Co-incidence of COVID-19 and hepatocellular carcinoma during pregnancy: Double punches to disease severity and mortality?

Attitudes towards vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy and its determinants among people of reproductive age

The attitudes of reproductive-age individuals toward COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy are still not well understood. We aimed to explore the attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy and the determinants among the Chinese reproductive-age population. An anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted in China from July 4 to August 11, 2023. Structured questionnaires on vaccine hesitancy during pregnancy, socio-demographic characteristics, behavior characteristics, health-related factors, and mental health status were sent online to reproductive-age individuals (both males and females). Among 2966 participants of reproductive age, 86.9% exhibited significant hesitancy toward receiving the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. Participants of older age (30-34: aOR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.62-2.52; 35-39: aOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.11-2.66), nonsmokers (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.07-1.89), with a longer duration since their last COVID-19 vaccination (aOR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.20-4.70), and exhibiting marked pandemic fatigue (moderate: aOR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.56-2.52; high: aOR = 3.49, 95% CI: 2.41-5.05) were prone to refuse COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy. The presence of generalized anxiety disorder may push the vaccination (aOR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57-0.99). The top three reasons for hesitation were concerns about the adverse health effects of vaccines on pregnant women (77.72%), fetuses (72.13%), and newborns/infants (58.77%), respectively. Therefore, under the context of the existing circumstances and the WHO's encouragement, this study provides data support for possible future policy changes and emphasizes the importance of public health strategies.

Unveiling the impacts of metformin on hepatocellular carcinoma: A bioinformatic exploration in cell lines

The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), accounting for 75-85% of cases. Despite its associated side effects, sorafenib remains the standard treatment for HCC. Given the critical need to improve therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects, alternative drugs must be thoroughly investigated. Numerous studies indicate that combining sorafenib with metformin results in a more favorable treatment profile. The aim of this study was to employ bioinformatics methodologies to elucidate the molecular pathways and genetic underpinnings of metformin's efficacy in HCC treatment. Genes associated with metformin and its action against HCC (Huh-7 and HepG2 cells) were acquired from the NCBI-GEO data collection by utilizing pre-determined keywords. Subsequently, pathways implicated in metformin-mediated HCC treatment were analyzed through the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Our analysis revealed the involvement of multiple pathways, with metabolic pathways implicated in 80% of the total cases. Neurodegenerative pathways were involved in only around 60% of the total cases. These findings align with the multifaceted mechanisms of metformin's action, encompassing adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activation, apoptosis induction, insulin regulation, anti-inflammatory responses, and modulation of cell proliferation. This comprehensive investigation sheds light on the intricate molecular landscape underpinning metformin's therapeutic efficacy in HCC, thereby informing potential avenues for optimizing treatment strategies.

Analyzing the expression pattern of the noncoding RNAs (HOTAIR, PVT-1, XIST, H19, and miRNA-34a) in PBMC samples of patients with COVID-19, according to the disease severity in Iran during 2022-2023: A cross-sectional study

Background and aims

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are well-known types of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which have been known as the key regulators of gene expression. They can play critical roles in viral infection by regulating the host immune response and interacting with genes in the viral genome. In this regard, ncRNAs can be employed as biomarkers for viral diseases. The current study aimed to evaluate peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) ncRNAs (lncRNAs-homeobox C antisense intergenic RNA [HOTAIR], -H19, X-inactive-specific transcript [XIST], plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 [PVT-1], and miR-34a) as diagnostic biomarkers to differentiate severe COVID-19 cases from mild ones.

Methods

Candidate ncRNAs were selected according to previous studies and assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in the PBMC samples of patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (n = 40), healthy subjects (n = 40), and mild COVID-19 cases (n = 40). Furthermore, the diagnostic value of the selected ncRNAs was assessed by analyzing the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC).

Results

The results demonstrated that the expression pattern of the selected ncRNAs was significantly different between the studied groups. The levels of HOTAIR, XIST, and miR-34a were remarkably overexpressed in the severe COVID-19 group in comparison with the mild COVID-19 group, and in return, the PVT-1 levels were lower than in the mild COVID-19 group. Interestingly, the XIST expression level in men with severe COVID-19 was higher compared to women with mild COVID-19. ROC results suggested that HOTAIR and PVT-1 could serve as useful biomarkers for screening mild COVID-19 from severe COVID-19.

Conclusions

Overall, different expression patterns of the selected ncRNAs and ROC curve results revealed that these factors can contribute to COVID-19 pathogenicity and can be considered diagnostic markers of COVID-19 severe outcomes.