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This study was performed to investigate the effect of increasing pomegranate peel extract in the diet of common carp on inhibiting the oxidative damage from experimental cadmium poisoning. In this experiment, fish weight with an average of 70 grams were randomly divided into the five experimental groups. Experimental unite was an aquarium with the capacity of holding twenty120-liter of water. The first group was considered as control. The second group received cadmium chloride, while the third group was treated with cadmium chloride and pomegranate peel extract (1% of dietary weight), the fourth group received cadmium chloride and pomegranate peel extract (2 % of diet weight) and the fifth group received cadmium chloride and pomegranate peel extract (4% of diet weight) for a 30- day culture period. At the end of the test period, hepatic markers of alanine, aminotransferase, aspartate, aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase and catalase were measured in the serum. The results showed that the amount of the above enzymes in the groups treated with cadmium chloride increased significantly compared to the control group (p <0.05). Also, the addition of increasing concentrations (1, 2, and 4%) of pomegranate extract significantly reduced all liver parameters compared to the group treated with cadmium chloride (p <0.05). The catalase enzyme was increased in the cadmium-treated group compared with the control. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that increasing pomegranate peel extract in the diet of common carp can have modulatory effects on biochemical changes in liver enzymes and catalase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is among the leading causes of cancer related death. Despite of extensive efforts in identifying valid cancer prognostic biomarkers, only a very small number of markers have been identified. Several genetic variants in the 9p21 region have been identified that are associated with the risk of multiple cancers. Here, we explored the association of two genetic variants in the 9p21 region, CDKN2A/B, rs10811661, and rs1333049 for the first time in 273 subjects with, or without ESCC. We observed that the patients with ESCC had a higher frequency of a TT genotype for rs10811661 than individuals in the control group, and this polymorphism was also associated with tumor size. Moreover, a CC genotype for the rs1333049 polymorphism was associated with a reduced overall survival (OS) of patients with ESCC. In particular, patients with a CC (rs1333049) genotype had a significantly shorter OS (CC genotype: 34.5 ± 8.9 months vs. CG+GG: 47.7 ± 5.9 months; p value = 0.03). We have also shown the association of a novel genetic variant in CDKN2B gene with clinical outcome of patients with ESCC. Further investigations are warranted in a larger population to explore the value of emerging markers as a risk stratification marker in ESCC. Kaplan‐Meier survival curves. a) Overall Survival (OS) and b) Progression‐Free Survival (PFS) based on different genotypes of CDKN2B rs1333049 polymorphism. p values were calculated with the logrank test [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform SiO2 nanoparticles were successfully prepared from Equisetum arvense obtained from the north-east of Iran. Then, surface modification of the extracted nanoparticles was performed with a methanol solution of H3PW12O40 via wet impregnation method. The prepared nanocatalyst was characterized by XRD, FESEM, ICP, UV-Vis, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The supported heterogeneous nanocatalyst was successfully applied as a Lewis/Bronsted acid catalyst in the synthesis of a series of substituted 4H-chromenes via condensation of aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and 4-hydroxycoumarin under solventless conditions with fine yields in appropriately short times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diagnosing and treating diseases associated with amyloid fibers remain a great challenge despite of intensive research carried out. One important approach in the development of therapeutics is the use of herbal extracts which are rich in aromatic small molecules. Cinnamomum verum extract (CE) contains proanthocyanidin and cinnamaldehyde, which have been suggested to be capable of directly inhibiting amyloid fibril formation in vitro. This study is aimed at characterizing the inhibitory activity of CE against the fibrillation of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL). Methods: Acidic pH and high temperatures were used to drive the protein towards amyloid formation. Lysozyme was dissolved at 2 mg/mL in 50mM glycine buffer (pH 2.5), and then incubated at 57 °C for the specified durations while stirred gently by Teflon magnetic bars. Various techniques including thioflavin T, fluorescence, Congo red absorbance assay and AFM micrography were used to characterize the HEWL fibrillation processes. Results: In the absence of CE typical amyloid fibrils (like amyloids formed in Alzheimer disease) became evident after 48 h of incubation. Upon incubation with various extract concentrations in the range of 0.1-1 mg/ml, formation of fibrillar assemblies were significantly inhibited (P<0.05). AFM analysis and MTT assay also confirmed the role of the extract in amyloid inhibition. Our studies showed that the presence of CE did not have any effect on protein stabilization and thus directly interact with amyloid structure and inhibit formation of these structures. Furthermore, a docking experiment showed that a pi-pi interaction may occur between the aromatic component of cinnamaldehyde and W62. Interestingly, W62 is one of the principal aromatic residues that interact with glycine amide, which is an aggregation suppressor of HEWL. Discussion: These observations suggest that aromatic small molecules of CE may directly insert into amyloidogenic core of early aggregates and inhibit amyloid fibril formation by disrupting the pi-pi interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Preparation of a new magnetic inorganic–organic nanohybrid material. [•] Introducing a new and efficient protocol for the synthesis of substituted bis(indolyl)phenylmethanes. [•] Using a highly reusable nanocatalyst without significant loss of catalytic activity. [•] The heteropolyacid catalyst was covalently linked to the modified magnetite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]