Interleukin-18 gene promoter and serum level in women with ovarian cancer

IL-18, initially defined as a potent inducer of IFN- γ production, is a systemic, multifunctional cytokine with both pro-cancerous and anti-cancer activities. The contribution of the IL-18 promoter polymorphisms at positions −607 (C/A) and −137 (G/C) to cancer development has been reported. We sought to examine IL-18 serum level and its polymorphisms in Iranian women with ovarian cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at positions −607 (C/A) and −137 (G/C) were analyzed by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction in 85 women with ovarian cancer and 158 healthy controls. IL-18 serum level was determined using ELISA method. No significant association was found between the allele, genotype, and haplotype distributions of the SNPs and ovarian cancer. Mean IL-18 serum level was significantly higher in patients than in controls (P = 0.008). Comparing IL-18 serum levels with genotypes at positions −607 and −137 revealed no significant difference. No association was also found between IL-18 levels and the disease stage. In conclusion, our results indicate that IL-18 promoter polymorphisms at positions −607 (C/A) and −137 (G/C) appear not to confer susceptibility to ovarian cancer in Iranian population; however, IL-18 serum level increases in ovarian cancer patients.     

Clinicopathological and prognostic value of lncRNA PANDAR expression in solid tumors: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis

PANDAR (promoter of CDKN1A antisense DNA damage activated RNA) has been shown to be aberrantly expressed in many types of cancer. Considering conflicting data, the current study was aimed to assess its potential role as a prognostic marker in malignant tumors. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science was performed to identify all eligible studies describing the use of PANDAR as a prognostic factor for different types of cancer. Data related to overall survival (OS) and clinicopathologic features were collected and analyzed. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) and odds radio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimate associations. Ten original studies containing 1,231 patients were included. The results showed that in patients with cancer, high PANDAR expression is correlated with lymph node metastasis (LNM; OR = 2.57; 95% CI, 1.76–3.81; p < 0.001), tumor stage (OR = 2.90; 95% CI, 1.25–6.75; p = 0.013), and tumor size (OR = 1.79; 95% CI, 1.11–2.91; p = 0.018). However, sensitivity analysis further demonstrated a significant association between high PANDAR expression and OS, both in multivariate and univariate analysis models (pooled HR 2.01; 95% CI, 1.17–3.44 and pooled HR 2.62; 95% CI, 1.98–3.47, respectively), after omitting one study. These results suggested that PANDAR expression might be indicative of advanced disease and poor prognosis in patients with cancer. Further studies are necessary to determine the value of this risk stratification biomarker in clinical management of patients with cancer.     

Bacteriological follow-up of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment: a study with a simple colorimetric assay

The viability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in serial sputum specimens from persistently smear positive patients was evaluated. The assay was based on oxidation-reduction of Alamar Blue and Malachite Green dyes that change their color in response to MTB growth. A total of 280 sputum specimens from 40 persistently smear positive TB patients and 40 sputa from non-tuberculosis patients were digested, decontaminated and examined microscopically. To check the MTB viability, the sediments from decontaminated samples were inoculated into three culture media: Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) slants, Alamar Blue and Malachite Green culture tubes. We found that out of 280 smear positive specimens, the LJ culture was positive in 124 (44%). The numbers of correctly identified S+/C+ cases by Alamar Blue and Malachite Green were 118 (95%) and 116 (93%), respectively. The mean time required for reporting the positive signal in Alamar Blue culture tubes was 9 versus 11 days by Malachite Green culture tubes. In the standard LJ culture media the average detection time was 27 days (P < 0.05). The sensitivity of LJ was 99%, Alamar Blue 95% and Malachite Green 93%. The specificity was 100%, 92% and 93%, respectively. The oxidation-reduction method is rapid, sensitive and inexpensive in monitoring the treatment response of patients with pulmonary TB. Thus, using this method can be of paramount importance, particularly in resource-constrained areas.     

Retinoic acid and/or progesterone differentiate mouse induced pluripotent stem cells into male germ cells in vitro

Numerous reagents were employed for differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into male germ cells; however, the induction procedure was ineffective. The aim of this study was to improve the in vitro differentiation of mice iPSCs (miPSCs) into male germ cells with retinoic acid (RA) and progesterone (P). miPSCs were differentiated to embryoid bodies (EBs) in suspension with RA with or without progesterone for 0, 4, and 7 days. Then, the expression of certain genes at different stages of male germ cell development including Ddx4 (pre meiosis), Stra8 (meiosis), AKAP3 (post meiosis), and Mvh protein was examined in RNA and/or protein levels by real-time polymerase chain reaction or flow cytometry, respectively. The Stra8 gene expression increased in the RA groups on all days. But, expression of this gene declined in RA + P groups. In addition, an increased expression of Ddx4 gene was observed on day 0 in the P group. Also, a significant upregulation was observed in the expression of AKAP3 gene in the RA + P group on days 0 and 4. However, gene expression decreased in P and RA groups on day 7. The expression of Mvh protein significantly increased in the RA group on day 7. The Mvh expression was also enhanced in the P group on day 4, but it decreased on day 7, while this protein upregulated on day 0 and 7 in the RA + P group. The miPSCs have the capacity for in vitro differentiation into male germ cells by RA and/or progesterone. However, the effects of these inducers depend on the type of combination and an effective time.     

Heat stress aggravates oxidative stress,apoptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress in the cerebellum of male C57 mice

Molecular Biology Reports - The current study was set to assess the effect of heat stress exposure on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress markers in the cerebellum of male...     

An integrated analysis to predict micro‐RNAs targeting both stemness and metastasis in breast cancer stem cells

Several evidences support the idea that a small population of tumour cells representing self‐renewal potential are involved in initiation, maintenance, metastasis, and outcomes of cancer therapy. Elucidation of microRNAs/genes regulatory networks activated in cancer stem cells (CSCs) is necessary for the identification of new targets for cancer therapy. The aim of the present study was to predict the miRNAs pattern, which can target both metastasis and self‐renewal pathways using integration of literature and data mining. For this purpose, mammospheres derived from MCF‐7, MDA‐MB231, and MDA‐MB468 were used as breast CSCs model. They had higher migration, invasion, and colony formation potential, with increasing in stemness‐ and EMT‐related genes expression. Our results determined that miR‐204, ‐200c, ‐34a, and ‐10b contemporarily could target both self‐renewal and EMT pathways. This core regulatory of miRNAs could increase the survival rate of breast invasive carcinoma via up‐regulation of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, c‐MYC, NOTCH1, SNAI1, ZEB1, and CDH2 and down‐regulation of CDH1. The majority of those target genes were involved in the regulation of pluripotency, MAPK, WNT, Hedgehog, p53, and transforming growth factor β pathways. Hence, this study provides novel insights for targeting core regulatory of miRNAs in breast CSCs to target both self‐renewal and metastasis potential and eradication of breast cancer.     

Biosurfactant production by Mucor circinelloides: Environmental applications and surface‐active properties

Biosurfactants are structurally a diverse group of surface‐active molecules widely used for various purposes in industry. In this study, among 120 fungal isolates, M‐06 was selected as a superior biosurfactant producer, based on different standard methods, and was identified as Mucor circinelloides on the basis of its nucleotide sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene. M. circinelloides reduced the surface tension to 26 mN/m and its EI₂₄ index was determined to be 66.6%. The produced biosurfactant exhibited a high degree of stability at a high temperature (121°C), salinity (40 g/L), and acidic pH (2–8). The fermentation broth's ability to recover oil from contaminated sand was 2 and 1.8 times higher than those of water and Tween 80, respectively. The ability of biosurfactant to emulsify crude oil in the sea and fresh water was 64.9 and 48% respectively. This strain could remove 87.6% of crude oil in the Minimal Salt Medium (MSM) crude oil as the sole carbon source. The results from a primary chemical characterization of crude biosurfactant suggest that it is of a glycolipid nature. The strain and its biosurfactant could be used as a potent candidate in bioremediation of oil‐contaminated water, soil, and for oil recovery processes.     

Hydrogen dissociation on diene-functionalized carbon nanotubes

Chemical functionalization of a zigzag carbon nanotube (CNT) with 1, 3-cyclohexadiene (CHD), previously reported by experimentalists, has been investigated in the present study using density functional theory in terms of energetic, geometric, and electronic properties. Then, the thermodynamic and kinetic feasibility of H₂ dissociation on the pristine and functionalized CNTs have been compared. The dissociation energy of the H₂ molecule on the pristine and functionalized CNT has been calculated to be about ?1.00 and ?1.55 eV, while the barrier energy is found to be about 3.70 and 3.51 eV, respectively. Therefore, H₂ dissociation is thermodynamically more favorable on the CNT-CHD system than on the pristine tube, while the favorability of the dissociation on the pristine tube is higher in term of kinetics.     

Pathogen Presence in Wild Birds Inhabiting Landfills in Central Iran

EcoHealth - Wild birds are important in the transmission of many zoonotic pathogens such as salmonella and avian influenza virus (AIV). The current study investigated the presence of bacterial and...     

A comprehensive review on ethnobotanical,phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of the genus Dorema

The genus Dorema (Apiaceae) comprises 12 accepted species, mainly growing in Asia and, particularly, in Iran, where D. ammoniacum and D. aucheri are the most used species in cuisine and folk medicine. The Dorema species are traditionally applied in the treatment of catarrh, asthma, chronic bronchitis, as carminative, mild diuretic and anthelmintic agents. In general, 42 non-volatile secondary metabolites were isolated from the 6 studied species, namely D. aitchisonii, D. ammoniacum, D. aucheri, D. glabrum, D. hyrcanum, and D. kopetdaghense. Among them, phenolic acid, flavonoid, acetophenone, coumarin, and sesquiterpene derivatives were identified as the predominant phytoconstituents. The leaves are characterized by the highest volatile content, and the sesquiterpenes in both hydrocarbon and oxygenated forms were reported as the most abundant compounds. Most of the studied pharmacological activities were assessed in vivo. Nevertheless, in vitro antiradical and antimicrobial potentials were the main investigated activities. Overall, the evaluation of bioactivities confirmed the ethnopharmacological use of the Dorema species, particularly their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and hypolipidemic properties. This study comprehensively overviewed, for the first time, the literature relating to the folk medicinal use and to the available phytochemical and pharmacological data. Considering the genus application and the rare clinical trials, the study of the efficacy and safety of the uninvestigated Dorema species might be an interesting and promising approach for further researches.