Expressions of Notch signalling pathway members during early pregnancy in mice.

Although pregnancy is initiated and maintained through highly complex mechanisms, it is essential to understand the events that occur before and during early pregnancy to understand a healthy implantation process. The Notch signal, thought to be involved in this process, is frequently the subject of research with its different aspects. To better understand the role of Notch signaling in the peri-implantation period of the mouse uterus, we investigated the state of expression and localization of Notch 3, Notch 4, Rbp-J, Hes1, Hes7, Hey2, HeyL, and Fbw7 in the uterus and implantation sites in early pregnancy. Balb/C mice were divided into groups D1, D4, D5, D6, and D8. For D5 and D6 groups, implantation sites were identified by intravenous injection of Chicago blue. IHC, WB, and QRT-PCR methods were used. Notch 3 was very strong positive on the 4th day of pregnancy. Notch 4 was highly expressed on days 4, 5, 6, and 8 of pregnancy when P4 levels were high. Hes 1 level was at the lowest on the 4th day of pregnancy. Hes 7 protein expression gradually increased from D1 to D8 in the uteri and implantation sites. Hey 2 expression was at the highest level on the 1st and 4th days. Hey L expression was on the apical of the glands. Fbxw7 that expression was high on the 1st and 4th days of pregnancy. Notch signaling may play an essential role in regulating endometrial receptivity. In addition, our Hes7 results are new to the literature.

Antiandrogen abiraterone and docetaxel treatments affect Notch1, Jagged1 and Hes1 expressions in metastatic prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. A Notch signaling pathway is an important pathway in cell proliferation, differentiation, and fate. However, currently, the effects of abiraterone based-anti-androgene therapy and docetaxel, the most commonly used standard chemotherapy in prostate cancer treatment, on Notch signaling pathway are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of abiraterone acetate and docetaxel on the expression of Notch1, Jagged1 and Hes1 in prostate cancer cell lines. METHODS: In vitro effects of abiraterone acetate and docetaxel were examined on Notch1, Jagged1, and Hes1 expression in LNCaP and PC3 PCa cell lines by immunofluorescence, Western blot, and qRT-PCR. MTT proliferation assay was used to evaluate cell proliferation and survival. RESULTS: We found that in the treatment of PC3 cells with abiraterone acetate, docetaxel, and their combination, only mRNA expressions of Notch1, Jagged1 and Hes1 were affected compared to control, but these expression differences were not observed in protein expression. In LNCaP cells, abiraterone acetate and the combination groups reduced Notch1 protein expression. All treatment groups did not alter Jagged1 expression compared to control, but significantly increased the Hes1 gene and protein expression. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that abiraterone and docetaxel treatments affects the expression of Notch signal pathway proteins. But these drugs especially cause significant upregulation in Hes1 expression in PCa cells. Therefore, co-application of Notch signaling inhibitors together with docetaxel and abiraterone chemotherapy, it was thought that decreased Hes1 expression could be stopped the deterioration of the prognosis of the patient.

Traumatic deep neck infection due to pulling a tooth with pliers.

Deep neck infection is life-threatening and mortal condition that requires immediate treatment. This infection is generally polymicrobial and frequently seen after upper respiratory infections, poor dental hygiene, trauma and surgery to the head and neck region. The symptoms of deep neck infections are swelling, dysphagia, pain, trismus, dysphonia and otalgia. Deep neck infections can be seen at any age and its mortality is about 20-50%. Initial management of the deep neck infection is intravenous antibiotic, protection of airway and drainage of abscess. Deep neck infections can cause severe complications even dead can be seen, so physicians should be aware of these complication. Herein, we reported a 71-year-old-woman suffering from traumatic deep neck infection due to pulling a tooth with pliers.

Evaluation of alpha-1-antitrypsin levels in blood serum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease that causes obstructed air flow from the lungs. The disease also has a dramatic role in increasing rate of mortality and morbidity in recent years. Air pollution, long-term exposure to particulate matter and irritating gases, especially cigarette smoke, genetic inheritance which has an impact on the initial forced expiratory volume one in second (FEV1), and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency are among common COPD risk factors. The objective of this study is to evaluate parameters and serum AAT levels in COPD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Having taken the approval of local ethical committee, this cross-sectional study was performed with adult patients diagnosed with COPD, whose serum AAT levels were measured through nephelometric analysis in Kars Harakani State Hospital where secondary health care is served. The study evaluated ATT levels in patients' serum in relation to their age, gender, body mass (BMI), exposure to cigarette smoke, FEV1 percentage, hospitalization in pulmonology or intensive care unit through a year, mortality status, white blood cell (WBC), c-reactive protein (CRP) and blood gases. RESULTS: The average age of the 243 patients included in the study was 68.41±11.52 and 160 (65.8%) of them were male. The age and BMI of the female patients were higher. Of the all patients only a single patient's serum AAT level was below the reference value. AAT levels were similar in both genders irrespective of their being exposed to cigarette smoke or being discharged or being exitus at their first admission to hospital, being exitus in the first year of disease diagnose, and being hospitalized in intensive care unit. AAT levels were reasonably correlated with WBC and CRP in a positive way (p<0.001 r=0.289 for WBC; p<0.001, r=0.295 for CRP). AAT levels were seen to significantly increase along with COPD stages which go up with FEV1 percentages (p<0.001). CRP was watched to have increased to Stage III COPD (severe COPD). However, it was watched to have decreased in Stage IV (very severe COPD) (p =0.179). CONCLUSION: In the study, AAT serum levels of COPD patients were examined. The levels and their relations in various parameters of the patients were evaluated.

Medical ozone treatment ameliorates the acute distal colitis in rat.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of medical ozone treatment on the experimental acute distal colitis in rats. METHODS: Eighteen rats were randomly distributed into three equal groups; control, acute distal colitis (ADC) without and with medical ozone treatment. Rats in the control group were taken saline. ADC was performed by rectal way with 4% acetic acid in groups 2 and 3, and the group 3 was treated with medical ozone for three weeks both rectally and intraperitoneally. At the twenty second day the distal colons samples were obtained for malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase, blood samples were obtained to measure the levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß levels. Histolopatological examination was evaluated with Ki-67, IL-1ß and VEGF immunostaining densities. RESULTS: There was significant increase in tissue MDA, MPO activity, TNF-α and IL-1ß after ozone administration. There was also a significant difference at immunostaining densities of histopathological examination. CONCLUSIONS: Medical ozone treatment ameliorated the experimental acute distal colitis induced by acetic acid in rats. Its possible effect is by means of decreasing inflammation, edema, and affecting the proliferation and the vascularization.

Effect of ozone on colon anastomoses in rat peritonitis model.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of medical ozone theraphy on the colon anastomosis of peritonitis model in rats. METHODS: Eighteen rats were randomly assigned into three equal groups; control, cecal punctuation and colon anastomosis and ozone theraphy. Sepsis was performed with a cecal punctuation in groups 2 and 3. The medical ozone theraphy was administered intraperitonealy for three weeks in group 3 while the other rats received saline injection. At the twenty second day serum were obtained for TNF-α and IL-1ß, the colonic burst pressures were measured and colonic tissue samples were obtained for MDA and MPO levels. Histolopatological examination was evaluated with H&E stain, and Ki-67, IL-1ß and the VEGF immunostaining densities were also compared. RESULTS: Intraperitoneal ozone administration reversed TNF-α, IL-1ß, MDA and MPO levels and the colonic burst pressures. There was also a significant difference at immunostaining densities of histopathological examination. CONCLUSION: Medical ozone therapy may contribute to tissue healing by affecting the proliferation and the vascularization thus has benefits on colonic anastomosis at peritonitis in rats.

Anton syndrome during oxygen-ozone therapy.

Ozone (O3) gas is a molecule that consists of 3 oxygen atoms, found out in the mid-19th century [1]. Ozone gas preserves humans from detrimental influences of ultraviolet radiation [1]. In spite of harmful effects of O3 gas, investigators think that it has excessive curative effects [1]. Nowadays, O3 therapy is used for many fields of medicine in precise therapeutic doses [1] and [2]. It is known that O3 therapy is helpful in dental procedures, cerebrovascular diseases, tinnitus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, hypercholesterolemia, sensorial hypoacusis, senile dementia, multiple sclerosis, irradiation sensitive tumors, herpes simplex and herpes zoster virus infections, muscular hypertonia, and chronic otitis media, etc.[2]. The complications and disadvantages of O3 therapy could be observed in the future. Herein, we presented a case of ischemic stroke after an oxygen-O3 therapy, which is called also Anton syndrome.