Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Anim Sci 2019 Feb 17. Epub 2019 Feb 17.

USDA-ARS, Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Logan, UT.

Larkspur (Delphinium spp.) poisoning is a long-term problem for cattle grazing on rangelands of western North America. Results from preliminary experiments have suggested that differences in larkspur toxicity may exist between heifers and bulls. Read More

J Anim Sci 2019 Feb 17. Epub 2019 Feb 17.

USDA-ARS, Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Logan, UT 84341.

Cattle losses from larkspur (Delphinium spp.) toxicity are a long-term challenge on the rangelands of western North America. In addition to animal factors that affect livestock poisonings, plant alkaloid composition (chemotype) affects the intoxication of cattle because some chemotypes are significantly more toxic. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Feb 15;9(2):e026073. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.

Objectives: To explore paramedics' experience of delivering fascia iliaca compartment block FICB) to patients with suspected hip fracture at the scene of injury.

Design: Focus groups within a randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Paramedics based at ambulance stations in the catchment area of one Emergency Department in South Wales, recruited and trained in a feasibility study about an alternative to routine prehospital pain management for patients with suspected hip fracture. Read More

Pak J Pharm Sci 2019 Jan;32(1):137-142

Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

Antiviral activity of Astragalus membranaceus aqueous and methanol root extracts was determined against Avian influenza H9 virus. Toxicity profile of extracts was evaluated using chicken embryos and BHK-21 cell line. Different concentrations (400, 200, 100, 50, 25. Read More

Pak J Pharm Sci 2019 Jan;32(1):125-130

Department Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

This retrospective study reports impact of diabetes on incidence rate of dose limiting symptoms of neurological toxicity and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Post-surgical colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with metastatic disease, treated with four different schedules of FOLFOX were included in this study. Neurological adverse effects were assessed by CTC v2. Read More

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2019 Feb 11;67:94-101. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Engineering Institute, State University of Applied Sciences in Nowy Sącz, Zamenhofa 1a St., 33-300, Nowy Sącz, Poland. Electronic address:

One of the consequence of municipal waste deposition is the production of landfill leachate. Its volume and composition is determined by numerous factors, including waste composition, landfill age and the volume of precipitation. Leachate may contain a number of mineral and organic compounds, the volume of which must be controlled regularly. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Feb 14;172:547-555. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University College London, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia.

Many marine invertebrates reproduce through broadcast spawning, where sperm and eggs are released into the water column and are vulnerable to toxicants present in the environment. The potential impacts of toxicants on spawning success are often assessed through laboratory-based fertilization tests. In most cases, these tests assess toxicant impacts at a single, pre-defined sperm density, based on a sperm:egg ratio that ensures high fertilization success (≥70-80%) in a filtered seawater control. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Feb 14;173:243-250. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. Electronic address:

Ubiquitous BPA exposure resulted in DNA methylation errors and oxidative stress. Numerous studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress can lead to changes in DNA methylation levels and supplementation with antioxidants, including N-acetylcysteine (NAC), was able to restore these changes. Our previous study supposed that BPA-induced de novo synthesis of glutathione (GSH) promoted DNA methylation process in Gobiocypris rarus testes. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Feb 14;173:225-234. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China; Key Laboratory of the Provincial Education Department of Heilongjiang for Common Animal Disease Prevention and Treatment, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China. Electronic address:

Neutrophils represent an important part of the body's innate immunity and can resist the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms by releasing neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). In this study, we investigated the toxic effects of lead (Pb) on the release of NETs, the antagonism of selenium (Se) on Pb toxicity and the potential molecular mechanisms. Our model was an in vitro exposure model for the addition of Se, Pb or both in the culture medium and was based on the separation of neutrophils from the peripheral blood of healthy chickens. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Feb 14;173:192-202. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water-Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China. Electronic address:

Bisphenol S (BPS) has been introduced into the industry as a safer alternative to bisphenol A (BPA). The distribution of BPS has recently become an important issue worldwide, but investigations on the toxicity and mechanisms of BPS remain limited. A review of the literature reveals that BPS has widespread presence in environmental media, such as indoor dust, surface water, sediments, and sewage sludge. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Feb 14;173:182-191. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan. Electronic address:

Since Ni-rich soils are a threat to the environment, growing edible crops on Ni-rich soils can pose a serious risk to human, animal, plant and ecosystem health and, hence, is considered as a challenging task for the researchers. Contrarily, limiting the bioavailability of Ni in such soils upon the addition of suitable amendments cum foliar spray of proteinogenic amino acids having an objective to alleviate stress to crop plants can considerably reduce the environmental risk. In this pot trail, we substantiate the effects of biochar (BR) and zeolite (ZL) addition in the soil along with proline (PN) spray on the resistance, and stress responses of wheat against Ni as well as on Ni translocation and accumulation in wheat plants grown on a Ni-rich soil contaminated by electroplating effluent. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Feb 14;173:174-181. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Gemfibrozil, a lipid-regulating pharmaceutical, has been widely used for treating dyslipidemia in humans and detected frequently in freshwater environments. Since plasma cholesterol is a precursor of steroid hormones, the use of gemfibrozil may influence the sex hormone balances. However, its endocrine toxicity following long-term exposure is not well understood. Read More

Cancer Treat Res Commun 2019 Feb 10;19:100119. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Florida Physician Specialists, Jacksonville, FL, USA.

Background: Prior randomized studies have shown a survival benefit using combined androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and radiation therapy for intermediate-risk prostate cancer. However, these studies either used low doses of radiation (66.6 Gy to isocenter) or imaged guidance was not available. Read More

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2019 Jan 22;177:338-345. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, Zabrze, Poland.

Niosomes belong to drug delivery systems and consist mainly of non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol. In this study, we designed and developed systems composed of non-ionic surfactants i.e. Read More

Eur J Cancer 2019 Feb 14;110:74-85. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Clinical Research, Gustave Roussy, Paris-Sud University, Paris, France.

Paediatric Strategy Forums have been created by the multistakeholder organisation, ACCELERATE, and the European Medicines Agency to facilitate dialogue between all relevant stakeholders and suggest strategies in critical areas of paediatric oncology drug development. As there are many medicines being developed for B-cell malignancies in adults but comparatively few in children with these malignancies, a Paediatric Strategy Forum was held to discuss the best approach to develop these products for children. It was concluded that as current frontline therapy is highly successful, despite associated acute toxicity, de-escalation of this or substitution of presently used drugs with new medicines can only be undertaken when there is an effective salvage regimen, which is currently not available. Read More

Plant Physiol Biochem 2019 Feb 11;137:121-129. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Biology & LAQV-REQUIMTE-UP, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.

The interaction of lead (Pb) with plant hormonal balance and oxidative stress remains under discussion. To evaluate how Pb induces oxidative stress, and modulates the antioxidant enzymes and the phytohormones pool, four-week old Pisum sativum plants were exposed during 28 days to 10, 100 and 500 mg kg Pb in soil. In comparison to leaves, roots showed higher Pb accumulation, oxidative damages and changes in phytohormone pools. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2019 Feb 10;665:400-405. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address:

Microplastics are persistent contaminants accumulating in the environment. Aquatic ecosystems have been studied worldwide, revealing ubiquitous contamination with microplastics. Microalgae, one of the most important primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, could suffer from microplastic contamination, leading to larger impacts on aquatic food webs. Read More

J Colloid Interface Sci 2019 Jan 23;542:469-482. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS), UMR-7504, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 23 rue du Loess, BP 34 67034, Strasbourg Cedex 2, France. Electronic address:

The engineering of luminescent nanoplatforms for biomedical applications displaying ability for scaling-up, good colloidal stability in aqueous solutions, biocompatibility, and providing an easy detection in vivo by fluorescence methods while offering high potential of functionalities, is currently a challenge. The original strategy proposed here involves the use of large pore (ca. 15 nm) mesoporous silica (MS) nanoparticles (NPs) having a stellate morphology (denoted STMS) on which fluorescent InP/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) are covalently grafted with a high yield (≥90%). Read More

Int J Pharm 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

In spite of the high incidence of breast cancer worldwide, there are few strategies for its chemoprevention, and they have limited adherence mainly due to their serious adverse effects. As a new approach for local breast cancer chemoprevention, we developed and optimized microemulsions for topical delivery of celecoxib to the breast skin, and evaluated their combination with microneedles to improve drug penetration for localization in the mammary tissue. Microemulsions containing water at 15% (ME-15), 29% (ME-29) and 60% (ME-60) were obtained and characterized. Read More

Pract Radiat Oncol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8510 Japan.

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to demonstrate quantitatively the complementary relation between the introduction of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and planning target volume (PTV) margin reduction with an image-guided technique in reducing the risk of rectal toxicity in dose-escalating prostate radiation therapy.

Methods And Materials: 3D-CRT and IMRT plans were generated for 10 prostate cancer patients based on two PTV margin protocols (10/8 mm and 6/5 mm) and two dose prescriptions (70 Gy and 78 Gy). The normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for each of eight scenarios was calculated using the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman (LKB) model to estimate the risk of rectal and bladder late toxicity. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran.

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO-NPs) and also chitosan‑zinc oxide (CS-ZnO-NPs) nano-hybrid were synthesized by a rapid ultrasound assisted co-precipitation method. The morphology, chemical bonding, crystal structure, UV absorption, toxicity and antibacterial properties of the CS-ZnO-NPs and ZnO-NPs were characterized. The FE-SEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy) micrographs and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the used technique led to the preparation of homogeneous, ultra-thin (thickness of 20-30 nm) and highly pure ZnO sheets for the both kinds of nanoparticles. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, China.

The effect of antibiotics in the stomach for curing Helicobacter pylori infection is hampered by the adverse gastric environment and low bioavailability of the administered drugs. Concerning these challenges, a polymeric nano-micelle was developed. Initially, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) was hydrophobically modified with stearic acid (SA), and the obtained CMCS-g-SA co-polymers was further conjugated with urea to acquire U-CMCS-g-SA co-polymers. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biomedical Materials, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China; Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts of Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266000, PR China. Electronic address:

Chitosan as a natural bioactive biopolymer has been commonly employed in guidance conduit for repairing peripheral nerve injury, due to its excellent properties of low toxicity, antibacterial properties, high biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, chitin and CM-chitosan were prepared from pharmaceutical grade chitosan. Moreover, a novel composite chitosan-based nerve graft comprising microporous chitin-based conduit and internal CM-chitosan fiber was constructed and applied to bridge sciatic nerve across a 10-mm defect in SD rats. Read More

Neurotoxicology 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Pharmacology, Center of Excellence for Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, Tartu, 50411, Estonia.

Background: Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily of adhesion molecules. Polysialic acid (PSA) is attached to NCAM post-translationally. PSA residues are considered to reduce the adhesive properties of NCAM and play an important role in the regulation of cell interactions. Read More

Surv Ophthalmol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, 700 University Blvd. alveston, TX 77555. Electronic address:

We reviewed literature on adverse reactions to intravenous fluorescein angiography (IVFA) using PubMed and found 78 articles in English from 1961-2017. The reported rates of adverse reactions were overall 0.083-21. Read More

Phys Med 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Purpose: To provide an analysis of dose distribution in sub-structures that could be responsible for urinary toxicity after Image-Guided Adaptive BrachyTherapy (IGABT) in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer (LACC).

Methods: 105 LACC patients treated with radiochemotherapy and IGABT were selected. Sub-structures (bladder wall, trigone, bladder neck, urethra) were contoured on IGABT-planning MRIs. Read More

Vaccine 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

TRIA Bioscience Corp, Suite 260, 1616 Eastlake Ave East, Seattle, WA 98102 USA. Electronic address:

We have been optimizing the design of a conjugate vaccine for nicotine addiction that employs a peptide-based hapten carrier. This peptide, which is produced by solid-phase protein synthesis, contains B cell and T cell epitope domains and eliminates the non-relevant, but highly immunogenic sequences in microbial carriers. In this report, the amino acid sequences in the T cell domain were optimized for improved vaccine activity and multivalent formulations containing structurally distinct haptens were tested for the induction of additive antibody responses. Read More

J Chromatogr A 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

University of Münster, MEET Battery Research Center, Corrensstraße 46, 48149, Münster, Germany. Electronic address:

Nowadays, lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are the preferred energy supply for consumer electronics and electric vehicles. But, intrinsic reactions in the LIB system lead to a reduced battery life and impaired safety properties. Organo(fluoro)phosphates (O(F)Ps) as decomposition product of the conducting salt and the organic carbonate solvent molecules of the LIB electrolyte are of high interest due to structural similarities to chemical warfare agents and therefore a supposedly high toxicity. Read More

Talanta 2019 May 26;197:86-91. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Laboratory of Environmental Sciences and Technology, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, China. Electronic address:

Anterior gradient protein 2 homolog (AGR) is a potential tumor biomarker and plays an important role in tissue development and regeneration. The intracellular detection of AGR is rarely reported. By conjugating the AGR aptamer with a cytosine base sequence as Ag cluster template, a highly fluorescent probe (MA@AgNCs) was synthesized for targeting intracellular AGR. Read More

Talanta 2019 May 15;197:472-481. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical (Bio-)Analysis, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address:

This work presents the development and validation of a quantitative HILIC UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS method for amino acids combined with untargeted metabolic profiling of human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells after treatment with ionic liquids. The work included a preliminary metabotoxicity screening of 14 different ionic liquids, of which 9 carefully selected ionic liquids were chosen for a metabolomics study. This study is focused on the correlation between the toxicity of the ionic liquids and their metabolic profiles. Read More

Talanta 2019 May 26;197:1-11. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan, PR China. Electronic address:

In this study, we have developed a facile, rapid one-pot strategy for synthesis of orange fluorescent gold nanoclusters (MBISA-AuNCs) at room temperature by using 2-Mercapto-5-benzimidazolesulfonic acid (MBISA) as both reducing and protecting reagent. The prepared AuNCs exhibited prominent advantages including high fluorescent quantum yield, good water solubility, excellent biocompatibility and low toxicity. Based on these superior properties, the AuNCs have been multi-talented applied in cell imaging, hydrogen sulfide detection and pH sensing. Read More

Mar Environ Res 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Biology & Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address:

With the increased production and research on nanoparticles, the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aquatic systems is very likely to increase. Although it has been shown that CNTs may cause toxicity in marine organisms, to our knowledge, the possible impacts under global temperature increase is still unknown. For this reason, biochemical and physiological impacts induced in Mytilus galloprovincialis due to the presence of functionalized multi-walled CNTs (f-MWCNTs) and increased temperature were investigated in the present study. Read More

Mar Environ Res 2019 Feb 10. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Desalination Technologies Research Institute, Saline Water Conversion Corporation, PO BOX 8328, Al-Jubail, 31951, Saudi Arabia.

Two opposing views are held about the effects of desalination plants on coastal environments. One view is that brine discharged from desalination plants has minimal impact on the coastal environment. The other opinion claims that discharges from desalination plants pose a potential environmental hazard to coastal environments and particularly to those of the Arabian Gulf. Read More

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019 Feb 1;134:56-64. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Clinical Oncology Department, Kasr Alainy School of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Introduction: Oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting the chromosomal rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were associated with superior clinical outcome. Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are known to have peculiar toxicity profile, hence, increasing awareness to the safety profile of ALK inhibitors is essential.

Methods: A comprehensive systematic review of literature has been conducted to include prospective trials that used the ALK inhibitors Crizotinib, Ceritinib, Alectinib, Brigatinib and Lorlatinib in patients with advanced NSCLC and have available efficacy and toxicity results. Read More

Am J Surg 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address:

Background: The costs of cancer care in the US continue to increase and may have serious consequences for patients. We hypothesize that even cancer patients treated with curative-intent surgery alone experience substantial financial burden.

Methods: A questionnaire was administered to adult cancer patients who were treated with curative-intent surgery. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Feb 13;173:165-173. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Tianjin 300191, China. Electronic address:

Graphene oxide (GO) is extensively used in various fields because of its versatility. The presence of GO in the environment enhances the toxicity of toxicants or pollutants. Cadmium (Cd) and GO pollution is a problem in aquatic environment, which should be solved. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Feb 13;173:156-164. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Institute for Soil Engineering, Water and Wastewater Management, University of Wuppertal, Pauluskirchstraße 7, Wuppertal, Germany; Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea.

The present study demonstrated the possible impacts of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe NPs) on the alleviation of toxic effects of cadmium (Cd) in wheat and enhance its growth, yield, and Fe biofortification. A pot experiment was conducted in historically Cd-contaminated soil using five levels of Fe NPs (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 ppm) by soil and foliar application methods. The plants were harvested after 125 days of growth while vegetative parameters, antioxidant capacity, electrolyte leakage (EL) in leaves as well as Cd, and Fe concentrations in wheat grains, roots, and shoots were measured. Read More

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019 Feb 13;172:538-546. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Faculty of Soil Science, Lomonosov Moscow State University, bld. 1/12, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia.

The objective of this research is to find correlations between traffic-related contaminants in the roadside soils and their ecotoxicity. The study was conducted in Moscow in the vicinity of a highway of 125 000 vehicles per day. The topsoils (0-3 cm depth) were sampled perpendicular to the road at 1-, 6-, 10-, 18- and 50-m distances from the roadbed. Read More

Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2019 Jan 25;9:80-86. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya. Electronic address:

Chemotherapy of East Coast fever, a lymphoproliferative cancer-like disease of cattle causing significant economic losses in Africa, is largely dependent on the use of buparvaquone, a drug that was developed in the late 1980's. The disease is caused by the tick-borne protozoan pathogen Theileria parva. Buparvaquone can be used prophylactically and it is also active against tropical theileriosis, caused by the related parasite Theileria annulata. Read More

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2019 Feb 6;177:306-312. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.

Gene transfection, as an effective treatment for inherited and acquired life threatening diseases caused by genetic deficiencies and abnormalities, has evolved as a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer and other intractable diseases. Non-target-specific vectors will affect normal cells as well as pathogenic cells, resulting in a relative decrease in transfection efficiency and unnecessary cytotoxicity. In the present work, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with folate (FA)-modified polyethylenimine (PEI-FA) were prepared by a single step method (without additional reducing agent) for targeted gene transfection in tumor cells. Read More

Plant Physiol Biochem 2019 Feb 8;137:93-101. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Microelement Research Center, College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, PR China. Electronic address:

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in the acid soils (pH ≤ 5) is the major limiting abiotic factor affecting the productivity of crops. Boron (B) has been reported to alleviate Al toxicity. In spite of recent advances, it is not clear how B relieves Al toxicity. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

H.E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan; Department of Biochemistry, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (P.C.M.D.), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Tetrapleura tetrapteura Taub. is a leguminous multipurpose tree (Fabaceae) indigenous to tropical Africa. Fruits, seeds and stem bark infusions or decoctions of Tetrapleura tetrapteura Taub. Read More

Neuroscience 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas-Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Several studies have demonstrated the antitumor effect of doxazosin, an α1-adrenergic blocker, against glioma and breast, bladder and prostate cancers. Doxazosin is also being evaluated as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder and alcoholism, and α1-adrenergic blockers have been linked to neuroprotection in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Cancer and AD have an inverse relationship in many aspects, with several factors that contribute to apoptosis inhibition and proliferation being increased in cancers but decreased in AD. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara 390002, Gujarat, India. Electronic address:

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of 55 to 200 CGG repeats (premutation) in FMR1. These CGG repeats are Repeat Associated non-ATG (RAN) translated into a small and pathogenic protein, FMRpolyG. The cellular and molecular mechanisms of FMRpolyG toxicity are unclear. Read More

Reprod Toxicol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Diseases, Wuhan 430071, China. Electronic address:

Hepatic and pulmonary toxicity in fetal rats induced by pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) was investigated. Retrorsine (RTS) or monocrotaline (MCT) was intragastrically administered during pregnancy. The reduction of body and tail lengths was consistent with body weight loss in PA-exposed fetuses, and pathological lesions in liver and lung were observed only in fetuses. Read More

Toxicol In Vitro 2019 Feb 13;57:54-61. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Nanobiology Laboratory, Department of Natural and Exact Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, PUCMM, Autopista Duarte Km 1 ½, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. Electronic address:

Ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) have gained attention in biomedicine due to their many potential applications, such as targeted drug delivery, their use as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging and oncological treatments. The information about the risk effects of ferrite NPs in human blood cells is, however, scarce. To assess their potential toxicity, in vitro studies were carried out with magnetite and zinc, nickel and nickel‑zinc ferrites NPs at different concentrations (50, 100 and 200 μg·ml). Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI. Electronic address:

Purpose: To update outcome and toxicity results of a prospective trial of 19 Gy single-fraction high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for men with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients were treated on a prospective study of single-fraction HDR brachytherapy. All patients had low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Read More

Life Sci 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Pharmacology and Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Marmara University School of Pharmacy, Istanbul, Turkey.

Aims: The effects of agmatine, an endogenous substance known to have a neuroprotective effect against neurotoxicity has been investigated.

Material And Methods: The primary neuron culture obtained from neonatal rats was exposed to toxicity with paclitaxel and cisplatin and the effect of agmatine on both acute (1 h) and chronic (24 h) exposure was demonstrated by biochemical and molecular analyses. It was demonstrated that the effect of agmatine before and after agmatine was induced by neurotoxicity before agmatine and the effect of agmatine on the formed and occuring toxicities. Read More

Exp Eye Res 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Ross Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Research and Ophthalmology Services, Veterans Administration of Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY, USA. Electronic address:

Purpose: An adverse effect of amantadine, a drug used for Parkinson's disease, is corneal edema. While corneal endothelial cell loss is noted with amantadine toxicity, the reversibility of corneal edema suggests that amantadine affects active mechanisms regulating corneal hydration. Although mainly known as a NMDA receptor antagonist, amantadine is also a K-channel blocker. Read More

Radiol Med 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Oncology Radiation Therapy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.

Purpose: To investigate the role of radiotherapy (RT) in the management of EGFR- or ALK-mutated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with TKI.

Materials And Methods: Clinical data of 106 patients (pts) from five Institutions treated with RT concomitant to TKI were retrospectively revised. Overall survival (OS) and toxicities were analyzed as endpoints of the study. Read More