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Introduction: PRM1/PRM2 ratio is important in spermatogenesis and male fertility; on the other hand uncoupling of PRM1 and PRM2 expression involves in the infertility of males. But the mechanisms implicit in this condition remain unclear. In this regard, we compared PRM1/PRM2 mRNA ratio and mRNA contents of YBX2 and Jhdm2a genes as two expression regulatory factors of these genes. Material and Methods: After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, Real-time quantitative (RT) PCR was used to evaluate the expression of PRM1, PRM2, YBX2 and Jhdm2a genes in testicular biopsies of 50 nonobstructive azoospermic and 12 normal testis tissues. Results: The PRM1/PRM2 mRNA ratio was 0.21± 0.13 in azoospermic samples and -0.8±0.22 in fertile samples, which was a significant difference. The amount of PRM2 mRNA was significantly reduced in azoospermic patients. Significant under expression of YBX2 gene was seen in azoospermic men in comparison to controls (p<0.001), and mRNA content of this gene showed positive correlation with PRM mRNA ratio (R=0.6, p=0.007). No significant difference was seen in Jhdm2a expression ratio between studied groups (p=0.3); no correlation was found between Jhdm2a mRNA content and the PRM mRNA ratio (R=0.2, p=0.3). Conclusion: Our results suggested that down regulation of YBX2 gene may be involved in PRM2 under expression, and this molecule can be a useful biomarker for predicting male infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Semen cryopreservation is an important procedure which is used frequently before assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Sperm cryopreservation and thawing is associated with increased ROS production and decreased antioxidant level. In this research we evaluated the effects of the Selenium, as an antioxidant, on some human sperm parameters after cryopreservation process. Materials and Methods: Sperm samples were obtained from 43 men referring to the Fertility and Infertility Center of Shariati Hospital (Tehran, Iran). After the sperm parameters were determined according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, samples were divided into two parts: one without Se, as control and the other one with 5ug/ml Se. Control and treated specimens were then cryopreserved by the liquid nitrogen vapor method. After two weeks interval, the samples were thawed at room temperature, and then sperms concentration, motility, viability, morphology and DNA damage were evaluated by different methods. Results: Our results showed that Se significantly increased sperms concentration, motility, viability and decreased the rate of sperms DNA damage in treated samples, compared to control ones (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that adding Se to sperm sample as an antioxidant, before cryopreservation, protects sperms from mortal effect of freezing procedures, therefore Se can be used in infertility clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the significant expression of Peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PIN1) as a key regulator of COVID-19 cycle. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) measured the expression levels of PIN1 in the serum of mild and severe patients and evaluated its association with clinical parameters. ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of PIN1 for the diagnosis of COVID-19 between mild and severe patients. Expression of the PIN1 gene in severe patients (0.89±0.43) was higher than in mild patients (-2.28±0.34), and this difference was statistically significant between the two groups regardless of other factors (P‑value<0.0001). ROC curve analysis showed that high PIN1 levels in the discrimination of severe from mild patients could be useful. PIN1 expression levels were significantly associated with shortness of breath and cough. PIN1 can be considered an effective factor in the intensification of the symptoms of COVID-19., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Saeideh Gholamzadeh Khoei reports financial support was provided by Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objectives: Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) is the most common inborn error of the urea cycle, caused by mutations in the OTC gene located on the X chromosome. OTCD presents in early and late-onset forms, with variable severity. Despite the high genetic heterogeneity, genotype-phenotype correlations help in prognosis and treatment planning. This study presents a novel missense mutation in an Iranian girl with OTCD, occurring de novo , contributing to the understanding of the disease's genetic landscape., Case Presentation: A 2-year-old girl from a consanguineous marriage presented with nausea, recurrent vomiting, and seizure. Elevated plasma ammonia, liver enzyme tests, and hepatomegaly suggested metabolic disorders. Following whole exome test, a novel heterozygous missense mutation in exon 7 of the OTC gene (c.674C>T) was identified in the patient. Despite maternal and paternal testing, no mutation was detected., Conclusions: Identifying new mutations in populations helps mitigate the high mortality rates associated with OTCD hyperammonemic episodes and provides the best course of treatment, especially considering the diverse phenotypic variations., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Objectives: Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1) has two genetically distinct variants, including renal and systemic forms. Systemic PHA type I (PHA1B) has varying degrees of clinical presentation and results from mutations in genes encoding subunits of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) including the alpha, beta, and gamma subunits. To date, about 45 variants of PHA1B have been identified., Case Presentation: We report a boy with PHA1B, who presented with vomiting, lethargy, and poor feeding due to salt wasting six days after birth. The patient had electrolyte imbalances. A novel SCNN1A (sodium channel epithelial subunit alpha) gene mutation, NM&#95;001038.6:c.1497G>C, with an autosomal recessive pattern, was identified by whole exosome sequencing. This variant was inherited as a homozygote from both heterozygous parents., Conclusions: PHA should be considered in neonates with hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. This case report presents a patient with a novel mutation in SCNN1A that has not been previously reported. Long-term follow-up of identified patients to understand the underlying phenotype--genotype link is necessary., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common severe symptoms of diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemia can lead to tissue damage and inflammation due to mediators such as receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE). Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the association between the G82S polymorphism of the RAGE gene and diabetic nephropathy in diabetic patients., Methods: In this case-control study, 356 participants (158 men and 198 women) of Asian race, aged 45 to 65 years, who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on their fasting plasma glucose levels were enrolled. DNA was isolated from the participants' blood samples and genotyped using TETRA -Primer ARMS-PCR. Serum protein concentration of soluble RAGE (sRAGE) was also determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: Although we found differences in genotyping of participants between homozygous AA and GG and heterozygous GA in the studied groups, the differences were not significant (P = .568). In addition, we found no significant correlation between the G82S polymorphism of RAGE and the development of diabetic nephropathy. Serum levels of sRAGE were only slightly decreased in patients with diabetic nephropathy compared with diabetic patients (P > .05)., Conclusion: The results of this study indicate no significant association between the G82S polymorphism in the gene RAGE and the development of diabetic nephropathy. Serum levels of sRAGE were only slightly decreased in patients with diabetic nephropathy compared to diabetic patients without nephropathy. Therefore, the study suggests that there is probably no association between the G82S polymorphism in the gene RAGE and the development of diabetic nephropathy. DOI: 10.52547/ijkd.7872.

Objective: In this research we evaluated molecular mechanism of effect of metformin in radio sensitivity of breast cancer cells., Methods: This research was done in cellular and molecular research center of Qazvin university of Medical science in 1399 to 1401. Studied samples were two breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) they are derived from primary and secondary tumors resected from a single patient. We exposed them to cumulative 50 Gy radiation and constructed radio resistant cell lines. Then resistant cell lines were treated with 50µm of metformin. Our studied groups were resistant cells treated and un treated with metformin. Then, the expression rate of miR-21-5p and SESN1 gene in resistant and control cells was checked by Quantitative Real-time PCR(qRTPCR). After the cell lines were treated with different concentrations of metformin at different intervals, the rate of cell proliferation and cell death was checked by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. The Western blot method was also used to confirm the expression of some genes., Results: Our results showed that the expression of miR-21-5p was upregulated in radiation-resistant cancer cells (1.8±0.65) (P<0.0001) MCF-7 cell line and (1.6±0.42)(P<0.001) MBA-MD-231 cell line, while the expression of SESN1 was down regulated (0.46±0.12) (P<0.0001) MCF-7 cell line and (0.42±0.22) (P<0.001) MBA-MD-231 cell line. Metformin enhanced the radio sensitivity of breast cancer cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. Also, metformin treatment decreased the expression of miR-21-5p (0.47±0.32) (P<0.0001) MCF-7 Cell line and (0.45±0.21)(P<0.001) MBA-MD-231 cell line and increased the expression of SESN1 (1.65±0.72)(P<0.0001)MCF-7 cell line and (1.73±0.52)(P<0.0001) MBA-MD-231 cell line. The function of metformin was reversed by miR-21-5p inhibitors or the transfection of SESN1 overexpressing plasmids., Conclusion: In conclusion, based on this research results, metformin enhanced the radio sensitivity of breast cancer cells via modulating  the expression of miR-21-5p and SESN1.

Background: Angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) is the most important receptor and has important role in the entry of corona virus to the host cells. The present study aimed to investigate the different mechanisms involved in the expression regulation of this gene among the COVID-19 patients., Methods: A total of 140 patients with COVID-19 (n = 70 mild COVID-19, n = 70 ARDS) and 120 controls were recruited. The expression of ACE-2 and miRNAs was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR), and methylation of CpG dinucleotides in the ACE2 promoter was quantified using bisulfite pyro-sequencing. Finally, different polymorphisms of the ACE-2 gene were studied by Sanger sequencing., Results: Our results showed a significant high expression of the ACE-2 gene in the blood samples of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients (3.8 ± 0.77) in comparison with controls (0.88 ± 0.12; p < 0.03). The methylation rate of the ACE-2 gene in ARDS patients was 14.07 ± 6.1 compared with controls (72.3 ± 5.1; p < 0.0001). Among the four studied miRNAs, only miR200c-3p showed significant downregulation in ARDS patients (0.14 ± 0.1) in comparison with controls (0.32 ± 0.17; p < 0.001). We did not see a substantial difference in the frequency of rs182366225 C>T and rs2097723 T>C polymorphisms between patients and controls (p > 0.05). There was a significant correlation between B12 (R = 0.32, p < 0.001), folate (R = 0.37, p < 0.001) deficiency, and hypo-methylation of the ACE-2 gene., Conclusion: These results for the first time indicated that among the different mechanisms of ACE-2 expression regulation, its promoter methylation is very crucial and can be affected by factors involved in one-carbon metabolisms such as B9 and B12 vitamins deficiency., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The significant functional role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the progression of malignant tumors, including ovarian cancer, has been shown in various studies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the abnormal expression of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0008285 and its role in ovarian cancer pathogenesis. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot methods were used to detect the expression of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0008285 and some target genes in ovarian cancer tissues and related cell lines. To determine the functional roles of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0008285 in ovarian cancer, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell invasion assays were performed. Bioinformatics (Target scan, circ intractome) and luciferase reporter analyses were used to predict target genes. Results: In the present study, we first found that hsa&#95;circ&#95;0008285 was up regulated in ovarian cancer tissues and related cell lines. Bioinformatics, experimental data, and luciferase reporter analysis data showed miR-211-5p is a direct target of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0008285, while SIRT-1 is a direct target of miR-211-5p. Overexpression of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0008285 in cancer cells increased the expression of SIRT-1 and progression of cancer cells. Based on these results, inhibition of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0008285 expression could cause upregulation of miR-211-5p and down regulation of SIRT-1 and inhibited the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. Conclusion: The results of the present study revealed that hsa&#95;circ&#95;0008285 suppressed ovarian cancer progression by regulating miR-211-5p expression to inhibit SIRT-1 expression., (© The Author(s).)

Background: The pandemic COVID-19 has caused a high mortality rate and poses a significant threat to the population of the entire world. Due to the novelty of this disease, the pathogenic mechanism of the disease and the host cell's response are not yet fully known, so lack of evidence prevents a definitive conclusion about treatment strategies. The current study employed a small RNA deep-sequencing approach for screening differentially expressed microRNA (miRNA) in blood and bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) samples of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients., Methods: In this study, BALF and blood samples were taken from patients with ARDS (n = 5). Control samples were those with suspected lung cancer candidates for lung biopsy (n = 3). Illumina high-throughput (HiSeq 2000) sequencing was performed to identify known and novel miRNAs differentially expressed in the blood and BALFs of ARDS patients compared with controls., Results: Results showed 2234 and 8324 miRNAs were differentially expressed in blood and BALF samples, respectively. In BALF samples, miR-282, miR-15-5p, miR-4485-3p, miR-483-3p, miR-6891-5p, miR-200c, miR-4463, miR-483-5p, and miR-98-5p were upregulated and miR-15a-5p, miR-548c-5p, miR-548d-3p, miR-365a-3p, miR-3939, miR-514-b-5p, miR-513a-3p, miR-513a-5p, miR-664a-3p, and miR-766-3p were downregulated. On the contrary, in blood samples miR-15b-5p, miR-18a-3p, miR-486-3p, miR-486-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-16-2-3p, miR-6501-5p, miR-365-3p, miR-618, and miR-623 were top upregulated miRNAs and miR-21-5p, miR-142a-3p, miR-181-a, miR-31-5p, miR-99-5p, miR-342-5p, miR-183-5p, miR-627-5p, and miR-144-3p were downregulated miRNAs. Network functional analysis for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), in ARDS patients' blood and BALF samples, showed that the target genes were more involved in activating inflammatory and apoptosis process., Conclusion: Based on our results, the transcriptome profile of ARDS patients would be a valuable source for understanding molecular mechanisms of host response and developing clinical guidance on anti-inflammatory medication., (© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and methylation pattern of the angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) covid-9 patients. A total of 25 patients with covid-19 ARDS and 20 controls were recruited. Expression of the ACE-2 gene was evaluated by quantitative real time PCR, and methylation of CpG dinucleotides, in the ACE-2 promoter, was quantified using bisulfite pyro-sequencing. Our results showed high expression of the ACE-2 gene in the blood samples of ADRS patients (1.93± 0.67) in comparison to controls (0.62±0.35) (P = 0.03). Correspondingly, in ARDS bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples, there was a high expression of this gene (1.8±0.78) in comparison to controls (0.58±0.2) (p <0.05). Moreover, the methylation rate of the ACE-2 gene in blood samples of ARDS patients was 64.07 ±6.1 in comparison to controls (80.3 ±7.3) (p<0.0001). In BALF samples, there was this pattern too (55.07 ±3.1 vs. 72.35±5.1) (p<0.0001). Finally, a significant correlation was found between expression and methylation in BALF (R= -0.54, P= 0.002) and blood (R= -0.321, P= 0.013) samples. These results indicated that aberrant methylation of the ACE-2 promoter might be associated with high expression of this gene and the occurrence of ARDS in covid-19 patients., Competing Interests: None.

In this research, we investigated microRNAs (miRNAs) expression profile in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line which treated with 150 µM vitexin. Profiling of miRNAs expression was performed using TaqMan MiRNA Array. Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and the expression of some genes involved in "anti-proliferative" signaling pathways were evaluated by western blotting and real time PCR methods. Twenty microRNAs were differentially expressed in vitexin treated cells compared to the control. Among them, let-7- b, c were up regulated while miRNA-17-5p was down regulated with highest score. Also, we detected the expression changes of mentioned miRNAs target genes as well as genes involved in caspase apoptosis pathways. Our results provide the first evidence that vitexin can effect miRNA expression in MCF-7 cells. Also based on our finding, vitexin can be an attractive miRNA mediated chemo preventive and therapeutic agent in breast cancer.

Background: Nowadays, non-invasive and rapid detection of cancers through molecular biomarkers has received much attention. Therefore, this study investigated the non-invasive and rapid diagnosis of colorectal cancer through one of the newest biomarkers (circular RNA)., Methods: For this purpose, we collected tumoral, adjacent normal tissue, and plasma samples from 100 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, 25 postoperative CRC patients, 28 colitis patients, and 108 healthy donors. First Illumina high-throughput (Hi Seq 2000) sequencing was performed to identify known and novel differentially expressed circRNAs in the cancerous and adjacent normal tissues (n = 3). We used quantitative real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to detect the expression level of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0006282 among the different samples. Moreover, inter- and intra-assays were performed to evaluate the potential of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0006282 as being a biomarker. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to appraise its diagnostic efficacy, and the sensitivity of this circ RNA was evaluated., Results: Based on RNA-sequencing results circ&#95;0006282, cirs7, circ-0001313, circ&#95;0055625, circ&#95;000984, circ&#95;0055625, circ&#95;0001178, circ&#95;0071589, circ-001569 were upregulated, and circ-ITGA7, circ-CDYL, circITCH, circ&#95;0026344, circ&#95;0000038, circ&#95;0002220, circ&#95;0067480, circIGHV3-20-1, circ&#95;104916, circ&#95;0009361 were downregulated circRNA. The hsa&#95;circ&#95;0006282 was the highest upregulated differentially expressed circRNA. Expression evaluation of this circRNA on different samples showed upregulation in CRC tissues (p < 0.0001) and plasma samples of CRC patients in comparison to healthy controls (p < 0.0001), while the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.831 (95% CI: 0.779-0.883). Expression of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0006282 in CRC patients decreased to normal after surgery (p < 0.0001). Our results showed high specificity and sensitivity of CRC detection when hsa&#95;circ&#95;0006282, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen199 (CA199) are combined., Conclusion: Plasma hsa&#95;circ&#95;0006282 can be used as a novel diagnostic and dynamic monitoring biomarker in CRC patients., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Intellectual disability (ID) is a heterogonous disorder with complex etiology. The frequency of autosomal recessive inheritance defects was elevated in a consanguineous family., Methods: In this study, high-throughput DNA sequencing was performed in an Iranian consanguineous family with two affected individuals to find potential causative variants. Whole-exome sequencing was carried out on the proband and Sanger sequencing was implemented for validation of the likely causative variant in the family members., Results: A novel homozygous missense mutation (p.Arg122Trp) was detected in the PTRHD1 gene., Conclusion: PTRHD1 has been recently introduced as a candidate ID and Parkinsonism causing gene. Our findings are in agreement with the clinical spectrum of PTRHD1 mutations; however, our affected individuals suffer from ID manifestations., (© 2021 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)

Background: Post-transcriptional microRNAs (miRNAs) have a impotrant pattern in the spermatogenesis process., Objective: Study of the expression and methylation of hsa-miR-449 family in sperm samples of infertile men., Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, we recruited 74 infertile men (with asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia) and 30 control samles. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) method was used for methylation evaluation of hsa-miR-449 a, b, c promoter. By Real time PCR (qRT-PCR) method,we showed downregulation of hsa-miR-449 a, b, c in the sperm samples of infertile men and compared it to their fertile counterparts., Results: There was significant underexperssion, in hsa-miR-449-b in oligoasthenoteratospermic samples (p = 0.0001, F = 2.9). About the methylation pattern, infertile men showed high frequency of methylation in the promoter of hsa-miR-449 a, b, c in comparison to controls (60.8% vs 23.3%), the highest amount of methylation was observed in oligoasthenoteratospermia samples (81.2%)., Conclusion: In this study, low expression and high methylation of hsa-miR-449-b were observed in infertile men in compared to control samples, which can be one of the causes of defective spermatogenesis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Najafipour et al.)

Although colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers, the exact molecular mechanism of this cancer is not yet known. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, are newly identified and their role in the pathogenesis of various cancers has been shown. In this research, we studied the expression pattern and clinical importance of hsa&#95;circ&#95;000425 in CRC patients. After evaluation of hsa&#95;circ&#95;000425 expression rate in 4 CRC cell lines and 100 paired CRC tissues, the potential correlation between hsa&#95;circ&#95;000425 expression rate and clinicopathological parameters of CRC patients was analyzed. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to study the diagnostic value of hsa&#95;circ&#95;000425. A significant downregulation of hsa&#95;circ&#95;000425 was observed in both CRC tissues and cell lines. In addition, this downregulation was significantly associated with differentiation and lymphatic metastasis. The area under the ROC curve of hsa&#95;circ&#95;000425 was 0.839 (P < 0.001). hsa&#95;circ&#95;000425 may have a role in the pathogenesis of CRC and might act as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC; although further molecular studies must be performed in this regard.

Objective: The purpose of this study was comparison of association of three main first trimester screening factors with pregnancy outcomes among Iranian pregnant women. Materials and methods: This prospective study was done during 2017-2019 years in Qazvin, Iran. To do so, a total of 1500pregnant women in first trimester were enrolled. At the first step, Nuchal translucency (NT) was measured in 11-13 ± 5 week, then the serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free-β-human chorionic gonadotropin (free-β-HCG) were measured in 12-14 weeks of gestation. Pregnant women were followed up until the end of pregnancy for the complications of pregnancy such as intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR), intrauterine death (IUFD), different types of fetal loss and preterm labor. Results: The results showed that low levels of serum biomarkers had more association with pregnancy complications in comparison to high levels of them. Significant association of IUGR (P = 0.001), IUFD (P = 0.032) and pre-term labor (P = 0.002) was shown in women with low serum levels of PAPP-A in comparison to low serum levels of free-β-hCG. Significant high frequency of different types of fetal loss (IUFD, Abortion, Elective termination) was shown in fetuses with N ≥ 3 in comparison to low levels of serum biomarkers (P = 0.001). Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of accurately interpreting the results of the first trimester of pregnancy screening which should be considered by primatologists for subsequent pregnancy care., (Copyright © Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)

The bric-a-brac, tramtrack and broad complex (BTB) superfamily of conserved proteins are involved in ubiquitin-proteasome system that contains the Kelch-like (KLHL) gene family. Kelch-like family member 7 (KLHL7), one of the KLHL gene family, consists of one BTB/POZ domain, one BACK domain and five or six Kelch motifs. Numerous variants in KLHL7 gene domains have been reported with Crisponi syndrome/cold-induced sweating syndrome type 1 (CS/CISS1)-like features and retinitis pigmentosa 42, and have recently been identified as causing Bohring-Opitz syndrome (BOS)-like features. We report two siblings with BOS-like phenotype with healthy parents and living in Qazvin province (Central Iran). We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on the older patient and Sanger sequencing was carried out for validation of potential causative variants in the close family. A novel homozygous frameshift mutation, p.(Phe83Leufs*3), was identified in the BTB domain of KLHL7 that caused a premature translation-termination codon (PTC) in the two siblings with severe developmental delay, microcephaly, facial dysmorphism, peripheral retinal and optic disc atrophy and cardiac septal defects. Our findings are in agreement with the clinical spectrum of KLHL7 mutations, which are associated with BOS-like features that reports for first time in our population., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Production of high-quality spermatozoa is necessary for male fertility. In this regard, post-mitotic stage in spermatogenesis is very important which posttranscriptional microRNAs (miRNAs) playing a key role at this stage. In this research, we evaluated the expression and methylation of hsa-miR-34 family in sperm samples of infertile men. We recruited 102 infertile men (asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia) and 52 fertile men as control. The expression of hsa-miR-34a,b,c was determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) technique. Methylation of hsa-miR-34b,c promoter was evaluated by methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR) method. Our data indicated under-expression of three miRNAs (hsa-miR-34a,b,c) in the sperm samples of infertile men in compared to their fertile counterparts. The highest rate of expression reduction was observed in hsa-miR-34c-5p and in oligoasthenoteratospermic patients (P = 0.011, F = 4.01). The results revealed that the frequency of methylation of the promoter region of hsa-miR-34b,c in infertile men was higher than that of fertile men (82.4% versus 23.3%), and the highest frequency of methylation was observed in patients with asthenoteratospermia (92.9%) and oligoasthenoteratospermia (93.8%). In conclusion, our results indicated lower expression of hsa-miR-34a,b,c and hypermethylation of hsa-miR-34b,c promoter in sperm samples of infertile men. Aberrant under-expression of these miRNAs could be duo to the hypermethylation of the promoter region and indicative of a defect in spermatogenesis.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy among the gynecological cancers, with a 5-year survival rate, mainly due to being diagnosed at advanced stages, recurrence and resistance to the current chemotherapeutic agents. Drug resistance is a complex phenomenon and the number of known involved genes and cross-talks between signaling pathways in this process is growing rapidly. Thus, discovering and understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in chemo-resistance are crucial for management of treatment and identifying novel and effective drug targets as well as drug discovery to improve therapeutic outcomes. In this review, the major and recently identified molecular mechanisms of drug resistance in ovarian cancer from relevant literature have been investigated. In the final section of the paper, new approaches for studying detailed mechanisms of chemo-resistance have been briefly discussed., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The male factor contributes to 50% of infertility. The cause of male infertility is idiopathic and could be congenital or acquired. Among different factors which are involved in idiopathic male infertility, genetic factors are the most prevalent causes of the disease. Considering, the high prevalence of male infertility in Iran and the importance of genetic factors in the accession of it, in this article we reviewed the various studies which have been published during the last 17 yr on the genetic basis of male infertility in Iran. To do this, the PubMed and Scientific information database (SID) were regarded for the most relevant papers published in the last 17 yr referring to the genetics of male factor infertility using the keywords ''genetics'', "cytogenetic", ''male infertility", and "Iranian population". Literatures showed that among the Iranian infertile men Yq microdeletion and chromosomal aberrations are two main factors that intervene in the genetics of male infertility. Also, protamine deficiency (especially P2) is shown to have an influence on fertilization rate and pregnancy outcomes. The highest rate of sperm DNA damages has been found among the asthenospermia patients. In several papers, the relation between other important factors such as single gene mutations and polymorphisms with male infertility has also been reported. Recognition of the genetic factors that influence the fertility of Iranian men will shed light on the creation of guidelines for the diagnosis, consultation, and treatment of the patients.", Competing Interests: Authors declare none.

Objectives: Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle in the successful chemotherapy of ovarian cancer. Inhibition of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a member of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, is a well-known strategy to overcome MDR in cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency and ability of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology to knockdown ABCB1 gene expression in adriamycin resistant (A2780/ADR) ovarian cancer cell line and evaluate the sensitivity changes to doxorubicin., Materials and Methods: Three single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) targeting the fourth and fifth exons of human ABCB1 gene were designed in this study. Expression level of ABCB1 was detected using quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) after co-transfection of all three sgRNAs into A2780/ADR cell line and subsequent antibiotic selection. Drug sensitivity to doxorubicin was determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay., Results: The results showed that CRISPR/Cas9 system could significantly reduce the expression of P-gp. The dramatic decline in ABCB1 gene expression was associated with increased sensitivity of cells transfected with sgRNAs to doxorubicin., Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that the CRISPR-based systems, used in the present study, effectively down-regulated the target gene and acted as an ideal and cost-effective tool for gene editing of A2780/ADR cell line resulting in restoration of nonmalignant phenotype.

Since genes involved in microRNA biogenesis pathways have a main role in impaired spermatogenesis, in this research, we evaluated different genotypes frequency of seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms in DICER1 and DROSHA genes. Different genotypes frequency of DICER1 (rs12323635, rs1057035, rs13078 and rs3742330) and DROSHA (rs10719, rs642321 and rs2291102) were determined by sequencing method in 385 infertile men and 120 fertile controls. It was found that CC genotype (P = 0.000) and C allele (P = 0.0) of rs1057035 T > C polymorphism were associated with idiopathic male infertility (azoospermia). Gene expression study in blood and testis samples was done by real time PCR technique. Our results showed significant under expression of DICER1 gene in blood and testis tissues of azoospermic samples (P < 0.05), but we did not observed significant difference in expression ratio between infertile men with and without C allele of rs1057035 SNP (P > 0.05). The results of this study showed that among the studied variants, only one of them in DICER1 might be associated with azoospermia, but additional studies needs in different populations and ethnics.

Background: Genetic and environmental factors are both involved in the etiology of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Among the genetic factors, certain polymorphisms of adiponectin gene are associated with NAFLD. In the current study, we investigated the association between metabolic parameters with different genotypes of adiponectin +276 G>T polymorphism among the Iranian NAFLD patients, and the effect of nutritional intake with development of NAFLD., Methods: In this study, 75 patients with NAFLD and 76 healthy individuals were enrolled. Dietary intakes were assessed using a semi-quantitative Food-Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) were calculated. Biochemical assays including FSG (Fasting Serum Glucose), liver enzymes, lipid profiles, Malondialdehyde, insulin resistance and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) were measured after 12 hr fasting. Gene polymorphism study was done by using of sequencing method., Results: Although, T allele frequency was more prevalent in patients with NAFLD than control, adiponectin +276 G>T polymorphism was not associated with risk of NAFLD. Among the metabolic parameters, TAC in TT genotype was significantly lower 1.44(0.69 to 2.81) p>0.05, AST in GT, GG genotypes, and ALT in all three genotypes were higher in NAFLD patients in compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05). Patients with GT genotype have significantly lower fat consumption and vitamin E intake as compared to control group with the same genotype (p<0.05)., Conclusion: In this study, we showed the association of different genotypes of +276 G>T polymorphism in adiponectin gene with some metabolic parameters., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

The flavonoid quercetin has recently been reported to have neuroprotective effects, and the role of the gamma-aminobutyric acid A alpha 5 subunit (GABA A α5) receptor has been determined in some nervous system disorders. The aim of this study was to identify the molecular mechanism of the effect of quercetin administered at anticonvulsive doses on the expression of the GABA A α5 receptor gene in kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures in mice. The experimental animals were divided into four groups: control, KA, and KA + quercetin at 50 or 100 mg/kg, respectively. The results showed a dose-dependent reduction in the behavioral seizure score with quercetin pre-treatment in the KA mouse model. Two hours after the end of the 7-day treatment regimen, expression of the GABA A α5 receptor gene in the hippocampus was found to be increased in the KA group, but this increase was reduced in the KA + quercetin 50 or 100 mg/kg treatment groups. These results suggest that expression of the GABA A α5 receptor could be a mechanism for reducing seizure severity or may be a marker of seizure severity. Further studies are necessary to clarify quercetin's mechanism of action and the relation of GABA A α5 receptor gene expression to seizure severity.

Objectives: Quercetin is a flavonoid and an important dietary constituent of fruits and vegetables. In recent years, several pharmacological activities of quercetin, such as its neuroprotective activity and, more specifically, its anti-convulsant effects in animal models of epilepsy, have been reported. This study evaluated the role of quercetin pretreatment on gene expression of γ-amino butyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor beta subunits in kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures in mice., Methods: The animals were divided into four groups: one saline group, one group in which seizures were induced by using KA (10 mg/kg) without quercetin pretreatment and two groups pretreated with quercetin (50 and 100 mg/kg) prior to seizures being induced by using KA. Next, the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of the GABAA receptor β subunits in the hippocampus of each animal were assessed at 2 hours and 7 days after KA administration. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was used to detect mRNA content in hippocampal tissues., Results: Pretreatments with quercetin at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg prevented significant increases in the mRNA levels of the β 1 and the β 3 subunits of the GABAA receptor at 2 hours after KA injection. Pretreatment with quercetin (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited β 1 and β 3 gene expression in the hippocampus at 7 days after KA injection. But, this inhibitory effect of quercetin at 50 mg/kg on the mRNA levels of the β 3 subunit of the GABAA receptor was not observed at 7 days after KA administration., Conclusion: These results suggest that quercetin (100 mg/kg) modulates the expression of the GABAA receptor β 1 and β 3 subunits in the KA model of epilepsy, most likely to prevent compensatory responses. This may be related to the narrow therapeutic dose range for the anticonvulsant activities of quercetin.

Background: Although aberrant protamine (PRM) ratios have been observed in infertile men, the mechanisms that implicit the uncoupling of PRM1 and PRM2 expression remain unclear. To uncover these mechanisms, in this observational study we have compared the PRM1/PRM2 mRNA ratio and mRNA contents of two regulatory factors of these genes., Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, sampling was performed by a multi-step method from 50 non-obstructive azoospermic and 12 normal men. After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT- QPCR) was used to analyze the PRM1, PRM2, Y box binding protein 2 (YBX2) and JmjC-containing histone demethylase 2a (JHDM2A) genes in testicular biopsies of the studied samples., Results: The PRM1/PRM2 mRNA ratio differed significantly among studied groups, namely 0.21 ± 0.13 in azoospermic samples and -0.8 ± 0.22 in fertile samples. The amount of PRM2 mRNA, significantly reduced in azoospermic patients. Azoospermic men exhibited significant under expression of YBX2 gene compared to controls (P<0.001). mRNA content of this gene showed a positive correlation with PRM mRNA ratio (R=0.6, P=0.007). JHDM2A gene expression ratio did not show any significant difference between the studied groups (P=0.3). We also observed no correlation between JHDM2A mRNA content and the PRM mRNA ratio (R=0.2, P=0.3)., Conclusion: We found significant correlation between the aberrant PRM ratio (PRM2 under expression) and lower YBX2 mRNA content in testicular biopsies of azoospermic men compared to controls, which suggested that downregulation of the YBX2 gene might be involved in PRM2 under expression. These molecules could be useful biomarkers for predicting male infertility.

Objective: Animal model studies have shown that MSY2 and JHDM2A genes have an important role in spermatogenesis process and fertility of male mice. But the potential role of these genes in human spermatogenesis and fertility is not known yet. Therefore, we evaluated expression ratios of these genes in testis tissues of men with normal and impaired spermatogenesis., Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, after RNA extraction and cDNA syn- thesis from 50 non-obstructive azoospermic and 12 normal testis tissues, the expression ratios of genes were evaluated by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Hematoxcylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used for histological classification of testis tissues. For statistical analysis, one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was carried out., Results: Our results showed a significant reduction in mRNA level of YBX2 in samples with impaired spermatogenesis (p<0.001) compared to samples with qualitatively normal spermatogenesis and normal spermatogenesis; however, in JHDM2A gene, despite sensible reduction in gene expression level in men with impaired spermatogenesis, no significant differences were shown (p>0.05). Furthermore in YBX2, a significant negative correlation was demonstrated between the efficiency score of spermatogenesis and the threshold cycle (CT) (r=-0.7, p<0.0001), whereas in JHDM2A, this negative correlation was not significant (r=-0.4, p=0.06)., Conclusion: Generally, these data indicated that YBX2 and JHDM2A genes may play an important role in male infertility, and suggested that these molecules can act as useful biomarkers for predicting male infertility.

Flavonoids are present in foods such as fruits and vegetables. A relationship between the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods and prevention of human disease including neurodegenerative disorders has been demonstrated. We assessed the effect of rutin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone-3-rhamnoglucoside) on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, memory retrieval and oxidative stress in rats injected with β-amyloid (Aβ), which is implicated to have an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ was injected bilaterally in the deep frontal cortex of rat brain. Next, rutin and saline were injected (i.p.) for 3 weeks. In comparison to the control group, rutin significantly increased extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1 (ERK1), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression in the hippocampus of rats. Rutin (100 mg/kg) significantly increased memory retrieval compared to the control group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the hippocampus of the rutin group was significantly lower than those in the control group. The content of sulfhydryl groups in the rutin group was higher than that in the control group. The findings show a possibility that rutin may have beneficial effects against neurotoxicity of Aβ on memory in rats., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Flavonoids are a class of polyphenolic compounds present in fruits and vegetables. Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between the consumption of flavonoid-rich diets and the prevention of human diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, we assessed the effect of quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) on oxidative stress and memory retrieval using a step-through passive avoidance task in kindled rats. Quercetin (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) before pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) every other day prior to the training. Retention tests were performed to assess memory in rats. Compared to control, pretreatment with 50 mg/kg of quercetin could attenuate seizure severity from the beginning of the kindling experiment by lowering the mean seizure stages. Moreover, quercetin 50 mg/kg significantly increased the step-through latency of the passive avoidance response compared to the control in the retention test. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly increased in the quercetin groups compared to the PTZ group in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex following PTZ kindling. In the quercetin groups, higher sulfhydryl (SH) contents were not observed compared to the PTZ group. These results indicate that quercetin at a specific dose results in decreased seizure severity during kindling and performance improvement in a passive avoidance task in kindled rats. All doses of quercetin led to increased oxidative stress in the hippocampi and cerebral cortices of kindled rats., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Irradiation is one of the major causes of induced sperm DNA damage. Various studies suggested a relation between sperm DNA damage and fertilization rate after intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)., Objective: In this study, fertilization rate and premature chromosome condensation (PCC) formation after ICSI of hamster oocytes with irradiated sperms from normal and oligosperm individuals was investigated., Materials and Methods: Human sperms were classified according to counts to normal and oligosperm. Ten samples were used for each group. Golden hamster oocytes were retrieved after super ovulation by PMSG and HCG injection. From retrieved oocytes, 468 were in metaphase II. Control and 4 Gy gamma irradiated sperms were then injected into oocytes. After pronuclei formation in injected oocytes and formation of 8 cells embryos, slides were prepared using Tarkowskie's standard air-drying technique. The frequency of embryos and PCC were analyzed using 1000× microscope after staining in 5% Giemsa., Results: The extent of embryo development in oocytes injected by irradiated sperms was lower than those injected by non-irradiated sperms (p=0.0001). The frequency of PCC in failed fertilized oocytes was significantly higher in oligosperms (46%) compared with normal ones (0%), but there was no significant difference between irradiated and non-irradiated samples in each group (p=0.12)., Conclusion: The results showed that irradiation of sperms might influence the fertilization outcome possibly due to sperm DNA damage. One possible cause of precluding oocytes from fertilization in oligosperm individuals might be the formation of PCC.