Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a therapeutic method in which photon energy is transformed into heat rapidly via different operations to extirpate cancer. Nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have exceptional optical absorbance in visible and near infrared spectra. Therefore, they could be a good converter to induce hyperthermia in PTT technique. In our study, for improving the dispersibility of multiwalled CNTs in water, the CNTs were oxidized (O-CNTs) and then polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used for wrapping the surface of nanotubes. The formation of a thin layer of PEG around the nanotubes was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, and field emission scanning electron microscopy techniques. Results of thermogravimetric analysis showed that the amount of PEG component in the O-CNT-PEG was approximately 80% (w/w). Cell cytotoxicity study showed that O-CNT was less cytotoxic than pristine multiwalled nanotubes, and O-CNT-PEG had the lowest toxicity against HeLa and HepG2 cell lines. The effect of O-CNT-PEG in reduction of melanoma tumor size after PTT was evaluated. Cancerous mice were exposed to a continuous-wave near infrared laser diode (λ=808 nm, P =2 W and I =8 W/cm 2 ) for 10 minutes once in the period of the treatment. The average size of tumor in mice receiving O-CNT-PEG decreased sharply in comparison with those that received laser therapy alone. Results of animal studies indicate that O-CNT-PEG is a powerful candidate for eradicating solid tumors in PTT technique.

Background:The prevalence rate of gastric infections caused by Helicobacter pylori is different in between as well as within various countries, including Iran.Objectives:This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori in Iranian adult patients with dyspepsia.Patients and Methods:A total of 548 patients with dyspepsia referred to Namazi Hospital, a referral center for gastrointestinal diseases in Shiraz, south of Iran, were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. The diagnosis of dyspepsia was based on clinical findings. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed for all the patients and two antral biopsies were taken from all the included ones. The patients were categorized based on the endoscopic findings, to four groups:normal,abnormal nonulcerative,ulcerative, andcombination of 2 and 3.Two positive test results (Gram staining, rapid urease test, and culture) was considered as a positive-definite H. pylori infection for each patient.Results:From the 548 included patients (238 males and 310 females), H. pylori was detected in 170 (31.2%). The mean age was 40.38 ± 15.39 years old. H. pylori infection was detected in 26.1% of male and 34.8% of female patients and its prevalence increased with age. Eighty three (48.8%) patients were positive for H. pylori infection, of which, 12.4% had normal and 36.4% had abnormal nonulcerative endoscopic findings; 17.1% of patients were ulcerative and 34.1% had ulcer with or without concurrent abnormality.Conclusions:Findings from this study showed a lower prevalence of H. pylori infection than other studies and its prevalence increased with age. There was no association between sex and infection. The most common endoscopic abnormality in H. pylori-positive patients was ulcerative lesion.

Purpose: Plasmonic photo thermal therapy (PPTT) is a therapeutic method in which the photon energy is rapidly transformed into heat via a series of radiative and non-radiative phenomena to ablate cancer. Plasmonic NPs, such as silver NPs (Ag NPs), have considerable properties in optical absorbance. Furthermore, good thermal conductivity and cell penetration ability of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could improve the efficacy of Ag NPs for PPTT. Decoration of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with silver has been developed to enhance thermal conductivity of the MWCNT particles.Methods: The Ag NPs were decorated on the CNTs and the ability of these particles (CNT/Ag NPs) in reduction of melanoma tumor size after PTT was evaluated experimentally. For comparison, the PTT of silver nanorods (Ag NRs) and CNTs were investigated. The melanoma tumor was induced by injection of B16/F10 cell line to the inbred mice. Different NPs were injected into the tumors and then irradiated via laser diode (λ=670 nm, P=500 mW, and I= 3.5 W/cm2) at scheduled time.Results: Monitoring of tumor sizes showed that integration of CNTs with silver could enhance the optical absorption of CNTs and improve tumor destruction in PPTT technique.Conclusion: The CNT/Ag NPs could act as a potent agent in PPTT method in curing solid tumors.

Background. Ulcerative colitis is a worldwide chronic gastrointestinal disease characterized by variable extensions of colon mucosal inflammation. The available drugs have an incomplete response with various side effects and socioeconomic impacts. Aloe barbadensis Miller (Aloe vera) is a well-known medicinal plant with diverse pharmacological and therapeutic activities. As a result, in the current study, Aloe vera was selected to evaluate its therapeutic effects on experimental colitis in rats. Methods. This study is intended to evaluate the possible beneficial effect of Aloe vera for the treatment of experimental colitis. Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) was used to induce experimental colitis in 60 of 70 Wistar rats. The rats were grouped in 7 clusters including healthy control, negative, positive control (received sulfasalazine), and test groups treated with Aloe vera extracts via oral or rectal routes. Macroscopic and histologic factors as well as the biochemical parameters were evaluated on day 7. Results. In the present study, it was found that serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (75 vs. 44 pg./ml), interleukin-6 (41 vs. 21 pg/ml), and nitric oxide (24 vs. 6 μm/ml) in TNBS-induced untreated colitis treatment were significantly increased as compared to healthy control. Similar patterns were also observed in malondialdehyde (76.41 vs. 236.35 μg/mg) and myeloperoxidase (4.24 vs. 29.38 U/mg) in colonic tissue. Among different treatments, rectal administration of Aloe vera extract (400 mg/kg) exhibited the best result in which serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (55 pg/ml), interleukin-6 (24 pg/ml), and nitric oxide (10 μm/ml) and the levels of malondialdehyde (102.67 μg/mg), as well as myeloperoxidase (12.29 U/mg) in colon tissue, were reduced as compared to the untreated group. Also, the body weight and colon weight/length ratios were more improved in the treated group with 400 mg/kg Aloe vera extract, rectally. Conclusion. Aloe vera extract exhibited a therapeutic effect in TNBS-induced colitis, and local, rectal administration of Aloe vera extract was more effective than oral administration.

No abstract

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma is a rare soft tissue tumor which has been mostly reported in lower extremities; however, it can also occur in other parts of the body such as head and neck and abdominal wall, but its occurrence in the abdominal cavity and mesentery of bowel is an extremely rare event and has very rarely been reported. Herein, we report our experience with a 24-year-old lady with a huge mesenteric mass, turned out to be low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma. This case is the largest one reported in the English literature. We will also discuss about the previously reported cases of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma in the English literature.

No abstract

No abstract