Targeted regulation of autophagy using nanoparticles: New insight into cancer therapy.

Normal cells depend on autophagy to maintain cellular homeostasis by recycling damaged organelles and misfolded proteins and degrading toxic agents. Similar to apoptosis, targeting autophagy has been under attention in cancer therapy. However, autophagy has both pro-survival and pro-death functions in tumors, and its targeting requires further elucidation.

Advances in understanding the role of P-gp in doxorubicin resistance: Molecular pathways, therapeutic strategies, and prospects.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a drug efflux transporter that triggers doxorubicin (DOX) resistance. In this review, we highlight the molecular avenues regulating P-gp, such as Nrf2, HIF-1α, miRNAs, and long noncoding (lnc)RNAs, to reveal their participation in DOX resistance. These antitumor compounds and genetic tools synergistically reduce P-gp expression.

Caffeic acid and its derivatives as potential modulators of oncogenic molecular pathways: New hope in the fight against cancer.

As a phenolic acid compound, caffeic acid (CA) can be isolated from different sources such as tea, wine and coffee. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is naturally occurring derivative of CA isolated from propolis. This medicinal plant is well-known due to its significant therapeutic impact including its effectiveness as hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and anti-diabetic agent.

Therapeutic potential of AMPK signaling targeting in lung cancer: Advances, challenges and future prospects.

Lung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of death worldwide with high mortality and morbidity. A wide variety of risk factors are considered for LC development such as smoking, air pollution and family history. It appears that genetic and epigenetic factors are also potential players in LC development and progression.

Biomedical application of chitosan-based nanoscale delivery systems: Potential usefulness in siRNA delivery for cancer therapy.

Gene therapy is an emerging and promising strategy in cancer therapy where small interfering RNA (siRNA) system has been deployed for down-regulation of targeted gene and subsequent inhibition in cancer progression; some issues with siRNA, however, linger namely, its off-targeting property and degradation by enzymes. Nanoparticles can be applied for the encapsulation of siRNA thus enhancing its efficacy in gene silencing where chitosan (CS), a linear alkaline polysaccharide derived from chitin, with superb properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, stability and solubility, can play a vital role. Herein, the potential of CS nanoparticles has been discussed for the delivery of siRNA in cancer therapy; proliferation, metastasis and chemoresistance are suppressed by siRNA-loaded CS nanoparticles, especially the usage of pH-sensitive CS nanoparticles.

Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Chemoprotection and Doxorubicin Resistance: Potential Application in Drug Discovery.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is extensively applied in cancer therapy due to its efficacy in suppressing cancer progression and inducing apoptosis. After its discovery, this chemotherapeutic agent has been frequently used for cancer therapy, leading to chemoresistance. Due to dose-dependent toxicity, high concentrations of DOX cannot be administered to cancer patients.

Novel Strategy in Breast Cancer Therapy: Revealing The Bright Side of Ginsenosides.

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Breast cancer cells demonstrate uncontrolled proliferation and high metastatic capacity. They can obtain resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Dual relationship between long non-coding RNAs and STAT3 signaling in different cancers: New insight to proliferation and metastasis.

Uncontrolled growth and metastasis of cancer cells is an increasing challenge for overcoming cancer, and improving survival of patients. Complicated signaling networks account for proliferation and invasion of cancer cells that need to be elucidated for providing effective cancer therapy, and minimizing their malignancy. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules with a length of more than 200 nucleotides.

Obstructed Defecation Syndrome After Delivery Trauma.

Background: Obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) occurs in about 7% of adults; it seems that the etiology of pelvic floor disorders is multifactorial. Pregnancy and childbirth damage to the pelvic nerve and muscles are proposed causes for this condition. The precise role of vaginal delivery (VD) is not clearly defined, although in recent studies association of pelvic floor disorder with Operative vaginal delivery and episiotomy has been proposed.

Health research priority setting in Iran: Introduction to a bottom up approach.

Background: Priority setting is one of the major issues in the health research system and no health system can afford to pay for every research they want to do, particularly in developing countries, so we decided to set the national main areas of the health research priorities.

Methods: In this study, according to Essential National Health Research (ENHR) strategy and with cooperation of all the Iranian universities of medical sciences and other stakeholders, the national health research priorities were extracted.

Results: The number of research priorities collected from the universities of medical sciences was 6723.

Reducing perineal trauma through perineal massage with vaseline in second stage of labor.

Purpose: Maintaining an intact perineum is a highly regarded aim in delivery procedures today. Since perineal massage is a common practice during delivery, the present study aims to investigate the effect of perineal massage with Vaseline on perineal trauma (rate of episiotomy procedures and perineal tears).

Method: Ninety primiparous women (aged between 18 and 30 years with gestational age of 38-42 weeks) were selected sequentially in Tehran in 2009.

Adults with auditory neuropathy: comparison of auditory steady-state response and pure-tone audiometry.

Background: The relation between the auditory steady-state response (ASSR) and behavioral audiometric thresholds requires further clarification in the case of adults with auditory neuropathy/auditory dys-synchrony (AN/AD).

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare pure-tone audiometric threshold (PTAT) and ASSR in adults with AN/AD.

Study Sample: Sixteen adult participants (32 ears) with AN/AD, ranging in age from 14 to 34 years.