Crosstalk between hypoxia-induced pyroptosis and immune escape in cancer: From mechanisms to therapy.

Pyroptosis can be triggered through both canonical and non-canonical inflammasome pathways, involving the cleavage of gasdermin (GSDM) protein family members, like GSDMD and GSDME. The impact of pyroptosis on tumors is nuanced, because its role in regulating cancer progression and anti-tumor immunity may vary depending on the tumor type, stage, location, and immune status. However, pyroptosis cannot be simply categorized as promoting or inhibiting tumors based solely on whether it is acute or chronic in nature.

A Novel Electrokinetic-Based Technique for the Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells.

The separation of rare cells from complex biofluids has attracted attention in biological research and clinical applications, especially for cancer detection and treatment. In particular, various technologies and methods have been developed for the isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood. Among them, the induced-charge electrokinetic (ICEK) flow method has shown its high efficacy for cell manipulation where micro-vortices (MVs), generated as a result of induced charges on a polarizable surface, can effectively manipulate particles and cells in complex fluids.

Changes in Electrical Capacitance of Cell Membrane Reflect Drug Partitioning-Induced Alterations in Lipid Bilayer.

The plasma membrane is a lipid bilayer that establishes the outer boundary of a living cell. The composition of the lipid bilayer influences the membrane's biophysical properties, including fluidity, thickness, permeability, phase behavior, charge, elasticity, and formation of flat sheet or curved structures. Changes in the biophysical properties of the membrane can be occasioned when new entities, such as drug molecules, are partitioned in the bilayer.

Separation of bacteria smaller than 4 µm from other blood components using insulator-based dielectrophoresis: numerical simulation approach.

Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a life-threatening infection that causes more than 80,000 deaths and more than 500,000 infections annually in North America. The rapid diagnosis of infection reduces BSI mortality. We proposed bacterial enrichment and separation approach in the current work that may reduce culturing time and accelerate the diagnosis of infection.

Impedance-Based Neutralizing Antibody Detection Biosensor with Application in SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Although safe and efficacious coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are available, real protective immunity is revealed by the serum COVID-19 neutralizing antibody (NAb) concentration. NAbs deactivate the virus by attaching to the viral receptor-binding domain (RBD), which interacts with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the human cell. This paper introduces inexpensive, rapid, sensitive, and quantifiable impedance-based immunosensors to evaluate the NAb.

Modeling the efficacy of different anti-angiogenic drugs on treatment of solid tumors using 3D computational modeling and machine learning.

Accurate simulation of tumor growth during chemotherapy has significant potential to alleviate the risk of unknown side effects and optimize clinical trials. In this study, a 3D simulation model encompassing angiogenesis and tumor growth was developed to identify the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration and visualize the formation of a microvascular network. Accordingly, three anti-angiogenic drugs (Bevacizumab, Ranibizumab, and Brolucizumab) at different concentrations were evaluated in terms of their efficacy.

A Microfluidic Dielectric Spectroscopy System for Characterization of Biological Cells in Physiological Media.

Dielectric spectroscopy (DS) is a promising cell screening method that can be used for diagnostic and drug discovery purposes. The primary challenge of using DS in physiological buffers is the electrode polarization (EP) that overwhelms the impedance signal within a large frequency range. These effects further amplify with the miniaturization of the measurement electrodes.

Tropisetron balances immune responses via TLR2, TLR4 and JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway in LPS-stimulated PBMCs.

Numerous documents have been stated that tropisetron, an antagonist of the 5-HT3 receptor and α7nAChR agonist, modulates immune responses. However, the mechanistic basis for this aspect of tropisetron action is largely unknown. Here, the immuno-modulatory effects of tropisetron are investigated, focusing on the possible molecular targets and the mechanisms.

Magnetic particle targeting for diagnosis and therapy of lung cancers.

Over the past decade, the growing interest in targeted lung cancer therapy has guided researchers toward the cutting edge of controlled drug delivery, particularly magnetic particle targeting. Targeting of tissues by magnetic particles has tackled several limitations of traditional drug delivery methods for both cancer detection (e.g.

Investigating the sequential patterns of methamphetamine use initiation in Iran.

Background: Methamphetamine (MA) remains one of the most commonly used amphetamine-type stimulants, accounting for the second most widely-used substance after marijuana. Due to increased use of MA, a wide variety of research has focused on the patterns of MA use initiation among adolescents. Nevertheless, there are few data available for people who use MA.

Manipulation of micro- and nanoparticles in viscoelastic fluid flows within microfluid systems.

Manipulation of micro- and nanoparticles in complex biofluids is highly demanded in most biological and biomedical applications. A significant number of microfluidic platforms have been developed for inexpensive, rapid, accurate, and efficient particle manipulation. Due to the enormous potential of viscoelastic fluids (VEFs) for particle manipulation, various emerging microfluidic-based VEFs techniques have been presented over the last decade.

Human Menstrual Blood Stem Cell-Derived Granulosa Cells Participate in Ovarian Follicle Formation in a Rat Model of Premature Ovarian Failure .

We recently reported the application of human menstrual blood stem cells' (HuMenSCs) transplantation as a treatment modality in a rat model of premature ovarian failure (POF). We continued to investigate further in this respect. Female rats were injected intraperitoneally with 36 mg/kg busulfan.

Mathematical and computational modeling of nano-engineered drug delivery systems.

While the advent of nano-engineered drug delivery systems (DDSs) has revived hopes for better management of a wide range of pathologies, critical appraisal of the field has shown that further improvement of nanomedicine demands a paradigmatic shift in design and development approaches currently employed by drug developers. In this review, we portray various theoretical modeling frameworks as influential tools to furnish future design and development of DDSs. The rational design of nanomedicines should be premised on taking into account the sui generis nature of DDSs within a multiplex biological milieu in vivo.

Self-handicapping among nursing students: an interventional study.

Background: Self-handicapping is an effective defense strategy in an individual's behavior that leads to weak performance in different situations like education. This study aimed to investigate how training problem solving skills affected the rate of self-handicapping among nursing students.

Methods: This interventional study was done in Jahrom, Fars province, Iran during 2016-2017.

Delivery of magnetic micro/nanoparticles and magnetic-based drug/cargo into arterial flow for targeted therapy.

Magnetic drug targeting (MDT) and magnetic-based drug/cargo delivery are emerging treatment methods which attracting the attention of many researchers for curing different cancers and artery diseases such as atherosclerosis. Herein, computational studies are accomplished by utilizing magnetic approaches for cancer and artery atherosclerosis drug delivery, including nanomagnetic drug delivery and magnetic-based drug/cargo delivery. For the first time, the four-layer structural model of the artery tissue and its porosity parameters are modeled in this study which enables the interaction of particles with the tissue walls in blood flow.

Magnetic aerosol drug targeting in lung cancer therapy using permanent magnet.

Primary bronchial cancer accounts for almost 20% of all cancer death worldwide. One of the emerging techniques with tremendous power for lung cancer therapy is magnetic aerosol drug targeting (MADT). The use of a permanent magnet for effective drug delivery in a desired location throughout the lung requires extensive optimization, but it has not been addressed yet.

The effects of human menstrual blood stem cells-derived granulosa cells on ovarian follicle formation in a rat model of premature ovarian failure.

Many studies have reported that human endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (HuMenSCs) are capable of repairing damaged tissues. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of HuMenSCs transplantation as a treatment modality in premature ovarian failure (POF) associated with chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage. HuMenSCs were isolated from menstrual blood samples of five women.

Four novel p.N385K, p.V36A, c.1033-1034insT and c.1417-1418delCT mutations in the sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1) gene in patients with types A and B Niemann-Pick disease (NPD).

Background: Types A and B Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) are autosomal-recessive lysosomal storage disorders caused by the deficient activity of acid sphingomyelinase due to mutations in the sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1) gene.

Methods: In order to determine the prevalence and distribution of SMPD1 gene mutations, the genomic DNA of 15 unrelated Iranian patients with types A and B NPD was examined using PCR, DNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

Results: Of 8 patients with the p.

A newly identified c.1824_1828dupATACG mutation in exon 13 of the GAA gene in infantile-onset glycogen storage disease type II (Pompe disease).

Pompe disease or glycogen storage disease type II is a glycogen storage disorder associated with malfunction of the acid α-glucosidase enzyme (GAA; EC.3.2.

Evaluation of the national prevention program in iran, 2007-2009: the accomplishments and challenges with reflections on the path ahead.

β-Thalassemia major (β-TM) is an inherited disease and efforts have been made in several countries to reduce the number of affected births. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the Iranian thalassemia prevention program, considered to be an important program in the region. The time period of the present study ranges from 2007-2009, during which new thalassemic births and the relevant causes were evaluated throughout the country.

Secular trends in the national and provincial births of new thalassemia cases in Iran from 2001 to 2006.

Thalassemia is one of the genetic diseases for which there are only a few successful prevention protocols. In this study, we aimed to analyze data for thalassemia newborns in a period of 6 years to find out the geographical distribution of cases, the "high-risk" provinces in Iran, the causes of thalassemia newborn cases, the coverage rate of the prevention programs and the limitations of the thalassemia registration system. To further our aim, an analytic cross-sectional study was designed at the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), Tehran, Iran.

Circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-13 in Helicobacter pylori-infected patients, and their associations with bacterial CagA and VacA virulence factors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association of the Helicobacter pylori virulence factors, cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) and vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) antibodies, with serum levels of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-13 in H. pylori-infected duodenal ulcer (DU) patients and H. pylori-infected asymptomatic (AS) carriers in order to elucidate any correlation between them.

Huntington's disease and mitochondrial DNA deletions: event or regular mechanism for mutant huntingtin protein and CAG repeats expansion?!

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of the respiratory chain complex activities in neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington's disease (HD). Research studies were conducted to determine the possible levels of mitochondrial defect (deletion) in HD patients and consideration of interaction between the expanded Huntingtin gene as a nuclear gene and mitochondria as a cytoplasmic organelle. To determine mtDNA damage, we investigated deletions based in four areas of mitochondrial DNA, in a group of 60 Iranian patients clinically diagnosed with HD and 70 healthy controls.

Diversity and relationship between Iranian ethnic groups: human dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) VNTR genotyping.

The 40-bp VNTR polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region of the human DAT1 (dopamine transporter 1) was analyzed in the Iranian ethnic groups in order to examine the influence of geographical and linguistic affiliation on the genetic affinities among the Iranian population. A total of 449 subjects belonging to nine ethnic groups from the Iranian population were included in the study. The screening of 898 chromosomes showed five alleles (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11), of which allele 10 revealed the highest frequency in most regions.