FGF21 affects the glycolysis process via mTOR-HIF1α axis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Metabolic reprogramming, particularly glycolysis, is essential in processes like cancer and immune response. While FGF21's role in hepatocyte glucose metabolism has been linked to glucose transporters and its impact on aerobic glycolysis and cellular growth in HCC remain unclear. In this study, we investigated FGF21-mediated modulation of glucose metabolism in HCC through mTOR and HIF1α axis in HCC.

Frequency of Healthy Control Genotype of VDR Gene Polymorphisms in the Saudi Population of the Ha'il Region: A Comparative Study with Worldwide Population.

Genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) may influence the biological effects of vitamin D and increase a person's susceptibility to cancer. Previous studies have shown that different ethnic groups exhibit varying frequencies of the VDR gene variants TaqI, ApaI, FokI, and BsmI. However, the allelic distribution of these VDR polymorphisms in the Saudi population of Ha'il region is not sufficiently explored.

Role of available COVID-19 vaccines in reducing deaths and perspective for next generation vaccines and therapies to counter emerging viral variants: an update.

The COVID-19 disease wreaked havoc all over the world causing more than 6 million deaths out of over 519 million confirmed cases. It not only disturbed the human race health-wise but also caused huge economic losses and social disturbances. The utmost urgency to counter pandemic was to develop effective vaccines as well as treatments that could reduce the incidences of infection, hospitalization and deaths.

Differential differentiation of B cell lymphopoiesis in lethal and non-lethal murine malaria models.

B cells in protection against malaria and need of experiencing many episodes in humans to achieve a state of immunity is largely unknown. The cellular basis of such defects in terms of B cell generation, maturation and trafficking was studied by taking Plasmodium chabaudi, a non-lethal and Plasmodium berghei, a lethal murine model. A flow cytometry (FCF) based evaluation was used to study alterations in generation and maintenance of B cells in patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria as well as in murine malaria models.

Combined effect of ipilimumab and nivolumab improves oncology endpoints in metastatic melanoma patients.

Metastatic melanoma has less frequency, but considered as the most dreaded cancer. The combination of nivolumab & ipilimumab is proving their mettle in treating metastatic melanoma. The patients when administered with the combination of nivolumab & ipilimumab have shown improved median progression free survival, objective response rate and overall survival rate compared with nivolumab and ipilimumab monotherapy.

Diet as a modifiable factor in tumorigenesis: Focus on microbiome-derived bile acid metabolites and short-chain fatty acids.

Several lines of evidences have implicated the resident microbiome as a key factor in the modulation of host physiology and pathophysiology; including the resistance to cancers. Gut microbiome heavily influences host lipid homeostasis by their modulatory effects on the metabolism of bile acids (BAs). Microbiota-derived BA metabolites such as deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholic acid (LCA), and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) are implicated in the pathogeneses of various cancer types.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4) polymorphisms are linked to systemic lupus erythematosus: an updated meta-analysis.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) molecule controls T cell immune response. Functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CTLA-4 gene have been associated with several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).  However, the genetic association of the CTLA-4 variants with vulnerability to SLE remained contradictory.

Link between MnSOD Ala16Val (rs4880) polymorphism and asthma risk is insignificant from sequential meta-analysis.

The mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) enzyme protects lungs against oxidative stress by neutralizing the free radical superoxide produced in the respiratory function. This has relevance to asthma. Therefore, it is of interest to describe the potential effect of MnSOD Ala16Val genetic polymorphism to asthma risk.

Microbes in gynecologic cancers: Causes or consequences and therapeutic potential.

Gynecologic cancers, starting in the reproductive organs of females, include cancer of cervix, endometrium, ovary commonly and vagina and vulva rarely. The changes in the composition of microbiome in gut and vagina affect immune and metabolic signaling of the host cells resulting in chronic inflammation, angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, genome instability, epithelial barrier breach and metabolic dysregulation that may lead to the onset or aggravated progression of gynecologic cancers. While microbiome in gynecologic cancers is just at horizon, certain significant microbiome signature associations have been found.

Genetic Variant XRCC1 rs1799782 (C194T) and Risk of Cancer Susceptibility in Indian Population: A Meta-analysis of Case-Control Studies.

X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) plays a key role in the base excision repair pathway, as a scaffold protein that brings together proteins of the DNA repair complex. Several studies have reported contradictory results for exon 6 C>T (rs1799782) gene polymorphism and cancer risk in Indian population has provided inconsistent results. Therefore, we have performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between exon 6 C>T gene polymorphism and risk of cancer by published studies.

Prioritization and characterization of validated biofilm blockers targeting glucosyltransferase C of .

To date, several Glucosyltransferase C (GtfC) inhibitors have been identified and experimentally validated. All these inhibitors have been validated at different experimental conditions like degree of purity, animal models, kinetic conditions, experimental environment etc.; and most of these inhibitors (ligands) proved to be quite effective in their respective validation environment.

Potency of inhibitors depends upon the accessibility of their aromatic rings within the hydrophobic specificity pocket: a novel avenue for future aldose reductase inhibitor design.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Glutathione S-Transferase P1 313 (A > G) Ile105Val Polymorphism Contributes to Cancer Susceptibility in Indian Population: A Meta-analysis of 39 Case-Control Studies.

involved in the metabolism of carcinogens and toxins, reduces damage of DNA and act as a suppressor of carcinogenesis. Many studies have reported that 313 A > G polymorphism is associated with different cancer in Indian population, but the results remain conflicting rather than conclusive. Therefore, we have performed meta-analysis to clarify the more precise association of 313 A > G polymorphism with cancer risk in Indian population.

Genistein Modulates Signaling Pathways and Targets Several Epigenetic Markers in HeLa Cells.

Background: Several epigenetic changes are responsible for transcriptional alterations of signaling pathways and tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) contributing to carcinogenesis. This study was aimed to examine the effect of the phytochemical, genistein on various molecular targets in HeLa cells.

Methods: Quantitative PCR was used to analyze the expression of various molecular targets.

-γ +874 A>T (rs2430561) gene polymorphism and risk of pulmonary tuberculosis: a meta-analysis.

Introduction: The role of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) +874 A>T (rs2430561) gene polymorphism has been evaluated in different ethnicities with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) infection, and inconsistent results have been reported. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to determine the precise association between IFN-γ +874 A>T gene polymorphism and PTB susceptibility.

Material And Methods: A total of 21 studies comprising 4281 confirmed PTB cases and 5186 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis by searching the PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, and Google Scholar web-databases.

AA genotype of cyclin D1 G870A polymorphism increases breast cancer risk: Findings of a case-control study and meta-analysis.

Background: Cyclin D1 (CCND1) polymorphisms, a regulator of the cell cycle progress from G1 to the S phase, may lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and lack of apoptosis. G870A, a common single-nucleotide polymorphism in CCND1 influences breast cancer risk. However, the association between G870A polymorphism and breast cancer risk is ambiguous so far.

A trial sequential meta-analysis of IFN-γ +874 A>T (rs2430561) gene polymorphism and extrapulmonary tuberculosis risk.

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) plays a crucial role in immunological responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection. The polymorphism at +874 A > T (rs2430561) influences the levels of IFN-γ, which may further influence the susceptibility to extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB).

Association of MBL2 gene polymorphisms with pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility: trial sequence meta-analysis as evidence.

Background: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) or mannose-binding protein (MBP), encoded by MBL2 gene and secreted by the liver, activates complement system through lectin pathway in innate immunity against the host's infection. Conflictingly, a number of MBL2 variants, rs1800450 (A>B), rs1800451 (A>C), rs5030737 (A>D), rs7096206 (Y>X), rs11003125 (H>L), and rs7095891 (P>Q) allele, have been found to be associated with compromised serum levels and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) susceptibility. The present meta-analysis study was performed to evaluate the potential association of these MBL2 gene variants with PTB susceptibility.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene I/D Polymorphism Is Associated With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Susceptibility: An Updated Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme () gene is indispensable for endothelial control and vascular tone regulatory systems, usually affected in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism may influence the progress of SLE. Earlier studies have investigated this association without any consistency in results.

A trial sequential meta-analysis of α -308G>A (rs800629) gene polymorphism and susceptibility to colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), secreted by the activated macrophages, may participate in the onset and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). The association of -α 308 G>A (rs1800629) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with CRC risk has been investigated by many studies but the results are inconclusive. A trial sequential meta-analysis was performed for precise estimation of the relationship between -α 308 G>A gene polymorphism with CRC risk.

Pharmacogenetic association between gene polymorphisms and isoniazid induced hepatotoxicity: trial sequence meta-analysis as evidence.

Hepatotoxicity is a severe problem generally faced by tuberculosis (TB) patients. It is a well-known adverse reaction due to anti-TB drugs in TB patients undergoing long-term treatment. The studies published previously have explored the connection of N-acetyltransferase 2 () gene polymorphisms with isoniazid-induced hepatotoxicity, but the results obtained were inconsistent and inconclusive.

Niacin deficiency modulates genes involved in cancer: Are smokers at higher risk?

The role of niacin's metabolite, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), in DNA repair via base-excision repair pathway is well documented. We evaluated if niacin deficiency results in genetic instability in normal human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5), and further, does it leads to enhanced accumulation of cigarette smoke-induced genetic damage? MRC-5 cells were grown discretely in niacin-proficient/deficient media, and exposed to nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK, a cigarette smoke carcinogen). Niacin deficiency abated the NAD polymerization, augmented the spontaneous induction of micronuclei (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) and raised the expression of 10 genes and suppressed 12 genes involved in different biological functions.

Genetic Variant Arg399Gln G>A of XRCC1 DNA Repair Gene Enhanced Cancer Risk Among Indian Population: Evidence from Meta-analysis and Trial Sequence Analyses.

The X-ray repair cross-complementation group 1 () gene plays an important role in base excision repair pathway. Several studies have reported contradictory results for exon 10 (Arg399Gln, G23990A, rs25487) gene polymorphism and cancer risk in Indian population, making it difficult to interpret them. Therefore, we have conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the more precise association between exon 10 G>A gene polymorphism and risk of cancer by published studies.

Impact of p53 arg72pro SNP on Breast Cancer Risk in North Indian Population.

Background: Genetic changes in p53 gene contribute to breast cancer susceptibility.

Objective And Methods: A case-control study and a meta-analysis were performed to investigate the role of p53 codon72 SNP with breast cancer susceptibility in Indian women.

Results: p53 heterozygous arginine variant was associated with decreased risk of breast cancer in total cohort.