In this study, cinnamon (cin) was loaded into poly(ε-caprolactone)/gelatin (PCL/Gel) nanofibrous matrices in order to fabricate an appropriate mat to improve wound healing. Mats were fabricated from PCL/COLL [1:1 (w/w)] solution with 1, 5 and 25% (w/v) of cinnamon. Prepared mats were characterized with regard to their microstructure, mechanical properties, porosity, surface wettability, water-uptake capacity, water vapor permeability, blood compatibility, microbial penetration and cellular response. The fabricated mats with and without cinnamon were used to treat the full-thickness excisional wounds in Wistar rats. The results indicated that the amount of cinnamon had a direct effect on porosity, mechanical properties, water uptake capacity, water contact angle, water vapor transmission rate and cell proliferation. In addition, the results of in vivo study indicated that after 14 days, the wounds which were treated with PCL/Gel 5%cin had better wound closure (98%) among other groups. Our results suggest that the cinnamon can be used as a suitable material for wound healing.

In a clinical trial, people with the same disease can show different responses after treatment with the same drug and exactly under the same conditions. Some of them may improve, some may not show any response, and occasionally side effects may be observed. In other words, people with the same disease process under the same therapeutic conditions may have different responses. Today, some diseases are resistant to conventional (standard) treatment procedures. Why do people with the same disease show different responses to the treatment with the same drug? This is primarily due to differences in molecular pathways (especially genetic variations) associated with the disease. On the other hand, designing and delivery of a new drug is a time-consuming and costly process, so any mistake in any stage of this process can have irreparable consequences for pharmaceutical companies and consumer patients. Therefore, we can achieve more accurate and reliable treatments by acquiring precise insight into different aspects of precision medicine including genomics and transcriptomics. The aim of this paper is to address the role of genomics and transcriptomics in precision medicine.

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A solid structure similar to an extracellular matrix network is needed for bone cells attachment and starting healing of bone damages. Different biomaterials and fabrication techniques are used for scaffold fabrication to prepare a supportive structure in bone tissue engineering. In the current study, a 3-D polycaprolactone (PCL)/gelatin scaffold was developed by blending electrospinning and freeze-drying techniques to make an appropriate structure for bone healing. In addition, different concentrations of berberine that have a positive effect on bone healing were loaded to enhance the healing process. Fabricated scaffolds were characterized by different tests like surface morphology, water contact angle, degradation rate, compressive strength, porosity, and Fourier transform infrared. Their interactions with blood and cells were evaluated by hemolysis, and MTT test, and the healing process was also evaluated by implanting scaffolds in the rat calvaria defect model. Based on the results, the average porosity of scaffolds was about 80% and by adding berberine, mechanical strength decreased while due to its hydrophilic properties, degradation rate increased. In vivo and in vitro tests showed better cell proliferation and bone healing in PCL/gelatin/berberine 0.1%treated group. These results showed the positive effect of fabricated scaffold on osteogenesis and bone healing and the possibility of using it in clinical trials.

Background: Surgery and chemotherapy are the two most common treatments for cancers, including ovarian cancer. Although most ovarian cancers occur over the age of 45 yr, it may involve younger women and affect their reproductive ability. Objective: To assess the expression of Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (LGR5), Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1), and miR-340 genes in the ovarian cancer tissues as well as ovarian cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 30 ovarian cancer samples (with the average age of 37 ± 2.5 years) coupled with their non-tumor marginal tissue (as a control) were collected. Proliferated cell lines were treated with several concentrations of cisplatin, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of cisplatin was quantified by MTTassay. After RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and qRT-PCR were done. Finally, the results were analyzed. Results: While the expression levels of miR-340 and FOXO1 genes in tumor samples displayed a significant reduction (p ≤ 0.001), the LGR5 gene presented a significant increase in expression (p ≤ 0.0001). However, conversely, the expression levels of miR-340 and FOXO1 genes in cisplatin-sensitive cell lines, after 24, 48, and 72 hr of cisplatin treatment, indicated a significant increase (p ≤ 0.001) while the expression of LGR5 gene showed a significant decrease in the cisplatin-sensitive cell line (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The LGR5, FOXO1, and miR-340 genes can be targeted for early diagnosis and more accurate treatment of ovarian cancer and may prevent some of the ovarian cancer complications such as infertility. Key words: Ovarian cancer, Female infertility, LGR5, FOXO1, miR-340.