Cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of noscapine on human estrogen receptor positive (MCF-7) and negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines.

AIM: Noscapine, a naturally occurring alkaloid obtained from opium poppy, is a microtubule-targeting agent. This study is aimed to investigate the effects of noscapine on human breast cancer cell lines by comparing them with those of tamoxifen and docetaxel. METHODS: MCF-7 and MDA MB-23 cell lines were used to observe the effects of docetaxel, tamoxifen, and noscapine on cell proliferation. For each drug, cell blocks were prepared from cultured cells treated with IC50 dose of each drug and these were examined histologically. The expressions of Ki-67, Bcl-2, BAX, and cyclin-D1 were assessed immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Although noscapine showed cytotoxic effects on both cell lines in a time and dose dependent manner, MDA-MB-231 cells were more susceptible to its effects. Noscapine inhibited MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells proliferation in vitro with IC50 value of 29 µM and 69 µM, respectively, which was comparable with IC50 of tamoxifen (40 µM and 50 µM) and docetaxel (43 nM and 32 nM). Noscapine showed anti-proliferative effects by decreasing Ki-67, cyclin-D1 and apoptotic effects by increasing BAX/Bcl-2 ratio in both breast cancer cells. Its effect was comparable with tamoxifen and docetaxel. CONCLUSION: Noscapine may be a good chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer, especially in estrogen receptor­negative breast cancer (Tab. 2, Fig. 7, Ref. 40).

ADAM 33 gene V4 C/G rs2787094 polymorphism in psoriasis.

AIMS: Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disease. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33 (ADAM33) gene is the first novel susceptibility gene for asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of ADAM 33 gene V4 C/G rs2787094 polymorphism with the risk of psoriasis in the Turkish population. METHODS: ADAM33 gene polymorphism (V4 C/G rs2787094) was analyzed in 97 psoriasis patients and 50 healthy control subjects. This study was performed by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in ADAM33 genotype and allele distributions between psoriasis and control groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ADAM33 V4 C/G rs2787094 polymorphism was not associated with psoriasis risk in the Turkish population. Larger studies with different ethnicities are needed to determine the impact of ADAM33 polymorphism on the risk of developing psoriasis (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 16).

Advanced oxidation protein product levels as a marker of oxidative stress in paediatric patients with chronic tonsillitis.

We aimed to determine whether advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels can serve as a marker of oxidative stress in paediatric patients with chronic tonsillitis. Thirty children with chronic tonsillitis and 30 healthy children (control group) were recruited from the Otorhinolaryngology (ORL) and Paediatric Surgery departments, respectively, of Dumlupinar University Hospital. In the patient group, blood samples were collected before tonsillectomy, and tonsil tissue was sampled during the operation. Blood samples were also obtained from the control subjects. AOPP levels in the serum and tonsil tissue were measured by the spectrophotometric method. Serum AOPP levels were significantly higher in the patient group (13.1 ± 3.3 ng/ml) than in the control group (11.6 ± 2.3 ng/ml; P < 0.05). In addition, the mean AOPP level (41.9 ± 13.5 ng/mg protein) in the tonsil tissue in the patient group was significantly higher than the mean serum AOPP levels in the control and patient groups (P < 0.05). AOPP levels are elevated in the tonsil tissue and serum of patients with chronic tonsillitis compared to the serum AOPP levels in healthy controls. AOPPs may represent a novel class of pro-inflammatory molecules that are involved in oxidative stress in chronic tonsillitis. AOPPs may be used as a marker of oxidative stress in paediatric patients with chronic tonsillitis.

Predictive value of neutrophiltolymphocyte ratio in the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among type 2 diabetes patients.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a progressive inflammatory disease that ultimately results in cirrhosis and liver failure. It is assosiciated with two step hit scenario; the first step is fat accumulationin liver and in the second step inflammation and fibrosis are the major compenents. The incidence of this disease is increasing worldwide, following rising incidences of obesity and diabetes mellitus. AIM: The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease andseverity and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio among the patients having type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This study involved 143 patients with type 2 diabetes who were placed into four groups (grade 0, 1, 2, 3) based on steatosis level due to blinded ultrasonographic evaluation. Biochemical parameters and counts of total white blood cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes were determined. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was compared across the four patient groups. RESULTS: Levels of hemoglobin A1c, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly different between the four patient groups (ANOVA p-values: p <0.001, p=0.011, p=0.002, p=0.034, p=0.002, respectively). Counts of white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio significantly differed between the groups (p <0.001). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was positively correlated with steatosis grade (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio increases with increasing grade of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, and may be a convenient marker to follow progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. (Acta gastro-enterol. belg., 2016, 79, 295-300).

Antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of adropinin streoptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: To examine the effects of adropin on glucose and lipid metabolism in a rat model of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: T2DM were established using high-fat diet and streptozocin (STZ; 35 mg/kg/b.w.). Seven days after STZ induction, diabetic rats were randomly treated with adropin (2.1 µg/kg/day intraperitonealy) for 10 days. The study involved the evaluation of biochemical parameters, including blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities. Additionally, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA gene expressions in pancreas tissue were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The serum levels of insulin and adropin were determined by ELISA. Treatment with adropin showed a significant reduction in blood glucose levels, HbA1c (%), HOMA-IR and increase in HOMA-ß, serum insulin levels. In addition, intraperitoneal adropin application can reduce serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, and increase level of HDL-C. Adropin also effectively ameliorated the alterations in TNF-α, IL-6 and iNOS mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that the adropin possesses antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic effects in T2DM (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 32).

Histopathological gallbladder morphometric measurements in geriatric patients with symptomatic chronic cholecystitis.

INTRODUCTION: Cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholecystitis is one of the common surgical procedures in the geriatric patients. Increased gallbladder wall thickness is expected due to acute cholecystitis and in some other clinical conditions. Routine histopathological evaluation of cholecystectomy materials are required to confirm the diagnosis and document other pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate age-related histopathological gallbladder morphometric measurements. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 371 cholecystectomy materials was performed. Two groups were designed according to age (<65 and ≥65 years old, respectively). Age and gender analyses for histopathological gallbladder length, diameter and wall thickness were performed. In addition, pathologically confirmed acute inflammation rates were evaluated in this case-control study. RESULTS: Gallbladder morphometric measurements and pathologically confirmed acute inflammation rates were similar in males and females. Histopathological gallbladder diameter was higher with acute inflammatory changes, but no differences were observed in gallbladder length and wall thickness. Gallbladder wall thickness and pathologically confirmed acute inflammation rates were not comparable between the control and geriatric patients (2.8 ± 1.3 vs 2.6 ± 1.2 mm, and 30/281 (10.7 %) vs 10/74 (13.5 %), respectively, p > 0.05). However, higher gallbladder length and diameter were observed in geriatric group. CONCLUSION: Age is an independent factor on histopathological gallbladder length and diameter, but not for gallbladder wall thickness. In addition, pathologically confirmed acute inflammation rate is not higher in geriatric patients. Clinical significance of these findings merits further investigation.

Evaluation of antiproliferative and antimetastatic effects of heparin and erythropoietin on B16f10 melanoma cell line.

A number of chemotherapeutic agents and treatment strategies have been developed or designed to treat cancer patients. However, chemotherapeutic regimens frequently cause side-effects, one of which is anemia, a severe clinical problem for cancer patients. Erythropoietin is commonly used to treat anemia and reduce blood transfusions in cancer patients. Another agent which has potential use in cancer therapy is heparin, a glycosaminoglycan with a negative charge, known to increase the clearance of tumor cells from the blood in mice and also has anti-metastatic effects. In this current study, we investigated the effects of rEpo and heparin either as single agents or in combination on B16F10 melanoma cells. Contrary to our expectations based on the previous in vitro and in vivo studies, we have not found a significant growth-promoting effect of rEpo on B16F10 cells. We have also not observed a significant cytotoxic effect of heparin on B16F10 melanoma cell as assayed by MTT test (p > 0.05). However, heparin did significantly prevent the migration/proliferation of B16F10 cell in the wound assay as compared to the control cells after 24 h of incubation (p < 0.001). In addition, this effect of heparin was not prevented when rEpo was present in the medium in the wound assay (p < 0.01 as compared to the control). These results suggest that heparin may have a therapeutic potential as an anti-metastatic drug for cancer.