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Objective: Brain ischemia generally results in irreversible brain damage or death. One of the most important features of an ischemic stroke is disruption of the Blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this study, we examined the effect of cinnamon hydroalcoholic extract consumption on BBB permeability and expression of some genes regulating its function. Materials and Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups; sham (high-fat diet+ sham surgery), Model (Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion, MCAO+ high-fat diet), Lovastatin (high-fat diet + lovastatin + MCAO surgery), low and high dosage cinnamon (high-fat diet + cinnamon 130 or 260 mg, respectively+ MCAO surgery). The two doses of cinnamon (130 and 260 mg) were administered intraperitoneally. Twelve hours after ischemic stroke induction, brain right hemisphere tissues were collected and calpain I, calpainII, occludin and VEGF genes expression were quantified by Real-Time -PCR. Accordingly, p-selection protein levels were measured by ELISA method. Results: Cinnamon hydroalcoholic extract reduced the BBB permeability compared with the model group (p<0.05). Stroke increased calpain and VEGF genes while decreased occludin gene expression (p<0.001). Conversely, cinnamon administration increased occludin gene expression while calpain and VEGF genes were down-regulated (p<0.01). Pretreatment with cinnamon significantly diminished the P-Selectin protein levels as compared with the model group dose dependently (p<0.001). Conclusion: It seems that cinnamon restores BBB function by regulating the elements involved in its permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Ghrelin, a 28 amino acid peptide, has diverse physiological roles. Phosphatidylino-sitol-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) are involved in some of the recognized actions of ghrelin. It has been shown that ghrelin upregulates HOXB4 gene expression but the real mechanism of this effect is not clear.

Introduction: Despite all the research, no definitive treatment for stroke has been found yet. Cinnamon is a plant that has been shown to have health benefits effects. In this study, the effect of pretreatment of cinnamon on ischemia tolerance and the expression of Zonula occludens 1(ZO-1) gene in the brains of rats receiving a high-fat diet was investigated. Methods: In this study, 72 rats were divided into six groups: control, sham, model (stroke), vehicle, lovastatin, and cinnamon. All groups except the control group received a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. Then the last three groups received Carboxymethyl cellulose, lovastatin, and cinnamon 130 mg accordingly for 6 weeks. Stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Twelve hours later, the animals were examined for the extent of serum lipids, brain edema, anti-oxidant capacity and gene expression of ZO-1. Results: Cinnamon was effective in reducing serum cholesterol and triglyceride. Cinnamon treatment significantly diminished brain edema. It also restored anti-oxidant capacity. ZO-1 gene expression was increased in the ischemic brains after cinnamon treatment (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Pretreatment with Cin130 had beneficial effects on the serum lipid profile, edema volume in ischemic brain and anti-oxidant capacity. It increased ZO-1 gene expression and so maintained cellular integrity and prevented the subsequent edema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are one of the most well-known and accessible sources of stem cells that can be used for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. On the other hand, previous studies have suggested that selegiline, as an irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase, affects stem cells’ differentiation into neurons. This study was conducted to investigate the involvement in phosphatidylinositol-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in ADSCs differentiation to neuron-like cells using selegiline as inducer. Methods: ADSCs were isolated from male rats, cultured in DMEM and then treated with selegiline (10-7 M) for 24h. Real-time PCR for nestin and neurofilament-68 (NF-68) was performed from the negative control (ADSCs at the 3rd passage), positive control (ADSCs were treated with 10-7 M selegeline for 24h, PI3AKT inhibitor (ADSCs were pretreated with treated with 10µM LY294002 for 3h, then10-7 M selegeline for the next 24h, and MAPK inhibitor (ADSCs were pretreated with treated with 10µM PD98059 for 3h, then10-7 M selegeline for the next 24h). Results: Nestin and NF-68 genes have been over-expressed in the selegiline-treated ADSCs. The PD98059 and LY294002 significantly down-regulated the selegiline-induced over-expression of nestin and NF-68; however, PI3K inhibition did not return the genes expression to control level. ADSCs were immunoreactivefor nestin and NF-68 about 98% and 95% respectively. Conclusion: According to the results, selegilinecan induce the gene expression of neural stem cell biomarkers in ADSCs through MAPK pathway activating and so differentiating them into neuron-like cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the water-oxidizing activity of nickel(ii) phthalocyanine-tetrasulfonate tetrasodium (1), which is a stable Ni(ii) complex under moderate conditions, was investigated. The role of Ni oxide in water oxidation as a true catalyst was investigated. The electrodes after water oxidation by both the complex and Ni salt were analyzed and a relation was proposed between the decomposition of the Ni complex and water oxidation. On the surface of the electrode, there are some areas without any detectable nanoparticles; thus, the detection of such Ni oxides on the surface of the electrode is not easy in the first seconds of the reaction, even using some of the usual methods such as Scanning Electron Microscopy or electrochemical analysis. Such experiments indicated that a precise analysis is necessary to reject the role of nanoparticles in the presence of Ni phthalocyanine under water oxidation. The findings also showed that under water-oxidation conditions and in the presence of the complex, Ni oxide is a good candidate for a true catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the water-oxidation reaction by Ni(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)2+ in the presence of carbonate was reinvestigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, electrochemistry, and high-resolution spectroelectrochemical and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods. These methods showed that the complex was not stable under water-oxidation conditions. The role of nanosized particles or Ni ions on the surface of the electrode for water oxidation was studied and it is proposed that Ni ions or Ni oxides on the surface of the electrode are at least one of the candidates contributing to the observed catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ghrelin is an endogenous peptide that has diverse functions in the body. One of the newly recognized roles of this peptide is its antiapoptotic effect. However, this function has not been investigated in normobaric hypoxia- induced apoptosis in body organs. This study will examine the effect of ghrelin treatment on Bax-Bcl-2 gene expression in the kidney of chronic hypoxic rats. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats in three experimental groups; normal, hypoxic+saline and hypoxic+ghrelin were used in this study. The expression level of Bax and Bcl-2 genes were measured by Real-Time PCR. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was also compared in three groups statistically. Results: Chronic hypoxia decreased the Bcl-2 gene expression (p<0.01), and increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio (p<0.05). Ghrelin treatment decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio through upregulation of Bcl-2 gene (p<0.05). Conclusion: It seems that ghrelin has an antiapoptotic effect on the kidney of animals that live in a chronic hypoxic state. Which could potentially introduce a therapeutic role for this peptide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Available data from in vitro studies show that thyroid hormones (THs) regulate herpes simplex virus (HSV) gene expression and may modulate latency/reactivation of the virus. Whether infectivity of the virus is also affected by THs is not known. Using animal models ( in vivo study) and Vero cell culture ( in vitro study), we examined the effects of alterations in THs level on HSV-1 infectivity. Methods: Rats were rendered hypo- and hyperthyroid by daily addition of methimazole and l-thyroxine into their drinking water, respectively. Euthyroid animals served as control. All animals were given a single dose of HSV-1 (107TCID50, ip) and sacrificed 3 d later. The spleen of the animals was then removed and viral particles were recovered from the tissue extract through aseptic procedures. Serial dilution of the extracts was prepared and added to Vero cell culture. For the in vitro study, the cultures were pretreated with l-thyroxine and the viral particles were then added. Virus titration was determined by Reed-Muench quantal assay. Results: The viral load of spleen in hyperthyroid rats was significantly lower (1000-fold) than that of the euthyroid rats. Similarly, in vitro presence of supraphysiologic levels of l-thyroxine in the culture media of Vero cells decreased virus infectivity. Interestingly, hypothyroid animals showed a significant increase (10-fold) in spleen viral load as compared to that of their euthyroid counterparts. Conclusions: These data clearly show that the HSV-1 infectivity is affected by THs, and suggest that THs or their analogs may have a potential application in prevention and/or treatment of viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics and postbiotics mechanisms of action and applications in early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) prevention and treatment have significant importance but are a matter of debate and controversy. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to define the probiotics concept, advantages and limitations in comparison to postbiotics, and proposed mechanisms of anti-tumor action in EOCRC prevention and treatment of postbiotics. Biotics (probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics) could confer the health benefit by affecting the host gut microbiota directly and indirectly. The main mechanisms of action of probiotics in exerting anticancer features include immune system regulation, inhibition of cancer cell propagation, gut dysbiosis restoration, anticancer agents' production, gut barrier function renovation, and cancer-promoting agents' reduction. Postbiotics are suggested to have different mechanisms of action to restore eubiosis against EOCRC, including modulation of gut microbiota composition, gut microbial metabolites regulation, and intestinal barrier function improvement via different features such as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-proliferative properties. A better understanding of postbiotics challenges and mechanism of action in therapeutic applications will allow us to sketch accurate trials in order to use postbiotics as bio-therapeutics in EOCRC.

Herein, the water-oxidation reaction by Ni(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)2+ in the presence of carbonate was reinvestigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, electrochemistry, and high-resolution spectroelectrochemical and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods. These methods showed that the complex was not stable under water-oxidation conditions. The role of nanosized particles or Ni ions on the surface of the electrode for water oxidation was studied and it is proposed that Ni ions or Ni oxides on the surface of the electrode are at least one of the candidates contributing to the observed catalysis.