The evaluation of the FOXO1, KLF9 and YT521 genes expression in human endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: The current study was designed to explore the changes of the mRNA levels of the YT521, Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1), and Krüppel-like factor 9 (KLF9) proteins in human normal and cancerous endometrial tissue. METHODS: The study was conducted in 30 premenopausal patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer and 20 premenopausal women with no clinically documented abnormalities of the endometrium undergoing hysterectomy. Gene expression levels were assayed using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: The endometrial tissue FOXO1 mRNA level (0.82 +/- 0.27) of patients with endometrial cancer was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than controls (4.51 +/- 2.68). In subjects with endometrial cancer the KLF9 mRNA level (1.12 +/- 0.38) was lower (p < 0.001) when compared to controls (3.11 +/- 1.52). A remarkable (not significant, p = 0.069) increase was found in the YT521 mRNA level of patients' endometrial tissue (11.19 +/- 3.99) in comparison with the control subjects (8.82 +/- 5.01). No significant difference was detected for the FOXO1, KLF9 and YT521 mRNA levels of the endometrial tissue of patients with cancer at different stages. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the alteration of the gene expression profiles of FOXO1, KLF9 and YT521, which occur in human endometrial cancers likely play a crucial role in initiation of cancer.

Fatty acid composition of serum lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Serum fatty acid content mainly reflects dietary fat intake. It is not known whether alterations of serum fatty acid compositions predict type 2 diabetes risk. METHODS: We evaluated fatty acid contents in serum of the 76 normal and 98 diabetic adults taking part in a cross sectional study, using a gas chromatography method. RESULTS: The contents of total saturated (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) of the diabetic subjects were significantly higher when compared to the controls (p = 0.006, p = 0.02 respectively). Serum linoleic and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) contents of subjects with diabetes were significantly lower than the control group (p = 0.02). There was a negative correlation (p = 0.001, r = -0.429) between serum PUFAs contents and cholesterol/HDL-C ratio in the control group, whereas this correlation in people with diabetes was not significant (p = 0.12). The correlation between serum TG (triglyceride) and SFAs contents of the diabetic patients was significantly positive (p = 0.01, r = 0.252). A significant negative correlation (p = 0.001, r = -0.421) was found between PUFA contents and serum TG levels of people with diabetes; however, the same correlation for the control group was not significant (p = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes incidence was significantly and positively associated with the proportions of serum palmitic, total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid contents. Our findings with the use of this biomarker suggest that the dietary fat profile, particularly that of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, may contribute to the etiology of diabetes. It seems that patients with type 2 diabetes can have good control on lipid parameters with a higher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids than saturated fatty acids.

Distribution of fatty acids in adipose tissue of patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: It is not known whether alterations of adipose tissue fatty acid compositions predict type 2 diabetes. Our goal was to characterize the relationship between the adipose tissue fatty acid compositions and type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We evaluated the fatty acid compositions of subcutaneous adipose tissue. These analyses were carried out on samples from 76 normal and 98 diabetic adults. Analysis was performed on a gas chromatograph. RESULTS: The adipose tissue palmitic acid composition of diabetic subjects (24.9% +/- 0.3) was significantly higher (p = 0.01) than in the controls (23.3% +/- 1.6). A significant negative correlation (r = -0.276, p = 0.001) was found between adipose tissue polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the Chol/HDL-C ratio of all the subjects studied (controls plus diabetic patients). A similar negative correlation (r = -0.429, p = 0.001) was identified only for control group, whereas no significant correlation (p > 0.05) was found for diabetic populations. The correlation between fatty acid compositions and serum lipid profiles (TG, HDL-C, Chol/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C proportion) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) with HbAlc concentrations of people with diabetes and controls was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: A high amount of palmitic acid in adipose tissue may increase the risk of the type 2 diabetes and it seems that a high intake of PUFAs can lead to lowering of the Chol/HDL-C ratio.

17ß-Estradiol Stimulates Generation of Reactive Species Oxygen and Nitric Oxide in Ovarian Adenocarcinoma Cells (OVCAR 3).

BACKGROUND: Experimental and epidemiological evidence supports a role for steroid hormones in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. Among steroid hormones, 17ß-estradiol (E2) has the most potent effect on proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we investigated the effect of E2 on production of ROS and NO in ovarian cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line (OVCAR-3) was cultured and treated with various concentrations of E2, antioxidants (N-acetyle cysteine and Ebselen) and ICI182780 as an estrogen receptor antagonist. MTT test was performed to evaluate cell viability. NO and ROS levels were measured by Griess and DCFH-DA methods, respectively. RESULTS: ROS levels as well as NO levels were increased in OVCAR-3 cells treated with E2. The increase in ROS production was in parallel with increased cell viability which indicates that estrogen-induced ROS can participate in cancer progression. ICI182780 abolished E2-induced ROS production. Progesterone was also effective in reducing ROS and NO generation. CONCLUSIONS: NO and ROS are important molecules in signaling networks in cell. These molecules can be used as therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment of ovary cancer and other estrogen-induced malignancies.

Lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiOTf) as a recyclable catalyst for highly efficient acetylation of alcohols and diacetylation of aldehydes under mild and neutral reaction conditions.

A variety of alcohols and aldehydes were reacted with acetic anhydride at room temperature in the presence of a catalytic amount of lithium triflate (LiOTf) to produce the corresponding esters and 1,1-diacetates, respectively, in good to excellent yields under essentially neutral reaction conditions. Sensitive functional groups such as PhCO(2)-, OMe, and OTBDMS ethers survived intact under the described reaction conditions.