Graviola leaves extract enhances the anticancer effect of cisplatin on various cancer cell lines

Mai G. Awad,Ramadan A. Ali,Dalia D. Abd El‑Monem,Mohammed A. El‑Magd 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2020 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.16 No.4

Background Cisplatin (CIS) is widely applied as an anticancer drug for various cancer types, including liver, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers; however, its usage is limited due to side efects. Objective We investigated whether combined therapy of Graviola (Annona muricata) leaves extract (GLE) and CIS could reduce CIS doses without decreasing its anticancer potential. Methods The MCF7, HepG2, CaCo2, or PANC1 cells were divided into four groups for each cell line as follows: group1 (G1): untreated cells, G2: cells treated with GLE, G3: cells treated with CIS, and G4: cells treated with GLE, after 2 h treated with CIS. All combinations were prepared as non-constant ratio from GLE. The cytotoxicity, gene expression, cell cycle arrest were determined by MTT assay, real-time PCR, and cell fow cytometry, respectively. Results Treatment with GLE and/or CIS-induced cytotoxic efect on HepG2, MCF7, CaCo2, and PANC1 cancer cells with the best efect of combined therapy. All twelve non-constant ratio combinations (GLE+CIS) for each cell line resulted in a signifcant higher cytotoxic efect than single drug treatment. The combination index (CI) values for all combinations were less than one, indicating the presence of synergistic cytotoxic efect between CIS and GLE against the four cancer cell lines. This anticancer efect was triggered through mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis with the downregulation of caspase3, Bax, and p53 and upregulation of Bcl2. GLE also shifted G0/G1 phase of cell cycle arrest induced by CIS to S and G2/M phases. Interestingly, this combined therapy did not afect oxidative stress (indicated by higher malondialdehyde level and lower activities of SOD, CAT, and GPX) induced by CIS; however, it downregulated the expression of MAPK1 and multidrug resistance gene MDR1.

Bioactive Levan-Type Exopolysaccharide Produced by Pantoea agglomerans ZMR7: Characterization and Optimization for Enhanced Production

( Safaa A. S. Al-qaysi ),( Halah Al-haideri ),( Sana M. Al-shimmary ),( Jasim M. Abdulhameed ),( Othman I. Alajrawy ),( Mohammad M. Al-halbosiy ),( Tarek A. A. Moussa ),( Mohamed G. Farahat ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2021 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.31 No.5

Levan is an industrially important, functional biopolymer with considerable applications in the food and pharmaceutical fields owing to its safety and biocompatibility. Here, levan-type exopolysaccharide produced by Pantoea agglomerans ZMR7 was purified by cold ethanol precipitation and characterized using TLC, FTIR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The maximum production of levan (28.4 g/l) was achieved when sucrose and ammonium chloride were used as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, at 35°C and an initial pH of 8.0. Some biomedical applications of levan like antitumor, antiparasitic, and antioxidant activities were investigated in vitro. The results revealed the ability of levan at different concentrations to decrease the viability of rhabdomyosarcoma and breast cancer cells compared with untreated cancer cells. Levan appeared also to have high antiparasitic activity against the promastigote of Leishmania tropica. Furthermore, levan had strong DPPH radical scavenging (antioxidant) activity. These findings suggest that levan produced by P. agglomerans ZMR7 can serve as a natural biopolymer candidate for the pharmaceutical and medical fields.

The stimulatory effects of Stewartia koreana extract on the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts and the wound healing activity of the extract in mice

Lee, T.H.,Lee, G.W.,Park, K.H.,Mohamed, M.A.A.,Bang, M.H.,Baek, Y.S.,Son, Y.,Chung, D.K.,Baek, N.-I.,Kim, J. Spandidos Publications 2014 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE Vol.34 No.1

Stewartia koreana (S. koreana) has been used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as acute gastroenteritis and aches, in Korean folk medicine and has been reported to have a number of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory activity and the promotion of angiogenesis. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of S. koreana extract (SKE) and its components on dermal fibroblast growth and migration, and to investigate the wound healing activity of the extract in mice. In vitro experiments revealed that the numbers of SKE-treated cells increased by approximately 2.5- and 3.7-fold with 50 and 100 mu g/ml of SKE, respectively. 5-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine (BrdU) incorporation was also increased in the SKE-treated cells by 2.3-fold. SKE promoted the migration of human skin fibroblasts and, among the isolated compounds, hyperin increased the proliferation and migration of the fibroblasts to almost the same degree as SKE. Western blot analysis demonstrated that SKE stimulated the MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. In in vivo experiments, the SKE-treated wound lesions of mice decreased by approximately 7% in diameter after 2 days of treatment with SKE compared with the wound lesions on the 1st day of the experiment. On the 9th day of treatment, the diameter of the lesions was further reduced by approximately 83% in the SKE-treated wound areas compared with the wound areas on the 1st day of treatment. Our results demonstrate that methanol extracts of S. koreana leaves promote the proliferation and migration of skin fibroblasts and possess effective wound healing activity through the activation of the MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Hyperin was identified as an active compound responsible for the stimulation of fibroblast growth and migration.

Effect of partial rotor-to-stator rub on shaft vibration

Mohamed. A. Abuzaid,Mohamed E. Eleshaky,Mohamed G. Zedan 대한기계학회 2009 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.23 No.1

The effect of partial rotor-to-stator rubbing is investigated both experimentally and analytically. It is found that due to rubbing the measured vibration signal is distorted showing a flattened portion in the waveform. Spectral analysis indicates that the synchronous component is generally attenuated as a result of rubbing-introduced-friction. It is also indicated that light rubbing induced vibrations are characterized by harmonics at frequencies equal to 1x rev., 2x rev., and 3x rev. Whereas, severe rubbing is identified experimentally by a spectrum containing subharmonics at 1/3 and 2/3 of the rotational frequency. Because of the stiffening effect of rubbing on the rotor, the resonance frequency increases. In general, the analytical results show good agreement with experimental data.

Efficient Multi-Touch Detection Algorithm for Large Touch Screen Panels

Mohamed, Mohamed G.A.,Cho, Tae-Won,Kim, HyungWon The Institute of Electronics and Information Engin 2014 IEIE Transactions on Smart Processing & Computing Vol.3 No.4

Large mutual capacitance touch screen panels (TSP) are susceptible to display and ambient noise. This paper presents a multi-touch detection algorithm using an efficient noise compensation technique for large mutual capacitance TSPs. The sources of noise are presented and analyzed. The algorithm includes the steps to overcome each source of noise. The algorithm begins with a calibration technique to overcome the TSP mutual capacitance variation. The algorithm also overcomes the shadow effect of a hand close to TSP and mutual capacitance variation by dynamic threshold calculations. Time and space filters are also used to filter out ambient noise. The experimental results were used to determine the system parameters to achieve the best performance.

A Fast Sensing Method using Concurrent Driving and Sequential Sensing for Large Capacitance Touch Screens

Mohamed G.A. Mohamed(모하메드 모하메드 가말 아흐메드),HyungWon Kim(김형원),Tae-Won Cho(조태원) 대한전자공학회 2015 전자공학회논문지 Vol.52 No.4

최근 스마트폰의 발달과 더불어 대형 TV, 의료용 장비 및 전자 칠판에도 터치스크린의 수요가 급증하고 있다. 스크린 사이즈가 증가 할수록 고해상도를 위하여 훨씬 더 많은 채널이 추가 되면서 한 프레임을 스캔하는데 긴 시간이 소요되어 터치감지 지연이 큰 문제가 되고 있다. 본 논문에서는 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위하여 새로운 드라이빙 및 센싱 기법을 제안한다. 이 기법은 differential 드라이빙 방법으로 2 단계로 수행되어진다. 먼저 고속 센싱 프로세스를 통해 터치가 발생된 센싱 라인들을 우선 대략적으로 도출해 낸 후 정확한 터치 위치 스캔을 위해서 터치된 라인에서만 감지가 수행되어 진다. 이 방법을 사용하면 터치 패널의 frame refresh rate를 향상 시킬 수 있다. 제안된 구조는 FPGA와 개발된 AFE board로 구현되었으며, 23인치 상용 터치패널을 사용하여 테스트하였다. 이 기법은 기존 대비 frame scan rate를 8.4배 향상시킨다. Recently the demand for projected capacitance touch screens is sharply growing especially for large screens for medical devices, PC monitors and TVs. Large touch screens in general need a controller of higher complexity. They usually have a larger number of driving and sensing lines, and hence it takes longer to scan one frame for touch detection leading to a low frame scan rate. In this paper, a novel touch screen control technique is presented, which scans each frame in two steps of simultaneous multi-channel driving. The first step is to drive all driving lines simultaneously and determine which sensing lines have any touch. The second step is to sequentially rescan only the touched sensing lines, and determine exact positions of the touches. This technique can substantially increase the frame scan rate. This technique has been implemented using an FPGA and an AFE board, and tested using a commercial 23-inch touch screen panel. Experimental results show that the proposed technique improves the frame scan rate by 8.4 times for the 23-inch touch screen panel over conventional methods.

A Fast Sensing Method using Concurrent Driving and Sequential Sensing for Large Capacitance Touch Screens

모하메드 모하메드 가말 아흐메드,김형원,조태원,Mohamed, Mohamed G.A.,Kim, HyungWon,Cho, Tae-Won The Institute of Electronics and Information Engin 2015 전자공학회논문지 Vol.52 No.4

최근 스마트폰의 발달과 더불어 대형 TV, 의료용 장비 및 전자 칠판에도 터치스크린의 수요가 급증하고 있다. 스크린 사이즈가 증가 할수록 고해상도를 위하여 훨씬 더 많은 채널이 추가 되면서 한 프레임을 스캔하는데 긴 시간이 소요되어 터치감지 지연이 큰 문제가 되고 있다. 본 논문에서는 이러한 문제를 해결하기 위하여 새로운 드라이빙 및 센싱 기법을 제안한다. 이 기법은 differential 드라이빙 방법으로 2 단계로 수행되어진다. 먼저 고속 센싱 프로세스를 통해 터치가 발생된 센싱 라인들을 우선 대략적으로 도출해 낸 후 정확한 터치 위치 스캔을 위해서 터치된 라인에서만 감지가 수행되어 진다. 이 방법을 사용하면 터치 패널의 frame refresh rate를 향상 시킬 수 있다. 제안된 구조는 FPGA와 개발된 AFE board로 구현되었으며, 23인치 상용 터치패널을 사용하여 테스트하였다. 이 기법은 기존 대비 frame scan rate를 8.4배 향상시킨다. Recently the demand for projected capacitance touch screens is sharply growing especially for large screens for medical devices, PC monitors and TVs. Large touch screens in general need a controller of higher complexity. They usually have a larger number of driving and sensing lines, and hence it takes longer to scan one frame for touch detection leading to a low frame scan rate. In this paper, a novel touch screen control technique is presented, which scans each frame in two steps of simultaneous multi-channel driving. The first step is to drive all driving lines simultaneously and determine which sensing lines have any touch. The second step is to sequentially rescan only the touched sensing lines, and determine exact positions of the touches. This technique can substantially increase the frame scan rate. This technique has been implemented using an FPGA and an AFE board, and tested using a commercial 23-inch touch screen panel. Experimental results show that the proposed technique improves the frame scan rate by 8.4 times for the 23-inch touch screen panel over conventional methods.

Fracture properties prediction of clay/epoxy nanocomposites with interphase zones using a phase field model

Msekh, Mohammed A.,Cuong, N.H.,Zi, G.,Areias, P.,Zhuang, X.,Rabczuk, Timon Elsevier 2018 Engineering fracture mechanics Vol.188 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>We predict the macroscopic tensile strength and fracture toughness of fully exfoliated nano silicate clay epoxy composites accounting for the interphase behavior between the polymeric matrix and clay reinforcement. A phase field approach is employed to model fracture in the matrix and the interphase zone of the polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs) while the stiff clay platelets are considered as linear elastic material. The effect of the interphase zones, e.g. thickness and mechanical properties (Young’s modulus and strain energy release rate) on the tensile strength, and fracture parameters of the composite is studied in detail. The dissipation energy due to fracture in the PNCs is extracted for different thicknesses and properties of the interphase zones. We show through numerical experiments that the interphase thickness has the most influence on the tensile strength while the critical strain energy release rate of the interphase zones affects the dissipation energy depending on the interphase zone thickness.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> A phase field model for fracture in heterogeneous structure. </LI> <LI> A hybrid hierarchical/concurrent multiscale method for fracture in polymer-matrix composites. </LI> <LI> A phase field model for matrix and interphase fracture in polymer-matrix composites. </LI> <LI> Extraction of fracture related material properties for various input parameters, particularly for the interphase zone. </LI> </UL> </P>

Nanoparticles of ZnO/Berberine complex contract COVID-19 and respiratory co-bacterial infection in addition to elimination of hydroxychloroquine toxicity

Ghareeb Doaa A.,Saleh Samar R.,Seadawy Mohamed G.,Nofal Mohammed S.,Abdulmalek Shaymaa A.,Hassan Salma. F.,Khedr Shaimaa M.,AbdElwahab Miral G.,Sobhy Ahmed A.,Abdel-Hamid Ali saber Ali,Yassin Abdelrah 한국약제학회 2021 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.51 No.6

Purpose A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that has not been previously identified in humans and has no specific treatment has recently spread. Treatment trials using antiviral and immune-modulating drugs such as hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were used to control this viral outbreak however several side effects have emerged. Berberine (BER) is an alkaloid that has been reported to reveal some pharmacological properties including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Additionally, Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) possess potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, this study was undertaken to estimate the efficiency of both BER and synthetic ZnO/BER complex as an anti-COVID-19 therapy. Methods First, the ZnO/BER complex was prepared by the facile mixing method. Then in vitro studies on the two compounds were conducted including VeroE6 toxicity, anti-COVID-19 activity, determination of inhibitory activity towards papain-like proteinase (PL pro) and spike protein- and receptor- binding domain (RBD) as well as assessment of drug toxicity on RBCs. Results The results showed that ZnO/BER complex acts as an anti-COVID-19 by inhibiting spike protein binding with angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE II), PL pro activity, spike protein and E protein levels, and expression of both E-gene and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) at a concentration lower than that of BER or ZnO-NPs alone. Furthermore, ZnO/BER complex had antioxidant and antimicrobial properties where it prevents the auto oxidation of 2,2-Diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the culture of lower respiratory system bacteria that affected Covid 19 patients. The ZnO/BER complex prevented as well the HCQ cytotoxic effect on both RBC and WBC (in vitro) and hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and anemia that occurred after HCQ long administration in vivo. Conclusion The ZnO/BER complex can be accounted as promising anti-COVID 19 candidate because it inhibited the virus entry, replication, and assembly. Furthermore, it could be used to treat a second bacterial infection that took place in hospitalized COVID 19 patients. Moreover, ZnO/BER complex was found to eliminate the toxicity of long-term administration of HCQ in vivo.

Construction Claims Prediction and Decision Awareness Framework using Artificial Neural Networks and Backward Optimization

Hosny, Ossama A.,Elbarkouky, Mohamed M.G.,Elhakeem, Ahmed Korea Institute of Construction Engineering and Ma 2015 Journal of construction engineering and project ma Vol.5 No.1

This paper presents optimized artificial neural networks (ANNs) claims prediction and decision awareness framework that guides owner organizations in their pre-bid construction project decisions to minimize claims. The framework is composed of two genetic optimization ANNs models: a Claims Impact Prediction Model (CIPM), and a Decision Awareness Model (DAM). The CIPM is composed of three separate ANNs that predict the cost and time impacts of the possible claims that may arise in a project. The models also predict the expected types of relationship between the owner and the contractor based on their behavioral and technical decisions during the bidding phase of the project. The framework is implemented using actual data from international projects in the Middle East and Egypt (projects owned by either public or private local organizations who hired international prime contractors to deliver the projects). Literature review, interviews with pertinent experts in the Middle East, and lessons learned from several international construction projects in Egypt determined the input decision variables of the CIPM. The ANNs training, which has been implemented in a spreadsheet environment, was optimized using genetic algorithm (GA). Different weights were assigned as variables to the different layers of each ANN and the total square error was used as the objective function to be minimized. Data was collected from thirty-two international construction projects in order to train and test the ANNs of the CIPM, which predicted cost overruns, schedule delays, and relationships between contracting parties. A genetic optimization backward analysis technique was then applied to develop the Decision Awareness Model (DAM). The DAM combined the three artificial neural networks of the CIPM to assist project owners in setting optimum values for their behavioral and technical decision variables. It implements an intelligent user-friendly input interface which helps project owners in visualizing the impact of their decisions on the project's total cost, original duration, and expected owner-contractor relationship. The framework presents a unique and transparent hybrid genetic algorithm-ANNs training and testing method. It has been implemented in a spreadsheet environment using MS Excel$^{(R)}$ and EVOLVERTM V.5.5. It provides projects' owners of a decision-support tool that raises their awareness regarding their pre-bid decisions for a construction project.