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.

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.

Review of Anti-Bacterial Activities of Curcumin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The prevention and pharmacotherapy of infectious diseases are of great importance. Among others, infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa have a high mortality rate. This bacterium is the third most common cause of nosocomial infections, and characteristics such as multiple virulence factors, ability to survive, environmental spread, and resistance to antibiotics have made it a potential pathogen, especially for people with compromised immune systems. Considering bacterial resistance to current medications, high cost, and side effects, the need to provide new and effective therapies is highlighted. Curcumin is a dietary polyphenolic compound that has a wide range of therapeutic properties, including antibacterial effects. It has been the subject of increasing research exploring its potential utility in infectious diseases. In this review, the antibacterial effects of curcumin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa are discussed.