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Neurodegenerative disorders cause most physical and mental disabilities, and therefore require effective treatment. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) prevents drug molecules from crossing from the blood to the brain, making brain drug delivery difficult. Implantable devices could provide sustained and regulated medication to solve this problem. Two electrolytes (0.3 M oxalic acid and 0.3 M sulphuric acid) were used to anodise Al2O3 nanoporous membranes, followed by a third anodisation in concentrated H2SO4 to separate the through-hole membranes from the aluminium substrate. FTIR, AFM, and SEM/EDX were used to characterise the membranes' structure and morphology. The effects of the anodisation time and electrolyte type on the AAO layer pore density, diameter, interpore distance, and thickness were examined. As a model drug for neurodegenerative disorders, donepezil hydrochloride (DHC) was loaded onto thin alumina nanoporous membranes. The DHC release profiles were characterised at two concentrations using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer. Oxalic acid membranes demonstrated an average pore diameter of 39.6–32.5 nm, which was two times larger than sulphuric acid membranes (22.6–19.7 nm). After increasing the anodisation time from 3 to 5 h, all of the membranes showed a reduction in pore diameter that was stable regardless of the electrolyte type or period. Drug release from oxalic acid-fabricated membranes was controlled and sustained for over 2 weeks. Thus, nanoporous membranes as implantable drug delivery systems could improve neurodegenerative disease treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a disorder that occurs before the age of 40 among women and characterized by amenorrhea. POF usually occurs due to autoimmune disorders, X-chromosome disorders, viral infections, or after chemotherapeutic treatment. POF can be discovered either by histopathology or by using molecular techniques such as real-time PCR to measure the expression of miRNAs that has a role in POF development. Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a well-known chemotherapy used in the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer, but it has many harsh side effects on many body organs such as the heart, liver, and gonads, especially after high doses administration. Cyclophosphamide-induced POF usually ends with a loss of follicles and granulose cell damage. Herbal medicine is the promising therapeutic approach of POF especially because of its great safety, availability, and low cost. Moringa oleifera (MO) is a plant distributed all around the world; cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and high nutritional and medicinal values and it is also used in different industries as cosmetics and lubricants for machines. Different parts of its plant are used in the treatment of edema, skin infections, inflammations, rheumatism, fever, anemia, bronchitis, and digestive problems. Furthermore, MO has a great promising effect on treating the toxicity of ovaries caused by chemotherapy or heavy metals. On the other side, Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is also a herb with great medical importance that is cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical countries, and it has anti-cancer activities, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. It plays a role in regulating the hormonal balance and enhancing the gonads activity by increasing the ovaries' weight. It enhances immunity due to its high antioxidant activities. Ashwagandha can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Furthermore, it can reduce the symptoms of COVID-19. The leaves and roots are used in treating fever and joint inflammation, and roots have also been nominated among the drugs that neutralize the effect of snake venom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most type of dementia characterized by its progression, neurobehavioral and neuro-pathological characteristics. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) have previously proved a potential role in preventing the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, so it is regarded as a promising new approach for AD regenerative therapy. Taurine was found to enhance stem cell activation and propagation, yielding a higher concentration of neural progenitors and stem cells, and reducing the number of activated microglia leading to down-regulated inflammation in vitro. The present study aimed to investigate the possible therapeutic potential of ADMSCs with/without taurine in treating the AD rat model. It was planned to include three successive phases: induction, withdrawal, and therapeutic phases. Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into two main groups: control (C) and AD model. Behavioral changes, as manifested by the T-maze experiment, had been recorded. β-amyloid levels had been measured in brain homogenate and serum by ELISA. Oxidative stress marker (MDA), brain and serum antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GSH, and CAT) as well serum acetylcholine esterase activity were spectrophotometrically determined. Proapoptotic (p53 and Bax) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl2) gene expression in the brain were evaluated using RT-qPCR. The histopathological alterations in brain tissues were also observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identification of factors to detect and improve chemotherapy.response in cancer is the main concern. microRNA-372-3p (miR-372-3p) has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in cellular proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis of various cancers including Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). However, its contribution towards Doxorubicin (Dox) chemosensitivity in HCC has never been studied., Objective: This study aims to investigate the potential role of miR-372-3p in enhancing Dox effects on HCC cell line (HepG2). Additionally, the correlation between miR-372-3p and HCC patients who received Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) with Dox treatment has been analyzed., Methods: Different cell processes were elucidated by cell viability, colony formation, apoptosis and wound healing assays after miR-372-3p transfection in HepG2 cells Furthermore, the miR-372-3p level has been estimated in the blood of primary HCC patients treated with TACE/Dox by quantitative real-time PCR assay. Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) analysis for serum miR-372-3p was constructed for its prognostic significance. Finally, the protein level of Mcl-1, the anti-apoptotic player, has been evaluated using western blot., Results: We found a significantly higher level of miR-372-3p in the blood of the responder group of HCC patients who received TACE with Dox than of non-responders. Ectopic expression of miR-372-3p reduced cell proliferation, migration and significantly induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells which was coupled with a decrease of anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1., Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that miR-372-3p acts as a tumor suppressor in HCC and can act as a predictor biomarker for drug response. Furthermore, the data referred for the first time its potential role in drug sensitivity that might be a therapeutic target for HCC., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most common drugs used in cancer therapy, including Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Drug resistance is one of chemotherapy's significant problems. Emerging studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) could participate in regulating this mechanism. Nevertheless, the impact of miRNAs on HCC chemoresistance is still enigmatic., Objective: Investigating the role of microRNA-520c-3p (miR-520c-3p) in the enhancement of the anti-tumor effect of DOX against HepG2 cells., Methods: Expression profile for liver-related miRNAs (384 miRNAs) has been analyzed on HepG2 cells treated with DOX using qRT-PCR. miR-520c-3p, the most deregulated miRNA, was selected for combination treatment with DOX. The expression level for LEF1, CDK2, CDH1, VIM, Mcl-1 and p53 was evaluated in miR-520c-3p transfected cells. Cell viability, colony formation, wound healing as well as apoptosis assays have been demonstrated. Furthermore, Mcl-1 protein level was measured using the western blot technique., Results: The present data indicated that miR-520c-3p overexpression could render HepG2 cells chemo-sensitive to DOX through enhancing its suppressive effects on proliferation, migration, and induction of apoptosis. The suppressive effect of miR-520c-3p involved altering the expression levels of some key regulators of cell cycle, proliferation, migration and apoptosis, including LEF1, CDK2, CDH1, VIM, Mcl-1 and p53. Interestingly, Mcl-1 was found to be one of the potential targets of miR-520c-3p, and its protein expression level was down-regulated upon miR-520c-3p overexpression., Conclusion: Our data referred to the tumor suppressor function of miR-520c-3p that could modulate the chemosensitivity of HepG2 cells towards DOX treatment, providing a promising therapeutic strategy in HCC., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)