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Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is converted to the most common analgesic treatment before the whole mechanism is yet to be discovered. This study for the first time was designed to investigate alternations of epigenetic factors after pain and PBMT. The CCI model was chosen to induce pain. Pain evaluation tests including plantar, acetone, von Frey, and pinch were done weekly. Then spinal cord tissue was isolated for evaluating mRNA expression of DNMT3a, HDAC1, and NRSF using RT‐qPCR method, and protein expression factors of HDAC2 and DNMT3a using western blotting. GAD65 and TGF‐β proteins were assessed by the IHC method. PBMT increased the pain threshold up to the point where it roughly met the pain threshold of the control group. After three weeks of treatment, both PBMT protocols demonstrated a reduction in allodynia and hyperalgesia. While some molecules, such as TGF‐β and Gad65, increased following PBMT, we observed no inhibition of NRSF, HDAC1, and DNMT3a expression despite implementing two different protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma is a dangerous type of skin cancer sometimes treated with radiotherapy. However, it induces damage to the surrounding healthy tissue and possibly further away areas. Therefore, it is necessary to give a lower dose to the patient with targeted therapy. In this study, the radio‐sensitising effect of gold‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles on electron beam radiotherapy of a melanoma tumour with magnetic targeting in a mouse model was investigated. Gold‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared in a steady procedure. The melanoma tumour model was induced in mice. Animals were divided into five groups: (1) normal; (2) melanoma; (3) gold‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles alone; (4) electron beam radiotherapy; (5) electron beam radiotherapy plus gold‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles. The magnet was placed on the tumour site for 2 h. The tumours were then exposed to 6 MeV electron beam radiotherapy for a dose of 8 Gy. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry test, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay blood test were also performed. Gold‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles with magnetic targeting before electron beam radiotherapy reduced the growth of the tumour compared to the control group. Blood tests did not show any significant toxicity. Deposition of nanoparticles was more in the tumour and spleen tissue and to a lesser extent in the liver, kidney, and lung tissues. The synergistic effect of nanoparticles administered by the intraperitoneal route and then concentrated into the tumour area by application of an external permanent magnet, before delivery of the electron beam radiotherapy improved the overall cancer treatment outcome and prevented metal distribution side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Despite scientific advances, the number of cardiovascular patients is increasing worldwide. To protect damaged cardiomyocytes from further harm, novel and safer approaches are needed to help regeneration and prevent fibrosis. Methods: In this study, we performed a systematic review of in vitro and preclinical studies of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) for help to treat heart damage. Conclusion: CNTs/CNFs in hydrogels cause higher conductivity, and the in case of alignment this increase is more than the random state. CNTs/CNFs can improve structural specification of the hydrogel for cardiac cell proliferation and enhance expression of genes associated with final differentiation of various stem cells to cardiac cells. Despite scientific advances, the number of cardiovascular patients is increasing worldwide, and unfortunately, no solution has been provided to protect patients from further damage after ischemia. The heart, unlike many tissues in the human body, lacks the ability to regenerate after damage. To protect damaged heart cells from further damage as well as to grow new heart cells, newer and safer approaches are needed to help reconstruction. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of in vitro studies and animal models of heart attack that have used carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers to treat heart damage. The results showed these nanomaterials increase the conductivity of the material in which they are mixed and change the structural characteristics in a way that increases the proliferation of heart cells and causes the differentiation into cardiac cells. It also helps to repair the damaged area of the heart after myocardial ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to conduct a comprehensive and complete search of electronic resources to investigate the role of administrating Chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) in improving complications following Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI). Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Sciences databases were searched until the end of 2019. Two independent reviewers assessed the studies conducted on rats and mice and summarized the data. Using the STATA 14.0 software, the findings were reported as pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of 34 preclinical studies were included. ChABC administration improves locomotion recovery after SCI (SMD=0.90; 95% CI: 0.61 to 1.20; P<0.001). The subgroup analysis showed that the differences in the SCI model (P=0.732), the severity of the injury (P=0.821), the number of ChABC administrations (P=0.092), the blinding status (P=0.294), the use of different locomotor score (P=0.567), and the follow-up duration (P=0.750) have no effect on the efficacy of ChABC treatment. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that prescribing ChABC has a moderate effect in improving locomotion after SCI in mice and rats. However, this moderate effect introduces ChABC as adjuvant therapy and not as primary therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the widespread use of gold nanoparticles (GNPs), there is no consensus on their distribution to different tissues and organs. The present systematic review and meta-analysis addresses the accumulation of GNPs in brain tissue. Extensive searches were conducted in electronic databases, Medline, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scopus. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, primary and secondary screening was performed. The value of brain accumulation of gold nanoparticle (the percentage of the injection dose of GNPs/gram of brain tissue that applied as effect size (ES) in analysis) and the standard error of the mean were extracted from articles and analyzed by calculating the pooled ES and the pooled confidence interval (CI) using STATA software. p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Thirty-eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that the amount of GNPs was 0.06% of the injection dose/gram of brain tissue (ES = 0.06, %95 CI: 0.06–0.06, p < 0.0001). Considering the time between injection and tissue harvest (follow-up time), after 1 h the GNPs in brain tissue was 0.288% of the injection dose/gram of tissue (ES = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.25–0.33, p < 0.0001), while after four weeks it was only 0.02% (ES = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01–0.03, p < 0.0001) of the injection dose/gram of tissue. The amount of GNPs in brain tissue was higher for PEG-coated GNPs compared to uncoated GNPs, and it was 5.6 times higher for rod-shaped GNPs compared to spherical GNPs. The mean amount of GNPs in the brain tissues of animals bearing a tumor was 5.8 times higher than in normal animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing use of silver nanoparticles in medical sciences, published studies on their interaction with nerve cells and evaluation of risks are dispersed. This systematic review and meta-analysis could be used to devise safety guidelines for the use of silver nanoparticles in industry and medicine to reduce adverse effects on the CNS. After extensive searches, the full text of 30 related studies was reviewed and data mining completed. Data were analyzed by calculating the mean of different ratios between treated and untreated groups. Linear regression between variables was evaluated by meta-regression. Subgroup analysis was also performed due to heterogeneity. Treatment with silver nanoparticles significantly reduced cell viability (SMD = -1.79%; 95% CI: -2.17 to -1.40; p < 0.0001). Concentration > 0.1 µg/mL could kill neurons, while lower concentration would not (SMD -0.258; 95% CI: -0.821 to 0.305; p = 369). In addition to the concentration, the coating, size of the nanoparticles, and cell type are also factors that influence SNP nerve cell toxicity. Measurement of apoptosis (SMD = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.62 to 2.80; p=0.001) and lactate dehydrogenase release rate (SMD = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.47; p < 0.0001) also confirmed the destructive effect of silver nanoparticles on nerve cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropathic pain (NP) is caused by damage to the nervous system due to reactive oxygen spices (ROS) increase, antioxidants reduction, ATP production imbalance, and induction of apoptosis. In this investigation, we applied low-level laser 660 nm (photobiomodulation therapy) as a new strategy to modulate pain. In order to study the effects of photobiomodulation therapy (660 nm) on NP, chronic constriction injury (CCI) model was selected. Low-level laser of 660 nm was used for 2 weeks. Thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia were measured before and after surgery on days 7 and 14, respectively. Paw withdrawal thresholds were also evaluated. Expression of p2x3, Bax, and bcl2 protein was measured by western blotting. The amount of glutathione (GSH) was measured in the spinal cord by continuous spectrophotometric rate determination method. The results are presented as mean ± SD. Statistical analysis of data was carried out using SPSS 21. CCI decreased the pain threshold, 2-week photobiomodulation therapy significantly increased mechanical and thermal threshold, decreased P2X3 expression (p < 0.001), and increased bcl2 expression (p < 0.01), but it was not effective on the Bax expression. We speculated that although photobiomodulation therapy increased ROS generation, it increased antioxidants such as GSH. Increase in bcl2 is another mitochondrial protection mechanism for cell survival and that pain relief and decrease in P2X3 expression confirm it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stem cell therapy can be used for alleviating the neuropathic pain induced by spinal cord injuries (SCIs). However, survival and differentiation of stem cells following their transplantation vary depending on the host and intrinsic factors of the cell. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of stem cells derived from bone marrow (BM-MSC) and umbilical cord (UC-MSC) on neuropathic pain relief. Methods: A compression model was used to induce SCI in a rat model. A week after SCI, about 1 million cells were transplanted into the spinal cord. Behavioral tests, including motor function recovery, mechanical allodynia, cold allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, and thermal hyperalgesia, were carried out every week for 8 weeks after SCI induction. A single unit recording and histological evaluation were then performed. Results: We show that BM-MSC and UC-MSC transplantations led to improving functional recovery, allodynia, and hyperalgesia. No difference was seen between the two cell groups regarding motor recovery and alleviating the allodynia and hyperalgesia. These cells survived in the tissue at least 8 weeks and prevented cavity formation due to SCI. However, survival rate of UC-MSC was significantly higher than BM-MSC. Electrophysiological evaluations showed that transplantation of UC-MSC brings about better results than BM-MSCs in wind up of wide dynamic range neurons. Conclusions: The results of the present study show that BM-MSC and UC-MSC transplantations alleviated the symptoms of neuropathic pain and resulted in subsequent motor recovery after SCI. However, survival rate and electrophysiological findings of UC-MSC were significantly better than BM-MSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is one of the most suffering medical conditions that often fail to respond to certain pain therapy. Although its exact etiology is still unknown the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress were explored by many researchers. Neuropathies either central or peripheral lead to painful condition as well as social and economic isolation, thus various therapies were used to treat or reduce the pain. Laser therapy and antioxidant drugs have separately considered as treatment for NP, but the combination of them have not been used yet. In order to study the combination effects of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) the present study was designed. Methods: Sixty adult male rats (230-320g) were used in this experimental study that divided into six groups (n=10). Chronic constriction injury (CCI) was used to induce neuropathic pain. The CoQ10 or vehicle, a low level laser of 980nm was used for two consecutive weeks. Thermal and mechanical paw withdrawal thresholds were assessed before and after surgery on 7th and 14th days. Results: As we expected CCI decreased the pain threshold, whereas CoQ10 administration for two weeks increased mechanical and thermal threshold. The same results obtained for laser therapy using the CCI animals. Combination of laser 980nm with CoQ10 also showed significant differences in CCI animals. Conclusion: Based on our findings the combination of CoQ10 with LLLT showed better effects than each one alone. In this regard we believe that there might be cellular and molecular synergism in simultaneous use of CoQ10 and LLLT on pain relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic pain is a frequent disability that negatively affects patient's quality of life. Understanding of the possible relation between sociodemographic and medical variables with Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) may help identifying the multidimensionality of pain and risk factors that limit physical and psychological adjustment of the patients. The present study was done to find these possible relationships, based on using Medical Outcomes Survey-Short Form (SF-36). Methods: Among the patients who were referred to pain clinic of Iranian Pain Society, 101 consecutive outpatients were select based on the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. All the participants in this study orally satisfied and were fully informed by a check list and SF-36 questionnaire. The possible impact of demographic variables, characteristics, diagnosis, analgesic use, smoking and opium addiction were collected as the first part of a routine pretreatment evaluation. Results: Our findings showed significant relation between HRQL and gender (P<0.05), the rate of chronic pain in female was higher than male, and same results found for elderly patients compared to younger ones. Our findings also showed significant relation between employment and intensity of pain (p=0.001) as, employed patients showed less physical and psychotic problems than unemployed ones. The mean average of intensity of pain in these patients was 7.5±2.2; few patients used alcohol (4%), opium (1%) and cigarette (10%). Large number of participants used analgesic (%78.2). No significant difference between sociodemographic features with pain duration and quality of life was found. In contrast our data showed significant difference between pain intensity and quality of life (p<0.001). Conclusion: Based on our findings it could be concluded that chronic pain in Iranian patients certainly leads to poor HRQL, the state is more serious in the elderly and female patients. Thus, in order to re-socialize the patients suffering chronic pain and decrease the impact of their pain on their life, these findings should be considered in any kind of pain relief therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nHIGHLIGHTSFlavonoids, a class of polyphenolic compounds, are widely distributed in plant-based foods and have been recognized for their potential to promote overall health and well-being. Flavonoids in fruits and vegetables offer various beneficial effects such as anti-aging, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Flavonoids have been extensively studied for their neuroprotective properties, which are attributed to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with neural cells. Factors like gut microbiota composition, age, genetics, and diet can impact how well flavonoids are absorbed in the gut. The gut microbiota can enhance the absorption of flavonoids through enzymatic processes, making microbiota composition a key factor influenced by age, genetics, and diet. Flavonoids can modulate the gut microbiota through prebiotic and antimicrobial effects, affecting the production of beneficial microbial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate, which play a role in brain function and health. The gut microbiome also modulates the immune system, which is critical for preventing neuroinflammation. Additionally, flavonoids can benefit mental and psychological health by influencing anti-inflammatory signaling pathways in brain cells and increasing the absorption of tyrosine and tryptophan, precursors to neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, adrenaline, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The flavonoid-gut microbiome axis is a complex and multifaceted relationship that has significant implications for neurological health. This review will explore how genetic and environmental factors can impact flavonoid absorption and the positive effects of flavonoids on brain health and the gut microbiota network.Flavonoids alter gut microbiota by replacing pathogens with beneficial bacteria and enhancing SCFA production.Gut microbiota metabolizes flavonoids into bioactive metabolites that influence brain health.Gut microbiota metabolizes flavonoids, turning them to more bioactive metabolitesFlavonoids are potential neuroprotective agents that affect neurological health through their interactions with the gut microbiome.Diet, age, genetics, and epigenetics influence brain health through flavonoid modification and gut microbiome.Flavonoids alter gut microbiota by replacing pathogens with beneficial bacteria and enhancing SCFA production.Gut microbiota metabolizes flavonoids into bioactive metabolites that influence brain health.Gut microbiota metabolizes flavonoids, turning them to more bioactive metabolitesFlavonoids are potential neuroprotective agents that affect neurological health through their interactions with the gut microbiome.Diet, age, genetics, and epigenetics influence brain health through flavonoid modification and gut microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The lung is a moderately radio-sensitive organ. When cells are damaged due to accidental radiation exposure or treatment, they release molecules that lead to the recruitment of immune cells, accumulating inflammatory cytokines at the site of damage. Apigenin (Api) is a natural flavonoid known for its anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the radioprotective properties of Api in the lung., Methods: Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly assigned to nine groups: control, radiation (Rad), CMC+Rad, Api10+Rad, and Api20+Rad. Api was administered with an intraperitoneal injection for 7 days, after which the rats were irradiated with 6 Gy whole-body X-ray. At 6 and 72 hours post-irradiation, the rats were euthanized, and their lung tissue was extracted., Results: Radiation led to increased alveolar wall thickness and the infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes. Furthermore, the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as a nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells (NF-ĸB), Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), and epigenetic factors including DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) and Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) were elevated in the lung tissue following radiation. Meanwhile, the expression level of IκB-α decreased. However, administration of Api (at both 10&20 mg/kg) reversed the adverse effects of radiation., Conclusion: Api administration mitigated radiation-induced lung damage by reversing inflammatory and epigenetic changes., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)