Honey in Bronchial Asthma: From Folk Tales to Scientific Facts

Alzhraa Salah Abbas,Sherief Ghozy,Le Huu Nhat Minh,Mohammad Rashidul Hashan,Ali Lotfy Soliman,Nguyen Thanh Van,Kenji Hirayama,Nguyen Tien Huy 한국식품영양과학회 2019 Journal of medicinal food Vol.22 No.6

Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases. Complementary and alternative medicine is increasingly used for treating bronchial asthma. Ten electronic databases were searched to investigate whether honey alone or in combination with other ingredients can be considered as the potential treatment for bronchial asthma. Combinations of honey and Nigella sativa (NS) showed significant improvement in all pulmonary functions, including forced expiratory volume (FEV1) (MD = 0.52, P < .001), forced vital capacity (FVC) (MD = 0.55, P = .002), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) (MD = 80.60, P < .001), in both moderate and severe, uncontrolled persistent asthma compared with baseline. Asthma control test scores also improved significantly (MD = 11.22, P < .001) in patients using combinations of honey and NS compared with baseline. Patients with a less severe grade of asthma showed a significant positive response in clinical parameters upon using honey. One study showed that using celery seeds and honey was associated with clinical improvement of both lung functions, FEV1 (MD = 18.09, P < .001) and FVC (MD = 24.23, P < .001), and respiratory parameters compared with baseline. In conclusion, honey alone has no strong evidence of being effective in controlling asthma. However, when used in combination with other substances, it showed a relatively high efficacy in patients with asthma. This finding may help in asthma control with lower cost alternatives and better outcomes.

A novel method for the synthesis of nano-magnetite particles

Syahmazgi, Maryam Ghodrati,Falamaki, Cavus,Lotfi, Abbas Sahebghadam Techno-Press 2014 Advances in nano research Vol.2 No.2

A novel and simple method for the synthesis of nano-magnetite particles is disclosed. In the novel procedure, $Fe^{2+}$ is the only source of metal cation. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) is used as the structure directing agent. The phase analysis of the nano-particles was performed using XRD and electron diffraction techniques. Size and morphology analysis was performed using light scattering and TEM techniques. The effect of $NH_4OH$ solution (32 wt. %) at different CMC concentrations on the size distribution of the final magnetite powders is studied. An optimal base concentration exists for each CMC concentration leading to minimal agglomeration. There exists a minimum CMC concentration (0.0016 wt. %), lower than that no magnetite forms. It is shown that using the new method, it is possible to immobilize a lipase enzyme (Candida Rugosa) with immobilization efficiency larger than 98 % with a loading more than 3 times the reported value in the literature. The latter phenomenon is explained based on the agglomerate state of the nano-particles in the liquid phase.

GTP Induces S-phase Cell-cycle Arrest and Inhibits DNA Synthesis in K562 Cells But Not in Normal Human Peripheral Lymphocytes

Moosavi, Mohammad Amin,Yazdanparast, Razieh,Lotfi, Abbas Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biol 2006 Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology Vol.39 No.5

Since differentiation therapy is one of the promising strategies for treatment of leukemia, universal efforts have been focused on finding new differentiating agents. In that respect, we used guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) to study its effects on K562 cell line. GTP, at concentrations between 25-200 ${\mu}M$, inhibited proliferation (3-90%) and induced 5-78% increase in benzidine-positive cells after 6-days of treatments of K562 cells. Flow cytometric analyses of glycophorine A (GPA) showed that GTP can induce expression of this marker in more mature erythroid cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These effects of GTP were also accompanied with inhibition of DNA synthesis (measured by [$^3H$]-thymidine incorporation) and early S-phase cell cycle arrest by 96 h of exposure. In contrast, no detectable effects were observed when GTP administered to unstimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). However, GTP induced an increase in proliferation, DNA synthesis and viability of mitogen-stimulated PBL cells. In addition, growth inhibition and differentiating effects of GTP were also induced by its corresponding nucleotides GDP, GMP and guanosine (Guo). In heat-inactivated medium, where rapid degradation of GTP via extracellular nucleotidases is slow, the anti-proliferative and differentiating effects of all type of guanine nucleotides (except Guo) were significantly decreased. Moreover, adenosine, as an inhibitor of Guo transporter system, markedly reduced the GTP effects in K562 cells, suggesting that the extracellulr degradation of GTP or its final conversion to Guo may account for the mechanism of GTP effects. This view is further supported by the fact that GTP and Guo are both capable of impeding the effects of mycophenolic acid. In conclusion, our data will hopefully have important impact on pharmaceutical evaluation of guanine nucleotides for leukemia treatments.

GTP Induces S-phase Cell-cycle Arrest and Inhibits DNA Synthesis in K562 Cells But Not in Normal Human Peripheral Lymphocytes

( Mohammad Amin Moosavi ),( Razieh Yazdanparast ),( Abbas Lotfi ) 생화학분자생물학회 2006 BMB Reports Vol.39 No.5

3-Hydrogenkwadaphnin Induces Monocytic Differentiation and Enhances Retinoic Acid-mediated Granulocytic Differentiation in NB4 Cell Line

Moosavi, Mohammad Amin,Yazdanparast, Razieh,Lotfi, Abbas Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biol 2006 Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology Vol.39 No.6

Recently, we have reported that 3-hydrogenkwadaphnin (3-HK), a diterpene ester isolated from Dendrostellera lessertii (Thymealeaceae), is very effective against leukemia cell lines without any detectable effects on normal cells (Moosavi et al., 2005b). In this study, we report that 3-HK induces $G_1$ cell-cycle arrest, differentiation and apoptosis in APL NB4 cell line. Indeed, the drug between 24 to 96 h induced 7-65% growth inhibition of NB4 cells. Cell viability was also decreased by 2-55% between 24 to 96 h treatments with the drug, respectively. These effects of the drug were also dose-dependent. According to flow cytomtry results, 3-HK (15 nM) induced a significant G1-arrest up to 24 h which was consequently followed with appearance of sub-$G_1$ peak at 72 to 96 h. Hoechst 33258 staining and DNA fragmentation assays confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis among the treated cells. On the other hand, NBT reducing assay, Wright-Giemsa staining, phagocytic activity and expression of cell surface markers (CD11b and CD14) confirmed that the inhibition of proliferation is associated with differentiation especially toward macrophage-like morphology. Interestingly, 3-HK at 5 and 10 nM enhanced the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in NB4 cells. Based on these results, 3-HK might become an ideal candidate for treatment of APL patients pending full exploration of its biological functions.

3-Hydrogenkwadaphnin Induces Monocytic Differentiation and Enhances Retinoic Acid-mediated Granulocytic Differentiation in NB4 Cell Line

( Mohammad Amin Moosavi ),( Razieh Yazdanparast ),( Abbas Lotfi ) 생화학분자생물학회 2006 BMB Reports Vol.39 No.6

14-bp Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism of the HLA-G gene in Breast Cancer among Women from North Western Iran

Haghi, Mehdi,Feizi, Mohammad Ali Hosseinpour,Sadeghizadeh, Majid,Lotfi, Abbas Sahebghadam Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.14

Background: The human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) gene is highly expressed in cancer pathologies and is one strategy used by tumor cells to escape immune surveillance. A 14-bp insertion/deletion (InDel) polymorphism of the HLA-G gene has been suggested to be associated with HLA-G mRNA stability and the expression of HLA-G. The aim of present study was to assess any genetic association between this polymorphism and breast cancer among Iranian-Azeri women. Materials and Methods: In this study 227 women affected with breast cancer, in addition to 255 age-sex and ethnically matched healthy individuals as the control group, participated. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis assays. The data were compiled according to the genotype and allele frequencies, compared using the Chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results: In this case-control study, no significant difference was found between the case and control groups at allelic and genotype levels, although there is a slightly higher allele frequency of HLA-G 14bp deletion in breast cancer affected group. However,when the stage I subgroup was compared with stage II plus stage III subgroup of affected breast cancer, a significant difference was seen with the 14 bp deletion allele frequency. The stage II-III subgroup patients had higher frequency of deletion allele (57.4% vs 45.8%) than stage I cases (${\chi}^2=4.16$, p-value=0.041). Conclusions: Our data support a possible action of HLA-G 14bp InDel polymorphism as a potential genetic risk factor for progression of breast cancer. This finding highlights the necessity of future studies of this gene to establish the exact role of HLA-G in progression steps of breast cancer.

Response of Triple Negative Breast Cancer to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Correlation between Ki-67 Expression and Pathological Response

Elnemr, Gamal M,El-Rashidy, Ahmed H,Osman, Ahmed H,Issa, Lotfi F,Abbas, Osama A,Al-Zahrani, Abdullah S,El-Seman, Sheriff M,Mohammed, Amrallah A,Hassan, Abdelghani A Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.2

Triple-negative breast cancers constitute about 15% of all cases, but despite their higher response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the tumors are very aggressive and associated with a poor prognosis as well as a higher risk of early recurrence. This study was retrospectively performed on 101 patients with stage II and III invasive breast cancer who received 6-8 cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Out of the total, 23 were in the triple negative breast cancer subgroup. Nuclear Ki-67 expression in both the large cohort group (n=101) and triple negative breast cancer subgroup (n=23) and its relation to the pathological response were evaluated. The purpose of the study was to identify the predictive value of nuclear protein Ki-67 expression among patients with invasive breast cancers, involving the triple negative breast cancer subgroup, treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in correlation to the rate of pathological complete response. The proliferation marker Ki-67 expression was highest in the triple negative breast cancer subgroup. No appreciable difference in the rate of Ki-67 expression in triple negative breast cancer subgroup using either a cutoff of 14% or 35%. Triple negative breast cancer subgroup showed lower rates of pathological complete response. Achievement of pathological complete response was significantly correlated with smaller tumor size and higher Ki-67 expression. The majority of triple negative breast cancer cases achieved pathological partial response. The study concluded that Ki-67 is a useful tool to predict chemosensitivity in the setting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for invasive breast cancer but not for the triple negative breast cancer subgroup.

Preparation of nanoporous activated carbon and its application as nano adsorbent for CO2 storage

Alimorad Rashidi,Davood Kazemi,Nosrat Izadi,Mahnaz Pourkhalil,Abbas Jorsaraei,Enseyeh Ganji,Roghayeh Lotfi 한국화학공학회 2016 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.33 No.2

Nanoporous activated carbons, as adsorbent for CO2 storage, were prepared from walnut shells via two chemical processes including phosphoric acid treatment and KOH activation at high temperature. Specific surface area and porosities were controlled by KOH concentration and activation temperature. The obtained adsorbents were characterized by N2 adsorption at 77.3 K. Their carbon dioxide adsorption capacities were measured at different pressures at 290 K by using volumetric adsorption equipment. The KOH-treated nanoporous carbons typically led to the production of high specific surface areas and high micropore volumes and showed better performance for CO2 adsorptions. The maximum experimental value for adsorption capacity happened when pressure increased from 5 to 10 bar (1.861- 2.873mmol·g−1). It was found that in order to improve the highest capacity of CO2 adsorption for KOH-modified carbon (9.830-18.208mmol·g−1), a KOH: C weight ratio of 3.5 and activation temperature of 973 K were more suitable for pore development and micro-mesopore volume enhancement.