Circular RNAs and gastrointestinal cancers: Epigenetic regulators with a prognostic and therapeutic role.

Both environmental and genetic factors are involved in the initiation and development of gastrointestinal cancer. Covalent closed circular RNAs (circRNAs) are produced by a mechanism called "back-splicing" from mRNAs. They are highly stable and show cell and tissue specific expression patterns. Although some functions such as "microRNA sponge" and "RNA binding protein sponge" have been reported for a small number of circRNAs, the function of thousands of other circRNAs is still unknown. Dysregulation of circRNAs has been reported in many GI cancers and are involved in metastasis and invasion. CircRNAs have been reported to be useful as prognostic markers and targets for developing new treatments. We first describe the properties and biogenesis of circRNAs. We then summarize recent reports about circRNA functions, expression status, and their potential to be used as biomarkers in GI cancers including, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gallbladder cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Association analysis of the common varieties of IL17A and IL17F genes with the risk of knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is mediated by various types of cytokines, growth factors, and inflammatory factors that the role of the interleukin-17 family in this disease is becoming increasingly apparent. The aim of this study is to determine the association between the common polymorphisms of IL17A (including rs2275913) and IL17F (including rs2397084 and rs763780) genes with the knee osteoarthritis risk which was followed by a bioinformatics approach. In a case-control study, 254 participants consisting of 127 healthy individuals and 127 subjects with knee osteoarthritis referring to Shahid Beheshti Hospital dependents on Kashan University of Medical Sciences (Kashan, Iran) were enrolled. After samples collection, the polymorphisms genotyping was determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Finally, some bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the molecular effects of the three studied polymorphisms. Data analysis showed a significant association between rs2275913-GA genotype and the decreased risk of knee osteoarthritis (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.33-0.97, P = .040). However, rs763780-AG genotype (OR = 2.29, 95%CI = 1.11-4.69, P = .024) and rs763780-G allele (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.09-3.72, P = .026) were associated with an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis. However, no significant associations were found between the rs2397084 polymorphism and knee osteoarthritis risk. Our structural analysis revealed that the rs2275913 polymorphism could create a new binding site for TFII-I at the promoter region of IL17A. Also, rs2397084 and rs763780 could significantly affect the function and structure of IL17A. Based on our findings, rs2275913 and rs763780 could be considered as protective and risk factors for knee osteoarthritis, respectively. Therefore, these polymorphisms can be considered as biomarkers for the screening of knee osteoarthritis susceptible persons.

Application of induced pluripotent stem cell and embryonic stem cell technology to the study of male infertility.

Stem cells (SCs) are classes of undifferentiated biological cells existing only at the embryonic, fetal, and adult stages that can divide to produce specialized cell types during fetal development and remain in our bodies throughout life. The progression of regenerative and reproductive medicine owes the advancement of respective in vitro and in vivo biological science on the stem cell nature under appropriate conditions. The SCs are promising therapeutic tools to treat currently of infertility because of wide sources and high potency to differentiate. Nevertheless, no effective remedies are available to deal with severe infertility due to congenital or gonadotoxic stem cell deficiency in prepubertal childhood. Some recent solutions have been developed to address the severe fertility problems, including in vitro formation of germ cells from stem cells, induction of pluripotency from somatic cells, and production of patient-specific pluripotent stem cells. There is a possibility of fertility restoration using the in vitro formation of germ cells from somatic cells. Accordingly, the present review aimed at studying the literature published on the medical application of stem cells in reproductive concerns.

Effect of sesame-supplemented diet on prostate and seminal vesicle histology of adult rat / Efecto de la dieta suplementada con sésamo en la histología de la próstata y vesícula seminal de ratas adultas

Infertility is a great concern among the people of reproductive age. The use of natural products obtained from traditional herbs is appealing. Studies show that antioxidants are important in improving male infertility. Thirty adult male rats were randomly divided into two regimen and control groups. The regimen group received diet containing 30 % sesame seed, while the control group received standard diet for 12 weeks. Histology of prostate and seminal vesicle were evaluated and serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone concentrations were assessed as well. The results showed that, the diameter of peripheral epithelium and the volume density of the prostate epithelium increased but the volume density of the prostate stroma was decreased significantly in the regimen group compared to the control group. Central epithelium diameter and the volume density of the prostate lumen did not change significantly between two groups. In seminal vesicle, volume density of fibromascular and lumen decreased significantly in regimen group compared to control group. FSH and Testosterone level did not change while LH concentration increased significantly in the regimen group compared to the control group (P <0.03). This study shows that the sesame seed might improve male rat reproductive systems by histopathological changes in prostate and seminal vesicle.

La infertilidad es una gran preocupación para las personas en edad reproductiva y el uso de productos naturales obtenidos a partir de hierbas tradicionales es interesante. Los estudios demuestran que los antioxidantes son importantes en la mejora de la infertilidad masculina. Treinta ratas macho, adultas, se dividieron aleatoriamente en dos grupos, experimental y control. El grupo experimental recibió dieta con un 30 % de semillas de sésamo, mientras que el grupo control recibió dieta estándar durante 12 semanas. Fueron evaluadas la histología de próstata y vesícula seminal, así como los niveles séricos de las concentraciones de FSH, LH y testosterona. Los resultados mostraron que el diámetro del epitelio periférico y la densidad de volumen del epitelio de la próstata aumentaron, pero la densidad de volumen del estroma de próstata se redujo significativamente en el grupo experimental en comparación con el grupo control. El diámetro del epitelio central y la densidad de volumen del lumen de la próstata no presentaron cambios significativos entre los dos grupos. En la vesícula seminal, la densidad de volumen fibromuscular y el lumen se redujeron significativamente en el grupo de régimen en comparación con el grupo control. FSH y el nivel de testosterona no cambiaron, mientras que la concentración de LH aumentó significativamente en el grupo de régimen en comparación con el grupo control (P <0,03). Este estudio indica que la semilla de sésamo podría mejorar los sistemas reproductivos de ratas macho a partir de cambios histopatológicos en la próstata y las vesículas seminales.

Biochemical and Pathological Study of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Achillea millefolium L. on Ethylene Glycol-Induced Nephrolithiasis in Laboratory Rats.

BACKGROUND: Nephrolithiasis is of the most prevalent urinary tract disease. It seems worthwhile to replace the conventional treatments with more beneficial and safer agents, particularly herbal medicines which are receiving an increasing interest nowadays. AIMS: In this study, we investigated the protective and curative effects of Achillea millefolium L. on ethylene glycol (EG)-induced nephrolithiasis in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extract of A. millefolium was prepared by soxhlet method. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (N = 8) as follows. The negative control (group A) received tap drinking water. Rats in sham (positive control group B), curative (group C and D), and preventive (group E) groups all received 1% EG in drinking water according to the experimental protocol for 30 days. In the curative groups, dosages of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (BW) of A. millefolium extract were administered orally from day 15 to the end of the experiment, group C and D, respectively. Group E received 200 mg/kg A. millefolium extract from the 1(st) day throughout the experiment. Urinary oxalate and citrate concentrations were measured by spectrophotometer on the first and 30(th) days. On day 31, the kidneys were removed and examined histopathologically for counting the calcium oxalate (CaOx) deposits in 50 microscopic fields. RESULTS: In the curative and preventive groups, administration of A. millefolium extract showed significant reduction in urinary oxalate concentration (P < 0.05). Also, urinary citrate concentration was significantly increased in group C, D, and E. The CaOx deposits significantly decreased in group C to E compared with the group B. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, A. millefolium extract had preventive and curative effects on EG-induced renal calculi.

Comparison of 1,2-propanediol and ethylene glycol for cryopreservation of slow-cooled mouse zygotes and their subsequent development.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted on cryoprotective activity of ethylene glycol (ETG) and propanediol (PROH) on cleavage rate of mouse zygotes. METHODS: Mouse oocytes were excised from fallopian tube of gonadotropin-treated mice, then inseminated with spermatozoa. After 16.5-17.5 h, zygotes were randomly allocated into three groups; control, toxicity, and frozen. In the latter, zygotes were slowly cooled with ETG and PROH similar to those used for human embryo cryopreservation. The survived zygotes cultured for 120 h and their later stages of development were compared with nonfrozen embryos. RESULTS: The toxicity test showed that no differences were observed in cleavage rate between exposed and nonexposed embryos. The survival and expanded hatching blastocyst rate of embryos frozen with PROH was significantly better than with ETG (92.8 vs. 58.2% and 68.2 vs. 39.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: ETG does not appear to be a good alternative to the classical PROH for freezing of mouse zygotes.