The relation between Ring Box-1 protein overexpression and tumor grade and stage in bladder urothelial cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Ring Box Protein-1 (RBX-1), a component of SCF E3 ubiquitin ligases, has a crucial role in bladder urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) carcinogenesis and progression. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, it is aimed to determine the expression of RBX-1 protein in bladder UCC and the association between tumor grade, stage and RBX-1 expression. METHODS: Ninety UCC samples and 20 samples containing foci of normal bladder urothelium were recruited and analyzed immunohistochemically in terms of RBX-1 expression. Immuno-reactivity scoring system (IRS) was used to determine RBX-1 expression levels. RESULTS: RBX-1 overexpression was associated with high tumor grade (p= 0.001) and advanced stage (p= 0.001). pT1 tumors showed higher RBX-1 expression than pTa tumors. pT2 tumors showed not only higher expression than pTa tumors but also higher expression than the total of pTa and pT1 groups combined. There was no statistically significant relation between RBX-1 expression and patient gender (p= 0.116) or age (p= 0.191). CONCLUSIONS: In bladder UCC, RBX-1 overexpression is associated with high tumor grade and advanced stage and represents biological potential of invasiveness and aggressive disease. Results of the present study have to be supported with further studies to reveal clinical and therapeutic implications of RBX-1 overexpression in bladder UCC.

Comparison of efficacy of topical phenytoin with hypericin in second-degree burn wound healing: an experimental study in rats.

BACKGROUND: This experiment was performed to compare the effects of Phenytoin (PHT) and Hypericin (HP) cream on healing of burn wounds in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty rats were divided into 3 groups and second-degree burn wounds were created. The burn wounds in the first, second, and third groups were covered twice daily with PHT cream, HP cream, and saline (control), respectively. At the end of days 3, 7, 14, and 21, full-thickness skin biopsies were done for histopathologic and immunohistochemical analyses. RESULTS: Histopathologic evaluations at the 14th day showed that re-epithelialization scores were greater in the HP group than the PHT group, but on day 21, re-epithelialization scores were higher in the PHT group than the HP group. Collagen content on days 3 and 14 in the PHT group was found to be higher than in the HP group. Well-vascularized granulation tissue on day 7 in the PHT group was higher than in other groups. HP and PHT groups had a significant increase in VEGF and TGF-b expression in burn wound healing area compared to the control group on all days. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of HP can promote re-epithelialization in burn wounds to shorten the wound healing time for superficial burns. Phenytoin, on the other hand, contributes to healing by increasing vascularized granulation tissue and collagen synthesis through re-epithelialization. The increased VEGF and TGF-b expression following PHT and HP treatment strongly indicate that PHT and HP treatment promotes VEGF and TGF-b production and action in the burn wound area.

Atypical antipsychotic usage-related higher serum leptin levels and disabled lipid profiles in euthymic bipolar patients.

Atypical antipsychotics (AA)-induced weight gain is associated with increased leptin levels. AA have been increasingly used in the treatment of bipolar disorders. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between serum leptin and lipid profiles considering the drug treatments in euthymic bipolar outpatients. Leptin and lipid profiles were compared, and no differences were noted in leptin, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels among the patients and controls. Glucose, very-low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels in patients were higher than in controls, while high-density lipoprotein levels were low. Patients were divided into three groups according to their type of drug usage: AA users, AA + mood stabilizer users, and mood stabilizer users. Each group of patients was compared with a healthy control group for mentioned biochemical parameters. Lipid profiles were disordered by using both AA and mood stabilizers, but higher leptin levels are associated with AA usage. However, leptin does not seem to be responsible for dyslipidemia caused by AA or mood stabilizers in euthymic bipolar patients.