Kashan University of Medical Sciences (KAUMS) is a medical school of Iran. Located in the central city of Kashan, the university was established in 1986.The university has 5 Schools and offers degrees in 23 fields including PhDs and residency degrees for post graduate applicants. The university operates 5 teaching hospitals and over 60 clinics in the city and surrounding areas..
Liver fibrosis is the second stage of liver disease with few specific treatments currently available. Probiotics, specifically bifidobacterium longum can be used to alleviate liver fibrosis through several mechanisms such as reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to restoring liver function and enhancing its histological parameters. However, probiotics viability can be reduced during gastrointestinal transit, diminishing treatment efficiency. Therefore, encapsulating them in matrices of carbohydrates (e.g., alginate and chitosan), and proteins (e.g., whey protein) may increase their viability and might positively affect their treatment efficacy. As a result, we hypothesized that encapsulation in alginate-whey protein matrix with a chitosan coat would enhance the delivery and hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, in this research we assessed the effect of bifidobacterium longum encapsulated with alginate-whey protein with chitosan coating on liver function tests, oxidative stress parameters, inflammatory gene expression and histological parameters in liver tissue. 48 male Male Wistar rats were categorized into 6 control and treatment groups: Normal control (NC), sham-operated control (SHC), BDL control (BDL + vehicle), free B.longum probiotic (BDL + FP), free microcapsule (BDL + FC), and encapsulated B. longum probiotic (BDL + CP). Free and encapsulated B. longum was administered at a dose of 3× 10^9 Colony forming units (CFU) per day for 7 days before and 21 days following induction of cholestasis by bile duct ligation (BDL) surgery. After the treatment, all rats were euthanized, and their blood samples and liver tissue were collected for analysis. Liver function tests were assessed in blood plasma, while liver tissue was used for oxidant/anti-oxidant status measurement, pro- and anti-inflammatory gene expression, and histological properties. Our results showed that encapsulation of B. longum with alginate-whey protein and chitosan coating can provide a microcapsule with encapsulation efficiency of 76.6
Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Lactovage suppository on genital tract bacterial culture and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes in infertile women undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET). Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 156 women scheduled for FET. Participants were randomly divided into two equal groups, with one group receiving a daily intravaginal capsule containing Lactobacillus and maltodextrin (intervention group) for 30 days, while the other received a placebo capsule with an inactive ingredient (control group) over the same period. After the intervention, data related to Lactobacillus status (vaginal and uterine) and ART outcomes were analyzed. Results Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. The intervention group showed significantly higher chemical (45.5% vs. 28.9%, P = 0.034) and clinical pregnancy rates (42.9% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.048), while ongoing pregnancy and implantation rates were higher but not statistically significant. Miscarriage rates were similar between groups, and multiple pregnancy occurred only in the control group. Although vaginal and uterine Lactobacillus positivity was more frequent in the synbiotic group, this difference was not significant; however, Lactobacillus-positive vaginal and uterine status was associated with higher pregnancy rates, particularly in the intervention group. Conclusion Intravaginal synbiotic supplementation before FET may be associated with improved chemical and clinical pregnancy rates in women undergoing ART. While other outcomes did not differ significantly between groups, a Lactobacillus-positive genital tract environment was linked to more favorable pregnancy outcomes, particularly in the synbiotic group. Larger multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered in the Iranian website ( www.irct.ir ) for clinical trials registration ( http://www.irct.ir : IRCTID: IRCT20110602006689N5).
Clarithromycin, an antibiotic drug, was studied for its solubility in a supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) green solvent at various temperatures (308 K, 318 K, 328 K, and 338 K) and pressures (100 bar, 120 bar, 150 bar, 180 bar, 210 bar, 240 bar, and 270 bar). This investigation provides previously unreported solubility data for this drug in SC-CO2. The measured solubility of Clarithromycin ranged from 0.025 < y (solubility) & times; 10(4) < 4.09 and 0.012 < S (equilibrium solubility, kg.m(-3)) < 5.72. Two methods were employed to model solubility of Clarithromycin: 1) a well-known cubic Peng-Robinson (PR) equation of state (EoS), using van der Waals type-II mixing rule. The performance of this EoS was satisfactory, with an AARD value of 8.87, 2) 22 semi-empirical equations were also utilized, i.e. Chrastil, Bartle et al., Garlapati and Madras (model I & II), Andonova and Garlapati, Kumar and Johnston, del Valle and Aguilera, Sung and Shim, Ch and Madras, Adachi and Lu, Alwi and Garlapati, Bian et al., Si-Moussa et al., Mendez-Santiago and Teja, Nejad et al., Sodeifian et al., model I & II, Keshmiri et al., Jouyban et al. Hozhabr et al., Khansary et al., and Gordillo et al., with 3-6 adjustable coefficients and in three y = f (T, P, rho), y = f (T, P) and y = f (T, rho) categories. In category y = f (T, P, rho), MST model with AARD value of 8.41% and in category y = f (T, rho), Si-Moussa et al. model with AARD value of 8.01% showed better performance. Enthalpies for binary combination of Clarithromycin and SC-CO2 have been determined.
Background Dry eye disease (DED) is multifactorial-disorder characterized by tear film instability, ocular surface inflammation, and bothersome symptoms that impair quality of life. Diet-based strategies are increasingly explored as adjuncts to standard care. Methods We performed a narrative synthesis of clinical and pre-clinical studies evaluating MedDiet components or patterns in relation to DED outcomes. Results Multiple clinical studies suggest that omega-3 intake can improve tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer wetting, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores in subsets of patients; however, some major trials, particularly those using active placebos such as olive oil, have reported no significant benefit of omega-3 supplementation over control. Components of olive oil or other aspects of the MedDiet can exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, neutralize free radicals, and stabilize the tear film. Antioxidant vitamins, carotenoids, and other components of the MedDiet can help preserve the integrity of the epithelial layer and reduce oxidative stress in tears. Vitamin D can support barrier layer proteins and maintain the balance between T helper 17 cells (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Treg), with rapid associations observed between vitamin D levels and dry eye disease (DED) symptoms, as well as some early outcome studies. Evidence for the MedDiet as a whole is weak, while stronger evidence exists for its individual components, although this varies by concentration, duration of administration, patient population, and control group. Conclusion Components of the MedDiet show promise in managing DED, particularly in specific DED phenotypes, but further trials with standardized outcomes are needed to confirm these findings.
Hematological malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM), leukemia, and lymphoma, represent a major global health burden, accounting for approximately 6.6% of all cancer cases and contributing to significant mortality. The evolutionary conserved WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway is a critical regulator of normal hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis, and its dysregulation is a hallmark of various hematological malignancies. Aberrant activation through mutations, overexpression of ligands, or disruption of the destruction complex drives uncontrolled proliferation, impaired differentiation, and therapeutic resistance to therapy in acute and chronic leukemias, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma. Therapeutic interventions targeting this pathway, such as GSK-3 inhibitors, β-catenin antagonists, and small molecules like CWP291 and salinomycin, have demonstrated promising antitumor effects. Furthermore, combining WNT/β-catenin inhibition with targeted or epigenetic therapies, such as venetoclax and chidamide, can produce synergistic antitumor effects and overcome chemoresistance. Despite this potential, clinical translation is hampered by on-target toxicities in healthy tissues, pathway complexity, and a lack of predictive biomarkers. We conclude that the future of WNT-directed therapy lies in developing biomarker-selective agents, advanced drug delivery systems to improve specificity, and exploring novel combinations with immunotherapy to harness the anti-tumor immune response.
