Cell cycle related long non-coding RNAs as the critical regulators of breast cancer progression and metastasis.

Cell cycle is one of the main cellular mechanisms involved in tumor progression. Almost all of the active molecular pathways in tumor cells directly or indirectly target the cell cycle progression. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the molecular mechanisms involved in cell cycle regulation in tumor cells. Since, early diagnosis has pivotal role in better cancer management and treatment, it is required to introduce the non-invasive diagnostic markers. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have higher stability in body fluids in comparison with mRNAs. Therefore, they can be used as efficient non-invasive markers for the early detection of breast cancer (BCa). In the present review we have summarized all of the reported lncRNAs involved in cell cycle regulation in BCa. It has been reported that lncRNAs mainly affect the cell cycle in G1/S transition through the CCND1/CDK4-6 complex. Present review paves the way of introducing the cell cycle related lncRNAs as efficient markers for the early detection of BCa.

Cell cycle related long non-coding RNAs as the critical regulators of breast cancer progression and metastasis

Cell cycle is one of the main cellular mechanisms involved in tumor progression. Almost all of the active molecular pathways in tumor cells directly or indirectly target the cell cycle progression. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the molecular mechanisms involved in cell cycle regulation in tumor cells. Since, early diagnosis has pivotal role in better cancer management and treatment, it is required to introduce the non-invasive diagnostic markers. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have higher stability in body fluids in comparison with mRNAs. Therefore, they can be used as efficient non-invasive markers for the early detection of breast cancer (BCa). In the present review we have summarized all of the reported lncRNAs involved in cell cycle regulation in BCa. It has been reported that lncRNAs mainly affect the cell cycle in G1/S transition through the CCND1/CDK4-6 complex. Present review paves the way of introducing the cell cycle related lncRNAs as efficient markers for the early detection of BCa.

Comparing the Effect of Intrathecal Injection of Meperidine, Meperidine-Bupivacaine, and Bupivacaine Alone on Pain Severity and Hemodynamic Parameters after Elective Cesarean Section.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of meperidine and bupivacaine on maternal hemodynamic changes prior to anesthesia and compare it with post-intervention. Methods: In this clinical trial, the rate of postoperative analgesia on 90 healthy women candidates for elective cesarean section with spinal anesthesia was evaluated by meperidine, bupivacaine, and a combination of these two drugs. The study was conducted on 90 patients, including 30 patients receiving injection of meperidine, 30 patients receiving injection of bupivacaine, and 30 patients receiving injection of meperidine plus bupivacaine. Nausea, vomiting, headache, itching, and shortness of breath were also recorded. Results: The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure in the meperidine group were significantly lower than those detected before the intervention (P < 0.05). The mean SpO2 index was significantly decreased in meperidine and meperidine+bupivacaine groups (P < 0.05). The prevalence of nausea, vomiting and itching was higher in meperidine group compared to those in the other two groups (P = 0.032). Conclusions: In sum, the prevalence of nausea, vomiting, and itching in the meperidine group was higher than those in the other two groups. Due to almost equal performance of meperidine and meperidine plus bupivacaine in analgesia, the stabilization of other hemodynamic indices in the meperidine plus bupivacaine group, and the decline in the prevalence of nausea, vomiting, and itching, this combination may have been a good alternative to meperidine.

MicroRNA-217: a therapeutic and diagnostic tumor marker.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer as one of the most common causes of death has always been one of the major health challenges globally. Since, the identification of tumors in the early tumor stages can significantly reduce mortality rates; it is required to introduce novel early detection tumor markers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have pivotal roles in regulation of cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and tumor progression. Moreover, due to the higher stability of miRNAs than mRNAs in body fluids, they can be considered as non-invasive diagnostic or prognostic markers in cancer patients. AREAS COVERED: In the present review we have summarized the role of miR-217 during tumor progressions. The miR-217 functions were categorized based on its target molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways. EXPERT OPINION: It was observed that miR-217 mainly exerts its function by regulation of the transcription factors during tumor progressions. The WNT, MAPK, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways were also important molecular targets of miR-217 in different cancers. The present review clarifies the molecular biology of miR-217 and paves the way of introducing miR-217 as a non-invasive diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in cancer therapy.

Effect of Isolated Serum from Breast Cancer Patients with Pectoral Nerves Block on Breast Cancer Cell Line (MDA-MB-231) Apoptosis Index.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cause of cancer death in women. The thoracic pectoral nerve (PECS) block has been described as the gold standard analgesic modality for BC surgery. It has been previously reported that PECS is associated with decreased BC recurrence post-mastectomy. Although several anesthetic drugs and techniques are used in surgical oncology, their effects on the behavior of cancer cells are yet to be known and the key question of whether the anesthetic technique affects cancer outcome remains unresolved. OBJECTIVES: Since anesthetic drugs and techniques and post-operative pain may affect BC recurrence, this study aimed to determine whether the anesthetic choice and technique, PECS II block, affects in vitro apoptosis of the MDA-MB-231 BC cell line. METHODS: Twenty-two female BC patients, 20 to 75-years-old, with the same pathologic grades were included in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received propofol general anesthesia (PGA) associated with PECS and the second group received standard PGA. Blood was sampled pre and post-operation from all patients. The sera were isolated and then exposed to the MDA-MB-231 human BC cell line. The mean percentage of apoptosis indices was analyzed by flow cytometry using Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate 24 hours after treatment with patients' sera. RESULTS: A significant decrease was seen in the mean viability percentage of BC cell line in the PECS group, besides a significant increase in the mean percentage of necrosis and late apoptosis indices compared to the control group after exposure to sera collected from patients post-operation. Intra-group analysis of the control group showed that the exposure of the tumoral cell to post-operation sera resulted in a significant increase in the mean percentage of necrosis and late apoptosis index compared to pre-operation sera exposure. In the PECS group, the exposure of the tumoral cell to post-operation sera resulted in a significant increase in the mean percentage of cell viability and late apoptosis index compared to pre-operation sera exposure. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, anesthesia and BC surgery may induce apoptosis indices in the MDA-MB-231 human BC cell line. We also found that sera collected from PECS II block patients with BC could induce more apoptosis in the MDA-MB-231 cell line compared to collected sera from systemic analgesia alone after BC surgery.

The high level of adherence to personal protective equipment in health care workers efficiently protects them from COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND: The first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of acquiring and spreading the COVID-19 infection; using personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection in HCWs. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of COVID-19 IgG, IgM antibodies among HCWs as well as identifying the factors associated with this seroprevalence. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed from July to August 2020 on healthcare workers at two COVID-19 referral hospitals of Birjand University of Medical Sciences. The level of COVID-19 IgG and IgM antibodies in sera was measured by commercial qualitative ELISA kits. RESULTS: In total, 192 individuals participated in the study: physicians (31.25%), nurses (30.2%). 84.2% of participants had contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases and among them 42.9 % of had close contact with COVID-19 patients for more than 3 months, and 31% reported close contact with more than 50 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Mask and gloves were the most frequently used personal protective equipment (PPE) with 92.4% and 77.2% of usage. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study showed high level of adherence to the use of PPE among HCWs as well as very low prevalence of seropositivity for of COVID-19 antibodies, hence confirming the effectiveness of PPE in protecting HCWs among COVVID-19 and possibly any other similar infections.

Effect of Low-Dose Intravenous Ketamine on Prevention of Headache After Spinal Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Elective Cesarean Section: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial Study.

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia is the most commonly used method for elective cesarean section, which is a popular technique due to its simplicity, reliability, and speed to achieve adequate anesthesia. Headache following dura perforation is the most important delayed complication following spinal and epidural anesthesia. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of low-dose intravenous ketamine in patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia on the prevention of dura perforation headache (PDPH). METHODS: This clinical trial study was performed on 64 pregnant women undergoing cesarean section at Vali-e-Asr Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups. In the case group, 0.15 mg/kg body weight ketamine was injected intravenously and in the control group, normal saline was used as the placebo. The incidence of headache and its severity at one, 4, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively, nausea and its severity were also measured and compared. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests were used. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The data revealed that low dose intravenous ketamine significantly decreased patients' headaches (P = 0.001), the sensation of pruritus (P = 0.009), and the need for analgesic (P = 0.001). Furthermore, the sensation of postoperative nausea was less in the case group. The patients in the case and control groups had no significant difference in terms of hypertension or bradycardia (P = 0.717 and 0.939, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The injection of ketamine as a premedication in the cesarean section can reduce the severity of postoperative headache in mothers. Therefore, it is recommended to use ketamine as an anti-headache drug in pregnant women.