Vitamin D can be used as a supplement against cancer stem cells.

Cancer is standing like a bottomless pit or a black hole in front of mankind. Scientists are trying all possible ways to find a solution against to cancer. As known, cancer is a phenomenon fed from internal dynamics. One of internal dynamic is cancer stem cells that are involved in the formation and development of cancer. Because of these dynamics, scientists began to search solution inside of the body. Another internal dynamic is vitamin D and it is not only important in calcium homeostasis but also it is important for cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of vitamin D on cancer stem cells that sorted from MCF-7 cell line and on HEK293 cell line as control. Our results showed that calcitriol treatment reduced the number of CSC (Cancer Stem Cell) in the MCF-7 cell while increased in HEK293 cell population. Gene expression analyses showed that effect of calcitriol on apoptosis plays an important role in this reduction. Deficiency or unavailability of vitamin D may take a role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Medical ozone therapy reduces shock wave therapy-induced renal injury.

OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) lithotripsy is the preferred treatment modality for uncomplicated kidney stones. More recently free oxygen radical production following ESW application has been considered to be crucial in shock wave-induced renal damage. It has been shown that ozone therapy (OT) has ameliorative and preventive effects against various pathological conditions due to increased nitro-oxidative stress. In current study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of OT against ESW-induced renal injury. METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated, ESW, and ESW + OT groups. All groups except sham-operated group were subjected to ESW procedure. ESW + OT group received 1 mg/kg/day of oxygen/ozone mixture intraperitoneally at 2 h before ESW, and OT was continued once a day for consecutive three days. The animals were killed at the 4th day, and kidney tissue and blood samples were harvested for biochemical and histopathologic analysis. RESULTS: Serum ALT and AST levels, serum neopterin, tissue nitrite/nitrate levels, and tissue oxidative stress parameters were increased in the ESW group and almost came close to control values in the treatment group (p < 0.05, ESW vs. ESW + OT). Histopathological injury scores were significantly lower in treatment group than the ESW group (p < 0.05, ESW vs. ESW + OT). Immunohistochemical iNOS staining scores in ESW group were higher than those of sham-operated group (p < 0.05, ESW vs. sham-operated), iNOS staining scores in OT group were significantly lower than the ESW group (p < 0.05, ESW + OT vs. ESW). CONCLUSION: OT ameliorates nitro-oxidative stress and reduces the severity of pathological changes in the experimental ESW-induced renal injury of rat model.

Efficacy of poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibition in extracorporeal shock wave-induced renal injury.

OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESW) induces renal damage by excessive production of free oxygen radicals. Free Oxygen radicals cause cellular injury by inducing nicks in DNA. The enzyme poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) involved in the process of repair of DNA in damaged cells. However, its activation in damaged cells can lead to adenosine triphosphate depletion and death. Thus, we designed a study to evaluate the efficacy of 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB), a PARP inhibitor, against extracorporeal shock wave induced renal injury. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, ESW, ESW + 3-AB groups. All groups except control group were subjected to ESW procedure. ESW + 3-AB group received 20 mg/kg/day 3-aminobenzamide intraperitoneally at 2 h before ESW and continued once a day for consecutive 3 days. The surviving animals were sacrificed at the 4th day and their kidneys were harvested for biochemical and histopathologic analysis. Blood samples from animals were also obtained. RESULTS: Serum ALT and AST levels, serum neopterin and tissue oxidative stress parameters were increased in the ESW group and almost came to control values in the treatment group (p < 0.05, ESW vs. ESW + 3-AB). Histopathological injury score were significantly lower in treatment group than the ESW group (p < 0.05, ESW vs. ESW + 3-AB). CONCLUSION: Our data showed that PARP inhibition protected renal tissue against ESW induced renal injury. These findings suggest that it would be possible to improve the outcome of ESW induced renal injury by using PARP inhibitors as a preventive therapy.

Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase prevents shock wave therapy induced renal injury.

OBJECTIVES: Shock wave lithotripsy treatment (SWT) is not completely free from side effects; one of the accused mechanisms for renal injury during SWT is oxygen- and nitrogen-derived free radical productions. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production by N-[3(aminomethyl) benzyl) acetamidine] (1400W), highly selective inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor, at SWT-induced kidney damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four rats those underwent right nephrectomy procedure were divided equally into three groups as control, SWT, and SWT + 1400W. 1400W was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg at 2 h prior to SWT procedure and at the beginning of SWT procedure via intraperitoneal route and continued daily for consecutive 3 days. At the end of the fourth day, animals were killed via decapitation and trunk blood and the left kidneys were taken for biochemical and histopathologic evaluation. RESULTS: SWT caused renal tubular damage and increased lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities and SWT also significantly increased nitro-oxidative products. Inhibition of iNOS via administration of 1400W ameliorated renal injury and decreased tissue lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and nitrite/nitrate levels (NOx). In addition, it was seen that histolopathological changes were attenuated in the SWT + 1400W group when compared to SWT group. CONCLUSION: SWT-induced renal injury might be due to excessive production of oxygen free radicals and NO production. Inhibition of iNOS attenuates renal injury following SWT treatment. It can be concluded that iNOS inhibitors or peroxynitrite scavengers might be used to protect the kidneys against SWT-induced morphological and functional injuries.

Intraurethral prostatic cyst: a rare cause of infravesical obstruction.

A case is reported here of symptomatic intraurethral anterior midline prostatic cyst in a 52-year-old man whom transurethral resection of the cyst was performed successfully establishing the resolution of voiding symptoms.