Revolutionizing colorectal cancer treatment: unleashing the potential of miRNAs in targeting cancer stem cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant contributor to cancer mortality worldwide, and the presence of cancer stem cells (CSC) represents a major challenge for achieving effective treatment. miRNAs have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression, and recent studies have highlighted their role in regulating stemness and therapeutic resistance in CRC stem cells. This review highlights the mechanisms of CSC development, therapy resistance and the potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets for CRC. It emphasizes the promise of miRNAs as a novel approach to CRC treatment and calls for further research to explore effective miRNA-based therapies and strategies for delivering miRNAs to CSCs in vivo.

MicroRNAs and colorectal cancer: clinical potential and regulatory networks

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious global health concern, with a high incidence and mortality rate. Although there have been advancements in the early detection and treatment of CRC, therapy resistance is common. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a type of small non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression, are key players in the initiation and progression of CRC. Recently, there has been growing attention to the complex interplay of miRNAs in cancer development. miRNAs are powerful RNA molecules that regulate gene expression and have been implicated in various physiological and pathological processes, including carcinogenesis. By identifying current challenges and limitations of treatment strategies and suggesting future research directions, this review aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to enhance CRC diagnosis and treatment. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the role miRNAs play in CRC carcinogenesis and explores the potential of miRNA-based therapies as a treatment option. Importantly, this review highlights the exciting potential of targeted modulation of miRNA function as a therapeutic approach for CRC.

Application of rotten rice as a substrate for bacterial species to generate energy and the removal of toxic metals from wastewater through microbial fuel cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are the efficient and sustainable approach for the removal of toxic metals and generate energy concurrently. This article highlighted the effective use of rotten rice as an organic source for bacterial species to generate electricity and decrease the metal concentrations from wastewater. The obtained results were corresponding to the unique MFCs operation where the 510 mV voltage was produced within 14-day operation with 1000 Ω external resistance. The maximum power density and current density were found to be 2.9 mW/m2 and 168.42 mA/m2 with 363.6 Ω internal resistance. Similarly, the maximum metal removal efficiency was found to be 82.2% (Cd), 95.71% (Pb), 96.13% (Cr), 89.50% (Ni), 89.82 (Co), 99.50% (Ag), and 99.88% (Cu). In the biological test, it was found that Lysinibacillus strains, Chryseobacterium strains, Escherichia strains, Bacillus strains are responsible for energy generation and metal removal. Furthermore, a multiparameter optimization revealed that MFCs are the best approach for a natural environment with no special requirements. Lastly, the working mechanism of MFCs and future recommendations are enclosed.

The role and effectiveness of monoculture and polyculture phytoremediation systems in fish farm wastewater

Phytoremediation offers a sustainable solution to aquaculture pollution, but studies with critical evaluations of the treatment performances of macrophyte systems are limited. This study intended to evaluate the roles and treatment profiles of Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleid. and Lemna sp. systems in terms of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate (NH3-N, NO3 --N, NO2 --N, PO4 3-), chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity, and total suspended solids (TSS) on fish farm wastewater and to elucidate the rationale behind the removal of the pollutants and the changes in a raceway pond rig. The nitrogen and phosphorus removal in the Spirodela polyrhiza monoculture system outperformed the other configured systems. An 81% reduction in ammonia (to 3.90 mg of NH3-N/L), and sharp declines of up to 75%, 88%, and 71% in TSS, turbidity, and COD levels were recorded within two days, while significant decreases in nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate levels were observed. This indicated that the system could inhibit nitrate and nitrite spikes in waters (nitrification) via reducing the available ammonia and limiting subsequent nitrite and nitrate conversion, while reducing TSS in algal-bloom wastewater via shading. High biomass productivity and superior protein content were observed in the macrophyte systems (S. polyrhiza + Lemna sp. polyculture system), with up to 112% and 12% increases, respectively. This study demonstrated that the S. polyrhiza monoculture system is effective at treating fish farm wastewater, lowering the levels of relevant inorganic and organic pollutants, and it could be used as a biofilter for natural waters, preserving the existing ecology.

The enhancement of treatment capacity and the performance of phytoremediation system by fed batch and periodic harvesting

Floating macrophyte phytoremediation could be the most relevant solution to the ever-increasing finfish farm pond effluent worldwide. However, the information of Spirodela polyrhiza monoculture system in fed batch mode, with periodic harvesting and increased macrophyte density is limited. In this study, the effect of fed batch and periodic harvesting on the treatment capacity and performance of the S. polyrhiza monoculture system (with increased the macrophyte density) in fish farm wastewater were evaluated. Results showed that the system with fed batch and harvesting could treat a greater volume of wastewater, remove a higher amount of pollutants in terms of ammonia (NH3-N), phosphate (PO4 3-), total suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), while meeting the effluent limits. The system with S. polyrhiza macrophyte density of 11.67 g fresh weight (FW) per L wastewater was able to decrease nitrate (NO3 --N) and nitrite (NO2 --N) to an undetected level. This study suggested that the S. polyrhiza monoculture system with fed batch, optimal harvesting and frequent sediment removal is feasible and effective in treating the fish farm wastewater, and produces biomass with superior protein content for fish feed supplement and poultry diet. The obtained data provided insights into the system reliability in wastewater treatment and ways of improvement for the system. The treated wastewater could achieve exceptional quality with minimal toxicity before discharge to receiving waters, and potentially be reused for water flow recharge, aquaculture and irrigation purposes, minimizing the pollution and ecological impacts.

Apocynin and catalase prevent hypertension and kidney injury in Cyclosporine A-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases including hypertension and renal failure. There is enhanced expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH oxidase) and therefore production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) during renal disease progression. This study investigated the effect of apocynin, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor and catalase, an H2O2 scavenger on Cyclosporine A (CsA) nephrotoxicity in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Rats received CsA (25mg/kg/day via gavage) and were assigned to vehicle, apocynin (2.5mmol/L p.o.), catalase (10,000U/kg/day i.p.) or apocynin plus catalase for 14 days. Renal functional and hemodynamic parameters were measured every week, and kidneys were harvested at the end of the study for histological and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) assessment. Oxidative stress markers and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured. CsA rats had higher plasma malondialdehyde (by 340%) and BUN (by 125%), but lower superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity (by 40%, all P<0.05) compared to control. CsA increased blood pressure (by 46mmHg) and decreased creatinine clearance (by 49%, all P<0.05). Treatment of CsA rats with apocynin, catalase, and their combination decreased blood pressure to near control values (all P<0.05). NOX4 mRNA activity was higher in the renal tissue of CsA rats by approximately 63% (P<0.05) compared to controls but was reduced in apocynin (by 64%), catalase (by 33%) and combined treatment with apocynin and catalase (by 84%) compared to untreated CsA rats. Treatment of CsA rats with apocynin, catalase, and their combination prevented hypertension and restored renal functional parameters and tissue Nox4 expression in this model. NADPH inhibition and H2O2 scavenging is an important therapeutic strategy during CsA nephrotoxicity and hypertension.

Computational investigations of the binding mechanism of novel benzophenone imine inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer

4-Hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), the most common hormone used for the treatment of breast cancer, is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) inhibitor that acts as an antagonist in breast tissue and a partial agonist in the endometrium. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of 4-OHT structure modification has not been well investigated to date. Herein, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations were performed to explore the mechanisms of the molecular interactions between newly designed benzophenone imines (BIs) and the three forms apo, antagonist and agonist of the human estrogen receptor hERα. The proposed inhibitors were designed by replacing the triarylethylene estrogenic scaffold found in 4-OHT with Schiff base triarylimine derivatives. The antiestrogen scaffold i.e. the O-alkyl side chain in 4-OHT was developed by incorporating an alanine amino acid side chain functionality into the triarylimine scaffold. Docking results reveal that the newly designed BIs bind to the hydrophobic open pocket of the apo and antagonist hERα conformations with higher affinity as compared to the natural and synthetic estrogen estradiol (E2) and 4-OHT. The analysis of the molecular dynamics simulation results based on six different systems of the best docked BI (5c) with hERα receptors demonstrates stable interactions, and the complex undergoes fewer conformational fluctuations in the open apo/antagonist hERα receptors as compared to the case of the closed agonist. In addition, the calculated binding free energies indicate that the main factor that contributes to the stabilization of the receptor-inhibitor complexes is hydrophobic interactions. This study suggests that the development of these Schiff base derivatives may be worth exploring for the preparation of new 4-OHT analogues.