Association of maternal exposure to endocrine disruptor chemicals with cardio-metabolic risk factors in children during childhood: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, the association of maternal exposure to the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) with cardio-metabolic risk factors in children during childhood for the first time. METHOD: The PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched, up to Feb 2023. In total 30 cohort studies had our inclusion criteria. A random-effects model was used for the variables that had considerable heterogeneity between studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool was used to classify the quality score of studies. All statistical analyses were conducted using Stata 14 and P-value < 0.05 considered as a significant level. RESULTS: In the meta-analysis, maternal exposure to the EDCs was weakly associated with higher SBP (Fisher_Z: 0.06, CI: 0.04, 0.08), BMI (Fisher_Z: 0.07, CI: 0.06, 0.08), and WC (Fisher_Z: 0.06, CI: 0.03, 0.08) z-scores in children. A significant linear association was found between maternal exposure to the bisphenol-A and pesticides with BMI and WC z-score in children (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed significant linear association of BPA and pesticides, in the urine samples of mothers at the first trimester of pregnancy, with BMI and WC z-score in children from 2-8 years (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Prenatal exposure to the EDCs in the uterine period could increase the risk of obesity in children. Maternal exposure to bisphenol-A and pesticides showed the strongest association with the obesity, especially visceral form, in the next generation.

Association of RARRES2 rs17173608 gene polymorphism and serum Chemerin with acute myocardial infarction and its risk factors: A case-control study in an Iranian population.

OBJECTIVE: The adipokine Chemerin and the retinoic acid receptor responder 2 (RARRES2) gene have been associated with an increased incidence of obesity, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. The impact of RARRES2 rs17173608 gene polymorphism on acute myocardial infarction and Chemerin levels has not yet been entirely elucidated. This study aimed to assess the association of RARRES2 rs17173608 gene polymorphism and serum Chemerin with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and its risk factors in an Iranian population. METHODS: In this case-control study, 134 AMI patients and 100 healthy controls were recruited from tertiary referral hospitals in Zanjan, Iran. Whole blood samples were collected for DNA extraction and Chemerin level determination. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify plasma levels of Chemerin. Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis techniques were used to detect gene polymorphism of Chemerin rs17173608 from DNA samples. RESULTS: Serum Chemerin levels were higher in the control group than in the AMI group. However, after adjusting for age, sex, and other risk factors, there was no significant association between serum Chemerin level and AMI occurrence. In the genotype analysis, 21.6% of patients had the TT genotype, and 78.4% had the TG genotype. The GG genotype was not detected in any patient. The genotype distribution of the healthy control group was 19.0% TT genotype, 80.0% TG genotype, and 1.0% GG genotype. Serum Chemerin levels in participants with TG genotype were statistically different between case and control groups. CONCLUSION: Serum Chemerin levels and RARRES2 rs17173608 gene polymorphism were not correlated with AMI occurrence after adjusting for AMI risk factors in Iranian patients. More research with a larger sample size and diverse ethnicities is needed to corroborate our findings.

Abdominal cocoon syndrome as rare cause of intestinal obstruction: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Abdominal cocoon syndrome (ACS) is a rare complication that is hardly diagnosed before surgery. Abnormal membrane in partial or total intestine can make obstruction with generalized abdomen pain. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of 43-year-old man, who presented to our hospital with generalized abdominal pain, preferably hypogastric. He has recurrent nausea and vomiting with no appetite. Dilated loops were explored between pancreases and stomach that are continued to the ileum. Complete removal of the membrane performed by laparotomy. DISCUSSION: Idiopathic sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP), known as cocoon syndrome, is a rare complication with unknown cause and pathology. Obstruction is the chief compliant. Abdominal discomfort, tenderness, nausea, and intestinal distention are also presented. Previous peritoneal dialysis, intra-abdominal inflammation, previous abdominal surgery or trauma, and beta-blocker intake predispose patients to the SEP. The present case has chronic SEP type 2, as the membrane existed in the entire small intestine. CONCLUSION: Our case highlights the importance of considering ACS as a differential diagnosis for left upper quadrant abdominal pain in patients with obstructive symptoms, especially by surgeons, because it is difficult to diagnosis before surgery.

Dietary Pattern or Weight Loss: Which One Is More Important to Reduce Disease Activity Score in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Randomized Feeding Trial.

Objectives: Herein, disease activity score 28 (DAS 28) was compared between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MD) and low-fat diet. Subjects/Methods. Overweight and obese RA patients aged 15-75 y participated in this randomized feeding trial. Participants were randomized to MD (n = 51) and low-fat high-carbohydrate diet (n = 53) for 12 weeks. The control group followed their regular diet (n = 50). Participants completed the form of tender and swollen joint counts before the study enrollment and after 12 weeks to compute DAS 28. Results: Weight loss was not statistically significant between the MD and LF-HC groups. DAS 28 significantly decreased in MD compared to the LF-HC group (p=0.02) and controls (p=0.001). Adjusting for the baseline variables, MD reduced DAS 28 by 76% (95% CI = -0.45, -0.2; p=0.03) after 12 weeks of intervention. The baseline serum ESR level showed 99.8% effect on DAS 28 score at the end (95% CI = 0.014, 0.035; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The MD showed beneficial effects on DAS 28 compared to the LF-HC diet in patients with RA, regardless of weight loss. It is a better dietary choice for pain reduction in patients with RA. The trial is registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20200929048876N2).

Apoptosis induction by siRNA targeting integrin-ß1 and regorafenib/DDAB-mPEG-PCL hybrid nanoparticles in regorafenib-resistant colon cancer cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is regarded as the third most common cancer worldwide. Although Regorafenib as a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (RTKI) disrupts tumor growth and angiogenesis in metastatic CRC (mCRC) patients, drug resistance leads to poor prognosis and survival. Integrin-ß1 overexpression has been proposed to be the major player in this regard. Herein, the Regorafenib-resistant human colon cancer cell line (SW-48) was induced, and the Integrin-ß1 gene expression, as well as apoptosis, was assessed through the combination of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Integrin-ß1 and Regorafenib/Dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB)-methoxy poly (ethylene glycol) (mPEG)-poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs). In the current study, Regorafenib-resistant SW-48 cell line was generated in which the Regorafenib half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for non-resistant and resistant cells was 13.5±1.5 µM and 55.1±0.8 µM, respectively. The results of DLS also demonstrated that the size and the charge of the HNPs were equal to 66.56±0.5 nm and +29.5±1.2 mv, respectively. In addition, the Integrin-ß1 gene expression was significantly higher in resistant cells than in non-resistant ones (P<0.05). The siRNA/HNP complexes in combination with Regorafenib/HNPs were accordingly identified as the most effective treatment to decrease the Integrin-ß1 gene expression and to enhance the apoptosis rate in resistant cells (P<0.001). Overall, the study indicated that combination therapy using siRNA/HNP and Regorafenib/HNPs complex could down-regulate the Integrin-ß1 gene expression and consequently trigger apoptosis, and this may potentially induce drug sensitivity.

Daily parenteral selenium therapy in critically ill patients: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Patients hospitalized at the intensive care unit (ICU) are more prone to oxidative stress. Antioxidants such as selenium (Se) may have beneficial effects on outcomes in these patients. Studies and systematic reviews in this field have inconclusive results. METHODS: An updated systematic search was done to find clinical trials published in PubMed, Cochrane's library, ISI web of Science, Scopus, and Ovid databases from January 1980 up to April 2020, to assess the effects of daily Se supplementation on patient's survival, hospital and ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, infection, acute renal failure (ARF) occurrence and serum creatinine levels. RESULTS: From 1394 papers found in the first step of the search, after deleting duplicate findings, 24 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Results of the pooled random-effect size analysis of 24 trials showed no remarkable effect of daily parenteral Se administration on patient's hospital and ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, infectious complications, ARF, survival and serum creatinine levels (p > 0.05). The subgroup analysis showed that daily parenteral Se administration (in doses higher than 1000 µg/d) increased the length of ICU stay by 4.48-folds (95%CI: -0.5, 9.46, p = 0.07). Parenteral Se supplementation at the first and following dose of ≤1000 µg reduced the number of ARF at the hospitalized patients by 76% and 45%, respectively (p = 0.02, and p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High doses of Se increases days of ICU stay, but low doses decreases the number of ARF occurrence in ICU patients. More trials are needed to assess its effect on ARF occurrence.

Crosstalk between Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors (EGFR) and integrins in resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in solid tumors.

Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is important in a variety of physiological and pathologic processes, including development, tumor invasion, and metastasis. Integrin-mediated attachment to ECM proteins has emerged to cue events primitively important for the transformed phenotype of human cancer cells. Cross-talk between integrins and growth factor receptors takes an increasingly prominent role in defining adhesion, motility, and cell growth. This functional interaction has expanded beyond to link integrins with resistance to Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors (EGFRs). In this regard, integrin-mediated adhesion has two separate functions one as a clear collaborator with growth factor receptor signaling and the second as a basic mechanism contributing in Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) which affects response to chemotherapy. This review provides an overview of these mechanisms and describes treatment options for selectively targeting and disrupting integrin interaction to EGFR for cancer therapy.