Investigation of Cytotoxic Effects of Oxymetazoline on Lungs in a Rat Model of Rhinitis Medicamentosa.

BACKGROUND: Rhinitis medicamentosa, also known as 'rebound congestion,' is inflammation of the nasal mucosa caused by the overuse of topical nasal decongestants. Although local decongestants resolve the initial nasal obstruction, the overuse causes rebound obstruction. However, how the overuse of the decongestant causes rhinitis medicamentosa is not known. OBJECTIVES: Here, we show the intracellular effects of oxymetazoline, commonly used a local decongestant, on the cell death pathways. We also investigated the antioxidative effects of erdosteine suspension (175 mg/5mL), an antioxidative agent. METHODS: Thirty Wistar-albino rats were used to form the rhinitis medicamentosa model. After rhinitis medicamentosa was clinically detected, we removed the whole lungs of animals to perform the molecular analyses of cell death pathways. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant decrease in the expression levels of Atg5 (p=0.021), Atg7 (p=0.013) and Ulk1 (p=0.036) in the oxymetazoline group compared to the control group (p<0.05); however, Caspase 3 expression level was recorded to be significantly increased in the oxymetazoline group, and the expression level of Beclin1 recorded to be substantially increased in the erdosteine group (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on these grounds, we suggest that vasoconstriction in capillary vessels caused by oxymetazoline could lead to a decrease in the blood supply, which triggers autophagy to ensure cellular homeostasis.

The effects of bupivacaine combined with different adjuvants on block onset and duration and on ion channel expressions (SCN9A, TRPM) in sciatic nerve block in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The objective of this experimental study was to examine the effects of epinephrine, dexmedetomidine, and clonidine added as adjuvants to bupivacaine on block onset and effect times, as well as the effects on the Na+ and Ca+2 channel gene expressions, which may indicate cell damage in the sciatic nerve cell membrane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were divided into five groups: Group S (sham), saline solution; Group B, bupivacaine; Group BD, bupivacaine + dexmedetomidine; Group BC, bupivacaine + clonidine; and Group BE, bupivacaine + epinephrine. For each group, 0.2 mL of local anesthetic was injected into the sciatic nerve bifurcation point of the right leg. Sensory (proprioceptive and nociceptive block) and motor block onset and ending times were recorded. RESULTS: The shortest onset time for the examined sciatic block was observed in the BC group, whereas the longest sensory and motor block times were observed in the BD group. The present data suggest suppressed TRPM7 and increased TRPM2 in the groups other than the BE group. CONCLUSION: Clonidine is more suitable for fast onset of peripheral nerve blocks, whereas the addition of dexmedetomidine is better in terms of duration. Because the SCN9A and TRPM2,4,7 expression ratios of the BE group showed the least amount of change, this group had the best cellular integrity.

Do patients with neurogenic bladder treated with clean intermittentcatheterization need antibacterial prophylaxis?

BACKGROUND/AIM: In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis (ABP) with respect to the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and evaluated the development of renal scarring in patients treated with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 22 patients were included in the study. The patients were administered ABP in the first year (the ABP-received period) but not in the second year (the ABP-discontinued period). RESULTS: Twenty-eight of all cultures taken in the ABP-received period (18.2%) and 25 (16.2%) of the ABP-discontinued cultures were considered to be indicative of symptomatic UTIs (P = 0.65). The multiple antibiotic resistance rate of microorganisms in cultures taken during the ABP-discontinued period (47; 30.5%) was lower than that in those taken in the ABP-received period (62; 40.3%), (P = 0.07). There was no difference between the ABP-received and ABP-discontinued periods with respect to the development of new lesions according to dimercaptosuccinic acid results (P = 0.14). CONCLUSION: Routine ABP usage is not protective against the development of symptomatic UTIs and new lesions in neurogenic bladder patients receiving CIC. Furthermore, the growth of resistant microorganisms increased in the ABP-received period.

Association of Polymorphisms within the Serotonin Receptor Genes 5-HTR1A, 5-HTR1B, 5-HTR2A and 5-HTR2C and Migraine Susceptibility in a Turkish Population.

OBJECTIVE: Migraine, a highly prevelant headache disorder, is regarded as a polygenic multifactorial disease. Serotonin (5-HT) and their respective receptors have been implicated in the patogenesis. METHODS: We investigated the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2C receptor gene polymorphisms and their association with migraine in Turkish patients. The rs6295, rs1300060, rs1228814, rs6311, rs6313, rs6314, rs6318, rs3813929 (-759C/T) and rs518147 polymorphisms were analyzed in 135 patients with migraine and 139 healthy subjects, using a BioMark 96.96 dynamic array system. RESULTS: We found no difference in the frequency of the analyzed eight out of nine polymorpisms between migraine and control groups. However, a significant association was found between the rs3813929 polymorphism in the promoter region of 5-HTR2C gene and migraine. Also, the allele of rs3813929 was more common in the migraine group. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the 5-HTR2C rs3813929 polymorphism can be a genetic risk factor for migraine in a Turkish population.

Assessment of expressions of Bcl-XL, b-FGF, Bmp-2, Caspase-3, PDGFR-α, Smad1 and TGF-ß1 genes in a rat model of lung ischemia/reperfusion.

OBJECTIVES: Ischemia is described as organs and tissues are destitute of oxygen due to decreased arterial or venous blood flow. Many mechanisms play role in cell death happened as a consequence of a new blood flow is needed for both cell regeneration and to clean toxic metabolites during ischemia and later. Lung damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a frequent problem in lung transplantation. Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is known as cell suicide, and plays a key role in embryonic developmental and in maintain adult tissue's life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is investigated expressions of Smad1, Bmp-2, Bcl-XL, b-FGF, Caspase-3, TGF-ß1, PDGFR-α genes for molecular changes in lung tissues, after I/R is formed, in this study. For this, we included 40 Wistar albino rats to this study and divided 4 groups (n=10). The Groups were determined as Control (C), Group 1= 1 hr ischemia (I), Group 2= 1 hr ischemia+2 hr reperfusion (I+2R), Group 3= 1 hr ischemia+4 hr reperfusion (I+4R). Besides, molecular analysis and histopathologic examinations of tissues were performed, and the results were evaluated by normalization and statistics analysis. RESULTS: We have found a significant increase in expression of Bcl-XL (P=0.046) and Caspase-3 (P=0.026) genes of group 1, and it was not monitored any significant difference in Group 2 and Group 3. In all groups, the changes in b-FGF (P=0.087), Bmp-2 (P=0.457), TGF-ß1 (P=0.201) and PDGFR-α (P=0.116) were not significant compared to control group. We did not see any mRNA expression of Smad1 gene in all groups include control. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that I/R injury may trigger apoptotic mechanism in lung.

Contribution of polymorphisms in ESR1, ESR2, FSHR, CYP19A1, SHBG, and NRIP1 genes to migraine susceptibility in Turkish population.

Migraine, a highly prevalent headache disorder, is regarded as a polygenic multifactorial disease. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes that involved in sex hormone metabolism may comprise risk for migraine, but the results of previous genetic association studies are conflicting. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic variants in genes involved in oestrogen receptor and oestrogen hormone metabolism in a Turkish population. A total of 12 SNPs in the ESR1, ESR2, FSHR, CYP19A1, SHBG and NRIP1 genes were genotyped in 142 migraine cases and 141 nonmigraine controls, using a BioMark 96.96 dynamic array system. In addition, gene-gene interactions were analysed using generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) methods. According to GMDR analysis, our results indicated that there was a significant association between migraine and gene-gene interaction among the CYP19A1, FSHR, ESR1 and NRIP1. Single-gene variant analysis showed that a significant association was observed between the TT genotype of rs10046 and migraine susceptibility.When the analysis was performed only in women, the GG genotype of rs2229741 was different between migraineurs and controls.When the female migraine patients were divided into two groups, migraine related to menstruation (MRM) or migraine not related to menstruation (MNRM), GG genotype of rs726281 was significantly associated with MRM. These results suggested that rs10046 could play a potential role in migraine susceptibility in Turkish population. Also, the rare GG genotype of rs726281 appears to influence migraine susceptibility in a recessive manner in MRM subgroup of female patients. In addition, variant GG genotype of rs2229741 may reduce the risk of migraine in Turkish women.

Effects of laser irradiation at different wavelengths (660, 810, 980, and 1064 nm) on transient receptor potential melastatin channels in an animal model of wound healing.

The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of four different laser wavelengths used for low-level laser therapy(LLLT) on healing of mucositis in an animal model of wound healing, by investigating expression of transient receptor potential melastatin(TRPM) ion channels. Forty-five rats were intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil on day 1 and 65 mg/kg on day 3. Superficial scratching on left cheek pouch mucosa was performed on days 3 and 5. After ulcerative mucositis was clinically detected, LLLT was started (660 nm, HELBO; 810 nm, Fotona-XD; 980 nm, ARC-Fox; and 1064 nm, Fidelis-Plus3) at 8 J/cm(2)/day from days 1 to 4. Oval excisional biopsy was performed at the wound site, and expression of TRPM2 to TRPM8 was evaluated. Student's t test was used for evaluation of significance of TRPM gene expression according to "0" value (α = 0.05). In 980-nm group, TRPM4, TRPM6, and TRPM7 were significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.005). In 660, 810, and 1064 nm groups, only TRPM6 was significantly higher than in control group (p < 0.005). There were no significant differences between control and sham groups (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that expression of TRPM6 gene was significantly affected by irradiation with lasers at different wavelengths, whereas the TRPM4 and TRPM7 genes were only expressed in the 980-nm diode laser group. TRPM6 gene was highly expressed during LLLT, which may lead to accelerated wound healing and tissue repair. In contrast, there was some evidence that the 980-nm diode laser caused increased expression of TRPM4, TRPM6, and TRPM7 which are responsible for stimulation of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) metabolism, as well as apoptotic pathways of controlled cell death.

Assessment of the effect of laser irradiations at different wavelengths (660, 810, 980, and 1064 nm) on autophagy in a rat model of mucositis.

It is known that high-dose radiation has an effect on tissue healing, but tissue healing does not occur when low dose radiation is applied. To clarify this issue, we compare the treatment success of low dose radiation with programmed cell death mechanisms on wounded tissue. In this study, we aimed to investigate the interactions of low and high-dose radiation using an autophagic mechanism. We included 35 adult Wistar-Albino rats in this study. All animals were injected with 100 mg/kg of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the first day and 65 mg/kg of 5-FU on the third day. The tips of 18-gauge needles were used to develop a superficial scratching on the left cheek pouch mucosa by dragging in a linear movement on third and fifth days. After mucositis formation was clinically detected, animals were divided into five groups (n = 7). Different wavelengths of laser irradiations (1064 nm, Fidelis Plus, Fotona, Slovenia; 980 nm, FOX laser, A.R.C., Germany; 810 nm, Fotona XD, Fotona, Slovenia; 660 nm, HELBO, Medizintechnik GmbH, Wels, Austria) were performed on four groups once daily for 4 days. The laser irradiation was not performed on the control group. To get the tissue from the left cheek at the end of fourth day from all animals, oval excisional biopsy was performed. Molecular analysis assessments of pathological and normal tissue taken were performed. For this purpose, the expression analysis of autophagy genes was performed. The results were evaluated by normalization and statistics analysis. We found that Ulk1, Beclin1, and Atg5 expression levels were increased in the rats when the Nd:YAG laser was applied. This increase showed that a 1064-nm laser is needed to activate the autophagic mechanism. However, in the diode applications, we found that Beclin1, Atg10, Atg5, and Atg7 expressions numerically decreased. Atg5 is responsible for the elongation of autophagosome. Becn1 is a control gene in the control mechanism of autophagy. The reduction of the expression of these genes leads us to think that it may depend on the effect of drug (5-FU) used to form model. Expressions of therapeutic genes increase to ensure hemostasis, but in our study, expressions were found to decrease. More detailed studies are needed.

Differential expression of the UGT1A family of genes in stomach cancer tissues.

Uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) are the key players in the biotransformation of drugs, xenobiotics, and endogenous compounds. Particularly, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A (UGT1A) participates in a wide range of biological and pharmacological processes and plays a critical role in the conjugation of endogenous and exogenous components. Thirteen alternative splicing products were produced from UGT1A gene locus designated as UGT1A1 and UGT1A3-10. A growing amount of evidence suggests that they have important roles in the carcinogenesis which is well documented by colon, liver, pancreas, and kidney cancer studies. Here, we report differential expressions of UGT1A genes in normal and tumor tissues of stomach cancer patients. Total numbers of 49 patients were enrolled for this study, and expression analysis of UGT1A genes was evaluated by the real-time PCR method. Accordingly, UGT1A1, UGT1A8, and UGT1A10 were found to be upregulated, and UGT1A3, UGT1A5, UGT1A7, and UGT1A9 were downregulated in stomach tumors. No expression changes were observed in UGT1A4. Also, UGT1A6 transcription variants were significantly upregulated in stomach cancer tissues compared to normal stomach tissue. Additionally, UGT1A7 gene showed highest expression in both normal and tumoral tissues, and interestingly, UGT1A7 gene expression was significantly reduced in stage II patients as compared to other patients. In conclusion, UGT1A genes are differentially expressed in normal and tumoral stomach tissues and expression changes of these genes may affect the development and progression of various types of cancer including the cancer of the stomach.

A novel tumor suppressor gene in basal cell carcinoma: inhibition of growth factor-2.

In loss of heterozygosity (LOH) studies at the chromosome 4q22-35 region, it was shown that the amount of deletion was high in basal cell carcinoma (BCC). It has been proposed that genes located in this chromosomal region could be tumor suppressor genes in BCC. It has been thought that deletions in the ING2 gene located in the same region can play a role in the pathophysiology of BCC and that deletions occurring in this region may influence the level of ING2 expression in BCC. Tumoral and non-tumoral tissues from 75 patients with BCC (45 men and 30 women) were included to the study. Lesions were excised by a surgical margin of 0.5 cm. After excision, RNA was isolated from tumoral and non-tumoral tissue samples. ING2 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level was determined in tumoral and non-tumoral tissues by the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It was detected that ING2 mRNA expression level decreased in tumoral tissues when compared to non-tumoral tissues from BCC patients (p = 0.0001). It was found that expression levels of this gene were comparable among patients with primary, recurrent, or multiple BCC. It is thought that ING2 gene expression level could contribute to the development of BCC but not be associated with the stage and the prognosis of the tumor.

Contribution of KCNJ10 gene polymorphisms in childhood epilepsy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible association between childhood epilepsy and KCNJ10 gene polymorphisms (rs61822012 and rs2486253). A total of 200 epileptic cases and 200 healthy controls enrolled to this study. Genomic DNAs from the patients and control cases were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. There were significant associations between the G/T genotype of KCNJ10 gene rs2486253 polymorphism in the idiopathic generalized epilepsy group (P = .037) and in subjects with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (P = .0015). T allele was also increased in patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (P = .0158). However, no statistically significant association was found between rs61822012 polymorphism and epilepsy. Our data suggest that G/T genotype of the KCNJ10 gene rs2486253 polymorphism affects risk for development of common types of childhood epilepsy. The T allele of this polymorphism was found to be a seizure-susceptibility allele for tonic-clonic epilepsy.

Loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 13q33-34 region and molecular analysis of ING1 and p53 genes in bladder carcinoma.

Cancer is a consequence of accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in the cell which can lead to activation of oncogenes or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSG). Since members of ING family were discovered as TSGs in different cancer types, it was aimed to analyze the chromosome 13q33-34 region, ING1 and p53 genes in bladder cancer. 30 paired normal and tumor tissues were investigated in terms of microdeletion of chromosome 13q33-34 region, ING1 expression and mutation status of ING1 and p53 genes. Because there is no data available about the transcription factors which bind to ING1 promoter, the promoter sequence was analyzed via Genomatix-MatInspector and TFSEARCH softwares. Used DS markers were D13S285, D13S1315, D13S796, D13S278, D13S158, and D13S779 where loss of heterozygosity (LOH) results were as 23.3, 20, 6.7, 3.3, 6.7, and 0 %, respectively. The highest LOH scores were obtained with markers D13S285 and D13S1315 which are flanking the ING1. Seven of 30 cases showed alteration in expression (p > 0.05). However, no mutation was detected in the exons of ING1. One patient showed a two-nucleotide deletion in p53 gene. However no significant TSG activity of ING1 was observed while higher activity was reported in different cancer types. As for the LOH data 13q33-34 region may contain different candidate TSGs like COL4A1, COL4A2 and SOX1. As a result of computational promoter analysis, some factors like ABL, E2F, HIF1, SOX, P53, BPTF, NRSF, c-Rel and c-ETS were associated with the promoter region. Molecular analysis of ING1 promoter warrants further analysis.

The relationship between urotensin II and its receptor and the clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Urotensin II is a vasoactive polypeptide. It is known that some vasoactive polypeptides are produced and secreted by tumor cells, and act as a paracrine growth stimulant. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between urotensin II and its receptor's messenger RNA expression in breast cancer. MATERIAL/METHODS: Fifty-nine women with breast cancer were included in this study. The median age was 48 years. The relationships between urotensin II and urotensin II receptor mRNA expressions, which were derived from fresh breast cancer tissues and adjacent normal breast tissues, and clinical and pathological parameters, were assessed. RESULTS: We found expressions of urotensin II mRNA and its receptor in 55 of 59 breast cancer tissues and in 55 of 59 normal breast tissues. We found a positive significant correlation between urotensin II and its receptor (p=0.001, r=0.632), and found a negative, but insignificant, correlation between urotensin II and age (p=0.038, r=-0.281). Urotensin II levels were higher in the premenopausal group compared to the postmenopausal group (p<0.05). The mean urotensin II receptor expression was higher in the premenopausal group (p<0.05) compared to the postmenopausal group, and its expression was also higher in the group without extra-nodal invasion compared to that of the group with extra-nodal invasion (p=0.001). Urotensin II levels were higher in the group without lymphatic invasion compared to the group with lymphatic invasion (p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first in the English medical literature to determine the urotensin II and its receptor mRNA expressions in breast cancer tissues. Consequently, urotensin II seems be associated with menopausal status, and extra-nodal and lymphatic invasion.

Investigation of the Rho-kinase 2 gene Thr431Asn polymorphism in migraine.

BACKGROUND: Migraine has a complex etiology determined by genetic and environmental factors, but the molecular mechanisms and genetics of this disease have not yet been fully clarified. AIM: This case/control study was designed to analyze the genotype distributions and allele frequencies for the Rho-kinase 2 (ROCK2) gene Thr431Asn polymorphism among the migraine patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 155 migraine patients and 155 healthy age and sex matched controls were included in this study. Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid from migraine patients and controls was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Neither genotype distributions nor the allele frequencies for the Thr431Asn polymorphism showed a significant difference between the groups. In addition, there were no marked differences in genotype and allele frequencies for the migraine without aura and migraine with aura subgroups when compared with control group. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that the ROCK2 gene Thr431Asn polymorphism is not a risk factor for the migraine in the Turkish population.

Evaluation of TRPM (transient receptor potential melastatin) genes expressions in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

In the present study, the expression levels of TRPM1, TRPM2, TRPM3, TRPM4, TRPM5, TRPM6, TRPM7, and TRPM8 genes were evaluated in heart tissues after ischemia/reperfusion (IR). For this study, 30 albino male Wistar rats were equally divided into three groups as follows: Group 1: control group (n:10), Group II: ischemia group (ischemia for 60 min) (n:10) and Group III: IR (reperfusion 48 h after ischemia for 60 min and reperfusion for 48 h). The expression levels of the TRPM genes were analyzed by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. When compared to the ischemia control, the expression levels of TRPM2, TRPM4, and TRPM6 did not change, whereas that of TRPM7 increased. However, TRPM1, TRPM3, TRPM5, and TRPM8 were not expressed in heart tissue. Histopathological analysis of the myocardial tissues showed that the structures that were most damaged were those exposed to IR. The findings showed that there is a positive relationship between TRPM7 expression and myocardial IR injury.

Evaluation of EGFR, KRAS and BRAF gene mutations in renal cell carcinoma.

A subset of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients has been shown to respond to anti-EGFR therapy. As KRAS and BRAF mutations are associated with poor response to anti-EGFR therapy in some cancers, it has been suggested that screening for KRAS and BRAF mutations in RCC may be a promising strategy to identify patients who might respond to EGFR-targeted therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the mutation status of EGFR, KRAS and BRAF in RCC patients. Renal tumors and normal renal samples from forty-eight patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy for kidney cancer were used in this study. Histological classification of the tumors was performed according to International Union against Cancer (UICC) / American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification. Seventeen patients (48%) had clear-cell RCC, 7 (20%) had chromophobe RCC, and 11 patients (32%) had papillary RCC. DNA isolated from the samples was subjected to melting curve mutation analysis for EGFR, BRAF and KRAS using ABI-3130 DNA sequencer. DNA sequencing analysis of RCC samples, when compared with morphologically normal matched regions, did not show any exon mutations. Our results do not support the notion that EGFR, KRAS and BRAF might be mutated in RCC.

Effects of laser irradiation at different wavelengths (660, 810, 980, and 1,064 nm) on mucositis in an animal model of wound healing.

The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of four different laser wavelengths (660, 810, 980, and 1,064 nm) used for low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the healing of mucositis in an animal model of wound healing by investigating the expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), and blood-derived fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Thirty-five male Wistar albino rats with a weight of 250-300 g body mass and 5 months old were used in the study. All animals were intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the first day and 65 mg/kg of 5-FU on the third day. The tip of an 18-gauge needle was used in order to develop a superficial scratching on the left cheek pouch mucosa by dragging twice in a linear movement on third and fifth days. After ulcerative mucositis were clinically detected on the animals' left cheek pouch mucosa, the laser therapy was started. Four different laser wavelengths (660 nm, HELBO, Bredent; 810 nm, Fotona XD, Fotona; 980 nm, ARC Fox; and 1,064 nm, Fidelis Plus 3, Fotona) used for LLLT at ED 8 J/cm(2) daily from the first to the fourth days. Oval excisional biopsy was taken from the site of the wound, and the expression of PDGF, TGF-ß, and bFGF was evaluated. The obtained data were analyzed by one2-way ANOVA, and then Tukey HSD tests were used for pairwise comparisons among groups (α = 0.05). The one-way ANOVA test indicated that expression values of the growth factors, PDGF and bFGF, were significantly affected by irradiation of different wavelengths of lasers (p < 0.001). However, expression value of the TGF-ß was not affected by irradiation of different wavelengths of lasers (p > 0.05). The highest PDGF expression was detected in neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser group (p < 0.05), and there were no statistically significant differences among the other groups (p > 0.05). The highest bFGF expression was detected in 980-nm diode and Nd:YAG laser groups (p < 0.05), and there were no statistically significant differences among the other groups (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that low-level Nd:YAG and 980-nm diode laser therapy accelerate the wound healing process by changing the expression of PDGF and bFGF genes responsible for the stimulation of the cell proliferation and fibroblast growth.

NADPH oxidase p22phox gene expression in ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, which catalyzes the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in phagocytic cells, has five subunits: p67phox ("phox"refers to "phagocyte oxidase"), p47phox, p40phox, p22phox, and gp91phox (catalytic subunit). Oxidative stress resulting from the accumulation of ROS and/or defective removal of ROS by antioxidants has detrimental effects on cellular functions and may contribute to chronic inflammation. Disruption of the colonic mucosa due to the dysregulation of antioxidants or transformation enzymes may play a role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) and influence the clinical features of this disease. In this study, we examined the expression of the gene encoding NADPH oxidase subunit p22phox cytochrome b-245, alphapolypeptidein the colonic mucosa to test its possible contribution in the pathogenesis of UC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression levels of mRNA in the inflamed and non-inflamed colonic mucosa (determined using colonoscopy)of 22 patients with UC and in the normal mucosa of 22 healthy controls were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Expression levels of mRNA were not significantly different between patients with inflamed and non-inflamed colonic mucosa (p>0.05) and betweenpatients with inflamed colonicmucosa and healthy controls (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although our data suggest that expression of the gene encoding p22phox is not associated with chronic inflammation in patients with UC, other mechanisms can affect oxidative stress in these patients.

The role of hepcidin and its related genes (BMP6, GDF-15, and HJV) in rats exposed to ischemia and reperfusion.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To determine the roles of hepcidin and its related genes in a renal ischemia/reperfusion model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 Wistar albino rats were equally divided into 2 groups: Group I was the control group and Group II was the ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) group (60 min of ischemia + 48 h of reperfusion). I/R was performed on the left kidneys of these rats and then the I/R-treated kidneys were removed. The levels of serum biochemical markers were evaluated after renal I/R. The expression levels of hepcidin-linked genes [growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6), and hemojuvelin (HJV)] were also measured by RT-PCR technique. In addition, the tissues were evaluated histopathologically. RESULTS: No significant association was found between renal dysfunction and I/R when compared to biochemical parameters (P > 0.05). However, differences in platelet values were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Expression levels of GDF-15, BMP6, and HJV genes increased, but this increase was not statistically significant. In addition, histopathological evaluation was performed using hematoxylin and eosin stain. This showed a significant relationship between the control group and I/R group for ischemic and nonischemic kidney scoring. CONCLUSION: Hepcidin and BMP6, HJV, and GDF-15 should be taken into account when investigating the process of I/R.

Thr21Met (T21M) but not Ser89Asn (S89N) polymorphisms of the urotensin-II (UTS-II) gene are associated with Behcet's disease (BD).

Behcet's disease (BD) is multisytemic vasculitis or chronic inflammation that may lead to various autoimmune and autoinflammatory syndromes. Exact etiopathogenesis of BD has not been clarified yet. Urotensin II (UTS-II) is predominantly a vasoactive peptide and Thr21Met polymorphism in UTS-II gene was proved to increasing in some autoimmune diseases. Considering these, our objective was to evaluate whether two UTS-II gene polymorphisms (Thr21Met and Ser89Asn) were responsible in genetic susceptibility to BD in a Turkish population. A total of 198 patients with BD and 275 healthy controls were enrolled. We analyzed the genotype and allele frequencies of two UTS-II gene polymorphisms, Thr21Met and Ser89Asn, in BD patients and in controls. We found that Thr21Met but not Ser89Asn polymorphisms of the UTS-II gene were markedly associated with the risk of developing BD (p<0.0001), The Met21Met genotype was less common among BD patients (6.1% in patients vs. 17.1% in controls; p<0.0001). There was also an increase in the 21Thr allele (54.8% in BD patients vs. 43.8% in controls) and a decrease in 21Met allele frequencies (45.2% in controls vs. 56.2% in patients) in the BD groups (p<0.0044). To the best of our knowledge, for the first time in the literature, our study claims that there is an association between Thr21Met, and not between Ser89Asn polymorphisms in the UTS-II gene and BD. These results put a new player to the field of undiscovered pathogenesis of BD and hopefully provide new insights to the treatment options.