Virtual high-throughput screening of natural compounds in-search of potential inhibitors for protection of telomeres 1 (POT1)

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Association between serum cell adhesion molecules with hs-CRP,uric acid and VEGF genetic polymorphisms in subjects with metabolic syndrome

Molecular Biology Reports - Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with a pro-inflammatory state and endothelial dysfunction that places subjects with MetS at a higher risk of atherosclerosis....     

Fatal Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in COVID-19 Patient with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Iran

Mycopathologia - Although patients with severe immunodeficiency and hematological malignancies has been considered at highest risk for invasive fungal infection, patients with severe pneumonia due...     

Minocycline attenuates depressive-like behaviors in mice treated with the low dose of intracerebroventricular streptozotocin; the role of mitochondrial function and neuroinflammation

Molecular Biology Reports - Neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are suggested as mechanisms which are implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Streptozotocin (STZ) is known to...     

Anti-inflammatory,anti-apoptotic,and antioxidant actions of Middle Eastern Phoenix dactylifera extract on mercury-induced hepatotoxicity in vivo

Molecular Biology Reports - Mercuric chloride (MC) is a complex substance which is capable to produce free radicals. Middle Eastern Phoenix dactylifera (MEPD) is a flowering plant of palm family...     

Incorporation of SPION-casein core-shells into silk-fibroin nanofibers for cardiac tissue engineering

Mimicking the structure of extracellular matrix (ECM) of myocardium is necessary for fabrication of functional cardiac tissue. The superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs, Fe₃O₄), as new generation of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs), are highly intended in biomedical studies. Here, SPION NPs (1 wt%) were synthesized and incorporated into silk-fibroin (SF) electrospun nanofibers to enhance mechanical properties and topography of the scaffolds. Then, the mouse embryonic cardiac cells (ECCs) were seeded on the scaffolds for in vitro studies. The SPION NPs were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). SF nanofibers were characterized after incorporation of SPIONs by SEM, TEM, water contact angle measurement, and tensile test. Furthermore, cytocompatibility of scaffolds was confirmed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. SEM images showed that ECCs attached to the scaffolds with elongated morphologies. Also, the real-time PCR and immunostaining studies approved upregulation of cardiac functional genes in ECCs seeded on the SF/SPION-casein scaffolds including GATA-4, cardiac troponin T, Nkx 2.5, and alpha-myosin heavy chain, compared with the ones in SF. In conclusion, incorporation of core-shells in SF supports cardiac differentiation, while has no negative impact on ECCs' proliferation and self-renewal capacity.     

Dissolved oxygen concentration regulates human hepatic organoid formation from pluripotent stem cells in a fully controlled bioreactor

Developing technologies for scalable production of human organoids has gained increased attention for “organoid medicine” and drug discovery. We developed a scalable and integrated differentiation process for generation of hepatic organoid from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in a fully controlled stirred tank bioreactor with 150 ml working volume by application of physiological oxygen concentrations in different liver tissue zones. We found that the 20–40% dissolved oxygen concentration [DO] (corresponded to 30–60 mmHg pO₂ within the liver tissue) significantly influences the process outcome via regulating the differentiation fate of hPSC aggregates by enhancing mesoderm induction. Regulation of the [DO] at 30% DO resulted in efficient generation of human fetal-like hepatic organoids that had a uniform size distribution and were comprised of red blood cells and functional hepatocytes, which exhibited improved liver-specific marker gene expressions, key liver metabolic functions, and, more important, higher inducible cytochrome P450 activity compared to the other trials. These hepatic organoids were successfully engrafted in an acute liver injury mouse model and produced albumin after implantation. These results demonstrated the significant impact of the dissolved oxygen concentration on hPSC hepatic differentiation fate and differentiation efficacy that should be considered ascritical translational aspect of established scalable liver organoid generation protocols for potential clinical and drug discovery applications.     

Circulating and tissue microRNAs as a potential diagnostic biomarker in patients with thrombotic events

Venous and arterial thrombosis are conditions that have a considerable burden if left untreated. The hypoxia-induced by the occluded vessel can disrupt the circulation of any organ, the cornerstone of treating thrombosis is rapid diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Diagnosis of thrombosis may be made by using laboratory tests or imaging techniques in individuals who have clinical manifestations of a thrombotic event. The use of serum micro ribonucleic acids (RNAs) has recently been applied to the diagnosis of thrombosis. These small RNA molecules are emerging as new diagnostic markers but have had very limited applications in vascular disease. Most of the articles provided various microRNAs with different levels of accuracy. However, there remains a lack of an appropriate panel of the most specific microRNA in the literature. The purpose of the present review was to summarize the existing data on the use of microRNAs as a diagnostic biomarker for venous thrombosis.     

Correction to: Ecological modeling and distribution analysis of digger scorpions: Odontobuthus doriae,Odontobuthus bidentatus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) and Scorpio maurus (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) in Iran using the maximum entropy method

Applied Entomology and Zoology - The word “Odonthubutus” should be replaced with “Odontobuthus” throughout the article.