Serum salusin-α and -ß levels in patients with parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is not well known and there is increasing evidence that oxidative stress also plays an important role in its pathogenesis. Salusins alpha (salusin-α) and beta (salusin-ß) affect the central nervous system, vasculature, and kidneys to increase the inflammatory response in endothelial cells, stimulate oxidative stress, and increase monocyte-endothelial adhesion. Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress play roles in the etiopathogenesis of PD. PURPOSE: To investigate whether salusin-α and -ß are related to PD and whether they are correlated with the development of atherosclerosis, body mass index, disease duration, and the Parkinson's Hoehn and Yahr stage. RESULTS: The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, and salusin-ß levels were significantly lower and age was significantly higher in Parkinson patients compared to healthy controls (ρ < 0.005). We found a negative linear correlation between salusin-ß and the Hoehn and Yahr stage (ρ < 0.001, r = -0.515) in the patients. CONCLUSIONS: There was a relationship between salusin-ß and PD and a correlation between the salusin-ß levels and Parkinson's stage. A possible underlying disease mechanism is an increase in oxidative stress and decrease in neuroprotective effects due to low salusin-ß levels. Therefore, the effects of salusin-ß in treating Parkinson disease should be evaluated. Further studies are needed to understand the effects of salusin-ß treatment on preventing or slowing the course of PD.

The relationship between sleep problems and sexual dysfunction among pregnant women in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual dysfunction and sleep problems are common in women. Nevertheless, the relationship between sleep problems and sexual dysfunction during pregnancy has yet to be fully clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sleep problems and sexual dysfunction in pregnant women. METHODS: The study had a cross-sectional design and the sample was determined by employing the G*Power program on the basis of the findings of a related study. Taking the correlation value between the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) into account, it was found that the minimum sample size was 219 pregnant women. Healthy pregnant women who were literate, did not have a diagnosed psychiatric disease, did not have a mental disability or communication problems, were in the gestation period, were not restricted by their doctors in terms of engaging in sexual activity, and who were willing to participate were included. The study included those pregnant women who consecutively attended the NST polyclinic in a maternity hospital in a province in the Black Sea region of Turkey between January 2022 and August 2022. The Sociodemographic Information Form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the ISI, and the FSFI were used to collect data. RESULTS: A total of 220 pregnant women took part. The women had a mean age of 27.4 ± 6.3. Of the pregnant women, all had poor sleep quality: 61% had insomnia problems; 30% had sexual dysfunction. When the relationships between the PSQI, ISI and FSFI were examined, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between the mean PSQI and ISI scores (p = 0.000). A statistically significant negative correlation was determined between the mean ISI and FSFI scores (p = 0.044). According to the multiple regression analysis, age did not significantly predict sexual function (ß = -0.112; t = -1.639; p = 0.103); insomnia severity predicted sexual function negatively (ß = -0.146; t = -2.136; p = 0.034). The explained variance was 2.6%. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that sleep quality as measured by the PSQI does not correlate with female sexual dysfunction in pregnant women. However, severity of insomnia does correlate with sexual dysfunction.

Alcohol- and Low-Iron Induced Changes in Antioxidant and Energy Metabolism Associated with Protein Lys Acetylation.

Understanding the role of iron in ethanol-derived hepatic stress could help elucidate the efficacy of dietary or clinical interventions designed to minimize liver damage from chronic alcohol consumption. We hypothesized that normal levels of iron are involved in ethanol-derived liver damage and reduced dietary iron intake would lower the damage caused by ethanol. We used a pair-fed mouse model utilizing basal Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets for 22 weeks to test this hypothesis. In our mouse model, chronic ethanol exposure led to mild hepatic stress possibly characteristic of early-stage alcoholic liver disease, seen as increases in liver-to-body weight ratios. Dietary iron restriction caused a slight decrease in non-heme iron and ferritin (FeRL) expression while it increased transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) expression without changing ferroportin 1 (FPN1) expression. It also elevated protein lysine acetylation to a more significant level than in ethanol-fed mice under normal dietary iron conditions. Interestingly, iron restriction led to an additional reduction in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and NADH levels. Consistent with this observation, the major mitochondrial NAD+-dependent deacetylase, NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-3 (SIRT3), expression was significantly reduced causing increased protein lysine acetylation in ethanol-fed mice at normal and low-iron conditions. In addition, the detection of superoxide dismutase 1 and 2 levels (SOD1 and SOD2) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complex activities allowed us to evaluate the changes in antioxidant and energy metabolism regulated by ethanol consumption at normal and low-iron conditions. We observed that the ethanol-fed mice had mild liver damage associated with reduced energy and antioxidant metabolism. On the other hand, iron restriction may exacerbate certain activities of ethanol further, such as increased protein lysine acetylation and reduced antioxidant metabolism. This metabolic change may prove a barrier to the effectiveness of dietary reduction of iron intake as a preventative measure in chronic alcohol consumption.

The effects of listening to lullabies and self-selected music at home on prenatal stress and anxiety in nulliparous pregnant women: A randomized-controlled study.

To compare the effects of nulliparous pregnant women listening to lullabies and self-selected music on reducing the anxiety and antenatal stress. This was a randomized controlled study. Lullaby group (LG) (n = 40) listened to the lullaby chosen by the researcher, mixed music group (MG) (n = 40) listened to self-selected music and control group (CG) (n = 40) received general care. Post-test anxiety and stress levels was lower in two intervention groups versus CG (p < 0.01). Post-test anxiety was lower in the MG versus LG (p < 0.01), however post-test stress levels were similar. Pregnant women listening to self-selected music at home is more effective in reducing anxiety.

The effect of telecounseling on depression in primiparous mothers during the postpartum period: A randomized controlled trial.

Postpartum depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in women after giving birth. This study was conducted to examine the effect of telecounseling support on depression in primiparous mothers. This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial with a parallel group pretest-posttest design. The study comprised 50 participants each in the intervention and control groups. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with all participants, and the Maternal Information Form and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) were administered. The intervention group received telecounseling for 6 weeks, while the control group received routine postnatal care. After the 6-week period, EPDS was re-administered to both groups. In the intervention group, the EPDS mean score decreased from 7.12 ± 3.96 to 6.34 ± 3.73 after telecounseling (p < 0.001). Conversely, in the control group, the EPDS mean score increased from 6.62 ± 3.55 to 7.90 ± 4.65 without any intervention (p = 0.002). The results indicate that telecounseling is an effective method for reducing the risk of depression among mothers during the postpartum period. It is recommended that healthcare professionals extend their support by providing telecounseling for mothers.

The Effects of Listening to Lullabies and Self-selected Music on Distress and Maternal Attachment in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Context: Pregnant women may experience distress as a result of physical and psychosocial changes, and this distress affects the development of maternal attachment negatively. During pregnancy care and follow-up, reducing women's pregnancy-related distress and improving maternal attachment are important. Objective: To compare the effects of listening to lullabies and self-selected music in reducing distress and increasing maternal attachment in pregnant women. Design: This study is a randomized controlled trial. It was conducted using power analysis for a type-I error rate of α = 0.05, type-II error rate of ß = 0.20, representative power of 0.64, and effect size of 0.81. Setting: The study took place at a secondary care hospital in a provincial center in Turkey. Participants: The participants were 120 pregnant women who came to the outpatient clinic for pregnancy follow-ups between June 2021 and October 2021. Intervention: The participants were allocated to one of three groups, with 40 women in each. For 30 minutes every day, for two weeks, the lullaby group (LG) only listened to lullaby records at home, and the multi-music group (MG) listened to self-selected music from different records; the control group (CG) did not listen to any music. Outcome Measures: The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire and the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale were used to collect data. Results: Prenatal distress levels were lower in the intervention groups than in the CG (P < .01), and they were lower in the MG than in the LG (P < .05). Antenatal attachment levels were higher in the intervention groups than in the CG (P < .01), and they were higher in the LG than in the MG (P < .05). Conclusions: For pregnant women, listening to self-selected music was more effective in reducing distress, whereas listening to lullabies selected by the researcher was more effective in increasing attachment. ClinicalTrials.gov ID number: NCT05228392.

Effects of quarantine applied during the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus outbreak, which emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and spread to the world, has changed each of our lives. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of quarantine on depression, anxiety, sleep quality, fatigue, and SF-36 of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients during the COVID-19 outbreak and differences between healthy controls (HC). METHODS: Eighty-six MS patients and 65 HC patients were included in the study. Participants filled out the various scales through face-to-face interviews for mental health assessment from January 15 to February 15, 2021. RESULTS: When both groups were compared in terms of BECK-D inventory (p < 0.001), BECK-A inventory (p = 0.010), and FS (p < 0.001), the patient group had significantly higher results. Physical functioning (p < 0.001), physical role limitation (p = 0.001), energy vitality rates (p = 0.010), and general health perception (p < 0.001) were higher in the HC group. When MS patients were divided according to EDSS scores, BECK-A (p < 0.001), BECK-D (p = 0.001), and PSQI (p = 0.006) scores of the patients with EDSS > 3 were higher, while emotional role restriction rates (p = 0.006), energy and vitality (p = 0.018), and pain (p = 0.005) were significantly lower than those with EDSS ≤ 3. When MS patients were divided into two groups as who had COVID-19 and who did not and compared SF-36 subscale scores, pain, (p = 0.049) and mental status (p = 0.030) were obtained significant differences in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that MS patients, who are more susceptible to the new 'normal' that emerged during the pandemic period, are among the priority groups that should be supported in terms of mental health as well as physical health.

Covid-19 infection as a possible risk factor for longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis!

INTRODUCTION: There is limited data about the neurological effects of Covid-19 in infected patients. In this report, we present 2 LETM cases that are possibly associated with Covid-19 infection. METHODS: Here, we present 2 cases that subsequently developed LETM following Covid-19 infection. The first case presented a finding of tetraparesis prominent in the lower extremities that started ten days after the Covid-19 infection. The second patient was admitted with paraparesis and urinary-stool retention on the 12th day from the onset of symptoms of Covid-19 infection. RESULTS: In these 2 cases, LETM developing following Covid'19 infection was associated with Covid-19 infection. Although Covid-19 PCR was negative in the CSF of both patients, the Covid-19 PCR test was positive in the samples taken from the oropharynx. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of LETM caused by Covid-19 infection is not clearly known. However, both direct infection of the spinal cord and excessive inflammatory response to primary Covid-19 infection may cause spinal cord damage. Therefore, possible Covid-19-associated myelitis should be kept in mind in cases of long segment transverse myelitis grouped under the title of NMOSD and without any etiological factor.

Mitochondrial localization, import, and mitochondrial function of the androgen receptor.

Nuclear localization of androgen receptor (AR) directs transcriptional regulation of a host of genes, referred to as genomic signaling. Additionally, nonnuclear or nongenomic activities of the AR have long been described, but understanding of these activities remains elusive. Here, we report that AR is imported into and localizes to mitochondria and has a novel role in regulating multiple mitochondrial processes. Employing complementary experimental approaches of AR knockdown in AR-expressing cells and ectopic AR expression in AR-deficient cells, we demonstrate an inverse relationship between AR expression and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and transcription factor A, mitochondrial (TFAM), a regulator of mtDNA content. We show that AR localizes to mitochondria in prostate tissues and cell lines and is imported into mitochondria in vitro We also found that AR contains a 36-amino-acid-long mitochondrial localization sequence (MLS) capable of targeting a passenger protein (GFP) to the mitochondria and that deletion of the MLS abolishes the import of AR into the mitochondria. Ectopic AR expression reduced the expression of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) subunits. Interestingly, AR also controlled translation of mtDNA-encoded genes by regulating expression of multiple nuclear DNA-encoded mitochondrial ribosomal proteins. Consistent with these observations, OXPHOS supercomplexes were destabilized, and OXPHOS enzymatic activities were reduced in AR-expressing cells and restored upon AR knockdown. Moreover, mitochondrial impairment induced AR expression and increased its translocation into mitochondria. We conclude that AR localizes to mitochondria, where it controls multiple mitochondrial functions and mitonuclear communication. Our studies also suggest that mitochondria are novel players in nongenomic activities of AR.

Effects of eccentric exercise on different slopes.

OBJECTIVES: Eccentric contraction occurs when the muscle lengthens under tension. Damage-induced responses seen in the muscle after eccentric exercise usually experienced by sedentary individuals. This study aims to investigate muscle damage on different slopes. METHODS: 32 male Wistar albino rats randomly divided into four groups: sedentary, horizontal running, and eccentric exercise (-8°, -16°) groups. Animals ran for 90 min with the speed of 25 m/s for five days. After 48h from the last exercise, rats were sacrificed, and plasma creatine kinase (CK), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) levels were examined. Plasma and soleus total oxidant/antioxidant status (TOS-TAS) and histological changes of soleus muscle assessed. RESULTS: CK and HSP70 significantly increased in 16° EE group. TOS increased at 16° EE and 8° EE, but oxidative stress index (OSI) was only high at 8° EE group. Mononuclear cell infiltration and the angiogenesis increased in soleus after eccentric exercise, and there was a correlation with slope. Sarcomere breaks were detected in 16° EE group also in a correlation with slope. CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, sedentary individuals are vulnerable to injuries induced by eccentric contraction. Therefore, our study provides information for reconsidering rehabilitation and training programs.

The Detailed Comparison of Cell Death Detected by Annexin V-PI Counterstain Using Fluorescence Microscope, Flow Cytometry and Automated Cell Counter in Mammalian and Microalgae Cells.

The evaluation of cell wellness is an important task for molecular biology research. This mainly comprises the assessment for morphology and viability of culturing cells. Annexin V-Propidium iodide counterstaining has been currently one of the common and easy methods to discriminate apoptotic and necrotic cell profiles. The method is operated by fluorescence-based detection of counterstain via laser beam-employed instruments including flow cytometer, fluorescence microscope and automated cell counter. The detection is primarily conducted based on the same principle; however the efficiency of instruments may vary. Here we evaluated the efficiency of those instruments for the clear-cut detection of cell death through various mammalian and microalgae cell lines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study revealing comparative analyses of apoptotic and necrotic cells in mammalian and microalgae cells using Annexin V-PI counterstain detected by flow cytometer, fluorescence microscope and automated cell counter. Fluorescence microscope and cell counter instruments were also tested and compared for the traditional trypan blue-based cell viability detection performance. For these, cell death was induced by UV-irradiation and/or bee venom for mammalian (pancreatic cancer, metastatic breast cancer and mouse fibroblasts) and microalgae cells (Chlorella vulgaris), respectfully. Findings postulated that automated cell counter and fluorescence microscopy revealed similar patterns for the detection by both counterstain and trypan blue in mammalian cells. Interestingly, flow cytometry did provide an accurate and significant detection for only one mammalian cell line when UV-treatment was followed by routine Annexin V-Propidium iodide counterstaining. Unlike, only flow cytometry revealed a significant change in the detection of death of microalgae cells by Annexin V-Propidium iodide method, but both Annexin and conventional trypan blue methods were not applicable for the automated cell counter and microscopic detections for microalgae cells. The related outputs propose that the obtaining reliable quantitation strongly depends on cell type and instruments used. These suggest the necessity of optimization and validation endeavors before any cell death detection initiative. The analytical outcomes present insights into detailed assessment of cell death detection of eukaryotic cells and provide a direction to researchers to consider.

Fyn kinase regulates translation in mammalian mitochondria.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial translation machinery solely exists for the synthesis of 13 mitochondrially-encoded subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes in mammals. Therefore, it plays a critical role in mitochondrial energy production. However, regulation of the mitochondrial translation machinery is still poorly understood. In comprehensive proteomics studies with normal and diseased tissues and cell lines, we and others have found the majority of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs) to be phosphorylated. Neither the kinases for these phosphorylation events nor their specific roles in mitochondrial translation are known. METHODS: Mitochondrial kinases are responsible for phosphorylation of MRPs enriched from bovine mitoplasts by strong cation-exchange chromatography and identified by mass spectrometry-based proteomics analyses of kinase rich fractions. Phosphorylation of recombinant MRPs and 55S ribosomes was assessed by in vitro phosphorylation assays using the kinase-rich fractions. The effect of identified kinase on OXPHOS and mitochondrial translation was assessed by various cell biological and immunoblotting approaches. RESULTS: Here, we provide the first evidence for the association of Fyn kinase, a Src family kinase, with mitochondrial translation components and its involvement in phosphorylation of 55S ribosomal proteins in vitro. Modulation of Fyn expression in human cell lines has provided a link between mitochondrial translation and energy metabolism, which was evident by the changes in 13 mitochondrially encoded subunits of OXPHOS complexes. CONCLUSIONS AND GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that Fyn kinase is part of a complex mechanism that regulates protein synthesis and OXPHOS possibly by tyrosine phosphorylation of translation components in mammalian mitochondria.

An experimental comparison of the effects of propolis, curcumin, and methylprednisolone on crush injuries of the sciatic nerve.

BACKGROUND: Propolis and curcumin have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective features. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of propolis and curcumin on nerve healing in rat sciatic nerve crush injuries and to compare these effects with results obtained using steroid treatment. METHODS: In the sham group, the right sciatic nerves of rats were dissected and exposed, and the skin was closed without any additional manipulation. In the control group (group C), after the right sciatic nerves of rats were exposed, crush damage was inflicted using a surgical clamp. In the control-methylprednisolone group, crush injuries were inflicted on sciatic nerves as in group C. After injury, 1-mg/kg methylprednisolone was administered daily for 6 days and was then tapered for 4 days. In the curcumin group, crush injuries were inflicted on sciatic nerves as in group C. Then, 100-mg/kg curcumin was given every day. In the propolis group, crush injuries were inflicted on sciatic nerves as in group C. Then, 200-mg/kg propolis was given every day. Rats were evaluated after 28 days using functional (walking track analysis and electrophysiological measurements), histomorphometric, electron microscopic, and muscle weight measurements. RESULTS: Compared to the control groups, the curcumin and propolis groups had better functional (walking track analysis and electrophysiological) results after experimental peripheral nerve crush injury. CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin and propolis, 2 traditional drugs, had a positive effect on nerve crush injuries. We are convinced that they can be used to support routine treatment in such nerve injuries.

Borax partially prevents neurologic disability and oxidative stress in experimental spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the potential effects of borax on ischemia/reperfusion injury of the rat spinal cord. METHODS: Twenty-one Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups: sham (no ischemia/reperfusion), ischemia/reperfusion, and borax (ischemia/reperfusion + borax); each group was consist of 7 animals. Infrarenal aortic cross clamp was applied for 30 minutes to generate spinal cord ischemia. Animals were evaluated functionally with the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scoring system and inclined-plane test. The spinal cord tissue samples were harvested to analyze tissue concentrations of nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase activity, xanthine oxidase activity, total antioxidant capacity, and total oxidant status and to perform histopathological examination. RESULTS: At the 72nd hour after ischemia, the borax group had significantly higher Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan and inclined-plane scores than those of ischemia/reperfusion group. Histopathological examination of spinal cord tissues in borax group showed that treatment with borax significantly reduced the degree of spinal cord edema, inflammation, and tissue injury disclosed by light microscopy. Xanthine oxidase activity and total oxidant status levels of the ischemia/reperfusion group were significantly higher than those of the sham and borax groups (P < .05), and total antioxidant capacity levels of borax group were significantly higher than those of the ischemia/reperfusion group (P < .05). There was not a significantly difference between the sham and borax groups in terms of total antioxidant capacity levels (P > .05). The nitric oxide levels and nitric oxide synthase activity of all groups were similar (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Borax treatment seems to protect the spinal cord against injury in a rat ischemia/reperfusion model and improve neurological outcome.

Is rosuvastatin protective against on noise-induced oxidative stress in rat serum?

Noise, one of the main components of modern society, has become an important environmental problem. Noise is not only an irritating sound, but also a stress factor leading to serious health problems. In this study, we have investigated possible effects of rosuvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, thought to have an antioxidant effect, on noise-induced oxidative stress in the serum of rat models. Thirty-two male Wistar albino rats were used. In order to ease their adaptation, 2 weeks before the experiment, the rats were divided into four groups (with eight rats per each group): Noise exposure plus rosuvastatin usage, only noise exposure, only rosuvastatin usage and control. After the data had been collected, oxidant (Malondialdehyde, nitric oxide [NO], protein carbonyl [PC]) and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GSH-PX], catalase [CAT]) parameters were analyzed in the serum. Results indicated that SOD values were found to be significantly lower, while PC values in serum were remarkably higher in the group that was exposed to only noise. GSH-Px values in serum dramatically increased in the group on which only rosuvastatin was used. During noise exposure, the use of rosuvastatin caused significantly increased CAT values, whereas it resulted in reduced PC and NO values in serum. In conclusion, our data show that noise exposure leads to oxidative stress in rat serum; however, rosuvastatin therapy decreases the oxidative stress caused by noise exposure.

Post-translational modification and mitochondrial relocalization of histone H3 during apoptosis induced by staurosporine.

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histones such as phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination, collectively referred to as the "histone-code", have been known to regulate gene expression and chromatin condensation for over a decade. They are also implicated in processes such as DNA repair and apoptosis. However, the study of the phosphorylation of histones has been mainly focused on chromosome condensation and mitosis. Therefore, the phosphorylation of histones in apoptosis is not fully understood. It was recently demonstrated by Tang et al. that histones are released from nucleosome during apoptosis, an observation that is in agreement with our findings. In addition to the release of histones, the dephosphorylation of histone H3 at Thr-3 and Ser-10 was observed during apoptosis in some cancer cells. Our data suggest that the modification and release of histones could serve markers of apoptosis in human cancer cells. We also suggest that the released histones, especially H3, could be translocated to mitochondria during apoptosis.

Single dose varenicline may trigger epileptic activity.

Varenicline is a new drug for smoking cessation, and its effect on epilepsy is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether different doses of varenicline cause epileptic activity. Forty rats were randomly assigned to the following eight groups: control, saline, and 0.025, 0.04, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg kg(-1) varenicline (single dose, i.p.). EEGs were recorded before the varenicline injection and during the following 240 min. While epileptic discharges were observed on the EEGs of the rats in all of the varenicline-treated groups, motor findings of epileptic seizure were not observed in some rats in these groups except the 1 and 2 mg kg(-1) groups. These findings indicate that different single doses of varenicline cause epileptic activity in rats.

Mitochondrial ribosomal protein L12 selectively associates with human mitochondrial RNA polymerase to activate transcription.

Basal transcription of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in vitro requires the single-subunit, bacteriophage-related RNA polymerase, POLRMT, and transcription factor h-mtTFB2. This two-component system is activated differentially at mtDNA promoters by human mitochondrial transcription factor A (h-mtTFA). Mitochondrial ribosomal protein L7/L12 (MRPL12) binds directly to POLRMT, but whether it does so in the context of the ribosome or as a "free" protein in the matrix is unknown. Furthermore, existing evidence that MRPL12 activates mitochondrial transcription derives from overexpression studies in cultured cells and transcription experiments using crude mitochondrial lysates, precluding direct effects of MRPL12 on transcription to be assigned. Here, we report that depletion of MRPL12 from HeLa cells by shRNA results in decreased steady-state levels of mitochondrial transcripts, which are not accounted for by changes in RNA stability. We also show that a significant "free" pool of MRPL12 exists in human mitochondria not associated with ribosomes. "Free" MRPL12 binds selectively to POLRMT in vivo in a complex distinct from those containing h-mtTFB2. Finally, using a fully recombinant mitochondrial transcription system, we demonstrate that MRPL12 stimulates promoter-dependent and promoter-independent transcription directly in vitro. Based on these results, we propose that, when not associated with ribosomes, MRPL12 has a second function in transcription, perhaps acting to facilitate the transition from initiation to elongation. We speculate that this is one mechanism to coordinate mitochondrial ribosome biogenesis and transcription in human mitochondria, where transcription of rRNAs from the mtDNA presumably needs to be adjusted in accordance with the rate of import and assembly of the nucleus-encoded MRPs into ribosomes.

Possible effects of rosuvastatin on noise-induced oxidative stress in rat brain.

The problem of noise has recently gained more attention as it has become an integral part of our daily lives. However, its influence has yet to be fully elucidated. Other than being an unpleasant stimulus, noise may cause health disorders through annoyance and stress, including oxidative stress. Rosuvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, may possess antioxidant properties. Based on rat models, our project investigates the effect of rosuvastatin on noise-induced oxidative stress in the brain tissue. Thirty-two male Wistar albino rats were used. The rats were divided into four groups: Noise exposure plus rosuvastatin usage, only noise exposure, only rosuvastatin usage, and control. After the data had been collected, oxidant and antioxidant parameters were analyzed in the cerebral cortex, brain stem, and cerebellum. Results indicated that superoxide dismutase values were significantly decreased in the cerebral cortex, while malondialdehyde values in the brainstem and cerebellum were significantly increased in the group with only noise exposure. Superoxide dismutase values in the brainstem were significantly increased, but nitric oxide values in the cerebellum and brainstem and malondialdehyde values in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex were significantly decreased in the group where only rosuvastatin was used. During noise exposure, the use of rosuvastatin caused significantly increased superoxide dismutase values in the cerebral cortex and brainstem, but significantly reduced malondialdehyde values in the brain stem. Consequently, our data show that brain tissue was affected by oxidative stress due to continued exposure to noise. This noise-induced stress decreases with rosuvastatin therapy.

Effects of virtual reality and nature sounds on pain and anxiety during hysterosalpingography: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of listening to nature sounds alone and virtual reality plus listening to nature sounds on pain and anxiety in hysterosalpingography. METHODS: This three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial included 135 (45 in each group) women who underwent hysterosalpingography in Turkey. The virtual reality+nature sounds group viewed a nature video with virtual reality glasses and listened to nature sounds during hysterosalpingography, whereas the nature sounds group only listened to nature sounds. The control group received only routine care. RESULTS: During hysterosalpingography, women in virtual reality+nature sounds group experienced less pain than those in control group (p=0.009). After hysterosalpingography, pain levels were lower in both virtual reality+nature sounds group and nature sounds group than in control group (p=0.000 and p=0.000, respectively), anxiety levels were lower in virtual reality+nature sounds group than in nature sounds group and control group (p=0.018 and p=0.000, respectively), and anxiety levels were lower in nature sounds group than in control group (p=0.013). CONCLUSION: Virtual reality with nature content plus listening to nature sounds and only listening to nature sounds are effective in reducing pain and anxiety related to hysterosalpingography procedures in women. Compared with only listening to nature sounds, virtual reality plus listening to nature sounds further reduced hysterosalpingography-related pain and anxiety.