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Herbal medicines (HMs) have deciphered indispensable therapeutic effects against cardiovascular disease (CVD) (the predominant cause of death worldwide). The conventional CVD therapy approaches have not been efficient and need alternative medicines. The objective of this study was a review of herbal bioactive compound efficacy for CVD therapy based on computational and in silico studies. HM bioactive compounds with potential anti‐CVD traits include campesterol, naringenin, quercetin, stigmasterol, tanshinaldehyde, Bryophyllin A, Bryophyllin B, beta‐sitosterol, punicalagin, butein, eriodyctiol, butin, luteolin, and kaempferol discovered using computational studies. Some of the bioactive compounds have exhibited therapeutic effects, as followed by in vitro (tanshinaldehyde, punicalagin, butein, eriodyctiol, and butin), in vivo (gallogen, luteolin, chebulic acid, butein, eriodyctiol, and butin), and clinical trials (quercetin, campesterol, and naringenin). The main mechanisms of action of bioactive compounds for CVD healing include cell signaling and inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress, decrease of lipid accumulation, and regulation of metabolism and immune cells. Further experimental studies are required to verify the anti‐CVD effects of herbal bioactive compounds and their pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a profound impact on human health, with over 704,753,890 confirmed cases and 7,010,681 deaths reported to date. This study aimed to evaluate the contamination rate of COVID-19 on high-risk surfaces at Valiasr Hospital in Fasa, Iran, using molecular testing. Materials & Methods: A total of 142 surface swabs, immersed in viral transport medium (VTM), were collected and transported to the Virology Reference Laboratory at the Cohort Center of Fasa University of Medical Sciences for COVID-19 virus testing. The presence of the virus was assessed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR) technique (QIAquant 96 5plex), following the manufacturer's protocol (Qiagen, MD, USA). Results: Among the 142 samples obtained from surfaces and equipment in the COVID-19 ward, two samples tested positive for COVID-19. Similarly, two samples from the coronavirus isolation ward were found to be positive using RT-qPCR. The positive samples were collected from a patient's bed and the interior bed of an insulated room. No COVID-19 contamination was detected on hospital surface samples outside these areas. Conclusion: This study identified a low rate of COVID-19 contamination on hospital surfaces and equipment in Fasa city. The findings suggest that the hospital environment could serve as a potential source of COVID-19 transmission, particularly among healthcare providers, visitors, and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer treatment is a concern due to side effects, the resistance of tumor cells, and costs. Application of alternative compounds particularly delivered by nanocarriers is a paramount approach for the efficient treatment of cancer cells. Our objective was to kill ovary and breast cancer cells using nanoniosomes containing isomeldenin plus lupeol. Herein, nanoniosomes were synthesized using the thin-layer hydration method and their physical and chemical traits were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis. The dialysis bag was also used the entrapment rate and release pattern. Various concentrations of lupeol and isomeldenin were prepared for the assessment of anticancer effects against ovary and breast cancer cells (SK-OV-3, MCF-7, and 3SKBr cell lines) using the MTT assay and gene expression. The results were compared to each bioactive compound singly and free forms of them. The expression of Bax and Bcl2 genes was examined at low concentrations of each isomeldenin and lupeol (25μg mL-1) singly and in combination with gemcitabine (25μg mL-1). The size of synthesized nanoniosomes included 203.2 nm size and the entrapment rate was 72.6%. The death rate of SK-OV-3 in exposure to isomeldenin (100 μg mL-1) included 76.34% and for MCF-7 and 3SKBr cell lines included 64.66% and 62.99%, respectively. The lupeol (100μg mL-1) killing rate against SK-OV-3, MCF-7, and 3SKBr cell lines respectively included 42.36%, 40.26%, and 39.96%. The nanoniosomes containing isomeldenin killed SK-OV-3, MCF-7, and 3SKBr cell lines at 89.6%, 78.3%, and 69.6%, respectively. Moreover, nanoniosomes containing lupeol killed SK-OV-3, MCF-7, and 3SKBr cell lines at 88.9%, 79.2%, and 66.9%, respectively. The expression of the Bax gene was decreased 3.2 fold and the Bcl2 gene was increased 2.6 fold in exposure to nanoniosomes containing both gemcitabine and lupeol being significantly higher than those of control. The combination of each isomeldenin and lupeol with gemcitabine significantly increased the death of ovary and breast cancer cells in niosomal form. Herbal bioactive compounds nano-formulation is promising for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The consumption of contaminated poultry meat is considered as a significant route of campylobacteriosis transmission. Lactic acid is a disinfectant agent with bactericidal effects on Campylobacter spp. The purpose of this study was to assess the low concentrations of lactic acid effect and different temperatures on the transcriptomic responses of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) adhesion and virulence-associated genes including peb4, ciaB, cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC. Materials and Methods: The samples were incubated at 10°C and 22°C for 48 h upon exposure to 30% and 60% lactic acid. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of lactic acid was also determined. Then, gene expression was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Lactic acid had lower MIC and MBC levels at lower temperature. The utilization of both levels of lactic acid significantly reduced the expression of peb4, ciaB, cdtB, and cdtC genes over 48 h of incubation at 22°C. However, no significant difference was found in the expression of the cdtA gene between 10 and 22°C at 30% lactic acid. Conclusion: These results highlight the potential of low-concentration lactic acid in the downregulation of adhesion and virulence-associated genes as well as reduction of C. jejuni pathogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of drug‐resistant strains in tuberculosis treatment underscores the urgency for novel therapeutic approaches. This study investigates the anti‐tuberculosis activity of green‐synthesized copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) using garlic and astragalus extracts. The physicochemical characterization of the nanoparticles confirms successful synthesis, followed by assessment of their antibacterial properties and safety profile. Rats infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis are treated with nanocomposites derived from garlic extract at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight. Evaluation includes the analysis of Early secreted antigenic target of 6 kDa (ESAT‐6) expression and confirmation of antibodies through molecular assays. Administration of garlic and nanocomposites demonstrates significant inhibitory effects on tuberculosis progression in rats, validated by safety assessments and antibacterial efficacy. Notably, the 100 mg/kg dosage exhibits pronounced mitigation of tuberculosis‐induced oxidative stress and lung damage. In conclusion, the combined administration of garlic extracts and green‐synthesized nanocomposites shows promising efficacy in reducing tuberculosis infection, highlighting a potential avenue for anti‐tuberculosis interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most common cause of bacillary dysentery or shigellosis, Shigella sonnei (S nonnei) has spread throughout the world. Invasion of the colorectal epithelial cells by this facultative intracellular bacterium occurs via various virulence factors. The increase in the resistance rate highlights the need for novel interventions, particularly increasing the urgency of the development of Shigella vaccines that may offer an effective solution. A multiepitope protein vaccine (MEPV) construct previously designed using bioinformatics tools against Shigella species, was applied in vivo in BALB/C mice. The designed vaccine construct was expressed in a bacterial host, purified, and finally confirmed by Western blot analysis. The immunogenicity of the purified MEPV was assessed against S sonnei via intranasal and subcutaneous administration routes, followed by evaluating its protective efficiency. We observed that interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, and immunoglobulin G levels were increased in all experimental groups. Therefore, The MEPV effectively protected the mice against S sonnei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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