This study aims to conduct an urban Community Oriented Program for Control Of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) study in Sanandaj (Kurdistan, Iran). Sanandaj with a population of 311,446 (2006 census), Caucasian of Kurdish subgroup, was selected as the field. Sanandaj was divided into 100 clusters and subjects were randomly selected from them (50 subjects from each cluster). The COPCORD study started on July 2011 and ended on June 2012. Of the households, 1,631 was visited and 5,830 persons were interviewed. The male to female ratio was 0.8-1 (44.5% males, 55.5% females). Musculoskeletal complaints during the past 7 days were detected in 42.8% of the interviewed subjects (36.3% males, 48.1% females). The distribution was 16.7% shoulder, 10% wrist, 9.7% hands and fingers, 7.7% hip, 26.3% knee, 9.9% ankle, 6.4% toes, 9.5% cervical spine, and 21.5% dorsal and lumbar spine. Degenerative joint diseases were detected in 19.4% of the subjects: 1.8% neck, 18.9% knee, 3.9% hands, and 0.51% hip. Low back pain was detected in 16.5%, sciatica in 1.2%, cervical nerve root pain in 0.24%, and soft tissue rheumatism in 5.5%. Inflammatory disorders were 0.51% rheumatoid arthritis, 0.22% seronegative spondyloarthropathy, 0.10% ankylosing spondylitis, 0.05% systemic lupus erythematosus, and 0.10% Behcet's disease . Fibromyalgia was detected in 0.62% and gout in 0.12% of the studied population. Disability was reported by 28.3%. It was present at the study time in 21.4%. Comparing the four COPCORD studies of Iran, the figures (numbers) obtained by COPCORD Sanandaj are much the same as the COPCORD study in Tehran. Joint complaints were seen less frequently than in the COPCORD urban study of Zahedan and rural study of Tuyserkan. Osteoarthritis was higher than in Tehran, but the same as the two others. Soft tissue rheumatism was rather the same. Rheumatoid arthritis was higher than Tehran and Tuyserkan, but lower than Zahedan.

This study investigated the anticancer effect of zerumbone (ZER) and zerumbone-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (ZER-NLC) on the human mammary gland adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231) cell line. The effect of ZER and ZER-NLC on MDA-MB-231 cells was determined via electron and fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry using the Annexin V, cell cycle, and Tdt-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assays. We demonstrated that ZER and ZER-NLC significantly suppressed the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells with an IC50of 5.96 ± 0.13 and 6.01 ± 0.11 μg/mL, respectively. ZER and ZER-NLC arrested MDA-MB-231 cell cycle at the G2/M phase. The induction of apoptosis by ZER and ZER-NLC was via the intrinsic pathway through the release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. The treatments also caused the downregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-xL proteins, and proliferating cell nuclear protein and upregulation of proapoptotic Bax protein. Therefore, loading of ZER into NLC did not compromise the anticancer effects of ZER on MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, ZER-NLC, which increased the bioavailability of ZER, is an effective agent in the treatment of cancers.

The anti‐leukemia mechanisms of Morinda citrifolia L. leaf extract were investigated on human Jurkat leukemia cells and in leukemia‐induced BALB/c mice. The leukemia‐induced mice were fed daily with the extract (100 or 200 mg/kg BW) and compared to ATRA (All‐trans‐retinoic‐acid; 5 mg/kg BW). After 4 weeks’ treatment, the extract (standardized to epicatechin and scopoletin), arrested Jurkat cell‐cycle at the G0/G1 phase and activated the caspase‐3 and caspase‐8 (death‐receptor extrinsic pathways). The extract dose‐dependently reduced the blood and bone marrow myeloblasts levels of leukemia‐induced mice; upregulated cancer suppressor genes CSF3, SOCS1, PTEN and TRP53; increased anti‐inflammatory IL10 and IL4; downregulated anti‐apoptotic or proliferation genes; decreased the pro‐inflammatory NF‐κβ; suppressed pro‐angiogenesis VEGFA mRNA expressions, and restored the homeostatic immune or leukocytes levels. The extract directly ameliorated leukemia via cancer cells apoptosis, suppressed inflammation and angiogenesis; and mitigated bone marrow myeloblasts imbalance, without any observable toxicity on the animals. Practical applications The scopoletin (coumarin) and epicatechin (flavonoid)‐rich Morinda citrifolia (Noni) leaves may be used as functional food ingredient, vegetables, or dietary supplements to treat and suppress leukemia progression by directly killing the cancer cells and preventing new cancer cells development and bone marrow myeloblast imbalance in the bone marrow, without being toxic to normal cells. The M. citrifolia leaf extract suppressed inflammation, and potential metastasis by inhibiting new cancer‐related blood vessel formation.

Pranoprofen (PRA)-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) have been dispersed into blank gels composed of 1% of Carbomer 940 (PRA-NLC-Car) and 3% of Sepigel® 305 (PRA-NLC-Sep) as a novel strategy to refine the biopharmaceutical profile of PRA, for dermal administration in the treatment of skin inflammation that may be caused by possible skin abrasion. This stratagem intends to improve the joining of PRA with the skin, improving its retention and anti-inflammatory effect. Gels were evaluated for various parameters such as pH, morphology, rheology, and swelling. In vitro drug release research and ex vivo permeation through the skin were carried out on Franz diffusion cells. Additionally, in vivo assays were carried out to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect, and tolerance studies were performed in humans by evaluating the biomechanical properties. Results showed a rheological profile common of semi-solid pharmaceutical forms for dermal application, with sustained release up to 24 h. In vivo studies using PRA-NLC-Car and PRA-NLC-Sep in Mus musculus mice and hairless rats histologically demonstrated their efficacy in an inflammatory animal model study. No signs of skin irritation or modifications of the skin’s biophysical properties were identified and the gels were well tolerated. The results obtained from this investigation concluded that the developed semi-solid formulations represent a fitting drug delivery carrier for PRA’s transdermal delivery, enhancing its dermal retention and suggesting that they can be utilized as an interesting and effective topical treatment for local skin inflammation caused by a possible abrasion.