The antitumor activity of a novel alginate (ALG) polymer-based particle that contained paclitaxel (PTX) was evaluated using human primary breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods. PTX was combined with ALG in a nanoparticle as a drug delivery system designed to improve breast cancer tumor cell killing. PTX-ALG nanoparticles were first synthesized by nanoemulsification polymer cross-linking methods that improved the aqueous solubility. Structural and biophysical properties of the PTX-ALG nanoparticles were then determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescence. The effect on cell cycle progression and apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry. Results. PTX-ALG nanoparticles were prepared and characterized by ultraviolet (UV)/visible (VIS), HPLC fluorescence, and TEM. PTX-ALG nanoparticles demonstrated increased hydrophobicity and solubility over PTX alone. Synthetically engineered PTX-ALG nanoparticles promoted cell-cycle arrest, reduced viability, and induced apoptosis in human primary patient breast cancer cells superior to those of PTX alone. Conclusion. Taken together, our results demonstrate that PTX-ALG nanoparticles represent an innovative, nanoscale delivery system for the administration of anticancer agents that may avoid the adverse toxicities with enhanced antitumor effects to improve the treatment of breast cancer patients.

The antitumor activity of a novel alginate (ALG) polymer-based particle that contained paclitaxel (PTX) was evaluated using human primary breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods. PTX was combined with ALG in a nanoparticle as a drug delivery system designed to improve breast cancer tumor cell killing. PTX-ALG nanoparticles were first synthesized by nanoemulsification polymer cross-linking methods that improved the aqueous solubility. Structural and biophysical properties of the PTX-ALG nanoparticles were then determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescence. The effect on cell cycle progression and apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry. Results. PTX-ALG nanoparticles were prepared and characterized by ultraviolet (UV)/visible (VIS), HPLC fluorescence, and TEM. PTX-ALG nanoparticles demonstrated increased hydrophobicity and solubility over PTX alone. Synthetically engineered PTX-ALG nanoparticles promoted cell-cycle arrest, reduced viability, and induced apoptosis in human primary patient breast cancer cells superior to those of PTX alone. Conclusion. Taken together, our results demonstrate that PTX-ALG nanoparticles represent an innovative, nanoscale delivery system for the administration of anticancer agents that may avoid the adverse toxicities with enhanced antitumor effects to improve the treatment of breast cancer patients.

The antitumor activity of a novel alginate (ALG) polymer-based particle that contained paclitaxel (PTX) was evaluated using human primary breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods. PTX was combined with ALG in a nanoparticle as a drug delivery system designed to improve breast cancer tumor cell killing. PTX-ALG nanoparticles were first synthesized by nanoemulsification polymer cross-linking methods that improved the aqueous solubility. Structural and biophysical properties of the PTX-ALG nanoparticles were then determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescence. The effect on cell cycle progression and apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry. Results. PTX-ALG nanoparticles were prepared and characterized by ultraviolet (UV)/visible (VIS), HPLC fluorescence, and TEM. PTX-ALG nanoparticles demonstrated increased hydrophobicity and solubility over PTX alone. Synthetically engineered PTX-ALG nanoparticles promoted cell-cycle arrest, reduced viability, and induced apoptosis in human primary patient breast cancer cells superior to those of PTX alone. Conclusion. Taken together, our results demonstrate that PTX-ALG nanoparticles represent an innovative, nanoscale delivery system for the administration of anticancer agents that may avoid the adverse toxicities with enhanced antitumor effects to improve the treatment of breast cancer patients.

The antitumor activity of a novel alginate (ALG) polymer-based particle that contained paclitaxel (PTX) was evaluated using human primary breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods. PTX was combined with ALG in a nanoparticle as a drug delivery system designed to improve breast cancer tumor cell killing. PTX-ALG nanoparticles were first synthesized by nanoemulsification polymer cross-linking methods that improved the aqueous solubility. Structural and biophysical properties of the PTX-ALG nanoparticles were then determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescence. The effect on cell cycle progression and apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry. Results. PTX-ALG nanoparticles were prepared and characterized by ultraviolet (UV)/visible (VIS), HPLC fluorescence, and TEM. PTX-ALG nanoparticles demonstrated increased hydrophobicity and solubility over PTX alone. Synthetically engineered PTX-ALG nanoparticles promoted cell-cycle arrest, reduced viability, and induced apoptosis in human primary patient breast cancer cells superior to those of PTX alone. Conclusion. Taken together, our results demonstrate that PTX-ALG nanoparticles represent an innovative, nanoscale delivery system for the administration of anticancer agents that may avoid the adverse toxicities with enhanced antitumor effects to improve the treatment of breast cancer patients.

Natural compounds have been suggested as alternative sources for pediculosis capitis control. We aimed to investigate the chemical composition and evaluate the pediculicidal activity of spearmint, clove, cassia, thyme, eucalyptus, and anise essential oils in addition to sesame oil against human head lice in vitro. A filter paper contact bioassay method was used by applying 0.25 and 0.5 mg/cm2 of each tested oil to filter paper in Petri dishes with 15 females head lice and another with ten nits. The lice mortalities were reported every 5 min for 180 min. The percentage of inhibition of hatch (PIH) was used to calculate ovicidal activity by daily microscopic inspections 5 days after the hatching of controls. Comparison with the widely used pediculicide (malathion) was performed. The most effective essential oil was spearmint followed by cassia and clove with KT50 values of 4.06, 7.62, and 12.12 at 0.5 mg/cm2 and 8.84, 11.38, and 19.73 at 0.25 mg/cm2, respectively. Thyme, eucalyptus, and anise were also effective adulticides with KT50 values of 18.61, 32.65, and 37.34 at 0.5 mg/cm2 and 29.92, 43.16, and 45.37 at 0.25 mg/cm2, respectively. Essential oils were also successful in inhibiting nymph emergence. Spearmint oil was the most effective, with a complete inhibition of emergence at 0.5 mg/cm2. Sesame fixed oil did not show any adulticidal or ovicidal activity against head lice in vitro. The observed insecticidal activity was comparable tomalathion. The results herein described the effectiveness of these essential oils as potential pediculicides for head lice control. Incorporation of essential oils in pediculicide formulations needs proper formulation and clinical trials.

Natural compounds have been suggested as alternative sources for pediculosis capitis control. We aimed to investigate the chemical composition and evaluate the pediculicidal activity of spearmint, clove, cassia, thyme, eucalyptus, and anise essential oils in addition to sesame oil against human head lice in vitro. A filter paper contact bioassay method was used by applying 0.25 and 0.5 mg/cm2 of each tested oil to filter paper in Petri dishes with 15 females head lice and another with ten nits. The lice mortalities were reported every 5 min for 180 min. The percentage of inhibition of hatch (PIH) was used to calculate ovicidal activity by daily microscopic inspections 5 days after the hatching of controls. Comparison with the widely used pediculicide (malathion) was performed. The most effective essential oil was spearmint followed by cassia and clove with KT50 values of 4.06, 7.62, and 12.12 at 0.5 mg/cm2 and 8.84, 11.38, and 19.73 at 0.25 mg/cm2, respectively. Thyme, eucalyptus, and anise were also effective adulticides with KT50 values of 18.61, 32.65, and 37.34 at 0.5 mg/cm2 and 29.92, 43.16, and 45.37 at 0.25 mg/cm2, respectively. Essential oils were also successful in inhibiting nymph emergence. Spearmint oil was the most effective, with a complete inhibition of emergence at 0.5 mg/cm2. Sesame fixed oil did not show any adulticidal or ovicidal activity against head lice in vitro. The observed insecticidal activity was comparable tomalathion. The results herein described the effectiveness of these essential oils as potential pediculicides for head lice control. Incorporation of essential oils in pediculicide formulations needs proper formulation and clinical trials.

Natural compounds have been suggested as alternative sources for pediculosis capitis control. We aimed to investigate the chemical composition and evaluate the pediculicidal activity of spearmint, clove, cassia, thyme, eucalyptus, and anise essential oils in addition to sesame oil against human head lice in vitro. A filter paper contact bioassay method was used by applying 0.25 and 0.5 mg/cm2 of each tested oil to filter paper in Petri dishes with 15 females head lice and another with ten nits. The lice mortalities were reported every 5 min for 180 min. The percentage of inhibition of hatch (PIH) was used to calculate ovicidal activity by daily microscopic inspections 5 days after the hatching of controls. Comparison with the widely used pediculicide (malathion) was performed. The most effective essential oil was spearmint followed by cassia and clove with KT50 values of 4.06, 7.62, and 12.12 at 0.5 mg/cm2 and 8.84, 11.38, and 19.73 at 0.25 mg/cm2, respectively. Thyme, eucalyptus, and anise were also effective adulticides with KT50 values of 18.61, 32.65, and 37.34 at 0.5 mg/cm2 and 29.92, 43.16, and 45.37 at 0.25 mg/cm2, respectively. Essential oils were also successful in inhibiting nymph emergence. Spearmint oil was the most effective, with a complete inhibition of emergence at 0.5 mg/cm2. Sesame fixed oil did not show any adulticidal or ovicidal activity against head lice in vitro. The observed insecticidal activity was comparable tomalathion. The results herein described the effectiveness of these essential oils as potential pediculicides for head lice control. Incorporation of essential oils in pediculicide formulations needs proper formulation and clinical trials.

Background Psoriasis has a significant negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) is a psoriasis-specific questionnaire that was developed by Finlay and Coles, which concerns the functional lifestyle disabilities caused by psoriasis. It has been used internationally for almost 20 years and has been translated into at least 26 languages. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the PDI questionnaire for Egyptian psoriasis patients. Patients and methods One hundred adult Egyptian patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis aged 16 years or older with no other systemic disease were enrolled in this study. The patients were examined to determine the clinical type of psoriasis and to measure the severity of psoriasis by calculating Psoriasis Area Severity Index score. The impact of psoriasis on quality of life was assessed using the Arabic version of the PDI after translation and cultural adaptation according to WHO guidelines. Results The internal consistency for the 15 items of the Arabic version of the PDI questionnaire was significant; intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.853 and Cronbach’s a coefficient was 0.860, indicating reliability of the developed Arabic version. Conclusion The Arabic version of the PDI questionnaire was found to be a reliable and valid measure for evaluating the quality of life for Egyptian patients with psoriasis.

Background Psoriasis has a significant negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) is a psoriasis-specific questionnaire that was developed by Finlay and Coles, which concerns the functional lifestyle disabilities caused by psoriasis. It has been used internationally for almost 20 years and has been translated into at least 26 languages. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the PDI questionnaire for Egyptian psoriasis patients. Patients and methods One hundred adult Egyptian patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis aged 16 years or older with no other systemic disease were enrolled in this study. The patients were examined to determine the clinical type of psoriasis and to measure the severity of psoriasis by calculating Psoriasis Area Severity Index score. The impact of psoriasis on quality of life was assessed using the Arabic version of the PDI after translation and cultural adaptation according to WHO guidelines. Results The internal consistency for the 15 items of the Arabic version of the PDI questionnaire was significant; intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.853 and Cronbach’s a coefficient was 0.860, indicating reliability of the developed Arabic version. Conclusion The Arabic version of the PDI questionnaire was found to be a reliable and valid measure for evaluating the quality of life for Egyptian patients with psoriasis.

Background Psoriasis has a significant negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI) is a psoriasis-specific questionnaire that was developed by Finlay and Coles, which concerns the functional lifestyle disabilities caused by psoriasis. It has been used internationally for almost 20 years and has been translated into at least 26 languages. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the PDI questionnaire for Egyptian psoriasis patients. Patients and methods One hundred adult Egyptian patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis aged 16 years or older with no other systemic disease were enrolled in this study. The patients were examined to determine the clinical type of psoriasis and to measure the severity of psoriasis by calculating Psoriasis Area Severity Index score. The impact of psoriasis on quality of life was assessed using the Arabic version of the PDI after translation and cultural adaptation according to WHO guidelines. Results The internal consistency for the 15 items of the Arabic version of the PDI questionnaire was significant; intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.853 and Cronbach’s a coefficient was 0.860, indicating reliability of the developed Arabic version. Conclusion The Arabic version of the PDI questionnaire was found to be a reliable and valid measure for evaluating the quality of life for Egyptian patients with psoriasis.