Nanoscopic biodosimetry using plasmid DNA in radiotherapy with metallic nanoparticles.

Nanoscopic lesions (complex damages), are the most lethal lesions for the cells. As nanoparticles have become increasingly popular in radiation therapy and the importance of analyzing nanoscopic dose enhancement has increased, a reliable tool for nanodosimetry has become indispensable. In this regard, the DNA plasmid is a widely used tool as a nanodosimetry probe in radiobiology and nano-radiosensitization studies.

Potential mechanisms of quercetin in cancer prevention: focus on cellular and molecular targets.

Over the past few years, the cancer-related disease has had a high mortality rate and incidence worldwide, despite clinical advances in cancer treatment. The drugs used for cancer therapy, have high side effects in addition to the high cost. Subsequently, to reduce these side effects, many studies have suggested the use of natural bioactive compounds.

COVID-19 infection: an overview on cytokine storm and related interventions.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has posed a significant threat to global health. This virus affects the respiratory tract and usually leads to pneumonia in most patients and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 15% of cases. ARDS is one of the leading causes of death in patients with COVID-19 and is mainly triggered by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, referred to as cytokine storm.

Prognostic Value and Biological Role of miR-126 in Breast Cancer.

In eukaryotic organisms such as humans, some noncoding single-stranded RNAs (ncRNAs) contribute to regulating the expression of some genes before and after the transcription process, which in turn controls a number of vital physiological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, invasion, angiogenesis, and embryonic development. miR-126 is one of these miRNAs expressed exclusively in endothelial cells such as capillaries and vessels involved in controlling angiogenesis. In recent years, the link between miRs such as miR-126 and the pathology of breast cancer has attracted the attention of many researchers.

A novel missense variant in ESRRB gene causing autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss: in silico analysis of a case.

Background: Hereditary hearing loss (HHL) is a common heterogeneous disorder affecting all ages, ethnicities, and genders. The most common form of HHL is autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL), in which there is no genotype-phenotype correlation in the majority of cases. This study aimed to identify the genetic causes of hearing loss (HL) in a family with Iranian Azeri Turkish ethnicity negative for gap junction beta-2 (GJB2), gap junction beta-6 (GJB6), and mitochondrially encoded 12S rRNA (MT-RNR1) deleterious mutations.

Evaluation of exosomal non-coding RNAs in cancer using high-throughput sequencing.

Clinical oncologists need more reliable and non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers to follow-up cancer patients. However, the existing biomarkers are often invasive and costly, emphasizing the need for the development of biomarkers to provide convenient and precise detection. Extracellular vesicles especially exosomes have recently been the focus of translational research to develop non-invasive and reliable biomarkers for several diseases such as cancers, suggesting as a valuable source of tumor markers.

An Overview on the Role of miR-451 in Lung Cancer: Diagnosis, Therapy, and Prognosis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved non-coding RNAs involved in many physiological processes such as cell proliferation, inhibition, development of apoptosis, differentiation, suppression of tumorigenicity, and regulation of cell growth. The description of the alterations of miRNA expression patterns in cancers will be helpful in recognizing biomarkers for early detection and possible therapeutic intervention in the treatment of cancers. Recent studies have shown that miR-451 is broadly dysregulated in lung cancer and is a crucial agent in lung tumor progression.

The role of circadian genes in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer in human beings and is also the major cause of death among the other gastrointestinal cancers. The exact mechanisms of CRC development in most patients remains unclear. So far, several genetically, environmental and epigenetically risk factors have been identified for CRC development.

Quercetin as a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Lymphoma.

Lymphoma is a name for malignant diseases of the lymphatic system including Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Although several approaches are used for the treatment of these diseases, some of them are not successful and have serious adverse effects. Therefore, other effective treatment methods might be interesting.

Colorectal cancer treatment using bacteria: focus on molecular mechanisms.

Background: Colorectal cancer which is related to genetic and environmental risk factors, is among the most prevalent life-threatening cancers. Although several pathogenic bacteria are associated with colorectal cancer etiology, some others are considered as highly selective therapeutic agents in colorectal cancer. Nowadays, researchers are concentrating on bacteriotherapy as a novel effective therapeutic method with fewer or no side effects to pay the way of cancer therapy.

Effects of treatment with hydroxychloroquine on the modulation of Th17/Treg ratio and pregnancy outcomes in women with recurrent implantation failure: clinical trial.

Aim: The imbalance of Th17/Treg cells has been recently suggested as a new risk factors for recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Furthermore Th17/Treg cells are involved in immune regulation in peripheral blood and endometrial tissue of patients with RIF. In this research, we investigated the effects of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on the level and function of Th17 and Treg cells in women with RIF.

Tacrolimus Improves the Implantation Rate in Patients with Elevated Th1/2 Helper Cell Ratio and Repeated Implantation Failure (RIF).

An abnormal endometrial immune response is involved in the pathogenesis of repeated implantation failure (RIF), so we investigated the effectiveness of tacrolimus treatment on the endometrium of RIF patients. Ten RIF patients with elevated T-helper 1/T-helper 2 (Th1/Th2) cell ratios were recruited into a clinical study. The expression of p53, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-17, and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in the endometrium of patients with and without tacrolimus treatment and the association of these factors with assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes were investigated.

Association of Paraoxonse1 (PON1) Genotypes with the Activity of PON1 in Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Objective: Various numbers of factors such as oxidative stress, neurotoxins, and pesticides have been implicated in its pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Paraoxonas1 (PON1) metabolizes xenobiotics, including pesticides. Therefore, we surveyed the relationship between PON1 polymorphisms with its activities in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.

Messenger RNA and protein expression of tumor necrosis factor α and its receptors in human follicular granulosa cells.

To evaluate the concentration of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and its soluble receptors (sTNFR I and II) in serum and follicular fluid (FF) at the time of oocyte retrieval and to detect expression of TNF-α and its receptors by luteinized granulosa cells (GCs). In a cross-sectional study and through an in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI) program, 81 women undergoing oocyte retrieval were recruited. Serum and FF were obtained from 81 women.

Mating with seminal vesicle-excised male can affect the uterus phospholipid fatty-acids composition during implantation in an experimental mouse model.

Purpose: No comprehensive information is available about uterus fatty acid (FA) change during implantation period and possible effects of the seminal vesicle secretion on it.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we evaluated FA composition of uterus phospholipids during the implantation period in intact and seminal vesicle-excised (SVX) mated female mice. Forty NMRI female mice were divided into control (mated with intact male) and seminal vesicle excised (SVX)-mated (mated with SVX-male) groups.

Follicular Fluid Levels of Adrenomedullin 2, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and its Soluble Receptors Are Associated with Ovarian Response During ART Cycles.

Adrenomedullin 2 (ADM2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) affect ovarian function, especially angiogenesis and follicular development. The actions of VEGF can be antagonized by its soluble receptors, soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and soluble VEGF receptor 2 (sVEGFR-2), as they decrease its free form. In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between follicular fluid (FF) levels of AMD2, VEGF and its soluble receptors, and ICSI outcomes.

Evaluation of microsatellite instability in tumor and tumor marginal samples of sporadic colorectal cancer using mononucleotide markers.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a unique molecular alteration that is due to a defective DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. Approximately, 15-20 % of sporadic colorectal cancers (CRC) display MSI. Determination of MSI status in CRC has prognostic and predictive implications.

Next-generation sequencing approaches for the study of genome and epigenome toxicity induced by sulfur mustard.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is an extensive nucleophilic and alkylating agent that targets different tissues. The genotoxic property of SM is the most threatening effect, because it is associated with detrimental inflammations and susceptibility to several kinds of cancer. Moreover, SM causes a wide variety of adverse effects on DNA which result in accumulation of DNA adducts, multiple mutations, aneuploidies, and epigenetic aberrations in the genome.

Dietary omega-3 and -6 fatty acids affect the expression of prostaglandin E2 synthesis enzymes and receptors in mice uteri during the window of pre-implantation.

Considering possible effects of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on embryo implantation more likely through PGs, we investigated effects of dietary omega-3 and -6 PUFA on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling in mice uterus during pre-implantation period. The mRNA expressions of microsomal- and cytosolic- PGE synthase (mPGES and cPGES) and protein expressions of PGE receptor 2 and 4 (EP2 and EP4) were evaluated in uterus tissues of control as well as omega 3 and omega 6 received mice at days 1-5 of pregnancy. Expression of cPGES gene was not significantly different between groups but the mPGES expression on days 4 and 5 of pregnancy in supplemented groups was higher than controls.

DNA repair mechanisms in response to genotoxicity of warfare agent sulfur mustard.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is an alkylating agent that causes severe damages to the skin, eyes, and the respiratory system. DNA alkylation is one of the most critical lesions that could lead to monoadducts and cross-links, as well as DNA strand breaks. In response to these adducts, cells initiate a series of reactions to recruit specific DNA repair pathways.

Effects of dietary omega-3 and -6 supplementations on phospholipid fatty acid composition in mice uterus during window of pre-implantation.

Since fatty acid composition of uterus phospholipids is likely to influence embryo implantation, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary omega-3 and -6 fatty acids on implantation rate as well as uterine phospholipid fatty acids composition during mice pre-implantation period. Sixty female mice were randomly distributed into:1) control (standard pellet), 2) omega-3 (standard pellet + 10% w/w of omega-3 fatty acids) and 3) omega-6 (standard pellet + 10% w/w of omega-6 fatty acids). Uterine phospholipid fatty acid composition during the pre-implantation window (days 1-5 of pregnancy) was analyzed using gas-chromatography.

An update of common autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss genes in Iranian population.

Autosomal-recessive genes are responsible for about 80% of the hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) cases. In Iran, due to consanguineous marriages, NSHL is the second most frequent disability after intellectual disability, occurring one in 16 individuals. Enormous heterogeneity in the genetic pathology of hearing loss causes a major challenge in identification of responsible genes.

Placental growth factor (PlGF) as an angiogenic/inflammatory switcher: lesson from early pregnancy losses.

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenic factor which belongs to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. In addition to the angiogenic function of PlGF, in some conditions such as preeclampsia and early pregnancy losses, it can induce inflammatory reactions which could be accompanied with reduced angiogenesis. Hence, it is crucial to investigate inflammatory and angiogenic switching states and understand underlying mechanisms.

Insights into in vitro spermatogenesis in mammals: Past, present, future.

Considering the self-renewal and differentiation ability of pluripotent stem cells, some studies have pointed out the possibility of stem cell-derived sperm production. Most studies that test this hypothesis have been conducted on rodents, with some promising results; however, studies on humans are progressing slowly, and have encountered technical and ethical hurdles. Established methods to differentiate stem cells-including embryoid bodies, co-culturing, and various feeder cells-may provide a niche that is similar to in vivo conditions and resolve epigenetic abnormalities, but a gonadal-like three-dimensional structure is still required to produce germ cells with the correct imprinting.