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Herein, the authors synthesised chitosan nanoparticles (Cs NPs) as a resveratrol (RSV) carrier and evaluated their efficacy in stimulating apoptosis in MDA‐MB 231 cells. Blank (Cs NPs) and RSV‐ Cs NPs (RSV‐Cs NPs) were synthesised via ionic gelation and characterised by using fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope, dynamic light scattering/Zeta potential and RSV release. MDA‐MB 231 cells were treated with RSV, Cs NPs and RSV‐Cs NPs (24, 48, and 72 h), followed by the 3‐[4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell toxicity was evaluated using lactate dehydrogenase assay, and real‐time polymerase chain reaction was performed to explore apoptosis induction. FTIR spectra confirmed the NPs via the formation of cross‐linking bonds. Cs and RSV‐Cs NPs sizes were about 75 and 198 nm with 14 and 24 mV zeta potentials. The RSV entrapment efficiency was 52.34 ± 0.16%, with an early rapid release followed by a sustained manner. Cs and RSV‐Cs NPs inhibited cell proliferation at lower concentrations and IC50 values. RSV‐Cs NPs had the most cytotoxic effect and stimulated intrinsic apoptotic pathway, indicated by increased Bcl‐2‐associated x (BAX), BAX/Bcl‐2 ratio, P53 expressions, reduced Bcl‐2 and upregulated caspases 3, 8 and 9. RSV‐Cs NPs have a great potential to suppress invasive breast cancer cell proliferation by targeting mitochondrial metabolism and inducing the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social health is one of the most important dimensions of public health in society along with other mental, spiritual, medical, etc. dimensions. It plays a significant role in the sustainable development of society in order to prevent social harm and pave the way for the participation of individuals in all areas of society. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the social health of rural households in Shiraz and the factors affecting it. The research method is survey and the statistical population consists of rural households in Shiraz city, the number of which is 384 households based on Morgan table and selected by stratified random sampling method. Based on the reported values of fitness indicators, it was found that the model of confirmatory factor analysis of the research, based on five dimensions, has a suitable and acceptable fit (RMSEA = 0.04) and the components can be used to estimate social health and therefore the structure used to measure social health has an acceptable validity. The measured model showed that social health can be a function of five factors of social cohesion, social acceptance, social participation, social adaptation and social prosperity derived from Keyes theory of social health and all selected indicators of research except one indicator in the component of social acceptance, have shown their significant effects in measuring social health. Based on the results of the regression test, the adjusted coefficient showed that 64.9% of social health changes are explained by independent variables. Finally, suggestions for promoting social health are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the application of infrared spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics to identify wall painting's binding medium while employing pattern recognition techniques to process FTIR data-set of complex samples. In this regard, based on the historical documents and previous researches, firstly 56 standard samples were prepared to represent strata of Persian wall paintings in the Safavid period in addition to real historic samples from the case study; Sukias mansion. Then, each sample was analysed by the means of FTIR and chemometrics. Finally, SIMCA was applied to the whole region of studied IR spectra which predicted egg yolk as the binding medium of Sukias mansion samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease with unknown etiology. Ferulago angulata (Schltdl.) Boiss. has been proposed as an efficacious treatment for gastrointestinal ulcers and UC in the traditional Persian medicine. Objective: In the present study, we investigated the possible protective effect of F. angulata (Schltdl.) Boiss. hydroalcoholic extract (FAE) against acetic acid-induced UC in rats. Materials and Methods: The aerial parts of FAE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were administered orally after acetic acid induced-inflammatory bowel disease. On the 3rd day, animals were euthanized by an overdose of ether inhalation and the abdomen was rapidly dissected for macroscopic, histological, and biochemical (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin-1β [IL-1β]) analyses. Results: All doses of F. angulata (Schltdl.) Boiss. extract ameliorated acetic acid-induced macroscopic and microscopic scores, except for 50 mg/kg. Furthermore, our observations were accompanied by a significant (P < 0.05) suppression in the elevated amount of IL-1β and TNF-α. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated the beneficial effect of hydroalcoholic extract of F. angulata (Schltdl.) Boiss. in acetic acid-induced ulcerative lesions via anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and mucosal healing properties. F. angulata (Schltdl.) Boiss. possesses promising protective function on colitis. Abbreviations Used: IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; UC: Ulcerative colitis; CD: Crohn's disease; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; IL-1β: Interleukin-1β; PMN: Polymorphonuclear; NO: Nitric oxide; FAE: Ferulago angulata (Schltdl.) Boiss. hydroalcoholic extract; COX: Cyclooxygenase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (FLD) is a worldwide common liver disorder. Tragopogon graminifolius is used as a dietary supplement for liver disorders. This study aimed to assess the beneficial effects of a standardized preparation from T. graminifolius extract (TGE) in animal model of FLD induced by high-fat diet (HFD). The standardization of TGE based on phenolic compounds was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The HFD induced metabolic and hepatic damages. TGE significantly reduced the elevations of serum triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and hepatic enzymes (p =.001 for 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg of TGE). Histopathological studies also confirmed beneficial effects of TGE in FLD. Activity of total antioxidant power, content of total thiol, myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme activity, and lipid peroxidation were significantly improved (p <.001). Dietary supplementation with TGE results in improvement of biochemical as well as histopathological parameters. Clinical trials are warranted to prove its efficacy and tolerability in patients with FLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]