Neuroprotective effect of cannabidiol on NTF-3 and IGF-1 genes expression

739-743Cannabidiol is a herbal compound that has been found to be effective in improvement of inflammatory demyelinating diseases and could be useful to increase supportive factors in remyelination. It is derived from Cannabis sativa known as Marijuana. The aim of this research was to investigate the changes in the expression of neuroprotective NTF-3 and IGF-1 genes with focus on multiple sclerosis (MS) disease after treating U373-MG glial cells with cannabidiol. In this regard U373-MG astrocyte cells were treated at timescales of 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h with doses of cannabidiol, the total cellular RNA was extracted and converted into cDNA. Eventually, changes in NTF-3 and IGF-1 gene expressions were evaluated by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The results supported the theory that very low doses of the drug are neuroprotective for glial cells and CNS. Probably cannabidiol fulfills it by stimulating the growth and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells to become mature oligodendrocytes. However, further research work and application of complementary techniques are necessary to ensure trust worthy in vivo and in vitro results

Neuroprotective effect of cannabidiol on NTF-3 and IGF-1 genes expression

Cannabidiol is a herbal compound that has been found to be effective in improvement of inflammatory demyelinating diseases and could be useful to increase supportive factors in remyelination. It is derived from Cannabis sativa known as Marijuana. The aim of this research was to investigate the changes in the expression of neuroprotective NTF-3 and IGF-1 genes with focus on multiple sclerosis (MS) disease after treating U373-MG glial cells with cannabidiol. In this regard U373-MG astrocyte cells were treated at timescales of 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h with doses of cannabidiol, the total cellular RNA was extracted and converted into cDNA. Eventually, changes in NTF-3 and IGF-1 gene expressions were evaluated by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The results supported the theory that very low doses of the drug are neuroprotective for glial cells and CNS. Probably cannabidiol fulfills it by stimulating the growth and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells to become mature oligodendrocytes. However, further research work and application of complementary techniques are necessary to ensure trust worthy in vivo and in vitro results

Omega-3 fatty acid DHA modulates p53, survivin, and microRNA-16-1 expression in KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer stem-like cells

Abstract Background The presence of chemotherapy-resistant colorectal cancer stem cells (CCSCs) with KRAS mutation is thought to be one of the primary causes for treatment failure in colorectal cancer (CRC). P53, survivin, and microRNA-16-1 are challenging targets for anticancer drugs which are associated with chemoresistance in CRC. Yet, no p53-, survivin-, and microRNA-16-1-modulating drug with low toxicity but high efficacy against KRAS-mutant CCSCs have been approved for clinical application in CRC. Here, we investigated whether in vitro concentrations of DHA equal to human plasma levels, are able to modulate, Wt-p53, survivin, and microRNA-16-1 in CRC cells with stem cell-like properties. Methods Wt-p53/KRAS-mutant CRC cells (HCT-116) with stem cell-like properties were treated with 100-, 150- and 200-μM/L DHA, after which cell number, viability, growth inhibition, Wt-p53, survivin and microRNA-16-1 expression, caspase-3 activation and apoptotic-rate were evaluated by different cellular and molecular techniques. Results After 24-, 48-, and 72-h treatments with 100- to 200-μM/L DHA, growth inhibition- rates were measured to be 54.7% to 59.7%, 73.% to 75.8%, and 63.3% to 97.7%, respectively. Treatment for 48 h with indicated DHA concentrations decreased cell number and viability. In addition, we observed a decrease in both the transcript and protein levels of survivin followed by 1.3- to 1.7- and 1.1- to 4.7-fold increases in the Wt-p53 accumulation and caspase-3 activation levels respectively. Treatment with 100 and 150 μM/L DHA increased microRNA-16-1 expression levels by 1.3- to 1.7-fold and enhanced the microRNA-16-1/survivin mRNA, p53/survivin, and caspase-3/survivin protein ratios by 1.7- to 1.8-, 1.3- to 2.6-, and 1.3- to 2-fold increases respectively. A decrease in the number of live cells and an increase in the number of apoptotic cells were also observed with increasing DHA concentrations. Conclusion Wt-p53, survivin, and microRNA-16-1 appear to be promising molecular targets of DHA. Thus, DHA might represent an attractive anti-tumor agent directed against KRAS-mutant CCSCs

Neomolgus iraniensis Eghbalian, Khanjani, Safaralizadeh and Ueckermann, sp. nov.

Neomolgus iraniensis Eghbalian, Khanjani, Safaralizadeh and Ueckermann sp. nov. (Figs. 11–19) Diagnosis. Each chelicera with 21 setae, palp basifemur with seven setae, palp tibiotarsus with 14 setae, genital plate with ten pairs of setae, and aggenital region with three pairs of setae. Female (n= 3). Total body length (including gnathosoma from apex of hypostome to posterior margin of idiosoma) 2025 (1750–1813), body length (excluding gnathosoma) 1500 (1275–1350); width 1000 (862–950). Dorsum (Fig. 11). Dorsum with irregularly broken striae; prodorsum with two pairs of eyes, diameters of anterior eye 50 (40–45) and posterolateral eye 40 (33–38). Striae between setae vi transverse; dorsal setae (c 1 -h 2) smooth, prodorsal setae vi, sci and sce broken on three collected specimens, eyes separated by distance ~ 2 (2–2.4) times diameter of anterior pair eyes, interval between eyes with oblique and longitudinal striae; hysterosomal setae not extending to bases of setae next behind. Between hysterosomal setae (c 1, d 1, e 1) fine, longitudinal and transversal broken striae; between setae f 1 longitudinal and setae h 1-2 transverse striae; between setae c 1–2 with oblique striae; hysterosomal region with three cupules (ia, im and ip) at level of setae d 1, e 1 and f 1 (Fig. 11). Measurements of dorsal setae: vi, sce and sci broken, c 1 70 (70–90), c 2 65 (65–88), d 1 55 (55–88), e 1 63 (63–88), f 1 58 (75), f 2 53 (53–75), h 1 63 (63–80), h 2 63 (63–88). Distance between dorsal setae: vi– vi 84 (63–69); vi–sce 200 (200–240); sci–sci 185 (185–200); sce–sci 35 (38–48); sce–sce 200 (200); sci–c 1 270 (277–288); sci–c 2 338 (200–350); c 1 –c 1 375 (180–375); c 1 –c 2 136 (120–140); c 1 –d 1 195 (175); d 1 –d 1 312 (185); d 1 –e 1 200 (185); e 1 – e 1 195 (175); e 1 –f 1 140 (120); f 1 –f 1 64 (80); f 1 –f 2 80 (88); f 2 –f 2 176 (170); f 1 –h 1 176 (170); h 1 –h 1 65 (63); h 1 –h 2 100 (123); h 2 –h 2 128 (138). Gnathosoma (Fig. 12). Subcapitulum 425 (462–500) long, width at base 225 (200–250); base of subcapitulum with broken and transverse striae, hypostome smooth; palp five–segmented, palp tibiotarsus with 14 setae [DES and VES 203 (215) and 173 (200) respectively]; genu with four setae; telofemur with one seta; basifemur with seven setae; trochanter lacking setae; measurements of palp segments: trochanter 15 (13), basifemur 290 (355), telofemur 45 (55), genu 55 (53), tibiotarsus 305 (310). Subcapitulum with six pairs of setae (vh 1–6), distal pair (vh 6) 75 (88) more than twice length of proximal pair (vh 1) 33 (35); two pairs of short adoral setae near tip of hypostome, avs 28 (30) and ad 19 (21). Cheliceral length 443 (425–433), width 95 (100–105), with 21 smooth setae (ch 1–21), distal setae [ch 1] 98 (75) and proximal setae [ch 21] 38 (50), and; movable digit longer than fixed digit, movable chelae with two teeth and fixed digit smooth; distal seta (ch 1) long extending to base of chela (Fig. 12). Venter (Fig. 13). Aggenital region with three pairs of setae (ag 1–3), each genital plate with ten pairs of setae (g 1–10) (Fig. 13); anal region with three pairs of smooth setae (ps 1–3): ps 1 65, ps 2 63 and ps 3 broken. Ovipositor (Figs. 14-15) Ovipositor with 16 smooth setae and ovipositor gland as depicted in Figs 14-15. Legs (Figs. 16-19). Measurements of leg segments: I 1075 (1050), II 1050 (1115), III 1150 (1125), IV 1350 (1235). Setal formulae of leg segments: coxae I–IV: 5 – 3–4 – 2; trochanters I–IV: 1 – 1 – 1 – 1; basifemora I–IV: 11 – 10 – 10 – 6; telofemora I–IV: 7 – 7 – 6 – 6; genua I–IV: 7 ts, 11 s – 6 ts, 10 s – 5 ts– 7 ts, 3 s; tibiae I– 16 ts, 16 f, 1 e, 1 tr– 15 ts, 5 f, 1 tr– 17 ts, 1 f – 15 ts, 1 f, 1 tr; tarsi I–IV: 40 ts, 1 dt, 9 w, 1 e – 41 ts, 1 dt, 3 w – 41 ts, 1 tr– 45 ts, 1 tr (Figs. 16-19). Remarks. Neomolgus iraniensis Eghbalian, Khanjani, Safaralizadeh and Ueckermann sp. nov. is closely related to N. pygmaeus Shiba (1969) in having four setae on the papal genu, coxa I with five setae and telofemora II-IV with 7 – 6 – 6 setae but differs from the latter in having: 1) Dorsal setae smooth in N. iraniensis opposed to plumose in N. pygmaeus; 2) each chelicera with 21 setae in new species while eight setae in N. pygmaeus; 3) papal basifemur with seven setae in the former while four setae in the latter; 4) palp tibiotarsus with 14 setae in the new species opposed to nine setae in the latter; 5) each genital plate with ten setae vs eight setae; 6) Coxae II-IV with 3– 4 – 2 vs 4 – 3 – 3. Neomolgus iraniensis Eghbalian, Khanjani, Safaralizadeh and Ueckermann sp. nov. is closely related to N. longipalpus Kuznetsov (1984) in having 7 – 6 – 6 setae on telofemora II-IV and coxa III-IV with 4 – 2 setae but differs from the latter in having: 1) each chelicera with 21 setae in the new species instead of 16 (17) setae in N. longipalpus; 2) palp basifemur with seven setae versus 19 setae; 3) palp genu with four setae versus ten setae; 4) palp tibiotarsus with 14 setae versus 27 setae; 5) coxa I-II with 5 – 3 setae versus 6 – 4 setae; 6) basifemura I-IV with 11 – 10 – 10 – 6 setae versus 22 – 17 – 15 – 8 setae; 7) telofemur I with seven setae instead of eight setae. Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from Iran, due to the country where the new species was collected. Type material. The holotype and two paratype females were collected from soil and litter under wild almond trees, Amygdalus scoparia L. (Rosaceae), "Sirvan river bank", located in Palangan village, Kamyaran, Kermanshah Province, Iran, (35 ° 03.7' N, 46 ° 35.97 ' E, a.s.l. 864 m), 14 IV 2013, by Amir Hossein Eghbalian. The holotype and one paratype females (EHBN 15014 and EPBH 15015, respectively) are deposited in the Mites Collection of the Acarology Laboratory, University of Bu–Ali Sina, Hamedan, Iran, and one paratype female slide will be deposited in the National Collection of Arachnida, Plant Protection Research Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.Published as part of Eghbalian, Amir Hossein, Khanjani, Mohammad, Safaralizadeh, Mohammad Hassan & Ueckermann, Edward A., 2016, New species of Hexabdella and Neomolgus (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdellidae) from Iran, pp. 291-300 in Zootaxa 4072 (2) on pages 296-298, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.2.10, http://zenodo.org/record/26060

Two new species of Cyta (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdellidae) from Western Iran

Eghbalian, Amir Hossein, Khanjani, Mohammad, Safaralizadeh, Mohammad Hassan, Ueckermann, Rd. A. (2014): Two new species of Cyta (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdellidae) from Western Iran. Zootaxa 3847 (4): 567-575, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3847.4.

Hexabdella

Key to adult female Hexabdella of the world (modified from Van der Schyff et al. 2004) and to Neomolgus of Asia (Iran, Japan, Uzbekistan) and the Siberian region of Russia 1. Tibia II without trichobothria, each chelicera with two setae.................. Bdellinae… Hexabdella Van der Schyff … 2 - Tibia II with trichobothria, each chelicera with more than 2 setae........... Odontoscirinae … Neomolgus Oudemans … 11 2. Opisthosomal setae distally branched...................................................................... 3 - Opisthosomal setae smooth or slightly plumose.............................................................. 5 3. Dorsal striae coarsely to sparsely broken; seta ps 1 smooth; coxa IV without macroseta.............................. 4 - Dorsal striae finely broken; seta ps 1 branched; coxa IV with a serrated macroseta.............................................................................................. H. denheyeri Van der Schyff, Theron & Ueckermann 4. Marginal striae of hysterosoma with lobes, visible as dashed lines............... H. cinquaginta Hernandes, Daud & Feres - Marginal striae of hysterosoma smooth............................ H. singula Van der Schyff, Theron & Ueckermann 5. Eyes present......................................................................................... 6 - Eyes absent................................................. H. maraugia Van der Schyff, Theron & Ueckermann 6. Two pairs of eyes present; chelicerae striated............................................................... 7 - One pair of eyes present; chelicerae smooth...................... H. unusoculata Van der Schyff, Theron & Ueckermann 7. Palp basifemur with five or six setae...................................................................... 8 - Palp basifemur with four setae........................................................ H. brevitarsis Hernandes 8. Palp basifemur with five setae........................................................................... 9 - Palp basifemur with six setae.......................... H. persiaensis Paktinat Saeej, Bagheri, Saboori & Ueckermann 9. Solenidotaxy of tibiae I–IV 3 – 2 – 1 –0..................................................................... 10 - Solenidotaxy of tibiae I– IV 1 – 1 – 1 –0............................. H. miranda Van der Schyff, Theron & Ueckermann 10. Coxa II with four setae; basifemura II and IV with seven and fivesetae; genu IV with 4 setae (1 s); fixed digit two thirds the length of movable digit......................................................... H. mexicana (Baker & Balock) - Coxa II with three setae; basifemura II and IV with eight and four setae; genu IV with five setae (1 s); fixed digit as long as movable digit................................ H. quercusi Eghbalian, Khanjani, Safaralizadeh & Ueckermann sp. nov. 11. Palp genu with four setae.............................................................................. 12 - Palp genu with ten setae............................................................ N. longipalpus Kuznetsov 12. Palp tibiotarsus with 8–14 setae......................................................................... 13 - Palp tibiotarsus with more than 20 setae......................................................... N. littoralis (L.) 13. Chelicerae with 7–11 setae............................................................................. 14 - Chelicerae with 21 setae...................... N. iraniensis Eghbalian, Khanjani, Safaralizadeh & Ueckermann sp. nov. 14. Palp basifemur with four setae.......................................................................... 15 - Palp basifemur with five to seven setae................................................................... 16 15. Palp tibiotarsus with eight setae (including end setae); chelicerae with seven setae........... N. raptor Kuznetsov & Barilo - Palp tibiotarsus with nine setae (including end setae); chelicerae with eight setae.................... N. pygmaeus Shiba 16. Prodorsum without distinct dorsal shield.................................................................. 17 - Prodorsum with distinct dorsal shield....................................................... N. clypeatus (Thor) 17. Chelicerae with nine setae; palp basifemur with 5–6 setae........................................... N. pallipes (L.) - Chelicerae with 11 setae; palp basifemur with 7 setae....................................... N. capillatus (Kramer)Published as part of Eghbalian, Amir Hossein, Khanjani, Mohammad, Safaralizadeh, Mohammad Hassan & Ueckermann, Edward A., 2016, New species of Hexabdella and Neomolgus (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdellidae) from Iran, pp. 291-300 in Zootaxa 4072 (2) on page 299, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.2.10, http://zenodo.org/record/26060

Hexabdella Van

Genus Hexabdella Van der Schyff et al. 2004 Type species: Hexabdella denheyeri Van der Schyff et al. 2004Published as part of Eghbalian, Amir Hossein, Khanjani, Mohammad, Safaralizadeh, Mohammad Hassan & Ueckermann, Edward A., 2016, New species of Hexabdella and Neomolgus (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdellidae) from Iran, pp. 291-300 in Zootaxa 4072 (2) on page 292, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.2.10, http://zenodo.org/record/26060

Neomolgus Oudemans 1937

Genus Neomolgus Oudemans, 1937 Type species: Bdella capillata Berlese 1981Published as part of Eghbalian, Amir Hossein, Khanjani, Mohammad, Safaralizadeh, Mohammad Hassan & Ueckermann, Edward A., 2016, New species of Hexabdella and Neomolgus (Acari: Prostigmata: Bdellidae) from Iran, pp. 291-300 in Zootaxa 4072 (2) on page 295, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.2.10, http://zenodo.org/record/26060

Importance of mir-411-5p in colorectal cancer

The abnormal expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays a key role in colorectal cancer (CRC). The present study attempted to identify the potential miRNA biomarkers of CRC due to the important role of microRNAs within the DLK1-DIO3 genomic region, especially the role of mir-411-5p in other cancers. This prospective study characterized the contribution of mir-411-5p to CRC tumorigenesis. The Real-time quantitative reverse-transcription –polymerase chain reaction was used to examine miR-411-5p expression levels prospectively in 40 pairs of samples of CRC tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues (>2 cm from cancer tissue). Also, the relationship between miR-411-5p expression levels and clinicopathological characteristics was explored. The capability of miR-411-5p to function as a tumor marker in CRC was also examined. MiR-411-5p was significantly downregulated in a group of CRC samples compared with matched noncancerous tissues. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve also showed ROC area of 68% for miR-411-5p (P value=0.006) with 70% and 65% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. According to the survey results, miR-411-5p might be considered as a tumor marker in CRC and it might be a promising therapeutic option which may help prevent CRC