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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is responsible for approximately 75% of all liver cancer cases, which is the seventh most prevalent cancer and the second most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The prognosis of HCC depends on its stage and the severity of liver disease at the time of diagnosis, but there are still problems in detecting and treating HCC patients on time and effectively. Being unable to diagnose HCC patients at an early stage and ineffective therapies for HCC patients with advanced stages are associated with the disease's high mortality. Liver transplantation could be a treatment option If patients are diagnosed early, but unfortunately, most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage where chemotherapy is necessary. Thus, an effective strategy for early detection of HCC is necessary since there was no effective chemotherapy for advanced HCC for a long time, and therapies such as the anti-angiogenesis pathway can only extend the median survival from 7.9 months to 10.7 months which is a step forward but not enough. In this article, we review the role of MtCK in HCC and its potential use as a marker to see if using it can be beneficial to patients.

Introduction. Esophagus squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has a poor prognosis, a high rate of metastasis, and rapid clinical progression. One hypothesis is that therapeutic failure is due to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSC). Previous studies showed the anticancer effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNP) in different cancer cells. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles on cell antioxidants, toxicity, as well as cell oxidant level in esophageal cancer (YM1) and cancer stem cell-like (CSC-LC) cell lines. Method. YM1 and CSC-LC spheres were treated with CNP at different concentrations. The cell viability was assessed by using the MTT test. Antioxidant levels (SOD (superoxide dismutase, CAT (catalase), thiol, and TAC (total antioxidant capacity)), antioxidant genes expression (SOD and CAT), ROS (reactive oxygen species), and MDA (malondialdehyde) levels were assessed in both cell lines. Results. CSC-LC had significantly elevated SOX4 and OCT4 pluripotent genes. The ROS and MDA levels were significantly reduced in both YM1 and CSC-LC spheres after treatment with CNP. Also, the antioxidant levels and expressions were elevated significantly in both cell lines after CNP treatment. Conclusion. These results suggest the potential anticancer effect of CNP by elevating antioxidant levels and expressions, and reducing oxidant levels.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a large molecular chaperone family classified by their molecular weights, including HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and HSP110. HSPs are likely to have antiapoptotic properties and participate actively in various processes such as tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastases, and death. In this review, we discuss comprehensively the functions of HSPs associated with the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) and metastasis and resistance to cancer therapy. Taken together, HSPs have numerous clinical applications as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis and potential therapeutic targets for CRC and its related metastases.

Substance P (SP) has a crucial role in cancer initiation and progression via binding to its specific receptor (NK1R). Various evidence confirmed the overexpression of NK1R and SP in the tissue of multiple cancers, including ovarian cancer. Despite numerous studies, the mechanism of the SP/NK1R system on migration and angiogenesis of ovarian cancer cells has not yet been deciphered. In this study, considering the critical factors in cell migration (MMP-2, MMP-9) and angiogenesis (VEGF, VEGFR), we investigated the possible mechanism of this system in inducing migration and angiogenesis of ovarian cancer cells.First, the resazurin assay was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of aprepitant (NK1R antagonist) on the viability of A2780 ovarian cancer cells. After that, the impact of this system and aprepitant on the mRNA expression of the factors mentioned above were studied using RT-PCR. Besides, the scratch assay was performed to confirm the effect of the SP/NK-1R system and aprepitant on cell migration. Our results implied that this system induced cell migration and angiogenesis by increasing the mRNA expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, and VEGFR. The obtained results from the scratch assay also confirmed the positive effect of this system on cell migration. Meanwhile, the blocking of NK1R by aprepitant suppresses the SP effects on cell migration and angiogenesis.Overall, the SP/NK1R system plays a vital role in ovarian cancer progression, and the inhibition of NK1Rusing aprepitant could inhibit the spread of ovarian cancer cells through metastasis and angiogenesis.

Abstract: The most typical malignant brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), seems to have a grim outcome, despite the intensive multi-modality interventions. Literature suggests that biologically active phytomolecules may exert anticancer properties by regulating several signaling pathways. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, has various pharmacological applications to combat severe diseases like cancer. Mechanistically, it inhibits cell proliferation and invasion, suppresses tumor angiogenesis, and induces cell apoptosis. The antitumoral effect of berberine in GBM is increasingly recognized. This review sheds new light on the regulatory signaling mechanisms of berberine in various cancers, proposing its potential role as a therapeutic agent for GBM.

Simple methods using a microstrip coupled-line directional coupler (CLDC) are presented for dielectric constant measurements. The material under test (MUT) is placed on the coupled-line section of the coupler, and either the coupler’s coupling ( |S31| ) or its isolation level ( |S41| ) is considered as the sensor’s response. Putting different MUTs on the microstrip line leads to a change in the effective dielectric constant of the structure and consequently causing a change in the coupling coefficient. In addition, since the isolation level of a microstrip coupled-line coupler depends on the phase velocity difference between the substrate and the medium above the signal strips, putting different MUTs on the line significantly changes the isolation level. This change is significantly greater than the change in |S21| level of a microstrip line when loaded with different MUTs. Validation of the method is presented through measurements for both solid and liquid MUTs.

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the second most frequent cancer in men. Aprepitant (AP) is a highly specific NK1R antagonist and its anti-cancer effects against different cancer cells including prostate cancer are shown previously. Also, the anti-cancer effect of Hesperidin has been shown in prostate cancer cells. While the anti-cancer effect of Hesperidin and AP on prostate cancer cells is well documented, their combined effect, as well as their mechanism of action are not fully understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Hesperidin and AP alone and in combination on prostate cancer cells. Method: PC3 and LNCaP cell lines were treated with Hesperidin and AP alone and in combination. The Resazurin test was used for assessing cell viability. The ROS (reactive oxygen Species) level, P53 and P21 gene expression, and Bcl-2 and Survivin gene expression were assessed in both cell lines. Also, a trypan blue assay was done for both cell lines. Results: The results of Resazurin showed that Hesperidin and AP significantly reduce the cell viability of PC3 and LNCaP cell lines. The ROS level significantly reduced after treating the PC3 and LNCaP cells with 10 µM AP with or without Hesperidin pretreatment. P53 and P21 gene expression significantly increased after treatment with 50 and 100 µM Hesperidin with or without 10 µM AP compared to the untreated group in the PC3 cell line. In addition, Bcl-2 and Survivin gene expression significantly decreased with 10 µM AP with or without Hesperidin pretreatment in the PC3 and LNCaP cell lines. Also, the results of the trypan blue assay showed the combination of Hesperidin with AP induced a high rate of apoptosis in LNCaP and PC3 cell lines. Conclusion: The current study showed the synergic anti-cancer effect of Hesperidin and Aprepitant on prostate cancer cells in both PC3 and LNCaP cell lines

The substance P (SP)/neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) system, a critical metastatic signaling pathway, can be targeted by substance P antagonists to prevent its cancer-progressive impacts. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the carcinogenic activity of the SP/NK1R system in human SW480 colorectal cancer cells and study the antagonistic impact of aprepitant (AP) by measuring MMP-2 and MMP-9 enzymatic activity.Different concentrations of SP, alone or mixed by AP, were utilized to treat SW480 cells to investigate the cells' viability and metastasis by applying Resazurin and Gelatin Zymography methods, respectively. The cells' metastatic response was analyzed by measuring the MMP-2 and MMP-9 in transcriptional and translational levels. Finally, the Scratch assay was carried out to evaluate the cells' metastatic response following the SP/AP treatment.A significant metastatic activity was observed in SW480 cells following incubation with the increasing SP doses by detecting MMP-2/MMP-9 enzyme activity, genes overexpression, and enhanced cell migration. This is while the AP treatment meaningfully diminished all the SP-mediated metastatic effects (p-Value 0.001).According to the results, the SP/NKR1 signaling pathway can be considered one of the main metastatic effectors in human colorectal cancer. Therefore, AP might be suggested to be used as the SP antagonist and an efficient anti-metastatic drug.

Glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer with aggressive and invasive nature. Such features result from increased proliferation and migration and also poor apoptosis of glioma cells leading to resistance to current treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In recent studies, micro RNAs have been introduced as a novel target for treating glioblastoma via regulation of apoptotic signaling pathway, remarkably PI3K/AKT, which affect cellular functions and blockage or progression of the tumor. In this review, we focus on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and other related apoptotic processes contributing to glioblastoma and investigate the role of micro RNAs interfering in apoptosis, invasion and proliferation of glioma through such apoptotic processes pathways. Databases NCBI, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for published English articles using keywords such as 'miRNA OR microRNA', 'Glioblastoma', 'apoptotic pathways', 'PI3K and AKT', 'Caspase signaling Pathway' and 'Notch pathway'. Most articles were published from 7 May 2015 to 16 June 2020. This study focused on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway affecting glioma cells in separated subparts. Also, other related apoptotic pathways as the Caspase cycle and Notch have been also investigated. Nearly 40 miRNAs were found as tumor suppressors or onco-miRNA, and their targets, which regulated subcomponents participating in proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of the tumoral cells. Our review reveals that miRNAs affect key molecules in signaling apoptotic pathways, partly PI3K/AKT, making them potential therapeutic targets to overcome the tumor. However, their utility as a novel treatment for glioblastoma requires further examination and investigation.

The formation of modifications or conception in the landscape could possibly, be a procedure relative to its natural and non-disturbance process; and it could be hastened by the occurrence of disturbance regimes. The objective of this research is to survey the changes in a landscape structure, over a period of 30 years, to attain information, as to the current conditions of land use, utilizing landscape metrics in the watershed area of the Latian Dam, so as to analyze the results and the voids present, towards obtaining a specified sustainable regional planning for the abovementioned watershed. Land use was identified and reviewed by means of four Landsat satellite images for 1987, 1998, 2007, and 2017; and in this watershed, it was classified into four classes, (a) build-up areas, (b) vegetated areas, (c) bare lands and (d) water bodies. Subsequently, by taking advantage of 7 metrics at the landscape level and 8 metrics at the class level, the landscape structure in this watershed was quantified by utilizing the Fragstats 4.2 Software. The survey results illustrated an increment in the number of patches (NP), decrementing the mean area of the patches (AREA-MN), and increasing the Interspersion & Juxtaposition Index (IJI) signifies amplified fragmentation at the landscape level in this watershed. Similarly, the NP has also incremented at the class level, and thus, the fragmentation of patches and fragmentation in the entire three classes of land use, namely, build-up areas, bare lands, and vegetated areas has occurred. The amount of patchiness for the build-up class, with due attention to the increment in the mean area of patches (AREA-MIN), which demonstrates the fact that, this class is inclined and has a tendency towards a coarse-grained structure and a metric decrement in the AREA-MIN in the vegetated areas, illustrates that this class is prone to the fine-grained structure.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a poorly curable brain tumor because of its extremely invasive nature. Curcuminoids, as potential phytochemicals extracted from Curcuma Longa L., have been documented for their chemopreventive and antitumor activities against several types of malignancies. These compounds exert these effects via modulation of multiple signaling pathways and molecular targets at different stages of tumor progression, proliferation, and metastasis. In experimental studies, curcuminoids have demonstrated promising therapeutic benefits to overcome GBM. Curcuminoids have been shown to exert their anti-GBM effects through regulation of angiogenesis, apoptosis, autophagy, metastasis, invasion, as well as potential molecular targets, including receptor tyrosine kinases, Sonic Hedgehog, and NF-κB. This study reviews the observations regarding the impact of curcumin and its derivatives on GBM and the potential of translating the research findings into the clinic.

The antagonists of the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) are known for their anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antiemetic, and anticancer activities. Aprepitant, a nonpeptide NK1R antagonist, is used in nausea and vomiting, the most common side effects of cancer chemotherapy in patients. It has been established that NK1R activation by substance P (SP), which links cancer promotion and progression to a neurokinin-mediated environment, became one mechanism that corresponds to the mitogenesis of tumor cells. Therefore, this study is aimed at explaining and evaluating the anticancer impacts of aprepitant on esophageal squamous cancer cell (ESCC) spheres by using in vitro experiments, such as resazurin, ROS, annexin-V binding, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis. As a result, we showed that aprepitant had strong antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects on ESCC cell spheres. Also, aprepitant caused significant G2-M cell cycle arrest depending on concentration increase. Further, exposure of cells to this agent resulted in caspase -8/-9-dependent apoptotic pathway activation by modifying the expression of genes involved in apoptosis. Besides, treatment of the cells by aprepitant abrogates of the PI3K/Akt pathway, as shown by reducing the level of Akt, induces apoptotic cell death. In summary, pharmacological inhibition of NK1R with aprepitant seems to have a significant chance of treating ESCC as a single agent or in conjunction with other chemotherapeutic drugs.

Cancer has recently increased the death toll worldwide owing to inadequate therapy and decreased drug bioavailability. Long-term and untargeted chemotherapeutic exposure causes toxicity to healthy cells and drug resistance. These challenges necessitate the development of new methods to increase drug efficacy. Nanotechnology is an emerging field in the engineering of new drug delivery platforms. The phytochemical epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main component of green tea extract and its most bioactive component, offers novel approaches to cancer cell eradication. The current review focuses on the nanogold-based carriers containing EGCG, with an emphasis on the chemotherapeutic effects of EGCG in cancer treatment. The nanoscale vehicle may improve the EGCG solubility and bioavailability while overcoming constraints and cellular barriers. This article reviewed the phytochemical EGCG-based gold nanoplatforms and their major anticancer applications, both individually, and in combination therapy in a few cases.

Background. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is recognized as one of the most common malignancies with a high mortality rate worldwide, supporting the necessity for an effective novel antitumor drug to improve current therapy’s effectiveness. Substance P (SP) is the essential member of the tachykinins (TKs) family, which binds to the specific receptors, known as neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), exerting its multiple influences such as tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Aprepitant, as a specific NK1R antagonist, is suggested as a novel antitumor agent, promoting apoptotic processes in tumor cells; however, the exact antitumor mechanism of aprepitant on molecular signaling in CRC is not entirely known. Method. The resazurin assay was conducted to assess the cytotoxic effects of aprepitant on the viability of the CRC cell line (SW480). The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured after 24-hour treatment with SP and aprepitant. PI/annexin V-FITC staining was conducted to assess apoptosis. Also, the expression of NF-κB antiapoptotic target genes and proapoptotic p53 target genes was measured by real-time- (RT-) PCR assay. Western blotting assay was performed to determine the expression of PI3k/AKT/NF-κB proteins. Results. We found that aprepitant stimulates apoptotic cell death and attenuates the PI3K/Akt pathway and its downstream proapoptotic target gene, including NF-κB in SW480 cells. Also, the obtained results from the quantitative RT-PCR assay showed that aprepitant could decrease the level of mRNA of NF-κB antiapoptotic target genes. Conclusion. Towards this end, this study suggests that SP/NK1R system plays a vital role in the development of CRC, and pharmaceutical targeting of NK1R using aprepitant might be a promising treatment against CRC.

One of the hazardous compounds for humans and the environment is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are the naphthalene of the precursor of two-ring aromatic hydrocarbons. These compounds are carcinogenic and toxic, they cause anemia and damage to the retina and are also toxic to plants and aquatic animals, these compounds have been identified as priority pollutants by the World Health Organization, yet these compounds are difficult to remove by biological methods. This study was performed in batch in vitro where the effect of parameters such as retention time 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes, concentration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and activated carbon from coconut skin 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 2 g/L), solution concentration 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50 and 100 mg/L and pH 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 the concentration of 10 mg/L naphthalene solution in naphthalene removal was investigated. Experimental data of adsorption equilibrium with different Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models are evaluated and analyzed with adsorption kinetics by comparing R2 coefficient of analysis and analyzed by excel software. Maximum naphthalene adsorption on both carbon nanotubes and activated carbon nanotube adsorbent at initial concentration of 10 mg/L naphthalene and adsorbent dose equal to 0.75 g/L at pH=7 is an appropriate time to achieve maximum naphthalene adsorption;the balance mode is 90 minutes. The adsorption mechanism is consistent in both adsorbents of Langmuir adsorption isotherm and their coefficient of determination in carbon nanotubes is (R²=0.9589) and in coconut shell activated carbon (R²=0.9319). and both adsorbents are from adsorption synthetics second-degree followers. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes and activated carbon from coconut skin due to their small size, high cross-sectional area as a result of high reactivity, as an adsorbent for removal of naphthalene from water. And the nanotube has a higher absorption than activated carbon from the coconut skin, so it is considered as a better adsorbent because of its affordability and availability.

Introduction. Glioblastoma is the most malignant brain tumor with different therapeutic protocols, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Substance P (SP), a peptide released by sensory nerves, increases cellular excitability by activating the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) in several human tumor cells. Aprepitant is a potent and long-lasting NK1R antagonist, considered a new agent for inhibiting proliferation and induction of apoptosis in malignant cells. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the SP/NK1R system on the expression and activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the glioblastoma U87 cancer cell line. Methods. Cytotoxicity was measured by the resazurin test, 24 hours after treatment, with increasing aprepitant concentrations. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also measured 24 hours after treatment with SP and aprepitant. Enzymes activity of catalase and SOD was measured using the corresponding assay kits. Real-time PCR also measured their expression. Results. Aprepitant significantly reduced the viability of U87 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. ROS production was significantly reduced, and the activity of catalase and SOD increased after treatment with aprepitant. The expression of catalase and SOD enzymes also increased significantly in the presence of aprepitant. Conclusion. The present study showed that aprepitant inhibited SP’s oxidizing effects via inducing the antioxidant effects of catalase and SOD in the U87 cell line. Therefore, this drug might be introduced as a potential candidate for controlling glioblastoma cancer in animal models and clinical trials.

This brief presents the design process, fabrication, and measurement results of a 1-3 GHz, efficient, 90-watt power amplifier (PA). Our design method is based on the source-pull/load-pull and the X-parameter models of the transistor which were obtained using its nonlinear compact model. According to the measurement results, the fabricated PA provides an output power between 49 dBm - 50 dBm, a drain efficiency of 41.4% to 45.5%, and a power gain between 9.4 dB and 13.7 dB in the entire frequency band of 1-3 GHz.

Background: Currently, a clean environment and human health have been regarded as the most important challenges of humankind; therefore, the ability of carbon-based nanomaterials as a new type of adsorbents in the removal of various pollutants from aqueous solutions has caused the widespread attention of research groups. Objectives: Carbon nanosheet (CNS) and its amine-functionalized derivatives were considered to remove heavy metal ions (HMIs) (zinc(II) ion [Zn2+]/cadmium(II) ion [Cd2+]/mercury(II) ion [Hg2+]) from water. Methods: This theoretical study in the framework of density-functional theory (DFT) was performed to gain insight into the HMIs (Zn2+/Cd2+/Hg2+) adsorption and removal by CNS and {(NH2)n-CNS (n = 1 - 2)}. The calculation level was hybrid DFT methods, such as wB97XD/lanl2dz. Results: Based on DFT calculations, more negative chemical potential value (-1.827 eV), high global softness (0.964 eV), low highest occupied molecular orbital (NH2)2-CNS lowest unoccupied molecular orbital-HMI gap, and more negative adsorption energy (range: -75 to -93 kJ mol-1) in (NH2)2-CNS demonstrated that this compound as a suitable adsorbent removed HMIs (Zn2+/Cd2+/Hg2+) from water than other nanosheets. The HMIs adsorption was confirmed by the natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules. Conclusions: The CNS and amine-functionalized structures have a good ability for HMIs (Zn2+/Cd2+/Hg2+) removal due to high chemical potential, electrophilicity, and adsorption energy.

One of the most prevalent malignancies is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Substance P (SP), as one of the peptides released from sensory nerves, causes the enhancement of cellular excitability through the activation of the neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor in several human tumor cells. Aprepitant, a specific, potent, and long-acting NK1 receptor antagonist, is considered as a novel agent to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in malignant cells. Since the antitumor mechanism of aprepitant in ESCC is not completely understood, we conducted this study and found that aprepitant induced growth inhibition of KYSE-30 cells and arrested cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Aprepitant also caused apoptotic cell death and inhibited activation of the PI3K/Akt axis and its downstream effectors, including NF-κB in KYSE-30 cells. Besides, quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR analysis showed a significant down-regulation of NF-κB target genes in KYSE-30 cells, indicating a probable NF-κB-dependent mechanism involved in aprepitant cytotoxicity. Thus, the present study recommends that SP/NK1R system might, therefore, be considered as an emerging and promising therapeutic strategy against ESCC.

Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer globally, and the second most common cancer among women with significant mortality. Toward this end, it is shown that substance P (SP) is involved in tumor initiation and progression through the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R). However, the exact molecular mechanism of the SP/NK1R system in ovarian cancer is not yet fully clarified. In this in vitro study, we decided to investigate the effect of the SP/NK1R system and blockage of NK1R by its specific antagonist (Aprepitant) on the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells as well as the alteration of inflammatory pathways. Our results revealed that Aprepitant stimulated apoptotic cell death and attenuated inflammation of ovarian cancer cells through the NF-kB and P53 signaling pathways. After treatment with Aprepitant, the expression of downstream anti-apoptotic genes related to the NF-kB pathway (survivine and bcl2) was decreased. However, we indicated the positive effect of SP on the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells by inducing the expression of NF-kB protein and NF-kB anti-apoptotic target genes. Moreover, Pro-apoptotic p53 target genes (P21 and Bax) were increased through aprepitant treatment, while SP attenuated these genes' expression. Besides, ROS generation in ovarian cancer cells after treatment with SP induced, while blocking of NK1R with Aprepitant reduced the level of ROS generation. Given this, our data suggest that this NK1R might be used as an important therapeutic target in ovarian cancer and Aprepitant could be considered a new drug in ovarian cancer therapy.

Infiltrating into the vital structure of the brain, located in the inaccessible anatomical region, and having molecular heterogeneity, glioblastoma (GBM) -with no doubt- is one of the deadliest cancers. Using the blood and brain barrier (BBB), GBM makes a shield to restrict the reach of chemotherapeutic agents to the tumor site and evolves a unique microenvironment to furnish all the essentials for cancer cells survival to conceal neoplastic cells from immunosurveillance.99 papers which met the criteria of eligibility were included in this review by consensus. The included articles were classified based on their design and level of evidence.Given this characteristic, immunotherapies for a while enjoyed unprecedented attention as a solution for GBM treatment; however, it did not take long before the enthusiasm for their application was muted. It became apparent that cancer cells intelligently find a way to manipulate the anti-tumor responses of agents by attracting immunosuppressive lymphocytes into the brain using the lymphatic vessels. This event makes GBM a good model for immunotherapy resistance. However, the presence of lymphatic vessels has fired up an idea of the adoptive attraction of effector T lymphocytes to the tumor milieu. This was when engineering and cloning technologies, which have given life to one of the recent treatment strategies using artificial T cells named chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T-cells, came to action to design specific CAR T-cells for the treatment of GBM.The present review summarizes the recent advances in CAR T-cell-based treatments in GBM and discusses why this approach could be positioned as a pillar of the next-generation of immunotherapies for this type of brain tumor.

AIM Mutation occurs in the prostate cell genes, leading to abnormal prostate proliferation and ultimately cancer. Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common cancers amongst men, and its prevalence worldwide increases relative to men's age. About 16% of the world's cancers are the result of microbes in the human body. Impaired population balance of symbiosis microbes in the human reproductive system is linked to PC development. DISCUSSION With the advent of metagenomics science, the genome sequence of the microbiota of the human body has been unveiled. Therefore, it is now possible to identify a higher range of microbiome changes in PC tissue via the Next Generation Technique, which will have positive consequences in personalized medicine. In this review, we intend to question the role of metagenomics studies in the diagnosis and treatment of PC. CONCLUSION The microbial imbalance in the men's genital tract might have an effect on prostate health. Based on next-generation sequencing-generated data, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteriodetes are the nine frequent phyla detected in a PC sample, which might be involved in inducing mutation in the prostate cells that cause cancer.

Abstract: The immune system's role in maintaining the health of the gastrointestinal (GI) system is like a double-edged sword. Simultaneously, it could reduce the risk of pathogen invasion by the inflammatory response. However, if regulated improperly, it could also propagate oncogenic signaling that transfers a normal cell into the malignant counterpart. Thus, several mechanisms have been proposed, such as the immune system could disturb the GI homeostasis and increase the survival and proliferative capacity of cells, leading to the formation of a wide range of malignancies. Among the endless list of these mechanisms, inflammatory responses are currently fascinating research areas, as this response regulation is by the gut microbiota. Given this, microbiota manipulation might be a convenient and efficient way to prevent GI cancer. Probiotics could potentially achieve this by overturning the milieu in favor of normal gut homeostasis. In addition to the safety of the use of probiotics, along with their potential ability to interact with immune system responses, these bacteria are also being analyzed from the perspective of dietary supplements. In the present review, we aimed to look into the mechanisms through which probiotics modulate immune response to stimulate anti-inflammatory responses and promote immune surveillance against neoplastic cells.

There is a need for rational methods to estimate behavior of unsaturated soils for analysis and design of pavement structures. The attributes of a desirable method would comprise low cost, reasonable accuracy and technical soundness. The equilibrium suction has a direct influence on the subgrade resilient modulus and vertical movement due to swelling and shrinking of expansive clays. The current AASHTOWare Pavement ME software package utilizes the enhanced integrated climatic model (EICM) for applying the effects of climate on the pavement materials. The EICM utilizes the depth to groundwater table to compute moisture content and the corresponding suction in the subgrade. However, research studies have revealed that other critical factors also influence the equilibrium suction. In this study, a mechanistic model is presented to predict equilibrium suction considering the effects of the unsaturated soil moisture diffusion coefficient. Based on a statistical analysis, an equilibrium suction prediction model is generated from readily available parameters, i.e., Thornthwaite moisture index (TMI), clay content (%) and relative humidity. The results of this study showed that the regression model provides reasonable prediction accuracy with a small test MSE of 0.03.

Although there is no doubt regarding the involvement of oxidative stress in the development of glioblastoma, many questions remained unanswered about signaling cascades that regulate the redox status. Given the importance of the substance P (SP)/neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) system in different cancers, it was of particular interest to evaluate whether the stimulation of this cascade in glioblastoma-derived U87 cells is associated with the induction of oxidative stress. Our results showed that SP-mediated activation of NK1R not only increased the intracellular levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also reduced the concentration of thiol in U87 cells. We also found that upon SP addition, there was a significant reduction in the cells’ total antioxidant capacity (TAC), revealing that the SP/NK1R axis may be involved in the regulation of oxidative stress in glioblastoma cells. The significant role of SP/NK1R in triggering oxidative stress in glioblastoma has become more evident when we found that the abrogation of the axis using aprepitant reduced cell survival, probably through exerting antioxidant effects. The results showed that both MDA and ROS concentrations were significantly reduced in the presence of aprepitant, and the number of antioxidant components of the redox system increased. Overall, these findings suggest that aprepitant might exert its anticancer effect on U87 cells through shifting the balance of oxidant and antioxidant components of the redox system.

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is recognized as one of the most common malignancies with a high mortality rate worldwide, supporting the necessity for an effective novel antitumor drug to improve current therapy's effectiveness. Substance P (SP) is the essential member of the tachykinins (TKs) family, which binds to the specific receptors, known as neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), exerting its multiple influences such as tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Aprepitant, as a specific NK1R antagonist, is suggested as a novel antitumor agent, promoting apoptotic processes in tumor cells; however, the exact antitumor mechanism of aprepitant on molecular signaling in CRC is not entirely known. Method The resazurin assay was conducted to assess the cytotoxic effects of aprepitant on the viability of the CRC cell line (SW480). The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured after 24-hour treatment with SP and aprepitant. PI/annexin V-FITC staining was conducted to assess apoptosis. Also, the expression of NF-κB antiapoptotic target genes and proapoptotic p53 target genes was measured by real-time- (RT-) PCR assay. Western blotting assay was performed to determine the expression of PI3k/AKT/NF-κB proteins. Results We found that aprepitant stimulates apoptotic cell death and attenuates the PI3K/Akt pathway and its downstream proapoptotic target gene, including NF-κB in SW480 cells. Also, the obtained results from the quantitative RT-PCR assay showed that aprepitant could decrease the level of mRNA of NF-κB antiapoptotic target genes. Conclusion Towards this end, this study suggests that SP/NK1R system plays a vital role in the development of CRC, and pharmaceutical targeting of NK1R using aprepitant might be a promising treatment against CRC.

Thioredoxin (Trx), thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), and NADPH are key members of the Trx system that is involved in redox regulation and antioxidant defense. In recent years, several researchers have provided information about the roles of the Trx system in cancer development and progression. These reports indicated that many tumor cells express high levels of Trx and TrxR, which can be responsible for drug resistance in tumorigenesis. Inhibition of the Trx system may thus contribute to cancer therapy and improving chemotherapeutic agents. There are now a number of effective natural and synthetic inhibitors with chemotherapy applications possessing antitumor activity ranging from oxidative stress induction to apoptosis. In this article, we first described the features and functions of the Trx system and then reviewed briefly its correlations with cancer. Finally, we summarized the present knowledge about the Trx/TrxR inhibitors as anticancer drugs.

This paper presents a new approach to design and implementation of a wideband microstrip radial power combiner with a planar structure in a way that it can be simply and inexpensively fabricated using a standard multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) technology. A 14-way power combiner with a two-octave bandwidth (1.5-6 GHz) is designed and fabricated on a three-layer PCB. Our measurements showed an amplitude and phase balance of ±0.75 dB and ±4.5 degrees, respectively, between the input ports. The main (output) port exhibited a reflection lower than -10 dB.

Over recent years, selenium nanoparticles (Se-NP) have been widely applied in nanomedicine science due to their exceptional physicochemical and biological properties. The available reports regarding the fabrication methods of these nanoparticles include several physical and chemical processes that are toxic, costly and non-environmentally. In this work, Se-NPs were synthesized through a rapid, biocompatible, safe, cost-effective and green chemistry approach that require the usage of bioactive compounds of honey. In addition, the obtained nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Vis, XRD, TEM, FESEM, EDX and FTIR analysis. The in vitro anticancer efficiency of biosynthesized Se-NPs@Honey was also examined on A2780 ovarian cancer cells, which interestingly exhibited a concentration-dependent anti-proliferative activity toward human ovarian cancer cells with the IC50 value of 60.95 μg/mL. Furthermore, their apoptotic effects were confirmed through the means of flow cytometry analysis that was performed by an annexin V–FITC kit and the assessment of apoptosis gene expression. According to the gathered data, Se-NPs@Honey can promote oxidative damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species in A2780 cells as well. Therefore, our findings strongly suggest that green synthesized Se-NPs by the usage of honey could stand as an efficient anticancer agent in the future.

The COVID-19 disease spreads swiftly, and nearly three months after the first positive case was confirmed in China, Coronavirus started to spread all over the United States. Some states and counties reported high number of positive cases and deaths, while some reported lower COVID-19 related cases and mortality. In this paper, the factors that could affect the risk of COVID-19 infection and mortality were analyzed in county level. An innovative method by using K-means clustering and several classification models is utilized to determine the most critical factors. Results showed that mean temperature, percent of people below poverty, percent of adults with obesity, air pressure, population density, wind speed, longitude, and percent of uninsured people were the most significant attributes, Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, 5 tables

Brackish water, municipal and industrial wastewater is considered as a valuable source to increase agricultural production. PAFO system with the use of agricultural fertilizers as a new solution with the aim of creating hydraulic pressure less than 5 times to increase flux and water permeability compared to the system RO, FO in seawater desalination. The efficiency and performance of the system was determined by analyzing the parameters of water flux (jw), water permeability (A), permeability of dissolved matter (B), B/A ratio and finally modeling was done using MATLAB software with effective parameters in water flux based on chi model of neural network. According to the results of the model, appropriate performance of the model was determined based on the R coefficient and the distribution of the predicted points against the real data