Potential promising anticancer applications of ß-glucans: a review.

ß-Glucans are valuable functional polysaccharides distributed in nature, especially in the cell walls of fungi, yeasts, bacteria, and cereals. The unique features of ß-glucans, such as water solubility, viscosity, molecular weight, and so on, have rendered them to be broadly applied in various food systems as well as in medicine to improve human health. Moreover, inhibition of cancer development could be achieved by an increase in immune system activity via ß-glucans. ß-glucans, which are part of a class of naturally occurring substances known as biological response modifiers (BRMs), have also shown evidence of being anti-tumorogenic, anti-cytotoxic, and anti-mutagenic. These properties make them attractive candidates for use as pharmaceutical health promoters. Along these lines, they could activate particular proteins or receptors, like lactosylceramide (LacCer), Dickin-1, complement receptor 3 (CR3), scavenge receptors (SR), and the toll-like receptor (TLR). This would cause the release of cytokines, which would then activate other antitumor immune cells, like macrophages stimulating neutrophils and monocytes. These cells are biased toward pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis and phagocytosis enhancing the elicited immunological responses. So, to consider the importance of ß-glucans, the present review introduces the structure characteristics, biological activity, and antitumor functions of fungal ß-glucans, as well as their application.

The role of viruses in cancer development versus cancer therapy: An oncological perspective.

Despite great medical advances, oncological research is still looking for novel therapeutic approaches due to the limitation of conventional therapeutic agents. Virotherapy is one of these new emerging therapeutic approaches that attract attention with their widespread applications. Virotherapy use lives oncolytic viruses or genetically engineered viruses that selectively infect the tumor cells, replicate, and disrupt the cancerous cells that also induce their anticancer activity by stimulating the host antitumor immune response. Moreover, viruses are widely used as target delivery vectors for specifically delivering different genes, therapeutic agents, and immune-stimulating agents. In addition to having antitumor activity by themselves in combination with conventional therapeutic agents like immune therapy and chemotherapy, Virotherapy agents also elicit promising outcomes. Therefore, in addition to their promising result in monotherapy use, virotherapy agents can also be used in combination with conventional cancer therapy, epigenetic modulators, and even microRNAs without any cross-resistance, which allows the patient not to be deprived of her routine medicine. Still, this combination therapy reduces the adverse effect of the conventional therapies. All together suggest that virotherapy agents as novel potential agents in the field of cancer therapy.

Exosome application in treatment and diagnosis of B-cell disorders: leukemias, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis rheumatoid.

Exosomes, known as a type of extracellular vesicles (EVs), are lipid particles comprising heterogeneous contents such as nucleic acids, proteins, and DNA. These bi-layered particles are naturally released into the extracellular periphery by a variety of cells such as neoplastic cells. Given that exosomes have unique properties, they can be used as vectors and carriers of biological and medicinal particles like drugs for delivering to the desired areas. The proteins and RNAs being encompassed by the circulating exosomes in B-cell malignancies are deemed as the promising sources for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic agents. Exosomes can also provide a "snapshot" view of the tumor and metastatic landscape at any particular time. Further, clinical research has shown that exosomes are produced by immune cells such as dendritic cells can stimulate the immune system, so these exosomes can be used in antitumor vaccines. Despite the great potential of exosomes in the fields of diagnostic and treatment, further studies are in need for these purposes to reach a convergence notion. This review highlights the applications of exosomes in multiple immune-related diseases, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis rheumatoid, as well as explaining sundry aspects of exosome therapy and the function of exosomes in diagnosing diseases.

Polyphenols target miRNAs as a therapeutic strategy for diabetic complications.

MiRNAs are a large group of non-coding RNAs which participate in different cellular pathways like inflammation and oxidation through transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic regulation. In the post-transcriptional regulation, miRNA interacts with the 3'-UTR of mRNAs and prevents their translation. This prevention or dysregulation can be a cause of pathological conditions like diabetic complications. A huge number of studies have revealed the association between miRNAs and diabetic complications, including diabetic nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and delayed wound healing. To address this issue, recent studies have focused on the use of polyphenols as selective and safe drugs in the treatment of diabetes complications. In this article, we will review the involvement of miRNAs in diabetic complications' occurrence or development. Finally, we will review the latest findings on targeting miRNAs by polyphenols like curcumin, resveratrol, and quercetin for diabetic complications therapy.

The role of epigenetic modifications in drug resistance and treatment of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is defined as a biological and molecular heterogeneous disorder that originates from breast cells. Genetic predisposition is the most important factor giving rise to this malignancy. The most notable mutations in breast cancer occur in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Owing to disease heterogeneity, lack of therapeutic target, anti-cancer drug resistance, residual disease, and recurrence, researchers are faced with challenges in developing strategies to treat patients with breast cancer. RESULTS: It has recently been reported that epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and histone modification, as well as microRNAs (miRNAs), have potently contributed to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer. These observations have persuaded researchers to move their therapeutic approaches beyond the genetic framework toward the epigenetic concept. CONCLUSION: Herein we discuss the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying breast cancer progression and resistance as well as various aspects of epigenetic-based therapies as monotherapy and combined with immunotherapy.

Tongue metastasis originated from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A case report.

The tongue is a rare site for metastasis. In this report, we present a woman with a history of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who suffered from two metastatic masses on the left side of her tongue 2 years after completion of definitive chemoradiation. The patient underwent chemotherapy and left hemi-glossectomy.

Extra chromosomal DNA in different cancers: Individual genome with important biological functions.

Cancer can be caused by various factors, including the malfunction of tumor suppressor genes and the hyper-activation of proto-oncogenes. Tumor-associated extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) has been shown to adversely affect human health and accelerate malignant actions. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on different cancer types suggested that the amplification of ecDNA has increased the oncogene copy number in various cancers. The unique structure and function of ecDNA, its profound significance in cancer, and its help in the comprehension of current cancer genome maps, renders it as a hotspot to explore the tumor pathogenesis and evolution. Illumination of the basic mechanisms of ecDNA may provide more insights into cancer therapeutics. Despite the recent advances, different features of ecDNA require further elucidation. In the present review, we primarily discussed the characteristics, biogenesis, genesis, and origin of ecDNA and later highlighted its functions in both tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance of different cancers.

Effects of dioxin on testicular histopathology, sperm parameters, and CatSper2 gene and protein expression in Naval Medical Research Institute male mice.

The CatSper gene family is known to be solely expressed in sperm cells and is possibly associated with sperm motility and penetration through the zona pellucida. Despite its vital role in male fertility, factors regulating its expression are not widely known. The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of dioxin on CatSper2 gene and protein expression, testicular histopathology, sperm quality and biochemical parameters in a mice model. The experiments were performed on 32 Naval Medical Research Institute male mice (2-3 months). The animals were divided into four groups in a random manner: (a) control; (b) dioxin 1; (c) dioxin 2; and (d) dioxin 3. The treatment groups received 0.1, 0.5 and 1 µg/kg of dioxin intraperitoneally every day for 2 weeks. Administration of dioxin significantly downregulated the CatSper2 gene and protein expression. A greater reduction in gene and protein expression was found at higher doses of dioxin. At the same time, sperm parameters, especially sperm motility and count, decreased in mice exposed to dioxin. The results of testicular histopathology showed necrotic degeneration and epithelium thickness reduction in the dioxin groups in comparison with the controls. Besides, oxidative stress increased in seminiferous tubules.

Effectiveness of coenzyme Q10 in prophylactic treatment of migraine headache: an open-label, add-on, controlled trial.

Despite the huge health and economic burden of migraine headache, few medications have been approved for its prophylactic treatment, most of which can potentially induce serious adverse effects. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a supplement and has shown preliminary benefits in migraine prophylaxis. We aimed to assess this effect in an adult population. This is an open-label, parallel, add-on, match-controlled trial. Eighty patients diagnosed with migraine headache based on International Headache Society criteria were allocated to receiving only their current preventive drugs or their current preventive drugs plus 100 mg CoQ10 daily, matching for their baseline characteristics, and were assessed for frequency and severity of attacks, and ≥50 % reduction in attack frequency per month. Thirty-six and 37 patients were analyzed in CoQ10 and control groups, respectively. Number of attacks per month dropped significantly in the CoQ10 group (mean decrease: 1.6 vs. 0.5 among CoQ10 and control groups, respectively, p < 0.001). A significant reduction was also evident in the severity of headaches (mean decrease: 2.3 vs. 0.6 among CoQ10 and control groups, respectively, p < 0.001). For ≥50 % reduction in the frequency of attacks per month, the number needed to treat was calculated as 1.6. No side effects for CoQ10 were observed. This study suggests that CoQ10 might reduce the frequency of headaches, and may also make them shorter in duration, and less severe, with a favorable safety profile.