Attribution of ghrelin to cancer; Attempts to unravel an apparent controversy

Ghrelin is an endogenous peptide hormone mainly produced in the stomach. It has been known to regulate energy homeostasis, stimulate secretion of growth hormone, and mediate many other physiologic effects. Various effects attributed to ghrelin contribute to many aspects of cancer development and progression. Accordingly, a large body of evidence has emerged about the association of ghrelin with several types of cancer in scales of cell-line, animal, and human studies. However, existing data are controversial. This controversy occurs in two main domains: one is the controversial results in local effects of ghrelin on different types of human cancer cell-lines; the second is the apparent disagreement in the results o

Development of group method of data handling based on genetic algorithm to predict incipient motion in rigid rectangular storm water channel

Sediment transport is a prevalent vital process in uvial and coastal environments, and \incipient motion" is an issue inseparably bound to this topic. This study utilizes a novel hybrid method based on Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) to design GMDH structural (GMDH-GA). Also, Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) was utilized to compute the linear coe�cient vectors. In order to predict the densimetric Froude number (Fr), the ratio of median diameter of particle size to hydraulic radius (d=R) and the ratio of sediment deposit thickness to hydraulic radius (ts=R) are utilized as e�ective parameters. Using three di�erent sources of experimental data and GMDH-GA model, a new equation is proposed to predict incipient motion. The performance of development equation is compared using GMDH-GA and traditional equations . The results indicate that the presented equation is more accurate (RMSE = 0:18 and MAP E = 6:48%) than traditional methods. Also, a sensitivity analysis is presented to study the performance of each input combination in predicting incipient motio

Thyroid diseases: Pathophysiology and new hopes in treatment with medicinal plants and natural antioxidants

The thyroid gland regulates a wide range of physiological activities such as growth, metabolism, homeostasis, and cell proliferation and differentiation through the secretion of thyroid hormones (THs). Thyroid diseases are among the most common endocrine disorders, hypothyroidism is the most common clinical thyroid dysfunction. Hyperthyroidism means increased thyroid function and refers to excess metabolic state due to excessive synthesis and secretion of TH. Medicinal plants have been identified and used by humans throughout history. To name the herbs and natural antioxidants used to treat thyroid disorders including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Related articles were obtained using the Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. The results of this study indicate that medicinal plants include Fucus vesiculosus, Aegle marmelos, Coleus forskohlii, Linum usitatissimum, Withania somnifera, Commiphora mukul, Nigella sativa, and Bacopa monnieri. They can improve the hyperthyroidism in improving hyperthyroidism and herbal remedies, Melissa officinalis A. marmelos, Lycopus europaeus, Leonurus cardiaca, and Aloe barbadensis be effective. Herbal drugs cause comparatively fewer side effects. It is believed that the drugs derived from the plants are very safe and produce significant effects in the treatment of various diseases. Today, traditional medicine is being widely used and plants are still considered a major source of natural antioxidants that can serve as a clue for the development of new drugs

GMDH-type neural network approach for modeling the discharge coefficient of rectangular sharp-crested side weirs

Estimating the discharge coefficient using hydraulic and geometrical specifications is one of the influential factors in predicting the discharge passing over a side weir. Taking into account the fact that existing equations are incapable of estimating the discharge coefficient well, artificial intelligence methods are used to predict it. In this study, Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) was used for the purpose of predicting the discharge coefficient in a side weir. The Froude number (F1), weir dimensionless length (b/B), ratios of weir length to depth of upstream flow (b/y1) and weir height to its length (p/y1) were taken as input parameters to express a new model for predicting the discharge coefficient. Two different sets of laboratory data were used to train the artificial network and test the new model. Different statistical indexes were used to evaluate the performance of the GMDH model presented for two states, training and testing. The results indicate that the proposed model predicts the discharge coefficient precisely (MAPE = 5.263 & RMSE = 0.038) and this model is more accurate in predicting than the feed-forward neural network model and existing nonlinear regression equations

The effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on osmotic fragility of red blood cells and plasma levels of malondialdehyde in patients with breast cancer

BackgroundGamma radiation effects on the erythrocyte membrane from three different functional parts, lipid bilayer, cytoskeleton and protein components. When the red cell membrane is exposed to radiation, it loses its integrity and hemoglobin leaks out. In addition, irradiation leads to lipid peroxidation and the products of this process, leading to hemolysis. The aim of the present study was to measure osmotic fragility (OF) of red blood cells and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as a marker of oxidative injury in breast cancer patients treated with radiation and chemotherapy.Materials and MethodsThe OF test was performed using different concentrations of a salt solution. The measurement of MDA was done with chemical methods.11 The sampling was taken during three stages of treatment: first sample was taken before starting chemotherapy, the second sample was taken before radiation therapy and the third sample was taken after radiotherapy.ResultsNo statistically significant differences between levels of MDA in these three stages of treatment were observed. However, the comparison of mean levels of MDA showed an increase after radiotherapy. The OF rate did not show significant difference (P[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]>[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]0.05) during the stages of treatment.ConclusionIn a standard treatment program of radiotherapy and chemotherapy lipid peroxidation level and OF do not significantly increase