Thymoquinone ameliorates symptoms of Parkinson's disease in a 6-OHDA rat model by downregulation of miR-204-3p.

microRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effect of thymoquinone on the expression profiles of miRNA and cognitive functions in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced Parkinson's model. Male adult Wistar albino rats (200-230 g, n  = 36) were randomly assigned to six groups: Sham, thymoquinone (10 mg/kg, p.o.), 6-OHDA, 6-OHDA + thymoquinone (10 mg/kg), 6-OHDA + thymoquinone (20 mg/kg), and 6-OHDA + thymoquinone (50 mg/kg). Behavioral changes were detected using the open field and the elevated plus maze tests. The mature 728 miRNA expressions were evaluated by miRNA microarray (GeneChip miRNA 4.0). Ten miRNAs were selected (rno-miR-212-5p, rno-miR-146b-5p, rno-miR-150-5p, rno-miR-29b-2-5p, rno-miR-126a-3p, rno-miR-187-3p, rno-miR-34a-5p, rno-miR-181d-5p, rno-miR-204-3p, and rno-miR-30c-2-3p) and confirmed by real-time PCR. Striatum samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin to determine the effect of dopaminergic lesions. One-way ANOVA test and independent sample t -test were used for statistical analyses. rno-miR-204-3p was upregulated at 6-OHDA and downregulated at the 50 mg/kg dose of thymoquinone. In conclusion, thymoquinone at a dose of 50 mg/kg ameliorates symptoms of Parkinson's disease in a 6-OHDA rat model by downregulation of miR-204-3p. Also, the results showed that thymoquinone can improve locomotor activity and willing exploration and decreased anxiety. Therefore, thymoquinone can be used as a therapeutic agent.

Clinicopathological Factors Affecting Mucin 1, Mucin 2, and Mucin 5AC Staining in Patients who Underwent Resection for Colorectal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicopathological factors affecting mucins (MUC 1, MUC 2, and MUC 5AC) staining in patients who underwent resection for colorectal cancer. STUDY DESIGN: An observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of General Surgery and Department of Pathology, Kafkas University Faculty of Medicine, Kars, Turkey, between January 2020 and January 2021. METHODOLOGY: Patients operated on for colorectal adenocarcinoma were included in the study. Patients who underwent colorectal surgery for benign diseases or had a pathological diagnosis other than adenocarcinoma were excluded from the study. Clinicopathological factors affecting MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC staining were evaluated with appropriate statistical tests, assuming a significant p-value of less than 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 30 patients who met all study criteria, 18 (60%) were males. The mean age of all patients was 62.83±16.79 (21-88). MUC1 strongly positive staining was observed in 18 (60%) cases, and high expression was detected in pT4 and pT3 cases (p=0.005). In addition, increased expression was also noted in cases with lymph node involvement (p=0.045). MUC2 expression was more than 60% (strongly positive) in 20 (66.7%). The MUC2 expression was increased in moderately differentiated cases (p=0.032). There was no staining (negativity) in 22 (73.3%) cases with MUC5AC, and more than 60% staining (strongly positive) was observed in 3 (10%) cases. In addition, strong expression was noted in rectosigmoid tumours (p=0.001), female patients (p=0.046), and patients with pT3 and pT4 tumours (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: High MUC1 and high MUC5AC staining were observed in advanced colorectal cancer, whereas high MUC2 staining was observed in patients with moderate tumour differentiation. KEY WORDS: Colorectal cancers, Gene expressions, Mucin.

Comparison of Cytokine Hemadsorption as an Immunomodulator Therapy in COVID-19 Patients with and without Bacterial Sepsis.

BACKGROUND: In this retrospective study, we aimed to compare the laboratory and clinical results of cytokine hem-adsorption as an immunomodulation therapy in COVID-19 ICU patients with or without sepsis. METHODS: The levels of PCT, CRP, and ferritin were determined as indicators of infection/sepsis; the levels of in-terleukins (IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10, and TNF-α) were determined as indicators of cytokine storm were compared. APACHE score, SOFA score, and mortality rates were compared for the progression of the disease in 23 COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: The therapy was generally successful in reducing the levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α but the levels measured after the procedure did not differ among the patients with or without sepsis, suggesting that the presence of sepsis did not affect the efficacy and function of the cytokine hemadsorption procedure in COVID-19 patients. All parameters were reduced after the procedure except the levels of PCT and ferritin and mortality rates of patients diagnosed with sepsis. The level of PCT was significantly higher in these patients compared with the patients without sepsis while the ferritin and mortality did not show any significant difference between the two groups, suggesting that the cytokine hemadsorption may be safe in the treatment of critical COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, the progression of sepsis in COVID-19 may be avoided with cytokine hemadsorption applied as an immunomodulator therapy. However, this therapy should be further explored and validated prior to its introduction to everyday clinical practice when the epidemic conditions end.

Downregulatory effect of miR-342-3p on epileptogenesis in the PTZ-kindling model.

BACKGROUND: Epileptogenesis is a process that results in neurons firing abnormally, causing seizures. Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs expressed in the epileptic hippocampus are involved in epileptogenesis. We demonstrated the expression changes of miRNAs that may be effective in epileptogenesis in silico analysis in the kindling model created with Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Thus, we aimed to identify the target genes responsible for epileptogenesis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen male Wistar-albino rats (200-230 g) were randomly divided into two groups control (n = 6) and PTZ (n = 9). The control group received 0.5 ml saline, and the PTZ group (35 mg/kg i.p.) intraperitoneally (i.p.) (11 times, every other day) to induce tonic-clonic seizures. Seizures were observed and scored 30 min after PTZ injection. After the last dose of PTZ (75 mg/kg) administration, the hippocampus tissues of the rats were removed by anesthesia. Analysis of miRNAs was performed with the Affymetrix gene chip miRNA sequence (728 miRNA) and confirmed by the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Real-Time PCR) method (29 miRNAs). We evaluated the expression change of the target gene of miRNA, whose expression change was detected using in silico analysis, by q-RT PCR. Eight miRNAs with changes in expression were detected. Of these miRNAs, miR-342-p was downregulated in the PTZ group and was statistically significant (p < 0.005). Ultimately, we determined that the target gene of miR-342-p is a metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (GRM2) and that GRM2 expression is upregulated. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of miR-342-3p in the PTZ kindling model may result in the upregulation of GRM2.

Can the Reduction of Cytokines Stop the Progression of Sepsis?

Objective In this study, we aimed to analyze the laboratory and clinical results of cytokine hemadsorption as an immunomodulation therapy in ICU patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock. Methods The levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP), determined to be indicators of infection/sepsis, and the levels of interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), deemed as indicators of the cytokine storm, were compared among 32 patients before and after the hemadsorption procedure. Results The hemadsorption significantly reduced the levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNFα, PCT, CRP, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) scores, mortality rate, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores (p<0.05). APACHE scores and the mean predicted mortality rate (PMR) of the non-survivors measured before the procedure was significantly higher than those of survivors (p=0.002 for both). IL-10, APACHE scores, and the mortality rates determined before the hemadsorption procedure were deemed significant parameters to predict the mortality among all ICU patients (p<0.05). IL-10 levels ≤125.3 ng/L, APACHE score >30, and PMR >70.33 were significantly associated with the mortality rates of all patients, indicating that these three parameters determined before the hemadsorption may be good predictors of mortality among ICU patients with sepsis. Conclusion The progression of sepsis in ICU patients may be prevented with cytokine hemadsorption applied as an immunomodulator therapy.

Case Report: presentation of pleomorphic liposarcoma arising in a borderline phyllodes tumor.

INTRODUCTION: The stromal component of Phyllodes tumors represents the neoplastic portion of the lesion. A variety of associated malignancies can arise from PTs, with its dual population of cells. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We share a very rare case of "borderline"breast phillodes tumour with a 75% liposarcoma component. A 48-year-old woman presented at the surgical clinic with a mass in the left breast. On mammograms, the lesion was dense with radiolucent areas inside which were thought to be compatible with fat. The mass was assumed to be breast imaging-reporting and data system (BIRADS) 3 on sonography as it was well contoured. The needle biopsy was reported to be consistent with a fibroadenomatous lesion. The lesion was completely excised. On microscopic examination, the lesion has benign mammary duct epithelium lining the slit-like spaces. The stroma composed of fibrous and adipous tissue. The fibrous part was cellular, and several cells appeared bizarre. Adipous tissue replaced most of the stroma and was diagnosed as pleomorphic liposarcoma. DISCUSSION: According to the 3 tiered grading criteria of PTs, our case normally suits in borderline category, without liposarcoma component. Heterologous sarcomatous elements usually accompany high grade PTs. Rare cases of benign and borderline PTs with sarcoma component have been reported. CONCLUSION: The presence of a malignant heterologous component places the tumour into the malignant category regardless of other histological features.

Liver tissue inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and lipid peroxidation in experimental hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury stimulated with lipopolysaccharide: the role of aminoguanidine.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (HIR) is a severe condition that is seen after hepatic arterial injury and in hepatic grafts in living donor transplantation. HIR not only causes liver injury by lipid peroxidation, but also stimulates systemic and portal endotoxemia. Also, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces hepatic injury mediated by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). There is little knowledge on the role of specific iNOS inhibitors in prevention of HIR injury followed by LPS administration. The aim of this study on a LPS induced HIR model was to investigate the effect of aminoguanidine (AG) administration on hepatic tissue iNOS expression and lipid peroxidation when given before or after LPS. METHODS: Six groups were designed; A: Sham, B: HIR, C: HIR + AG, D: HIR + LPS, E: HIR + LPS + AG, F: HIR + AG + LPS. No substance was given to the rats in Group A and B. HIR injury was induced with vascular occlusion for 45 min and reperfusion for 45 min. Drugs were given intraperitoneally 10 min before reperfusion. Serum and tissue analysis for myeloperoxidase (MPO), and malondialdehyde (MDA), and tissue NA+/K+ adenosine 5'triphosphatases (ATPase) and tissue iNOS staining were performed. Permission for this study was obtained from the local Ethics Committee. RESULTS: The level of MPO, MDA, and iNOS staining scores in Group B were significantly higher than Group A and ATPase was lower in Group B (P < 0.05). Contrary to results in Group C, results of MPO, MDA, and iNOS staining scores of Group D was higher than Group B (P < 0.05); however, although iNOS in Group C was lower than Group B, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). MPO and MDA levels of Groups E and F were significantly lower than Group D. Level of ATPase in Group F was significantly different from Groups D and E. iNOS scoring was low in Group F compared with Group D (P < 0.05). MDA, MPO, and iNOS levels of Group F was lower than Group E, and ATPase of Group F was higher than Group E (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study in a LPS induced HIR model showed that LPS after HIR aggravated HIR injury by increasing neutrophil activation and lipid peroxidation both in serum and liver tissue and iNOS in liver, and depleting energy in liver. AG, a selective iNOS inhibitor, ameliorated the negative effects of endotoxemia induced by LPS after HIR; however, energy depletion and iNOS expression in liver tissue were attenuated only when AG was administered prior to LPS. The findings of this study supported the hypothesis that LPS after HIR would aggravate HIR injury and AG would ameliorate this aggravated injury.