Simultaneous targeting of TGF-β/PD-L1 synergizes with radiotherapy by reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to overcome immune evasion.

Localized radiotherapy (RT) induces an immunogenic antitumor response that is in part counterbalanced by activation of immune evasive and tissue remodeling processes, e.g., via upregulation of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β).

Unc13A and Unc13B contribute to the decoding of distinct sensory information in Drosophila.

The physical distance between presynaptic Ca channels and the Ca sensors triggering the release of neurotransmitter-containing vesicles regulates short-term plasticity (STP). While STP is highly diversified across synapse types, the computational and behavioral relevance of this diversity remains unclear. In the Drosophila brain, at nanoscale level, we can distinguish distinct coupling distances between Ca channels and the (m)unc13 family priming factors, Unc13A and Unc13B.

Disease Phenotypes and Mechanisms of iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes From Brugada Syndrome Patients With a Loss-of-Function SCN5A Mutation.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is one of the major causes of sudden cardiac death in young people, while the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Here, we investigated the pathophysiological phenotypes and mechanisms using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) from two BrS patients (BrS-CMs) carrying a heterozygous mutation p.S1812X.

High-throughput screening identified inherited genetic variations in the EGFR pathway contributing to skin toxicity of EGFR inhibitors.

Aim: To identify genomic variants in the EGFR pathway and in cytokines predisposing to skin toxicity from EGFR inhibitors.

Patients & Methods: In 126 patients with cancer and EGFR inhibitor therapy skin toxicity was quantified and EGFR and inflammatory pathway genes were analyzed by deep sequencing.

Results: We found 1437 SNPs in the 382-kb target region.

Mitochondrial D-Loop polymorphism and microsatellite instability in prostate cancer and benign hyperplasia patients.

In this study mitochondrial D-Loop variations in Iranian prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients were investigated. Tumour samples and corresponding non-cancerous prostate tissue from 40 prostate cancer patients and 40 age-matched BPH patients were collected. The entire mtD-loop region (16024-576) was amplified using the PCR method and products were gel-purified and subjected to direct nucleotide sequencing.

TP53 gene expression in HPV-positive oral tongue SCC and its correlation with nodal metastasis.

In this study, we investigated the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and TP53 expression in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue and, subsequently, its significance in cervical lymph node metastases and tumor differentiation. Sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 94 histologically confirmed tongue SCC cases were investigated in this study. Immunohistochemistry was used to study TP53 expression, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for the detection of high risk HPV types (16 and 18).

A randomized trial comparing four Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens: standard triple therapy, ciprofloxacin based triple therapy, quadruple and sequential therapy.

Objective: Helicobacter pylori infection is found in at least 80% of people in developing countries. This randomized controlled trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of 4 different H. pylori eradication regimens in Iranian patients.

Are GSTM1, GSTT1 and CAG repeat length of androgen receptor gene polymorphisms associated with risk of prostate cancer in Iranian patients?

We conducted this study to investigate whether CAG repeat length in androgen receptor gene and GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms influence prostate cancer risk in Iranian newly diagnosed cancer patients compared to age-matched BPH group and healthy individuals. DNA from 110 pathologically-confirmed prostate cancer patients, 99 age-matched men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and 100 healthy individuals were extracted and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were examined by electrophoresis and sequencing.