BackgroundResistance of breast cancer cells to the available chemotherapeutics is a major obstacle to successful treatment. Recent studies have shown that magnetic nanoparticles might have significant application in different medical fields including cancer treatment. The goal of this study is to verify the ability of magnetic nanoparticles to sensitize cancer cells to the clinically available chemotherapy.MethodsThe role of iron oxide nanoparticles, static magnetic field, or a combination in the enhancement of the apoptotic potential of doxorubicin against the resistant breast cancer cells, MCF-7 was evaluated using the MTT assay and the propidium iodide method.ResultsIn the present study, results revealed that pre-incubation of MCF-7 cells with iron oxide nanoparticles before the addition of doxorubicin did not enhance doxorubicin-induced growth inhibition. Pre-incubation of MCF-7 cells with iron oxide nanoparticles followed by a static magnetic field exposure significantly (P < 0.05) increased doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity. Sensitization with pre-exposure to the magnetic field was dose-dependent where the highest cytotoxicity was seen at 1 tesla. Further experiments revealed that the anti-proliferative effect of this treatment procedure is due to induction of apoptotic cell death.ConclusionsThese results might point to the importance of combining magnetic nanoparticles with a static magnetic field in treatment of doxorubicin-refractory breast cancer cells.

The chemical, functional and sensory properties of carob juice compared with grape juice were evaluated. Composition results showed that carob pods contained high concentrations of carbohydrate and phytochemicals, moderate amounts of proteins and fiber, and low amounts of fat and ash. Phytochemical results showed that carob particle and powder juices had significantly higher total phenolic (19.8 and 20.3 mg gallic acid equivalent [GAE]/g, respectively) and tannin (4.3 and 4.5 mg catechin equivalents [CE]/g, respectively) contents than grape juice (6.2 mg GAE/g and 0.43 mg CE/g), while grape juice was higher in IC50 (10.8 mg/ mL) than carob particles and powder juices (9.1 and 9.4 mg/mL, respectively). Descriptive results showed minor differences between grape and carob juices. In terms of consumer evaluation, the carob juices were similar to grape juice despite small differences especially in carob particle juice. Although carob juice is not traditionally considered as grape juice, it was found to be of acceptable overall quality.

Honey samples representing 12 different Mediterranean floral sources in Jordan were investigated for their phytochemical compounds and color. The floral composition (% pollen), total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant activity, anthocyanins and color varied between locations. Total phenolics were highest (86.3 mg GAE/100 g) in the multifloral summer honey from Sarrout location and lowest (33.7 mg GAE/100 g) in the early spring harvest from the Jordan Valley. The flavonoid, anthocyanins and antioxidant activities were highest in summer honey from Umm Alyanabea location (4.6 mg/100 g, 4.1 mg/100 g and IC50 = 24.5 mg/mL, respectively) and were lowest in the early spring honey harvest from the Jordan Valley. The colors of Jordanian honey were visually noticeable, varying from yellowish, yellowish green to darker colors. Significant differences existed in the phytochemical compounds in different honey samples from different Mediterranean areas in Jordan. These differences mainly depended on floral sources. Practical Applications Honey is a natural product produced primarily from the nectar secreted by flowering plants gathered and processed by the honeybee (Apis millifera). It is an important and unique food product containing bioactive compounds derived from plant nectar or added by bees, and these compounds are known to act as natural antioxidants that play an important role in food preservation and human health through combating damage caused by oxidizing agents. Honey collected from different nectar of plant flower species contains different levels of phenolics that possess antioxidant activity, so different honey properties were expected since the composition of active compounds in honey from different locations should be different. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the bioactive compounds and color of honeys obtained from various plant vegetations in the arid and semiarid Mediterranean areas in Jordan.

Passive administration of broadly neutralizing anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antibodies (bNAbs) has been recently suggested as a promising alternative therapeutic approach for HIV-1 infection. Although the success behind the studies that used this approach has been attributed to the potency and neutralization breadth of anti-HIV-1 antibodies, several lines of evidence support the idea that specific antibody-dependent effector functions, particularly antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), play a critical role in controlling HIV-1 infection. In this review, we showed that there is a direct association between the activation of ADCC and better clinical outcomes. This, in turn, suggests that ADCC could be harnessed to control HIV-1 infection. To this end, we addressed the passive administration of bNAbs capable of selectively activating ADCC responses to HIV-1 patients. Finally, we summarized the potential barriers that may impede the optimal activation of ADCC during HIV-1 infection and provided strategic solutions to overcome these barriers.

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