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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding conserved RNAs containing 19 to 24 nucleotides that are regulators of post-translational modifications and are involved in the majority of biological processes such as immune homeostasis, T helper cell differentiation, central and peripheral tolerance, and immune cell development. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by immune system dysregulation, which ultimately leads to destructive responses to self-antigens. A large body of literature suggests that autoimmune diseases and immune dysregulation are associated with different miRNA expression changes in the target cells and tissues of adaptive or innate immunity. miR-155 is identified as a critical modulator of immune responses. Recently conducted studies on the expression profile of miR-155 suggest that the altered expression and function of miR-155 can mediate vulnerability to autoimmune diseases and cause significant dysfunction of the immune system.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the survival outcomes and cytogenetic profile of primary acute lymphoblastic leukemia (p-ALL) and secondary ALL (s-ALL), including antecedent-malignancy ALL (am-ALL) and therapy-related ALL (tr-ALL). The search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and ProQuest databases from January 1, 1990, to July 31, 2023, using the keywords “acute lymphoblastic leukemia” and “second cancer” to identify cohort studies that compared p-ALL and s-ALL in terms of survival outcomes and cytogenetic profile. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for Cohort Studies. A total of 7 studies involving 13,542 participants were analyzed. The results revealed an HR of 2.35 (95%CI:1.38–4.01) for overall survival (OS) and 2.06 (95%CI:1.05–4.06) for relapse-free survival (RFS). Subgroup analysis of tr-ALL patients showed a significantly higher HR of 3.40 (95%CI:2.32–4.99) for OS in this subgroup. Furthermore, the meta-analysis indicated an OR of 3.45 and 5.90 for mixed lineage rearrangement (MLL) and hypodiploidy, respectively. The study highlights the need for a better understanding of the survival rates and cytogenetic profile of secondary ALL, particularly tr-ALL, and the importance of personalized treatment strategies for this subtype. 

BackgroundMelanoma antigen gene A2 (MAGE-A2) is one of the most cancer–testis antigens overexpressed in various types of cancers. Silencing the MAGE-A2 expression inhibited the proliferation of prostate cancer (PCa) cells and increased the chemosensitivity. However, the expression pattern of MAGE-A2 in PCa tissue samples and its prognostic and therapeutic values for PCa patients is still unclear.MethodsIn this study, for the first time, the staining pattern and clinical significance of MAGE-A2 were evaluated in 166 paraffin-embedded prostate tissues, including 148 cases of PCa and 18 cases of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HPIN), by immunohistochemical analysis.ResultsThe simultaneous expression of both nuclear and cytoplasmic patterns of MAGE-A2 with different staining intensities was observed among studied cases. Increased expression of MAGE-A2 was significantly found in PCa tissues compared to HPIN cases (P < 0.0001). Among PCa samples, the strong staining intensity of nuclear expression was predominantly observed in comparison with cytoplasmic expression in PCa tissues (P < 0.0001). A significant and inverse correlation was found between the cytoplasmic expression of MAGE-A2 and increased Gleason score (P = 0.002). Increased cytoplasmic expression of MAGE-A2 was associated with longer biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCR-FS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients (P = 0.002, P = 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, Gleason score and cytoplasmic expression of MAGE-A2 were independent predictors of the BCR-FS (P = 0.014; P = 0.028, respectively).ConclusionsTaken together, cytoplasmic expression of MAGE-A2 was inversely proportional to the malignant grade and duration of recurrence of the disease in patients with PCa.

Ajwain is a significant medicinal plant known for its antimicrobial, antispasmodic, and digestive properties. Its high resistance to drought allows it to be cultivated in areas with limited water resources. Interestingly, drought stress can increase the production of its active compounds, making the identification of resistant ecotypes crucial for developing sustainable cultivation practices that meet pharmaceutical and industrial demands. This study explored the impact of drought stress on 36 ajwain ecotypes regarding their growth, yield, and phytochemical properties. The findings revealed that under normal conditions, the E-NAJ (80 cm), F-SEP (79 cm), and Y-YAZ (79 cm) ecotypes exhibited the tallest plant heights, while K-RAF (1708 kg ha − 1 ) and S-B-ZAB (1601 kg ha − 1 ) demonstrated the highest seed yields (SY). Under drought stress, F-SEP had the best growth at 68 cm, while S-B-ZAB produced the highest yield at 1322 kg ha − 1 . In terms of essential oil compounds, the study found that thymol content increased by an average of 28% under stress conditions. The role of monoterpenoid phenols in creating stress tolerance in superior ecotypes such as S-B-ZAB was very prominent. The K-JOO (4.40%) and R-KH-CHE (4.35%) ecotypes yielded the highest essential oil. Cluster analysis classified the ecotypes into four distinct groups, with the third and fourth groups achieving the highest SY (800–816 kg ha − 1 ) and essential oil production (34–37 kg ha − 1 ) under stress conditions. An analysis of the synthesis pathway indicated that α-terpinene positively influenced thymol production, while β-phellandrene had a negative effect. Overall, the S-B-ZAB, S-B-ZAH, and K-MAH ecotypes were identified as drought-tolerant varieties with stable both SY and EOY. These findings can inform ajwain breeding programs aimed at cultivation in arid regions. Moreover, the increased essential oil content (EOC) under drought stress presents an opportunity for the targeted production of valuable medicinal metabolites.