properties are similar to ferric ions, which may be bound to transferrin. So it can be considered as a competitive element to iron and can interfere with iron absorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of Cerium in presence of transferrin on gastric adenocarcinoma cells in vitro.

METHODS

The adenocarcinoma cells were obtained from patients after a pathological confirmation, then they were cultured in DMEM environment and cytotoxic effect of different concentrations of cerium were measured (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 µM) in the presence and absence of transferrin, on periods 24 and 48 hours by MTT and LDH cytotoxic assay.

RESULTS

The results of MTT and LDH measurements showed that Cerium itself has a cytotoxic effect on cancer cells isolated from the patient as well as it increases significantly in the presence of transferrin carrying a mortality rate of cancer cells (P <.05).

CONCLUSION

Cerium is competitive element in the mechanism of iron absorption and can interfere and inhibit the growth of adenocarcinoma cancer cells; also, the use of Cerium and transferrin simultaneously may cause a greater inhibitory effect.

Incredible antibacterial activity of noble metal functionalized magnetic core-zeolitic shell nanostructures

Functionalized magnetic core-zeolitic shell nanostructures were prepared by hydrothermal and coprecipitation methods. The products were characterized by Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The growth of mordenite nanoparticles on the surface of silica coated nickel ferrite nanoparticles in the presence of organic templates was also confirmed. Antibacterial activity of the prepared nanostructures was investigated by the inactivation of Escherichia coli as a gram negative bacterium. A new mechanism was proposed for inactivation of E. coli over the prepared samples. In addition, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and reuse ability were studied. TEM images of the destroyed cell wall after the treatment time were performed to illustrate the inactivation mechanism. According to the experimental results, the core-shell nanostructures which were modified by organic agents and then functionalized with noble metal nanoparticles were the most active. The interaction of the noble metals with the organic components on the surface of nanostructures was studied theoretically and the obtained results were used to interpret the experimental results.

Horseradish Peroxidase Immobilization on Amine Functionalized Carbon Nano Tubes: Direct Electrochemistry and Bioelectrocatalysis

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was successfully immobilized on amine functionalized TiO2-coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (NH2 TiO2 CNTs) by a convenient and efficient method. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and amperometry were applied to characterize the HRP/NH2- TiO2 - CNT nano-composite. These techniques showed that the NH2 TiO2CNTs greatly enhance the electron transfer between HRP and the modified electrode. Owing to the redox reaction of the electroactive centre of HRP, the HRP/NH2-TiO2-CNTs modified electrode exhibited a pair of quasi-reversible peaks with a peak-to-peak separation (Δ Ep) of 70.6 m V and a formal potential ( E°’) of - 367.65 m V (versus Ag/AgCl) in phosphate buffer solution. The charge transfer coefficient (a) and the apparent charge transfer rate constant (ks) were found to be 0.34 and 2.08 s-1 respectively. The prepared biosensor responded to H2O2 with a linear range, detection limit, sensitivity and response time of 1.0 × 10−9 to 1.0 × 10 −7 M, 0.786nM, 28.4 μA A nM−1 and 3 s, respectively.

Assembly of CeO2-TiO2 nanoparticles prepared in room temperature ionic liquid on graphene nanosheets for photocatalytic degradation of pollutants

CeO(2)-TiO(2) nanoparticles were prepared by the sol-gel process using 2-hydroxylethylammonium formate as room-temperature ionic liquid and calcined at different temperatures (500-700°C). CeO(2)-TiO(2)-graphene nanocomposites were prepared by hydrothermal reaction of graphene oxide with CeO(2)-TiO(2) nanoparticles in aqueous solution of ethanol. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, BET surface area, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transformed infrared techniques. The results demonstrate that the room-temperature ionic liquid inhibits the anatase-rutile phase transformation. This effect was promoted by addition of CeO(2) to TiO(2). The addition of graphene to CeO(2)-TiO(2) nanoparticles enhances electron transport and therefore impedes the charge recombination of excited TiO(2). The photodegradation results of the pollutants in aqueous medium under UV irradiation revealed that CeO(2)-TiO(2)-graphene nanocomposites exhibit much higher photocatalytic activity than CeO(2)-TiO(2) and pure TiO(2). The photocatalytic activity of CeO(2)-TiO(2)-graphene nanocomposites decreases with additional increasing of the graphene content. Moreover, comparison of the photocatalytic activities of CeO(2)-TiO(2)-graphene with the other CeO(2)-TiO(2)-carbon demonstrates that CeO(2)-TiO(2)-graphene nanocomposites have the highest photocatalytic activity due to their unique structure and electronic properties. Chemical oxygen demand for solutions of the pollutants gave a good idea about mineralization of them.

Detection and Identification of Toxoplasma gondii Type One Infection in Sheep Aborted Fetuses in Qazvin Province of Iran

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to apply the nested-PCR and bioassay methods in detection and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii infection in provided sheep aborted fetus samples from Qazvin Province of Iran.

METHODS

Eighteen sheep aborted fetal samples were studied by nested-PCR-RFLP, histopathological observation and microbiological assay. Bioassay in mice was carried out by inoculating the brain samples intraperitoneally.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated the frequency of 66% infected sheep aborted fetal samples with T. gondii type one. Although we could not isolate any parasite from inoculated mice even after three passages, but it was confirmed histopathologically formation of cyst like bodies in prepared mice brain sections.

CONCLUSION

The results of the performed nested-PCR and formation of brain cyst in inoculated mice exhibited that T. gondii type one infection might be considered as one of the major causative agents for abortion in ewes.

Photocatalytic Mechanism of Action of Apatite-Coated Ag/Agbr/Tio2 on Phenol and Escherichia Coli and Bacillus Subtilis Bacteria Under Various Conditions

Multi-component photocatalysts based on apatite-coated Ag/AgBr/TiO2 were prepared by the deposition method. The effects of various kinds of apatites, with hydroxyl and fluoro substituents, on photocatalytic activity were investigated. The antibacterial processes in the dark, and under visible light, on two types of bacteria indicate that the multi-composites can inhibit the growth of bacteria by two different mechanisms. TEM images and optical microscopic data demonstrate that by attaching the nanosize catalyst to the outer membrane of the cell, the bacteria could not derive nourishment from surrounding media, i.e. this component acts as bacteria-stal ic. The median ism for deactivation of bacteria in the dark can be related to the linkage between the phosphate group of the composite and the outer membrane of the cell. The photocatalytic destruction of bacteria under visible I ight indicates that attachment of the catalysts to the outer wall of the cell causes them to destroy effectively the cell wall and inner membrane by various reactive species such as OH, O2 - and 1O2. Thus this effect increases the photoactivity more than two-fold. Oxidation of phenol was also achieved under visible light- and UVA- irradiation using apatite-coated Ag/AgBr/TiO2 powders. Under UVA illumination, the ‘OH produced from the hole of the TiO2 valence band is responsible for the photodegradation of phenol, while under visible light, AgBr acts as the photoactive component of the catalyst, that can not produce’ OH and oxidize the phenol.

Transition metal ions effect on the properties and photocatalytic activity of nanocrystalline TiO2 prepared in an ionic liquid

TiO(2) and transition metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) doped TiO(2) nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol-gel method using 2-hydroxylethylammonium formate as an ionic liquid. All the prepared samples were calcined at 500 degrees C and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area determination, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) techniques. The studies revealed that transition metal (TM) doped nanoparticles have smaller crystalline size and higher surface area than pure TiO(2). Dopant ions in the TiO(2) structure caused significant absorption shift into the visible region. The results of photodegradation of Acid Blue92 (AB92) in aqueous medium under UV light showed that photocatalytic activity of TiO(2) nanoparticles was significantly enhanced by the presence of some transition metal ions. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) of dye solutions were done at regular intervals gave a good idea about mineralization of dye.

Development of a new live attenuated mumps virus vaccine in human diploid cells

A new live attenuated mumps vaccine was developed in human diploid cells. The S-12 virus was isolated from a 10-year-old girl showing typical symptoms of mumps infection, the diagnosis was confirmed by a pediatrician. The virus was isolated in green monkey kidney cells, without passage in chick embryo cavity or chick embryo fibroblasts. Attenuation of the wild virus was performed by serial passages in human diploid cells (MRC-5). The attenuated virus was characterized by identity tests, as well as by a reduction in plaque size, as marker tests. The virus was free from adventitious agents and safe for laboratory animals as well as for monkeys. The reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the S-12 virus for man was investigated by administration of a monovalent vaccine to 20 seronegative adult male volunteers and 30 children aged 1 to 5 years without history of mumps infection or vaccination. Seroconversion was obtained in 95% of the vaccinees. The new vaccine has the advantage of not requiring specific pathogen-free eggs, and being free from avian proteins and therefore can be used in sensitized patients.

Cryptosporidium spp. in new born lambs in Iran

In a study conducted to investigate the causes of the death of new born lambs due to diarrhoea 237 cases were studied. In 16 of these lambs necropsied at four to 10 days old organisms considered to be Cryptosporidia at various stages of its life-cycle were associated with the luminal surface of the epithelium of the intestinal tract. The histopathology and the mechanism of the diarrhoea caused by the parasite and the resulting deaths are discussed.