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Natural products such as curcumin, quercetin, and resveratrol have been shown to have antitumor effectsand several studies have examined their role in treating cancer, either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs. These compounds are capable of affecting different cancer-related mechanisms, such as proliferation, inflammation, invasion, and metastasis. Along with all of the benefits of these agents, affecting epigenetic processes is one of the most important aspects of their impact. Epigenetic modifications can be categorized into three main processes that include DNA methylation, histone modification, and regulation of small non-coding RNAs. Therefore, targeting DNA methylation can be used as a cancer treatment strategy by identifying or developing methylation modulators. Herein, we take a look into the studies investigating the role of natural products (e.g. curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and quercetin) in alternating the DNA methylation status of various cancer cells. We discuss how these compounds reduce the expression of enzymes mediating the methylation of tumor suppressor genes and thereby, increasing the expression of tumor suppressors while reactivating antitumor signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of potential drug interactions in terminally-ill cancer patients receiving exclusively supportive care. In this cross-sectional study, during a 6-month follow-up, we considered the medical record of terminally-ill cancer patients referred to palliative care at the cancer center in Isfahan, Iran. Potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were assessed by Lexi-Interact ver.1.1 online software. During the study period, 133 terminally-ill cancer patients were recruited. We detected 1678 DDIs with moderate or major severity levels. Among them, 330, 219, 32, 1075, and 51 interactions were categorized in B, C, D, and X drug interactions categories, respectively. One hundred and twenty-two patients (91.73%) encountered at least one potential drug-drug interaction during the end of life care. Mechanistically, most drug-drug interactions (64.5%) were pharmacodynamics. The most frequent pharmacological class of drugs responsible for DDIs were quetiapine (91 cases), oxycodone (87 cases), and sertraline (55 cases). Interaction between oxycodone and sertraline was found to be in the top 10 detected DDIs (13.7%). Our results showed that potentially moderate or major drug-drug interactions often occur among terminally-ill cancer patients and the clinical significance of DDIs should be considered meticulously in the palliative care cancer setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gliomas are considered as one of the important brain tumors in adults due to their impact on life quality and cognitive functions. Current methods that are used for treating glioma are not satisfying enough. Understanding cellular and molecular events underlying its pathogenesis and progression may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches. Sterols are a subtype of steroids and are essential for the physiologic functions of eukaryotic cells. Sterols can be produced by protozoans and microheterotrophs. Moreover, they are found in some natural sources, such as plants, animals, fungi, microalgae, and yeasts. Besides the roles of sterols in physiologic processes, studies have shown that they are involved in pathologic processes, including tumorigenesis and tumor progression. As investigations have revealed, sterol-related signaling pathways are involved in glioma and targeting them may result in new therapeutic options for patients. Thus, we summarized some of the sterol-related signaling pathways in glioma and how they can be associated with other signaling pathways, including EGFR/PI3K/Akt/mTOR, P53, and retinoblastoma protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calculating utility values in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients under chemotherapy treatment is important for studies of economic evaluations. The EQ-5D-5L and composite time trade-off (cTTO) were used to calculate utility values in 105 patients with CRC in Iran. The mean EQ-5D-5L index and cTTO values were 0.45 ± 0.03 and 0.51 ± 0.02, respectively. Anxiety and pain were the most common problems reported by the patients. The BetaMix showed that lower mean utility values were significantly associated with females, aging, a low level of income, a greater number of comorbidities, and an advanced stage of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Isfahan province of Iran, pistachio and almond are used specifically as ingredients to produce Gaz sweets, which are a typical product of Isfahan and exported to many countries. In this survey, 112 samples were gathered from different corresponding Gaz producers from 2007 to 2012 to evaluate the occurrence of aflatoxins (AF) in these products. Samples were analysed for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 using immunoaffinity column clean-up (IC) and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Among the samples analysed, AFB1 was detected in 13.4% of the samples above the maximum limit (ML) as set in Iran (5 µg/kg). Total AF (AFT) was above the ML in 9.8% of the samples. This study showed that full consideration is equally essential for nuts used as ingredients in special food products such as the Gaz sweets as for nuts for direct human consumption. It suggests a need for modifying the current trend of supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]