Exposure to Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dots and Gene Expression Profile of Huh-7 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line.

Nanoparticles have shown promising potential for efficient drug delivery, circumventing biological interferences like immunological and renal clearance and mechanical and enzymatic destruction. However, a handful of research papers have questioned the biomedical use of metal-based nanoparticles like cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe-QDs) for their cytotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic potential. Herein, we examined the effects of CdTe-QD NPs on gene expression profile of hepatocellular carcinoma (Huh-7) cell line.

Association between interleukin-27 gene polymorphisms and Malaria.

Malaria is often characterized by a complicated disease course due to multifaceted intrinsic genetic factors of the host and the parasite. This study aimed to investigate the role of interleukin-27 () gene polymorphisms in malaria infection in a Saudi Arabian cohort. This case-control study obtained blood samples from 250 malaria patients with and 200 randomly identified healthy control subjects from the Malaria Center in the Jazan area.

Genetic Analysis, Population Structure, and Characterisation of Multidrug-Resistant from the Al-Hofuf Region of Saudi Arabia.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR-KP) is a major public health problem that is globally associated with disease outbreaks and high mortality rates. As the world seeks solutions to such pathogens, global and regional surveillance is required. The aim of the present study was to examine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and clonal relatedness of isolates collected for a period of three years through pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

Associations of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in IL-18 Gene with -Associated Malaria.

Introduction: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, reported to be involved in the initial immune responses against malaria. Genetic variations in the host are an important factor that influences the etiology of malaria at several disease levels. Polymorphisms within the gene are associated with susceptibility and clinical outcome of several diseases.

Gene Expression and Transcriptome Profiling of Changes in a Cancer Cell Line Post-Exposure to Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dots: Possible Implications in Oncogenesis.

Cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe-QDs) are acquiring great interest in terms of their applications in biomedical sciences. Despite earlier sporadic studies on possible oncogenic roles and anticancer properties of CdTe-QDs, there is limited information regarding the oncogenic potential of CdTe-QDs in cancer progression. Here, we investigated the oncogenic effects of CdTe-QDs on the gene expression profiles of Chang cancer cells.

Association of polymorphisms in genes involved in enamel formation, taste preference and immune response with early childhood caries in Saudi pre-school children.

Dental caries is primarily elicited by modifiable factors such as inadequate oral hygiene, poor dietary practices and deficient fluoride exposure. However, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting the profound influence of genetic factors in dental caries susceptibility. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in (rs12640848), (rs1784418), (rs713598), and (rs4547741) genes and early childhood caries (ECC) in Saudi preschool children This case-control study enrolled 360 Saudi preschool children (262 with ECC and 98 caries-free).

Studies on the Immunomodulatory Effects of Extract on Human THP-1 Monocytes.

Background: () is a plant from the Compositae family that exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activities.

Objective: The current study aimed at investigating the immunomodulatory effects of extract in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated human monocytic THP-1 cells.

Methods: To induce macrophage differentiation, THP-1 cell lines were treated with phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate, followed by exposure to LPS with or without 50 or 100 g/ml of extract.

Potential anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effect of Coccinia grandis plant extract in LPS stimulated-THP-1 cells.

Coccinia grandis (C. grandis) L is an Indian medicinal plant from the Cucurbitaceae family whose extracts possess anti-oxidant, anti-infective, and anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of the present study was to probe the potential immunomodulatory of C.

Interleukin-22 Polymorphisms in -Infected Malaria Patients.

Unlabelled: . Malaria infection, caused by , is the most lethal and frequently culminates in severe clinical complications. Interleukin-22 (IL-22) has been implicated in several diseases including malaria.

Molecular epidemiology, phylogenetic analysis and genotype distribution of hepatitis B virus in Saudi Arabia: Predominance of genotype D1.

Despite the implementation of various vaccination programs, hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses a considerable health problem in Saudi Arabia. Insight on HBV evolutionary history in the region is limited. We performed a comprehensive epidemiological and phylogenetic reconstruction based on a large cohort of HBV infected patients.

Genetic variations of NOD2 and MD2 genes in hepatitis B virus infection.

Nucleotide oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) and myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD-2) have crucial roles in the innate immune system. NOD2 is a member of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), while MD-2 is a co-receptor for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), which comprises another group of PRRs. Genetic variations in the and genes may be susceptibility factors to viral pathogens including hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Association between IL-37 gene polymorphisms and risk of HBV-related liver disease in a Saudi Arabian population.

Interleukin-37 (IL-37) has recently been recognized as a strong anti-inflammatory cytokine having anti-tumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients. HCC is a typical inflammation-related cancer, and genetic variations within the IL-37 gene may be associated with the risk of HBV infection. Identification of the allelic patterns that genetically have a high disease risk is essential for the development of preventive diagnostics for HBV-mediated liver disease pathogenesis.

The Correlation Between Hepatitis B Virus Precore/Core Mutations and the Progression of Severe Liver Disease.

Viral mutations acquired during the course of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are known to be associated with the progression and severity of HBV-related liver disease. This study of HBV-infected Saudi Arabian patients aimed to identify amino acid substitutions within the precore/core (preC/C) region of HBV, and investigate their impact on disease progression toward hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients were categorized according to the severity of their disease, and were divided into the following groups: inactive HBV carriers, active HBV carriers, liver cirrhosis patients, and HCC patients.

Deletion and Functional Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus X Protein: Evidence for an Effect on Cell Cycle Regulators.

Background/aims: The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is a viral trans-activator that plays a crucial role in pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via an unknown mechanism. The role of HBx in modulating cell proliferation and programmed cell death is replete with controversies. Thus, the goal of this study was to elucidate the effect of HBx and its deletion mutants on cell cycle progression in human hepatoma cells.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X gene mutations and their association with liver disease progression in HBV-infected patients.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most widespread human pathogens causing chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the clinical impact of single and combinational mutations in HBx gene on the pathogenesis of HCC during progressive stages of liver disease. The patients were categorized into inactive HBV carriers, active carriers, cirrhosis and HCC groups based on disease severity.

The epidemic dynamics of hepatitis C virus subtypes 4a and 4d in Saudi Arabia.

The relatedness between viral variants sampled at different locations through time can provide information pertinent to public health that cannot readily be obtained through standard surveillance methods. Here, we use virus genetic data to identify the transmission dynamics that drive the hepatitis C virus subtypes 4a (HCV4a) and 4d (HCV4d) epidemics in Saudi Arabia. We use a comprehensive dataset of newly generated and publicly available sequence data to infer the HCV4a and HCV4d evolutionary histories in a Bayesian statistical framework.

Association of Toll-Like Receptor 3 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) plays a key role in innate immunity by recognizing pathogenic, double-stranded RNAs. Thus, activation of TLR3 is a major factor in antiviral defense and tumor eradication. Although downregulation of gene expression has been mainly reported in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), the influence of TLR3 genotype on the risk of HCV infection, HCV-related cirrhosis, and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be determined.

Middle east respiratory syndrome corona virus spike glycoprotein suppresses macrophage responses via DPP4-mediated induction of IRAK-M and PPARγ.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) is transmitted via the respiratory tract and causes severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome by infecting lung epithelial cells and macrophages. Macrophages can readily recognize the virus and eliminate it. MERS-CoV infects cells via its Spike (S) glycoprotein that binds on Dipeptidyl-Peptidase 4 (DPP4) receptor present on macrophages.

PARK2 polymorphisms predict disease progression in patients infected with hepatitis C virus.

Unlabelled:  Background. The protein encoded by PARK2 gene is a component of the ubiquitin-proteasome system that mediates targeting of proteins for the degradation pathway. Genetic variations at PARK2 gene were linked to various diseases including leprosy, typhoid and cancer.

Zika virus: a new pandemic threat.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging arbovirus of the Flaviviridae family and is related to dengue, Chikungunya, West Nile, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis viruses. ZIKV was first discovered in Uganda in 1947. Different species of mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly A.

Correlation between genetic variations and serum level of interleukin 28B with virus genotypes and disease progression in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Recent studies have demonstrated that polymorphisms near the interleukin-28B (IL-28B) gene could predict the response to Peg-IFN-a/RBV combination therapy in HCV-infected patients. The aim of the study was to correlate the serum level of IL28B in HCV-infected patients with virus genotype/subgenotype and disease progression. IL28B serum level was detected and variations at five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL28B gene region were genotyped and analyzed.

Variations in DEPDC5 gene and its association with chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Variations at DEPDC5 gene have been recently reported as genetic markers associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression in chronic HCV-infected patients. This study was conducted to assess the association of DEPDC5 variants with advanced liver cirrhosis and HCC development among chronic HCV-infected patients in Saudi Arabian population.

Methods: Six-hundred and one HCV-infected patients were genotyped for DEPDC5 polymorphisms (rs1012068 and rs5998152), in comparison with 592 non-infected healthy control subjects.

The association of toll-like receptor 4 polymorphism with hepatitis C virus infection in Saudi Arabian patients.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single stranded RNA virus. It affects millions of people worldwide and is considered as a leading cause of liver diseases including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A recent study reported that TLR4 gene polymorphisms are good prognostic predictors and are associated with protection from liver fibrosis among Caucasians.

Association between HLA variations and chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Saudi Arabian patients.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause of liver diseases including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) play an important role in the regulation of immune response against infectious organisms, including HBV. Recently, several genome-wide association (GWAS) studies have shown that genetic variations in HLA genes influence disease progression in HBV infection.

Genetic variation in interleukin 28B and correlation with chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Saudi Arabian patients.

Background & Aims: Several genome-wide association studies have shown that genetic variations in the chromosomal region containing interleukin-28B (IL28B) gene are associated with response to treatment in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study was conducted to examine the role of genetic variations in IL28B on disease progression in Saudi Arabian patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: The study included 1128 subjects divided into four categories; 304 clearance subjects, 518 inactive carriers, 212 active carriers and 94 cirrhosis/HCC.