XTT

Biofilm formation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Candida albicans and is significantly associated with resistance to antifungal agents. Tea seed saponins, a class of non-ionic triterpenes, have been proven to have fungicidal effects on planktonic C. albicans . However, their anti-biofilm activity and mechanism of action against C. albicans remain unclear. In this study, the effects of three Camellia sinensis seed saponin monomers, namely, theasaponin E1 (TE1), theasaponin E2 (TE2), and assamsaponin A (ASA), on the metabolism, biofilm development, and expression of the virulence genes of C...

Tissue engineering constitutes the most promising method of severe peripheral nerve injuries treatment and is considered as an alternative to autografts. To provide appropriate conditions during recovery special biomaterials called nerve guide conduits are required. An ideal candidate for this purpose should not only be biocompatible and protect newly forming tissue but also promote the recovery process. In this article a novel, multilayered biomaterial based on polyvinylpyrrolidone, collagen and chitosan of gradient structure modified with conductive nanoparticles is presented...

Poisoning with the organophosphorus nerve agent VX can be life-threatening due to limitations of the standard therapy with atropine and oximes. To date, the underlying pathomechanism of VX affecting the neuromuscular junction has not been fully elucidated structurally. Results of recent studies investigating the effects of VX were obtained from cells of animal origin or immortalized cell lines limiting their translation to humans. To overcome this limitation, motor neurons (MN) of this study were differentiated from in-house feeder- and integration-free-derived human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) by application of standardized and antibiotic-free differentiation media with the aim to mimic human embryogenesis as closely as possible...

Dermal photoaging refers to the skin's response to prolonged and excessive ultraviolet (UV) exposure, resulting in inflammation, changes to the tissue, redness, swelling, and discomfort. Betanin is the primary betacyanin in red beetroot ( Beta vulgaris ) and has excellent antioxidant properties. Yet, the specific molecular mechanisms of betanin in HaCaT cells have not been fully clarified. The objective of this study was to investigate the activity of betanin and the underlying mechanisms in HaCaT cells; furthermore, in this study, we explored the protective effect of various concentrations of betanin against UVB irradiation on HaCaT cells...

Blood-derived products, such as citrate platelet-rich plasma (CPRP) and hyperacute serum (HAS), are recognized for their rich growth factor content. When human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells are exposed to combined mitogenic and DNA-damaging stimuli, it can lead to an increased burden of senescent cells and a modified senescence-associated secretory phenotype. In this study, the senescent state was comprehensively assessed through various methods, including phosphorylated histone H2AX (γH2AX) staining, p21 and p16 q-PCR, p21-western blot, growth curves, and senescence-associated ß-galactosidase staining...

RNA interference (RNAi) holds immense potential for sequence-specific downregulation of disease-related genes. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy has made remarkable strides, with FDA approval for treating specific human diseases, showcasing its promising future in disease treatment. Designing highly efficient siRNAs is a critical step in this process. Previous studies have introduced various algorithms and parameters for siRNA design and scoring. However, these attempts have often fallen short of meeting all essential criteria or required modifications, resulting in variable and unclear effectiveness of screened siRNAs, particularly against viral mutants with non-conserved short sequences...

The genus Paracoccidioides includes Paracoccidioides lutzii and the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex, which comprises four phylogenetic species. A key feature distinguishing planktonic growth from biofilm is the presence of a 3D extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore, in this study, we analyzed biofilm formation in different species of Paracoccidioides yeast phase, characterized the structural elements of the matrix of P. brasiliensis (Pb18), P. lutzii (Pl01 and 8334) and P. restrepiensis (339 and 192) and evaluated the expression of glucan genes, according to the stage of biofilm evolution for P...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We compared the oncologic outcomes of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUBRT) using sterile water vs glycine irrigation. The tumoricidal and immunogenic effects of these solutions on urothelial cancer cell lines were investigated. METHODS: The medical records of 530 consecutive patients who underwent TURBT using sterile water or glycine irrigation for NMIBC were reviewed...

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess Candida albicans attachment on conventionally fabricated (polymethylmethacrylate, PMMA), CAD-CAM milled, and 3D-printed acrylic resin bases pre- and post-simulated thermal aging, along with examining material surface changes after aging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six samples (10 mm × 10 mm × 2 mm) for each of four material groups (conventional heat-polymerized PMMA, CAD-CAM milled acrylic resin base, CAD-CAM 3D-printed methacrylate resin base, CAD-CAM 3D-printed urethane methacrylate resin base) were subjected to 0, 1, or 2 years of simulated thermal aging...

BACKGROUND: Beta-(1,3)(1,6)-D-glucan is a complex polysaccharide, which is found in the cell wall of various fungi, yeasts, bacteria, algae, barley, and oats and has immunomodulatory, anticancer and antiviral effects. In the present study, we investigated the effect of beta-(1,3)(1,6)-D-glucan derived from yeast on the proliferation of primary NK cells and breast cancer cell lines in 2D and 3D models, and on the cytotoxicity of primary NK cells against breast cancer cell lines in 2D and 3D models...

BACKGROUND: One of the leading current trends in technology is the miniaturization of devices to the microscale and nanoscale. The highly advanced approaches are based on biological systems, subjected to bioengineering using chemical, enzymatic and recombinant methods. Here we have utilised the biological affinity towards cellulose of the cellulose binding domain (CBD) fused with recombinant proteins. RESULTS: Here we focused on fusions with 'artificial', concatemeric proteins with preprogrammed functions, constructed using DNA FACE™ technology...

Liver cancer annually accounts for over 800,000 cases and 700,000 deaths worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma is responsible for over 80% of liver cancer cases. Due to ineffective treatment options and limited surgical interventions, hepatocellular carcinoma is notoriously difficult to treat. Nonetheless, drugs utilized for other medical conditions, such as the antihypertensive medication prazosin, the neuroleptic medication chlorpromazine, and the neuroleptic medication haloperidol, have gained attention for their potential anti-cancer effects...

Influenza remains one of the most serious infectious diseases. Gallic acid is one of the most common and representative phenolic acids found in various plants. This is an interesting subject to explore how gallic acid could inhibit H1N1 influenza virus infection by reducing the production of virulent proteins and interrupting autophagy machinery for influenza virus replication on the host cell. Cellular viability was assessed by XTT assay. The inhibitory effects on the H1N1 influenza virus were assessed by hemagglutination assay, plaque assay, and qRT-PCR...

High doses or prolonged use of the exogenous synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) can lead to muscle atrophy. In this study, the anti-atrophic effects of ginsenosides Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 on Dex-induced C2C12 myotube atrophy were assessed by XTT, myotube diameter, fusion index, and western blot analysis. The XTT assay results showed that treatment with Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 enhanced cell viability in Dex-injured C2C12 myotubes. Compared with the control group, the myotube diameter and fusion index were both reduced in Dex-treated cells, but treatment with Rh1, Rg2, and Rg3 increased these parameters...

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are increasingly employed in regenerative medicine approaches for their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, which are encoded in their secretome including extracellular vesicles (EVs). The Hoffa fat pad (HFP) located infrapatellarly harbours MSCs that could assist in tissue homeostasis in osteoarthritic joints. Intraarticular injection therapies based on blood products could modulate the populations of released HFP-MSC-EVs in a quantitative manner...

UNLABELLED: Chemistry in eukaryotic intercellular spaces is shaped by both hosts and symbiotic microorganisms such as bacteria. Pathogenic microorganisms like barley-associated Xanthomonas translucens (Xt) swiftly overtake the inner leaf tissue becoming the dominant microbial community member during disease development. The dynamic metabolic changes due to Xt pathogenesis in the mesophyll spaces remain unknown. Genomic group I of Xt consists of two barley-infecting lineages: pathovar translucens (Xtt) and pathovar undulosa (Xtu)...

OBJECTIVE: An in-vitro study was performed to investigate the molecular basis of the wound healing and skin protective features of Helichrysum italicum (HI), a medicinal plant from the Mediterranean basin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A dermal fibroblast cell line culture was treated with HI hydro-alcoholic extract to detect the gene expression levels of three selected primers: FGF-2, HAS-2 and MMP-9. Cell proliferation assay was performed using a XTT reagent. RNA isolations were carried out from both the extract treated study cell group and the control cell group using a TRI reagent...

Environmental and soil pollution increase the likelihood of human exposure to toxic metals. Therefore, there is a need for new methods and substances to protect individuals against the harmful effects caused by toxic metals. The study is the first to aim at determining the protective effect of cannabidiol (CBD) against oxidative stress and inflammation induced by toxic metal exposure in Transformed Human Liver Epithelial-2 (THLE-2) cell lines representing healthy liver cells. The IC50 value was determined by exposing THLE-2 human liver healthy cell line to different molarities of lead (Pb) using the XTT kit...

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess the antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in combination with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 ) against Candida albicans ( C. albicans ). METHODS: AgNPs was mixed with pure Ca(OH)2 powder in an aqueous base. A standard suspension (1 × 108 bacterial cells/mL) of C. albicans was prepared in a 96-well plate and incubated on shaker at 37 °C in 100% humidity to allow fungal biofilm formation in infected dentin slices ( n = 98)...

Candida albicans is a dimorphic opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. We have previously demonstrated that Sodium houttuyfonate (SH), a derivative of medicinal herb Houttuynia cordata Thunb, was effective for antifungal purpose. However, the physical impediment of SH by C. albicans β-glucan may weaken the antifungal activity of SH. In this study, the interactions of SH with cell wall (CW), extracellular matrix (EM), CW β-glucan and a commercial β-glucan zymosan A (ZY) were inspected by XTT assay and total plate count in a standard reference C...