Circulating and tissue microRNAs as a potential diagnostic biomarker in patients with thrombotic events.

Venous and arterial thrombosis are conditions that have a considerable burden if left untreated. The hypoxia-induced by the occluded vessel can disrupt the circulation of any organ, the cornerstone of treating thrombosis is rapid diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Diagnosis of thrombosis may be made by using laboratory tests or imaging techniques in individuals who have clinical manifestations of a thrombotic event. The use of serum micro ribonucleic acids (RNAs) has recently been applied to the diagnosis of thrombosis. These small RNA molecules are emerging as new diagnostic markers but have had very limited applications in vascular disease. Most of the articles provided various microRNAs with different levels of accuracy. However, there remains a lack of an appropriate panel of the most specific microRNA in the literature. The purpose of the present review was to summarize the existing data on the use of microRNAs as a diagnostic biomarker for venous thrombosis.

The Relationship Between Vitamin D Status and Risk of Gastric Cancer.

Vitamin D plays an important role in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus and bone health, but is also involved in several other important biological processes. Epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is very high globally. Recent studies have shown an association between vitamin D status with the prevalence and outcomes of several cancers that includes gastric cancer, which is a common cancer with a poor prognosis. The early diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer, in its advanced stages, is difficult and patients who are diagnosed at an advanced stage have a poor prognosis. In this review, we have summarized the recent studies investigating the association between vitamin D status and the incidence and mortality of gastric cancer.

Vitamin D in inflammatory bowel disease: From biology to clinical implications.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract consisting two principal categories, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The precise etiology of IBD remains unknown. Vitamin D is an important micronutrient that plays a critical biological role in various processes in human tissues. However, the relationship between disruption of the gut microbiota and the development of IBD is unclear. Some studies suggest that IBD is the cause of disrupted gut microbiota while others propose that gut microbiota itself can lead to development of IBD. Regardless of this complexity, it has emerged that vitamin D is an immunoregulatory factor that plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of IBD by affecting the gut microbiome and the inflammatory response. It has been reported that 38.1% of CD patients and 31.6% of UC patients suffer from vitamin D deficiency (VDD). In this review, we aimed to evaluate the association between VDD and IBD, summarizing recent clinical studies examining the effect of low vitamin D and the role of vitamin D supplementation on IBD clinical outcomes.

Circulating and Tissue microRNAs as Biomarkers for Ovarian Cancer Prognosis.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common cancers globally with a high rate of cancer- associated mortality. OC may be classified into epithelial cell neoplasms, germ cell neoplasms and stromal cell neoplasms. The five-year survival in the early and advanced stages of disease is approximately 90% and 15%, respectively. microRNAs are short, single-stranded, non-coding ribonucleic acid (RNA). miRNAs play critical roles in post transcriptionally regulations of gene expression. miRNAs are found in different tissues and body fluids. In carcinogenesis the expression of miRNAs are altered. Recent studies have revealed that there is a relationship between alteration of miRNAs expression and the prognosis of patients with OC. The aim of this review was to summarize the findings of recent studies that have investigated the expression of circulating and tissue miRNAs as novel biomarkers in the prognosis of OC.

Personalized Peptide-based Vaccination for Treatment of Colorectal Cancer: Rational and Progress.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers globally and is associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. A large proportion of patients with early stage CRC, who undergo conventional treatments develop local recurrence or distant metastasis and in this group of advanced disease, the survival rate is low. Furthermore there is often a poor response and/or toxicity associated with chemotherapy and chemo-resistance may limit continuing conventional treatment alone. Choosing novel and targeted therapeutic approaches based on clinicopathological and molecular features of tumors in combination with conventional therapeutic approach could be used to eradicate residual micrometastasis and therefore improve patient prognosis and also be used preventively. Peptide- based vaccination therapy is one class of cancer treatment that could be used to induce tumorspecific immune responses, through the recognition of specific antigen-derived peptides in tumor cells, and this has emerged as a promising anti-cancer therapeutic strategy. The aim of this review was to summarize the main findings of recent studies in exciting field of peptide-based vaccination therapy in CRC patients as a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of CRC.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of red cell distribution width in cardiovascular disease; current status and prospective.

The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is an index of the heterogeneity of circulating red blood cell size, which along with other standard complete blood count (CBC) parameters are used to identify hematological system diseases. Besides hematological disorders, several clinical studies have shown that an increased in the RDW may be associated with other diseases including acute pancreatitis, chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, and of special interest in this review, cardiovascular disease (CVD). The diagnostic and prognostic value of RDW in different CVD (acute coronary syndrome, ischemic cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and acute ischemic stroke) has been reviewed in this article, to provide an understanding how its measurement may be applied to improve the management of these conditions.

Association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and colorectal cancer.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy, ranking fourth among the causes of cancer-related deaths globally. Its incidence has increased in recent decades, and now more than one million CRC patients are diagnosed and thousands die annually. The 5-year survival rate varies with the stage at diagnosis, are approximately 90% in the early stages of disease, and less than 10% in advanced disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is a major cause of chronic liver disease, and characterized by the accumulation of fat in hepatocytes, has also emerged as a risk factor for CRC, and to be related with the development of colorectal polyps. Areas covered: The purpose of this current review is to summarize the main findings of studies that have investigated the role of NAFLD in development of CRC. Expert opinion: Various molecular pathways are altered during the development of NAFLD, which are also important in CRC tumorigenesis. There is growing body of evidence showing the potential role of activation of pro-inflammatory, disruption of anti-inflammatory pathways, increasing the activity of pathways involved in cell proliferation/survival. Thus targeting these dysregulated pathways via novel inhibitors can be a potential therapy for CRC prevention in cases with NAFLD.

MicroRNAs as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer, and the second most common cause of cancer-associated death globally. One of the major reasons for this high rate of mortality is a failure to make an early diagnosis. The average survival in untreated HCC patients is estimated to be approximately three months. The 5-year overall survival rate after radical resection is about 15-40% and within two years, more than two third of patients experience a relapse. To date, the most common biomarker which has been used for the diagnosis of HCC is serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). However, there is a lack of sensitive and specific tumor biomarkers for the early diagnosis of HCC. MicroRNAs are a class of short endogenous RNA with crucial role in many biological activities and cellular pathways and can be found in various tissues and body fluids. The aim of this review was to summarize the results of recent studies investigating miRNAs as novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis and prognostic risk stratification of patients with this type of liver cancer.

Targeting cancer stem cells as therapeutic approach in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers globally. A large portion of colorectal cancer patients who are treated with conventional chemotherapy eventually develop local recurrence or metastases. The failure of a complete cure in colorectal cancer patients may be related to the lack of complete eradication of cancer stem cells when using conventional therapy. Colorectal cancer stem cells comprise a small population of tumor cells that possess the properties of rapid proliferation and differentiation. The colorectal cancer stem cells are also phenotypically and molecularly distinct, and resistant to conventional chemo-radiotherapy. Therefore, it is important to identify approaches in combination with conventional therapy for targeting and eradicating cancer cells. The aim of this review was to summarize the main findings of recent studies on targeting colorectal cancer stem cells as a novel therapeutic approach in colorectal cancer treatment.

Stem cell therapy: A novel approach for myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Until recently, it was thought that myocardium was not able to repair itself, but studies have now shown that resident cardiac stem cells have regenerative capacity, and stem cell therapy may be a novel approach for cardiac muscle repair and regeneration. Stem cell-derived paracrine factors have been shown to regulate ventricular remodeling, inflammation, apoptosis, cardiomyocytes regeneration, and neovascularization in regions of infarcted cardiac tissue. In this review, we summarize the evidence from cellular, animal, and clinical studies supporting the potential clinical significance of stem cell therapy as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of MI.

Circulating Exosomes as Potential Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the first leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing and developed countries. Circulating exosomes have recently been identified as extracellular transporters, detectable in biological fluids. Exosomes have established a new era in diagnosing diseases, especially CVD. Determination of exosome profiles, e.g., miRNAs, for different health states such as myocardial injury still requires further studies. In this review, we will discuss the role of exosomes as a potential biomarker in CVD, with particular emphasis on recent advances in the methods to study exosomes, isolation, detection, and characterization.

Epigenetic Drug Therapy in the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers with a high rate of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It has been demonstrated that epigenetic alterations which may cause changes in the expression of microRNA, DNA methylation and histone acetylation that results in inheritable modifications in gene expression in colorectal epithelial cells, plays a crucial role in the development of CRC. Recently, targeting epigenetic modification has emerged as a potentially important treatment approach in CRC. The US Food and Drug Association has approved the use of some epigenetic drugs that may be able to inhibit or reverse these alterations and also enhance sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy in CRC. In this review we have summarized the recent pre-clinical and clinical trial studies investigating the therapeutic value of using epigenetic drugs as novel therapeutic approach in CRC treatment.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of copeptin in cardiovascular disease, current status, and prospective.

Copeptin is a glycosylated peptide derived from the cleavage of the precursor of arginine-vasopressin. In contrast to arginine-vasopressin, copeptin is a stable molecule and can easily be measured using a simple rapid assay. The serum concentration of copeptin is increased in several clinical conditions, including hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and, of special interest in this review, in cardiovascular diseases. The diagnostic and prognostic value of copeptin in different cardiovascular diseases (acute coronary syndrome, stable coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and acute ischemic stroke) has been reviewed in this article, to provide an understanding of how its measurement may be applied to improve the management of these conditions.

Toll-like Receptors Signaling Pathways as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality, and associated with an important economic burden globally. Over the last decade, the prevalence of CVD has been rising globally, and is now associated with millions of death annually in both developed and developing countries. There is good evidence that the immune system is involved in the pathophysiology of CVD. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their down-stream signaling pathways play an important role in the immune system. Recent studies have suggested that the TLRs are involved in atherogenesis, including stroke, myocardial infarction, ischemiareperfusion injury, cardiac remodeling and development of Heart Failure (HF). In this review we have summarized the recent studies investigating the role of TLRs in CVD and the potential for using TLRs signaling pathways as a therapeutic target in CVD.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of circulating microRNAs in coronary artery disease: A novel approach to disease diagnosis of stable CAD and acute coronary syndrome.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common manifestation of CVD and the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is associated with a substantial morbidity and mortality in most populations globally. There are several biomarkers for diagnosis of MI. Troponin is routinely used as a biomarker in patients with chest pain, but it lacks sensitivity in the first hours of onset of symptoms, and so there is still a clinical need for new biomarkers for the diagnosis of CAD events. Recent studies have shown that miRNAs are involved in atherosclerotic plaque formation and their expression is altered during CAD events. Whilst studies have shown that several miRNAs are not superior to troponin in the diagnosis of a MI, they may be useful in the early diagnosis and prognosis of patients with CAD, however further studies are required. In this review we have summarized the recent studies investigating circulating miRNAs as novel biomarkers for the early detection of MI, CVD risk stratification and in the assessment of the prognosis of patients with ACS.

The Prognostic and Predictive Value of microRNAs in Patients with H. pylori-positive Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) has a high mortality rate with a poor 5-year survival. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is present as part of the normal flora of stomach. It is found in the gastric mucosa of more than half of the world population. This bacterium is involved in developing H. pylori-induced GC due to the regulation of different micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA or miR). miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs and are recognized as prognostic biomarkers for GC that may control gene expression. miRNAs may function as tumor suppressors, or oncogenes. In this review, we evaluated studies that investigated the ectopic expression of miRNAs in the prognosis of H. pylori positive and negative GC.

Soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy of Ar2 and ArNe dimers and small Ar clusters.

The X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) of Ar2 and ArNe dimers and small Ar clusters in the L2,3 region (244-252 eV) of the Ar atom have been recorded using synchrotron light and a combination of coincidence methods and kinetic energy discrimination of energetic ions. The absorption peaks in the spectra of the dimers and clusters were found to be shifted and broadened relative to the peaks in the spectrum of the Ar atom. In order to unambiguously relate these chemical shifts to the electronic structure of the core excited states in dimers, we performed ab initio calculations of the XAS spectra. Implications of the results for the use of XAS as a structure determination method in large rare gas clusters are discussed.

Photoelectron spectra of some important biological molecules: symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration interaction study.

In this work, the valence vertical ionization energies (up to 5) of some important biologically active molecules including 2,4-dinitrophenol, 2,4-dinitroanisole, nicotinic acid, nicotinic acid methyl ester, nicotinamide, N,N-diethylnicotinamide, barbituric acid, uric acid, cytosine, ß-carotene, and menadione were calculated in the gas phase and compared with the experimental data reported in the literature. The symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration interaction (SAC-CI) general-R method was used to calculate the ionization energies. The intensity of each ionization band was evaluated using the monopole approximation. Comparison of the calculated photoelectron spectrum of each molecule with its corresponding experimental spectra allowed for assigning the photoelectron bands by natural bonding orbital (NBO) calculations even though some of the associated bands were significantly overlapped for some molecules. Among the considered molecules, there was no agreement between the experimental and calculated photoelectron spectrum of ß-carotene. The reason for this disagreement was theoretically investigated and attributed to the degradation and decomposition of ß-carotene. The calculated first ionization energies of the considered molecules were correlated with their Hückel k-index to obtain Coulomb (α) and resonance (ß) integrals of the Hückel molecular orbital theory for the biomolecules considered in this study. A linear correlation was found between the first ionization energy and the Hückel k-index.