Search

Gynecological malignancies are one of the main causes of cancer-induced mortality. Despite remarkable recent therapeutic advances, current therapeutic options are not sufficient. Regarding the effect of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) on cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis, variations in their expression cause different anomalies, such as tumorigenesis. SNPs influence lncRNA function and expression. LncRNA polymorphisms can predict cancer risk and are effective for early diagnosis and customized therapy. In this literature review, we comprehensively investigate the effect of lncRNA polymorphisms on gynecological cancers. LncRNA-related variants are proposed to evaluate cancer incidence, early detection and management of personalized therapy. Nonetheless, more studies are required to validate the consistency of current findings in numerous samples and across various ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer (LC) imposes a significant burden, and is associated with high mortality and morbidity among malignant tumors. Aberrant expression of particular lncRNAs is closely linked to LC. LncRNA polymorphisms cause abnormal expression levels and/or structural dysfunction. They can affect the progression of cancer, survival, response to chemotherapy and recurrence rates in cancer patients. The present article provides a comprehensive overview of the effect of lncRNA genetic polymorphisms on LC. It is proposed that lncRNA-related variants can be used to predict cancer risk and therapeutic outcomes. More large-scale trials on diverse ethnic groups are required to validate the results, thus personalizing LC therapy based on lncRNA genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving sperm motility results in increasing the success of a treatment cycle. Recently, sperm RNA has been used for diagnostic purposes such as whole seminal fluid, sperm analysis, and sperm quality test in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). SPATA18-P53 pathway is considered an essential pathway related to sperm mitochondria, which controls mitochondrial quality by eliminating its oxidative proteins. Oxidative stress may decrease sperm motility and affect sperm quality negatively due to an increase in P53 expression. SPATA18 protein is found in satellite fibers related to outer dense fibers in the middle piece of sperm. The downregulation of SPATA18 in the asthenospermia group can represent this gene's critical function in sperm motility and fertility. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between SPATA18 and P53 gene expression in sperm cells obtained from normospermia and asthenospermia. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used to measure the SPATA18 and P53 gene expression level in sperm samples collected from 21 patients and 63 healthy individuals. Further, the sperm DNA fragmentation assay (SDFA) kit was applied to determine the relative apoptosis level in cells and evaluate the biochemical information related to the patients' sperm samples. Furthermore, all the participants completed the consent form, and the ethics committee confirmed the study. Results: Based on the results, the P53 and SPATA18 gene expression levels in most of the samples, in which motility was less than 40%, increased and decreased (P≤0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The SPATA18 and P53 gene expression levels increased and decreased in the asthenospermic patients, respectively, compared to the control group. Thus, the P53 and SPATA18 expression levels can be used as an appropriate marker for diagnosing sperm motility in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidative stress results in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases in patients receiving hemodialysis. N-acetylcysteine is a well-known antioxidant agent. There are little studies about the effect of Nacetylcysteine on patients receiving hemodialysis, and, if any, their results are inconsistent. This study, as a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, was conducted on 44 hemodialysis patients in Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Yasuj, Iran in 2015. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups, in the intervention group, Nacetylcysteine 600 mg every 12 hours for eight weeks was administered and the second group received placebo during this period every 12 hours. Blood samples were taken to measure C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and other biochemical markers such as ferritin, albumin, and creatinine at baseline and at the end of treatment. 40 patients completed the study (21 on N-acetylcysteine, 19 on placebo), with a mean age of 60.72±17.60. There was not any significant difference between intervention and control groups in interleukin-6 (8.85±6.9 vs. 10.32±8.68, 95% CI, -3.52 to 6.46; P=0.55) and C - reactive protein (0.85±0.29 vs. 0.9±0.31, 95% CI, -.14 to .24; P=0.60). In addition, there was no significant relationship between the two groups in other biochemical markers. In this study, administering N-acetylcysteine was safe and caused a reduction in some inflammatory markers, but these changes were not significant in comparison with placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in many countries. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). The effects of MS on left main coronary artery stenosis are not well-defined. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of MS on left main coronary artery stenosis. Methods: A total number of 495 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography in the Catheter Laboratory of Cardiovascular in Shariati Hospital 2008- 2010 were included in the study. MS definition was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)- Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. The stenosis in left main coronary arteries was determined by examining the coronary angiograms of the patients. Results: The study population consisted of 249 (50.3%) men, and 246 (49.7%) women. The mean age of the participants was 58.01±10 years. MS was present in 86 (17.4%) of the patients based on NCEP- ATP III criteria. LMCA stenosis was seen in 25 (5%) patients. A positive correlation was found between MS and LMCA stenosis (r=0.305, P=0.012). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between age (r=0.192, P=0.05), sex (r=0.334, P=0.007), smoking (r=0.336, P=0.01) and diabetes (r=0.253, P=0.03) and LMCA stenosis. Conclusion: The metabolic syndrome correlates with LMCA stenosis. LMCA stenosis and its correlation with MS is precipitated by high FBG, age, male sex, and smoking which may synergistically increase the risk for the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]