The Effect of Thymoquinone on the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB Axis Against Cisplatin-Induced Testicular Tissue Damage.

One of the adverse effects of the antineoplastic drug cisplatin (CS) is damage to testicular tissue. This study aimed to examine the potential therapeutic effect of thymoquinone (TQ), a strong antioxidant, against testicular damage caused by CS. In the experiment, 28 rats were used, and the rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (n = 7), CS (n = 7), CS + TQ (n = 7), and TQ (n = 7). The experiment was called off after all treatments were finished on day 15. Blood serum and testicular tissues were utilized for biochemical, histological, immunohistochemical, mRNA expression, and gene protein investigations. The testosterone level decreased and oxidative stress, histopathological damage, dysregulation in mitochondrial dynamics, inflammation and apoptotic cells increased in testicular tissue due to CS administration. TQ supplementation showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects in response to CS-induced testicular damage. In addition, TQ contributed to the reduction of CS-induced toxic effects by regulating the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB pathway. TQ supplementation may be a potential therapeutic strategy against CS-induced testicular damage by regulating the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB axis, inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

Validation of the Short Version (TLS-15) of the Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45) across 37 Languages.

Love is a phenomenon that occurs across the world and affects many aspects of human life, including the choice of, and process of bonding with, a romantic partner. Thus, developing a reliable and valid measure of love experiences is crucial. One of the most popular tools to quantify love is Sternberg's 45-item Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45), which measures three love components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. However, our literature review reveals that most studies (64%) use a broad variety of shortened versions of the TLS-45. Here, aiming to achieve scientific consensus and improve the reliability, comparability, and generalizability of results across studies, we developed a short version of the scale-the TLS-15-comprised of 15 items with 5-point, rather than 9-point, response scales. In Study 1 (N = 7,332), we re-analyzed secondary data from a large-scale multinational study that validated the original TLS-45 to establish whether the scale could be truncated. In Study 2 (N = 307), we provided evidence for the three-factor structure of the TLS-15 and its reliability. Study 3 (N = 413) confirmed convergent validity and test-retest stability of the TLS-15. Study 4 (N = 60,311) presented a large-scale validation across 37 linguistic versions of the TLS-15 on a cross-cultural sample spanning every continent of the globe. The overall results provide support for the reliability, validity, and cross-cultural invariance of the TLS-15, which can be used as a measure of love components-either separately or jointly as a three-factor measure.

Exploring Attitudes Toward "Sugar Relationships" Across 87 Countries: A Global Perspective on Exchanges of Resources for Sex and Companionship.

The current study investigates attitudes toward one form of sex for resources: the so-called sugar relationships, which often involve exchanges of resources for sex and/or companionship. The present study examined associations among attitudes toward sugar relationships and relevant variables (e.g., sex, sociosexuality, gender inequality, parasitic exposure) in 69,924 participants across 87 countries. Two self-report measures of Acceptance of Sugar Relationships (ASR) developed for younger companion providers (ASR-YWMS) and older resource providers (ASR-OMWS) were translated into 37 languages. We tested cross-sex and cross-linguistic construct equivalence, cross-cultural invariance in sex differences, and the importance of the hypothetical predictors of ASR. Both measures showed adequate psychometric properties in all languages (except the Persian version of ASR-YWMS). Results partially supported our hypotheses and were consistent with previous theoretical considerations and empirical evidence on human mating. For example, at the individual level, sociosexual orientation, traditional gender roles, and pathogen prevalence were significant predictors of both ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS. At the country level, gender inequality and parasite stress positively predicted the ASR-YWMS. However, being a woman negatively predicted the ASR-OMWS, but positively predicted the ASR-YWMS. At country-level, ingroup favoritism and parasite stress positively predicted the ASR-OMWS. Furthermore, significant cross-subregional differences were found in the openness to sugar relationships (both ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS scores) across subregions. Finally, significant differences were found between ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS when compared in each subregion. The ASR-YWMS was significantly higher than the ASR-OMWS in all subregions, except for Northern Africa and Western Asia.

Fullerene C60 protects against 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA) induced-pancreatic damage via NF-κB and Nrf-2/HO-1 axis in rats.

The objective of this investigation was to investigate the protective effects of fullerene C60 nanoparticle against pancreatic damage experimentally induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA) in female rats. Fullerene C60 nanoparticle was administered to rats 5 times a week by oral gavage (o.g) at 1.7 mg/kg bw 7 days after DMBA administration. 60 Wistar albino female rats divided to four groups; Groups: (1) Control group: Fed with standard diet; (2) Fullerene C60 group: Fullerene C60 (1.7 mg/kg bw); (3) DMBA group: DMBA (45 mg/kg bw); (4) Fullerene C60 + DMBA group: Fullerene C60 (1.7 mg/kg bw) and DMBA (45 mg/kg bw). Lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase activity (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels in pancreatic tissue were determined by spectrophotometer. Protein expression levels of p53, HO-1, p38-α (MAPK), Nrf-2, NF-κB and COX-2 in pancreatic tissue were determined by western blotting technique. In our findings, compared to the group given DMBA, MDA levels and p38-α, NF-κB and COX-2 levels decreased, CAT activity, GSH level, total protein density and p53, HO-1, Nrf-2 levels in the groups given fullerene C60 nanoparticle an increase in expression levels was observed. Our results showed that fullerene C60 nanoparticle may be more beneficial in preventing pancreatic damage.

Comparison of recent anaphylaxis diagnostic criteria in real life: Can more patients be diagnosed as having anaphylaxis?

Introduction: In 2020, World Allergy Organization (WAO) updated their diagnostic criteria for anaphylaxis, which differed as a result from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (NIAID/FAAN) criteria which were still used in the 2021 update of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) anaphylaxis guideline. Our aim was to evaluate and to compare both diagnostic criteria and attempt to identify factors affecting severity of anaphylaxis. Methods: The medical records of the patients who were evaluated with suspected anaphylaxis at 3 medical centers in Türkiye between 2014 and 2021, and underwent a detailed diagnostic work-up, were analyzed retrospectively. Diagnosis of anaphylaxis was evaluated based on the WAO 2020 and EAACI 2021 and NIAID/FAAN diagnostic criteria. The severity of anaphylaxis was determined according to the WAO systemic allergic reaction grading system. Grade 5 anaphylaxis was defined as having respiratory failure, collapse/hypotension, loss of consciousness. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics were further analyzed depending on the severity of the reaction. Results: One thousand and six patients were evaluated and 232 patients without a convincing diagnosis of anaphylaxis were excluded from the study. The remaining 774 patients (70.6% female, median [Inter quartile range (IQR) 25-75] age: 42 [33-52]) were included for further examination. Anaphylaxis was diagnosed in 729 (94.2%) patients meeting both criteria whereas 35 patients (4.5%) with isolated laryngeal involvement and 10 (1.3%) patients with isolated respiratory involvement were only diagnosed according to the WAO 2020 criteria. Twenty-three patients (3.0%) had a diagnosis of indolent systemic mastocytosis. Mastocytosis was related to grade 5 anaphylaxis [p = 0.022, OR (CI) = 2.9 (1.1-7.6)]. Venom allergy was a risk factor for grade 5 anaphylaxis among those for whom an eliciting allergen could be determined [p = 0.03, OR (CI) = 2.7 (1.1-6.8)]. For drug induced anaphylaxis, parenteral route of drug administration and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) allergy were considered as risk factors for grade 5 anaphylaxis [p < 0.001, OR (CI) = 6.5 (2.5-17.0); p = 0.011, OR (CI) = 10.3 (1.6-63.3)]. Conclusion: This multicenter study demonstrated that both criteria identified the majority of patients with anaphylaxis, but the WAO 2020 diagnostic criteria identified an additional 6%. Hymenoptera stings, PPI allergy, parenteral drug administration, and underlying mastocytosis were associated with more severe episodes.

The evaluation of melatonin levels in chronic spontaneous urticaria: A case control study.

Background: Although sleep disturbance is known to be common in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), sleep hormone levels in the blood have never before been studied in CSU. Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the serum melatonin levels in patients with CSU. Methods: For the patient group, 80 patients with recently diagnosed CSU, and, for the control group, 75 healthy controls (HC) were included. The study participants' melatonin levels were measured by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. CSU disease activity was evaluated by using the urticaria activity score-7 (UAS-7), and the quality of life was assessed with the chronic urticaria quality of life questionnaire (CU-Q2oL). The patients with concomitant diseases likely to affect the melatonin levels or those using related medications were excluded from the study. Results: The patient group consisted of 53 female subjects (67%); the median (interquartile range) age was 34 years (27-43 years). The levels of melatonin were lower in the patients with CSU when compared with the HCs (p < 0.03). The melatonin levels had no significant relationship between UAS-7 and the total scores in CU-Q2oL (p > 0.05). However, a significant negative correlation in the melatonin levels was observed with questions 7 (overall sleep assessment) and 11 (difficulty in falling into sleep) in the CU-Q2oL (r = -0.55 [p < 0.001] and r = -0.62 [p < 0.001], respectively). Conclusion: The presence of low melatonin levels in the patients with CSU suggests that melatonin has a key regulatory role in the CSU development in addition to the deterioration in sleep quality. A new treatment strategy to increase the melatonin levels in CSU may be pursued in further studies to confirm our findings.

How Does Pregnancy and Type of Delivery Affect the Clinical Course of Hereditary Angioedema?

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge on the clinical course of hereditary angioedema (HAE) during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding is very limited. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the course of HAE during these periods. METHODS: The HAE attacks C1-INH prophylaxis before and during pregnancy and during breastfeeding, and the delivery types were retrospectively determined. The severity of attacks was assessed by a 10-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS: We evaluated 88 pregnancies in 48 HAE patients among whom 20 were primiparous. Among those who had a HAE diagnosis during pregnancy (n = 34), the median attack numbers before pregnancy, during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and after breastfeeding were 17, 39, 24, and 14 (before pregnancy vs. pregnancy, p < 0.001; during pregnancy vs. breastfeeding, p = 0.001). The mean VASs (SD) were 6.59 (1.82), 8.33 (1.58), 7.32 (1.66), and 6.95 (1.90) (before pregnancy vs. pregnancy, p < 0.001; during pregnancy vs. breastfeeding, p = 0.016), respectively. Among those who received a HAE diagnosis after pregnancy (n = 54), the number (59.3%) and the severity (60%) of HAE attacks were high in pregnancy. 47 of the deliveries were normal vaginal delivery (NVD). Regional anesthesia was applied in 8 NVDs. 20 of caesarean deliveries were performed under general anesthesia, and 21 were under spinal anesthesia. Lowest numbers of attacks were found in patients who did not receive anesthesia during NVD (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The course of HAE can be worse during pregnancy and breastfeeding. NVD is related to fewer HAE attacks and prophylaxis with C1-INH during NVD is not necessary to prevent a HAE attack.

Fullerene C60 reduces acute lung injury by suppressing oxidative stress-mediated DMBA-induced apoptosis and autophagy by regulation of cytochrome-C/caspase-3/beclin-1/IL-1α/HO-1/p53 signaling pathways in rats.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fullerene C60 nanoparticles against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced lung tissue damage in rats. 60 Wistar albino (8 weeks old) female rats were assigned into four groups: Control Group (C), Fullerene C60, DMBA, and Fullerene C60+DMBA. The rats in the DMBA and Fullerene C60+DMBA groups were administered DMBA (45 mg/kg bw, oral gavage). The rats in Fullerene C60, and Fullerene C60+DMBA groups were administered with Fullerene C60 (1.7 mg/kg bw, oral gavage). Expression levels of cytochrome-C, caspase-3, beclin-1, IL-1α, HO-1 and p53 proteins in lung tissue were determined by western blotting, lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) analyzes, glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase activity (CAT) and total protein levels were determined by spectrophotometer. In addition, lung tissues were evaluated by histopathologically. Fullerene C60 reduced the increasing of MDA and IL-1α protein expression levels and attenuated histopathological changes in lung. Moreover, fullerene C60 enhanced the protein expression of cytochrome-C, caspase-3, beclin-1, HO-1, and p53, which were decreased in the DMBA group. Fullerene C60 has strong biological activity that it might be an effective approach for lung damage.

Common but neglected problem in chronic spontaneous urticaria: Sleep disturbance.

Background: Association of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) with sleep disturbance has not been evaluated in studies that involve a large number of patients. Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the sleep attitude and circadian rhythm in patients with CSU. Methods: As the patient group, recently diagnosed 100 patients with CSU, 100 patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) as the patient control group, and 100 healthy controls (HCs) were included. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, sleep hygiene index (SHI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire, and the morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) were filled to assess sleep quality and circadian rhythm. CSU disease activity was evaluated by urticaria activity score-7 (UAS-7). Patients with concomitant diseases, e.g., psychiatric illnesses, that possibly affect sleep status or those who use related medications and at moderate or high risk of obstructive sleep apnea according to the STOP-Bang questionnaire were excluded from the study. Results: PSQI, SHI, and ESS scores were higher, and the MEQ score was lower in patients with CSU and patients with AR than those in the HCs (p < 0.001, for each score). However, the scores were not different among the patients with CSU and the patients with AR. UAS-7 was only correlated with PSQI scores (r = 0.402, p < 0.001). In addition, blood eosinophil counts and the serum C Reactive Protein (CRP) level were correlated with sleep quality (p = 0.02). Conclusion: The poor sleep quality, impaired sleep hygiene, increased daytime sleepiness, and intermediate type of circadian rhythm were observed in the patients with CSU and the patients with AR. Physicians should be aware of sleep problems in patients with CSU that might affect their quality of life and the success of their treatment.

Calculated Globulin Is Clinically Useful as a Screening Test for Antibody Deficiency in Turkish Adult Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Heterogeneous clinical features of antibody deficiency (AD) may cause diagnostic delays. Calculated globulin (CG) (total protein minus albumin) has been proposed as a screening test to prevent morbidity due to diagnostic delays in AD. Our aim was to validate CG as a screening test for AD in Turkish adult patients by comparing its role with gamma globulin analysis in protein electrophoresis. METHODS: Fifty serum samples were randomly collected for each level of CG from 15 to 25 g/L and tested for serum IgG, IgA, IgM levels and protein electrophoresis. Cut-off values predicting low IgG levels were calculated for electrophoretically determined gamma globulin and CG. Additionally, the data of 47 patients followed up in our clinic with a diagnosis of primary antibody deficiency (PAD) were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 550 adult patients were included in the study. The CG value predicting patients with IgG <6 g/L as a screening test was determined as <20 g/L with 83.8% sensitivity and 74.9% specificity. The gamma globulin value which predicted patients with the same IgG value of 89.0% sensitivity and 89.4% specificity was determined as <7 g/L. In the retrospective analysis, 37 of 47 patients (78.7%) with PAD had a CG value of <20 g/L at the time of the diagnosis and all 13 patients (100%) whose gamma globulin values were measured at the time of the diagnosis had a gamma globulin value of <7 g/L. CONCLUSION: The determined CG cut-off value of <20 g/L can be used as a screening test in Turkish adult patients.

How important is patch testing with dental materials in real-life clinical practice?

Background: Allergy to dental materials in prostheses and implants that leads to dental device dysfunction is a challenging problem. Objective: In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic role and impact of dental patch test (DPT) results on the outcome of proceeding dental procedures with the collaboration of our allergy clinic and dental clinics. Methods: A total of 382 adult patients with oral or systemic signs or symptoms due to the applied dental materials were included. A DPT with 31 items was administered. The clinical findings after dental restoration according to the test results were assessed in the patients. Results: The most common positivity detected in the DPT was due to metals, among which nickel (29.1%) was the leading cause. The frequency of self-reported allergic diseases and metal allergy was significantly higher in patients with at least one positive result in the DPT (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). Clinical improvement after the removal of dental restoration was seen in 82% of the patients who had a positive DPT result, whereas this rate was 54% among paatients with negative DPT results (p < 0.001). The only factor that predicted improvement after restoration was the positivity in the DPT result (odds ratio 3.96 [95% confidence interval, 0.21-7.09]; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study showed that a self-reported metal allergy was an important finding to predict allergic reactions to dental devices. Therefore, patients should be questioned for the presence of metal allergy-related signs and symptoms before exposure to the dental materials to prevent possible allergic reactions. Furthermore, DPT results are valuable to guide dental procedures in real life.

Royal jelly protects brain tissue against fluoride-induced damage by activating Bcl-2/NF-κB/caspase-3/caspase-6/Bax and Erk signaling pathways in rats.

This study is aimed at determining whether royal jelly (RJ) which has a powerful antioxidant property prevents fluoride-induced brain tissue damage and exploring whether Bcl-2/NF-κB/ and caspase-3/caspase-6/Bax/Erk pathways play a critical role in the neuroprotective effect of RJ. Wistar albino rats were chosen for the study, and they were randomly distributed into six groups: (i) control; (ii) royal jelly; (iii) fluoride-50; (iv) fluoride-100; (v) fluoride-50 + royal jelly; (vi) fluoride-100 + royal jelly. We established fluoride-induced brain tissue damage with 8-week-old male Wistar albino rats by administration of fluoride exposure (either 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg bw) through drinking water for 8 weeks. Then, the study duration is for 56 days where the rats were treated with or without RJ (100 mg/kg bw) through oral gavage. The effects of RJ on glutathione (GSH), catalase activity (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined via spectrophotometer. Western blot analysis was performed to investigate the effects of royal jelly on the protein expression levels of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-6, Bcl-2, NF-κB, COX-2, and Erk. It was also studied the effects of RJ on histopathological alterations in fluoride-induced damage to the rat brain. As a result, the Bcl-2, NF-κB, and COX-2 protein expression levels were increased in the fluoride-treated (50 and 100 mg/kg) groups but they were decreased significantly by RJ treatment in the brain tissue. Additionally, the protein expression of caspase-3, caspase-6, Bax, and Erk were decreased in fluoride-treated groups and they were significantly increased by RJ treatment compared to the un-treated rats. Our results suggested that RJ prevented fluoride-induced brain tissue damage through anti-antioxidant activities.

Nano-liquid chromatography with monolithic stationary phase based on naphthyl monomer for proteomics analysis.

Monolithic poly(2-vinylnaphthalene-co-divinylbenzene) columns were introduced, for the first time, and were evaluated as the separation media for nano-liquid chromatography (nano-LC). These columns were prepared by in-situ polymerization of 2-vinylnaphthalene (2-VNA) as the functional monomer and divinylbenzene (DVB) as the crosslinker in a fused silica capillary column of 50 µm i.d. Various porogenic solvents, including tetrahydrofuran (THF), dodecanol and toluene were used for morphology optimization. Final monolithic column (referred to as VNA column) was characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and chromatographic analyses. Alkylbenzenes (ABs), and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were separated using the VNA column while the column offered excellent hydrophobic and π-π interactions under reversed-phase conditions. Theoretical plates number up to 41,200 plates/m in isocratic mode for ethylbenzene could be achieved. The potential of the final VNA column was demonstrated with a gradient elution in the  separation of six intact proteins, including ribonuclease A (RNase A), cytochrome C (Cyt C), lysozyme (Lys), ß-lactoglobulin (ß-lac), myoglobin (My) and α-chymotrypsinogen (α-chym) in nano LC system. The column was then applied to the peptide analysis of trypsin digested cytochrome C, allowing a high peak capacity up to 1440 and the further proteomics analysis of COS-7 cell line was attempted applying the final monolithic column in nano-LC UV system.

Eosinophilic lymph node abscesses following a COVID-19 vaccination: A case report.

In this paper, we reported a 37-year-old man who developed several lymphadenopathies after using the second dose of Pfizer-BioNtech vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. The excisional lymph node biopsy showed eosinophil-rich inflammation with micro-abscesses. Although eosinophilic dermatosis and eosinophilic myocarditis have been described previously following COVID-19 vaccinations, eosinophilic lymph node abscess was not reported in the literature. In our case, all lesions were completely recovered with steroid treatment. The patient has been doing well and no recurrence has been observed for six months.

Fullerene C60 Attenuates Heart Tissue Inflammation by Modulating COX-2 and TNF-Alpha Signaling Pathways in DMBA Induced Breast Cancer in Rats.

The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of fullerene C60 nanoparticle against heart tissue damage caused by 7,12-dimethylbenz [a] anthracene (DMBA) in female rats. Female Wistar albino rats, 8 weeks old (n = 60) weighing around (150 ± 10 g) were used for the study. These rats were divided into 4 groups and each group included 15 rats. Groups: (i) Control Group: Fed with standard diet; (ii) C60 Group: C60 (1.7 mg/kg bw, oral gavage); (iii) DMBA Group: DMBA (45 mg/kg bw, oral gavage); (iv) C60 and DMBA Group: C60 (1.7 mg/kg bw, oral gavage) and DMBA (45 mg/kg bw, oral gavage) group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) analysis, catalase activity (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) in heart tissue were determined by spectrophotometer. In addition, heart tissue DNA damage was investigated. Caspase-3, p53, HO-1, COX-2, and TNF-α protein expression levels in heart tissue were determined by western blotting. As a result, Caspase-3, p53, HO-1 protein expression, GSH levels and CAT activity increased, COX-2, TNF-α protein expression, and MDA levels were significantly decreased in the C60 + DMBA group compared to the DMBA group. Therefore, the fullerene C60 nanoparticle may be a promising and effective therapy for the treatment of heart diseases associated with inflammation.

Clinical effects of intranasal corticosteroids on nasal symptoms in subjects with chronic rhinitis during COVID-19.

Background: The clinical effects of intranasal corticosteroids (INC) on nasal symptoms and the clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in subjects with chronic rhinitis (CR) seem unclear. Objective: To evaluate the clinical effects of INCs on nasal symptoms in subjects with CR and with COVID-19. Methods: In subjects with CR and diagnosed with COVID-19 at four tertiary centers, quality of life and nasal symptoms were assessed by using the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and the visual analog scale (VAS), respectively. In subjects with allergic rhinitis, nasal symptoms were also assessed on the total symptom score-6 (TSS-6) scale. The subjects were then allocated into two groups according to whether or not they used INCs while infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (group 1 and group 2, respectively). The subjects in group 2 were divided into two subgroups according to the use of antihistamines and/or leukotriene receptor antagonist or not (group 2a and group 2b, respectively). All the scores were compared before and during COVID-19 among the three groups. Results: A total of 71 subjects (21 in group 1, 24 in group 2a, and 26 in group 2b) were enrolled. The total scores of the SNOT-22 increased remarkably in all the groups during the infection when compared with the pre-COVID-19 scores (p < 0.001 in each group). However, the difference between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 values revealed a lower decrease in the senses of smell and/or taste in group 1 than in group 2a and group 2b (p = 0.015, adjusted p = 0.045; and p = 0.001, adjusted p = 0.002, respectively). There were no significant differences in other COVID-19 findings, VAS, and TSS-6 scores among the groups (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: INCs in subjects with CR seemed protective against the decrease in smell and/or taste observed during COVID-19 and do not aggravate the clinical course of COVID-19.

In vivo, in vitro and in silico anticancer investigation of fullerene C60 on DMBA induced breast cancer in rats.

AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine the protective and therapeutic effect of fullerene C60 nanoparticle on DMBA-induced breast cancer in rats. MAIN METHODS: In vitro cell viability was determined by the WST-1 test. In vivo analysis was performed in female Wistar Albino rats. The expression of caspase-3, Bcl-2, Nrf-2, NF-κB, TNF-α, COX-2, p53, IL-6, IL-1α ve p38α (MAPK) proteins were assessed by western blotting. Furthermore, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), catalase activity (CAT), total protein levels and DNA damage were investigated. In addition, tissues were evaluated by histopathologically. In in silico analysis, the binding affinities of the fullerene C60 nanoparticle to transcription factors such as caspase-3, Bcl-2, Nrf-2, NF-κB, TNF-α, COX-2, VEGF and Akt were demonstrated by molecular docking. KEY FINDINGS: Treatment of MCF-7 cells at various concentrations of fullerene C60 (0.1 to 100 mg/ml) inhibited cell viability in a dose dependent manner. Fullerene C60 treated rats exhibited considerable increase in the level of caspase-3 while decrease in the level of pro-survival protein Bcl-2. Bcl-2, NF-κB, TNF-α, COX-2, IL-6, IL-1α and p38α (MAPK) protein expression levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were decreased in the C60 + DMBA groups compared to the DMBA group. It was observed that caspase-3, Nrf-2 and p53 protein expression levels, glutathione (GSH) level, catalase activities (CAT) and total protein levels increased significantly which was further confirmed through the resulting DNA fragmentation. SIGNIFICANCE: In silico assays, fullerene C60 has been observed to have similar affinity to some crystal ligands, especially against cancer.

Quercetin and Luteolin Improve the Anticancer Effects of 5-Fluorouracil in Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma In Vitro Model: A Mechanistic Insight.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor effects of quercetin and luteolin combined with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in HT-29 human colorectal cancer cells. Cell viability induced by quercetin, luteolin and combination of these compounds with 5-FU were determined by MTT assay, also Cell death detection Elisa assay and fluorescence microscopy were performed to investigate apoptotic effects. Hu-VEGF Elisa assay was employed to determine the effects of treatments on angiogenesis. Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis were performed to investigate effects on p53, Bax, Bcl-2, p38 MAPK, mTOR, PTEN, and Akt proteins and genes. The results indicated that quercetin, luteolin and combinations of these compounds with 5-FU inhibited the growth of HT 29 cells. Compared to the control, apoptosis were triggered 8.1 and 10.1 fold in HT-29 cells, that treated with quercetin + 5-FU and luteolin + 5-FU, respectively. VEGF amount significantly decreased by combined treatments. qRT-PCR and western blot results demonstrated that quercetin, luteolin and the combinations of these flavonoids with 5-FU, modulate the apoptotic pathways in HT-29 cells. The increase in p53, Bax, p38 MAPK, and PTEN gene expression levels compared to the control group was 1.71, 1.42, 3.26, and 3.29-fold with 5-FU + L treatment, respectively, while this increase was 8.43, 1.65, 3.55, and 3.54-fold with 5-FU + Q treatment, respectively. In addition, when the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, mTOR, and Akt gene expression levels were normalized as 1 in the control group, they were 0.28, 0.41, and 0.22 with 5-FU + L treatment, and 0.32, 0.46, and 0.39, respectively, with 5-FU + Q treatment. These findings suggested that quercetin and luteolin synergistically enhanced the anticancer effect of 5-FU in HT 29 cells and may therefore minimize the toxic effects of 5-FU in the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer.

Effectiveness of message framing in changing COVID-19 vaccination intentions: Moderating role of travel desire.

This research examines the effectiveness of message framing, message appeal and information content in changing respondents' COVID-19 vaccination intentions through influencing their vaccine risk perceptions. Furthermore, the moderating effect of travel desire on the relationship between vaccine risk perceptions and changing vaccination intentions is examined. In doing so, two rounds of data that were collected from the same respondents. The first survey recorded respondents' vaccination intentions, travel desire and socio demographics. A follow up survey tested cause-and-effect relationships on the proposed relationships using a 2 (message frame: gain, loss) x 2 (message appeal: rational, emotional) ×2 (information content: subjective, objective) between-subjects online experimental design. Findings suggest that loss-framed messages are more effective than gain-framed and emotional-rational messages in reducing risk perceptions and, thus, changing vaccination intentions. Travel desire is found to moderate the effect of vaccine risk perception on vaccination intentions by weakening the negative effect of vaccine risk perception on vaccination intention. Findings show the importance of travel desire along with message framing and message appeal on changing individuals' COVID-19 vaccination intentions in public health communications.