PIWI-interacting RNAs: New biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer

Cancer is one of the most important reasons of mortality in the world. However, there are several therapeutic platforms to treat patients who suffering from cancer common treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and etc. The current therapeutic approaches are related to some limitations. Hence, more understanding about molecular mechanisms that involved in cancer particularly in breast cancer pathogenesis, could contribute to provide better therapeutic platforms. Recently, non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs have attracted researchers' attention in the field of cancer due to their functions in gene expression's regulation and functional interactions with other molecules. Interestingly, great advances in next-generation sequencing lead to considering other roles for another non-coding RNAs subgroup called PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in addition to their functions in the germline. Novel studies investigated the role of piRNAs in several cancers including lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, multiple myeloma and colorectal cancer. Hopefully, based on new findings, piRNAs may be a potential biomarker which can be used as a tool to diagnose or treat breast cancer. Thus, this review aimed to discuss the role of piRNAs in breast cancer progression and metastasis as well as its molecular mechanisms. © 2020 The Author(s)

Circular RNAs: New genetic tools in melanoma

Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer. New technologies have resulted in major advances in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and other cancer types. Recently, some studies have investigated the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in different cancers. CircRNAs are a member of long noncoding RNA family mainly formed through back-splicing and have a closed-loop structure. These molecules affect several biological and oncogenic cascades in diverse ways via acting as microRNA sponge, interacting with RNA-binding proteins and acting as a transcription regulator. In this review, we made an insight into the impact of circRNA dysregulation in the melanoma tumorigenesis based on the presented evidences. © 2020 Future Medicine Ltd

Effects of probiotic supplementation on hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: To the best of our knowledge, data on effects of probiotic administration on hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are scarce. This investigation was conducted to assess the effects of probiotic supplementation on hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in women with PCOS. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 60 women with PCOS, aged 18-40 years old. Subjects were randomly assigned into 2 groups to receive either probiotics or placebo (n = 30 each group) for 12 weeks. Metabolic profiles were quantified at baseline and after a 12-week intervention. Results: After the 12-week intervention, compared with placebo, probiotic supplementation significantly increased serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (+25.9 ± 32.5 vs. +0.5 ± 15.6 nmol/L, P < 0.001) and plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (+8.8 ± 120.5 vs. -98.3 ± 246.4 mmol/L, P = 0.04), and significantly decreased serum total testosterone (-0.2 ± 0.7 vs. +0.2 ± 0.6 ng/mL, P = 0.03), modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mF-G) scores (-1.7 ± 1.5 vs. -0.2 ± 1.0, P < 0.001), serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (-1150.0 ± 1295.2 vs. +202.5 ± 1426.3 ng/mL, P < 0.001) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (-0.2 ± 0.6 vs. +0.9 ± 1.3 µmol/L, P < 0.001). We did not observe any detrimental effect of probiotic supplementation on other metabolic profiles. Conclusion: Overall, probiotic supplementation of PCOS women for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on total testosterone, SHBG, mFG scores, hs-CRP, TAC and MDA levels but did not affect other metabolic profiles. © 2018 The Author(s)

Evaluation of aluminium, manganese, copper and selenium effects on human islets amyloid polypeptide hormone aggregation

Islet amyloid formation causes destruction of insulin-producing β-cells of the pancreas. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose. In this research, the fluorimetric assay was used to examine the effects of aluminium and some nutritionally essential trace elements including, manganese, copper and selenium on amyloid formation of human peptide of amylin under near-physiological circumstances. Results obtained from in vitro study showed that after 120 h incubation by shaker incubator in37°C, copper and selenium at 8 μM inhibited amylin 8 μM from amyloid fibril formation by 22.1 and 11.3, respectively (p<0.05) while the similar values of either aluminium and manganese promoted the formation of β-pleated sheet structure by 19.3 and 13.2 respectively (p<0.05). If islet amyloid is cytotoxic to β-cells then copper and selenium may be able to protect these cells against degeneration in diabetic patients especially in type 2 diabetes mellitus. © 2011 Asian Network for Scientific Information

To study various concentrations of magnesium and aluminium on amylin hormone conformation

Type 2 diabetes mellitus can be defined as a conformational disease since a beta cell producing protein called amylin undergoes a change in the tertiary structure followed by self-aggregation and deposition. Amylin deposition causes destruction of pancreatic (3-cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether different concentrations of magnesium and aluminium alter amylin conformation under near-physiological circumstances. Conformational variations were monitored by fluorescent method before and after incubation by shaker incubator in 37°C by LS55 spectrofluorometer instrument. This in vitro study showed that magnesium had contradictory effects on amylin folding and these effects were magnesium concentration dependent. Magnesium with concentration of 1 to 1.5 mM had inhibitoiy effect but in 2.5 to 3.5 mM promoted amylin misfolding significantly (p<0.05). The obtained data also demonstrated that aluminium with concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 juM had stimulatory effects on formation of beta-amyloid sheet significantly (p<0.05). It may be concluded that islet amyloid misfolding and cytotoxicity to 3-cells might be magnesium dose dependent in diabetic patients. © 2011 Asian Network for Scientific Information

To determine the possible roles of two essential trace elements and ascorbic acid concerning amyloidal betasheet formation in diabetes mellitus

Amylin is a peptide hormone that is made and co-secreted along with insulin. Human amylin is the main component of amyloid beta-sheet found in the pancreas of majority of diabetic patients. Amyloidogenesis causes destruction of pancreatic β-cells. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose. In this article, the fluorimetric assay was used to examine the role of ascorbic acid and two essential trace elements including zinc and iron on beta-amyloid formation of human peptide of amylin hormone under near-physiological circumstances. Results obtained from in vitro study showed that after 120 h incubation by shaker incubator at 37°C, zinc element at 10 μM inhibited amylin 10 μM from amyloid fibril formation by 9.1 (p<0.05) while the similar value of iron element promoted the formation of β-sheet structure by 13.1 (p<0.05). The obtained data also demonstrated that ascorbic acid with concentration of 150 μM had inhibitory effects on formation of beta-amyloid sheet significantly (p<0.05). It may be concluded that if islet amyloid is cytotoxic to β-cells then zinc and ascorbic acid should protect these cells against degeneration in diabetic patients. © 2011 Academic Journals

The potential role of chitosan-based nanoparticles as drug delivery systems in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal cancers and 12th most common cancer in the world. Due to the inaccessible anatomical position of the pancreas and asymptomatic early stages of this disease, PC has a high mortality rate. Therefore, providing reliable diagnostic and therapeutic tools are the keys to increase the PC survival rate. Nanotechnology is an inchoate field of science that previously scientists' tendency to enhance the efficacy of current preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic methods has oriented them to build a bridge between this science and medicine. In the case of PC, nanotechnology suggests using drug delivery devices for a more effective and targeted therapy. Chitosan is a natural polymer that recently has attracted a lot of attention for being renewable, nontoxic, and bioabsorbable. In this article, we tend to look for the answer to this question: has nanotechnology been successful in using chitosan-based nanoformulations as carriers for preventing more individuals from suffering or at least increasing the 5-year survival of the PC patients?. © 2020 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biolog

Iranian medicinal plants for diabetes mellitus: A systematic review

In the Iranian traditional medicine a significant usage of herbs is promoted for their anti-diabetic activity. The aim of this review to assess the efficacy of glucose lowering effects of medicinal plants cultivated in Iran. An electronic literature search of MEDLINE, Science Direct, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library Database, Ebsco and Google Scholar from database inception conducted up to May 2012. A total of 85 studies (18 humans and 67 animals) examining 62 plants were reviewed. The quality of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) assessed by using the Jadad scale. Among the RCTs studies, the best results in glycemic control was found in Aloe vera, Citrullus colocynthus, Plantago ovata, Silybum marianum, Rheum ribes and Urtica dioica. The majority of plants that have been studied for antidiabetic activity showed promising results. However, efficacy and safety of the most plants used in the treatment of diabetes are not sufficient. © 2013 Asian Network for Scientific Information

Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on inflammatory cytokines and advanced glycation end products in patients with diabetic nephropathy a randomized controlled trial

Introduction. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on inflammatory cytokines and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). Materials and Methods. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was done on 60 patients with DN who were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive either 1000 mg/d of omega-3 fatty acid from flaxseed oil (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome variables were tumor necrosis factor-α, receptor tumor necrosis factor-α and growth differentiation factor 15. Fasting blood samples were taken at the onset and the end of the study to quantify the related markers. Results. Compared with the placebo, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in serum AGEs (-2.3 ± 2.8 AU versus 0.2 ± 2.5 AU, P =.001). Despite a significant reduction in serum level of receptor for AGEs (-0.1 ± 0.3 AU, P =.02) in the omega-3 fatty acid group, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of their effects on the receptor for AGEs. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid had no significant effect on the inflammatory cytokines as compared with the placebo. Conclusions. Our study demonstrated that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation among DN patients had favorable effects on AGEs and the receptor for AGEs. © 2016, Iranian Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved