Personalized and Precision Medicine Journal

Abstract Introduction : Gastric ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disorder resulting from an imbalance between aggressive factors such as gastric acid, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation and protective mucosal mechanisms. Limitations of conventional therapies, including drug resistance, systemic side effects, and suboptimal efficacy in certain patients, underscore the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Nanoparticles, as advanced drug delivery systems, offer promising approaches for targeted gastric mucosal therapy by enhancing drug stability, enabling site-specific delivery, and minimizing adverse effects. This review aims to analyze the therapeutic applications of nanoplatforms in the management of gastric ulcers and associated infections.
Methods: A narrative review was conducted by systematically searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from 2010 to 2025. Standardized keywords included “gastric ulcer,” “nanoparticles,” “targeted drug delivery,” “Helicobacter pylori,” and “mucosal drug delivery systems.” Eligible studies comprised preclinical investigations, animal models, and relevant review articles. Data were extracted and analyzed qualitatively and thematically.
Results: The findings indicate that nanocarriers including poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), chitosan, silver, gold, selenium nanoparticles, and plant-based formulations—enhance drug bioavailability, enable controlled release, improve mucoadhesion, and achieve targeted gastric delivery. These properties collectively facilitate accelerated mucosal healing and tissue regeneration. Key mechanisms include inhibition of inflammatory pathways such as NF-κB, reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6), attenuation of oxidative stress, enhancement of antioxidant defenses (SOD, CAT, NRF2), and antibacterial activity against H. pylori. Conversely, certain nanoparticles, such as titanium dioxide, may provoke local inflammation and mucosal injury, highlighting the importance of nanoparticle type and physicochemical properties.
Conclusion: Targeted nanoparticles, through controlled drug release, mucoadhesion, anti-inflammatory effects, and antibacterial activity, represent a novel and effective approach for gastric ulcer therapy However, heterogeneity in biological responses and potential toxicity necessitate further extensive preclinical studies and rigorously designed clinical trials to ensure the safety and efficacy of these nanomedicine strategies.

Abstract ABSTRACT
Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species, remains endemic in regions such as Iran and presents significant public health challenges. Conventional antibiotic therapies have limitations, including adverse effects and incomplete efficacy, which has led to growing interest in medicinal plants as complementary or alternative treatments. This study reviews Iranian medicinal plants with potential anti-brucellosis activity, examining their mechanisms based on both traditional knowledge and contemporary scientific research. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using keywords including "brucellosis," "Malta fever," "traditional medicine," "medicinal plants," and "treatment" in databases such as Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, and Scopus. Relevant articles were screened, and data were systematically extracted and analyzed to provide an integrative review. The analysis identified several medicinal plants with notable therapeutic potential against brucellosis, including Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Mentha piperita L., Cinnamomum verum J. Presl, Thymus vulgaris L., Salvia officinalis L., Origanum vulgare L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Aloe vera L., Cuminum cyminum L., Alcea rosea L., Achillea millefolium L., Calendula officinalis L., Allium cepa L., Anethum graveolens L., Apium graveolens L., Allium sativum L., Coriandrum sativum L., Cucurbita spp. L., Rosa canina L., Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Scrophularia deserti Eig, Berberis vulgaris L., Ziziphora tenuior L., and Alhagi maurorum Medik. Taxonomic analysis showed that the Lamiaceae family was most represented (24%), followed by Asteraceae and Apiaceae (16% each). Mechanistic analysis indicated that antibacterial activity accounted for 32% of therapeutic effects, followed by anti-inflammatory (24%) and antioxidant (20%) activities. Native Iranian medicinal plants may serve as effective complementary agents in the management of brucellosis. Their use, particularly in endemic regions, could enhance patients' quality of life and mitigate the side effects associated with conventional treatments. Nonetheless, further rigorous clinical studies are required to validate their efficacy and safety.

Abstract KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma is molecularly heterogeneous; however, evaluation of mutation-associated programs requires matched mutation and clinical metadata. Here, three GDC STAR-count RNA-sequencing files annotated with GENCODE v36 were analyzed to determine which transcriptomic conclusions could be supported from the available data alone. Protein-coding TPM values were used for library-level quality assessment, transcriptome-wide correlation, principal component analysis, sample-specific expression contrasts, and exploratory scoring of curated KRAS/MAPK, PI3K–AKT–mTOR, cell-cycle, epithelial-lineage, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, hypoxia, inflammatory, interferon, apoptosis, and NRF2-related gene sets. The samples contained 24.3–49.5 million assigned reads and 12,808–14,574 protein-coding genes with TPM ≥1. Pairwise transcriptome correlations ranged from r=0.745 to 0.825. Marked biological heterogeneity was observed. Sample 1 showed a secretory epithelial profile characterized by PAEP, CEACAM5, CEACAM6, BPIFA1, and EPCAM. Sample 2 displayed a keratinizing/squamous-like program dominated by KRT5, KRT6A, KRT14, KRT17, SPRR family genes, and elevated NRF2-associated and glycolytic scores. Sample 3 exhibited a strong alveolar-lineage and immune-associated profile, with high SFTPA1, SFTPA2, SFTPB, SFTPC, HLA-DRA, CD74, and inflammatory pathway scores. KRAS expression was detectable in all samples (16.33–30.09 TPM), but RNA expression alone could not establish KRAS mutation status. These findings demonstrate substantial lineage and pathway heterogeneity among the three transcriptomes and provide a hypothesis-generating framework for subsequent mutation-informed analysis. Mutation-stratified differential expression, prognostic modeling, and survival analysis were not performed because mutation and clinical outcome data were unavailable.

Abstract The vaginal microbiome is a dynamic mucosal ecosystem that plays a crucial role in female reproductive health. Unlike the gut microbiome, where high diversity is often considered beneficial, a healthy vaginal microbiome in reproductive-age women is commonly recognized by low microbial diversity and dominance of Lactobacillus species, particularly Lactobacillus crispatus. These communities help maintain an acidic vaginal environment, inhibit pathogen growth, support epithelial barrier integrity, and regulate mucosal immune responses. Growing evidence links vaginal microbial composition and function to fertility, assisted reproductive technology outcomes, pregnancy complications, and gynecological disorders. Lactobacillus-dominant communities are generally associated with favorable reproductive outcomes, whereas high-diversity anaerobe-rich communities have been implicated in bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, HPV persistence, cervical dysplasia, recurrent infections, preterm birth, and potentially impaired fertility. However, the traditional concept of dysbiosis is insufficient to explain the biological complexity of vaginal microbial ecosystems. Similar taxonomic profiles may differ in microbial gene content, metabolic activity, biofilm formation, inflammatory potential, ecological stability, and clinical impact. Therefore, multi-omics approaches, including metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and host-response profiling, provide a more comprehensive framework for understanding host–microbiome interactions. This review summarizes current evidence on the vaginal microbiome in fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and gynecological disorders, while emphasizing the transition from descriptive dysbiosis models toward functional, ecological, and personalized perspectives. Emerging strategies such as microbiome-based biomarkers, targeted probiotics, live biotherapeutics, vaginal microbiome transplantation, and AI-driven prediction models may support future precision gynecology. Nevertheless, clinical translation requires standardized methods, longitudinal studies, diverse cohorts, validated biomarkers, and careful ethical oversight.

Abstract Background:Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. Germline mutations in the *BRCA1* gene and polymorphisms in the *TNF-α* gene have been implicated in breast cancer susceptibility. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of the *BRCA1* 185delAG and 5382insC mutations and their association with the *TNF-α* -308 G>A polymorphism for the early diagnosis of breast cancer in Iranian women.
Methods: A total of 84 archival breast tissue samples were collected from breast cancer patients treated at Khatam and Imam Khomeini hospitals. Genomic DNA was extracted using standard protocols. The *BRCA1* 185delAG and 5382insC mutations were analyzed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while the *TNF-α* -308 G>A polymorphism was determined using amplification refractory mutation system PCR (ARMS-PCR). Histopathological characteristics, including mitotic activity, necrosis, cellular pleomorphism, tumor grade, and the expression of ER, PR, and p53, were evaluated using standard histopathological and immunohistochemical methods. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test in Epi Info version 7, with a significance level of *P* < 0.05.
Results: Among the 84 patients, 38 had a positive family history of breast cancer and 46 had no family history. In patients with a positive family history, three cases carried the *BRCA1* 5382insC mutation and two carried the 185delAG mutation, whereas only one 5382insC mutation was detected in patients without a family history. The distribution of *TNF-α* -308 genotypes (AA, AG, and GG) was 8, 14, and 16 cases, respectively, among patients with a family history, compared with 25, 12, and 9 cases in those without a family history. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the *BRCA1* 185delAG and 5382insC mutations, together with the *TNF-α* -308 GG genotype and clinicopathological characteristics, may serve as useful molecular markers for identifying women at increased risk of breast cancer. Their combined assessment may improve the early diagnosis and facilitate timely therapeutic intervention in Iranian women.

Abstract Background: Circulating microRNAs have emerged as promising minimally invasive biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study evaluated the expression and diagnostic performance of circulating hsa-miR-21-5p and investigated its potential molecular targets using integrated bioinformatics analysis.
Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from 50 treatment-naïve male patients with histologically confirmed grade II CRC and 20 healthy male controls. Circulating RNA was extracted and miR-21-5p expression was quantified using stem-loop reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Hsa-miR-1228-3p was used as the endogenous reference, and relative expression was calculated using the 2^−ΔΔCq method. Diagnostic performance was assessed by receiver operating characteristic analysis. High-confidence target genes were identified using miRDB and TargetScan, followed by protein–protein interaction analysis using STRING.
Results: The mean ages of patients and controls were 55 and 49 years, respectively, with no significant between-group difference (P=0.162). Circulating miR-21-5p expression was significantly higher in CRC patients than in healthy controls (P=0.002). ROC analysis yielded an area under the curve of 0.873 (95% CI, 0.766–0.979; P<0.0001). Target prediction identified a set of high-confidence genes involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, immune regulation, adhesion, extracellular-matrix organization, and transcriptional control. STRING analysis revealed a functionally connected network containing central signaling proteins, including STAT3, YAP1, SKP2, PDCD4, TRAF6, and SPRY-family proteins.
Conclusion: Circulating miR-21-5p demonstrated good ability to distinguish CRC patients from healthy controls. The bioinformatics findings suggest that its biological effects may involve interconnected oncogenic, apoptotic, immune, and invasion-related pathways.