: Iodine-based contrast agents have limitations such as rapid clearance, potential renal toxicity, non-specific blood pool distribution, headache, and adverse events. Nowadays, it is quite common to work with nanosized systems in order to eliminate the side effects of contrast agents. This study aims to synthesize a new iodinated contrast agent, prepare its nanosuspension by using the nanoprecipitation method, investigate its cytotoxicity, and compare its contrast properties with iohexol and iopromide through in-vitro experiments. The values of nanosuspension particle size and zeta potential have been found to be ~ 400 nm and ~ (-) 15 mV, respectively. In-vitro cellular viability findings indicated that the nanosuspension has lower cytotoxicity than the iohexol and iopromide. In the computed tomography (CT) imaging study of contrast features of nanosuspensions and two commercial agents, which involved 86 CT examinations using 31 parameters and two different devices, it was found that iodine had a stronger presence in its nanosuspension form than in iohexol and iopromide, which were the other two commercial contrast agents, when used in equal amounts. Thus in the case of nanosuspensions contrast brightness was achieved by using less iodine, while the same brightness could be obtained with higher doses of iohexol and iopromide. CT imaging therefore be done without much chemical use, which indicates that it may witness fewer side effects in the future.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a substance that can harm the environment and human health by interfering with the normal functioning of the body's hormonal system. It is commonly found in various plastic‐based products such as cosmetics, canned foods, beverage containers, and medical equipment and as well as it can also be absorbed by inhalation. There have been limited studies on the effects of BPA on lung fibroblasts, and it is still unclear how high levels of BPA can impact respiratory system cells, particularly the lungs and trachea. In this research, we aimed to investigate the cell cycle disruption potential of BPA on respiratory system cells by examining healthy trachea and lung cells together for the first time. The findings indicated that BPA exposure can alter the healthy cells' morphology, leading to reduced cellular viability that has been assessed by MTT and SRB assays. BPA treatment was able to activate caspase3 as expected, which could cause apoptosis in treated cells. Although the highest dose of BPA did not increase the apoptotic rate of rat trachea cells, it remarkably caused them to become necrotic (52.12%). In addition to quantifying the induction of apoptosis and necrosis by BPA, cell cycle profiles were also determined using flow cytometry. Thereby, BPA treatment unexpectedly inhibited the cell cycle's progression by causing G2/M cell cycle arrest in both lung and tracheal cells, which hindered cell proliferation. The findings of the study suggested that exposure to BPA could lead to serious respiratory problems, even respiratory tract cancers via alterations in the cell cycle.

Crude oil extracts, components of extracts, and ethanolic extracts of Inula graveolens possess various pharmacological activities on various cancer cells including antioxidative and antiproliferative effects. Aqueous extract of this species has not been investigated on the liquid malignancies and solid tumors with a high incidence of treatment refractoriness and poor survival outcomes such as glioblastoma and leukemia. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic efficiency of I. graveolens aqueous extracts on human glioblastoma multiforme and chronic myelogenous leukemia cell lines in comparison to non-cancerous primary rat cerebral cortex and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The cells were treated with the extracts of I. graveolens (125-1000 μg/mL) for 48 h, the cellular viability was identified using 3'-(4,5dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, and lactate dehydrogenase release was measured to determine the cytotoxic potential. Total oxidant status and apurinic/apyrimidinic endodeoxyribonuclease 1 assays were used to determine the oxidative status of cells and DNA damage, respectively. I. graveolens showed selective cytotoxicity toward human glioblastoma multiforme and chronic myelogenous leukemia cell lines and exhibited a higher antiproliferative effect against cancer cells in comparison to non-cancerous cells. Moreover, it significantly reduced the apurinic/apyrimidinic endodeoxyribonuclease 1 levels on both cancer cell lines as compared with their control cells without changing the levels of an oxidative stress marker. The extracts of I. graveolens have anti-cancer potential on human glioblastoma multiforme and chronic myelogenous leukemia cell lines without causing oxidative stress.

This study investigates the protective role of Hispidulin on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in rats. Rats were divided into three groups: control, ARDS, ARDS+ Hispidulin. The ARDS models were established by injecting rats with oleic acid. Hispidulin (100 mg/kg) was injected i.p. an hour before ARDS. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), Lipid Peroxidation (LPO), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione (GSH), and Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were determined by ELISA. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression was described by RT-qPCR. Caspase-3 immunostaining was performed to evaluate apoptosis. Compared with the model group, a significant decrease was observed in the MPO, IL-8, MAPK, ACE, LPO levels, and TNF-α expression in the ARDS+ Hispidulin group. Moreover, reduced caspase-3 immunoreactivity and activity of ACE were detected in the Hispidulin+ARDS group. The protective effect of Hispidulin treatment may act through inhibition of the ACE activity and then regulation of inflammatory cytokine level and alteration of apoptosis.