Association of priori-defined DASH dietary pattern with metabolic health status among Iranian adolescents with overweight and obesity.

There was no evidence on the relationship of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) with metabolic health condition in adolescents with overweight and obesity. The purpose of this research was to investigate the association of priori-defined DASH dietary pattern with metabolic health status among adolescents with overweight and obesity in Iran. A cross-sectional survey performed on a representative sample of adolescents with overweight and obesity (n = 203). Dietary intakes were collected via a validated food frequency questionnaire and DASH score was characterized according to eight components. Data of anthropometric measures, blood pressure, circulating insulin, fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile were collected. Metabolic health status was defined based on criteria of International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and insulin resistance (IR). Based on IDF and IDF/IR criteria, 38.9% and 33.0% of adolescents suffered from metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUO). After controlling all confounders, subjects in the highest vs. lowest tertile of DASH diet had respectively 92% and 91% lower odds of MUO based on IDF definition (OR = 0.08; 95%CI 0.03-0.22) and IDF/IR criteria (OR = 0.09; 95%CI 0.03-0.29). Subgroup analysis by sex and body mass index determined that this relationship was more powerful in girls and overweight individuals. Also, in fully adjusted model, highest vs. lowest adherence to DASH diet was linked to decreased odds of hyperglycemia (OR = 0.07; 95% CI 0.03-0.21), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 0.26; 95% CI 0.09-0.73), low HDL cholesterolemia (OR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.12-0.73) and insulin resistance (OR = 0.07; 95% CI 0.02-0.28), as metabolic health components. Greater compliance to DASH dietary pattern was linked to a remarkable lower odd of metabolic unhealthy condition among Iranian adolescents, especially in overweight subjects and girls. More prospective surveys are required to assert these results.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation on symptoms severity in vitamin D insufficient women with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is one of the most prevalent disorders among reproductive women worldwide that negatively impact women's quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the severity of PMS symptoms in vitamin D insufficient women with PMS. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 44 vitamin D insufficient women with PMS received either 50,000 IU vitamin D or a placebo fortnightly for 16 weeks. Participants completed the PMS Daily Symptoms Rating form at beginning and during the last two months of the intervention, and their blood samples were collected to assess 25(OH)D serum levels. RESULTS: After the four months' intervention, the serum level of 25(OH)D in the vitamin D group raised from 21 ± 8 ng/ml to 40 ± 8 ng/ml (P < 0.001), while in the placebo group it raised from 21 ± 7 ng/ml to 23 ± 7 ng/ml (P = 0.03). Indeed, serum vitamin D levels in the placebo group could not reach a sufficient level. At the end of the intervention, the mean score of total PMS symptoms showed significant improvement in the vitamin supplemented group compared to the controls (p < 0.001). By grouping the PMS symptoms into five subgroups, the mean score of all five subgroups decreased post-supplementation compared to the baseline; however, the highest and lowest decrease were in depression (53 %) and water retention subgroups (28 %), respectively. This indicates a greater improvement in the mean scores of mood symptoms compared to physical symptoms in this study (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Results obtained in this clinical trial represent the helpful effects of vitamin D supplementation on total, physical and mood symptoms in vitamin D insufficient women with PMS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This randomized controlled trial at IRCT.ir on 2018-06-20 with Registration No: IRCT20180525039822N1.

The impact of curcumin on migraine: A comprehensive review.

Migraine, a neurovascular condition, is a chronic and lifelong disease that affects about 15% of the population worldwide. Although the exact pathophysiology and etiology of migraine are still unclear, oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuroendocrine imbalances are identified as the critical risk factors for migraine attacks. Curcumin is an active component and a polyphenolic diketone compound extracted from turmeric. Curcumin is a promising candidate for preventing and controlling migraine due to its anti­inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-protein aggregate, and analgesic effects. In the present review, we have evaluated experimental and clinical studies investigating the impact of liposomal curcumin and nano-curcumin on the frequency and severity of migraine attacks in patients. Although the results are promising, more studies should be conducted in this area to show the exact efficacies of curcumin on clinical symptoms of migraine and investigate its potential mechanisms.

Curcumin-piperine co-supplementation and human health: A comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies.

Curcumin is extracted from the rhizomes Curcuma longa L. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. Despite its safety and potential for use against various diseases, curcumin's utility is restricted due to its low oral bioavailability. Co-administration of curcumin along with piperine could potentially improve the bioavailability of curcumin. The present review aimed to provide an overview of the efficacy and safety of curcumin-piperine co-supplementation in human health. The findings of this comprehensive review show the beneficial effects of curcumin-piperine in improving glycemic indices, lipid profile and antioxidant status in diabetes, improving the inflammatory status caused by obesity and metabolic syndrome, reducing oxidative stress and depression in chronic stress and neurological disorders, also improving chronic respiratory diseases, asthma and COVID-19. Further high-quality clinical trial studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the curcumin-piperine supplement.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma progression: Biological functions and new therapeutic targets.

Liver is an important organ in body that performs vital functions such as detoxification. Liver is susceptible to development of cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among them. 75-85% of liver cancer cases are related to HCC. Therefore, much attention has been directed towards understanding factors mediating HCC progression. LncRNAs are epigenetic factors with more than 200 nucleotides in length located in both nucleus and cytoplasm and they are promising candidates in cancer therapy. Directing studies towards understanding function of lncRNAs in HCC is of importance. LncRNAs regulate cell cycle progression and growth of HCC cells, and they can also induce/inhibit apoptosis in tumor cells. LncRNAs affect invasion and metastasis in HCC mainly by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism. Revealing the association between lncRNAs and downstream signaling pathways in HCC is discussed in the current manuscript. Infectious diseases can affect lncRNA expression in mediating HCC development and then, altered expression level of lncRNA is associated with drug resistance and radio-resistance. Biomarker application of lncRNAs and their role in prognosis and diagnosis of HCC are also discussed to pave the way for treatment of HCC patients.

Effects of Chromium Supplementation on Lipid Profile: an Umbrella of Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Dyslipidemia is one of the most well-established modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. Several meta-analyses have revealed the improving effects of chromium on dyslipidemia, while some studies have reported controversial results. This study aimed to summarize meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of chromium supplementation on lipid profiles in adults. The literature search was conducted using Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Library, and PubMed databases with appropriate keywords from the beginning to May 2022. Based on the pooled analysis results, a random-effects model was used to determine the effects of chromium on blood lipid levels. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis were also evaluated using standard methods. A total of eight meta-analyses were included in this study. The pooled analysis of eight meta-analyses did not find any significant effect of chromium supplementation on triglycerides (TG) (ES = - 0.20 mg/dl; 95% CI: - 0.50, 0.10, p = 0.185), total cholesterol (TC) (ES = - 0.14 mg/dl, 95% CI: - 0.43, 0.16; p = 0.369), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (ES = - 0.08 mg/dl; 95% CI: - 0.19, 0.03; p = 0.142), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (ES: 0.05 mg/dl, 95% CI: - 0.05, 0.14, p = 0.312). However, subgroup analysis by the intervention dose suggested that chromium supplementation in doses higher than 500 µg/day could significantly decrease TG. The available evidence proposes no beneficial effects of chromium intervention on blood lipids. As a result, it cannot be used as a single therapy to treat adults with lipid abnormalities.

Climate Stressors and Physiological Dysregulations: Mechanistic Connections to Pathologies.

This review delves into the complex relationship between environmental factors, their mechanistic cellular and molecular effects, and their significant impact on human health. Climate change is fueled by industrialization and the emission of greenhouse gases and leads to a range of effects, such as the redistribution of disease vectors, higher risks of disease transmission, and shifts in disease patterns. Rising temperatures pose risks to both food supplies and respiratory health. The hypothesis addressed is that environmental stressors including a spectrum of chemical and pathogen exposures as well as physical and psychological influences collectively impact genetics, metabolism, and cellular functions affecting physical and mental health. The objective is to report the mechanistic associations linking environment and health. As environmental stressors intensify, a surge in health conditions, spanning from allergies to neurodegenerative diseases, becomes evident; however, linkage to genetic-altered proteomics is more hidden. Investigations positing that environmental stressors cause mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, and oxidative stress, which affect missense variants and neuro- and immuno-disorders, are reported. These disruptions to homeostasis with dyslipidemia and misfolded and aggregated proteins increase susceptibility to cancers, infections, and autoimmune diseases. Proposed interventions, such as vitamin B supplements and antioxidants, target oxidative stress and may aid mitochondrial respiration and immune balance. The mechanistic interconnections of environmental stressors and disruptions in health need to be unraveled to develop strategies to protect public health.

A meta-analysis of effects of vitamin E supplementation alone and in combination with omega-3 or magnesium on polycystic ovary syndrome.

Vitamin E supplementation might have favorable effects on risk factors of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of vitamin E supplementation or vitamin E in combination with omega-3 or magnesium on PCOS. PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase electronic databases, and Google scholar were searched for all available articles up to September 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effect of vitamin E supplementation or vitamin E in combination with omega-3 or magnesium on lipid and glycemic profiles, anthropometric measurements, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, hormonal profile, and hirsutism score in patients with PCOS were included. Ten RCTs (with 504 participants) fulfilled the eligible criteria. Vitamin E supplementation or vitamin E in combination with omega-3 or magnesium in comparison to placebo could significantly reduce serum levels of TG (weighted mean difference: - 18.27 mg/dL, 95% CI - 34.68 to - 1.87), VLDL (- 5.88 mg/dL, 95% CI - 8.08 to - 3.68), LDL-c (- 12.84 mg/dL, 95% CI - 22.15 to - 3.52), TC (- 16.30 mg/dL, 95% CI - 29.74 to - 2.86), TC/HDL-c ratio (- 0.52, 95% CI - 0.87 to - 0.18), hs-CRP (- 0.60 ng/mL, 95% CI - 0.77 to - 0.44), hirsutism score (- 0.33, 95% CI - 0.65 to - 0.02) and significantly increase nitric oxide levels (2.79 µmol/L, 95% CI 0.79-4.79). No significant effect was found on HDL-c, glycemic indices, hormonal profile, anthropometric measurements, and other biomarkers of inflammation or oxidative stress. This meta-analysis highlights the potential anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin E supplementation alone or in combination with omega-3 or magnesium on PCOS patients.

Crosstalk of miRNAs with signaling networks in bladder cancer progression: Therapeutic, diagnostic and prognostic functions.

Urological cancers are considered as life-threatening diseases around the world. Bladder cancer is one of the most malignant urological tumors with high mortality and morbidity. Bladder cancer is a heterogenous disease and genetic alterations have shown to be key players in regulating its progression. Although conventional therapies are somewhat beneficial in improving prognosis and survival, bladder cancer patients suffer from recurrence. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous short RNA molecules that do not encode proteins and show dysregulated expression in human cancers. miRNAs are regulators of vital biological processes in cells such as proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis. Dysregulation of miRNAs is observed in bladder cancer and they are used as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of patients. LncRNAs and circRNAs are modulators of bladder cancer progression via miRNA expression regulation. Overexpression of onco-suppressor miRNAs impairs bladder cancer progression, while oncogenic miRNAs drive tumor progression. Glycolysis and EMT mechanisms are two important factors for proliferation and migration of bladder cancer that are modulated by miRNAs. Furthermore, miRNAs can affect STAT3 and Wnt/ß-catenin as instances of molecular factors in regulating bladder tumor progression. Bladder tumor response to drug therapy and radiotherapy is regulated by miRNAs. Hence, aim of current review is to provide function of miRNAs in bladder cancer based on their crosstalk with other molecular pathways and interaction with biological processes.

EMT mechanism in breast cancer metastasis and drug resistance: Revisiting molecular interactions and biological functions.

One of the malignant tumors in women that has involved both developed and developing countries is breast cancer. Similar to other types of tumors, breast cancer cells demonstrate high metastatic nature. Besides, breast tumor cells have ability of developing drug resistance. EMT is the related mechanism to cancer metastasis and focus of current manuscript is highlighting function of EMT in breast tumor malignancy and drug resistance. Breast tumor cells increase their migration by EMT induction During EMT, N-cadherin and vimentin levels increase, and E-cadherin levels decrease to mediate EMT-induced breast tumor invasion. Different kinds of anti-cancer agents such as tamoxifen, cisplatin and paclitaxel that EMT induction mediates chemoresistance feature of breast tumor cells. Furthermore, EMT induction correlates with radio-resistance in breast tumor. Clinical aspect is reversing EMT in preventing chemotherapy or radiotherapy failure in breast cancer patients and improving their survival time. The anti-tumor agents that suppress EMT can be used for decreasing breast cancer invasion and increasing chemosensitivity of tumor cells. Furthermore, lncRNAs, miRNAs and other factors can modulate EMT in breast tumor progression that are discussed here.

SOX2 function in cancers: Association with growth, invasion, stemness and therapy response.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and around 10 million deaths in 2020 were related to cancer. There are a number of therapeutic modalities for cancer such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. However, tumor cells have capacity of developing resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Genetic mutations participate in development and progression of cancer. The current review focuses on the role of SOX2 transcription factor in cancer. SOX2 has capacity of increasing growth and metastasis of cancer cells. It functions as double-edged sword and has ability of suppressing tumor progression. Increasing evidence reveals that SOX2 is involved in triggering resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. SOX2 promotes stemness of tumor cells and increases the number of cancer stem cells. SOX2 overexpression occurs in the tumor cells and tissues to ensure their proliferation and metastasis. Silencing SOX2 using CRISPR or siRNA impairs progression of the cancer cells and reduces their survival rate. SOX2 demonstrates interactions with other factors such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, STAT3 and Wnt/ß-catenin, among others to regulate progression of the tumor cells. SOX2 can be considered as a biomarker in cancer patients. SOX2 overexpression is associated with lymph node metastasis, low survival rate and poor prognosis of cancer patients.

LncRNA-miRNA axis in tumor progression and therapy response: An emphasis on molecular interactions and therapeutic interventions.

Epigenetic factors are critical regulators of biological and pathological mechanisms and they could interact with different molecular pathways. Targeting epigenetic factors has been an idea approach in disease therapy, especially cancer. Accumulating evidence has highlighted function of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as epigenetic factors in cancer initiation and development and has focused on their association with downstream targets. microRNAs (miRNAs) are the most well-known targets of lncRNAs and present review focuses on lncRNA-miRNA axis in malignancy and therapy resistance of tumors. LncRNA-miRNA regulates cell death mechanisms such as apoptosis and autophagy in cancers. This axis affects tumor metastasis via regulating EMT and MMPs. Besides, lncRNA-miRNA axis determines sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Based on the studies, lncRNAs can be affected by drugs and genetic tools in cancer therapy and this may affect expression level of miRNAs as their downstream targets, leading to cancer suppression/progression. LncRNAs have both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressor functions in cancer and this unique function of lncRNAs has complicated their implication in tumor therapy. LncRNA-miRNA axis can also affect other signaling networks in cancer such as PI3K/Akt, STAT3, Wnt/ß-catenin and EZH2 among others. Notably, lncRNA/miRNA axis can be considered as a signature for diagnosis and prognosis in cancers.

PLA1A expression as a diagnostic marker of BRAF-mutant metastasis in melanoma cancer.

BRAF and NRAS are the most reported mutations associated to melanomagenesis. The lack of accurate diagnostic markers in response to therapeutic treatment in BRAF/NRAS-driven melanomagenesis is one of the main challenges in melanoma personalized therapy. In order to assess the diagnostic value of phosphatidylserine-specific phospholipase A1-alpha (PLA1A), a potent lysophospholipid mediating the production of lysophosphatidylserine, PLA1A mRNA and serum levels were compared in subjects with malignant melanoma (n = 18), primary melanoma (n = 13), and healthy subjects (n = 10). Additionally, the correlation between histopathological subtypes of BRAF/NRAS-mutated melanoma and PLA1A was analyzed. PLA1A expression was significantly increased during melanogenesis and positively correlated to disease severity and histopathological markers of metastatic melanoma. PLA1A mRNA and serum levels were significantly higher in patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma compared to the patients with NRAS-mutated melanoma. Notably, PLA1A can be used as a diagnostic marker for an efficient discrimination between naïve melanoma samples and advanced melanoma samples (sensitivity 91%, specificity 57%, and AUC 0.99), as well as BRAF-mutated melanoma samples (sensitivity 62%, specificity 61%, and AUC 0.75). Our findings suggest that PLA1A can be considered as a potential diagnostic marker for advanced and BRAF-mutated melanoma.

The Effect of Nano-Curcumin Supplementation on Pentraxin 3 Gene Expression and Serum Level in Migraine Patients.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the effect of nano-curcumin supplementation on pentraxin 3 (PTX3) gene exp ression and serum level in migraine patients. METHODS: The present study, performed as a clinical trial, included 38 episodic migraine patients in two groups that received either nano-curcumin or placebo over a two-month period. At the start and the end of the study, PTX3 gene expression and serum levels were measured. RESULTS: After two months of treatment, PTX3 gene expression and serum levels were both significantly less in the nano-curcumin than in the placebo group (P= 0.01 and P< 0.001, respectively). No significant gene expression differences were found between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Curcumin may have a potential inhibitory effect on PTX3 gene expression and serum levels in migraine disease and can be considered as an efficient therapy in migraine management.

Vitamin D Supplementation for Premenstrual Syndrome-Related inflammation and antioxidant markers in students with vitamin D deficient: a randomized clinical trial.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common disorder in the reproductive age that negatively significant impacts on women's quality of life. This randomized clinical trial study was undertaken to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on inflammatory and antioxidant markers in 44 vitamin D deficient (25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL) students with PMS. Participants received either 50,000 IU vitamin D3 or a placebo pearl fortnightly for 4 months. At the baseline and in the last 2 months of intervention, participants were asked to complete the PMS Daily Symptoms Rating form along with taking the pearls and their blood samples were collected to assess serum levels of 25(OH)D3, Interleukin10 and 12 (IL-10, IL-12) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). In vitamin D group, serum levels of IL-10 and IL-12 significantly decreased while TAC significantly increased post-intervention. There were significant differences regarding serum IL-12 and TAC levels between the two groups. Mean score of the total PMS symptoms showed significant improvement in 25(OH)D. Vitamin D supplementation seems to be an effective strategy to improve inflammation and antioxidant markers in vitamin D deficient women with PMS. This clinical trial was registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials on 20/06/2018 (IRCT20180525039822N1).

Levofloxacin Versus Ceftriaxone and Azithromycin Combination in the Treatment of Community Acquired Pneumonia in Hospitalized Patients.

BACKGROUND: In Asia, an estimated one million deaths are caused by communityacquired pneumonia (CAP) each year. Despite the high mortality in elderly people, a large number of CAP patients have been treated and survived with optimal life expectancy. A few studies have been done on adult CAP therapeutic approaches in Asia. Moreover, differences have been noted between these studies and European data. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of oral Levofloxacin (TAVANEX), 750 mg, once daily for five days versus parenteral Ceftriaxone 1gr BD, plus oral Azithromycin (250 mg, once daily) for seven to ten days (standard regimen) in CAP treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective randomized trial among 150 patients with CAP in Qaem Hospital of Alborz city from December 2016 to June 2017. A group of CAP patients were randomized in two treatment groups. One group was treated with oral Levofloxacin (TAVANEX), 750 mg, once daily for five days and the other group with parenteral Ceftriaxone 1gr BD plus oral Azithromycin (250 mg, once daily) for seven to ten days (standard regimen). The efficacy and side effects of the assigned drugs were compared between two groups. The probability level for statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The body temperature (P value=0.09), WBC count (P value=0.15), respiratory sounds (P value=0.18) and admission duration (P value=0.15) showed no significant differences after treatment between two groups. There was no report of hospital mortality, clinical deterioration and antibiotic escalation during hospital admission in both groups of study. In standard regimen group, only two (2.7%) patients had skin rash while in Levofloxacin group one case (1.3%) had skin rash, two patients (2.7%) had gastrointestinal problems and three (4%) patients showed central nervous system (CNS) complications. In both groups, the reticulonodular pattern was more frequently observed in Chest X-ray. Although standard regimen group (n=27, 36%) showed more consolidation than patients in Levofloxacin group (n=22, 29.3%), and the ground glass pattern was observed more in Levofloxacin group. CONCLUSION: We concluded that monotherapy with oral Levofloxacin was as effective as treatment with Ceftriaxone plus Azithromycin combination in patients with CAP who required hospitalization.