Exploring conserved mRNA-miRNA interactions in colon and lung cancers

Aim: The main goal of this analysis was prioritization of co-expressed genes and miRNAs that are thought to have important influences in the pathogenesis of colon and lung cancers

Background: MicroRNAs [miRNAs] as small and endogenous noncoding RNAs which regulate gene expression by repressing mRNA translation or decreasing stability of mRNAs; they have proven pivotal roles in different types of cancers. Accumulating evidence indicates the role of miRNAs in a wide range of biological processes from oncogenesis and tumor suppressors to contribution to tumor progression. Colon and lung cancers are frequently encountered challenging types of cancers; therefore, exploring trade-off among underlying biological units such as miRNA with mRNAs will probably lead to identification of promising biomarkers involved in these malignancies

Methods: Colon cancer and lung cancer expression data were downloaded from Firehose and TCGA databases and varied genes extracted by DCGL software were subjected to build two gene regulatory networks by parmigene R package. Afterwards, a networkdriven integrative analysis was performed to explore prognosticates genes, miRNAs and underlying pathways

Results: A total of 192 differentially expressed miRNAs and their target genes within gene regulatory networks were derived by ARACNE algorithm. BTF3, TP53, MYC, CALR, NEM2, miR-29b-3p and miR-145 were identified as bottleneck nodes and enriched via biological gene ontology [GO] terms and pathways chiefly in biosynthesis and signaling pathways by further screening

Conclusion: Our study uncovered correlated alterations in gene expression that may relate with colon and lung cancers and highlighted the potent common biomarker candidates for the two diseases

Pathological and clinical correlation between celiac disease and pathological and clinical correlation between celiac disease andpathological and clinical correlation between celiac disease and helicobacter pylori infection; a review of controversial rep

There are overwhelming reports and descriptions about celiac associated disorders. Although there is a clear genetic association between celiac disease [CD] and some gastrointestinal disorders, there are controversial reports claiming an association between CD and Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection. Different studies indicated the possible association between lymphocytic gastritis and both CD and H. pylori infection, although this evidence is not consistently accepted. Also it was shown that an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes count is associated with both H. pylori infection and celiac disease. Therefore the following questions may raise: how far is this infection actually related to CD?, which are the underlying patho-mechanisms for these associations? what are the clinical implications? what is the management? and what would be the role of gluten free diet in treating these conditions? PubMed [PubMed Central], Ovid, ISI of web knowledge, and Google scholar were searched for full text articles published between 1985 and 2015. The associated keywords were used, and papers described particularly the impact of pathological and clinical correlation between CD and H. pylori infection were identified. In this review we tried to answer the above questions and discussed some of the recent developments in the pathological and clinical aspects of CD and H. pylori infection

Effect of vitamin D[3] supplementation on TNF-alpha serum level and disease activity index in Iranian IBD patients

The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of vitamin D[3] [1, 25[OH][2]D[3]] treatment in IBD with regard to tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] serum level and clinical disease activity index [CDAI]. Vitamin D has immune-regulatory functions in experimental inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] and vitamin D deficiency is common in IBD patients. This was a randomized clinical trial on 108 IBD patients with serum 25-OHD levels less than 30ng/ml, which divided into vitamin D and control groups. Vitamin D group received 50000 IU vitamin D[3] for 12 weeks. Before and after the study, TNF-alpha and 25-OHD serum levels were measured by ELISA method. Data were analyzed using paired t-test, chi-square test and Spearman correlation coefficient. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Before the intervention no significant difference was found between baseline characteristics and TNF-alpha serum level of two groups. After intervention TNF-alpha serum level reduced but this reduction was not statistically significant [p=0.07, 95% CI: -0.45 to 8.14]. The mean serum 25-OHD level of vitamin D increased from 15.54 to 67.89, which was statistically significant [p= 0.00, 95% CI: -61.40 to -43.30]. TNF-alpha level was also associated significantly with CDAI before [Spearman's rho: 0.3, p<0.0001] and after [Spearman's rho: 0.27, P=0.01] intervention. Oral supplementation vitamin D[3] significantly increased serum vitamin D levels and insignificantly reduced serum TNF-alpha level. More studies with larger samples would be beneficial to assess vitamin D[3] supplementation efficient effect in IBD

Time trend analysis and demographic features of inflammatory bowel disease in Tehran

This retrospective study is aimed to review demographic and clinical characteristics of IBD to elucidate the probable factors associating with IBD development in Taleghani Hospital in Iran since 2001 during a 12-year-period. Ulcerative colitis [UC] and Crohn's disease [CD] are two major idiopathic entities of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. Previous studies have reported an increased incidence of IBD in Middle East countries. In the present study 1914 patients with UC, 318 patients with CD and 25 with indeterminate colitis [IC] were included. Demographic information, clinical features, extraintestinal manifestations, complications and extension of disease were collected and interpreted for all participants. According to the time of registration, patients were divided into seven groups. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test. In seven groups of IBD patients, disease registry was estimated for UC, CD, and total IBD during a 12-year-period. From 2001 to 2005, a relative increased registry was observed among UC patients. However, in the years 2006 and 2007 a significant reduction in the number of patients was reported. Then an increasing trend was observed in UC patients. UC presented mostly with diarrhea, hematochezia and bloody diarrhea, while most of CD patients complained of abdominal pain. Evaluation of data related to registered IBD patients in Iran shows that probable incidence and prevalence of IBD [UC and CD] is increasing compared to previous decades

Association of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene polymorphisms with inflammatory bowel disease in Iran

Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] is a chronic disease of unknown etiology, in which genetic factors, seem to play an important role in the disease predisposition and course. Assessment of tumor necrosis factor [TNF- alpha] gene polymorphisms in many populations showed a possible association with IBD. Considering the genetic variety in different ethnic groups, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association of five important single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] in the promoter region of [TNF- alpha] gene with IBD in Iran. In this case-control study, 156 Ulcerative colitis [UC] patients, 50 Crohn's disease [CD] patients and 200 sex and age matched healthy controls of Iranian origin were enrolled. The study was performed during a two year period [2008-2010] at Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. DNA samples were evaluated for [TNF- alpha] gene polymorphisms [including -1031, -863, -857, -308 and -238] by PCR and RFLP methods. The frequency of the mutant allele of -1031 polymorphism was significantly higher in Iranian patients with Crohn's disease compared to healthy controls [P=0.01, OR=1.92; 95% CI: 1.14-3.23]. None of the other evaluated polymorphisms demonstrated a significant higher frequency of mutant alleles in Iranian IBD patients compared to controls. Among the five assessed [SNPs], only -1031 polymorphism of [TNF- alpha] gene may play a role in disease susceptibility for Crohn's disease in Iran. This pattern of distribution of [TNF- alpha] gene polymorphisms could be specific in this population

Evaluation of the benefit of addition of clidinium C to a Helicobacter pylori eradication regimen

This study aimed to evaluate the success of H.pylori eradication therapy in patients with dyspepsia by therapeutics regimes with and without clidinium C. Helicobacter pylori infections are reported in all parts of the world. Appropriate antibiotic therapy can treat infection. The ideal treatment regimen has not been specified. In a randomized, double blind clinical trials study, 250 patients with dyspepsia were enrolled. All patients were treated by Omeprazole, Metronidazole, Amoxicillin and Bismuth [OMAB] for two weeks. One tablet clidinium C before each meal was added to this regimen in the intervention group [A]. Urea Breath Test [UBT] was carried out after 8-12 weeks after treatment for evaluation of H.pylori eradication. 132 patients in the intervention group [A] and 118 patients in the control group [B] were enrolled to the study. The rate of eradication in group A was significantly higher than group B [62.1% vs. 50%, p=0.04]. The results supported the effect of clidinium C for increasing of helicobacter pylori eradication, but further studies need to be performed

Depression in patients with chronic hepatitis B: an experience on individual solution- focused therapy

Hepatitis B, as a chronic disorder that may be associated with several psychiatric disorders, such as depression, and decrease quality of life of affected patients. One of the most important consequences of psychiatric problems is reduced patient compliance with prolonged therapeutic regimens. Psychotherapy, such as solution-focused therapy, may help these patients to resolve psychiatric problems, increase quality of life and completion of therapeutic regimens. Solution-focused therapy is effective for patients when developing effective coping responses to the stressors associated with chronic diseases. In this study, the process and effects of solution-focused therapy on depression of 2 patients with chronic hepatitis B have been described. They received solution focused therapy for 5 sessions, each session 1 hour once a week. This technique was helpful to decrease symptoms and signs of depression within 5 weeks

New sequential versus triple treatment schedules for Helicobacter pylori eradication in Iran

Selection of the best approach for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection that encompasses higher eradication and lower failure rates leads to a decline in its related complications and disorders. To understand the relative efficacy of new sequential therapy compared with standard triple therapy as two common regimens, we have performed a randomized, controlled trial to compare these two treatment protocols in an Iranian population. This study enrolled 220 patients aged 18-81 years old with dyspepsia or peptic ulcers who were candidates for endoscopy and referred to Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Patients were randomized to receive one of two treatment regimens, a 14-day new sequential therapy that consisted of omeprazole [20 mg], amoxicillin [1.0 g], and ciprofloxacin [500 mg] administered twice daily for the first seven days, followed by omeprazole [20 mg], amoxicillin [1.0 g], and furazolidon [200 mg] administered twice daily for the remaining seven days. The second regimen comprised a proton pump inhibitor [PPI]-based triple therapy of omeprazole [20 mg], amoxicillin [1.0 g], and clarithromycin[500 mg] administered twice daily for 14 days. Overall, 10 patients in PPI-based triple therapy group and 16 patients in the 14-day new sequential group stopped treatment and did not undergo 13C-urea breath testing [UBT]. Among the remaining patients, the eradication rate with the PPI-based triple therapy was 89.0%, whereas it was 91.5% with the 14-day new sequential therapy which was not significantly different. No significant differences were found in eradication rates between genders in each treatment group. Adverse effects were mainly mild and comparable between the two treatment regimens. It seems that sequential regimen is at least as effective as standard therapy and can be used as an alternative treatment for H pylori eradication.

[NOD2 novel mutations in Iranian Crohn's patients]

Despite the reported role of three common mutations of the CARD15/NOD2 gene including R702W, G908R and 1007fs in Crohn's disease [CD], only about 30% of Iranian CD patients carry one of these three variants [R702W]. The aim of this study was to screen the hot points of NOD2 gene to find any novel sequence variations in Iranian patients with CD. Eighty non-related Crohn's patients from Iranian origin, referred to a tertiary center in a three-year period [2006-2009], were enrolled in this study. The hot points of NOD2 gene [including exons 4 and 8] were evaluated by direct sequencing after amplification of related sequences with polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. A total of 17 sequence variations were identified among these exons of NOD2 gene including 7 novel ones. Three of these new mutations had an allele frequency more than 5%. All new mutations were a consequence of a single nucleotide change, 4 resulted in an aminoacid change while one formed a stop coden. No deletion or insertion mutation was observed in this part of the gene. This study demonstrated the existence of uncommon NOD2 variants in Iranian patients with CD. It is possible that these mutations play a role in susceptibility to CD in Iranian population