Background: The application of non-viral systems for delivering genes to cells is becoming a very interesting issue, especially in the treatment of neoplasms such as Breast Cancer (BC). Polymer-based non-viral systems are safe and feasible gene carriers to be used in targeted cancer therapy. SALL4 gene encodes a transcription factor and is overexpressed in some cancers.
Methods: In this study, carboxyalkylated-PEI25 (25 kDa) was used to deliver plasmids expressing SALL4-siRNA into MCF-7 cells. DLS and AFM were applied to determine the size of nanoparticles. The MTT method was used to assess cytotoxicity, and the efficiency of transfection was confirmed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Finally, the effect of silencing SALL4 was investigated on the migration of MCF7 cells using the scratch test.
Results: The results showed that transferring the SALL4-siRNA using PEI25G10C50 reduced the expression of the corresponding transcription factor by 14 folds which attenuated the migration of MCF-7 cells by 58%.
Conclusion: In conclusion, PEI25G10C50 can serve as an effective gene delivery system for treating BC by targeting SALL-4.
Treatment with anticancer drugs such as cyclophosphamide can harm the male reproductive system. Vitamin C and zinc are micronutrients with antioxidant activity and are the essential components of semen. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether cyclophosphamide-exposed mice can recover from fertility with vitamin C and zinc therapy.
In this experimental study, fifty male mice were divided into five groups. Groups 1-4 received cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg, once a week for eight weeks). Also, group 2 received zinc (200 mg/kg), group 3 received vitamin C (300 mg/kg), group 4 received zinc and vitamin C (200 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, respectively), five times per week for eight weeks, and group 5 received normal saline once a week and water five days a week for eight weeks. The data collected were statistically analyzed using SPSS 22.
Results showed a significant increase in mount latency and a significant decrease in the number of sperms in the cyclophosphamide group compared to the control group. However, mount latency has been significantly decreased in mice treated with cyclophosphamide plus zinc compared to the cyclophosphamide group. The study also showed that the sperm count in the group that received cyclophosphamide and zinc had been increased compared to the cyclophosphamide group; the other treatments have decreased mount latency and increased the sperm count compared to the group treated with cyclophosphamide but not significantly. The Tubule Differentiation Index showed an increase in the cyclophosphamide-Zinc-Vitamin C group in comparison with the cyclophosphamide group.
The current study showed that zinc could improve cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity of the reproductive system in male mice.
Background & Objective: There is a worldwide trend towards substitute synthetic antioxidants with natural alternatives to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as ulcerative colitis (UC). This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Dracocephalum kotschyi extract on tissue injury and oxidative stress in an aceticacid induced colitis model.Materials & Methods: 48 male Wistar rats were allocated to 6 groups: healthy control, colitis control, and 4 treatment groups which administrated 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg of D. kotschyi extract respectively, and 200 mg/kg sulfasalazine once daily for 8 days after colitis induced. Colitis severity was assessed using histologic and macroscopic changes of damaged colon, and enzymatic antioxidant activities like superoxide dismutase (SOD), total thiol (-SH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipid peroxidation marker MDA (malondialdehyde) were evaluated.Results: D. kotschyi extract (50mg/kg) decreased colonic macroscopic and histological damage scores, which were accompanied by a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation, and an increase in colonic antioxidant markers.
Conclusion:The results suggest that D. kotschyi extract is effective against oxidative bowel damages induced in IBD and its beneficial effect is, at least in part, due to its antioxidant properties.
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