Evaluation of fractalkine (FKN) and secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP-4) serum levels in patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to compare serum levels of FKN and SFRP-4 in patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A total of 152 patients presented to the endocrinology outpatient clinic of our hospital were included in the study. Eighty-two patients with a history of T2DM were assigned to the T2DM group. IGT (n = 34) and NGT (n = 36) groups included the patients who received oral glucose tolerance test outcomes. RESULTS: Serum FKN levels were significantly higher in the IGT and T2DM groups compared to the NGT group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Serum SFRP-4 levels were significantly higher in the T2DM group compared to the IGT and NGT groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). A significant correlation was observed between FKN and fasting glucose levels. SFRP-4 was significantly correlated with fasting glucose, HbA1c, and triglyceride levels. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, increased FKN levels in patients with IGT were demonstrated for the first time in this study. The results of our study support the opinion that FKN and SFRP-4 may contribute to the pathogenesis of T2DM (Tab. 1, Fig. 3, Ref. 23).

The effect of vitamin D on MCF-7 breast cancer cell metabolism.

The role of vitamin D in calcium absorption and bone health is known. The studies revealed that vitamin D modulates breast cancer cell growth and it is also associated with a reduced breast cancer risk. The primary objective of this study was to highlight the metabolic effect of Vitamin D on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. For that purpose, we checked the apoptosis, energy, amino-acid and acylcarnitine levels in cancer cells, that the study propose, that 1α, 25(OH)2D3 could inhibit cell growth in a dose and time dependent manner. IC50 dose was calculated as 145 nM for vitamin D. We observed the apoptosis level in vitamin D groups, which were 18, 28 and 38.5 % at 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. During metabolic screening analysis, it was observed that glutamine, methionine and glutamic acid levels were treated more by Vitamin D groups in cell line and also, that acylcarnitine level was increased in 24 and 48 hour groups when compared to the control, but decreased in 72 hours. Further studies are needed to analyze the role of amino acids and acylcarnitines for early apoptosis and cancer metabolism (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 24).

Serum galectin-3 levels in women with PCOS.

AIM: Galectin-3 (Gal-3) plays a role in modulation of adiposity, glucose hemostasis and inflammation. The association between Gal-3 and the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), is not investigated. We aimed to evaluate galectin-3 levels in serum and their relation with hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance (IR) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and in control subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 56 women with PCOS were enrolled along with a control group of 41 healthy women, matched for age and body mass index. We measured hormonal and metabolic parameters, as well as the serum galectin-3 concentration of each participant. We estimated the IR according to the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Women with PCOS had higher levels of serum Gal-3 compared to healthy individuals (3,588.77 ± 1,566.94 vs 2,491.33 ± 812.04, P < 0.001). Serum Gal-3 levels were correlated with progesterone (r = 0.241, P = 0.025), hirsutism score (r = 0.296, P = 0.006), insulin (r = 0.479, P = 0.028), HOMA-IR (r = 0.514, P = 0.017), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (r = 0.246, P = 0.022), testosterone (r = 0.252, P = 0.019), and free testosterone (r = 0.306, P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Galectin-3 levels are higher in patients with PCOS, and there is a positive correlation between galectin-3 level and IR, androgen levels and hirsutismus scores. Gal-3 may be a new mediator of PCOS via IR, hyperandrogenism.

Increased serum interleukin-33 levels in patients with Graves' disease.

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a 30 kDa cytokine, is a member of IL-1 family. It is considered to be an autoimmune biomarker associated with T helper 2 (Th 2) response. γ-interferon is also produced by T helper 1 (Th 1) cells to induce cellular responses. γ-interferon is a 143-amino acid residue glycoprotein with several biological functions including potent anti-viral activity, stimulation of macrophage activity, modulation of Major Histocompatibilty Complex class I/class II expression, and regulation of a diversity of specific immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of IL-33 and γ-interferon in different thyroid disorders. METHODS: Twenty patients with Graves' disease, 21 patients with Hashimoto hypothyroidism, 21 euthyroid Hashimoto patients, and 27 control subjects were recruited to this study. Blood samples were drawn and IL-33 and γ-interferon tests were analyzed from 89 participants. Serum IL-33 and γ-interferon analyses were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between groups for serum γ-interferon levels. Serum IL-33 concentrations were significantly higher in Graves' disease group compared to the other groups (p<0.000) There was a positive correlation between serum IL-33 and free triiodothyronine (fT3) and thyroxine (fT4). Also, negative correlation between serum IL-33 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was statistically significant (p<0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The correlation of serum IL-33 with thyroid hormone levels may be a useful indicator for Graves' disease. These findings may help to make evident the pathophysiologic processes of the autoimmune thyroid diseases and improve therapeutic methods. .

The effects of prophylactic zinc and melatonin application on experimental spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbits: experimental study.

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. OBJECTIVES: To determine the neuroprotective effects of zinc and melatonin on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries of rabbits. SETTING: The Experimental Research Centre of Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey. METHODS: Twenty-four male rabbits underwent spinal cord ischemia by clamping the thoraco-abdominal aorta for 20 min. Twenty minutes before the aortic clamping, animals received zinc, melatonin or a combination of both. Neurological examination of the animals was performed three times during reperfusion period. The animals were killed 24 h after reperfusion. Spinal cord samples were taken for biochemical and histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: Pre-treated animals with zinc, melatonin or combination displayed better neurological outcomes than the I/R group (P<0.05). Zinc, melatonin and combined treatment prevented spinal cord injury by reducing apoptosis rate (P<0.05) and preserving intact ganglion cell numbers (P<0.05). Zinc pre-treatment protected spinal cord by preventing malondialdehyde (MDA) formation (P=0.002), increasing glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity (P=0.002) and decreasing xanthine oxidase enzyme activity (P=0.026) at molecular level. Melatonin treatment also resulted with MDA formation (P=0.002), increased GPx activity (P=0.002) and decreased xanthine oxidase activity (P=0.026). CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that prophylactic zinc and melatonin use in spinal cord I/R not only suppressed lipid peroxidation by activating antioxidant systems but also had significant neuroprotective effects by specifically improving the neurological and histopathological situation.