NOPR Collection:

Radiation and SARS-CoV-2 effects on the microbiota, immune system and health

2025-11-06T05:23:51Z

Title: Radiation and SARS-CoV-2 effects on the microbiota, immune system and health Authors: González-Vidal, Alejandro; Mercado-Sáenz, Silvia; López-Díaz, Beatriz; Burgos-Molina, Antonio M.; P González-Pedrosa, María; Sendra-Portero, Francisco; J. Ruiz-Gómez, Miguel Abstract: This study aims to review the effects of radiation and SARS-CoV-2 infection on the gut microbiota, and the relationship it forms with the immune system and body axes. The intestinal microbiota is established after birth, reaching its greatest diversity in adulthood. It can be altered by factors which will depend on the host and the microorganisms. This work reviews how radiation and SARS-CoV-2 infection impact the microbiota, along with the connections established with body axes and immune system. The gut microbiota has important implications in health due to its role in multiple metabolic, physiological, and immune functions. The interaction with non-pathogenic microorganisms is beneficial; however, can cause diseases like cancer, obesity, diabetes or intestinal bowel disease. Recently, a direct relationship between microbiota and exposure to radiation in cancer patients, SARS-CoV-2 infection or different distal diseases induced via several corporal axes have been described. Microbiota acts as an independent organ, performing physiological, metabolic and immune functions; being beneficial or harmful to host Page(s): 625-633

Association between COVID-19 infection and mediastinal lymphadenopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2025-11-06T05:19:45Z

Title: Association between COVID-19 infection and mediastinal lymphadenopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis Authors: Roy, Vikas C; Kaur, Geetika; Mehta, Sakshi; Bala, Rajni Abstract: COVID-19 is a progressive viral disease that caused a significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Typically, patients with COVID-19 infection present with clinical manifestations such as dyspnea, cough, fatigue, respiratory failure, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. An increase in the size of mediastinal lymph nodes, called mediastinal lymphadenopathy is a common finding in COVID-infected individuals. In the present study, we aimed to review whether mediastinal lymphadenopathy is a typical or atypical feature in individuals suffering from COVID-19 infection. PubMed database was reviewed and a total of 25 articles with 4305 patients were included in the analysis. Bayesian hierarchical models were used to estimate the pooled proportion and risk difference. The incidence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy was found to be 12.62%. Furthermore, the mortality rate was found to be significantly higher in patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy compared to those without mediastinal lymphadenopathy (35.3% vs. 9.4%; P < 0.001), suggesting severity of the condition. Furthermore, the risk difference for mortality and the overall effect were found to be significant (Z = 3.33; P = 0.0009). Conclusively, data suggest that mediastinal lymphadenopathy is associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 patients; however, it is an atypical feature of COVID-19 due to its lower incidence rate. Page(s): 634-642

Quercetin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression via modulation of HOTAIR/miR-526b-3p/DHX33 axis

2025-11-06T05:16:29Z

Title: Quercetin inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression via modulation of HOTAIR/miR-526b-3p/DHX33 axis Authors: Shen, Rui; Wan, Wei; Zhang, Yamin; Zhang, Bohao; Guan, Xi; Yang, Jin Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a highly aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIR contributes to HCC progression through the regulation of the miR-526b-3p/DHX33 axis. This study investigated the antitumor effects of quercetin (Que) on HCC using both Hep3B and HepG2 cell lines, focusing on the modulation of this molecular pathway. In this regard, the study evaluated Que's effects on HOTAIR, miR-526b-3p, and DHX33 expression using qRT-PCR and ELISA. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, while apoptosis was measured through Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and analysis of BCL-2/CASP-3 expression. Additional investigations included cell cycle analysis (cyclin A2 and D1), invasion assays (p53 and PTEN), and assessment of oxidative stress markers (SOD, CAT, MDA). Results demonstrated that Que significantly suppressed HOTAIR and DHX33 while upregulating miR-526b-3p in both cell lines (P-value<0.001). Treatment with Que caused dose-dependent apoptosis (54.3% in Hep3B and 48.9% in HepG2 at 100μM) and cell cycle arrest while reducing invasion through TP53 downregulation and PTEN upregulation. Que also ameliorated oxidative stress by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity (P-value<0.01). These findings suggest Que may exert potent antitumor effects in HCC through modulation of the HOTAIR/miR-526b-3p/DHX33 axis, though further in vivo and clinical investigations are warranted Page(s): 643-654

Naringenin prevents diabetic retinopathy via inhibition of apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation through heme oxygenase-1 upregulation

2025-11-06T05:12:48Z

Title: Naringenin prevents diabetic retinopathy via inhibition of apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation through heme oxygenase-1 upregulation Authors: Ji, Lu; Lu, Huiqin; Wu, Aping Abstract: Despite the high prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, early interventions remain limited due to a lack of therapies targeting oxidative stress and inflammation simultaneously. This study investigates naringenin, a flavonoid with potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as a novel therapeutic candidate targeting HO-1 upregulation to mitigate retinal damage. In this regard, a rat model of streptozocin-induced diabetic retinopathy was established and naringenin was administrated (40 mg/Kg/day and 80 mg/Kg/day). Two other untreated groups of diabetic and non-diabetic rats were used to compare with naringenin-treated groups. The findings revealed that naringenin decreased the overexpression of the pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the retinal tissue. Moreover, naringenin inhibited the overexpression of TLR4, NF-κB, and CASP-3, caused heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) overexpression, upregulated BCL-2, reduced the levels of malondialdehyde, and elevated the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (P-value<0.05). Intraperitoneal injection of the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) blocked the protective effect of naringenin. These findings suggest that naringenin exerts therapeutic effects in diabetic retinopathy possibly by inducing HO-1 expression Page(s): 655-664