Male reproductive phenotype alterations in heterozygous β-globin gene knockout thalassemia (BKO) mice as a model for β-thalassemia patients

Heterozygous β-globin gene knockout thalassemia (BKO) mice derived from C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice have phenotypic of β-thalassemia (BT) and have been widely used for studying this disease except reproductive disorders. The present study determined whether male BKO mice recapitulate reproductive problems as BT men. Mice were randomly assigned into groups depending on the genotype (WT vs. BKO) and intervention (control vs. iron-loaded). Euthanized mice were collected blood, testes, epididymides, hypothalamus, and anterior pituitary for assessing hematological parameters, plasma iron and testosterone levels, testis iron levels, sperm characteristics, and histological alterations. Iron administration caused significant increases of plasma and testis iron levels (p < 0.001) but had no significant influence on the hematological profile of BKO mice, which indeed had fewer erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and hematocrit but had greater reticulocyte than WT (p < 0.001 to p = 0.017).

Analysis of precancerous lesion-related microRNAs for early diagnosis of cervical cancer in the Thai population
The incidence rate of cervical cancer (CC) is three times greater in Southeast Asia (SEA), where screening tests are less common than in Northern America, underlining a need for convenient self-diagnostic methods. The expression pattern of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been considered a molecular tool for non-invasive cancer diagnosis and prognosis. This study aimed at the development of the first miRNA biomarker panel for early detection of CC in Thai women. Genome-wide miRNA expression profiling was performed on cervical tissue and discharge samples from high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) subjects. Machine learning was used for handling imbalanced data and feature selection before differential expression analysis to identify significantly dysregulated miRNA panels. Pathway analysis was conducted to provide the cellular functions involved in CC progression.

Oxytocin Protects Against Corticosterone-Induced DA Dysfunction: An Involvement of the PKA/CREB Pathway
Chronic stress disrupts dopamine (DA) transmission, adversely affecting mood and contribution to neuropsychiatric disorders like ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and drug addiction. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) plays a key role in social cognition, bonding, attachment, and parenting behaviors. In addition, OXT can modulate the activity of the HPA axis, counteracting the effects of stress, and alleviating fear and anxiety. However, whether OXT can mitigate stress-induced DA dysfunction and the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of OXT on corticosterone (CORT) induced DA dysfunction in the neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. The results revealed that CORT decreases the levels of intracellular signaling molecules associated with DA function, including phosphorylated tyrosine hydroxylase (pTH), phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB), and protein kinase A (PKA). Interestingly, pretreatment with OXT mitigated CORT-induced DA dysfunction through its potent PKA activator properties. In addition, the neuroprotective effect of OXT was abolished by atosiban (an OXT receptor antagonist) or H89 (a PKA inhibitor).