Dysregulation of miR-638 in breast cancer patients and bioinformatics investigation of its target genes in apoptosis, angiogenesis and autophagy pathways

Background: Breast cancer, as the most frequent cancer diagnosed in women worldwide, is affected by different regulatory mechanisms and cellular processes such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and autophagy, which influence tumor cell progression. MiRNAs play a crucial role in cancer progression. Aberrant miRNA expression has been described in various human cancers. Growing evidence proposes that miRNAs have a considerable role in tumor development and may constitute robust biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate miRNA-638 (miR-638) expression level in breast cancer patients and its bioinformatics analysis. Methods: In this case-control study, miR-638 expression was examined in fresh breast tissues of 47 patients with breast cancer using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Then the role of miR-638 in various signaling pathways was studied using Target Scan, the MicroRNA-Target Interactions (miRTarBase) database, miRWalk2.0 and the database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery (DAVID). Results: The miR-638 expression level showed a significant decrease in breast cancer patients. Also, this miRNA might be involved in apoptosis, angiogenesis, and autophagy. Conclusions: According to the results, miR-638 can be used as a potential prognostic biomarker for cancer growth, and its low expression is thought to increase cancer progression by disrupting cell death and autophagy, which are considered as important pathways in breast cancer

Crocus Sativus L. (Saffron) Extract and its Active Constituents (Crocin and Safranal) on Ischemia-Reperfusion in Rat Skeletal Muscle

Saffron and its constituents have been shown to decrease ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in kidney or brain tissues. In this study, the effects of saffron ethanolic extract and its constituents, crocin and safranal, were evaluated in skeletal muscle during I/R injury. Hind limb ischemia was induced using clamping the common femoral artery and vein. After 2 h ischemia, the clamp of the femoral vessels of animals was taken off and the animal underwent 1h reperfusion. Muscle injuries were evaluated by recording of the electromyographic (EMG) potentials and performing some biochemical analysis including thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total sulfhydryl (SH) groups and antioxidant capacity of muscle (using FRAP assay). The ethanolic extract of saffron (5, 20 and 80 mg kg−1), crocin (50, 200 and 400 mg kg−1), safranal (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 ml kg−1) and normal saline (10 ml kg−1) were administered intraperitoneally 1 h prior reperfusion. The average peak-to-peak amplitude during I/R was significantly increased in extract, crocin and safranal groups in comparison with control-ischemic group. Following saffron, crocin and safranal administration, the total SH contents and antioxidant capacity were elevated in muscle flap. The MDA level was declined significantly in test groups. It is concluded that saffron extract and its constituents show a protective effect against lower limb I/R in rat

Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering

This publication is the Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering from July 6-8, 2022. The EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering brings together international experts working on the interface between advanced computing and modern engineering challenges. Many engineering tasks require open-world resolution of challenges such as supporting multi-actor collaboration, coping with approximate models, providing effective engineer-computer interaction, search in multi-dimensional solution spaces, accommodating uncertainty, including specialist domain knowledge, performing sensor-data interpretation and dealing with incomplete knowledge. While results from computer science provide much initial support for resolution, adaptation is unavoidable and most importantly, feedback from addressing engineering challenges drives fundamental computer-science research. Competence and knowledge transfer goes both ways. &nbsp

Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering

This publication is the Proceedings of the 29th EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering from July 6-8, 2022. The EG-ICE International Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering brings together international experts working on the interface between advanced computing and modern engineering challenges. Many engineering tasks require open-world resolution of challenges such as supporting multi-actor collaboration, coping with approximate models, providing effective engineer-computer interaction, search in multi-dimensional solution spaces, accommodating uncertainty, including specialist domain knowledge, performing sensor-data interpretation and dealing with incomplete knowledge. While results from computer science provide much initial support for resolution, adaptation is unavoidable and most importantly, feedback from addressing engineering challenges drives fundamental computer-science research. Competence and knowledge transfer goes both ways. &nbsp

Seismic Microzonation of Tehran based on deterministic seismic hazard analysis and seismic indexes around faults

Tehran has situated over several active faults such as Mosha, North Tehran, North Ray and South Ray faults and has experienced strong earthquakes in its history. It is possible the same earthquake occurs and result to large damages and many casualties. In this paper, seismic hazard analysis of Tehran city has been done with deterministic seismic hazard analysis, using specification of Tehran scenario active faults, soil conditions, average shear wave velocity extracted from several researches on Tehran area. To do this, a credible attenuation relation which considers effects of near source that has appropriate adaptation with Iran records has been used. In the following, deterministic seismic hazard analysis considering earthquake at closest distance to each mesh was done. Then, seismic output such as PGA, PGV, PGD and SA for all meshes of Tehran and their soil condition was done for each fault scenario. Then, maximum of seismic index was calculated for each and all scenarios on GIS and the results were evaluated. One of the main results of this article is calculation of seismic indexes near faults, so spectral acceleration near to North Tehran or Ray Faults with soil types I, II and III predicted as 1.2, 1.5 and 2g corresponding to predominant period of short buildings and it means high damages on areas over or near faults

Validation of the Persian version of the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) in Pregnant Women: A Proper Tool to Assess Spirituality Related to Mental Health

Assessing spirituality in healthy pregnant women may lead to supportive interventions that will improve their care. A psychometrically valid measure such as the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES) may be helpful in this regard. The current study sought to adapt a Persian version of DSES for use in pregnancy. A total of 377 pregnant women were recruited from three general hospitals located in Tehran, Iran. Administered scales were the DSES, Duke University Religion Index, Santa Clara Strength of Religiou

The effect of autophagy-related MicroRNAs on FIP200, ATG13 and HIF1A expression levels in breast cancer patients

Autophagy acts like a double-edged sword in either tumor promotion or suppression of breast cancer. Crosstalk between miRNAs and autophagic targets is one interesting scenario for the dual behavior of this pathway. On this basis the present study was designed to evaluate the expression pattern of certain candidate miRNAs and their targets in breast cancer patients. A total of 47 fresh breast carcinomas and matched adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were obtained. Bioinformatics analysis of putative miRNA binding sites identified miR-133, and miR-206, miR-199a/b, as regulating expressions of the FIP200, ATG-13 and HIF1a, respectively. The expression levels of candidate miRNAs and their targets were examined using quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. Our results demonstrated that all four miRNAs expression levels are downregulated in breast tumor tissue compared with corresponding non-neoplastic tissue. Decreased expression of miR-133 and miR-199b showed a significant correlation with tumor grade. Moreover, a significant downregulation of miR-199b was observed in HER-2-negative patients. We found that FIP200 and ATG13 were downregulated in tumor tissues while HIF1a showed a significant upregulation. No significant association between the target genes and clinicopathological features was observed. Our data clarified a strong positive correlation between expression levels of miR-133 and FIP200 while the correlation between miR-206 and ATG13, and, miR-199a/b and HIF1a were not statistically significant. In conclusion, these results support the regulatory role of miR-133 during breast cancer development via the autophagy pathway and provide an opportunity to develop targeted therapeutics for breast cancer