Exploring the promising potential of induced pluripotent stem cells in cancer research and therapy.

The advent of iPSCs has brought about a significant transformation in stem cell research, opening up promising avenues for advancing cancer treatment. The formation of cancer is a multifaceted process influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. iPSCs offer a distinctive platform for investigating the origin of cancer, paving the way for novel approaches to cancer treatment, drug testing, and tailored medical interventions. This review article will provide an overview of the science behind iPSCs, the current limitations and challenges in iPSC-based cancer therapy, the ethical and social implications, and the comparative analysis with other stem cell types for cancer treatment. The article will also discuss the applications of iPSCs in tumorigenesis, the future of iPSCs in tumorigenesis research, and highlight successful case studies utilizing iPSCs in tumorigenesis research. The conclusion will summarize the advancements made in iPSC-based tumorigenesis research and the importance of continued investment in iPSC research to unlock the full potential of these cells.

Designing Alginate/Chitosan Nanoparticles Containing Echinacea angustifolia: A Novel Candidate for Combating Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Nanoparticles (NPs) may help treat multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDR). This study prepared and evaluated chitosan/alginate-encapsulated Echinacea angustifolia extract against MDR strains. Evaluating synthesized NPs with SEM, DLS, and FT-IR. Congo red agar and colorimetric plate techniques examined isolate biofilm formation. NP antibacterial power was assessed using well diffusion. Real-time PCR assessed biofilm-forming genes. MTT assessed the synthesized NPs' toxicity. According to DLS measurements, spherical E. angustifolia NPs had a diameter of 335.3±1.43 nm. The PDI was 0.681, and the entrapment effectiveness (EE%) of the E. angustifolia extract reached 83.45 %. Synthesized NPs were most antimicrobial. S. aureus resistant to several treatments was 80 percent of 100 clinical samples. Biofilm production was linked to MDR in all strains. The ALG/CS-encapsulated extract had a 4 to 32-fold lower MIC than the free extract, which had no bactericidal action. They also significantly decreased the expression of genes involved in biofilm formation. E. angustifolia-encapsulated ALG/CS decreased IcaD, IcaA, and IcaC gene expression in all MDR strains (***p<0.001). Free extract, free NPs, and E. angustifolia-NPs had 57.5 %, 85.5 %, and 90.0 % cell viability at 256 µg/ml. These discoveries could assist generate stable plant extracts by releasing natural-derived substances under controlled conditions.

Immunoinformatic prediction of potential immunodominant epitopes from cagW in order to investigate protection against Helicobacter pylori infection based on experimental consequences.

Helicobacter pylori is a leading cause of stomach cancer and peptic ulcers. Thus, identifying epitopes in H. pylori antigens is important for disease etiology, immunological surveillance, enhancing early detection tests, and developing optimal epitope-based vaccines. We used immunoinformatic and computational methods to create a potential CagW epitope candidate for H. pylori protection. The cagW gene of H. pylori was amplified and cloned into pcDNA3.1 (+) for injection into the muscles of healthy BALB/c mice to assess the impact of the DNA vaccine on interleukin levels. The results will be compared to a control group of mice that received PBS or cagW-pcDNA3.1 (+) vaccinations. An analysis of CagW protein antigens revealed 8 CTL and 7 HTL epitopes linked with AYY and GPGPG, which were enhanced by adding B-defensins to the N-terminus. The vaccine's immunogenicity, allergenicity, and physiochemistry were validated, and its strong activation of TLRs (1, 2, 3, 4, and 10) suggests it is antigenic. An in-silico cloning and immune response model confirmed the vaccine's expression efficiency and predicted its impact on the immune system. An immunofluorescence experiment showed stable and bioactive cagW gene expression in HDF cells after cloning the whole genome into pcDNA3.1 (+). In vivo vaccination showed that pcDNA3.1 (+)-cagW-immunized mice had stronger immune responses and a longer plasmid DNA release window than control-plasmid-immunized mice. After that, bioinformatics methods predicted, developed, and validated the three-dimensional structure. Many online services docked it with Toll-like receptors. The vaccine was refined using allergenicity, antigenicity, solubility, physicochemical properties, and molecular docking scores. Virtual-reality immune system simulations showed an impressive reaction. Codon optimization and in-silico cloning produced E. coli-expressed vaccines. This study suggests a CagW epitopes-protected H. pylori infection. These studies show that the proposed immunization may elicit particular immune responses against H. pylori, but laboratory confirmation is needed to verify its safety and immunogenicity.

Photothermic therapy with cuttlefish ink-based nanoparticles in combination with anti-OX40 mAb achieve remission of triple-negative breast cancer.

Immunostimulatory monoclonal antibodies (IS-mAb) have been proven to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of various anticancer therapy. In the present investigation, we launched a separate combinational therapy for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) using cuttlefish ink-based nanoparticles (CINPs) for photothermal therapy (PTT) and anti-OX40 antibody. Our goal was to increase the therapeutic response to the disease. CINPs were characterized by their physicochemical properties, which revealed that they had a hydrodynamic diameter ranging from 128 to 148 nm, a negative surface charge, and a high photothermal conversion efficiency under both in vitro and in vivo settings. In TNBC model, we evaluated the therapeutic effectiveness of the following groups: CINP-PTT + anti-OX40 Ab (G1), CINPs-PTT (G2), CINPs + anti-OX40 Ab (G3), anti-OX40 (G4) or PBS (G5). In each case, we assessed the efficacy of these groups against one another. The intratumor administration of all of the substances and therapies was performed. CINP-PTT + anti-OX40 Ab and CINP + anti-OX40 Ab (particularly CINP-PTT + anti-OX40 Ab) induced significant tumor regression in treated (breast) and non-treated (flank) tumor, and completely inhibited lung metastasis, thereby inducing a higher survival rate in mice in comparison to CINP-PTT, anti-OX40 Ab, or PBS. This was the case because in CINPs-treated tumors, particularly those treated with CINPs-PTT, intratumoral injection of CINPs increased the frequency of OX40, CD8 double-positive T cells. CINPs improved the conversion of the macrophage phenotype from M2 to M1 in vitro, which is significant from an immunological point of view. In addition, anti-OX40 Ab combined with CINPs or, more specifically, CINPs-PPT produced a larger frequency of preexisting and newly formed tumor-specific CD8 T cells, as well as an enhanced frequency of CD8 T cells infiltrating non-treated tumors, in comparison to respective monotherapies. When the data were taken into consideration as a whole, it seemed that CINPs-based PTT may effectively enhance the antitumor response effectiveness of anti-OX40 Ab.

Effects of Imipenem-containing Niosome nanoparticles against high prevalence methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Epidermidis biofilm formed.

We aim to assess the antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties of Niosome-encapsulated Imipenem. After isolating Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates and determining their microbial sensitivity, their ability to form biofilms was examined using plate microtiter assay. Various formulations of Niosome-encapsulated Imipenem were prepared using the thin-film hydration method, Minimum Biofilm Inhibitory Concentration (MBIC) and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) were determined, and biofilm genes expression was examined. Drug formulations' toxicity effect on HDF cells were determined using MTT assay. Out of the 162 separated S. epidermidis, 106 were resistant to methicillin. 87 MRSE isolates were vancomycin-resistant, all of which could form biofilms. The F1 formulation of niosomal Imipenem with a size of 192.3 ± 5.84 and an encapsulation index of 79.36 ± 1.14 was detected, which prevented biofilm growth with a BGI index of 69% and reduced icaD, FnbA, EbpS biofilms' expression with P ≤ 0.001 in addition to reducing MBIC and MIC by 4-6 times. Interestingly, F1 formulation of niosomal Imipenem indicated cell viability over 90% at all tested concentrations. The results of the present study indicate that Niosome-encapsulated Imipenem reduces the resistance of MRSE to antibiotics in addition to increasing its anti-biofilm and antibiotic activity, and could prove useful as a new strategy for drug delivery.

Correlations between Overexpression of SOX2OT Long Non-coding RNA and Susceptibility to Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The SOX2OT lcnRNA has been recognized as a positive regulator in the transcription regulation of the SOX2 gene. Recent studies have approved the dysregulation of SOX2OT lncRNA expression patterns in some common cancer types, including esophageal, lung, and breast cancer. The objective of the present study was to investigate the correlation between overexpression of SOX2OT lcnRNA and susceptibility to breast cancer. METHODS: SOX2OT lncRNA expression profiling in 15 breast cancer and normal tumour-adjacent breast tissue samples was performed by using qRT-PCR. To evaluate the diagnostic potential of the SOX2OT lncRNA, we performed ROC curve analyses. RESULTS: The expression of SOX2OT lncRNA in patients suffering from breast cancer revealed a significant overexpression in comparison with the healthy group (P<0.001). Significantly, the elevated circulating SOX2OT lncRNA was found specific to breast cancer and could differentiate breast cancer from controls with 100% of both sensitivity and specificity. Based on the Kaplan- Meier analysis, there was no significant correlation between SOX2OT lcnRNA expression and overall survival. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed the association between breast cancer and higher SOX2OT lncRNA expression. According to the ROC curve results, SOX2OT lcnRNA could be a new measurable indicator of the breast cancer and a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer patients.

A Comparative Study of HOTAIR Expression in Breast Cancer Patient Tissues and Cell Lines.

OBJECTIVE: Recent data suggest that increased levels of the HOTAIR long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are involved in the development of various types of malignancy, including breast cancer. The aim of present study was to investigate HOTAIR lncRNA expression profile in breast cancer (BC) patients and cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, expression level of HOTAIR lncRNA was evaluated in BC and normal tissues of 15 patients as well as MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and MCF-10A cell lines, using quantitative reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). HOTAIR lncRNA expression levels were estimated using 2-ΔΔCt method. Further, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was done to evaluate the selected lncRNA diagnostic potential. The Cox's proportional hazards regression model was performed to evaluate the predictive value of this lncRNA level in BC patients. RESULTS: The results of present study demonstrated no significant difference in the expression of HOTAIR lncRNA in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines compared to MCF-10A as normal cell line (P>0.05). However, we observed a significantly increase in the expression of HOTAIR in BC patients compared to normal tissues (P<0.001). Significant associations were found between gene expression and tumour size and margin. We found 91.1% sensitivity and 95.7% specificity of circulating HOTAIR with an area under the ROC curve of 0.969. The Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated significant correlation between HOTAIR expression and overall survival. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that expression of HOTAIR is increased in BC and might be associated with its progression. According to these findings, HOTAIR expression could be proposed as biomarkers for BC early diagnosis and prognosis.

TEM and SHV Genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Cockroaches and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern.

OBJECTIVES: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a gram-negative rod bacterium, a known cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and is an important hospital-acquired pathogen that causes severe morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to identify the TEM and SHV genes in K. pneumoniae isolated from cockroaches obtained from hospitals. METHODS: In this study, 250 cockroaches were collected from different hospitals in the province of Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari, which is located in southwest Iran. The samples were examined for the presence of K. pneumoniae by plating onto a combination of culture media, and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated K. pneumoniae from samples were evaluated using the disk diffusion test. In addition, from the culture, genomic bacterial DNA was extracted, and sequence-specific targets (TEM and SHV genes) were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. RESULTS: Out of 250 cockroach samples collected from various hospitals, 179 samples (71.60%) were positive for K. pneumoniae. PCR reaction was performed using specific oligonucleotide primers (TEM-F, TEM-R and SHV-F, SHV-R) for the amplification of each gene, and amplified products were visualized on 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. Of all the specimens amplified by PCR in this research, 32 samples (17.87%) were positive for TEM and 15 samples (8.37%) were positive for SHV. CONCLUSION: Detection of TEM and SHV genes using molecular methods and their pattern of antimicrobial resistance can provide useful information about the epidemiology of and risk factors associated with K. pneumoniae infection.