Agent For Treatment Research Articles

Anticancer Potential of Valencia Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Skin Extract against Cervical Cancer Cells In Vitro and in Nude Mouse Xenograft Models.

This study investigated the impact of Valencia KK4-type peanut skin ethanolic extract (KK4-PSE) combined with cisplatin or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on HeLa cells in vitro and in xenograft models. At exposure times of 24, 48 and 72 h, KK4-PSE inhibited the growth of HeLa cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 79.43 ± 0.54, 55.55 ± 1.57 and 41.32 ± 0.74 µg/mL, respectively. Drug interactions evaluated by the Chou-Talalay method demonstrated that KK4-PSE enhanced antiproliferative activity of 5-FU against HeLa cells with combination index (CI) values of 0.49 (48 h) and 0.60 (72 h), indicating a synergistic effect, while KK4-PSE combined with cisplatin exhibited an additive effect (CI = 1.02) at 72 h, and an antagonistic effect at 24 and 48 h exposures (CI = 1.12 and 1.18, respectively). In nude mouse xenograft models, the combination of 5-FU and KK4-PSE markedly reduced HeLa tumor weights compared with the control and single agent treatments groups. The combination of KK4-PSE and 5-FU achieved greater tumor growth inhibition than that of the KK4-PSE-cisplatin combination. KK4-PSE mitigated hepatotoxicity induced by both cisplatin and 5-FU in nude mice. The spleen hyaloserositis was significantly reduced in the combination treatment of 5-FU and KK4-PSE. These results suggest that KK4-PSE has the potential to limit cervical cancer cell proliferation while reducing the toxicity of cisplatin and 5-FU.

Unlocking milk thistle’s anti-psoriatic potential in mice: Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR and KEAP1/NRF2/NF-κB pathways to modulate inflammation and oxidative stress

Silybum marianum, known as milk thistle (MT), is traditionally used to manage liver diseases. This study aimed to investigate the role of MT extract topical application as a potential treatment for imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic lesions in mice with particular emphasis on phosphoinositol-3 Kinase (PI3K)/ protein kinase B (AKT)/ mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)/ nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor (NRF2)/ nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) molecular cascades involvement. To address this aim, forty male Swiss albino mice were subdivided into four groups (n = 10 mice/group): control, IMQ model, standard group where mice were treated topically with IMQ, then the anti-psoriatic mometasone cream, and MT extract-treated group where mice were treated topically with IMQ followed by MT extract. In most measured parameters, MT extract, rich in silymarin, exhibited potent anti-psoriatic activity comparable to the standard cortisone treatment. MT extract mitigated dorsal skin erythema, scaling, and epidermal thickening, reflected by lowering the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. Moreover, it alleviated IMQ-induced splenomegaly. Mechanistically, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was the main functional pathway behind such improvements, where it was significantly inhibited by MT extract application. This led to NRF2 activation via KEAP1 downregulation with subsequent anti-inflammatory effect proven by reducing NF-κB, interleukin (IL)–23, and IL-17A and antioxidant ability proven by boosting the antioxidant glutathione and heme oxygenase-1. Such improvements were confirmed by alleviating the histopathological alteration. Thus, MT extract could be a promising therapeutic agent for psoriasis treatment by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascade, along with NRF2 signaling activation.

Theranostics Using MCM-41-Based Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Integrating Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Novel Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Treatment.

Advanced breast cancer remains a significant oncological challenge, requiring new approaches to improve clinical outcomes. This study investigated an innovative theranostic agent using the MCM-41-NH2-DTPA-Gd3⁺-MIH nanomaterial, which combined MRI imaging for detection and a novel chemotherapy agent (MIH 2.4Bl) for treatment. The nanomaterial was based on the mesoporous silica type, MCM-41, and was optimized for drug delivery via functionalization with amine groups and conjugation with DTPA and complexation with Gd3+. MRI sensitivity was enhanced by using gadolinium-based contrast agents, which are crucial in identifying early neoplastic lesions. MIH 2.4Bl, with its unique mesoionic structure, allows effective interactions with biomolecules that facilitate its intracellular antitumoral activity. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the nanomaterial synthesis and effective drug incorporation, with 15% of MIH 2.4Bl being adsorbed. Drug release assays indicated that approximately 50% was released within 8 h. MRI phantom studies demonstrated the superior imaging capability of the nanomaterial, with a relaxivity significantly higher than that of the commercial agent Magnevist. In vitro cellular cytotoxicity assays, the effectiveness of the nanomaterial in killing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells was demonstrated at an EC50 concentration of 12.6 mg/mL compared to an EC50 concentration of 68.9 mg/mL in normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). In vivo, MRI evaluation in a 4T1 syngeneic mouse model confirmed its efficacy as a contrast agent. This study highlighted the theranostic capabilities of MCM-41-NH2-DTPA-Gd3⁺-MIH and its potential to enhance breast cancer management.

Design and Discovery of New Collagen V-Derived FGF2-Blocking Natural Peptides Inhibiting Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Vitro and In Vivo.

Aberrant FGF2/FGFR signaling is implicated in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), posing treatment challenges due to the lack of targeted therapeutic options. Designing drugs that block FGF2 signaling presents a promising strategy different from traditional kinase inhibitors. We previously reported a ColVα1-derived fragment, HEPV (127AA), that inhibits FGF2-induced angiogenesis. However, its large size may limit therapeutic application. This study combines rational peptide design, molecular dynamics simulations, knowledge-based prediction, and GUV and FRET assays to identify smaller peptides with FGF2-blocking properties. We synthesized two novel peptides, HBS-P1 (45AA) and HBS-P2 (66AA), that retained the heparin-binding site. Both peptides demonstrated anti-LSCC and antiangiogenesis properties in cell viability and microvessel network induction assays. In two LSCC subcutaneous models, HBS-P1, with its affinity for FGF2 and enhanced penetration ability, demonstrated substantial therapeutic potential without apparent toxicities. Our study provides the first evidence supporting the development of collagen V-derived natural peptides as FGF2-blocking agents for LSCC treatment.

Recent Advances on Pt-Based Compounds for Theranostic Applications.

Since the discovery of cisplatin's antitumoral activity and its approval as an anticancer drug, significant efforts have been made to enhance its physiological stability and anticancer efficacy and to reduce its side effects. With the rapid development of targeted and personalized therapies, and the promising theranostic approach, platinum drugs have found new opportunities in more sophisticated systems. Theranostic agents combine diagnostic and therapeutic moieties in one scaffold, enabling simultaneous disease monitoring, therapy delivery, response tracking, and treatment efficacy evaluation. In these systems, the platinum core serves as the therapeutic agent, while the functionalized ligand provides diagnostic tools using various imaging techniques. This review aims to highlight the significant role of platinum-based complexes in theranostic applications, and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first focused contribution on this type of platinum compounds. This review presents a brief introduction to the development of platinum chemotherapeutic drugs, their limitations, and resistance mechanisms. It then describes recent advancements in integrating platinum complexes with diagnostic agents for both tumor treatment and monitoring. The main body is organized into three categories based on imaging techniques: fluorescence, positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Finally, this review outlines promising strategies and future perspectives in this evolving field.

Intra‐arterial Selective Bevacizumab Administration in the Middle Meningeal Artery for Chronic Subdural Hematoma: An Early Experience in 12 Hemispheres

Background Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) has a rising incidence associated with an increasing burden of disability and mortality worldwide. Vascular endothelial growth factor plays an integral role in the inflammation and formation of subdural membranes responsible for the origin and propagation of cSDH. We report an early experience of intra‐arterial bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor antagonist, to the middle meningeal artery of 12 hemispheres in 8 patients with cSDH. Methods Eight patients with either unilateral or bilateral cSDH received intra‐arterial infusion of 2 mg/kg bevacizumab into the middle meningeal artery of each treated hemisphere. The primary outcome was hematoma recurrence or reaccumulation requiring surgical drainage or middle meningeal artery embolization within 3 months posttreatment. Results Of 12 hemispheres treated, no treatment‐related complications were reported. Median duration of follow‐up was 5 months (interquartile range 3–7.5). By 3 months posttreatment, no patients experienced hematoma recurrence or reaccumulation. One patient required concurrent evacuation at the time of bevacizumab administration. There were no major strokes or mortality within 3 months. Four hemispheres (33.3%) demonstrated complete radiographic hematoma resolution by 3 months. All hemispheres achieved 50% reduction in hematoma size by 3 months. Conclusion For all hemispheres treated, there was no hematoma recurrence or progression requiring surgical drainage or middle meningeal artery embolization within 3 months except 1 who required concurrent evacuation 24 hours after treatment. Our initial experience supports bevacizumab as a novel, potentially viable agent for cSDH treatment in select patients. Future studies in larger cohorts are necessary to confirm efficacy and safety and appropriate dosing.

Opportunities to Improve Antibiotic Prescribing for Adults With Acute Sinusitis, United States, 2016-2020.

Better understanding differences associated with antibiotic prescribing for acute sinusitis can help inform antibiotic stewardship strategies. We characterized antibiotic prescribing patterns for acute sinusitis among commercially insured adults and explored differences by patient- and prescriber-level factors. Outpatient encounters among adults aged 18 to 64 years diagnosed with sinusitis between 2016 and 2020 were identified by national administrative claims data. We classified antibiotic agents-first-line (amoxicillin-clavulanate or amoxicillin) and second-line (doxycycline, levofloxacin, or moxifloxacin)-and ≤7-day durations as guideline concordant based on clinical practice guidelines. Modified Poisson regression was used to examine the association between patient- and prescriber-level factors and guideline-concordant antibiotic prescribing. Among 4 689 850 sinusitis encounters, 53% resulted in a guideline-concordant agent, 30% in a guideline-discordant agent, and 17% in no antibiotic prescription. About 75% of first-line agents and 63% of second-line agents were prescribed for >7 days, exceeding the length of therapy recommended by clinical guidelines. Adults with sinusitis living in a rural area were less likely to receive a prescription with guideline-concordant antibiotic selection (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 0.92; 95% CI, .92-.92) and duration (aRR, 0.77; 95% CI, .76-.77). When compared with encounters in an office setting, urgent care encounters were less likely to result in a prescription with a guideline-concordant duration (aRR, 0.76; 95% CI, .75-.76). Opportunities still exist to optimize antibiotic agent selection and treatment duration for adults with acute sinusitis, especially in rural areas and urgent care settings. Recognizing specific patient- and prescriber-level factors associated with antibiotic prescribing can help inform antibiotic stewardship interventions.

Synthesis of Dual-Responsive Amphiphilic Glycomacromolecules: Controlled Release of Glycan Ligands via pH and UV Stimuli.

This work presents a versatile strategy for the synthesis of dual stimuli-responsive amphiphilic glycomacromolecules with tailored release properties. Amphiphilic precision glycomacromolecules (APGs) derived from tailor-made building blocks using solid phase polymer synthesis form glycofunctionalized micelles, a versatile class of materials with applications in drug delivery, as antiinfection agents as well as simple cell mimetics. In this work, this concept is extended by integrating cleavable building blocks into APGs now allowing stimuli-responsive release of glycan ligands or destruction of the micelles. This study incorporates a newly designed acid-labile building block, 4-(4-(((((9H-fluoren-9-yl)methoxy)carbonyl)amino)methyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)benzoic acid (DBA), suitable also for other types of solid phase or amide chemistry, and an established UV-cleavable 2-nitrobenzyl linker (PL). The results demonstrate that both linkers can be cleaved independently and thus allow dual stimuli-responsive release from the APG micelles. By choosing the APG design e.g., placing the cleavable linkers between glycomacromolecular blocks presenting different types of carbohydrates, they can tune APG and micellar stability as well as the interaction and cluster formation with a carbohydrate-recognizing lectin. Such dual-responsive glycofunctionalized micelles have wide potential for use in drug delivery applications or for the development as anti-adhesion agents in antiviral and antibacterial treatments.

Illuminating immunotherapy response via precision T cell-targeted PET imaging.

Traditionally, immunotherapy agent selection and treatment strategies are guided by biopsy-based histological information. However, biopsies are limited in that they are invasive, provide static information regarding the tumor immune microenvironment, and only sample a small part of one tumor site. The tumor microenvironment is dynamic and heterogenous. As a result, the immune milieu at one site may be distinct from other metastatic sites. These factors make identifying which patients are likely to respond to different immunotherapies and which harbor intrinsic resistance mechanisms difficult to identify based on a biopsy alone. As such, there is significant interest in alternative methodologies that better characterize the tumor immune microenvironment and monitor immunotherapy response. PET imaging potentially offers a non-invasive way to characterize the tumor immune microenvironment at the primary tumor and metastases and allow for longitudinal characterization. Herein, we review pre-clinically and clinically tested T cell-targeted PET radiopharmaceuticals, as T cells have been the dominant immunotherapy target, and their utility in both evaluating response to immunotherapy and in understanding the systemic immune response to treatment with immunotherapeutics.

In Situ Formation of Ultrathin Composite Shell with Strong Water Resistance on the Surface of K2SiF6:Mn4+ via NaClO Treatment

AbstractSolving the problem of poor weather resistance of Mn4+‐doped fluoride phosphors is pivotal for their application in white‐light‐emitting diodes (WLEDs). This study introduces a one‐step synthesis strategy for the phosphor T‐KSF:Mn (KSF:M = K2SiF6:Mn4+ and T = surface‐treated with NaClO) that involves the use of a NaClO solution as a treatment agent to augment the water resistance of this phosphor. The results of transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction tomography, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, analyses reveal the formation of an ultrathin composite shell (<5 nm) comprising K2SiF6 and KNaSiF6 on the surface of T‐KSF:Mn. The fluorescence intensity of the treated phosphor is 1.09 times that of the untreated phosphor, and its internal quantum efficiency reaches 82.72%. Even after 60 days of testing in a harsh hydrolysis environment, the fluorescence intensity of T‐KSF:Mn remains at 86.24%. At 150 and 200 °C, the integrated fluorescence intensity of T‐KSF:Mn surge to 256.84% and 292.29% of its initial value at 30 °C, respectively, demonstrating a substantial negative thermal quenching (NTQ) effect. Furthermore, the results of aging tests conducted at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity substantiate the effectiveness of the aforementioned strategy in considerably enhancing WLED stability under practical conditions.

Precision-Targeted Injection Laryngoplasty and Longitudinal Biomaterial Effects Evaluation Using High-resolution Ultrasonography in a Rat Model.

Current laryngeal injection models rely on the transoral route and are suboptimal due to limited view, narrowed working space, and the need to sacrifice animals for investigation of the injectables. In the present study, a novel surgical model for laryngeal intervention therapy utilizing an ultra-high frequency ultrasound imaging system was proposed. Based on this system, we developed a systemic evaluation approach, from guidance of the injection process, documentation of the injection site of the material, to in vivo longitudinal follow-up on the augmentation and medialization effect by analyzing the ultrasonography data. In vivo animal study. Academic institution. Injection laryngoplasty with hyaluronic acid under ultrasonography guidance was performed on Sprague-Dawley rats one week after induced unilateral vocal paralysis. Ultrasonography was performed at preinjection, immediately postinjection, on Day 2, Day 7 and then weekly for 4 weeks to obtain measurements, including the glottic area, angle between bilateral folds, and vocal fold width ratio. Laryngoscopic and histologic studies were also performed. Unilateral injections to the paralyzed fold were successfully performed as demonstrated by ultrasonographic, laryngoscopic, and histologic studies. The width ratio was significantly increased after injection for 4 weeks, while the glottic airway area was unchanged. Here, a novel surgical model for laryngeal injection utilizing ultrasonography in rats was established. In addition to providing visual guidance for precise localization of the injection, robust documentation of the treatment effect was also demonstrated. This methodology could be beneficial for screening therapeutic agents for treatment of glottic insufficiency.

CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the modeling of and evaluation of possible treatments for Niemann-Pick C.

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is a rare neurodegenerative condition resulted from mutations in NPC1andNPC2 genes. This cellular lipid transferring disorder mainly involves endocytosed cholesterol trafficking. The accumulation of cholesterol and glycolipids in late endosomes and lysosomes results in progressive neurodegeneration and death. Recently, genome editing technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas9 have offered the opportunity to create disease models to screen novel therapeutic options for this disorder. Moreover, these methods have been used for the purpose of gene therapy. This review summarizes the studies that focused on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for exploring the mechanism of intracellular cholesterol transferring, and screening of novel agents for treatment of NPC.

Structure-Activity Relationship of Natural Dihydrochalcones and Chalcones, and Their Respective Oxyalkylated Derivatives as Anti-Saprolegnia Agents.

Saprolegnia sp. is a pathogenic oomycete responsible for severe economic losses in aquaculture. To date, there is no treatment for its control that is effective and does not pose a threat to the environment and human health. In this research, two dihydrochalcones 1 and 2, and three chalcones 3-5, isolated from the resinous plant Adesmia balsamica, as well as their synthesized oxyalkylated derivatives 6-29 already reported and a new synthesized series of oxyalkylchalcones 30-35, were evaluated for their anti-saprolegnia activity and structure-activity relationship as potential control and treatment agents for strains of Saprolegnia parasitica and S. australis. Among the molecules tested, natural 2',4'-dihydroxychalcone (3) and new oxyalkylchalcone 34 were the most potent antisaprolegnia agents against both strains, even with better results than the commercial control bronopol. On the other hand, the structure-activity relationship study indicates that the contributions of steric and electrostatic fields are important to enhance the activity of the compounds, thus the presence of bulky substituents favors the activity.

Calibre Persistent Labial Artery of the Lower Lip: Oral Propranolol as a Novel Agent of Treatment

Abstract Calibre persistent artery of the lower lip is a vascular anomaly where the branches of the inferior labial artery maintain their size up to the submucosa of the lip. There is persistent pulsatile feeling, occasional ulceration, and recurrent bleeding. Doppler ultrasound and angiogram are used to confirm diagnosis. Before this case report, treatment of this condition has been surgical excision. We document the successful treatment with oral propranolol.

The Effect of Soaking Coconut and Atonic Water as a Growth Regulatory Substances on the Growth of Patchouli Plant Cuttings (Pogostemon cablin Benth)

Patchouli plants can be planted vegetatively, one of which is stem or branch cuttings. To multiply patchouli cuttings vegetatively, you can use coconut water and Atonik as natural growth regulators. Coconut water and Atonik are very easy to obtain and are used as natural growth regulators which can function as a plant growth booster, have harvest power, improve quality, increase plant yields, increase the photosynthesis process, increase protein synthesis and also increase the absorption of nutrients from within. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of providing appropriate growth regulators from coconut water and Atonik on the growth of patchouli plant cuttings. The place and time of this research was carried out at Los Shadows, Agronomy Laboratory, Plantation Plant Cultivation Study Program, Polytechnic Agricultural State Samarinda . This research was conducted for 4 months starting from November 2021 to February 2022. The method used was a Complete Random Treatment with 3 treatments, namely immersion using water for 10 minutes (P0), treatment using 1000 ml coconut water for 10 minutes (P1) , treatment using atonic 10 ml/ 990 ml water for 10 minutes (P2). The research results showed that the use of atonic growth regulator as a soaking agent intreatment P2 with a dose of 10 ml with a mixture of 990 ml of water and a soaking time of 10 minutes showed the success of cuttings with a greater number of shoots and roots compa.red to treatments P0 and P1. The P2 treatment showed the highest average number of shoots and roots with immersion in theatonic growth regulator with an average growth of 3.4 shoots in the first month and 8.5 in the second month, as well as an average number of roots of 9.2. beginning of planting until the end of the research. The results of the research showed that the use of the atonic soaking agent in the P2 treatment with a dose of 10 ml with a mixture of 990 ml of water and a soaking time of 10 minutes showed the success of cuttings with a greater number of shoots and roots. compared to treatments P0 and P1. The P2 treatment with atonic growth regulator soaking showed the highest average number of shoots, namely 3.4 shoots in month 1 and 8.5 shoots in month 2, 12.0 shoots. Meanwhile, the number of root was 10.4 in month 3 land.

Phytoconstituents with cardioprotective properties: A pharmacological overview on their efficacy against myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is considered one of the most common cardiac diseases and major cause of death worldwide. The prevalence of MI and MI-associated mortality have been increasing in recent years due to poor lifestyle habits viz. residency, obesity, stress, and pollution. Synthetic drugs for the treatment of MI provide good chance of survival; however, the demand to search more safe, effective, and natural drugs is increasing. Plants provide fruitful sources for powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents for prevention and/or treatment of MI. However, many plant extracts lack exact information about their possible dosage, toxicity and drug interactions which may hinder their usefulness as potential treatment options. Phytoconstituents play cardioprotective role by either acting as a prophylactic or adjuvant therapy to the concurrently used synthetic drugs to decrease the dosage or relief the side effects of such drugs. This review highlights the role of different herbal formulations, examples of plant extracts and types of several isolated phytoconstituents (phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes, alkaloids, phenyl propanoids) in the prevention of MI with reported activities. Moreover, their possible mechanisms of action are also discussed to guide future research for the development of safer substitutes to manage MI.

Tailoring esophageal tumor spheroids on a chip with inverse opal scaffolds for drug screening

Esophageal cancer (EC) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality, and chemotherapy has become an indispensable means for comprehensive treatment. However, due to the limitation of the effective in vitro disease model, the development of chemotherapeutic agents still faces great challenges. In this paper, we present a novel tumor spheroid on a chip platform based on inverse opal hydrogel scaffolds to screen chemotherapeutic agents for EC treatment. With the microfluidic emulsion approach, the inverse opal hydrogel scaffolds were generated with tunable and organized pores, which could provide spatial confinement for cell growth. Thus, the suspended KYSE-70 cells could successfully form uniform cell spheroids on the inverse opal hydrogel scaffolds. It was demonstrated that the tumor cell spheroids could recapitulate 3D growth patterns in vivo and exhibited higher sensitivity to the chemotherapy agents compared with monolayer cells. Besides, by employing the scaffolds into a microfluidics to construct esophageal tumor on a chip, the device could realize high-throughput tumor cell spheroids generation and drug screening, indicating its promising role in chemotherapy drug development.

Carboxymethyl chitosan stabilized AuNPs/ACP nanohybrids in enamel white spot lesions.

Acidic bacterial biofilms-associated enamel white spot lesions (WSLs) are one of the hallmarks of early caries, causing demineralization and decomposition of dental hard tissues. Therefore, to effectively prevent and treat WSLs, it is important to inhibit the activity of cariogenic bacteria while promoting the remineralization of demineralized enamel. Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) favors hard tissue remineralization due to its biological activity and ability to release large amounts of Ca2+ and PO4 3-. However, ACP-based biomineralization technology is not effective due to its lack of antimicrobial properties. Here, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) was employed as a reducing agent and stabilizer, and dual-functional nanohybrids CMCS/AuNPs/ACP with biofilm resistance and mineralization properties were successfully synthesized. The addition of AuNPs enhances the antimicrobial activity and participates in regulating the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAp). The nanohybrids exhibited significant destructive effects against cariogenic bacteria and their biofilms and showed bactericidal activity under bacteria-induced acidic conditions. More importantly, this nanohybrids showed superior results in promoting the remineralization of demineralized enamel, compared to fluoride and CMCS/ACP in vitro. The CMCS/AuNPs/ACP nanohybrids not only reverse the cariogenic microenvironment at the microbial level, but also promote self-repairing of enamel WSLs regarding the microstructure. The present work offers a theoretical and experimental basis for using the CMCS/AuNPs/ACP nanohybrids as a potential dual-functional agent for the clinical treatment of enamel WSLs.

The damage and remineralization strategies of dental hard tissues following radiotherapy

ObjectivesThis study pursued two main purposes. The first aim was to expound on the microscopic factors of radiation-related caries (RRC). Further, it aimed to compare the remineralization effect of different remineralizing agents on demineralized teeth after radiotherapy.MethodsThe enamel and dentin samples of bovine teeth were irradiated with different doses of radiation. After analysis of scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), the samples irradiated with 50 Gy radiation were selected and divided into the demineralization group, the double distilled water (DDW) group, the Sodium fluoride (NaF) group, the Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) group, the NaF + CPP-ACP group, and the Titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) group. After demineralization, remineralizing agents treatment, and remineralization, the samples were evaluated using SEM, atomic force microscope (AFM), EDS, and transverse microradiography (TMR).ResultsA radiation dose of 30 Gy was sufficient to cause damage to the dentinal tubules, but 70 Gy radiation had little effect on the microstructure of enamel. Additionally, the NaF + CPP-ACP group and the TiF4 group significantly promoted deposit formation, decreased surface roughness, and reduced mineral loss and lesion depth of demineralized enamel and dentin samples after radiation.ConclusionsRadiation causes more significant damage to dentin compared to enamel. NaF + CPP-ACP and TiF4 had a promising ability to promote remineralization of irradiated dental hard tissues.Advances in knowledgeThis in vitro study contributes to determining a safer radiation dose range for teeth and identifying the most effective remineralization approach for RRC.

Total triterpenoids from apple peels exert pronounced anti-breast-cancer activity in vivo and in vitro.

Apples are among the most nutritionally valuable fruits and have a history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Triterpenoids, the primary bioactive compounds found in apples, demonstrate significant antitumor activity. Following enrichment and optimization, the total content of major triterpenoids in total triterpenoids from apple peels (ATT) reached 5.76 g kg-1. The growth of MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumors was significantly inhibited after treatment with ATT. Network pharmacology analysis conclusively identified a close association between the antitumor effect of ATT and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway. Experimental validation using MDA-MB-231 cells and a xenograft nude mouse model confirmed that ATT suppressed tumor cell proliferation effectively by modulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, which was consistent with the findings from network pharmacology. The total triterpenoids from apple peels also induced cell apoptosis by mediating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The total triterpenoids from apple peels can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis effectively through the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, suggesting that ATT holds promise as a prospective therapeutic agent for breast cancer treatment. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.