Synthesis and its characterisation of selenium/silver/chitosan and cellular toxicity against liver carcinoma cells studies

Liver cancer is one of the most common lethal malignancy in the world. To treat liver cancer, new cure options are crucial. The use of natural substances along nanosciences may provide healing with lower toxicity and a smaller amount of side properties. In this research, The three-component selenium-silver-chitosan nanocomposite (Se-Ag-CS NCs) were synthesised with the help of ultrasound in a stepwise manner. The as-synthesised Se-Ag-CS NCs were characterised accordingly by applying powder X-Ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and potential. The PXRD demonstrated that the NCs were synthesised successfully and the grain sizes of 27.3 were obtained. The FESEM and TEM analyses have shown the NCs have a nano-sized structure with spherical and rod-like morphologies in a coating of CS. The DLS analysis also revealed that NCs were synthesised in nanoscale particles. The NCs' surface charge was also positive due to the presence of chitosan. Different concentrations of NCs (0, 0.125, 0.250, 0.500, and 1 mg/ml) were tested at different times (24, 48, and 72 h) to measure cytotoxicity against liver cancer cells. The results showed at a concentration of 1 mg/mL in 72 h, the most toxicity effects were applied to liver cancer cells. Moreover, the results indicated NCs can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, while the toxicity of nanocomposite on normal cells was less. It is important to create nanocomposites derived from natural polymers as a new strategy in cancer treatment that can fight cancer cells while having low toxicity for normal cells. Therefore, the present results can be considered in improving cancer-fighting methods.

Prevalence, genotypes and phylogenetic analysis of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in northeast Iran

OBJECTIVES

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the main etiology of invasive cervical cancer. Together HPV and viral hepatitis account for the cause of 25% of cancers in developing countries. To evaluate the association between population movements and the spread of HPV, this study looked at prevalence, genotypes, and phylogenetic assessment of HPV in Great Khorasan, a pilgrimage-tourism province in northeast Iran.

METHODS

From March 2013 to July 2018, 567 samples were collected from three groups in Khorasan: Razavi and North Khorasan provinces (highly mobile population); South Khorasan province (conservative and desert); and diverse group (tourists).

RESULTS

HPV prevalence was 48.4% in Razavi and North Khorasan (first group); 19.9% in South Khorasan (second group); and 33.6% in the diverse group. The four most common HPV genotypes were HPV-6, 11, 51 and 16, in the first group; HPV-6, 11, 16 and 58 in the second group; and HPV-6, 11, 16 and 53/89 in the diverse group. The most frequent genotypes that are known as high risk for cervical cancer were HPV-51 in the first group, HPV-16 in the second group and the diverse group. Among low-risk genotypes, HPV-6, and HPV-11 were more frequent in all groups. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 20 HPV-positive samples showed that the distributions of the HPV genotypes were HPV-6 (50%), 11 (10%), 67 (5%), 16 (15%), 31 (10%), 54 (5%), and 89 (5%).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings show that areas associated with population movement should be frequently monitored for infectious diseases, while conservative and less populated areas have less risk for virus spread and endemicity. Health authorities should focus more on the establishment of HPV diagnostic facilities, screening, vaccination, and enhancement of public knowledge in these regions.

Prediction of HCV load using genotype, liver biomarkers, and clinical symptoms by a mathematical model in patients with HCV infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem with about 1.75 million new HCV cases and 71 million chronic HCV infections worldwide. The study aimed to evaluate clinical, serological, molecular, and liver markers to develop a mathematical predictive model for the quantification of the HCV viral load in chronic HCV infected patients. In this cross-sectional study, blood samples were taken from 249 recently diagnosed HCV-infected subjects and were tested for liver condition, viral genotype, and HCV RNA load. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and multiple linear regression analysis were used to predict the HCV-RNA load. Genotype 3 followed by genotype 1 were the most prevalent genotypes in Mashhad, Northeastern Iran. The maximum levels of viral load were detected in the mixed genotype group, and the lowest levels in the undetectable genotype group. The log of the HCV viral load was significantly associated with thrombocytopenia and higher serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT). In addition, the log HCV RNA was significantly higher in patients with arthralgia, fatigue, fever, vomiting, or dizziness. Moreover, genotype 3 was significantly associated with icterus. A ROC curve analysis revealed that the best cut-off points for serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were >31, >34, and ≤246 IU/L, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values for AST were 87.7%, 84.36%, and 44.6%, for ALT they were 83.51%, 81.11%, and 36%, and for ALP were 72.06%, 42.81%, and 8.3%, respectively. A mathematical regression model was developed that could estimate the HCV-RNA load. Regression model: log viral load = 7.69 - 1.01 × G3 - 0.7 × G1 + 0.002 × ALT - 0.86 × fatigue.

Interferon Lambda Family along with HTLV-1 Proviral Load, Tax, and HBZ Implicated in the Pathogenesis of Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis

HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease related to human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection. Interferon type III (IFN-λ), which includes IL28, IL29, and IL28R, and affects the outcome of viral infections, might be complicated in the progression of HAM/TSP. Here, we investigated the host-virus interactions in the manifestation of HAM/TSP, using IL28B, IL29, IL28R, HTLV-1 Tax, HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ), and proviral load (PVL). The study groups consisted of 20 patients with HAM/TSP, 20 asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers (ACs), and 20 healthy controls (HCs). The means of PVL, Tax, and HBZ gene expressions in the HAM/TSP group (p = 0.004, 0.006, and < 0.0001, respectively) were significantly higher than in the AC group. The comparison of IL28B, IL29, and IL28R expression in the HAM/TSP, AC, and HC groups revealed no significant difference between the first 2, but lower concentrations in the HCs (IL28B: p = 0.03, 0.01; IL29: p = 0.07, 0.01; and IL28R: p < 0.0001, respectively). In the HAM/TSP group, correlations were seen between Tax and HBZ (R = 0.61, p = 0.004) and between Tax and IL29 (R = 0.45, p = 0.04). Negative correlations were observed between Tax and IL28B (R = -0.49, p = 0.02) and between HBZ and IL28R (R = -0.43, p = 0.06). In the ACs, an inverse correlation was found between Tax and IL28B (R = -0.42, p = 0.06). These findings suggest that IL29, IL28B, and IL28R interfere in the infection of HAM/TSP, mainly via Tax activation.