ABSTRACT
Objectives@#Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common types of head and neck cancer. MicroRNAs, as new biomarkers, are recommended for diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancers. Bevacizumab, sold under the trade name Avastin, is a humanized whole monoclonal antibody that targets and blocks VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor A; angiogenesis) and oncogenic signaling pathways. @*Materials and Methods@#This study comprised 50 cases suffering from OSCC and 50 healthy participants. Peripheral blood samples were collected in glass test tubes, and RNA extraction was started immediately. Expression levels of miR-155, miR-191, and miR-494 biomarkers in the peripheral blood of OSCC-affected individuals and healthy volunteers in vivo were evaluated using real-time PCR. The influence of Avastin on the expression levels of the aforementioned biomarkers in vitro and in the HN5 cell line was also investigated. @*Results@#Expression levels of miR-155, miR-191, and miR-494 in the peripheral blood of individuals affected by OSCC were higher than in those who were healthy. Moreover, Avastin at a concentration of 400 µM caused a decrease in the expression levels of the three biomarkers and a 1.5-fold, 3.5-fold, and 4-fold increase in apoptosis in the test samples compared to the controls in the HN5 cell line after 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. @*Conclusion@#The findings of this study demonstrate that overexpression of miR-155, miR-191, and miR-494 is associated with OSCC, and Avastin is able to regulate and downregulate the expression of those biomarkers and increase apoptosis in cancerous cells in the HN5 cell line
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Osteon is an alloplastic material containing 70% hydroxyapatite and 30% beta-TCP. Calcitonin, a hormone produced by the thyroid gland, not only prevents bone resorption by reducing both the number and the activity of osteoclasts, but also stimulates bone formation. Considering the favorable effects of calcitonin on bone formation, we hypothesized that the addition of calcitonin to Osteon would result in better bone regeneration. Materials and Methods: To test this hypothesis, full-thickness bone defects were created bilaterally in the femoral condyles of 12 New Zealand white rabbits. The defect was filled with Osteon on one side [the control group]; while on the other side, the defect was filled with a combination of Osteon and calcitonin [the experimental group]. Result: These findings showed that the number of osteoblasts and the degree of calcification in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group [P = 0.05]. Conclusion: On the basis of these findings, it is plausible to suggest that the addition of calcitonin to hydroxyapatite and beta-TCP as alloplastic materials could contribute to a greater degree of osteogenesis