Herbal medicine as an auspicious therapeutic approach for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection: A concise review

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) causes gastric mucosa inflammation and gastric cancer mostly via several virulence factors. Induction of proinflammatory pathways plays a crucial role in chronic inflammation, gastric carcinoma, and H. pylori pathogenesis. Herbal medicines (HMs) are nontoxic, inexpensive, and mostly anti-inflammatory reminding meticulous emphasis on the elimination of H. pylori and gastric cancer. Several HM has exerted paramount anti-H. pylori traits. In addition, they exert anti-inflammatory effects through several cellular circuits such as inhibition of 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor-κB, and activator protein-1 pathway activation leading to the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1α [IL-1α], IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, interferon γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α) expression. Furthermore, they inhibit nitrous oxide release and COX-2 and iNOS activity. The apoptosis induction in Th1 and Th17-polarized lymphocytes and M2-macrophagic polarization and STAT6 activation has also been exhibited. Thus, their exact consumable amount has not been revealed, and clinical trials are needed to achieve optimal concentration and their pharmacokinetics. In the aspect of bioavailability, solubility, absorption, and metabolism of herbal compounds, nanocarriers such as poly lactideco-glycolide-based loading and related formulations are helpful. Noticeably, combined therapies accompanied by probiotics can also be examined for better clearance of gastric mucosa. In addition, downregulation of inflammatory microRNAs (miRNAs) by HMs and upregulation of those anti-inflammatory miRNAs is proposed to protect the gastric mucosa. Thus there is anticipation that in near future HM-based formulations and proper delivery systems are possibly applicable against gastric cancer or other ailments because of H. pylori.     

Oleoylethanolamide: A novel pharmaceutical agent in the management of obesity-an updated review

Obesity as a multifactorial disorder has been shown a dramatically growing trend recently. Besides genetic and environmental factors, dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system tone is involved in the pathogenesis of obesity. This study reviewed the potential efficacy of Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) as an endocannabinoid-like compound in the energy homeostasis and appetite control in people with obesity. OEA as a lipid mediator and bioactive endogenous ethanolamide fatty acid is structurally similar to the endocannabinoid system compounds; nevertheless, it is unable to induce to the cannabinoid receptors. Unlike endocannabinoids, OEA negatively acts on the food intake and suppress appetite via various mechanisms. Indeed, OEA as a ligand of PPAR-α, GPR-119, and TRPV1 receptors participates in the regulation of energy intake and energy expenditure, feeding behavior, and weight gain control. OEA delays meal initiation, reduces meal size, and increases intervals between meals. Considering side effects of some approaches used for the management of obesity such as antiobesity drugs and surgery as well as based on sufficient evidence about the protective effects of OEA in the improvement of common abnormalities in people with obese, its supplementation as a novel efficient and FDA approved pharmaceutical agent can be recommended.     

Wnt pathway targeting reduces triple-negative breast cancer aggressiveness through miRNA regulation in vitro and in vivo

Triple-negative breast cancer, devoid of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression, is deprived of commonly used targeted therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are undergoing a revolution in terms of potentially diagnostic or therapeutic elements. Combining computational approaches, we enriched miRNA binding motifs of Wnt pathway-associated upregulated genes. Our in-depth bioinformatics, in vitro and in vivo analyses indicated that miR-381 targets main genes of the Wnt signaling pathway including CTNNB1, RhoA, ROCK1, and c-MYC genes. The expression level of miR-381 and target genes was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-10A as well as 20 breast cancer samples and normal tissues. Luciferase reporter assay was performed. Lentiviral particles containing miR-381 were used to evaluate the effect of miR-381 restoration on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of the invasive triple-negative MDA-MB-231 cell line and also in a mouse model of breast cancer. The expression of miR-381 was lower than that of normal cells, especially in TNBC cell line and breast tissues. Luciferase assay results confirmed that miR-381 targets all the predicted 3′-untranslated regions (3′-UTRs). Upon miR-381 overexpression, the expression of target genes declined, and the migration and invasion potential of miR-381-receiving MDA-MB-231 cells decreased. In a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer, miR-381 re-expression inhibited the invasion of cancer cells to lung and liver and prolonged the survival time of cancer cell-bearing mice. Therefore, miR-381 is a regulator of Wnt signaling and its re-expression provides a potentially effective strategy for inhibition of TNBC.     

Dimethyl fumarate: Regulatory effects on the immune system in the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an important oral treatment option for various autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and psoriasis. DMF and its dynamic metabolite, monomethyl fumarate (MMF) are the major compounds that exert therapeutic effects on several pathologic conditions in part, through downregulation of immune responses. The exact mechanism of DMF is yet to be fully understood even though its beneficial effects on the immune system are extensively studied. It has been shown that DMF/MMF can affect various immune cells, which can get involved in both the naive and adaptive immune systems, such as T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer cells. It is suggested that DMF/MMF may exert their effect on immune cells through inhibition of nuclear factor-κB translocation, upregulation of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2(E2)-related factor antioxidant pathway, and activation of hydroxyl carboxylic acid receptor 2. In this review, the mechanisms underlying the modulatory functions of DMF or MMF on the main immune cell populations involved in the immunopathogenesis of MS are discussed.     

Diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target applications of miR-326 in cancers: A systematic review

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous mediators of RNA interference and have key roles in the modulation of gene expression under healthy, inflamed, stimulated, carcinogenic, or other cells, and tissues of a pathological state. Many studies have proved the association between miRNAs and cancer. The role of miR-326 as a tumor suppressor miRNA in much human cancer confirmed. We will explain the history and the role of miRNAs changes, especially miR-326 in cancers and other pathological conditions. Attuned with these facts, this review highlights recent preclinical and clinical research performed on miRNAs as novel promising diagnostic biomarkers of patients at early stages, prediction of prognosis, and monitoring of the patients in response to treatment. All related publications retrieved from the PubMed database, with keywords such as epigenetic, miRNA, microRNA, miR-326, cancer, diagnostic biomarker, and therapeutic target similar terms from 1899 to 2018 with limitations in the English language. Recently, researchers have focused on the impacts of miRNAs and their association in inflammatory, autoinflammatory, and cancerous conditions. Recent studies have suggested a major pathogenic role in cancers and autoinflammatory diseases. Investigations have explained the role of miRNAs in cancers, autoimmunity, and autoinflammatory diseases, and so on. The miRNA-326 expression has an important role in cancer conditions and other diseases.     

Survivin a pivotal antiapoptotic protein in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, pathologically characterized by lymphocyte infiltration of the synovial membrane that leads to chronic inflammation and progressive joint damage. RA develops as a result of increased cell infiltration and cell proliferation as well as impaired cell death. Activated cells in joints including lymphocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) survive for a long time as a consequence of compromised apoptosis, but the mechanism underlying cell survival in synovium remains to be firmly established. Inhibition of apoptosis by survivin, as a critical antiapoptotic protein, contributes to both the persistence of autoreactive T lymphocytes and tumor-like phenotype of FLS in RA. In addition to the antiapoptotic role, survivin also has prognostic relevance in RA prodromal phase. Hence, this review provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding the involvement of survivin protein in the pathogenesis of RA.     

Global estimate of gastric cancer in Helicobacter pylori–infected population: A systematic review and meta-analysis

There is information regarding the rates of gastric cancer (GC) in different populations and the important role of Helicobacter pylori in GC development; however, no comprehensive study has yet been performed to investigate the prevalence of GC in H. pylori–infected patients. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library through January 1, 2000 were searched without language restrictions. Quality of included studies was assessed with a critical appraisal checklist recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute. All of the analyses were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software Version 2.0 and Stata 14.0. Forty-four studies from 17 countries were included. The pooled frequency of GC was 17.4% (95% confidence interval: 16.4–18.5) in H. pylori–infected population. The frequency of GC among H. pylori–infected population varied markedly across countries. The highest rate of GC was observed in H. pylori–infected individuals from Asian countries. The frequency of GC was relatively high in H. pylori–infected population in the world. However, the eradication of H. pylori might be a promising strategy for GC prevention, especially in high-risk populations such as Asian countries.     

microRNAs: Key players in virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known as one of the major health problems worldwide. Pathological analysis indicated that a variety of risk factors including genetical (i.e., alteration of tumor suppressors and oncogenes) and environmental factors (i.e., viruses) are involved in beginning and development of HCC. The understanding of these risk factors could guide scientists and clinicians to design effective therapeutic options in HCC treatment. Various viruses such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) via targeting several cellular and molecular pathways involved in HCC pathogenesis. Among various cellular and molecular targets, microRNAs (miRNAs) have appeared as key players in HCC progression. miRNAs are short noncoding RNAs which could play important roles as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in several malignancies such as HCC. Deregulation of many miRNAs (i.e., miR-222, miR-25, miR-92a, miR-1, let-7f, and miR-21) could be associated with different stages of HCC. Besides miRNAs, exosomes are other particles which are involved in HCC pathogenesis via targeting different cargos, such as DNAs, RNAs, miRNAs, and proteins. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the role of miRNAs and exosomes as important players in HCC pathogenesis. Moreover, we highlighted HCV- and HBV-related miRNAs which led to HCC progression.     

The effects of thyroid hormones on memory impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Thyroid hormones (THs) have a wide and important range of effects within the central nervous system beginning from fetal life and continuing throughout the adult life. Thyroid disorders are one of the major causes of cognitive impairment including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several studies in recent years have indicated an association between hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and AD. Despite available evidence for this association, it remains unclear whether thyroid dysfunction results from or contributes to the progression of AD. This review discusses the role of THs in learning and memory and summarizes the studies that have linked thyroid function and AD. Eventually, we elaborate how THs may be effective in treating AD by putting forward potential mechanisms.     

Bottom‐up effect of host plants on life‐history characteristics of Aphidoletes aphidimyza feeding on Aphis gossypii

The predatory midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is widely used for the control of Aphis spp. in many agricultural systems. We aimed to determine the most suitable host plant for rearing the predatory midges on the prey Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Six host plants were selected: cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Beith Alpha), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Falat111), eggplant (Solanum melongena L. cv. Yummy), pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Bertene) (all Solanaceae), okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moensch cv. Clemson Spineless] (Malvaceae), and squash (Cucurbita pepo L. cv. Hybrid rajai) (Cucurbitaceae). Some physical traits (length and density of trichomes) and chemical attributes (nitrogen content) of prey host plants were investigated. The results showed that prey host plants differed significantly in their effect on fitness of the predator. The shortest immature development time (18.07 ± 0.257 days), the longest female adult longevity (7.5 ± 0.18 days), and the highest fecundity (89 eggs/female) of A. aphidimyza were found with squash as prey food. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (0.171 ± 0.009 day^?1) and also the shortest mean generation time (22.4 ± 0.32 days) were also obtained when A. aphidimyza fed on A. gossypii reared on squash. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) approved the correlation between life‐history traits of A. aphidimyza and characteristics of prey host plants. The suitability of squash for rearing A. aphidimyza can be attributed to the higher nitrogen content, longer trichomes, and relatively high density of trichomes, which provided a better environment for A. gossypii and indirectly favored A. aphidimyza. This study showed that squash is the most suitable host plant for rearing A. aphidimyza feeding on A. gossypii.