Men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) face poor prognosis and increased risk of treatment-incurred adverse effects resulting in one of the highest mortalities among patient population globally. Immune cells act as double-edged sword depending on the tumor microenvironment, which leads to increased infiltration of pro-tumor (M2) macrophages. Development of new immunomodulatory therapeutic agents capable of targeting the tumor microenvironment, and hence orchestrating the differentiation of pro-tumor M2 macrophages to anti-tumor M1, would substantially improve treatment outcomes of CRPC patients. We report, herein, Mangiferin functionalized gold nanoparticles (MGF-AuNPs) and its immunomodulatory characteristics in treating prostate cancer. We provide evidence of immunomodulatory intervention of MGF-AuNPs in prostate cancers through observations of enhanced levels of anti-tumor cytokines (IL-12 and TNF-α) with concomitant reductions in the levels of pro-tumor cytokines (IL-10 and IL-6). In the treated groups, IL-12 was elevated to ten-fold while TNF-α was elevated to about fifty-fold; while IL-10 and IL-6 were reduced by two-fold. Ability of MGF-AuNPs to target splenic macrophages is invoked via targeting of NF-kB signaling pathway. Finally, therapeutic efficacy of MGF-AuNPs, in treating prostate cancer in vivo in tumor bearing mice, is described taking into consideration various immunomodulatory interventions triggered by this green nanotechnology-based nanomedicine agent.
Human cystic echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus is one of most important and widespreadparasitic zoonoses in the world. The present study was aimed to identify the immunomodulatory activity ofaqueous extract of Cordia myxa fruit since this plant considers one of medically important plants, which is widely used for treatment of numerous diseases, that correlate with the effectiveness of immunized by hydatid cyst fluid antigen HCFAg. Forty Balb/c mice were divided into equal groups, first group was immunized with HCFAg, the second group was treated with aqueous extract of C. muxa fruit, the third group was immunized and treated, the fourth group was as a control. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), Mitotic index (MI) and histop
... Show MoreBreast cancer is the most common cancer among women over the world. To reducing reoccurrence and mortality rates, adjuvant hormonal therapy (AHT) is used for a long period. The major barrier to the effectiveness of the treatment is adherence. Adherence to medicines among patients is challenging. Patient beliefs in medications can be positively or negatively correlated to adherence. Objectives: To investigate the extent of adherence and factors affecting adherence, as well as to investigate the association between beliefs and adherence in women with breast cancer taking AHT. Method: A cross-sectional study included 124 Iraqi women with breast cancer recruited from Middle Euphrates
... Show MoreCheckpoint inhibitors are a type of immune therapy used to treat different types of cancers. These drugs block different checkpoint proteins, for example, CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 inhibitors.
They block proteins that stop the immune system from attacking the cancer cells. Checkpoints are also described as a type of monoclonal antibody that antagonizes binding between B7 to CTLA-4 and PD-L1 to PD-1.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are used to treat BARCA mutated triple-negative breast cancer (TNBCS) in patients who do not respond to chemotherapy, and also in the treatment of highly mutated and solid tumors such as brain tumors, liver, and pancreatic cancers.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors exhibit an effect on solid tumo
... Show MoreThe study aims to explore the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on internet addiction among university students. The experimental method was used. The study population consisted of (100) university students (50 males, 50 females). The Research sample included (13) University students at Baghdad University addicted to the Internet (9 males, 4 females), divided into two groups: a control group consisting of (6) individuals (4 males, 2 females) and an experimental sample consisting of (6) individuals (4 males, 2 females). The Scale of Internet Addiction by Young (1996), which was translated and modified into the Arabic language by (Moegel and Prism, 2016), was administered to the study sample. The sample was subjected to two sess
... Show MoreBackground: Nursing interventions tailored to the smoking triggers in patients with non-communicable chronic diseases are essential. However, these interventions are scant due to the nature of factors associated with smoking cessation and the poor understanding of the effect of nurse-led intervention in Iraq.Purpose: This study aimed to determine the dominant smoking triggers and examine the effects of a tailored nursing intervention on smoking behavior in patients with non-communicable chronic diseases.Methods: Convenience samples of 128 patients with non-communicable chronic diseases, male and female patients, who were 18-70 years old, were recruited in this quasi-experimental, randomized comparative trial in the outpatient clinic
... Show MoreBackground: Nursing interventions tailored to the smoking triggers in patients with non-communicable chronic diseases are essential. However, these interventions are scant due to the nature of factors associated with smoking cessation and the poor understanding of the effect of nurse-led intervention in Iraq.Purpose: This study aimed to determine the dominant smoking triggers and examine the effects of a tailored nursing intervention on smoking behavior in patients with non-communicable chronic diseases.Methods: Convenience samples of 128 patients with non-communicable chronic diseases, male and female patients, who were 18-70 years old, were recruited in this quasi-experimental, randomized comparative trial in the outpatient clinic
... Show MoreDo’a and Zikr al-Mā’thur (authentic supplications and remembrance of ALLAH ‘Azza wa Jalla) can be suggested to Muslims to help them deal with challenges or issues in life. Counselling cases affect a person’s feelings. Do’a and Zikr al-Mā’thur are often applied as a counselling intervention. Unfortunately, the authentic Do’a and Zikr al-Mā’thur are dispersed in many resources not visible to users, and the fact that not all online resources offer access to accurate Do’a and Zikr al-Mā’thur to users and the dubious Do’a and Zikr al-Mā’thur frequently credited to the Prophet (pbuh). The goal of this research is to develop an ontology
... Show MoreBackground: Transradial compared to classic transfemoral coronary intervention has been shown to have similar efficacy rates, while being more cost-effective and most importantly safer due to fewer access site complications. Furthermore, patient comfort is increased and outpatient treatment may be feasible..Objectives: To start trans-radial intervention program and the initial learning curve for fellows and the catheterization –laboratory nursing staff. To test how could it be applicable and comfortable for our patientsMethods: This prospective study was performed in Ibn-Albitar hospital for cardiac surgery over a period of 6 months from the 1st of August 2012 till the 1st of February 2013. Every patient referred for percutenuos corona
... Show MoreAbstract:
Humanitarian intervention has taken different forms included within the
peaceful and military means to stop the human suffering, whether caused by
natural disaster or humanitarian disasters.
Intervention can not be acquitted because it carries with it political cover,
but sometimes it may be legitimate cover for the occupation and the violation
of sovereignty. Therefore, the research worked to capture the legal and
political aspects of international law and the role of international organizations
to intervene and the right to use force.
The research concludes that international law had not been fairly
successful in controlling the behavior of some countries in the use of force,
and that there is
Bacteriophages have the potential to eliminate both antibiotic-resistant and sensitive bacteria; as a result, they have become a major focus of such research. In contrast to antibiotics, which assault the entire bacterial population without discrimination, bacteriophages have a limited set of characteristics that allow them to target infectious microbes while avoiding friendly species (commensal microbiota). Nevertheless, large groups of naturally occurring bacteriophages that are well-differentiated and selective for the most clinically recognized pathogenic bacterial strains are required. Utilizing genetic engineering techniques that modify the target phage genome to synthesize phages with known characteristics in a brief period o
... Show More