Papers by fatemeh amirinia
Acta histochemica, Dec 1, 2022
Folia Medica, Dec 31, 2021
Introduction: Medicinal plants have long been of great interest to scientists in the search for t... more Introduction: Medicinal plants have long been of great interest to scientists in the search for the best treatment of diseases, especially the infectious diseases. In recent years, the use of herbal medicines has become more well-known because of their antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-cancer and less side effects. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial and antifungal effects of Urtica dioica, Equisetum arvense, and Punica Granatum peel extracts on two common oral microorganisms, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. Materials and methods: The study investigated the hydro-alcoholic extract of the plants. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated using the method of measuring the inhibition of microorganisms, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using different concentrations of the extracts and also biofilm assay and SEM were determined. Also cell viability was assessed by MTT assay on human gingival fibroblast cells. Results: The lowest MIC against S. mutants and C. albicans was related to the hydro-alcoholic extract of U. dioica. There was a significant reduction in the microbial biofilms by all three extracts. Among them, U. dioica could decrease the biofilms of S. mutans and C. albicans more than other extracts. In addition, the best results for growth inhibition zone were the hydro-alcoholic extracts of E. arvense and U. dioica with 35 and 30 mm growth zone, respectively. The results of SEM showed that P. granatum peel, U. dioica and E. arvense could destroy microbial biofilms without exerting any cytotoxic effects on HGF cell. Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that U. dioica, E. arvense, and P. Granatum peel extracts can be used as mouthwash with the least significant difference with routine mouthwashes. Also, the plant-based mouthwashes may be more suitable substitutes for chemical types in the future.
Archives of Oral Biology, 2022
OBJECTIVE The present in vitro study aims to investigate the potential use of epigenetic inhibito... more OBJECTIVE The present in vitro study aims to investigate the potential use of epigenetic inhibitors as treatment modalities in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. DESIGN The human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line (CAL-27) was cultured and exposed to varying concentrations of 5-Azacitidine (5-Aza) or Trichostatin A (TSA) in the culture medium. The cell apoptosis was evaluated using Annexin V/PI by flow cytometry. To evaluate DNA damage response, γH2AX foci analysis was performed using immunofluorescence. Single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) was applied to measure DNA strand breaks. Gene expression was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS The results showed that 5-Aza and TSA had apoptotic effects on the SCC cell line at concentrations of 50-200 µM and 0.5-5 µM, respectively. Immunofluorescence analysis showed increased expression of γH2AX, the marker of DNA damage response after treatment of 5-Aza and TSA that was associated with increased DNA strand breaks. The expressions of urokinase plasminogen activator, its receptor and matrix metalloproteinase-2, were significantly reduced in TSA- and 5-Aza-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that 5-Aza and TSA increase apoptotic and DNA damage response in squamous cell carcinoma cell line while reducing the expression of tumor invasion genes that further indicating the potential therapeutic value of two epigenetic modifiers in squamous cell carcinoma.
Current Medical Mycology, 2015
Background and Purpose: Fungal keratitis is a suppurative, ulcerative, and sight-threatening infe... more Background and Purpose: Fungal keratitis is a suppurative, ulcerative, and sight-threatening infection of the cornea that sometimes leads to blindness. The aims of this study were: recuperating facilities for laboratory diagnosis, determining the causative microorganisms, and comparing conventional laboratory diagnostic tools and semi-nested PCR. Materials and Methods: Sampling was conducted in patients with suspected fungal keratitis. Two corneal scrapings specimens, one for direct smear and culture and the other for semi-nested PCR were obtained. Results: Of the 40 expected cases of mycotic keratitis, calcofluor white staining showed positivity in 25%, culture in 17.5%, KOH in 10%, and semi-nested PCR in 27.5%. The sensitivities of semi-nested PCR, KOH, and CFW were 57.1%, 28.5%, and 42% while the specificities were 78.7%, 94%, and 78.7%, respectively. The time taken for PCR assay was 4 to 8 hours, whereas positive fungal cultures took at least 5 to 7 days. Conclusion: Due to the increasing incidence of fungal infections in people with weakened immune systems, uninformed using of topical corticosteroids and improper use of contact lens, fast diagnosis and accurate treatment of keratomycosis seems to be essential. Therefore, according to the current study, molecular methods can detect mycotic keratitis early and correctly leading to appropriate treatment.
Keratomycosis is the most important cause of ocular morbidity which is mainly occurred in field w... more Keratomycosis is the most important cause of ocular morbidity which is mainly occurred in field worker as an occupational disease. Fungal keratitis is caused by yeast and filamentous fungi. Aspergillus and Fusarium species are the most prevalent filamentous cause of keratomycosis. The most common yeast cause is Candida species especially C. albicans. In the last reports, trauma to the cornea was a major cause of mycotic keratitis but recently contact lens wearing, prolonged corticosteroid therapy and ocular surgery has been described to enhance the occurrence of mycotic keratitis Although, patient's history, clinical features, and laboratory methods may suggest keratomycosis but it is often difficult to diagnose and missed, unless precise mycological studies are performed. The laboratory diagnosis of mycotic keratitis is highly dependent on traditional method such as direct microscopy and culture. The molecular method and confocal microscopy can be helpful in diagnosis indeed. S...
Uploads
Papers by fatemeh amirinia