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Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered as the most incidence form of cancer in the human liver and the main reason for worldwide cancer death. In addition, HCC is a common form of cancer in Africa and Asia and a global health issue. Thus, efforts should be made to improve treatment strategies and prognosis in HCC for recognizing novel prognostic and predictive markers. Methods: The present study reviewed recently published studies that were identified from the National Institutes of Health's PubMed database, Latin American Literature in Health Sciences, and Scientific Electronic Library Online. To this end, several key terms were searched, including "hepatocellular carcinoma" AND "diagnosis" AND "hepatic resection", miRNA, and Mesh (Medical Subject Headings) consisting of miRNA "hepatocellular carcinoma". Results: Both physiological and pathological processes such as development can be altered by the function and expression modifying of miRNA. The findings revealed that miR-101, miR-106, miR-130a, miR-515-5p, miR-199a, and miR-34a-5p have a considerable connection with tumor size in HCC patients. Conclusions: In general, several reports indicated that more than half of the miRNAs genes are located in cancer-associated genomic regions or fragile sites. Considering the reports regarding the important roles of miRNAs in cancer, their potential as prognostic or diagnostics markers is confirmed by a long list of studies and miRNA markers that could be used for cancer diagnosis are becoming available [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nowadays, mesenchymal stem cells are touted as suitable cell supply for the restoration of injured bone tissue. The existence of osteogenic differentiation makes these cells capable of replenishing damaged cells in the least possible time. It has been shown that epigenetic modifications, especially DNA methylation, contribute to the regulation of various transcription factors during phenotype acquisition. Hence, we concentrated on the correlation between the promoter methylation and the expression of genes DLX3, ATF4 , and FRA1 during osteoblastic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro after 21 days. Methods: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in osteogenesis differentiation medium supplemented with 0.1 µM dexamethasone, 10 mM β-glycerol phosphate, and 50 µM ascorbate-2-phosphate for 21 days. RNA and DNA extraction was done on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. Promoter methylation and expression levels of genes DLX3 , ATF4 , and FRA1 were analyzed by methylation-specific quantitative PCR and real-time PCR assays, respectively. Results: We found an upward expression trend with the increasing time for genes DLX3, ATF4, and FRA1 in stem cells committed to osteoblast-like lineage compared to the control group (P <0.05). On the contrary, methylation-specific quantitative PCR displayed decreased methylation rates of DLX3 and ATF4 genes, but not FRA1 , over time compared to the non-treated control cells (P <0.05). Bright-field images exhibited red-colored calcified deposits around Alizarin Red S-stained cells after 21 days compared to the control group. Statistical analysis showed a strong correlation between the transcription of genes DLX3 and ATF4 and methylation rate (P <0.05). Conclusion: In particular, osteoblastic differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells enhances DLX3 and ATF4 transcriptions by reducing methylation rate for 21 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin D in complex with its receptor by regulating gene expression, endometrium immune response and stimulation of endometrium decidualization can be involved in implantation. So, it seems that the amount of vitamin D in follicular fluids (FF) may have an association with ART success. Objective: First, we intended to investigate the possible association between levels of follicular fluids 25-OH vitamin D with assisted reproductive outcomes. Second, we examined relationship between 25-OH vitamin D levels with number and quality of oocytes. Materials and Methods: In a prospective study, 80 infertile female candidates for IVF/ICSI were enrolled. Blood samples (on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration) and follicular fluids were taken, and then levels of serum estradiol and follicular fluids 25-OH vitamin D were measured. Also clinical characteristics of patients (duration of infertility, causes of infertility, menstrual status), number and quality of oocytes, number of fertilized oocytes, estradiol levels, and clinical pregnancy were evaluated. Results: Concentration of FF 25-OH vitamin D in pregnant women was significantly higher than non-pregnant women (p=0.007) but there were no significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI), duration of infertility, menstrual status, number of oocytes, oocytes quality, number of fertilized oocytes, and serum estradiol levels between the two groups. Statistically positive correlation was found between 25-OH vitamin D levels with patient age and implantation rate (r=0.264, p=0.018 and r=0.301, p=0.007 respectively). Conclusion: The obtained results suggest that vitamin D without affecting the number and quality of oocytes can independently improve implantation rate and IVF outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]