Upregulated expression of the growth arrest-specific-2 (gas2) gene in colorectal cancer, and its relation to cancer progression and prognosis

Background: Growth arrest-specific 2 (GAS2) gene is implicated in a variety of cellular functions such as cell cycle, apoptosis, and proliferation, and may be potentially involved in cancer progression. However, whether GAS2 is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and prognosis remains to be uncovered. Thus, this study investigated the association of GAS2 expression in tumor with CRC progression and prognosis. Methods: In the case-control study, surgical tumor and adjacent normal tissues from 40 patients with CRC were collected at Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, and relative expression level of GAS2 in the tissues was assayed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. The correlation of tumor GAS2 expression with the clinicopathological features and overall survival rate of patients was determined. Findings: The relative expression level of GAS2 in tumor tissues was significantly elevated compared to the adjacent normal tissues 1.96 (1.17-3.40) vs. 1.10 (1.00-1.31), P < 0.001. Moreover, the expression levels of GAS2 in tumor tissues were significantly associated with clinicopathological features of cancer including tumor stage in Tumor spread, Lymph node spread, and Metastasis (TNM) staging (P = 0.010), grade (P = 0.010), size (P = 0.030), and lymphatic (P = 0.030) and vascular invasion (P = 0.040) as well as the decreased overall survival (P = 0.040). Conclusion: Elevated expression of GAS2 in CRC is associated with cancer progression indices and poor prognosis; hence it may be served as a prognostic biomarker in CRC. © 2019, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

Reciprocal effects of cadmium and pH on the intestinal absorption of fatty acids in rat

Background: The intestinal absorption of fatty acids may take place through simple diffusion as well as through protein carrier mediated transport, although the relative importance of each pathway is dependent on the ambient condition of entrocytes. Cadmium ion influences the absorption of fatty acids in entrocytes. However, the effect of cadmium ion on the absorption of fatty acids in different pH values has not been evaluated yet. Especially, the luminal pH of small intestine has an essential role in the absorption of fatty acids. In the present study we aimed to evaluate reciprocal effects of cadmium ion and pH of intestine lumen on the absorption of fatty acids in rat model. Methods: In this experimental research, 3 months old Wistar rats (45 rats) were used for experiments. After killing the rats, their intestine was removed and the duodenum and jejunum segments were dissected. Everted Gut Sacs (EGS) were prepared from these duodenum and jejunum segments. The sacs were filled with buffer solution and incubated in a medium containing an appropriate concentration of oleic acid. Then the amounts of oleic acid that had been absorbed into the EGSs in the presence and absence of cadmium ions under different conditions of pH, was measured. Results: Findings of the study demonstrated that the luminal pH of small intestine was effective on the oleic acid uptake and the inhibitory effect of cadmium ions on the uptake of the acid was influenced by pH condition, so that this inhibitory effect was 32 and 36 at the alkaline pHs 7.5 and 9.2, respectively (P< 0.05). At the acidic pHs, 2.5 and 4.5, the inhibitory effect reduced to 11 and 5, respectively (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Cadmium ion decreased fatty acid uptake by small intestine in rats, and the acidic pH of intestine lumen could attenuate the inhibitory effect of cadmium ion

Elevated level of microRNA-21 in the serum of patients with colorectal cancer

In patients with colorectal cancer, circulating micro RNA-21 (miR-21) is overexpressed and may act as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. In the present study, serum miR-21 level was determined in patients with colorectal cancer and control subjects in an attempt to explore its potential clinical diagnostic and prognostic value. Serum levels of miR-21 were measured in 40 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma and 40 control subjects using a quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Serum miR-21 levels were compared in the colorectal cancer patients and control subjects. Furthermore, the association between serum miR-21 level and the clinical stages of tumors was also examined in the patients. Serum miR-21 level was significantly elevated in colorectal adenocarcinoma patients relative to control subjects (P = 0.0001), and it was revealed as a potential diagnostic biomarker for differentiating the patients from control subjects. Increased levels of serum miR-21 were associated with clinical stages of tumors in the patients (P = 0.01). These results indicated that serum miR-21 levels could serve as a reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for colorectal adenocarcinoma

siRNA therapeutics in the treatment of diseases

siRNAs are a class of dsRNAs, 21-23 nucleotides in length, which are able to silence their target genes through enzymatic cleavage of target mRNA. The sequence-specific gene-silencing by siRNA can be used as a new therapeutic approach for treatment of a variety of diseases that are incurable by conventional drugs. Many efforts have been made to overcome the problems related to delivery, stability, off-target gene silencing and immunostimulatory effects of siRNA. Different studies have carried out done to improve in vitro and in vivo delivery of naked or formulated siRNAs. In this review, different aspects of using siRNA as a new class of drugs will be discussed

An Implantable Intracranial Volume System for Hydrocephalus Therapy

The past few decades have seen an acceleration of implantable sensors and systems to improve disease monitoring and treatment. Unfortunately in hydrocephalus, a disease where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates within the ventricular system of the brain, diagnostic and treatment options remain limited. The therapy consists of a catheter implanted into the CSF-filled region to drain excess fluid. In 1952 a passive pressure-regulated valve system was invented that drains fluid when intracranial pressure exceeded a set value. Surprisingly this technology is still implemented in patients worldwide even though it has limitations. This thesis proposes and validates a volume sensor to improve diagnostic options available. The measurement principle is based on the high electrical conductivity ratio between brain tissue and CSF. Changes in the fluid volume correlate to changes in the distribution of an induced, local electric field. The outcome of this thesis is a device for monitoring CSF accumulation as well as the design for an implantable system. The volume measurement concept is an adaptation of the impedance technique and is first explored via in-silico brain geometry using finite element analysis. Simulations are performed to obtain design decisions such as catheter diameter and electrode placement. The sensors are designed with an internal catheter as a pathway for volume control. In a scaled down rat-size sensor a minimum outer diameter of 500 µm outer diameter with platinum-iridium cylinders is fabricated. Instrumentation for continuous monitoring as well as a long-term battery-operated wireless circuit using a microcontroller is demonstrated. The sensor and electronics are characterized in bench-top models for calibration of voltage-volume relationships prior to animal experimentation. The feasibility of CSF volume monitoring in an animal model of hydrocephalus is a specific contribution of this thesis. Hydrocephalus was induced in 3 week-old rats by kaolin injection. 28 days post-induction the sensor was implanted into the lateral ventricles and a CSF shunting/infusion protocol was performed. A high correlation between sensor measurements and pump-controlled volume change was observed. While future research of long-term volume monitoring is necessary, these results indicate that volume monitoring is feasible for clinical cases of hydrocephalus

Medicinal plants with preventive and therapeutic effect on diarrhoea: A cross-sectional epidemiologic and ethnobotanical study in traditional therapists of Shahrekord, south-west of Iran

Chemical treatments for diarrhoea usually lead to side effects, so humans are seeking out a safe pharmaceutical source to cure them. From ancient times, medicinal plants have served as an important pharmaceutical source for the treatment of various acute and chronic diseases and infectious and non-infectious diseases. This study was carried out from April 2017 to February 2018 by interviewing with and administering a questionnaires to 29 traditional therapists. The questionnaire also included demographic items. The interviewers referred to the participants in person and asked them certain questions to elicit their beliefs about herbal medicine. Data were finally analyzed by the Excel software. In this study, the frequency of plant use was calculated by using a formula. According to the ethnobotanical knowledge of the region under study, Astragalus hamosus L., Ziziphora taurica M.Bieb., Anthemis hyalina DC., Plantago major L., Quercus brantii Lindl., Myrtus communis L., Satureja bachtiarica Bung., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Peganum harmala L., Rheum ribes L., Rumex pulcher L., Artemisia absinthium, Descurainia sophia (L.) Prantle., Plantago major L. and some others medicinal plants are used as antidiarrhoeal medicinal plants. Most plant species reported belong to the Asteraceae family and the aerial part (36) is the most frequently used plant organ for cases of diarrhoea in Shahrekord. The scientific registration and review of the written and non-written knowledge of different ethnicities in Iran regarding traditional medicine will help preserve the valuable treasure of thousands of years of Iranians' medical knowledge and experience and will provide the basis for the discovery of new drugs and the progress of the pharmaceutical industry

Salting out and vortex-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop microextraction (SO-VADLLME-SFODME) for extraction and determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and solid samples followed by HPLC

In this research the possibility of application of an innovative, simple, economical, selective ability and green (environmentally friendly) method of salting out and Vortex-Assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop by using high performance liquid chromatography with containing UV for pre-concentration, the extraction and determination of polysiclic in water and solid samples followed by HPLC was studied. In this method three integrated and combined approaches have been adopted so as to maximize the advantages of the approach used while minimizing their disadvantages. The effects of experimental variables such as pH, the type and volume of dispersive extracting solvents (mu l, pH), the volume of organic drop microextraction (extracting solvent), salt density (concentration), centrifuge condition (time), extraction time and temperature were examined, and the process of optimization was obtained by using a software based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design as the experimental model and Desirability Function (DF). This method has appropriate linear calibration between 0.2 to 800 mu g/L, and a significant limit of detection coefficient (r(2)>9991) and low detection range (between 0.05 to 0.09 mu g/L). The above method was also applied for the successful determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in industrial was water, water and soil samples PAHs) and the percentage of recycling, repeatability and reproducibility, resulting in satisfactory results. Simplicity, being economical, quickness, proper repeatability, less consumption of organic solvent and efficient decomposition are of the principal advantages (merits) of the proposed method for the decomposition and determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water samples