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In recent years, resistance to conventional antimicrobial drugs has become a serious concern in the clinic. Hence, the discovery of novel and effective antimicrobial agents with improved properties is of great value. In this study, the antibacterial and anticandidal activities of some imidazole, benzimidazole and benztriazole derivatives (C1-C8) against several species of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi as well as one species of fungi including Candida albicans, were evaluated using Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) method. Antimicrobial evaluation revealed that among the tested compounds, imidazole derivative (C5) indicated the highest activity against bacterial strains and Candida albicans. It was found that compound C5 is more potent than ampicillin against S. aureus strain (MIC =2-16 µg/mL) and possessed excellent anticandidal activity (MIC =1 µg/mL) which was comparable to Amphotericin B as the positive control. In addition, cytotoxic activity of the tested compounds was investigated using MTT assay. The results of MTT assay demonstrated that the toxicity of the tested compounds was less than 35%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statement of the Problem: Endodontic materials that are placed in direct contact with living tissues should be biocompatible. The cytotoxicity of Nano Fast Cement (NFC) compared to ProRoot Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (ProRoot MTA) must be evaluated. Purpose: This In vitro study aimed to assess the cytotoxic effects of NFC in comparison to ProRoot MTA on L-929 mouse fibroblast cells. Materials and Method: In this animal study, L-929 mouse fibroblast cells were grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) in an atmosphere of 5% co₂ i A total of 10⁴ cells from the fourth collection were plated in each well of a 96-well micro-titer plate. Materials were mixed molds wi h mm diameter and 3 mm height. After 24 hours and a complete setting, the extracts of the tested materials were produced at six different concentrations and placed in the related wells. Cells in DMEM served as the negative control group. DMEM alone was used as the positive control group. Methyl-thiazoltetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay was conducted after 24, 48, and 72 hours. The absorbance values were measured by ELISA plate reader at 540 nm wavelength. Three-way analysis of variance, post-hoc Tukey, LSD, and independent t-test were used for the statistical analyses using SPSS software, version 16.0. Results: There was no statically significant difference between MTA and NFC in cell viability values at different concentrations and different time intervals (p= 0.649). Viability values were significantly decreased after 72 hours, but there was no significant difference between the first and second MTT assays (p= 0.987). Cytotoxicity significantly increased at concentrations higher than 6.25 µɡ ml Conclusion: Cytotoxicity depends on time, concentration, and cement composition. There was no statistically significant difference between NFC and MTA concerning their cytotoxic effects on L-929 mouse fibroblast cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotic foods are products containing adequate amounts of live and specific microorganisms that confer benefit to human health. This research was performed to spotlight on the nutritional value evaluation as well as isolation and probiotic characterization of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from native food "Souro" belonging to Iran. The isolated LABs were investigated in vitro for potential probiotic features based on their acidic pH tolerance, bile-salt resistance, hydrophobicity, autoaggragation, production of amylase and protease as well as antibiotic susceptibility test. Results showed that Souro had high content of protein (51 ± 0.16%,) and total lipid was 11.18 ± 0.38%. Most of isolates were able to produce protease and amylase. From the best potential probiotic isolates, 16S rRNA gene sequencing disclosed Lactobacillus plantarum, L. hilgardii, L. casei, L. fermentum and Weissella paramesenteroides. Thus, good physiological traits and safety evaluation of the isolated LAB emphasized the benefits of Souro for further use in the human diet as well as the preparation of diverse probiotic food formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the effects of late-season drought stress and foliar application of potassium silicate on yield and yield components of spring genotypes of canola, a factorial split-plot experiment is conducted in Karaj, Iran in a randomized complete block configuration with three replications for two years of cultivation (2016-2018). The irrigation is performed at two levels in this study, including routine irrigation (control) and interruption of irrigation from the pod formation stage. Potassium silicate foliar application at two levels is comprised of 0 and 4 g liter-1 in factorial status in main plots and five Brassica napus L. genotypes including OGxAL, RGSxSLM, DALGAN, RGS003 and RGSxOkapi in subplots. The results show that the measured properties are affected by the applied treatments. Full irrigation with foliar application in OGxAL genotype results in highest seed yield (5620 Kg/ha) and total chlorophyll content (1.71 mg/g.FW) increase stomatal resistance, leaf proline, leaf soluble and carbohydrates, decreasing total chlorophyll content and relative leaf water content. Under drought stress conditions, DALGAN and RGSx SLM genotypes have higher yield, which indicates its better performance under stress conditions. Finally, our research demonstrates Potassium Silicate's beneficial effects in improving the drought tolerance of canola plants, particularly at the end of the season. Our study will act as a foundation for any attempt in new approaches to mitigate drought damage, establishing a functional connection between the position of potassium silicate, physiological response, and drought stress tolerance in canola plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective(s): Paclitaxel (PTX) and docetaxel (DTX) belong to the family of taxanes drugs which have been employed for treatment of ovarian, breast, lung, head, neck, gastric, pancreatic, bladder, prostate and cervical cancer. Controlled drug release systems improve the effectiveness of drug therapy by modifying the release profile, biodistribution, stability and solubility, bioavailability of drugs and minimize the side effects of anticancer drugs. So, the purpose of the present study was to synthesize the modified nanocomposite for the controlled releases of these drugs. Materials and Methods: Magnetic magnesium iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized via the coprecipitation chemical method and then composited with graphene oxide and modified by polyvinyl alcohol. The physicochemical characterization of the prepared nanocomposites was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and vibrating-sample magnetometer. Results: Specific characteristics such as adsorption capacity, monodispersity, stability and hydrophilicity of magnetic nanomaterials were studied in the controlled release of anticancer drugs. Drug loading content and drug loading efficiency and release rate of drugs were investigated in vitro at different pH with ultravioletvisible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). DLE and DLC of PTX and DTX in the modified magnetic nanocomposites were calculated as 85.2 ± 2.7% and 7.74 ± 0.24%, 89.4 ± 1.2% and 8.12 ± 0.11% of, respectively. The cumulative release amount of PTX and DTX from magnetic modified nanocomposites at pHs 5.8, 7.4 over 100 h were 58 % and 40 % and 54 % and 37 %, respectively. Conclusion: The potential of modified nanocomposite in drug delivery systems from the intrinsic properties of the magnetic core combined with their drug loading capability and the biomedical properties of modified nanocomposite generated by different surface coatings. The generally sustained and controlled release profile of DTX (or PTX) facilitates the application of modified nanocomposite for the delivery of anticancer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]