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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic life‐limiting disease of gastrointestinal tract characterized by widespread enteric inflammation. IBD is a multifactorial disease, and different environmental, microbial, and immune‐related factors give rise to the development of disease. Among several factors, the preponderance of pro‐inflammatory T helper 17 cells over the anti‐inflammatory regulatory T cells augments inflammation in the intestinal mucosa. Prevailing evidence accentuates that PI3K signaling pathway plays a central role in the pathophysiology of the condition by regulating the inflammatory process in the gut mucosa. By recognizing the implications of PI3K in the pathogenesis of IBD, agents that could modulate this pathway have recently been at the focus of research, yielding encouraging results mainly in the experimental IBD models. In this review, we have summarized the recent advances, which may hold the keys to identify novel therapeutic strategies for IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of cancer has been growing worldwide. Better survival rates following the administration of novel drugs and new combination therapies may concomitantly cause concern regarding the long‐term adverse effects of cancer therapy, for example, second primary malignancies. Moreover, overcoming tumour resistance to anticancer agents has been long considered as a critical challenge in cancer research. Some low toxic adjuvants such as herb‐derived molecules may be of interest for chemoprevention and overcoming the resistance of malignancies to cancer therapy. Apigenin is a plant‐derived molecule with attractive properties for chemoprevention, for instance, promising anti‐tumour effects, which may make it a desirable adjuvant to reduce genomic instability and the risks of second malignancies among normal tissues. Moreover, it may improve the efficiency of anticancer modalities. This paper aims to review various effects of apigenin in both normal tissues and malignancies. In addition, we explain how apigenin may have the ability to protect usual cells against the genotoxic repercussions following radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of apigenin on tumours will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of immunometabolism investigates and describes the effects of metabolic rewiring in immune cells throughout activation and the fates of these cells. Recently, it has been appreciated that immunometabolism plays an essential role in the progression of viral infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. Regarding COVID‐19, the aberrant immune response underlying the progression of diseases establishes two major respiratory pathologies, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or pneumonia‐induced acute lung injury (ALI). Both innate and adaptive immunity (T cell‐based) were impaired in the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. Current findings have deciphered that macrophages (innate immune cells) are involved in the inflammatory response seen in COVID‐19. It has been demonstrated that immune system cells can change metabolic reprogramming in some conditions, including autoimmune diseases, cancer, and infectious disease, including COVID‐19. The growing findings on metabolic reprogramming in COVID‐19 allow an exploration of metabolites with immunomodulatory properties as future therapies to combat this hyperinflammatory response. The elucidation of the exact role and mechanism underlying this metabolic reprograming in immune cells could help apply more precise approaches to initial diagnosis, prognosis, and in‐hospital therapy. This report discusses the latest findings from COVID‐19 on host metabolic reprogramming and immunometabolic responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag‐NPs) using plant extract is an environmentally friendly method to reduce the use of harmful chemical substances. The green synthesis of Ag‐NPs by Lawsonia inermis extract and its cellular toxicity and the antimicrobial effect was studied. The physical and chemical properties of synthesised Ag‐NPs were investigated using UV‐visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. The average size of Ag‐NPs was 40 nm. The XRD result shows peaks at 2θ = 38.07°, 44.26°, 64.43°, and 77.35° are related to the FCC structure of Ag‐NPs. Cytotoxicity of synthesised nanoparticles was evaluated by MTT toxicity test on breast cancer MCF7 cell line. Observations showed that the effect of cytotoxicity of nanoparticles on the studied cell line depended on concentration and time. The obtained IC50 was considered for cells at a dose of 250 μg/ml. Growth and survival rates decreased exponentially with the dose. Antimicrobial properties of Ag‐NPs synthesised with extract were investigated against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus to calculate the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration of (MBC). The results showed that the synthesised Ag‐NPs and the plant extract have antimicrobial properties. The lowest concentration of Ag‐NPs that can inhibit the growth of bacterial strains was 25 μg/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the probiotic role of the unicellular fungi, Aspergillus niger on growth performance, immunity, haematology and digestive enzymes in common carp, Cyprinus carpio. One non‐supplemented group (T0) was considered as control and two groups fed the fungi including T1 (fish supplemented with diet containing 1 × 103A. niger) and T2 (fish supplemented with diet containing 1 × 106A. niger) considered as the experimental treatments in three replicates. Fish were fed experimental diets for 60 days. The survival rate and growth parameters (final length and weight, weight gain (%), thermal growth coefficient (TGC), protein efficiency ratio and lipid efficiency ratio) significantly increased in A. niger supplemented fish compared with control (p < 0.05). The values of FCR (feed conversion ratio) and CF (condition of factor) significantly decreased after feeding experiment in fish of T2 and T1 compared with control (p < 0.05). The plasma levels of lysozyme and total immunoglobulin significantly elevated in A. niger supplemented groups compared with control (p < 0.05). The RBC (red blood cell) counts, Hb (haemoglobin) concentrations, MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin) and MCV (mean corpuscular volume) values significantly increased in A. niger supplemented fish compared with control (p < 0.05). The WBC (white blood cell) and Hct (haematocrit) value were higher in fish of T2 compared with control (p < 0.05). The number of neutrophils significantly increased in the treatment, T2 compared with control (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the lymphocyte counts significantly increased in A. niger supplemented fish compared with control (p < 0.05). The body composition of fish showed increases in the fish dry matter and protein content and decreases in lipid content of T1 and T2 groups compared with control (p < 0.05). The digestive enzymes (protease, trypsin, amylase, lipase and alkaline phosphatase), apparent protein ad lipid digestibility significantly increased in response to dietary level of 1 × 106A. niger compared with control (p < 0.05). The supplementation of fish with A. niger also prompted the load of the fungi in intestine (p < 0.05). The results of the present study confirmed the probiotic role of A. niger in common carp, since it improved growth, immunity, digestion and the fish haematology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the effect of Dracocephalum kotschyi essential oil (DKE) was investigated on growth, haematology, immune and antioxidant defence system and resistance of rainbow trout juveniles to bacterial infection (Aeromonas hydrophila). For this purpose, the fish were fed a diet containing different concentrations of DKE including 0 (control), 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3 mg/kg diet in three replicates for 60 days. After feeding trial, the fish were challenged with a pathogenic dose of A. hydrophila. Based on the results, immune components in plasma (alternative complement activity [ACH50], IgM content, lysozyme activity, total protein and total albumin) and mucus (protease activity, IgM content and lysozyme activity) significantly elevated in fish fed diet containing 0.2 and 0.25 mg DKE/kg diet compared with other groups (p < 0.01). The plasma bactericidal activity increased in all DKE‐supplemented fish. Supplementation of fish with 0.3 mg DKE/kg diet depressed the mucosal lysozyme activity and IgM content. The liver antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed increased activity in response to 0.25 and 0.3 mg DKE/kg diet compared with other experimental diets (p < 0.01). Dietary DKE changed the haematology of the fish. The haematocrit, red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), haemoglobin content and mean erythrocyte cell haemoglobin content (MCHC) increased in response to DKE. In contrast, the mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) decreased in fish fed 0.2 and 0.25 mg DKE/kg diet compared with other diets (p < 0.01). The supplementation of fish with 0.2 and 0.25 mg DKE/kg diet decreased the expression of cytokine‐related genes, TNF‐α and IL‐8. In contrast, the DKE up‐regulated the expression of the immune‐related genes, C3 and lysozyme. DKE at concentration of 0.3 mg/kg diet depressed the C3 and lysozyme gene expressions. The DKE supplementation decreased the mortality rate of the fish after bacterial challenge compared with non‐supplemented ones (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the findings of this study revealed the immune‐stimulating effects of DKE at optimized dietary concentrations. In addition, DKE decreased the mortality induced by A. hydrophila infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embryo splitting is one of the newest developed methods in reproductive biotechnology. In this method, after splitting embryos in 2-, 4-, and even 8-cell stages, every single blastomere can be developed separately, but the embryos are genetically identical. Embryo splitting, as an approach in reproductive cloning, is extensively employed in reproductive medicine studies, such as investigating human diseases, treating sterility, embryo donation, and gene therapy. In the present study, cloning in mammalians and cloning approaches are briefly reviewed. In addition, embryo splitting and the methods commonly used in embryo splitting and recent achievements in this field, as well as the applications of embryo splitting into livestock species, primate animals, and humans, are outlined. Finally, a perspective of embryo splitting is provided as the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have a unique facet of synthetic biology and offer a paradigm shift in personalized medicine as they can use and redirect the patient's immune cells to attack cancer cells. CAR‐natural killer (NK) cells combine the targeted specificity of antigens with the subsequent intracellular signaling ability of the receptors to increase their anti‐cancer functions. Importantly, CAR‐NK cells can be utilized as universal cell‐based therapy without requiring human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching or earlier contact with tumor‐associated antigens (TAAs). Indeed, CAR‐NK cells can be adapted to recognize various antigens, hold higher proliferation capacity, and in vivo persistence, show improved infiltration into the tumors, and the ability to overcome the resistant tumor microenvironment leading to sustained cytotoxicity against tumors. Accumulating evidence from recent in vivo studies rendering CAR‐NK cell anti‐cancer competencies renewed the attention in the context of cancer immunotherapy, as these redirected effector cells can be used in the development of the "off‐the‐shelf" anti‐cancer immunotherapeutic products. In the current review, we focus on the therapeutic efficacy of CAR‐NK cell therapies for treating various human malignancies, including hematological malignancies and solid tumors, and will discuss the recent findings in this regard, with a special focus on animal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article titled "Cloning and Embryo Splitting in Mammalians: Brief History, Methods, and Achievements" [[1]], the incorrect affiliation was listed for Marwah Suliman Maashi and the authors have requested to correct the affiliation, as above.By Mohaddeseh Rahbaran; Ehsan Razeghian; Marwah Suliman Maashi; Abduladheem Turki Jalil; Gunawan Widjaja; Lakshmi Thangavelu; Mariya Yurievna Kuznetsova; Pourya Nasirmoghadas; Farid Heidari; Faroogh Marofi and Mostafa JarahianReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]