A new application of plant virus nanoparticles as drug delivery in breast cancer.

Nanoparticles based on non-pathogenic viruses have opened up a novel sector in nanotechnology. Viral nanoparticles based on plant viruses have clear advantages over any synthetic nanoparticles as they are biocompatible and biodegradable self-assembled and can be produced inexpensively on a large scale. From several such under-development platforms, only a few have been characterized in the target-specific drugs into the cells.

MicroRNA-148b and microRNA-152 reactivate tumor suppressor genes through suppression of DNA methyltransferase-1 gene in pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Overexpression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT-1) is observed mostly in pancreatic cancer and it can cause tumor suppressor genes silencing in this disease. Recent studies suggest that abnormal expressions of microRNAs (miRs) are involved in pathogenesis of different types of human cancers including pancreatic cancer. In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of miR-148b and -152 on reverting the tumorigenic phenotype of pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Comparisons between RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and in vitro globin chain synthesis by α/β ratio calculation for diagnosis of α- from β-thalassemia carriers.

Background: Thalassemia, which may be due to point mutations, translocations, and deletions involving the α or βglobin gene, is the most prevalent single gene disorder in Iran.This study aims to calculate the α/β ratio in normal cases, α- and β-thalassemia carriers by RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and in vitro globin chain synthesis (GCS) in order to establish the most accurate technique to distinguish between α- and β-thalassemia carriers in suspicious cases.

Methods: The α/β ratios were calculated in all samples by RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, and in vitro GCS.

Rapid low-cost detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in HCV-infected patients by real-time RT-PCR using SYBR Green I.

Background: We intend to design and validate a low-cost assay for the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA using rapid-cycle RT-PCR. The procedure is performed in a closed system with little risk of contamination allowing PCR and product identification to be performed within one or two hours.

Methods: A SYBR Green-based real-time RT-PCR for rapid detection of HCV.