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Lithium, a common component in various mood-stabilizing drugs, induces adverse effects on spermatozoa and human fertility. Oxidative stress, as a possible mechanism involved in lithium toxicity, can be reversed using antioxidants. Therefore, in this study, the effects of silymarin as a potent antioxidant were evaluated on human spermatozoa treated with lithium. Human spermatozoa were divided into five groups: (1) spermatozoa at 0 min, (2) spermatozoa at 180 min (control group), (3) spermatozoa treated with lithium chloride (500 μM) for 180 min, (4) spermatozoa were treated with silymarin (100 μM) + lithium chloride (500 μM) for 180 min, and (5) spermatozoa treated with silymarin (100 μM) for 180 min. Sperm motility and viability, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) were evaluated in these groups. The results showed that sperm motility and viability significantly (p < 0.001) decreased in the group treated with lithium. In addition, a significant increase (p < 0.001) was observed in MDA levels, while FRAP amount and the activity of antioxidant enzymes decreased significantly (p < 0.001) in this group. Interestingly, these results were significantly (p < 0.001) reversed in the group treated with silymarin + lithium. The finding of the present study showed that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in lithium toxicity in human spermatozoa, and the coapplication of silymarin as a potent antioxidant with lithium can protect human sperm against oxidative stress-induced damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exosomes are progressively known as significant mediators of cell-to-cell communication. They convey active biomolecules to target cells and have vital functions in several physiological and pathological processes, and show substantial promise as novel treatment strategies for diseases. Methods: In this review study, we studied numerous articles over the past two decades published on application of exosomes in different diseases as well as on perspective and challenges in this field. Results: The main clinical application of exosomes are using them as a biomarker, cell-free therapeutic agents, drug delivery carriers, basic analysis for exosome kinetics, and cancer vaccine. Different exosomes from human or plant sources are utilized in various clinical trials. Most researchers used exosomes from the circulatory system for biomarker experiments. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and dendritic cells (DCs) are two widely held cell sources for exosome use. MSCs-derived exosomes are commonly used for inflammation treatment and drug delivery, while DCs-exosomes are used to induce inflammation response in cancer patients. However, the clinical application of exosomes faces various questions and challenges. In addition, translation of exosome-based clinical trials is required to conform to specific good manufacturing practices (GMP). In this review, we summarize exosomes in the clinical trials according to the type of application and disease. We also address the main questions and challenges regarding exosome kinetics and clinical applications. Conclusions: Exosomes are promising platforms for treatment of many diseases in clinical trials. This exciting field is developing hastily, understanding of the underlying mechanisms that direct the various observed roles of exosomes remains far from complete and needs further multidisciplinary research in working with these small vesicles. 8nqLYBgiTpLR_8Q311G-7h Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the leading cancers in the world, which has become an increasing serious problem. In this context, reports demonstrate that some long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play significant regulatory roles in breast tumorigenesis and BC progression via various pathways and act as endogenous RNAs. Finding their dysregulation in cancer and evaluating their interaction with other molecules, such as short noncoding RNAs "microRNA (miRNAs)" as well as various genes, are the most important parts in cancer diagnostics. In this study, after performing GSEA and microarray analysis on the GSE71053 dataset, a new ceRNA network of CCDC18-AS1, LINC01343, hsa-miR4462, and SFN in BC was detected by bioinformatics analysis. Therefore, the expression of SFN, CCDC18-AS1, and LINC01343 was quantitatively measured in 24 BC and normal paired tissues using qRT-PCR. CCDC18-AS1, LINC01343, and SFN were expressed higher in BC than in the control (normal paired) tissues based on qRT-PCR data. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between CCDC18-AS1 and LINC01343 expression in the samples investigated in this study. The investigation of clinicopathological parameters showed that SFN was highly expressed in tumor size of <5 cm and in nonmenopausal ages, while CCDC18-AS1 and LINC01343 indicated a high expression in stages II-III and III of BC, respectively. The overall survival analysis displayed high and low survival in patients with high expression of SFN and CCDC18-AS1, respectively. The ROC curve analysis disclosed that SFN, CCDC18-AS1, and LINC01343 might be suggested as potential biological markers in BC patients. The high expression of CCDC18-AS1, LINC01343, and SFN in BC samples suggests their potential role in BC tumorigenesis and could be considered hallmarks for the diagnosis and prognosis of BC, although this will require further clinical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollutants such as cadmium can negatively affect sperm parameters and decrease male fertility by inducing oxidative stress. Antioxidants are considered a useful strategy for oxidative stress conditions to neutralize free radicals and strengthen the antioxidant defence system. In this study, the effects of the common application of silymarin, as a natural antioxidant, with cadmium were assessed on human sperm. The washed human sperm samples were divided into five groups: (1) spermatozoa at 0‐ hour; (2) spermatozoa at 3 h; (3) spermatozoa treated with cadmium (20 μM) for 3 h; (4) spermatozoa treated with silymarin (2 μM) + cadmium (20 μM) for 3 h and (5) spermatozoa treated with silymarin (2 μM) for 3 h. Our results displayed that cadmium reduced sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity by increasing malondialdehyde levels and decreasing the total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant enzymes activity. While silymarin attenuated oxidative stress biomarkers in human sperm treated with cadmium, and consequently improved the sperm quality. In summary, cadmium‐induced oxidative stress impaired human sperm structures and silymarin with its antioxidant properties compensated for the adverse effects of oxidative stress on human spermatozoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lymphocytes are a group of white blood cells with a variety of roles their integrity is crucial for the body's immune responses. Cadmium, a heavy metal and environmental pollutant, is known as a toxicant to exert its adverse effects on some sort of cells including blood cells. Research Design: In this study, human lymphocytes were divided into 3 groups: (1) lymphocytes at 0-h, (2) lymphocytes at 24 h (control), (3) lymphocytes treated with cadmium chloride (15 μM). Lymphocyte viability and plasma membrane integrity were assessed in these groups. In addition, the occurrence of apoptosis was investigated by assessment of nucleus diameter and flow cytometry. Activation of caspase-3 was also detected by immunocytochemistry. Results: Result showed that lymphocyte's viability and plasma membrane integrity decreased in lymphocytes treated with cadmium as compared with the control group. Decreased nucleus diameter and result of flow cytometry demonstrated cadmium-induced apoptosis in human lymphocytes. Furthermore, lymphocytes treated with cadmium displayed intensely activated caspase-3 immunoreactivity in their cytoplasm. Conclusion: In conclusion, cadmium not only negatively effect on viability and plasma membrane, but also induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in human lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionotropic glutamate receptors are expressed in mouse and human spermatozoa. However, the possible role of these receptors has not been reported in the sperm acrosome reaction. This study was conducted to demonstrate the function of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors in the acrosome reaction of mouse spermatozoa. Epididymal spermatozoa from adult mice were release in a culture medium. The sperm suspension was then divided into six groups: (1) spermatozoa at 0 min, (2) spermatozoa at 60 min (control), (3) spermatozoa treated with NMDA glutamate receptor agonist (L‐glutamate, LG), (4) spermatozoa treated with α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid (AMPA)/kainite glutamate receptor agonist (kainic acid), (5) spermatozoa treated with NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist (MK‐801)+LG and (6) spermatozoa treated with ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA, as a calcium chelator)+LG. The sperm samples were examined for the acrosome reaction and intracellular calcium concentration. After 60 min, LG but not kainic acid significantly increased both the acrosome reaction and intracellular calcium levels in the spermatozoa compared with the control group. Co‐administration of MK‐801 or EGTA+LG could significantly reverse the effect of LG in the acrosome reaction and the level of intracellular calcium as compared to the LG group. The possibility that LG induced the acrosome reaction and elevated inter‐cellular calcium concentration in mouse spermatozoa and that MK‐801 could reverse the effects of LG, may suggest the involvement of NMDA glutamate receptors, at least in the initiation of the acrosome reaction in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis in spermatozoa may lead to male infertility. Environmental pollutants and heavy metals such as cadmium cause harmful effects on the reproductive system and sperm parameters through the induction of oxidative stress. Silymarin, as a potent antioxidant, is able to inhibit oxidative stress. This study was performed to investigate the protective effects of silymarin on cadmium‐induced toxicity in human spermatozoa. Sperm samples were divided into the following five groups: (a) spermatozoa at 0 min, (b) spermatozoa in the control group, (c) spermatozoa treated with cadmium chloride (20 μM), (d) spermatozoa treated with silymarin (2 μM)+ cadmium chloride (20 μM) and (e) spermatozoa treated with silymarin (2 μM). Sperm parameters related to apoptosis, such as DNA fragmentation, nucleus diameter, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and expression of caspase‐3, were evaluated in all groups. After 180 min, spermatozoa treated with cadmium chloride showed a significant decrease in nucleus diameter and MMP but a significant increase in DNA fragmentation; however, caspase‐3 expression remained unchanged. At this time point, silymarin in the silymarin + cadmium chloride group could significantly reverse the adverse effects of cadmium chloride on these parameters.Silymarn could partly compensate for the caspase‐independent apoptosis in the spermatozoa. Therefore, oxidative stress could be a consequence for cadmium toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innate immune system is one of the major constituents of the host's defense against invading pathogens and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in regulating its responses. Exosomes, a subclass of EVs, released from eukaryotic cells, contribute to intracellular communication and drive various biological processes by transferring nuclei acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates between cells, protecting cargo from enzymatic degradation and immune recognition and consequent elimination by the immune system. A growing body of evidence has revealed that exosomes produced from host cells, infected cells, tumor cells, and immune cells regulate innate immune signaling and responses and thus play a significant role in the propagation of pathogens. Immune cells can recognize exosomes-bearing components including DNA strands, viral RNAs, and even proteins by various mechanisms such as through Toll-like receptor/NF-κB signaling, inducing cytokine production and reprogramming the innate immune responses, immunosuppression or immunesupportive. There is persuasive preclinical and clinical evidence that exosomes are therapeutic strategies for immunotherapy, cancer vaccine, drug-delivery system, and diagnostic biomarker. However, further scrutiny is essential to validate these findings. In this review, we describe the current facts on the regulation of innate immune responses by exosomes. We also describe the translational application of exosomes as cancer-therapy agents and immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this review is to describe the landscape of scientific literature enriched by an author's keyword analysis to develop and test blockchain's capabilities for enhancing supply chain resilience in times of increased risk and uncertainty. This review adopts a dynamic quantitative bibliometric method called systematic literature network analysis (SLNA) to extract and analyze the papers. The procedure consists of two methods: a systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric network analysis (BNA). This paper provides an important contribution to the literature in applying blockchain as a key component of cyber supply chain risk management (CSRM), manage and predict disruption risks that lead to resilience and robustness of the supply chain. This systematic review also sheds light on different research areas such as the potential of blockchain for privacy and security challenges, security of smart contracts, monitoring counterfeiting, and traceability database systems to ensure food safety and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Maturation and function of microRNAs(miRNAs), besides their association with p53. • The roles of p53 and some miRNAs in cellular response to stress. • Regulation of the cell cycle checkpoints, proliferation, tumor suppression and reprogramming by p53 induced miRNAs. • Regulation of p53 induced miRNAs involving in apoptosis. • Correlation between P53 and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous and small non-coding RNAs that have been identified as mediators of tumor suppression as well as stress responses mediated by p53 suppressors. MiRNAs may act as tumor suppressors under certain conditions. MiRNAs regulated by p53 may control the expression of processes such as cell cycle progression, cell survival, and angiogenesis. P53 activity and expression are also controlled by miRNA; consequently alterations in the p53-miRNA network may be essential for tumor initiation and progression. Future studies on the p53-miRNA network presumably would find it helpful in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches or as tools for various cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have recently revealed that almost every type of cells including tumor cells abundantly release small vesicles known as extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the extracellular milieu. EVs carry a repertoire of biological molecules including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates and transport their cargo between cells in the vicinity as well as distantly located cells and hence act as messengers of intercellular communication. In this review, we aimed to discuss the tumor-derived exosome biology and the pivotal roles of exosomes in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Methods: In the present review study, the authors studied several articles over the past two decades published on the kinetics of EVs in tumor environment as well as on the application of these vesicles in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Results: A growing body of evidence indicates that nucleic acids such as microRNAs (miRNAs) transferring by EVs participate to create a conducive tumor environment. As EV-associated miRNAs are tissue-specific and present in most biological fluids, they hold great potential for clinical application in cancer early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response. Furthermore, exosomes can serve as drug delivery vehicles transferring miRNAs as well as therapeutic agents to target cells. These nano-vesicles exhibit ideal properties in comparison with the synthetic carriers that attracted scientist's attention in the field of nanotechnology medicine. Scientists have employed different strategies to build exosomes-based drug delivery system. In general, two methods (direct engineering and indirect engineering) are being utilized to produce artificial exosomes. Para-clinical data have confirmed the beneficial effects of engineering exosomes in cancer therapy. Conclusion: Exosomal miRNAs hold great promise for clinical application in early diagnosis and treatment of cancers. In addition, in spite of enthusiastic results obtained by engineered exosomes, however, there is an increasing concern over the use of optimal methods for engineering exosomes and the safety of engineered exosomes in clinical trials is still unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]