Synergistic effects of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles and dexamethasone on macrophage polarization under inflammatory conditions.

The undesirable inflammation and the excessive M1 macrophage activity may lead to inflammatory diseases. Corticosteroids and stem cell therapy are used in clinical practice to promote anti-inflammatory responses. However, this protocol has limitations and is associated with numerous side effects.

Avastin-Loaded 3D-Printed Alginate Scaffold as an Effective Antiadhesive Barrier to Prevent Postsurgical Adhesion Bands Formation.

Postoperative adhesion can cause complications, such as pain and organ blockage, in the abdominal regions. To address this issue, surgical techniques and antiadhesive treatments are applied. Given the significant role of vascularization in adhesion band formation, Avastin (Ava) that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can be applied to prevent peritoneal adhesion bands.

Lanthanide complexes facilitate wound healing by promoting fibroblast viability, migration and M2 macrophage polarization.

A tridentate ligand LH3 ((2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-2-(hydroxyimino)propanehydrazide) comprising -vanillin, hydrazone and oxime donor groups has been employed to prepare a series of tetranuclear Ln(III) complexes. The reaction of ligand LH3 with Ln(NO) [Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er] in MeOH yielded Ln()(MeOH) (Ln = Sm(1), Eu(2), Gd(3), Tb(4), Ho (6) and Er (7))] whereas the corresponding reaction with Dy(NO) afforded Dy()()(OH) (5). All complexes were characterized by various analytical techniques including single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and elemental analysis.

BACTERIOPHAGE M13 MODULATES THE SEPSIS-RELATED INFLAMMATORY RESPONSES AND ORGAN DAMAGE IN A CLP MODEL.

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening disorder that leads to the induction of inflammatory responses and organ failure. Phage therapy is a new approach to controlling infections resistant to common treatments, including sepsis. Several studies have shown the effect of lytic bacteriophages on infection control by reducing the bacterial load.

Comparative study of the cytotoxicity, apoptotic, and epigenetic effects of Boswellic acid derivatives on breast cancer.

This study aimed to compare the effect of Boswellic acid derivatives on the viability, apoptosis, and epigenomic profiling of breast cancer. According to the viability assays, 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-Boswellic acid (AKBA) showed more toxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells when compared with the 3-O-acetyl-β-Boswellic acid (ABA). In contrast, ABA revealed less toxicity against MCF-10A.

Selective anti-cancer activity against melanoma cells using 3--acetyl-β-boswellic acid-loaded 3D-Printed scaffold.

This study aimed to develop a local 3 D-printed bioactive graft using poly-caprolacton (PCL) as a drug carrier and 3--acetyl-β-boswellic acid (β-ABA) as an anticancer compound. β-ABA-loaded 3 D-printed scaffold was fabricated and physically characterized. The results indicated more desirable mechanical and physical properties of the β-ABA-loaded PCL mat in comparison with the PCL scaffold.

Regulatory Non-Coding RNAs in Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Theranostic Applications.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common monogenic disease which is associated with high serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and leads to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Early diagnosis and effective treatment strategy can significantly improve prognosis. Recently, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and innovative targets for therapeutics.

Microscopic Evaluation of Ovarian Surface Epithelium Following Treatment with Conjugated Estrogens in a Mouse Model.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) on the ovarian epithelium of female CD1 mice.

Methods: Twenty-four female mice at 7 months with irregular estrus cycles were randomly divided into four groups of 6 mice each. Group one was considered as a control group and received a daily dose of 0.

Prevention of post-surgical adhesion bands by local administration of frankincense n-hexane extract.

Background: and purpose: The formation of postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion band formation may lead to severe complications. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of local administration of frankincense n-hexane extract (FHE) on the formation of postsurgical adhesion bands.

Materials And Methods: FHE was extracted from the resin of a tree and its components were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

The miR-142 Suppresses U-87 Glioblastoma Cell Growth by Targeting EGFR Oncogenic Signaling Pathway.

Glioblastoma is the most lethal malignancy of the brain and is resistant to conventional cancer treatments. Gene-therapy approaches like using tumor suppressor miRNAs are promising in the treatment of glioblastoma. They control the expression of oncogenes and influence tumor features and behaviors.

An engineered microfluidic blood-brain barrier model to evaluate the anti-metastatic activity of β-boswellic acid.

Background: The development of anti-cancer drugs with the ability to inhibit brain metastasis through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is substantially limited due to the lack of reliable in vitro models.

Main Methods: In this study, the Geltrex-based Transwell and microfluidic BBB models were applied to screen the effect of β-boswellic acid (β-BA) on the metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells through the BBB in static and dynamic conditions, respectively.

Major Results: The toxicity assay revealed that β-BA deteriorates MDA-MB-231 cells, while β-BA had no detectable toxic effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and astrocytes.

miR-424 induces apoptosis in glioblastoma cells and targets AKT1 and RAF1 oncogenes from the ERBB signaling pathway.

Glioblastoma is a lethal and incurable cancer. Tumor suppressor miRNAs are promising gene therapy tools for cancer treatment. In silico, we predicted miR-424 as a tumor suppressor.

A competitive nature-derived multilayered scaffold based on chitosan and alginate, for full-thickness wound healing.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a bioactive multilayer wound dressing, based on chitosan and alginate. To enhance healing potential, Dracaena Cinnabari and Aloe Vera were loaded as separate layers into the scaffold. The bare and bioactive multilayered scaffolds were fabricated by an iterative layering freeze-drying technique.

Secondary metabolites from acridocarpus orientalis inhibits 4T1 cells and promotes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proliferation.

Among medicinal plants, Acridocarpus orientalis (AO) possesses a remarkable anti-cancer potential, possibly because of its anti-oxidant property. In this study, the leaf and stem extracts from AO were assessed to find the bioactive compound with selective anti-cancer properties. The MTT viability and live and dead assays revealed that around 80% and 98% of 4T1 cells survival were declined after 48 h incubation with leaf and stem extracts, respectively.

MicroRNA-129 Inhibits Glioma Cell Growth by Targeting CDK4, CDK6, and MDM2.

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor among adults and one of the most lethal cancers. It is characterized by the deregulation of signaling pathways involving proliferation, growth, survival, and other factors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in the regulation of genes by affecting the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA and affect many cell functions.

Inhibiting the expression of anti-apoptotic genes BCL2L1 and MCL1, and apoptosis induction in glioblastoma cells by microRNA-342.

Glioma is an aggressive and lethal type of brain tumor that originates from glial cells. Glioblastoma cells confer considerable resistance to induction of apoptosis, which may be due to overexpression of anti-apoptotic proteins, or the reduction of the level of some pro-apoptotic proteins. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can affect the cell biology pathways, including replication, autophagy, necrosis, and apoptosis by regulating gene expression.

Two Triacylglycerol Pathway Genes, CTDNEP1 and LPIN1, are Down-Regulated by hsa-miR-122-5p in Hepatocytes.

Background: Expression of miR-122 is highly specific to hepatocytes of the liver.  This miRNA is involved in lipid hemostasis of the tissue; however, there is no comprehensive understanding of its function in lipid hemostasis.

Materials And Methods: Since hepatocytes are responsible for part of Triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis in the body, we hypothesized that miR-122, as the most abundant miRNA in the tissue, might regulate TAG metabolism by targeting key enzymes that are involved in its production pathway.

The role of miR-17-92 cluster in the expression of tumor suppressor genes in unrestricted somatic stem cells.

The miR-17-92 cluster consisted of seven miRNAs (mir-17-5p, -17-3p, -18a, -19a, -20a, -19b-1, and -92a-1). Previous studies have shown this cluster has been over-expressed in several cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the over-expression impacts of miR-17-92 on stem cells.

Prevention of adhesion bands by ibuprofen-loaded PLGA nanofibers.

In this study, prevention of the adhesion bands and inflammatory features has been investigated using poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)-ibuprofen (PLGA-IB) nanofibrous meshes in a mice model. To find the optimized membrane for prevention of postoperative adhesion bands, we have compared PLGA-IB group with PLGA, IB, and control groups in a mice adhesion model. Two scoring adhesion systems were used to represent the outcome.

MiR-371-373 cluster acts as a tumor-suppressor-miR and promotes cell cycle arrest in unrestricted somatic stem cells.

Recent advances in small RNA research have implicated microRNAs (miRNAs) as important regulators of proliferation and development. The miR-371-373 cluster is prominently expressed in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and rapidly decreases after cell differentiation. MiR-371-373 cluster was investigated as one of the key factors of stem cell maintenance and pluripotency in unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs) using a lentivirus system.

Association of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity with oocyte cytoplasmic lipid content, developmental competence, and expression of candidate genes in a sheep model.

Purpose: To evaluate associations of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity in sheep oocytes with cytoplasmic lipid content, maturational competence, developmental competence to the blastocyst stage, and gene expression of certain molecular markers.

Methods: Before brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining test, oocytes were classified as high, middle, and low cytoplasmic lipid content (HCLC, MCLC, and LCLC) and after the test as having low or high G6PDH-activity (BCB(+) and BCB(-), respectively). After maturation in vitro, a group of oocytes were subjected to IVF followed by in vitro embryo culture and another group was used for evaluation of expression of candidate genes.

Coating of electrospun poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanofibers with willemite bioceramic: improvement of bone reconstruction in rat model.

We have investigated the combination effects of bioceramics and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) on bone reconstruction in calvarial critical size defects using a rat model. Willemite (Zn2SiO4) ceramics were prepared and coated on the surface of electrospun fabricated scaffolds. After scaffolds and nanoparticles characterization, osteoconductivity of the construct was analyzed using digital mammography, multislice spiral-computed tomography (MSCT) imaging, and histological analysis.

Mir-302 cluster exhibits tumor suppressor properties on human unrestricted somatic stem cells.

Many studies have reported that miR-302-367 cluster acts in different ways in various cell types. For instance, this cluster is shown to have a potential role in stemness regulation in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). On the other hand, this cluster inhibits the tumorigenicity of human pluripotent stem cells by coordinated suppression of CDK2 and CDK4/6 cell cycle pathways.