The Diverse Roles of Long Non-Coding RNA HOTTIP in Breast and Gynecological Cancer Progression.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play vital roles in the development and progression of various tumors through multiple mechanisms. Among these, HOTTIP (HOXA transcript at the distal tip) stands out as an intriguing candidate with diverse functions in several malignancies, including breast cancer and gynecologic cancers such as ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers, which are significant global health concerns. HOTTIP interacts with key signaling pathways associated with these cancers, including Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, and MEK/ERK pathways, enhancing their activation and downstream effects.

Molecular identification of yeast communities isolated from nail specimens by PCR-RFLP and PCR-FSP methods.

Background And Purpose: Onychomycosis is a common fungal infection that affects the nails, caused by various fungal agents. Moreover, yeast onychomycosis has increased in recent years. Yeast isolates might not be identified at the species level by conventional methods, whereas molecular methods can identify yeast isolates more accurately.

Immunomodulatory features of MSC-derived exosomes decorated with DC-specific aptamer for improving sublingual immunotherapy in allergic mouse model.

Introduction: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is an effective and injection-free route for allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes (Exo) has been identified as a novel delivery platform with immunomodulatory capacities. In addition, targeting agents such as aptamers (Apt) have been extensively used for specific delivery approaches such as direct delivery of allergen formulations to dendritic cells (DC) to improve the efficacy of specific immunotherapy.

Alterations in the expression of serum-derived exosome-enclosed inflammatory microRNAs in Covid-19 patients.

Introduction: MicroRNAs in exosomes play a role in biological processes such as inflammation and Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In EMT, epithelial cells undergo phenotypic changes and become similar to mesenchymal cells. EMT increases the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells.

Evaluation of usage of readily accessible Enterobacteriaceae differential and selective media for identifying Candida auris.

Background: Candida auris is a drug-resistant fungal pathogen. Diagnosing it is challenging due to the need for modern techniques. This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of Enterobacteriaceae culture media in screening and identifying Candida auris, as those media are accessible in resource-limited laboratories.

Exploring the Dual Role of MALAT1 in Thyroid Tumorigenesis: Oncogenic or Tumor Suppressor?

Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent form of endocrine cancer. Therefore, the administration of new therapeutic agents for thyroid cancer patients is necessary. One of the recent successes in thyroid cancer research is the identification of the role of signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Restoring immune balance with Tregitopes: A new approach to treating immunological disorders.

The induction of immunological tolerance is a promising strategy for managing autoimmune diseases, allergies, and transplant rejection. Tregitopes, a class of peptides, have emerged as potential agents for this purpose. They activate regulatory T cells, which are pivotal in reducing inflammation and promoting tolerance, by binding to MHC II molecules and facilitating their processing and presentation to Treg cells, thereby encouraging their proliferation.

The Effects of Convalescent Plasma Transfusion on Serum Levels of Macrophage-Associated Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients with Severe COVID-19.

As an antibody-based therapy, plasma therapy has been used as an emergency therapeutic strategy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 infection. Due to the critical role of macrophages in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)-associated hyperinflammation, the main objective of this study was to assess the effect of plasma transfusion on the expression levels of the inflammatory biomarkers involved in activation and pulmonary infiltration of macrophages. The target population included 50 severe hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were randomly assigned into 2 groups, including intervention and control.

F1 fraction isolated from Mesobuthus eupeus scorpion venom induces macrophage polarization toward M1 phenotype and exerts anti-tumoral effects on the CT26 tumor cell line.

Scorpion venoms identified as agents with anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic features. Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in the process of tumorigenesis, tumor development, and polarization of M2 phenotype tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). M2 polarized cells are associated with tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.

Bilayer and Trilayer CN/Blue-Phosphorene Heterostructures as Potential Anode Materials for Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals heterostructures outperform conventional anode materials for postlithium-ion batteries in terms of mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical properties. This study systemically investigates the performance of bilayer and trilayer CN/blue phosphorene (CN/BlueP) heterostructures as anode materials for potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) using first-principles density functional theory calculations. This study reveals that the adsorption and diffusion of K ions on bilayer and trilayer CN/BlueP heterostructures are markedly superior to those of their monolayer counterparts.

A Study of Association of ABO and Rh Blood Group with Colorectal Cancer in Khuzestan Province, Iran.

Colorectal cancer, a solid tumor with a high prevalence, contributes significantly to annual mortality rates. Various factors, including blood groups, may influence cancer risk. Multiple studies have suggested a potential connection between ABO and Rh blood groups and colorectal cancer risk.

Study of the Relationship between ABO Blood Group Types and Breast Cancer and Cervix Cancer in Khuzestan Province, Iran.

Breast cancer and cervix cancer are the prevalent and deadly types of solid tumors around the world. According to the importance of cancer, it is necessary to understand predisposing factors that affect cancer risk. In this regard, previous studies suggest that blood types particularly ABO and Rh-Hr Blood-Group System could play roles in the risk and different features of cancers.

Comparing the expression of MiR-223-NLRP3-IL-1β axis and serum IL-1β levels in patients with severe COVID-19 and healthy individuals.

Background And Aim: The hyperactive nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a key factor for cytokine storm, chronic inflammation, and mortality in infected patients. On the subject of the regulation of the NLRP3-inflammasome activation, micro-ribonucleic acid (RNA)-223 (miR-223), among the major RNA molecules, has been thus far investigated in some inflammatory diseases along with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and NLRP3. Against this background, the present study aimed to compare healthy individuals and patients with severe COVID-19 with reference to the alterations in the expression of the miR-223, NLRP3, and IL-1β axis and the serum IL-1β levels.

Loading Ovalbumin into Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes as a Nanoscale Carrier with Immunomodulatory Potential for Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy.

Background: Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles widely used as drug delivery systems. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes have shown immunomodulatory potential. This study optimized loading OVA into the mice adipose tissue-derived MSC-isolated exosomes to prepare the OVA-MSC-exosome complex for allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Immune response modulation by allergen loaded into mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes as an effective carrier through sublingual immunotherapy.

Background: Allergen-specific sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) was considered an interesting needle-free alternative for subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes were introduced as potent nanoscale delivery systems with immunomodulatory potentials. The current study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of SLIT using ovalbumin (OVA)-enriched MSC-derived exosomes formulation in a murine model of allergic asthma.

The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training on serum cortisol levels, depression, stress, and anxiety in type 2 diabetic older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Old age is rapidly increasing and is linked to with chronic diseases, especially diabetes. Diabetes is associated with increased anxiety, stress, and depression and, in turn, can increase cortisol secretion. To this end, the present research studied the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training on serum cortisol levels, depression, anxiety, and stress in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) older adults during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Evaluation of miRNA-21-5p and miRNA-10b-5p levels in serum-derived exosomes of breast cancer patients in different grades.

Background & Objectives: Tumor cells have various effects and dominance over other healthy cells. Cancer cells alter the cell program in healthy cells by secreting exosomes containing microRNAs involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). They can migrate to distant organs and establish a pre-metastatic niche.

Polydopamine Biomaterials for Skin Regeneration.

Designing biomaterials capable of biomimicking wound healing and skin regeneration has been receiving increasing attention recently. Some biopolymers behave similarly to the extracellular matrix (ECM), supporting biointerfacial adhesion and intrinsic cellular interactions. Polydopamine (PDA) is a natural bioadhesive and bioactive polymer that endows high chemical versatility, making it an exciting candidate for a wide range of biomedical applications.

Natural adjuvants ( and ) induce activated natural killer cells with NKG2D expression and cytotoxic properties in colorectal cancer.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of natural adjuvants (and ) to activate natural killer cells in colorectal cancer.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are an element of the innate immune system that can recognize and kill cancer cells and provide hope for cancer therapy. One of the current methods in cancer immunotherapy is NK cell therapy.

Allergen specific immunotherapy with plasmid DNA encoding OVA-immunodominant T cell epitope fused to Tregitope in a murine model of allergy.

Background: Peptide-based immunotherapy (PIT) was introduced as an attractive approach in allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). However, PIT clinical trials have shown variable results, and immune response to peptides is not precisely predictable. On the other hand, induction of antigen-specific tolerance may be augmented when allergens are combined with the regulatory T cell epitope (Tregitope).

Derivation of the Empirical Bayesian method for the Negative Binomial-Lindley generalized linear model with application in traffic safety.

The expected crash frequency is the long-term average crash count for a specific site. It is extensively used to systematically evaluate the crash risk associated with roadway elements. To estimate the expected crashes, the Empirical Bayesian (EB) approach is typically employed.

Tranilast as an Adjunctive Therapy in Hospitalized Patients with Severe COVID- 19: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Tranilast is a potential NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor that may relieve progressive inflammation due to COVID-19.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of Tranilast in combination with antiviral drugs in non-ICU-admitted hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods: This study was an open-label clinical trial that included 72 hospitals admitted patients with severe COVID-19 at Razi Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran, from July 2020-August 2020.