Exploring Advances in Reproduction and Stem Cell Biology: Highlights from The 24 and 19 International Congresses in Iran.

The 24 and 19 International Congresses on Reproduction and Stem Cell Biology in the Islamic Republic of Iran brought together experts and researchers worldwide to explore the latest advancements in these fields. Different topics were discussed, including such as reproductive health, infertility treatments, stem cell research, and regenerative medicine. This report provides a summary of the congress's key findings by emphasizing pioneer research and technologies that can influence the future of reproduction and stem cell biology programs.

Targeting GLI1 and BAX by nanonoscapine could impede prostate adenocarcinoma progression.

Prostate cancer as a critical global health issue, requires the exploration of a novel therapeutic approach. Noscapine, an opium-derived phthalide isoquinoline alkaloid, has shown promise in cancer treatment thanks to its anti-tumorigenic properties. However, limitations such as low bioavailability and potential side effects have hindered its clinical application.

Surface Modification of Dentin Powder With Alginate and Evaluation of Its Effects on the Viability and Proliferation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells (In Vitro), Its Biocompatibility (In Vivo).

Introduction: This study aimed to synthesize dentin powder surface modified with alginate, a potential substance for dental pulp regeneration, and evaluate its effects on the viability and proliferation of human dental pulp stem cells in vitro and its biocompatibility in vivo.

Methods: In the in vitro phase, dentin powder was synthesized in 3 size groups (150-250 μm, 250-500 μm, and 500-1000 μm) after demineralization and atelopeptidization which is used to remove dentin collagen telopeptides and eliminate host immune response. Surface modification with alginate was performed and followed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and cell viability and proliferation testing for 14 days with human dental pulp stem cells studied.

Evaluation of ovarian reserve and the assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles' outcome as well as the relapse rate within one year after ART in women with multiple sclerosis: a case-control study.

Objective: To compare the ovarian reserve and the results of infertility treatment, as well as to investigate the relapse rate in the first year after the assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) referred to Royan Institute.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was carried out to evaluate all women diagnosed with MS and referred to Royan Institute for assessment and treatment of possible infertility between 2011 and 2022. The control group consisted of randomly selected healthy women with tubal factor infertility who were referred for treatment during the same time period and matched in terms of age.

Impact of microRNA variants on PI3K/AKT signaling in triple-negative breast cancer: comprehensive review.

Breast cancer (BC) is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive subtype associated with high mortality rates, especially among younger females. TNBC poses a considerable clinical challenge due to its aggressive tumor behavior and limited therapeutic options. Aberrations within the PI3K/AKT pathway are prevalent in TNBC and correlate with increased therapeutic intervention resistance and poor outcomes.

Extracellular vesicle-based formulation of doxorubicin: drug loading optimization, characterization, and cytotoxicity evaluation in tumor spheroids.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic with considerable efficacy, but its application is limited due to cardiotoxicity. Nanoparticles can improve DOX efficacy and prevent its adverse effects. Herein, DOX-loaded extracellular vesicles (DOX-EVs) were prepared using different loading methods including incubation, electroporation, and sonication in different hydration buffers to permeabilize nanostructures or desalinize DOX for improved entrapment.

Latest Developments in Early Detection and Effective Treatment of Cancer: A Meeting Report.

Despite a lower estimated rate of cancer incidence in Iran compared to the global average, the trend is unfortunately increasing. This necessitates the implementation of early detection of cancer and targeted therapies to effectively treat various types of cancer. Therefore, the 5th "International Royan Cancer Conference: From Bench to Bedside" was held to focus on critical cancer-related aspects such as gene- and cell therapy, immunotherapy, oligonucleotides in cancer treatment, biosensors for detection, and drug delivery.

Correction: Firoozi et al. A Cell-Free SDKP-Conjugated Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogel Sufficient for Improvement of Myocardial Infarction. 2020, , 205.

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Deferiprone promoted remyelination and functional recovery through enhancement of oligodendrogenesis in experimental demyelination animal model.

Remyelination refers to myelin regeneration, which reestablishes metabolic supports to axons. However, remyelination often fails in multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to chronic demyelination and axonal degeneration. Therefore, pharmacological approaches toward enhanced remyelination are highly demanded.

Neuroprotective effects of MK-801 against cerebral ischemia reperfusion.

Introduction: & Objective: Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, the second cause of death globally, involves increased NMDA receptor activity leading to neuronal damage due to excessive sodium and calcium ion entry. Therefore, targeting NMDA receptor may potentially reduce cell death induced by brain injury. Our study aimed to investigate the role of NMDA receptors in hippocampal neuronal activity induced by I/R.

Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Modulate Inflammatory Response and Improve Allograft Islet Transplant in Mice Model of Type 1 Diabetes.

Objective: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease where immune cells attack insulin-producing beta cells. Islet transplantation is a promising treatment for T1DM. This study aims to evaluate the effects of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) in combination with pancreatic islet transplantation using hydrogel.

Melatonin-loaded mesoporous zinc- and gallium-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles to control infection and bone repair.

Effective treatment of infected bone defects resulting from multi-drug resistant bacteria (MDR) has emerged as a significant clinical challenge, highlighting the pressing demand for potent antibacterial bone graft substitutes. Mesoporous nanoparticles have been introduced as a promising class of biomaterials offering significant properties for treating bone infections. Herein, we synthesize antibacterial mesoporous hydroxyapatite substituted with zinc and gallium (Zn-Ga:mHA) nanoparticles using a facile sol-gel method.

Promotion of cardiac microtissue assembly within G-CSF-enriched collagen I-cardiogel hybrid hydrogel.

Tissue engineering as an interdisciplinary field of biomedical sciences has raised many hopes in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases as well as development of three-dimensional (3D) cardiac models. This study aimed to engineer a cardiac microtissue using a natural hybrid hydrogel enriched by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), a bone marrow-derived growth factor. Cardiac ECM hydrogel (Cardiogel: CG) was mixed with collagen type I (ColI) to form the hybrid hydrogel, which was tested for mechanical and biological properties.

Development of Mouse Preantral Follicle with Using Amniotic Membrane Extract-Loaded Hydrogels.

An artificial ovary based on the alginate (ALG) hydrogel has been widely implemented to preserve prepubertal female fertility. However, this platform is not fully capable of successful an ovary microenvironment simulation for follicle development, holding great potential for its improvement. Therefore, this experimental study aimed to evaluate the effect of an amniotic membrane extract (AME) -loaded hydrogel on the mouse preantral follicles development.

Proteomic profiling of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles: Impact of isolation methods on protein cargo.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized vesicles with a lipid bilayer that are secreted by cells and play a critical role in cell-to-cell communication. Despite the promising reports regarding their diagnostic and therapeutic potential, the utilization of EVs in the clinical setting is limited due to insufficient information about their cargo and a lack of standardization in isolation and analysis methods. Considering protein cargos in EVs as key contributors to their therapeutic potency, we conducted a tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics analysis of three subpopulations of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived EVs obtained through three different isolation techniques: ultracentrifugation (UC), high-speed centrifugation (HS), and ultracentrifugation on sucrose cushion (SU).

Evidence of Urtica dioica Agglutinin's Antiproliferative and Anti-migratory Potentials on the Hyaluronic Acid-Overexpressing Prostate Cancer Cells.

Hyaluronic acid is composed of repeating sugar units, glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, which are often associated with increased tumor progression. agglutinin is a potential component that exhibits a high affinity for binding to N-acetylglucosamine. This study aimed to investigate Agglutinin's potential to inhibit the proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells with high expression of hyaluronic acid through molecular docking and studies.

Cell culture-derived extracellular vesicles: Considerations for reporting cell culturing parameters.

Cell culture-conditioned medium (CCM) is a valuable source of extracellular vesicles (EVs) for basic scientific, therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Cell culturing parameters affect the biochemical composition, release and possibly the function of CCM-derived EVs (CCM-EV). The CCM-EV task force of the Rigor and Standardization Subcommittee of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles aims to identify relevant cell culturing parameters, describe their effects based on current knowledge, recommend reporting parameters and identify outstanding questions.

Regulation of cell fate by cell imprinting approach in vitro.

Cell culture-based technologies are widely utilized in various domains such as drug evaluation, toxicity assessment, vaccine and biopharmaceutical development, reproductive technology, and regenerative medicine. It has been demonstrated that pre-adsorption of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins including collagen, laminin and fibronectin provide more degrees of support for cell adhesion. The purpose of cell imprinting is to imitate the natural topography of cell membranes by gels or polymers to create a reliable environment for the regulation of cell function.

Osteochondral organoids: current advances, applications, and upcoming challenges.

In the realm of studying joint-related diseases, there is a continuous quest for more accurate and representative models. Recently, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering have seen a growing interest in utilizing organoids as powerful tools for studying complex biological systems in vitro. Organoids, three-dimensional structures replicating the architecture and function of organs, provide a unique platform for investigating disease mechanisms, drug responses, and tissue regeneration.

Folic acid-modified nanocrystalline cellulose for enhanced delivery and anti-cancer effects of crocin.

Crocin is a carotenoid compound in saffron with anti-cancer properties. However, its therapeutic application is limited by its low absorption, bioavailability, and stability, which can be overcome through nanocarrier delivery systems. This study used surface-modified Nano-crystalline cellulose (NCC) to deliver crocin to cancer cells.

Epigenetic biomarkers in aging and longevity: Current and future application.

The aging process has been one of the most necessary research fields in the current century, and knowing different theories of aging and the role of different genetic, epigenetic, molecular, and environmental modulating factors in increasing the knowledge of aging mechanisms and developing appropriate diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive ways would be helpful. One of the most conserved signs of aging is epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, noncoding RNAs, and extracellular RNAs. Numerous biological processes and hallmarks are vital in aging development, but epigenomic alterations are especially notable because of their importance in gene regulation and cellular identity.

Association between APOA5 polymorphisms and susceptibility to metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The association between Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been established by many studies, but there have been conflicting results from the literature. We performed a meta-analysis of observational studies to evaluate the association between APOA5 gene polymorphisms and the prevalence of MetS.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus were searched up to April 2024.