Electrochemical biosensors in early leukemia detection.

Leukemia, a type of blood cancer marked by an abnormal increase in white blood cells, poses a significant challenge to healthcare. The key to successful treatment lies in early detection. However, traditional methods often fall short. This review investigates the potential of electrochemical biosensors for a more accurate and earlier diagnosis of leukemia. Electrochemical biosensors are compact devices that transform biological interactions into electrical signals. Their small size, ease of use, and minimal sample requirements make them perfectly suited for point-of-care applications. Their remarkable sensitivity and specificity enable the detection of subtle biomolecular changes associated with leukemia, which is crucial for early disease detection. This review delves into studies that have utilized these biosensors to identify various types of leukemia. It examines the roles of electrodes, biorecognition elements, and signal transduction mechanisms. The discussion includes the integration of nanomaterials such as gold nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped graphene into biosensor design. These materials boost sensitivity, enhance signal amplification, and facilitate multi-analyte detection, thereby providing a more holistic view of the disease. Beyond technical advancements, the review underscores the practical benefits of these biosensors. Their portability makes them a promising tool for resource-constrained settings, enabling swift diagnosis in remote areas or at a patient's bedside. The potential for monitoring treatment effectiveness and detecting minimal residual disease to prevent relapse is also explored. This review emphasizes the transformative potential of electrochemical biosensors in combating leukemia. By facilitating earlier and more accurate diagnosis, these biosensors stand to revolutionize patient care and enhance treatment outcomes.

Therapeutic potential of Phycocyanin in gastrointestinal cancers and related disorders.

Gastrointestinal cancer is the most fatal cancer worldwide. The etiology of gastrointestinal cancer has yet to be fully characterized. Alcohol consumption, obesity, tobacco, Helicobacter pylori and gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric ulcer, colon polyps and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are among the several risks factors for gastrointestinal cancers. Phycocyanin which is abundant in Spirulina. Phycocyanin, a member of phycobiliprotein family with intense blue color, is an anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer compound. Evidence exists supporting that phycocyanin has antitumor effects, exerting its pharmacological effects by targeting a variety of cellular and molecular processes, i.e., apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest, migration and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Phycocyanin has also been applied in treatment of several gastrointestinal disorders such as, gastric ulcer, ulcerative colitis and fatty liver that is known as a risk factor for progression to cancer. Herein, we summarize various cellular and molecular pathways that are affected by phycocyanin, its efficacy upon combined drug treatment, and the potential for nanotechnology in its gastrointestinal cancer therapy.

Non-coding RNAs and exosomal non-coding RNAs in pituitary adenoma.

Pituitary adenoma (PA) is the third most common primary intracranial tumor in terms of overall disease incidence. Although they are benign tumors, they can have a variety of clinical symptoms, but are mostly asymptomatic, which often leads to diagnosis at an advanced stage when surgical intervention is ineffective. Earlier identification of PA could reduce morbidity and allow better clinical management of the affected patients. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) do not generally code for proteins, but can modulate biological processes at the post-transcriptional level through a variety of molecular mechanisms. An increased number of ncRNA expression profiles have been found in PAs. Therefore, understanding the expression patterns of different ncRNAs could be a promising method for developing non-invasive biomarkers. This review summarizes the expression patterns of dysregulated ncRNAs (microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs) involved in PA, which could one day serve as innovative biomarkers or therapeutic targets for the treatment of this neoplasia. We also discuss the potential molecular pathways by which the dysregulated ncRNAs could cause PA and affect its progression.

Epigenetic regulation in myocardial infarction: Non-coding RNAs and exosomal non-coding RNAs.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of deaths globally. The early diagnosis of MI lowers the rate of subsequent complications and maximizes the benefits of cardiovascular interventions. Many efforts have been made to explore new therapeutic targets for MI, and the therapeutic potential of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is one good example. NcRNAs are a group of RNAs with many different subgroups, but they are not translated into proteins. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the most studied type of ncRNAs, and have been found to regulate several pathological processes in MI, including cardiomyocyte inflammation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and fibrosis. These processes can also be modulated by circular RNAs and long ncRNAs via different mechanisms. However, the regulatory role of ncRNAs and their underlying mechanisms in MI are underexplored. Exosomes play a crucial role in communication between cells, and can affect both homeostasis and disease conditions. Exosomal ncRNAs have been shown to affect many biological functions. Tissue-specific changes in exosomal ncRNAs contribute to aging, tissue dysfunction, and human diseases. Here we provide a comprehensive review of recent findings on epigenetic changes in cardiovascular diseases as well as the role of ncRNAs and exosomal ncRNAs in MI, focusing on their function, diagnostic and prognostic significance.

The role of aquaporin 4 in brain tumors: implications for pathophysiology, diagnosis and therapy.

Primary brain tumors are a heterogeneous group of tumors that arise from cells intrinsic to the central nervous system (CNS). Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of brain tumors. Previous reports have documented a relationship between AQP4 and several molecular pathways associated with the etiology of brain tumors, such as apoptosis, invasion and cell migration. AQP4 affects apoptosis via cytochrome C, Bad and Bcl-2, as well as invasion and migration via IDO1/TDO-Kyn-AhR axis, lncRNA LINC00461, miR-216a, miRNA-320a and MMPs. In addition, inhibition of AQP4 mitigates the progression of brain tumors. This review summarizes current knowledge and evidence regarding the relationship between AQP4 and brain tumors, and the mechanisms involved.

The role of vitamin D in the age of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence recommends that vitamin D might be a crucial supportive agent for the immune system, mainly in cytokine response regulation against COVID-19. Hence, we carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis in order to maximise the use of everything that exists about the role of vitamin D in the COVID-19. METHODS: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science up to December 18, 2020. Studies focused on the role of vitamin D in confirmed COVID-19 patients were entered into the systematic review. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies containing 11 901 participants entered into the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis indicated that 41% of COVID-19 patients were suffering from vitamin D deficiency (95% CI, 29%-55%), and in 42% of patients, levels of vitamin D were insufficient (95% CI, 24%-63%). The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 20.3 ng/mL among all COVID-19 patients (95% CI, 12.1-19.8). The odds of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 are 3.3 times higher among individuals with vitamin D deficiency (95% CI, 2.5-4.3). The chance of developing severe COVID-19 is about five times higher in patients with vitamin D deficiency (OR: 5.1, 95% CI, 2.6-10.3). There is no significant association between vitamin D status and higher mortality rates (OR: 1.6, 95% CI, 0.5-4.4). CONCLUSION: This study found that most of the COVID-19 patients were suffering from vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. Also, there is about three times higher chance of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 among vitamin-D-deficient individuals and about five times higher probability of developing the severe disease in vitamin-D-deficient patients. Vitamin D deficiency showed no significant association with mortality rates in this population.

The Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Metabolic Status in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of synbiotic supplementation on metabolic profiles in diabetic patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed in 60 diabetic HD patients. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either synbiotic capsule, containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Bifidobacterium bifidum (2 × 109 CFU/g each), plus 0.8 g/day of inulin (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Synbiotic supplementation significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (ß - 13.56 mg/dL; 95% CI, - 23.82, - 3.30; P = 0.01), insulin levels (ß - 5.49 µIU/mL; 95% CI, - 6.92, - 4.05; P < 0.001), and insulin resistance (ß - 2.25; 95% CI, - 3.02, - 1.48; P < 0.001), while increased the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (ß 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01, 0.02; P < 0.001) compared with the placebo. Additionally, synbiotic intake resulted in a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (ß - 2930.48 ng/mL; 95% CI, - 3741.15, - 2119.80; P < 0.001) and malondialdehyde levels (ß - 0.60 µmol/L; 95% CI, - 0.99, - 0.20; P = 0.003). Moreover, we found a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (ß 142.99 mmol/L; 95% CI, 61.72, 224.25; P = 0.001) and total glutathione levels (ß 131.11 µmol/L; 95% CI, 89.35, 172.87; P < 0.001) in the synbiotic group compared with the placebo group. Overall, synbiotic supplementation for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on glycemic control, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress in diabetic patients under HD. This study was registered in the Iranian website (www.irct.ir) for registration of clinical trials (http://www.irct.ir: IRCT2017090133941N17). http://www.irct.ir: IRCT2017090133941N17.