Effect of glycyrrhetinic acid and glycyrrhizic acid on the expression of CXCR4 in epithelial cells of gastric carcinoma

Background and purpose: Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and the second common cause of cancer death worldwide. Surgery is the only treatment for gastric cancer but about 50% percent of patients have inoperable tumors. For these patients, combined chemotherapy is the primary treatment which has some side effects. CXCR4 that is expressed on the surface of tumor cells plays a role in metastasis and chemotaxis of tumor cells to different tissues. Licorice compounds are known to have anticancer properties, so this study aimed at investigating their effects on the expression of CXCR4 receptor in gastric cancer AGS cells. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 106 cells were poured in all wells of 6 pieces plates and exposed to various concentrations of Glycyrrhetinic acid and Glycyrrhizic acid for 24 hours. The CXCR4 gene expression levels were determined by Real−Time PCR and the level of expression in the groups was compared using ANOVA and Dunntt's post hoc test in prism software. P <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The results showed a significant decrease in CXCR4 gene expression in cells exposed to acid Glycyrrhizic and acid Glycyrrhetinic at 24 hours compared with that of the control group. In fact, decreased expressions of CXCR4 reduced the rates of metastasis and chemotaxis Conclusion: The compounds used in this study reduced the CXCR4 gene expression, so, they could be used as effective treatments for gastric cancer

An evaluation the effect of glycyrrhetinic and glycyrrhizic acids derived from licorice extract on gastric cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer is the second most prevalent carcinogenic disease and surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are its principal treatment modalities. However, in most cases, poor response to treatment and adverse side effects are observed regarding these modalities. Given the lack of response to treatment and growing rates of gastric cancer, researchers are trying to come up with more efficient treatments with fewer side effects. In the traditional medicine, licorice has been suggested as a cancer treatment considering its high antioxidant properties and few side effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of licorice extract on gastric cancer cell lines. METHODS: In this experimental study, adenocarcinoma gastric cell lines were prepared from cell bank and were cultured. After passage, the cells were transferred into a 96-well plate. In each well, approximately 2,000 cells in RPMI-1640 culture medium with FBS (10%) were placed. The cells were repeatedly exposed to different concentrations of Glycyrrhetinic acid (0, 1, 10 and100.1 μM) and Glycyrrhizic acid (10, 1, 100 and 0.1 μM) for 24 and 48 hours. Finally, the obtained results of the experimental and control groups were compared with each other. FINDINGS: According to our results, the toxic effect of Glycyrrhetinic and Glycyrrhizic acids is dose and time dependent. In 24 hours, the mean optical density (MOD) in 100 μM concentration of Glycyrrhetinic acid was 0.41±0.02 and 0.79±0.04 in the experimental and control groups, respectively (p=0.0002). After 48 hours, MOD was 0.16±0.004 and 1.749±0.24 in the experimental and control groups, respectively (p=0.0003). Moreover, the MOD of 100 μM concentration of Glycyrrhizic acid was 0.78±0.53 and 2.09±0.49 in the experimental and control groups in 48 hours. There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (p=0.035). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that the licorice compounds have a toxic effect on carcinogenic cells. Therefore, it is recommended to perform more study on both Glycyrrhizic and Glycyrrhizic acids as effective compounds on gastric cancer treatmen

Effects of letrozole and clomiphene citrate on Wnt signaling pathway in endometrium of polycystic ovarian syndrome and healthy women

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. In addition to anovulation, endometrial dysfunction can reduce fertility in PCOS. The cyclical changes of endometrium are controlled by estrogen and progesterone via modulating the Wnt/B-catenin pathway. Clomiphene citrate (CC) and letrozole are used to induce ovulation; unlike letrozole, there is a discrepancy between ovulation and pregnancy rates in CC-treated cycles. Because of the anti-estrogenic effects of CC on endometrium, we compared the expression of the key molecules of the Wnt/B-catenin pathway in the endometrium of women taking CC and letrozole. This study included PCOS and healthy women divided into the groups stimulated with letrozole (5 mg) or CC (100 mg) as well as NO-treatment groups. The endometrial thickness and hormonal profile were measured on day 12 of the menses. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, we evaluated mRNA and protein expression of B-catenin, glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3B), dickkopf Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1), and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) in the endometrial samples. Significantly, the mean serum estrogen and progesterone were lower and higher, respectively, in letrozole than CC groups. The endometrial thickness was significantly reduced in CC. The proteins expression of active B-catenin, inactive GSK3B, and ESR1 were significantly decreased in CC-treated groups. The mRNA and protein assessment of DKK1 showed significantly higher expression in CC. Our results indicate that letrozole can provide an acceptable activation of the Wnt/B-catenin pathway, resulting in adequate proliferation of endometrium in the women receiving letrozole compared to CC. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction

Derivation of a fractional Boussinesq equation for modelling unconfined groundwater

In this manuscript, a fractional Boussinesq equation is obtained by assuming power-law changes of flux in a control volume and using a fractional Taylor series. Furthermore, it was assumed that the average thickness of the watery layer of an aquifer is constant, and the linear fractional Boussinesq equation was derived. Unlike classical Boussinesq equation, due to the non-locality property of fractional derivatives, the parameters of the fractional Boussinesq equation are constant and scale-invariant. In addition, the fractional Boussinesq equation has two various fractional orders of differentiation with respect to x and y that indicate the degree of heterogeneity in the x and y directions, respectively

GnRH agonist trigger versus hCG trigger in GnRH antagonist in IVF/ICSI cycles: A review article

Routinely, a bolus of 5.000-10.000 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is used for the final follicular maturation and ovulation as a standard method. HCG has the same effect of luteinizing hormone (LH) with long half-life. It has the long lutheotrophic effect which increases the risk of ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome (OHSS). Recently, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) trigger has been used for the induction of final follicular maturation and ovulation with the aim of reducing the OHSS risk. Several studies have shown that the releases of endogenous follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and LH after administration of GnRH agonist in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles are able to precede the final follicular maturation leading to removal of fertile oocyte with normal development of the embryo and ultimately pregnancy. But based on the results of some studies, using GnRH-a trigger leads to defect luteal-phase resulting to reduce the implantation and clinical pregnancy rates and also increase abortion in fresh embryo transfer cycles compared to routine IVF cycle with hCG triggering . Also, in recent years, studies have continued to modify the luteal phase support, so that the fresh embryo transfer is possible too. In this review, we examined the benefits, problems, and also ways to reform GnRH agonist triggering complications

Multipotent Stem Cell and Current Application

Stem cells are self-renewing and undifferentiated cell types that can be differentiate into functional cells. Stem cells can be classified into two main types based on their source of origin: Embryonic and Adult stem cells. Stem cells also classified based on the range of differentiation potentials into Totipotent, Pluripotent, Multipotent, and Unipotent. Multipotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into all cell types within one particular lineage. There are plentiful advantages and usages for multipotent stem cells. Multipotent Stem cells act as a significant key in procedure of development, tissue repair, and protection. Multipotent Stem cells have been applying in treatment of different disorders such as spinal cord injury, bone fracture, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, hematopoietic defects, and fertility preservation

Global prevalence of colistin resistance in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Acinetobacter baumannii antimicrobial resistance is a public health concern in developing and developed countries, especially in the hospital setting. Understanding the antibiotic resistance profile can help to provide better guidelines for the prescription of appropriate antibiotics, reduction of antibiotic resistance, and introducing new and effective treatment options. Method: Using the PRISMA guidelines, databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched systematically from January 1, 2000, to January 1, 2018. All statistical analyses were carried out via Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software Version 2.0 (Biostat, Englewood, NJ). Depending on the heterogeneity test, either random or fix effect models were used for determining the pooled prevalence of drug resistance. Result: A total of 150 studies were included from 41 countries of six different WHO regional offices worldwide. The highest and the lowest rate of resistance were observed for cefotaxime (99, 95 CI: 95�99.9) in Africa and colistin (1.1, 95 CI: 0.3�4.5) in Western Pacific, respectively. Lebanon (17.5, 95 CI: 16�19) and China (12, 95 CI: 3.5�32.5) had the highest and Germany (0.2, 95 CI: 0�2.5) had the lowest rate of resistance for colistin. Conclusion: Our analysis showed that prevalence and rate of increased colistin resistance in South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean countries are higher than other regions of the world. Therefore, the establishment of appropriate antibiotic usage guidelines should be essential in these countries. © 201

Effects of Exogenous Estrogen Treatment on Hippocampal Neurogenesis of Diabetic Ovariectomized Rats

Background: Mellitus Diabetes (DM) is the most important metabolic diseases. The incidence of DM is prone to increase. Vasculopathy, retinopathy, central and peripheral neuropathy are the most important reported side effects of DM. Cognitive dysfunction following DM reported in both sexes. Hippocampus is a major part of brain involving in cognitive function, its cells are able to neurogenesis, so it is possible that DM affects the hippocampus. In addition, neuroprotective effects of female sex steroids are reported elsewhere. In order to answer the question of whether female sex steroid are able to suppress the effects of DM on neurogenesis of dentate gyrus (DG) in diabetic ovariectomized rat the present study designed.Methods: Sprague-Dawley adult female rats were used in this study. The animals randomly divided in 8 groups including; control, diabetic (Diab), ovariectomy (OVX), Diab+OVX, estrogen treated (E2; Diab+OVX+E2), surgical and vehicle sham. Intrapritoneal injection of STZ, subcutaneous injection of E2 and routine bilateral surgery were used respectively to induce diabetes, estrogen treatment and OVX. Nissl staining, Brdu immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting were used in this study. Statistical analysis was done and the results presented in mean ± SD, Pv &lt; 0.05 considered significant.Results: Brdu IHC showed that the neurogenesis significantly decreased in OVX, Diab and OVX-Diab groups (Pv &lt; 0.05) in comparison with control and sham groups. Western blotting showed significant increase of Bax and decrease of Bcl2 proteins of trial groups comparing to control. Estrogen treatment significantly improved neurogenesis in animals of Diab+OVX+E2 group. The neurogenesis impairment was more sever in OVX + Diab animals than OVX and Diab ones merely.Conclusion: Based on our data, cognitive dysfunction caused by DM is related to hippocampal neurogenesis reduction and might improve under the influence of ovarian steroidal hormone therapy

Prediction of Combined Terrestrial Evapotranspiration Index (CTEI) over Large River Basin Based on Machine Learning Approaches

Drought is a fundamental physical feature of the climate pattern worldwide. Over the past few decades, a natural disaster has accelerated its occurrence, which has significantly impacted agricultural systems, economies, environments, water resources, and supplies. Therefore, it is essential to develop new techniques that enable comprehensive determination and observations of droughts over large areas with satisfactory spatial and temporal resolution. This study modeled a new drought index called the Combined Terrestrial Evapotranspiration Index (CTEI), developed in the Ganga river basin. For this, five Machine Learning (ML) techniques, derived from artificial intelligence theories, were applied: the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm, decision trees, Matern 5/2 Gaussian process regression, boosted trees, and bagged trees. These techniques were driven by twelve different models generated from input combinations of satellite data and hydrometeorological parameters. The results indicated that the eighth model performed best and was superior among all the models, with the SVM algorithm resulting in an R2 value of 0.82 and the lowest errors in terms of the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) (0.33) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) (0.20), followed by the Matern 5/2 Gaussian model with an R2 value of 0.75 and RMSE and MAE of 0.39 and 0.21 mm/day, respectively. Moreover, among all the five methods, the SVM and Matern 5/2 Gaussian methods were the best-performing ML algorithms in our study of CTEI predictions for the Ganga basin