Current Molecular Medicine - Volume 19, Issue 3, 2019

The malignancy of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the highest amongst all lung cancer types. It is characterized by rapid growth, early occurrence of distant sites metastasis, poor survival rates and is initially sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, most patients eventually relapse or disease progresses because of chemotherapy resistance. Because of lack of effective second-line therapies, the prognosis of Read More

Purpose: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with marked disparities in prevalence and disease severity among different ethnic groups. The purpose of this study is to characterize a Latin American cohort and identify genetic risk factors for developing SLE and its end-organ manifestations in this Latin Hispanic cohort. Methods: A total of 201 SLE cases and 205 non-diseased controls were recruit Read More

Purpose: Oxidative stress to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and inflammation are closely related to the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Celastrol is a natural compound isolated from the root of Tripterygium wilfordii. Celastrol has been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects in multiple disease models. The objective of this study was to test the anti-oxidative effects of celas Read More

Background: The formation of hyperphosphorylated tau and the production of β-amyloid are thought to be critical steps contributing to the pathological mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, there has been a long-lasting debate over their importance in the onset of AD. Recent studies have demonstrated that axonopathy is considered as an early neuropathological change of AD. However, the exact relati Read More

Background: Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mineral density. Vitamin D metabolism may play a pivotal role in its pathophysiology. Objectives: To determine the association between Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and bone density, as well as its relation to biochemical markers of bone turnover, in a healthy Saudi female population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried ou Read More

Background: IL-2 cytokine is involved in HIV replication and is also known to cause hepatic injury. Polymorphisms in the IL-2 gene are associated with altered interleukin-2 production. Methods: Hence, we assessed the prevalence of IL-2-303G/T polymorphism in 165 HIV patients (34 with and 131without hepatotoxicity) and 155 healthy controls using the PCR-RFLP method. Results: In patients with hepatotoxicity, IL-2-303GT, -30 Read More

Background: We aimed at exploring biological functions of differentially expressed miRNAs during carcinogenesis, to identify miRNAs dysegulations involved in DNA repair mechanisms, and to evaluate potential of miRNAs as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for early lung adenocarcinomas (LAC). Methods: We obtained 21 LAC and paired adjacent normal formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded lung tissues from patients who unde Read More

Background: Polydactyly, characterized by supernumerary digits in the upper or lower extremities, is the most common congenital digital abnormalities. It derives from the defective patterning of anteroposterior axis of the developing limb, with various etiology and clinical heterogeneity. The patients with post-axial polydactyly type A (PAPA) have the typical symptom of a well-formed supernumerary digit ou Read More