Pretreatment of Garlic Oil Extracts Hampers Epithelial Damage in Cell Culture Model of Peptic Ulcer Disease

Background and Objectives: Peptic ulcer disease is a chronic disease affecting up to 10% of the world’s population. Proton pump inhibitors, such as lansoprazole are the gold standard in the treatment of ulcer disease. However, various studies have shown the effectiveness of garlic oil extracts in the treatment of ulcer disease. A cellular model can be established in the human gastric cell line by sodium taurocholate. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of garlic oil extracts pretreatment and LPZ addition in the cell culture model of peptic ulcer disease by examining oxidative stress and F-actin distribution. Materials and Methods: Evaluation was performed by determination of glutathione and prostaglandin E2 concentrations by ELISA; human gastric cell line proliferation by cell counting; expression of ATP-binding cassette, sub-family G, member 2; nuclear factor kappa B subunit 2 by RT PCR; and F-actin cytoskeleton visualization by semi-quantification of Rhodamine Phalloidin stain. Results: Our results showed significant reduction of cell damage after sodium taurocholate incubation when the gastric cells were pretreated with lansoprazole (p < 0.001) and increasing concentrations of garlic oil extracts (p < 0.001). Pretreatment with lansoprazole and different concentrations of garlic oil extracts increased prostaglandin E2 and glutathione concentrations in the cell culture model of peptic ulcer disease (p < 0.001). Positive correlation of nuclear factor kappa B subunit 2 (p < 0.01) with lansoprazole and garlic oil extracts pretreatment was seen, while ATP-binding cassette, sub-family G, member 2 expression was not changed. Treatment with sodium taurocholate as oxidative stress on F actin structure was less pronounced, although the highest concentration of garlic oil extracts led to a statistically significant increase of total amount of F-actin (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Hence, pretreatment with garlic oil extracts had gastroprotective effect in the cell model of peptic ulcer disease. However, further experiments are needed to fully elucidate the mechanism of this protective role.

Wasta, the Impact of Preferment on Organizational Culture and Human Resource Management

Organizations must continuously monitor their processes. They should make significant changes to retain talent and improve productivity. One way to recognize the need to achieve change is through improving their organizational culture. This article details the investigation of a phenomenon of organizational culture in the Middle East. Wasta is a Middle Eastern system of preferment operating in many institutions in the region affecting employee engagement, advancement, and influence within an organization. Interviews, observations and social network analysis were employed to investigate the degree to which this phenomenon occurs in four universities in Lebanon and its negative effects on employee relationships. The data was input into NVivo to obtain statistical information to support the hypothesis of wasta's negative role. The research process culminated in the development of the wasta organizational culture model (WOC), highlights the impact of wasta on employee relationships supporting further research and collaborative initiatives to improve HR practices in the Middle East.

Antitumor Activities of Green Tea by Up-regulation of miR-181a Expression in LNCaP Cells Using 3D Cell Culture Model

Background: Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the major reason for the high mortality rates among men worldwide. In fact, current therapeutic approaches are not successful. It appears that discovering more effective methods considering several parameters such as availability, low cost, and no toxicity to normal cells is one of the biggest challenges for interested researchers. Green tea (extracted from the plant Camellia sinensis) with high level of polyphenolic compounds and as the most globally consumed beverage has attracted considerable interest. MicroRNAs (or miRNAs) were considered as novel tools in cancer therapy which modulate various biological events in cell by regulation of gene expression. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the antitumor activity of green tea in LNCaP cells through up-regulation of miR-181a expression. Methods: First, LNCaP cells were cultured and by using quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot methods, the expression levels of Bax and BCL2 were analyzed. Next, a 3D cell culture model was applied to evaluate the expression of miRNA-181a in LNCaP cells. Results: It was shown that green tea induced cellular apoptosis. The high number of apoptotic nuclei was also shown by using DAPI staining. The inhibition of tumor growth was revealed by analyzing the size and number of spheroids. Also, up-regulation of miR-181a expression in LNCaP cells was revealed after treatment with green tea. Conclusion: Our results are helpful to design antitumor regimens based on consumption of green tea through up-regulation of miRNA-181a expression and induction of apoptosis.

SIRT1 Attenuates Apoptosis of Nucleus Pulposus Cells by Targeting Interactions between LC3B and Fas under High-Magnitude Compression

Mechanical overloading-induced nucleus pulposus cell (NPC) apoptosis plays a core role in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration. In this study, we investigated the involvement of mammalian silent information regulator 2 homolog (SIRT1) in NPC apoptosis under high-magnitude compression. Our results showed that high-magnitude compression aggravated cellular apoptosis and attenuated the expression levels of SIRT1 and microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain-3B (LC3B) in rat NPCs in a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture model and an in vivo rat tail compression model, whereas SIRT1 overexpression in NPCs partially reversed these indicators. Moreover, SIRT1 overexpression increased the formation of the LC3B/Fas complex, alleviated activation of the NF-κB pathway, and reduced NPC apoptosis. Finally, downregulation of LC3B partially activated the NF-κB pathway and aggravated NPC apoptosis. Overall, upregulation of SIRT1 increases formation of the LC3B/Fas complex, which contributes to suppression of NPC apoptosis by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway under high compressive stress.

The Impact of Organizational Culture on Educational Sector Workers of Paktika Province of Afghanistan

Organizational culture is a believe system exists among the workers of an organization. Through organizational culture, organizations can be distinguished from each others. It is precious to inform the organization's managers and all workers about the organizational culture. The aim of this study is to find out the presence of organizational culture in educational sector workers of Paktika province of Afghanistan. Daniel Denison's organizational culture model is used in this research. Denison's model has four main aspects (involvement, consistency, adaptability and mission), that an organization must have in order to be an effective organization. In this study, the mixed research method (Quantitative and Qualitative) is used whereas questionnaire and interview tools were used for data collection. The administrative staff of the educational sector of Paktika province (University, Directorate of Education, Directorate of Information and Culture, and Directorate of Olympic), numbering up to 120, has been selected as a statistical population for the research. The results of this research are somehow similar to the previous researches done in Afghanistan. Generally, it is seen that working activities of educational sector staff of Paktika province is influenced by organizational culture. The results of this research show that, based on Denison model of organizational culture, educational sector workers of Paktika province has 65% of effective organizational culture and the mission aspect was potent than other aspects of organizational culture.

Establishing in vitro and in vivo Co-culture Models of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis to Evaluate the Effect of Topical Fluoroquinolone on Ocular Microbes

Purpose: To establish in vitro and in vivo ocular co-culture models of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis and to study how various concentrations of moxifloxacin affect the survival of these two endophthalmitis-causing bacteria.Methods: Standard strains of S. epidermidis and E. faecalis were used. Color detection agar plates were employed to distinguish their colonies. To establish the in vitro and in vivo co-culture models, S. epidermidis and E. faecalis were co-cultivated at different ratios for various periods. For the in vivo model, various volumes and concentrations of either a mono-culture or co-culture were inoculated into the lower conjunctival sac of rabbits. Finally, the newly developed in vitro and in vivo co-culture models were subjected to the moxifloxacin treatment to access its effect on S. epidermidis and E. faecalis.Results: When S. epidermidis and E. faecalis were cultured separately in tryptic soy broth, their growth peaked and plateaued at approximately 16 and 6 h, respectively. When they were co-cultured, the growth peak of S. epidermidis got delayed, whereas the growth peak of E. faecalis did not change. The number of E. faecalis was significantly higher in the co-culture than that in the mono-culture. Treatment with moxifloxacin in the in vitro co-culture model rapidly decreased the number of S. epidermidis cells at doses ≥ 0.125 μg/ml. In contrast, the number of E. faecalis did not change significantly up to 16 μg/ml moxifloxacin. In in vivo co-culture (at 1:1), the S. epidermidis count decreased in a pattern similar to that seen in in vivo mono-culture and was barely detectable at 24 h after inoculation. In contrast, the of E. faecalis count increased up to 16 h and then decreased. When moxifloxacin was applied (zero, one, or two times) to this model, the S. epidermidis count decreased in proportion to the number of treatments. In contrast, the E. faecalis count increased with moxifloxacin treatment.Conclusions: The in vitro and in vivo co-culture models of S. epidermidis and E. faecalis were established to determine the influence of moxifloxacin eye drops on these bacteria. The results clearly show that the moxifloxacin eye drops can make E. faecalis dominant on the ocular surface.

Pharmacological Investigations in Glia Culture Model of Inflammation

Astrocytes and microglia are the main cell population besides neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes support the neuronal network via maintenance of transmitter and ion homeostasis. They are part of the tripartite synapse, composed of pre- and postsynaptic neurons and perisynaptic astrocytic processes as a functional unit. There is an increasing evidence that astroglia are involved in the pathophysiology of CNS disorders such as epilepsy, autoimmune CNS diseases or neuropsychiatric disorders, especially with regard to glia-mediated inflammation. In addition to astrocytes, investigations on microglial cells, the main immune cells of the CNS, offer a whole network approach leading to better understanding of non-neuronal cells and their pathological role in CNS diseases and treatment. An in vitro astrocyte-microglia co-culture model of inflammation was developed by Faustmann et al. (2003), which allows to study the endogenous inflammatory reaction and the cytokine expression under drugs in a differentiated manner. Commonly used antiepileptic drugs (e.g., levetiracetam, valproic acid, carbamazepine, phenytoin, and gabapentin), immunomodulatory drugs (e.g., dexamethasone and interferon-beta), hormones and psychotropic drugs (e.g., venlafaxine) were already investigated, contributing to better understanding mechanisms of actions of CNS drugs and their pro- or anti-inflammatory properties concerning glial cells. Furthermore, the effects of drugs on glial cell viability, proliferation and astrocytic network were demonstrated. The in vitro astrocyte-microglia co-culture model of inflammation proved to be suitable as unique in vitro model for pharmacological investigations on astrocytes and microglia with future potential (e.g., cancer drugs, antidementia drugs, and toxicologic studies).