Magnetic hydrogel applications in articular cartilage tissue engineering.

Articular cartilage defects afflict millions of individuals worldwide, presenting a significant challenge due to the tissue's limited self-repair capability and anisotropic nature. Hydrogel-based biomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for scaffold production in artificial cartilage construction, owing to their water-rich composition, biocompatibility, and tunable properties. Nevertheless, conventional hydrogels typically lack the anisotropic structure inherent to natural cartilage, impeding their clinical and preclinical applications. Recent advancements in tissue engineering (TE) have introduced magnetically responsive hydrogels, a type of intelligent hydrogel that can be remotely controlled using an external magnetic field. These innovative materials offer a means to create the desired anisotropic architecture required for successful cartilage TE. In this review, we first explore conventional techniques employed for cartilage repair and subsequently delve into recent breakthroughs in the application and utilization of magnetic hydrogels across various aspects of articular cartilage TE.

Serum levels of erythropoietin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and anemia.

The important association of erythropoietin (EPO) serum levels and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with anemia has been inadequately studied and remains a controversial issue. We aimed to shed light on this matter by comparing EPO levels in anemic and non-anemic COPD patients, along with a review of published literature. This cross-sectional study was conducted on COPD patients referred to the pulmonary clinic of Shahid Faghihi Hospital and Motahari clinic, Shiraz, Iran, for one year. We measured complete blood count, red blood cell indices, serum iron, TIBC and ferritin levels, serum EPO levels, and body mass index. Among 35 patients in this study, 28 males and 7 females were enrolled with a mean age of 54.57 ± 8.07 years. The average Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) was 37.26 ± 7.33% and FEV1/FVC was 0.46 ± 0.12. Mean EPO levels were 30.29 ± 2.066 mU/mL. No statistically significant association was observed among erythropoietin levels and Hb, COPD severity, and age. There was no significant difference in EPO levels between anemic and non-anemic patients. EPO level, against the traditional expectation, didn't increase in COPD patients. EPO production also didn't compensate for the anemia of chronic disease which considers as a common comorbid disorder in these patients.

The role of miR-153 and related upstream/downstream pathways in cancers: from a potential biomarker to treatment of tumor resistance and a therapeutic target.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that have a multifunction and play essential roles in gene regulation. Their dysregulation is associated with several human cancers. MiR-153 has a critical role in many biological processes, such as suppressing tumor growth (mostly), responses to treatment, and drug resistance. However, miR-153 in some cancers shows a different role as an oncogene, such as prostate. The miR-153 expression can be regulated by several regulators, such as lncRNAs and circular RNAs. By discovering the target factors for miR-153, it may be possible to approach early diagnosis, reversing drug resistance, and treatment of cancers. This will help choose the precise treatment for the patient and not incur additional costs in treatment. Thus, we attempt to summarize the current situation and potential development prospects about the role of miR-153 in cancers. The miR-153 paly an important role in cancers and can be used for diagnosis and prognosis.