The effect of thymoquinone and propranolol combination on epidermoid laryngeal carcinoma cell.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of thymoquinone and propranolol on Hep-2 cells representing laryngeal Ca cell type in comparison with cisplatin. We also evaluated their combined effects. METHODS: Apoptotic effects were directly analyzed via mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-3 assays. In addition, effects on apoptosis and cell cycle via Bcl-2, Bax, P53, and Cyclin D1 mRNA expressions and effects on angiogenesis via VEGFA mRNA expression were evaluated by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: According to our results, it was determined that the anticancer effects of thymoquinone on Hep-2 cells were higher than propranolol. Our JC-1 and caspase-3 results showed an effect close to cisplatin, especially for 50 µM thymoquinone. Significant differences were also obtained in Bcl-2, Bax, P53, and cyclin D1 results for similar concentrations compared to the control. No effect of thymoquinone was seen for VEGFA. Propranolol alone had no significant effect on JC-1 and Caspase-3. Propranolol had an effect on Bcl-2, Bax mRNA expressions compared to the control, only at 250 µM concentration. Propranolol and its combinations increased VEGFA mRNA expression-like cisplatin. CONCLUSION: Thymoquinone induced apoptosis and blocked the cell cycle in Hep-2 cells. The effects of propranolol, which was reported to have an antiangiogenesis effect in some studies, on apoptosis and cell cycle were limited except at high concentrations. For this cell line, why propranolol causes an increase in VEGFA expression should be evaluated extensively. Thymoquinone shows promise for cancer therapy, but studies need to be designed in vivo to evaluate the effects more reliably.

The Development of a New Medical Instrument: Modified Tongue Depressor.

In the oropharyngeal region examinations, the abeslang (tongue depressor) used to create a wider field of vision and press down the tongue to make the pharynx easier. In order to look under the tongue, the depressor is redesigned so that it can be examined under the tongue and transformed into a retractor by creating an angle in the body of the present invention. This technique is intended to be used in conjunction with new technology surgical procedures. Our invention consists of the stem (1), the body (2), the end (3) and the notch (4), and the angle (5) in the angled model. This model, which is more effective than the routine tongue depressors at the same time it will not make any difference regarding cost. It will also allow the use of new surgical techniques while at the same time ensuring the exclusion of language in operations.

Detection of adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Exacerbation versus stable condition.

Latent infection with adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The role of respiratory viral infections are emerging in COPD exacerbations. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of adenovirus and RSV serotypes A and B in individuals with acute exacerbations of COPD (COPD-AE) and stable COPD. Twenty seven patients with COPD-AE were evaluated using a prospective longitudinal study design. Induced sputum, sera and nasal smears were sampled from patients experiencing COPD-AE and those in a stable condition. Adenoplex® multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits and Invitek RTP® DNA/RNA Virus Mini kits were used for PCR assays of adenovirus and RSV, respectively. Eighteen patients who experienced a COPD-AE were also evaluated while in a stable condition. The results showed that three sputum samples were positive for adenovirus in patients experiencing an exacerbation, while one was positive among the patients in a stable condition. RSV serotype A was detected in 17/27 (63%) patients with COPD-AE and 10/18 (55.6%) patients in a stable condition. RSV serotype B was not detected. Patients with COPD-AE, who were positive for RSV serotype A exhibited higher serum fibrinogen levels than those who were negative (438.60 ± 126.08 mg/dl compared with 287.60 ± 85.91 mg/dl; P=0.004). Eight/ten patients who were positive for RSV serotype A while in a stable condition, were also positive during COPD-AE. The results of the present study suggested that RSV infection may be prevalent in patients with COPD-AE and in those in a stable condition. Therefore, chronic RSV infection may occur in COPD. The detection and prevention of RSV may be useful in the management of COPD.

Molecular detection of cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus 2, human papillomavirus 16-18 in Turkish pregnants

OBJECTIVE: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of viral intrauterine infections in the world. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human papillomavirus (HPV) are the main agents of viral sexually transmitted diseases, which cause genital ulcers and genital warts, respectively. HPV infection has been linked to the majority of the anogenital malignancies. The aim of this study was to detect the existence of CMV, HSV-2 and HPV type 16-18 in Turkish pregnants by using sensitive molecular assays. METHODS: One hundred thirty-four women (18-41 years old; mean age ± SD: 27 ± 8) applied to outpatient clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, in between 18th - 22nd weeks of their pregnancy and a control group of 99 healthy women (15-39 years old; mean age ± SD: 24 ± 8) were included in the study. Cervical smear samples were used for DNA extraction. CMV, HSV-2 and HPV 16-18 detections were carried out by real time PCR and in house PCR method, respectively. RESULTS: Three patients (3/134; 2.2 percent) were found to be positive for each HPV and HSV-2. Dual infection with HPV and HSV was found in just one patient. HPV 18 was detected in all positive samples. CMV was found to be positive in two patients (2/134; 1.4 percent). CONCLUSION: HPV, HSV and CMV must be screened due to high prevalence of these viruses in pregnants by using sensitive molecular methods.

Molecular detection of cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus 2, human papillomavirus 16-18 in Turkish pregnants.

OBJECTIVE: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of viral intrauterine infections in the world. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human papillomavirus (HPV) are the main agents of viral sexually transmitted diseases, which cause genital ulcers and genital warts, respectively. HPV infection has been linked to the majority of the anogenital malignancies. The aim of this study was to detect the existence of CMV, HSV-2 and HPV type 16-18 in Turkish pregnants by using sensitive molecular assays. METHODS: One hundred thirty-four women (18-41 years old; mean age ± SD: 27 ± 8) applied to outpatient clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, in between 18th - 22nd weeks of their pregnancy and a control group of 99 healthy women (15-39 years old; mean age ± SD: 24 ± 8) were included in the study. Cervical smear samples were used for DNA extraction. CMV, HSV-2 and HPV 16-18 detections were carried out by real time PCR and in house PCR method, respectively. RESULTS: Three patients (3/134; 2.2%) were found to be positive for each HPV and HSV-2. Dual infection with HPV and HSV was found in just one patient. HPV 18 was detected in all positive samples. CMV was found to be positive in two patients (2/134; 1.4 %). CONCLUSION: HPV, HSV and CMV must be screened due to high prevalence of these viruses in pregnants by using sensitive molecular methods.

The correlation between EBV viral load in the palatine tonsils of patients with recurrent tonsillitis and concurrent serum titers of VCA­IgG.

Epstein­Barr virus (EBV) infection usually occurs in early childhood and can persist in palatine tonsil lymphocytes to induce tonsillitis at a later date. We have examined the presence of EBV in palatine tonsils and relationship between EBV-DNA quantity in tonsil tissues and VCA-IgG quantity in autologous sera. Tonsils were obtained from 36 patients, male 20 (55.6%), female 16 (44.4%) (mean age 7.96 ± 6.97 years), who underwent tonsils removal because of recurrent tonsillitis. Tissues were processed for real-time PCR and patient's sera were assayed to determine VCA-IgG by VCA-IgG ELISA. In 27 out of 36 cases (75%), positive EBV-DNA reaction was found. However, statistical analysis showed no correlation between EBV-DNA quantity and VCA-IgG quantity. We conclude that tonsils of children can be colonized by EBV and that virus may have a direct and indirect role in recurrent tonsillitis and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Role of human papillomavirus in the clinical and histopathologic features of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the clinical and histopathologic features of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. METHOD: Paraffin wax-embedded sections consisting of 89 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers from 210 patients were analyzed. Tissue samples were amplified by using a glucose 6-phosphatase dehydrogenase (G6PDH) control kit (Eurogentec, Seraing, Belgium), and G6PDH-positive samples were thought to have appropriate tissues by using a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction kit (DNA mini kit, Qiagen, Germany). HPV and HPV-16 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the L1 region. Real-time nested amplifications of MY09/11 products were done by GP5+/GP6+ primers and a cyanine-5-labeled HPV-16 DNA-specific probe. HPV-16-negative MY09/11 amplicons were sequenced by an OpenGene automated DNA sequencing system, and a similar percentage of sequences was calculated by GeneObjects software (Visible Genetics, Canada). RESULTS: Specimens from 89 subjects fitting the criteria were taken for PCR assay, and the HPV genome was analyzed in 65 cases because the remaining cases did not have enough tissue according to G6PDH amplification. HPV was positive in 27 cases (41.5%). HPV positivity was found to be associated with lymph node metastasis (LNM). Odds ratio analysis indicated that HPV positivity was an important factor for LNM but not for other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: HPV-16 infection can be associated with laryngeal carcinomas without LNM. Analysis of HPV positivity could be used as a prognostic factor.

[Investigation of herpes simplex virus DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction in the clinical samples]. / Klinik orneklerde herpes simpleks virus DNA varliginin gerçek zamanli polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu ile arastirilmasi.

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2 DNA from the clinical samples sent to our routine laboratory, by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 328 samples collected from 306 female and 7 male patients who were admitted to different outpatient clinics were included in the study. The samples included 235 cervical swab samples (of which 150 were from pregnant women), 77 amniotic fluid, 8 blood, 6 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), one pericardial fluid and one cervical biopsy. DNA extraction were performed with High Pure Viral Nucleic Acid Kit (Roche, Germany) and amplified in Light Cycler (Roche, Germany) with a commercial amplification mix (Metis Biotechnology, Ankara). HSV-DNA positivity were found in 2.1% of the cervical samples (three of 150 pregnant and two of 85 non-pregnant women), two of the blood samples and one of the CSF sample, while there were no positive result for the other clinical specimens. It can be concluded that, real-time PCR would be preferred in conditions requiring rapid diagnosis such as HSV infections of central nervous system and HSV suspected infections of immunosupressed patients, as a rapid and practical method.