Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers for stratifying different phases of liver cancer progression and response to therapy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and is among the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. There is no reliable biomarker for the early diagnosis of HCC. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have attracted attention as potential biomarkers of disease.

Impact of varied tillage practices and phosphorus fertilization regimes on wheat yield and grain quality parameters in a five-year corn-wheat rotation system.

Choosing appropriate tillage methods and applying the right amount of chemical fertilizers are pivotal for optimizing wheat management and enhancing wheat quality. This study investigated the influence of conservation agriculture and phosphorus levels on nutrient content, yield components, and quality traits of wheat in a corn-wheat rotation. Conducted over five years in field conditions, the study employed a randomized complete block design with tillage treatments (conventional tillage, CT; minimum tillage, MT; and no tillage, NT) and phosphorus levels (no fertilizer use, P0; and 100% fertilizer recommendation, PR) as factors.

IRAN National Cancer Control Program (IrNCCP): Goals, Strategies, and Programs.

Background: Annually, over 131000 new cases of cancer have been identified in Iran, with an increasing trend that is predicted to grow by 40% by 2025. The most important contributing factors to this increase are the improvement of the health service delivery system, increased life expectancy, and the aging of the population. The aim of this study was to develop Iran's "National Cancer Control Program" (IrNCCP).

Routine COVID-19 testing may not be necessary for most cancer patients.

Cancer patients are at risk for severe complications or death from COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the need for routine COVID-19 testing in this population was evaluated. Between 1st August and 30th October 2020, 150 cancer patients were included.

Complete genome sequencing and molecular characterization of SARS-COV-2 from COVID-19 cases in Alborz province in Iran.

Iran was among countries which was hard hit at the early stage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and dealt with the second wave of the pandemic in May and June 2020; however, there are a very limited number of complete genome sequences of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from Iran. In this study, complete genome sequences of the virus in the samples obtained from three patients in Alborz province in May and June 2020 were generated and analyzed using bioinformatic methods. The sequenced genomes were positioned in a cluster with B.

HIV-1 drug resistance mutations detection and HIV-1 subtype G report by using next-generation sequencing platform.

Background: Based on world health organization (WHO) recommend, drug resistance assay should be performed in initial of treatment and after treatment for administering and monitoring of anti-retroviral regime in HIV-1 infected patients.

Material And Method: NGS analyses were performed on forty-one plasma samples from HIV-1 affected patients using the Sentosa SQ HIV genotyping assay (Vela-Diagnostics, Germany). This system comprises a semi-automated Ion torrent based platform and the sequencing results were analyzed based on ANRS, REGA and Stanford drug resistance algorithms.

Crystal structure of a Vip3B family insecticidal protein reveals a new fold and a unique tetrameric assembly.

Vegetatively expressed insecticidal proteins (VIPs) produced by Bacillus thuringiensis fall into several classes of which the third, VIP3, is known for their activity against several key Lepidopteran pests of commercial broad acre crops and because their mode of action does not overlap with that of crystalline insecticidal proteins. The details of the VIP3 structure and mode of action have remained obscure for the quarter century that has passed since their discovery. In the present article, we report the first crystal structure of a full-length VIP3 protein.

Microbial HemG-type protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase enzymes for biotechnology applications in plant herbicide tolerance traits.

Background: Protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting herbicides act by inhibiting a key enzyme in the heme and chlorophyll biosynthetic pathways in plants. This enzyme, the PPO enzyme, is conserved across plant species. However, some microbes are known to utilize a unique family of PPO enzymes, the HemG family.

Biogeochemical distribution of Pb and Zn forms in two calcareous soils affected by mycorrhizal symbiosis and alfalfa rhizosphere.

Using of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has emerged as a new technique to alleviate the toxic metals stress through changing their chemical behavior. The present work was conducted as a factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design to study the inoculation effects of Glomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae and Glomus etunicatum, on Pb and Zn fractions in the rhizosphere of alfalfa by using rhizobox technique in two agricultural soils with different Zn and Pb concentrations [with low (LH) and high (HH) concentration levels]. The results showed that AMF colonization promoted plant growth and lowered the shoot and root Pb and shoot Zn concentrations in the studied soils compared to uninoculated treatments.

The quantity/intensity relation is affected by chemical and organic P fertilization in calcareous soils.

The use of organic fertilization increases the availability of phosphorus (P) in calcareous soils by affecting the colloidal properties of soils. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that chemical and organic fertilizers affect P availability in calcareous soils by influencing P sorption and buffering capacity. The objective was to investigate the quantity/intensity (Q/I) relation in calcareous soils as affected by chemical and organic P fertilization.

Disabled insecticidal proteins: A novel tool to understand differences in insect receptor utilization.

The development of insect resistance to pesticides via natural selection is an acknowledged agricultural issue. Likewise, resistance development in target insect populations is a significant challenge to the durability of crop traits conferring insect protection and has driven the need for novel insecticidal proteins (IPs) with alternative mechanism of action (MOA) mediated by different insect receptors. The combination or "stacking" of transgenes encoding different insecticidal proteins in a single crop plant can greatly delay the development of insect resistance, but requires sufficient knowledge of MOA to identify proteins with different receptor preferences.

miR-199a-3p Modulates MTOR and PAK4 Pathways and Inhibits Tumor Growth in a Hepatocellular Carcinoma Transgenic Mouse Model.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Prognosis is poor, and therapeutic options are limited. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential therapeutic molecules against cancer.

Mobility of heavy metals in sandy soil after application of composts produced from maize straw, sewage sludge and biochar: Discussion of Gondek et al. (2018).

Gondek et al. (2018) investigate the mobility of heavy metals in sandy soil after application of composts produced from maize straw, sewage sludge and biochar. The authors made a little attention to role of the soil properties and soil condition on the metals chemical behavior.

Circulating miR-106b-3p, miR-101-3p and miR-1246 as diagnostic biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and second leading cause of cancer related death worldwide. Most HCCs occur in a damaged cirrhotic background and it may be difficult to discriminate between regenerative nodules and early HCCs. No dependable molecular biomarker exists for the early detection of HCC.

Foot scan assessment of metatarsus adductus: A useful adjunct to Bleck's classification.

Unlabelled: To determine the severity of metatarsus adductus (MA) comparing with Bleck's classification as a commonly acceptable method for assessing MA, static foot scan has been used. In this cross-sectional descriptive research study, 100 subjects were equally divided into four groups according to Bleck's classification. The feet were scanned and MA severity (MAS) index was measured on the obtained foot scan images.

Designing Signal Peptides for Efficient Periplasmic Expression of Human Growth Hormone in .

The secretion efficiency of a protein in a Sec-type secretion system is mainly determined by an N-terminal signal peptide and its combination with its cognate protein. Five signal peptides, namely, two synthetic Sec-type and three alpha-amylase-derived signal peptides, were compared for periplasmic expression of the human growth hormone (hGH) in . Based on in silico predictions on the signal peptides' cleavage efficiencies and their corresponding mRNA secondary structures, a number of amino acid substitutions and silent mutations were considered in the modified signal sequences.

Upregulation of long noncoding RNA MIAT in aggressive form of chronic lymphocytic leukemias.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-proten-coding transcripts of more than 200 nucleotides generated by RNA polymerase II and their expressions are tightly regulated in cell type specific- and/or cellular differential stage specific- manner. MIAT, originally isolated as a candidate gene for myocardial infarction, encodes lncRNA (termed MIAT). Here, we determined the expression level of MIAT in established leukemia/lymphoma cell lines and found its upregulation in lymphoid but not in myeloid cell lineage with mature B cell phenotype.

Continuous evolution of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins overcomes insect resistance.

The Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxins (Bt toxins) are widely used insecticidal proteins in engineered crops that provide agricultural, economic, and environmental benefits. The development of insect resistance to Bt toxins endangers their long-term effectiveness. Here we have developed a phage-assisted continuous evolution selection that rapidly evolves high-affinity protein-protein interactions, and applied this system to evolve variants of the Bt toxin Cry1Ac that bind a cadherin-like receptor from the insect pest Trichoplusia ni (TnCAD) that is not natively bound by wild-type Cry1Ac.

The Use of the MyoDK for Mechanical Pressure in the Treatment of Chronic Lateral Epicondylalgia: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Chronic Lateral Epicondylalgia (CLE) is potentially associated with a significant reduction of the patient's quality of life; its treatment by manual Deep Transverse Friction (DTF), although widely accepted, lacks standardization. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of the MyoDK device, which allows deep transverse pressure (DTP) monitoring, for treatment of CLE.

Materials And Methods: This is a single centre observational study for treatment of CLE by the MyoDK device.

Effect of unintentional partial Achilles tenotomy on Ponseti clubfoot management outcomes.

The congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot) is one of the most common congenital conditions requiring orthopedic intervention. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of unintentional partial Achilles tendon cut during percutaneous tenotomy on the success rate of Ponseti management. Percentage of Achilles tendon cut following percutaneous tenotomy was measured by ultrasound in 16 clubfeet (11 patients).

Inhibiting the oncogenic mir-221 by microRNA sponge: toward microRNA-based therapeutics for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: We evaluated the capability of "microRNA sponges" in sequestering and inhibiting the over-expressed miR-221 in HCC cell lines.

Background: Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious public health problem, with no effective cure at present. It has been demonstrated that the deregulation of microRNAs expression contributes to tumorigenesis.

Structure of the full-length insecticidal protein Cry1Ac reveals intriguing details of toxin packaging into in vivo formed crystals.

For almost half a century, the structure of the full-length Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal protein Cry1Ac has eluded researchers, since Bt-derived crystals were first characterized in 1965. Having finally solved this structure we report intriguing details of the lattice-based interactions between the toxic core of the protein and the protoxin domains. The structure provides concrete evidence for the function of the protoxin as an enhancer of native crystal packing and stability.

Anti-tumor activity of a miR-199-dependent oncolytic adenovirus.

The down-regulation of miR-199 occurs in nearly all primary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and HCC cell lines in comparison with normal liver. We exploited this miR-199 differential expression to develop a conditionally replication-competent oncolytic adenovirus, Ad-199T, and achieve tumor-specific viral expression and replication. To this aim, we introduced four copies of miR-199 target sites within the 3' UTR of E1A gene, essential for viral replication.

miR-221 affects multiple cancer pathways by modulating the level of hundreds messenger RNAs.

microRNA miR-221 is frequently over-expressed in a variety of human neoplasms. Aim of this study was to identify new miR-221 gene targets to improve our understanding on the molecular tumor-promoting mechanisms affected by miR-221. Gene expression profiling of miR-221-transfected-SNU-398 cells was analyzed by the Sylamer algorithm to verify the enrichment of miR-221 targets among down-modulated genes.

Criteria for performing extraction in the treatment of certain malocclusions.

This article identifies variables that should be assessed in patients with certain dental malocclusions that may require extraction. In addition, by presenting criteria for performing the more popular types of extraction, the article facilitates treatment decision-making. Pre- and post-treatment illustrations demonstrate the desired patient outcomes.