Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of malignancies worldwide. There is little information on the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. Diagnosis of HCC at early stages would be crucial for increasing the survival of patients. Circulating miRNAs have emerged as one of the most attractive tools for an early diagnosis of cancers. Various studies have shown that there is an aberrant expression of miRNAs such as miR-25, miR-375, miR-206, miR-223, miR- 92a, miR-222, miR-1, let- 7f and miR-21 in HCC. Circulating and tissue miRNAs have also key roles in the pathogenesis of HCC by affecting several biologically important pathways such as p53, p21, PTEN, PI3K-AKT, c-Myc and STAT3. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of miRNAs in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of HCC.

Depression is known as one of important psychiatric disorders which could be associated with disability among various populations. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) and international statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (ICD-10) could be used as subjective diagnostic schemes for identification of mental disorders such as depression. Utilization of subjective diagnostic schemes are associated with limitations. Hence, it seems that employing of new diagnosis platforms is required. Multiple lines of evidence indicated that measurement of several biomarkers could be useful for detection patients with depression. Among of various types of biomarkers, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been emerged as powerful tools for diagnosis patients with depression. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs which act as epigenetic regulators. It has been showed that these molecules have critical roles in pathogenesis of many diseases such as depression. These molecules exert their effects via targeting a variety of cellular and molecular pathways involved in initiation and progression of depression. Hence, miRNAs could be used as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in patients with depression. Besides miRNAs, exosomes as nano- carriers could have been emerged as diagnostic biomarkers in several diseases such as depression. These vesicles are able to carry several cargos such as DNAs, proteins, mRNAs, and miRNAs to recipient cells. Here, we summarized several miRNAs involved in pathogenesis and response to treatment of depression which could be used as diagnostic biomarkers. Moreover, we highlighted exosomes as new diagnostic biomarkers for patients with depression.

Daily consumption of opium and alcohol can make people have many health problems, including coronary artery disease diseases (CAD) which has been found to be the most common cause death in opium addicts. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of simultaneous consumption of alcohol and opium on the lipid profile and oxidative stress in Syrian golden hamsters. Twenty-four male golden Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into four treatment groups (n=6): 1-control (received normal chow), 2-opium (received 40 mg/kg of opium two times per day), 3-alcohol (received 6.0 g/kg of 30% ethanol two times per day), 4-combination group (received a combination of the above mentioned doses of opium and ethanol). After one month of treatment, hamsters were sacrificed and blood samples were collected. Lipid levels and atherogenic index were markedly increased in the combination group compared with the controls (p < 0.001). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p < 0.05), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (p < 0.01), were significantly increased in alcohol-treated group compared with the control animals. The increase in ALT (p < 0.01) and GGT (p < 0.001) levels were more significant in the combination group when compared with the controls. The plasma concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was markedly increased in the ethanol (p < 0.01), opium (p < 0.01) and combination groups (p < 0.001) compared with the controls. Glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO) and catalase (CAT) levels as well as superoxide dismutase activity were markedly reduced in the ethanol (p < 0.05), opium (p < 0.05), and combination groups (p < 0.001) compared with the control group. Results of this study clearly showed that opium and ethanol are capable to provoke the oxidative stress when administered alone or in combination. Moreover, combination opium and alcohol increased total cholesterol, LDL-C, TG, VLDL-C, atherogenic index and non-HDL-C levels.

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of flaxseed on lipid profiles in diabetic rats, focusing on intestinal LXR α. Animals were randomly divided into 3 groups of 8 rats each. group1: rats + chow diet (control), group 2: diabetic rats + chow diet (diabetic control), and group3: diabetic rats + chow diet + 4% flaxseed (w/w) (flaxseed group). After one-month rats were sacrificed, blood was collected; lipid profiles were determined enzymatically as well as mRNA and protein levels of SR-BI were determined by RT-PCR and westernblot respectively. Compared with diabetic control (group 2), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) (all of them P < 0.01) significantly decreased in flaxseed group (group 3). Intestinal LXR α mRNA was significantly increased (P < 0.001) in flaxseed group treatment compared with diabetic animals (group 2). Levels of intestinal regulatory protein of LXR α significantly increased in flaxseed group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, flaxseedsignificantly reduced TC, LDL-C, TG, VLDL-C and atherogenic index, as compared with the diabetic rats (group 2). On the other hand flaxseed led to up-regulation of LXR α in the intestine of rats.

S u m m a r yIntroduction: Tribulus terrestris L. is traditionally used for treatment of urinary tract infections. Escherichia coli, as the most prominent agent of urinary tract infections, can be sensitive to T. terrestris extract. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of T. terrestris methanol extract against clinical isolates of E. coli from urinary tract infections. Saponins were determined as main constituents of T. terrestris methanol extract. Methods: The antibacterial activities of T. terrestris methanol extract were evaluated by micro-broth dilution assay. The synergistic effects of T. terrestris methanol extract were screened with gentamicin by micro titer plate and disc diffusion assays. The isobologram curve was figured and the Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI) was determined. Results: The saponin content of T. terrestris methanol extract was 54% (w/w). The means of MIC and MBC values for E. coli clinical isolates (n=51) were 3.5±0.27 and 7.4±0.5 mg/ml while these amounts were 3.9±1.3 and 6.4±1.8 µg/ml for gentamicin. T. terrestris methanol extract and gentamicin had synergistic effect with FICI equal to 0.1375. Conclusion: Therefore, T. terrestris can be applicable as alternative treatment in management of urinary tract infections.