No abstract

A direct association has been shown between Cyclin D1 and C-myc gene expressions and the proliferation of human thyroid tumor cells. Our previous study showed that increased β catenin led to a reduction in disease-free probability in patients with papillary thyroid cancer. This study was designed to investigate Cyclin D1 and C-myc genes as targets for β catenin function in PTC and to determine the association between genes expression and staging, recurrence, metastasis, and disease-free survival of PTC. This study was conducted via a thorough investigation of available data from medical records as well as paraffin blocks of 77 out of 400 patients over a 10-year period. Cyclin D1 and C-myc gene expression levels were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate disease-free survival. Higher levels of Cyclin D1 and C-myc gene expressions were observed in patients with recurrence by 8.5 (P = 0.004) and 19.5 (p = 0.0001) folds, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between Cyclin D1 expression and the cumulative dose of radioactive iodine received by patients (r = −0.2, p value = 0.03). The ten-year survival rate in the patients included in this study was 98.25% while disease-free survival was 48.1%. Higher Cyclin D1 and C-myc gene expression levels were observed in patients with recurrence/distant metastasis. Inversely, lower expression of Cyclin D1 and C-myc genes were associated with better survival of patients (SD, 0.142-0.052) (Mantel-Cox test, P = 0.002). The enhancement of Cyclin D1 and C-myc gene expression may be a potential mechanism for recurrence and aggressiveness of PTC.

Background: Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is a vascular disease in the lung characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). Many miRNAs play a role in the pathophysiology of PAH. Perillyle alcohol (PA) and Quercetin (QS) are plant derivatives with antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties. We investigated the effect of PA and QS on PAP, expression of PARP1, miR-204, and their targets, HIF1α and NFATc2, in experimental PAH. Methods: Thirty rats were divided into control, MCT, MCT + Veh, MCT + PA and MCT + QS groups. MCT (60 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously to induce PAH. PA (50 mg/kg daily) and QS (30 mg/kg daily) were administered for 3 weeks after inducing PAH. PAP, lung pathology, expression of miRNA and mRNA, and target proteins were evaluated through right ventricle cannulation, H&E staining, real-time qPCR, and western blotting, respectively. Results: Inflammation and lung arteriole thickness in the MCT group increased compared to control group. PA and QS ameliorated inflammation and reduced arteriole thickness significantly. miR-204 expression decreased in PAH rats (p < 0.001). PA (p < 0.001) and QS (p < 0.01) significantly increased miR-204 expression. Expression of PARP1, HIF1α, NFATc2, and α-SMA mRNA increased significantly in MCT + veh rats (all p < 0.001), and these were reduced after treatment with PA and QS (both p < 0.01). PA and QS also decreased the expression of PARP1, HIF1α, and NFATc2 proteins that had increased in MCT + Veh group. Conclusion: PA and QS improved PAH possibly by affecting the expression of PARP1 and miR-204 and their downstream targets, HIF1a and NFATc2. PA and QS may be therapeutic goals in the treatment of PAH.

No abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal pain syndromes (MSPSs) are of the most common disorders in modern societies. Lack of early diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome may lead to significant disabilities later in life. Objectives: Due to shortage of information regarding the prevalence and related factors of MSPS in the south-east of Iran, this study aimed at determining MSPS and its relation to demographic variables and underlying diseases such as diabetes and hypertension in this area. Methods: This across sectional population-based study was conducted on 1700 individuals (15 -80 years), who participated in the second phase of Kerman coronary artery disease risk factor study (KERCADRs), in Kerman, Iran, in 2016. A questionnaire containing demographic information, opium use, smoking and MSPS was completed. Blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and lipid levels were also measured. Results: From a total of 1700 participants, 41.6% were males and 58.4% were females. The mean age of the participants was 47.8 years. The overall prevalence of MSPS was 65.5% that was more prevalent in women and increased with advancing age approaching the highest prevalence in the group above 75 years (78.4%) (adjusted odds ratio, AOR > 1.6). The prevalence increased with diabetes (AOR 1.5), overweight and obesity (OR 1.6, 2.2), and depression and anxiety (AOR 1.5, 2.3). In multivariate analysis, MSPS had no relationship with smoking, opium consumption, hypertension, level of education and dyslipidemia. Conclusions: Overall, more than 65% of the population over 15 years in Kerman suffer from MSPSs. If the rate of such complications is not reduced, this can exert heavy health-care costs on the Iranian health system given the existing trend of increase in the age and age-related diseases in the population.