Uncoupling tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-10 at tumor immune microenvironment of breast cancer through miR-17-5p/MALAT-1/H19 circuit

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) immunotherapy has recently shown promising approach. However, some TNBC patients presented with resistance. One of the reasons was attributed to the excessive release of cytokines at the tumor microenvironment (TME) such as Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10). Fine regulation of these cytokines’ levels via non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) might alleviate the immune quiescent nature of TME at TNBC tumors. However, the extrapolation of ncRNAs as therapeutic tools is highly challenging. Therefore, disentanglement the nature for the isolation of natural compounds that could modulate the ncRNAs and their respective targets is an applicable translational therapeutic approach. Hence, this study aimed to targeting the chief immune suppressive cytokines at the TME (TNF-α and IL-10) via ncRNAs and to examine the effects of Rosemary aerial parts extract on the expression levels of these ncRNAs in TNBC. Results revealed miR-17-5p as a dual regulator of TNF-α and IL-10. Moreover, an intricate interaction has been shown between miR-17-5p and the oncogenic lncRNAs: MALAT1 and H19. Knocking down of MALAT1 and/or H19 caused an induction in miR-17-5p and reduction in TNF-α and IL-10 expression levels. miR-17-5p was found to be down-regulated, while TNF-α, IL-10, MALAT1 and H19 were up-regulated in BC patients. Forced expression of miR-17-5p in MDA-MB-231 cells reduced TNF-α, IL-10, MALAT1 and H19 expression levels, as well as several BC hallmarks. In a translational approach, ursolic acid (UA) isolated from rosemary induced the expression of miR-17-5p, MALAT1 and decreased H19 expression levels. In conclusion, this study suggests miR-17-5p as a tumor suppressor and an immune-activator miRNA in BC through tuning up the immunological targets TNF-α, IL-10 at the TME and the oncological mediators MALAT1 and H19 lncRNAs.     

Elastic analysis of heterogeneous thick-walled spherical pressure vessels with parabolic varying properties

On the basis of plane elasticity theory (PET), the displacement and stress components in a thick-walled spherical pressure vessels made of heterogeneous materials subjected to internal and external pressure is developed. The mechanical properties except the Poisson’s ratio are assumed to obey the parabolic variations throughout the thickness. Effect of material inhomogeneity on the elastic deformations and stresses is investigated. The analytical solutions and the solutions carried out through the FEM have a good agreement. The values used in this study are arbitrary chosen to demonstrate the effect of inhomogeneity on displacements, and stresses distributions.     

AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF A REACTOR FOR BULK POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE

Automatic temperature and initiator feed control of a reactor for styrene bulk polymerization, initiated by A.I.B.N., was achieved.

We show that suitable temperature and/or initiator feed policies allow production with high conversions (>50%) of a polymer with narrower molecular weight distribution.

The good fit of experimental data on mathematical model (taking in account viscosity effect) allow us to find experimental conditions required to obtain a polymer with a predetermined molecular weight distribution (especially polydispersity).     

Hemodialysis cost in Tehran,Iran

The purpose of this study was to assess the health service cost of hemodialysis (HD) delivered at hospitals in Iran as a developing country with a well‐defined program of renal replacement therapy. A cost analysis was performed from the viewpoint of the 2 hospitals, with 3 shifts and full chairs, on current practice for dialysis maintenance. Cost and patient data were collected in 2006 and from April 1 to May 31, 2007, respectively. A total of 22,464 HD sessions were performed and 247 patients were studied during the study period. The reference year for the value of USD for different mentioned costs was 2006. Health care sector costs associated with each HD session were estimated at US$78.87. Most of the total maintenance expenditure was made up of medical supplies (36.19%), with dialyzers as the major cost driver. Staff salaries represented 17% of the cost and fixed direct capital costs accounted for 21.4%. Of the family members, 32.4% accompanied their patients. The mean cost for transportation of patients and accompanied person was US$3.15 ± 2.83 and US$1.5 ± 0.29, respectively. These findings are important in the light of limited available resources coupled with the increasing prevalence of kidney failure. A major attempt should also be made to increase peritoneal dialysis coverage as in some centers we cannot keep all chairs full, especially in some vast areas. It is highly recommended to place initial focus on strategies and treatments that slow disease progression, to postpone renal replacement therapy to save resources.     

CHANGES IN SOYMILK QUALITY AS A FUNCTION OF COMPOSITION AND STORAGE

ABSTRACT

Three soymilk products formulated with different concentrations of fat, sugar and starch were evaluated for changes in their physical properties and volatiles profile over time (3 months) under different temperatures (4, 22 and 38C) of storage. Samples were tested for pH, color, viscosity and volatile flavor changes. The pH and color of the soymilks decreased significantly during the first month of storage and then remained stable over time. Color and viscosity of the soymilk products were affected by both the soymilk composition and storage treatment. The high‐fat soymilk sample (product C) had the whitest color (lower ΔE) and the lowest viscosity. Storage at 38C negatively affected the color. The viscosities of the soymilk products stored at 4C were the lowest among the treatments. The major volatiles identified in all soymilk products were hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, hexanol, 1‐octen‐3‐ol, benzaldehyde, 2‐pentyl furan and 2‐ethyl furan. The intensities of the volatile compounds in the soymilk products increased during the first weeks of storage, particularly when stored at 38C. The intensities, however, decreased gradually over time. Among the three formulated soymilk products, the sweetened sample (product B) gave the lowest flavor intensities under all three temperatures of storage. Overall, storage at 4C and addition of sugar preserve best the soymilk quality.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Soy products are well appreciated for their nutritional and potential health benefits. Soy beverage consumption is increasing among North American consumers because of improvements in soy beverage quality and processing technologies. There is, however, a demand for new value‐added soy‐based drinks with improved “functional” (health‐benefiting) properties. Soy beverage could be an excellent carrier for “functional” or “nutritive” ingredients such as minerals, vitamins and omega 3 oils; however, addition of such ingredients may affect the stability of the product and requires the development appropriate of technologies for their incorporation. Results from this project provide new knowledge on the storage stability and quality of three different soy product formulations. The information could be useful in the establishment of optimal conditions for processing of functional soy beverages, for use by the food industry.