Soraya Minaei

Background To enhance the performance of radiotherapy, emerging nanoparticles that can professionally enhance X-ray irradiation to destruct cancer cells are extremely necessary. Here, we examined the potential of PEG-coated magnetite copper sulfide hetero-nanoparticles (Fe3O4@Cus–PEG) as a radiosensitizer agent. Methods Fe3O4@Cus–PEG nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized. The toxicity of nanoparticles on HT-29 colorectal cancer cells was assessed by the MTT assay. The radio-sensitizing effects of Fe3O4@Cus–PEG nanoparticles on HT-29 cancer cells were investigated by the MTT and colony formation assays. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms for Fe3O4@Cus–PEG nanoparticles to improve the radiation sensitivity of cells were evaluated. Results The results demonstrated that nanoparticles enhanced the effects of X-ray irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of combined treatments (nanoparticles and X-ray radiation) were strongly synergistic. The sensitizing enhancemen...

The effects of combined radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy in the severity of cytogenetic alterations expressed as micronucleus (MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients treated for esophageal cancer was evaluated. To do this, blood was obtained from 23 and 15 esophageal cancer patients scheduled for chemo-radiotherapy and RT alone, respectively, before, during, and after treatment. Blood samples were cultured in RPMI-1640 complete medium containing 1% phytohemagglutinin and incubated in a CO2 incubator. Cytochalasin-B was added to the cultures at a final concentration of 5 μg/ml. Finally, harvesting, slide making, and analysis were performed according to standard procedures. Results indicate that there was no significant difference between the frequencies of MN in lymphocytes of individuals before being treated with RT alone or chemo-radiotherapy. In the middle of treatment, (after 12 fractions of RT) the frequency of MN increased significantly compared with their concurrent...

Radiotherapy can cause DNA damage in normal cells, misrepaired or unrepaired double strand breaks in DNA lead to chromosomal breaks. As a result patient experience early and late effects in normal tissue during and after radiotherapy. Cytogenetic techniques can be used as a cancer predictive assay because there is an association between chromosome abnormalities and the risk of developing cancer. Also it can assess patient's complications during the therapy. The aim of the present study was evaluation of the cytogenetic alteration in peripheral blood lymphocytes of esophageal cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Methods: The present study is an experimental and prospective research. It was done at radiotherapy department at Omid Center in Urmia from January to December 2012. Blood samples were obtained from 15 esophageal cancer patients, before (0 Gy), during (21.6 Gy), and after radiotherapy treatment (43.2 Gy). Blood samples were cultured in RPMI-1640 complete medium cont...

Introduction: Recently, nanographene oxide (NGO) is proven to be as a great candidate for drug delivery, and phototherapies cancer. Photothermal sensitivity of NGO and its optical absorption in the NIR region lead to photothermal ablation of tumors. Nevertheless, the major drawback of GO is its toxicity in biological systems, To overcome this problem, nanoscale GO prepare with biocompatible coating such as poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was loaded onto the biodegradable polymers or graphene sheets to extend its lifetime. The GO–super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (GO–SPION) composite has attracted extensive attention because of its highly controlled optical and magnetic properties. In this content, GO- SPION was modified with a biocompatible polymer, PLGA, and are used as the carrier for loading and delivery of 5-FU with the aim to achieve highly efficient cancer chemotherapy and photothermal therapy with minimal side effects in vivo applications...

This study was a part of national project to establish and optimize local and national diagnostic guidance levels. This work intends to evaluate image quality and entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) for patients' radiographic examinations in two north western provinces of country. Two hospitals got involved in the present study. The rate of the rejected images and image quality grades were determined. The ESAK were calculated by X-ray tube output measurements and X-ray exposure parameters (kVp, mAS, FFD, as well as patients thicknesses) for common radiographic examinations including: chest, skull, thoracic, lumbar in two projections and also abdomen and pelvis in one projection. The rate of images categorized as poor was 40%. Patients' dose in radiographic examination varied by a factor of up to 6.9, 13.84, 9.76, 11.33, 6.15, 8.69, 2.85, 3.05, 12.41, and 5.51 in chest (PA), chest (LAT), lumbar (AP), lumbar (LAT), thoracic (AP), thoracic (LAT), skull (PA), skull (LAT), abdomen ...

Introduction: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent primary malignant tumor of the brain. But, the treatment of GBM is one of the most problems in cancer therapy because of poor drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Targeting drug delivery system and conjugating targeting moieties was recognized to overcome the poor penetration of chemotherapy drugs into tumor cells. In the present study, folic acid- conjugated magnetite tri-block copolymer was utilized to targeted chemotherapy of the glioma cells. Materials and Methods: The characterization and morphology of NPs (SPION-PEG-PBA- PEG, SPION-PEG-PBA-PEG-FA, TMZ-SPION-PEG-PBA-PEG, and TMZ-SPION-PEG-PBA-PEG- FA) were determined by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The in vitro release behaviors of TMZ from NPs were evaluated with an equilibrium dialysis bag diffusion method. Additionally, to identify the targeting effect of FA- conjugated NPs, C6 glioblastom...

Introduction: Glioblastoma multiform is the most common malignant brain tumor, with an invasive nature. Despite the development of conventional therapies such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, because of high recurrence rates, the prognosis remains very poor. Over the last decade, nanotechnology has represented an innovative method as nanoparticle-based drug delivery carriers to overcome the BBB transport. Multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles are powerful tools for current clinical diagnostics, imaging and therapeutic procedures. Materials and Methods: Magnetic targeting studies were carried out in C6 glioma tumor-bearing Wistar rats using intravenous magnetic nanoparticles administration under permanent magnetic phantom. Animals were placed ventrally on a platform with their head positioned between two blocks of NdFeB permanent magnet (1.3 tesla). Measurements of magnetic density in the space between the two blocks were carried out using a tangential B-probe Teslameter (...

Introduction: Although radiation is recognized as the most effective nonsurgical treatment, the outcomes and control rates are generally poor. However, a combination of radiation therapy with hyperthermia and chemotherapy can improve the efficacy of treatment. The aim was to explore the potential of morphological and gradient-based features on microscopic images in improving the identification accuracy of subtle differences in cell structure during different treatments. Materials and Methods: Fifty single-cell images were used for each group and treatment regimen. The groups were individually subjected to: 1) hyperthermia at 43°C; 2) temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy at 10% inhibitory concentration; 3) radiotherapy at 2Gy; 4) combination of TMZ chemotherapy and hyperthermia; 5) combination of radiotherapy and hyperthermia; 6) combination of TMZ chemotherapy and radiotherapy; and 7) combination of TMZ chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hyperthermia. Morphological and gradient-based featur...

Cancer patients who have a diagnosis in the early stage of the disease have better chances for therapy. Thus, development of new diagnostic procedures is needed for the early detection of cancer. Measuring and analyzing the light that is scattered by the cells can be utilized to monitor early variations associated with cancer evolution. The key hypothesis behind this research was the application of the Z-scan method to progress the precision of detecting the C6 glioblastoma multiforme cancer cells and the OLN-93 normal glial cells. A Nd:YAG CW laser with a wavelength of 532 nm was used. The laser beam passed through the prepared samples and the transmittance power is distinguished by dislocation. Finally, the nonlinear refractive index and the extinction coefficient of the samples were determined. Our study showed that the extinction coefficient of the C6 and OLN-93 cells were 49 ± 3 and 33 ± 2, respectively. Also, the sign and value of the nonlinear refractive index (n2) for the C6 and OLN-93 cells was −5.44 × 10−7 cm2 w−1 and +6.07 × 10−7 cm2 w−1, respectively. According to this study, the sign of the n2 index for the C6 and OLN-93 cells was negative and positive, respectively. Our results suggested that the nonlinear refractive index of the cell samples and Z-scan technique could be an applicable means for identifying glial cancer cells from normal cells.

Purpose: Apatinib has been utilized in colon cancer therapies but its efficiency and molecular mechanism are not fully understood. Chemotherapy in combination with non-toxic compounds can be a strategy to reduce the recurrence of cancer. Consequently, this study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Apatinib and Piperine on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line and their potential anti-cancerous mechanisms in vitro. Methods: The effects of Apatinib and Piperine on HCT-116 CRC cells were detected by assessing cell viability using MTT assay. The potential cytotoxic mechanisms of Apatinib and Piperine were investigated by evaluating the apoptosis-related gene (MDM-2) expression ratio using real-time PCR assay. Moreover, the glutathione peroxidase activity (GPX) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were assessed by colorimetric assays. Results: The proliferation rate of CRC cells decreased by increasing the concentrations of Piperine and Apatinib. When HCT-116 cells were treated with different...

The effects of combined radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy in the severity of cytogenetic alterations expressed as micronucleus (MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients treated for esophageal cancer was evaluated. To do this, blood was obtained from 23 and 15 esophageal cancer patients scheduled for chemo-radiotherapy and RT alone, respectively, before, during, and after treatment. Blood samples were cultured in RPMI-1640 complete medium containing 1% phytohemagglutinin and incubated in a CO2 incubator. Cytochalasin-B was added to the cultures at a final concentration of 5μg/ml. Finally, harvesting, slide making, and analysis were performed according to standard procedures. Results indicate that there was no significant difference between the frequencies of MN in lymphocytes of individuals before being treated with RT alone or chemo-radiotherapy. In the middle of treatment, (after 12 fractions of RT) the frequency of MN increased significantly compared with their concurrent ...