Nowadays, the usage of nanoparticles in various fields such as drug delivery, attracts the attention of many researchers in the treatment of cancers. Graphene oxide (GO) is one of the novel drug delivery systems which is used broadly owing to its unique features. In this survey, doxorubicin (DOX) was accompanied by natural medicine, curcumin (CUR), to diminish its side effects and enhance its efficiency. Cytotoxicity assay in human gastric cancer (AGS), prostate cancer (PC3), and ovarian cancer (A2780), was evaluated. Also, the uptake of DOX and CUR into cells, was assessed using a fluorescence microscope. Moreover, real-time PCR was applied for the evaluation of the expression of RB1 and CDK2 genes, which were involved in the cell cycle. In both separate and simultaneous forms, DOX and CUR were loaded with high efficiency and the release behavior of both drugs was pH-sensitive. The higher release rate was attained at pH 5.5 and 42 °C for DOX (80.23%) and CUR (13.06), respectively. The intensity of fluorescence in the free form of the drugs, was higher than the loaded form. In the same concentration, the free form of CUR and DOX were more toxic than the loaded form in all cell lines. Also, free drugs showed more impact on the expression of RB1 and CDK2 genes. Co-delivery of CUR and DOX into the mentioned cell lines, was more effective than the free form of CUR and DOX due to its lower toxicity to normal cells.

Some evidence exists in supporting the beneficial effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on oxidative stress. Since the findings of studies over the impact of CoQ10 supplementation on oxidative stress are contradictory, this study was conducted. The aim was to evaluate CoQ10 supplementation effect on total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels using data collected from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Several databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus were comprehensively searched up to 23 January 2019 to identify RCTs. A random-effects model, standardized mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied for data analysis. According to the meta-analysis results on 19 eligible studies, CoQ10 increased the levels of TAC (SMD = 1.29; 95% CI = 0.35-2.23; p = .007), GPX (SMD = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.17-0.74; p = .002), SOD (SMD = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.29-0.97; p < .0001), and CAT (SMD = 1.67; 95% CI = 0.29-3.10; p = .018) significantly. This supplementation also caused a significant reduction in MDA levels (SMD = −1.12; 95% CI = −1.58 to −0.65; p < .0001). However, the results of SOD and CAT should be stated carefully due to the publication bias. In conclusion, this research indicated that CoQ10 supplementation had beneficial effects on oxidative stress markers. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

To date, the use of nanocarriers has been developed in various fields, especially in cancer treatment. Graphene oxide (GO) is a novel drug delivery system that eagerly attracts the attention of many researchers due to its unique features. For the first time, a biocompatible AS1411 APT-GO-COOH was synthesized for the co-delivery of chemotherapeutics and herbal drugs. Here, a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (AGS) was targeted with aptamer-carboxylated graphene oxide (APT-CGO) containing anticancer drugs (curcumin (CUR) and doxorubicin (DOX)). The current study aimed to assess the anti-cancer effect of combination therapy, as well as target genes and proteins interfering in the development of gastric cancer. After attachment of APT to CGO, the drugs (CUR and DOX) were loaded on the carrier, establishing a co-delivery system. Then, physical characteristics, release profile, cytotoxicity assay, cellular uptake, expression rates of the genes (RB1, CDK2, AKT, and NF-KB) and proteins (RB1, CDK2), and the apoptosis rate were determined. The designed co-delivery system for the drugs (CUR and DOX) and APT showed a thermo- and pH-sensitive drug release behavior that successfully reduced the expression of CDK2, AKT, and NF-KB while it enhanced RB1 expression at the gene and protein levels. Also, APT-CGO-drugs were successfully targeted to the AGS cell line, leading to a highly inhibitory property against this cell line compared to CGO-drugs. It seems that the co-delivery of CUR and DOX along with APT as a targeting agent was more effective than CGO-drugs, suggesting a promising candidate for the treatment of gastric cancer. The results showed that this biofunctionalized nanocarrier could reduce the cytotoxicity of the drugs in normal cells and could increase efficiency.

Background: Molybden, as a vital and essential micronutrient is directly involved in the metabolism of other elements including carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen. Molybdenum alone is not biologically active unless it binds to specific cofactors. Except for the bacterial nitrogenase, which contains molybdenum-Iron complex, molybdenum cofactor (Moco) is considered as the bioactive component placed in active site regions of molybdenum-containing enzymes. This review aimed to discuss the biological mechanisms involved in molybdenum metabolism highlighting Molybdenum cofactor deficiencies. Methods: Articles indexed in Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were used to extract the required information. Results: Moco, as the cofactor of sulfite oxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase, aldehyde oxidase, and nitrite reductase plays a substantial role in maintaining normal body homeostasis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Lack of Moco is found to be associated with many inborn genetic disorders, such as mental retardation, brain immaturity, nervous shocks, and neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusion: Moco insufficiency compromises normal human body metabolism since it is reported to regulate the metabolic pathways of other elements. Although in recent years, substitution- and gene-therapies have been introduced to restore the metabolic pathways of patients with MoCD type A and B, the definitive treatment for this type of inborn disease has still remained ill-defined. More investigations are needed to completely understand the underlying pathophysiology of molybdenum-related diseases.

This article is a Letter to Editor and does not include an Abstract.

Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as the excessive accumulation of fat in the liver cells of people who do not drink alcohol. The aim of study is investigated the association between low carbohydrate diets (LCDs) and NAFLD. Methods This age and gender-matched case–control study was conducted on 120 patients newly diagnosed with NAFLD and 120 adults without NAFLD. Diagnosis of NAFLD based on laboratory tests and abdominal ultrasound. Low carbohydrate diets score calculated on the percentage of energy as carbohydrate, fat, and protein. Participants in the highest rank intake of fat and protein and lowest intake of carbohydrate received 10 points. Multivariable logistic odds ratio was used for examine the relation between LCDs and NAFLD. Results This study showed subjects in the highest tertile of LCD has more intake of zinc and vitamin B12 compare to lowest. Also, intake of protein (p = 0.02) carbohydrate (p < 0.02) and cholesterol (p = 0.02) were significantly higher in patient with NAFLD compare to control subjects. There was no significant association between LCD and risk of NAFLD (OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 0.97–1.92; P-trend = 0.13) in crude and adjusted (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 0.84–2.04; P-trend = 0.23) model. Conclusion However, we showed that intake of protein, carbohydrate and cholesterol are higher in NAFLD, but our results of study showed that LCDs with higher proportion intakes of protein and fat was not associated with NAFLD. Further prospective studies are required for confirm these associations.

The article's abstract is not available.

Background: Prostate cancer is known as one of the most prevalent health disorders in the male population globally. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of separate and concomitant use of MK-2206 and salinomycin on prostate cancer cell line. Methods: The antitumor potential of separate and concomitant use of MK-2206 and salinomycin was evaluated in a panel of prostate cancer cell line (PC-3). To get insights into the underlying mechanism of action, different assays including the rate of apoptosis, cell viability, and gene expression were performed in treated prostate cancer cells. Results: A significant reduction was detected in the viability percentage of prostate cancer cells (p< 0.001) and the rate of Akt expression (p< 0.001) in all salinomycin, MK-2206, and salinomycin+MK-2206 groups compared to the negative control group. Furthermore, in comparison with the negative control group, there was a notable increase in both the rate of Bad expression (p< 0.001) and prostate cancer cells apoptosis after salinomycin, MK-2206, and salinomycin+MK-2206 treatments. Moreover, the concomitant use of salinomycin+MK-2206 revealed synergistic improvements regarding the viability of prostate cancer cells and the rate of the Akt and Bad expressions compared to the separate administration of salinomycin and MK-2206 (all p< 0.05) Conclusions: The findings of the present study may contribute to improving the efficacy of the therapies regarding the management of prostate cancer and providing a beneficial strategy in clinical trials.