Serotonin and Interleukin 10 Can Influence the Blood and Urine Viscosity in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Pregnancy-Specific Urinary Incontinence.

Serotonin and interleukin 10 (IL-10) may play a role in gestational diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemic environment, the detrusor musculature of the bladder and pelvic floor muscles may become damaged, leading to urination problems and urine viscosity in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence. Urine and blood samples were collected from pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. The serotonin concentration and cytokine IL-10 levels were evaluated in plasma and urine. In the total blood and urine, the viscosity was evaluated in the presence and absence of exogenous serotonin and IL-10. The plasma serotonin levels decreased, while the urine serotonin levels increased in the normoglycemic incontinent (NG-I), hyperglycemic continent (GDM-C), and hyperglycemic incontinent (GDM-I) groups. The IL-10 in the plasma decreased in the GDM-I group and was higher in the urine in the NG-I and GDM-I groups. The blood viscosity was higher, independently of urinary incontinence, in the GDM groups. The serotonin increased the blood viscosity from women with GDM-C and urine in the NG-I, GDM-C, and GDM-I groups. Blood and urine in the presence of IL-10 showed a similar viscosity in all groups studied. Also, no difference was observed in the viscosity in either the blood or urine when in the presence of serotonin and IL-10. These findings suggest that serotonin and IL-10 have the potential to reduce blood viscosity in pregnant women with gestational diabetes and specific urinary incontinence, maintaining values similar to those in normoglycemic women's blood.

Correlation between melatonin concentration and cytokines in cervical mucus in positive samples for the presence of human papillomavirus.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main causative agent of cervical cancer, characterized by neoplastic lesions in the cervix. Based on the morphology of the cells of the uterine cervix, the findings are classified as negative intraepithelial lesions for malignancies, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs), atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance without excluding HSILs (ASCs-H). The progression of neoplastic lesions is related to the cervix's microenvironmental inflammatory process and mediated by the expression and stimulation of cytokines. Cervical mucus is a viscous liquid secretion composed of proteins, inorganic components, pro-and anti-inflammatory agents, and an important protective barrier. This study aimed to quantify and correlate cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 and Melatonin in cervical mucus. According to the results, a decrease in MLT was observed in LSIL, HSI, and ASC-H groups than in the NILM group. The cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 showed greater expression in the LSIL and HSIL groups than the NILM group. HSIL group showed a negative correlation between the MLT and IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations. In the ASC-US group, IL8 level was positively correlated to MLT levels. We suggest that IL-6, IL-8, and MLT levels in HSIL groups are decisive for the progression of neoplastic lesions in HPV infections. New cervical cancer treatment strategies may include cytokine and melatonin control targets for effective immunotherapy.

Effects of barium chloride adsorbed to polyethylene glycol (PEG) microspheres on co-culture of human blood mononuclear cell and breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7).

This study investigated the effects of BaCl2 adsorbed to polyethylene glycol (PEG) microspheres on human blood mononuclear cells (MN) co-cultured with breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7). The MCF-7 cells were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection and the blood mononuclear (MN) cells from volunteer donors. MN cells, MCF-7 cells and their co-culture (MN and MCF-7 cells) were pre-incubated for 24 h with or without 25 and 1000 pg L-1 BaCl2 (Ba25 and Ba1000), PEG microspheres or 25 and 1000 pg L-1 BaCl2 adsorbed to PEG microspheres (PEG-Ba25 and PEG-Ba1000). Rheological parameters and apoptosis were determined. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analyses revealed that BaCl2 was able to adsorb the PEG microspheres. The blood flow and viscosity curves were similar among the treatments. In general, apoptosis rates increased in co-cultured cells, co-cultured cells incubated with Ba25 and with PEG-Ba25, but the highest rates were observed in co-cultured cells incubated with PEG-Ba1000. In conclusion, BaCl2 adsorbed to PEG microspheres exhibited dose-dependent antitumor effects against human MCF-7 breast cancer cells co-cultured with MN cells, thereby offering a possible therapeutic alternative for treating this disease provided they are administered at very low concentrations.

Effects of Doxycycline Treatment on Hematological Parameters, Viscosity, and Cytokines in Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis.

This study aimed to analyze the hematological parameters, blood viscosity, and cytokines of dogs infected by Ehrlichia canis untreated and treated with doxycycline. Initially, 47 dogs were examined, and 36 were suspected to have canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, which was confirmed through molecular polymerase chain reaction tests. This study consisted of 25 dogs, with 11 being healthy and 14 testing positive for E. canis. The dogs were divided into experimental groups based on their test results, including a control group of healthy dogs (N = 11), a group of infected dogs without treatment (N = 7), and a group of infected dogs treated with doxycycline (N = 7) at a 10 mg/kg dose every 12 h for 28 days. Blood samples were taken to determine hematological parameters, viscosity, and cytokine levels. It was observed that, regardless of doxycycline treatment, there was a reduction in total leukocytes and lymphocytes in infected dogs with Ehrlichia canis. The eosinophils and platelets decreased in dogs with Ehrlichia canis infections without treatment. Monocytes, eosinophils, and platelets increased when the dogs were treated with doxycycline. Regardless of treatment, infected dogs' blood viscosity was lower than uninfected dogs. Infected dogs showed lower TNF-α and increased IL-1ß. There was a correlation between the blood viscosity with the cytokines IL-10 and IL-12 in the infected dogs. The eosinophil count correlated with TNF-α in the group of infected and untreated dogs. In conclusion, treating dogs with monocytic ehrlichiosis using doxycycline can increase platelet and eosinophil levels but may also increase IL-1ß and monocyte levels, exacerbating inflammation. Therefore, evaluating viscosity and cytokine levels is important when treating dogs with this condition.