Background One of the most prevalent complications of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is oral mucositis (OM) and manifests as erythema and ulceration. Curcumin is one of the components of turmeric and possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative features. Some of studies have proved the effectiveness of Curcumin in OM. This study aimed to investigate the effects of nanomicelle Curcumin on OM related chemotherapy and head and neck radiotherapy. Methods In this clinical trial study, 50 patients underwent chemotherapy with or without head and neck radiotherapy were divided into study and control group. The study group was received Curcumin nanomicelle capsules 80 mg twice a day and the control group took placebo two times a day for 7 weeks and the severity and pain of OM was measured. Results Oral mucositis severity in control group in the first (P = 0.010), fourth (P = 0.022) and seventh (P < 0.001) weeks were significantly more than the study group. Pain grade in study group was lower than control group only in the seventh week. (P = 0.001) Additionally, NRS incremental gradient in control group was more than study group. OM severity in patients who underwent only chemotherapy in the control group were significantly more than the study group in all weeks. In patients who were under chemotherapy and head and neck radiotherapy, OM in control group was significantly more intense than the study group only in the fourth and seventh weeks. Conclusions Nabomicelle Curcumin capsules is effective on prevention and treatment of head and neck radiotherapy and especially chemotherapy induced OM. Trial registration Registered 12 February 2019 at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT). IRCT code: IRCT20100101002950N6. https://en.irct.ir/trial/36665. GUMS ethical code: IR.Gums.Rec.1397.296.

Background microRNAs (miRNAs) are potentially involved in many physiopathological processes, including regulation of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis and cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the genes encoding miRNAs can alter their expression and may influence cancer risks. This case-control study explored the relationship between three microRNA polymorphisms (miR-27a, miR-196a2 and miR -146a) and breast cancer (BC). Methods A total of 353 breast cancer cases and 353 controls were genotyped for miR-27a (rs895819), miR-196a2 (rs11614913) and miR -146a (rs2910164). The miR-27a and miR-146a variants were discriminated using a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method, while miR-196a2 were analysed by tetra-primers amplification refractory mutation system PCR. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to estimate associations. Results The CC homozygous genotype of miR-146a (rs2910164) was seen in 45(12.7%) patients with breast cancer and 18(5.1%) controls (OR 4.09 [95%CI 2.19-7.67] p < 0.001). The minor allele G of miR-27a was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer (OR 0.24 [95% CI 0.14-0.42] p < 0.001). The miR-196a2 (rs11614913) was not related to breast cancer (p > 0.05). Conclusion Our data indicate that miR-146a (rs2910164) and miR-27a (rs895819) variants contribute to breast cancer. Further studies in larger populations including other genetic and environmental factors are required to achieve a definitive conclusion.

To cope with an intense and competitive environment, intermodal freight transport operators have increasingly adopted business practices -like horizontal and vertical business integration-which aim to reduce the operational costs, increase the profit margins, and improve their competitive position in the market. These strategies and business practices could potentially affect the competition level in the IFT market by increasing the market concentration. The impact can be on the separate submarkets (e.g., transshipment market or mainhaulage market) or the whole market for IFT services at the network level. To investigate the impact of these business practices on the market structure of IFT networks, we present a model to analyze the market structure of IFT submarkets and extend the results to the network level. Using this multi-level market analysis model, we can evaluate the decisions made by firms and the market outcomes that result. The application of the presented model is also illustrated using a numerical example. The numerical example shows, for instance, that the impact of a merger, as a business practice, on the competition level in an IFT market -and its submarkets-depends on the merger type (horizontal and vertical). Furthermore, different indicators that "represent" market structure and competition, might react differently to a merger in an IFT network.

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The analysis of market structure and concentration measures for the Intermodal Freight Transport (IFT) market is important to avoid market failure and to find the areas for policy making to promote IFT market share. This analysis can be performed for separate segments, for example, the market for transshipment service or the market for main-haulage service. However, due to the multistage characteristic of IFT service, the segmental analysis gives an incomplete view of the IFT market at the network level. In a previous paper [1] , we present the Intermodal Freight Transport Market Structure (IFTMS) model to conduct a network-based study of the IFTMS in which distinctive actors (i.e., pre/post haulage operators, terminals, rail/barge operators, transport chains, and corridors) are competing at different levels inside distinctive markets to deliver an integrated IFT service. There are two main challenges in the application of IFTMS model in real cases, for example, the European IFT network. First, the definition of the geographical and spatial border of the transshipment market areas is needed to determine which actors are potentially competing for a specific service demand. The second challenge is the lack of disaggregated data and the consistency of existing data in nodes (i.e., the transshipment areas) and links (i.e., the rail and barge operators). To cope with these challenges, we develop a four-step methodology in which a model-based approach is used to define the geographic boundaries of the transshipment submarkets and provide detailed and consistent data for market analysis. We also apply the IFTMS model to study the market structure of European intermodal network. Our analysis shows that the majority of transshipment markets as well as main-haulage markets are highly concentrated markets. The corridor marketswhich include the IFT chainsare unconcentrated markets. Furthermore, the majority of corridors in the European Union are inside highly concentrated origin-destination markets.