TSP1 and MMP9 genetic variants in sporadic prostate cancer

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the initiation and progression of many malignancies including prostate cancer (PCa). Therefore, genes implicated in angiogenic pathways could be susceptibility candidate genes for this malignancy. In this respect, we investigated the impact of functional genetic variants of TSP1 (N700S) and MMP9 (-1562 C/T) genes on the development and progression of PCa. This case-control study included 101 PCa patients and 106 healthy controls analyzed by polymerase chain reaction -restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. No association was observed between any of the TSP1 genotypes and PCa risk or severity; however, subjects carrying one copy of the MMP9 T allele exhibited threefold higher risk of developing PCa (OR = 2.86; P = 0.004). Regarding prognostic value, a significant association was found between the occurrence of the MMP9 T allele and the high-grade tumor (OR = 3.21; P = 0.004) and the advanced disease (OR = 2.47; P = 0.026). We also analyzed the effect of the combined genotypes on PCa risk. The patients with two high-risk genotypes exhibited 2.8-fold higher risk of developing PCa than those with only low-risk genotypes, but the association was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that MMP9 polymorphism is an independent risk factor of PCa development and aggressiveness.     

Efficacy of metformin in the management of periodontitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Periodontitis is characterized by inflammation of the periodontium and leads to loss of teeth if untreated. Although a number of surgical and pharmacological options are available for the management of periodontitis, it still affects a large proportion of population. Recently, metformin (MF), an oral hypoglycemic, has been used to treat periodontitis. The aim of this review is to systematically evaluate the efficacy of MF in the treatment of periodontitis. An electronic search was carried out using the keywords ‘metformin’, ‘periodontal’ and ‘periodontitis’ via the PubMed/Medline, ISI Web of Science and Google Scholar databases for relevant articles published from 1949 to 2016. The addressed focused question was: ‘Is metformin effective in reducing bone loss in periodontitis? Critical review and meta-analysis were conducted of the results obtained in the selected studies. Following the removal of the duplicate results, the primary search resulted in 17 articles and seven articles were excluded based on title and abstract. Hence, 10 articles were read completely for eligibility. After exclusion of four irrelevant studies, six articles were included. The topical application of MF resulted in improved histological, clinical and radiographic outcomes. Additionally, results from the meta-analysis indicated that application of metformin improved the clinical and radiographic outcomes of scaling and root-planing, but at the same time heterogeneity was evident among the results. However, because of a lack of histological and bacterial studies, in addition to short follow-up periods and risk of bias, the long-term efficacy of MF in the treatment of bony defects is not yet ascertained. Further studies are needed to envisage the long-term efficacy of MF in the management of periodontitis.     

Nano in nano: Biosynthesized gold and iron nanoclusters cargo neoplastic exosomes for cancer status biomarking

Timely detection is crucial for successful treatment of cancer. The current study describes a new approach that involves utilization of the tumor cell environment for bioimaging with in-situ biosynthesized nanoscale gold and iron probes and subsequent dissemination of Au-Fe nanoclusters from cargo exosomes within the circulatory system. We have isolated the Au-Fe cargo exosomes from the blood of the treated murine models after in situ biosyntheses from their respective pre-ionic solutions (HAuCl₄, FeCl₂), whereas Na₂SeO₃ supplementation added into Au lethal effect. The microarray data of various differentially expressed genes revealed the up-regulated tumor ablation and metal binding genes in SGC-7901 cell lines after treatment with Au-Fe-Se triplet ionic solution. The isolation of Au-Fe nanoclusters cargo exosomes (nano in nano) after secretion from deeply seated tumors may help in early diagnosis and reveal the tumor ablation status during and after the relevant treatment like radio-chemo therapies et al.     

Evaluating Possible Mechanisms Linking Obesity to COVID-19: a Narrative Review

Obesity Surgery - Currently, pneumonia caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic. To date, there is no specific antiviral treatment for the disease, and universal access to...     

Phytochemical constituents,biological activities,and health‐promoting effects of the genus Origanum

Origanum species are mostly distributed around the Mediterranean, Euro‐Siberian, and Iran‐Siberian regions. Since time immemorial, the genus has popularly been used in Southern Europe, as well as on the American continent as a spice now known all over the world under the name “oregano” or “pizza‐spice.” Origanum plants are also employed to prepare bitter tinctures, wines, vermouths, beer, and kvass. The major components of Origanum essential oil are various terpenes, phenols, phenolic acids, and flavonoids with predominant occurrence of carvacrol and thymol (with reasonable amounts of p‐cymen and ‐terpinene) or of terpinene‐4‐ol, linalool, and sabinene hydrate. Many species of Origanum genus are used to treat kidney, digestive, nervous, and respiratory disorders, spasms, sore throat, diabetes, lean menstruation, hypertension, cold, insomnia, toothache, headache, epilepsy, urinary tract infections, etc. Origanum essential oil showed potent bioactivities owing to its major constituents' carvacrol, thymol, and monoterpenes. Several preclinical studies evidenced its pharmacological potential as antiproliferative or anticancer, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, anti‐obesity, renoprotective, antiinflammatory, vasoprotective, cardioprotective, antinociceptive, insecticidal, and hepatoprotective properties. Its nanotechnological applications as a promising pharmaceutical in order to enhance the solubility, physicochemical stability, and the accumulation rate of its essential oils have been investigated. However, Origanum has been reported causing angioedema, perioral dermatitis, allergic reaction, inhibition of platelet aggregation, hypoglycemia, and abortion. Conclusive evidences are still required for its clinical applications against human medical conditions. Toxicity analyses and risk assessment will aid to its safe and efficacious application. In addition, elaborate structure–activity studies are needed to explore the potential use of Origanum‐derived phytochemicals as promising drug candidates.     

MRI-targeted biopsy for detecting prostate cancer: have the guidelines changed our practices and our prostate cancer detection rate?

International Urology and Nephrology - In our center, until 2018, MRI-targeted biopsy was underused. Since January 2018, we systematically performed MRI-targeted biopsy for suspicious...     

Visual outcomes of a new implantable phakic contact lens in patients with stable keratoconus

AIM: To assess the efficacy, safety, stability and predictability of an implantable Phakic contact lens in patients with stable keratoconus. METHODS: The uncorrected and the best corrected visual acuity, defocus curve, contrast sensitivity, refraction and possible side effects were measured in 14 patients after utilizing implantable phakic contact lens (IPCL) to correct refractive errors. The result was assessed for more than 6mo. RESULTS: The mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) and astigmatism got changed from -6.94±2.79 DS and -4.24±1.42 DC to -0.23±0.43 DS and -1.05±0.49 DC, respectively at the last examination after 6mo. Before the preoperative the mean Snellen visual acuity was 0.18±0.10 logMAR. The mean uncorrected and the best corrected visual acuity got changed to 0.13±0.10 logMAR and 0.05±0.15 logMAR, respectively in 6mo. The mean safety indices were 1.11. There was no loss of visual acuity in any of the eyes and 22 eyes (78.5%) gained one or more lines. Twenty eyes (71.4%) were within 0.50 ?D and 27 (96.42%) were within ±1.00?D of the desired SE refraction. There was a change in manifest refraction of -0.23±0.43 (range from -1.00 to +0.75) from the first week of surgery to 6mo. Contrast sensitivity got improvement value at 3 per degree (P<0.005) after Toric IPCL implantation. The total 6mo corneal endothelial cell loss (ECL) was <5%. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was 11.32±2.28 mm Hg after 6mo. CONCLUSION: The clinical consequences of the present study exhibit the efficacy, safety, and predictability of Toric implantable Phakic contact lens in the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism related with stable keratoconus.     

Unsymmetrical 1,3-disubstituted urea derivatives as α-chymotrypsin inhibitors

The objective of this study was to synthesize potent and/or novel inhibitors for α-chymotrypsin activity. Eighteen derivatives of N-methylphenyl-N′-(alkyl/aryl) urea (1–18) were synthesized, and their inhibitory effects on α-chymotrypsin enzyme were evaluated. Two compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activities. The most potent, N-(2-methylphenyl)-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinecarboxamide (15) having a methyl group at ortho position was the most active inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 8.10 ± 0.14 μM, which was comparable to standard chymostatin (IC₅₀ = 8.24 ± 0.11 μM). A slightly less potent, N-(2-acetylphenyl)-N′-(3-methylphenyl) urea (10), exhibited an IC₅₀ of 13.6 ± 0.23 μM. Compounds 3, 4, 7, 11, and 13 exhibited moderate activities. The results demonstrated that α-chymotrypsin inhibition is related to the position of the methyl group and the presence of substituent at the nitrogen of the urea bridge. The inhibitory trend suggests that α-chymotrypsin inhibitory activity declines with ortho > meta > para substitution order. In conclusion, our data suggest that the compound 15 may serve as a lead compound for further designing of other potent or novel α-chymotrypsin inhibitors.