Improved kidney function is associated with Colchicine treatment in COVID-19 patients.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus) has been a major cause of significant morbidity and mortality. Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been seen in COVID-19-infected subjects, and it has frequently resulted in an abnormal estimated glomerular filtration rate. Colchicine, an immunomodulatory drug, was used in several studies in the early stages of the pandemic.

Mitochondrial toxicity of selected natural compounds: assessment and molecular docking and dynamics simulation.

Boiss & Hausskn stands out for its rich bioactive constituents including prantschimgin (PRA), imperatorin (IMP), suberosin (SUB), adicardin (ADI), and oxypeucedanin hydrate (OPH) in the Apiaceae family. Although these molecules contribute to several biological activities, their mitochondrial toxicity were not illuminated in depth with the appropriate and models. Cell viability studies investigated the cytotoxic activities of molecules in HepG2 cells by replacing glucose with galactose due to Warburg effects.

What are the Barriers of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients in Smoking Cessation?

Objectives: Smoking is the major determinant of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A substantial proportion of patients with COPD continue smoking although they have significant respiratory symptoms, exacerbation history and comorbidities. We aimed to find the associated factors and clinical features of the patients who maintain smoking.

Sustained cancer-relevant alternative RNA splicing events driven by PRMT5 in high-risk neuroblastoma.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is over-expressed in a wide variety of cancers and is implicated as having a key oncogenic role, achieved in part through its control of the master transcription regulator E2F1. We investigated the relevance of PRMT5 and E2F1 in neuroblastoma (NB) and found that elevated expression of PRMT5 and E2F1 occurs in poor prognosis high-risk disease and correlates with an amplified Myelocytomatosis viral-related oncogene, neuroblastoma-derived (MYCN) gene. Our results show that MYCN drives the expression of splicing factor genes that, together with PRMT5 and E2F1, lead to a deregulated alternative RNA splicing programme that impedes apoptosis.

Electrochemical profiling of natural furanocoumarins: DNA interaction dynamics of oxypeucedanin and prantschimgin.

Background And Purpose: In this study, we present an electrochemical sensor for the detection of oxypeucedanin (Oxyp) and prantschimgin (Pra), two natural furanocoumarin derivatives. The determination of the effects of these molecules on DNA is important to be potential drug candidates. Our research focused on exploring the electrochemical behaviour of these compounds and their interaction with DNA.

Fusariotoxin-Induced Toxicity in Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Fibroblasts: A Comparison Between Differentiated and Undifferentiated Cells.

Objectives: Humans are unknowingly exposed to mycotoxins through the consumption of plant-derived foods and processed products contaminated with these toxic compounds. In addition to agricultural losses, Fusarium toxins pose a threat to human health. However, the effects of fusariotoxins on the viability and proliferation of stem cells have not been fully explored.

Evaluation of the quality features of electrospray-coated pineapple slices with pomegranate and grape seed oil-enriched emulsions.

Unlabelled: The quality characteristics of pineapple slices coated with emulsions enriched with pomegranate seed oil (PSO) and grape seed oil (GSO) by electrospray coating (ESC) and dip-coating (DC) methods were investigated. The ESC method was evaluated as an alternative to conventional DC. Pineapple slices were stored in clear polystyrene cups for seven days at 5 °C and 80% RH.

A cross-sectional study on the personality traits of episodic and chronic migraine patients.

Background: Migraine, is a common neurological disorder that may be associated with certain personality traits. This study aims to identify and compare the personality traits accompanying the clinical and sociodemographic profiles in migraine groups.

Methods: The study included a cohort of chronic, episodic migraine (CM - EM) and healthy controls (HC).

Investigation of antifungal activities of myrcene on Fusarium reference strains.

Antifungal effects of myrcene, the plant-based naturel compound, were investigated on Fusarium graminearum PH-1 and Fusarium culmorum FcUK99 references, for the first time. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and half of MIC (MIC) of both Fusarium strains against myrcene were found as 25 µg/µl and 12.5 µg/µl, respectively.

The HDAC inhibitor zabadinostat is a systemic regulator of adaptive immunity.

Protein acetylation plays a key role in regulating cellular processes and is subject to aberrant control in diverse pathologies. Although histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are approved drugs for certain cancers, it is not known whether they can be deployed in other therapeutic contexts. We have explored the clinical HDAC inhibitor, zabadinostat/CXD101, and found that it is a stand-alone regulator of the adaptive immune response.

Anticholinesterase Compounds from Endemic Prangos uechtritzii.

In this study, the anticholinesterase effects of the extracts and isolated compounds from the roots of endemic Prangos uechtritzii Boiss & Hausskn (Apiaceae) are reported. A novel polyacetylenic compound; (+)-8-O-methyloplopantriol A along with two known polyacetylenes; (-)-panaxynol, (+)-falcarindiol and fifteen known coumarin derivatives; umbelliferone, 6-formylumbelliferone, suberosin, 7-demethylsuberosin, (+)-ulopterol, tamarin, psoralen, imperatorin, (+)-oxypeucedanin, (+)-oxypeucedanin hydrate, (+)-oxypeucedanin methanolate, (+)-marmesin, (-)-prantschimgin, (+)-decursinol, and (-)-adicardin were isolated from the hexane (Pu-HE), chloroform (Pu-CE), and methanol (Pu-ME) extracts of P. uechtritzii roots.

Relaxation mechanisms of chloroform root extracts of Prangos heyniae and Prangos uechtritzii on mouse corpus cavernosum.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve/maintain an erection. Because of the side effects, interactions, or ineffectiveness of currently used drugs, novel drug discovery studies are ongoing. The roots of Turkish endemic plants Prangos uechtritzii and Prangos heyniae are traditionally used as aphrodisiacs in Anatolia and contain coumarin-like relaxant compounds.

Comparative evaluation of relaxant effects of three prangos species on mouse corpus cavernosum: Chemical characterization and the relaxant mechanisms of action of P. pabularia and (+)-oxypeucedanin.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common form of sexual dysfunction which has been the topic of great interest through the history by all cultures. It is now among the most treated health problems in men of all ages that develop under the influence of lifestyle factors and some diseases. Plants are extensively used to cure sexual dysfunction for centuries.

New coumarin glycosides from endemic H. Duman & M.F. Watson.

Two new coumarin glycosides, named 7-methoxy isoarnottinin 4'--ᴅ-glucopyranoside and 7-methoxy isoarnottinin 4'-rutinoside ( and ) along with six known compounds () were isolated from the roots of an endemic plant of Turkey. 1-methylethyl 6--D-apio--ᴅ-furanosyl--ᴅ-glucopyranoside () and cnidioside A () have been obtained from the genus for the first time. Structures of isolated compounds were established using spectroscopic methods (1 D and 2 D NMR, HR-MS, UV and IR).

Memantine shifts cancer cell metabolism via AMPK1/2 mediated energetic switch in A549 lung cancer cells.

Memantine is used to prevent glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease. As glutamine is one of the major source of anabolism in fast growing cancer cells, we aimed to interfere with the cancer cell metabolism in A549 lung cancer cells by using memantine. The effects of memantine on cell cycle progression and cell death in A549 cells were assessed by MTT assay and PI staining.

Immune modulation underpins the anti-cancer activity of HDAC inhibitors.

Aberrant protein acetylation is strongly linked to tumorigenesis, and modulating acetylation through targeting histone deacetylase (HDAC) with small-molecule inhibitors has been the focus of clinical trials. However, clinical success on solid tumours, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), has been limited, in part because the cancer-relevant mechanisms through which HDAC inhibitors act remain largely unknown. Here, we have explored, at the genome-wide expression level, the effects of a novel HDAC inhibitor CXD101.

Coronary artery bypass surgery without blood transfusion; is it possible?

Background: Coronary artery bypass surgery is the most commonly performed cardiac operation and approximately 40-70% of patients require a blood transfusion despite improvements in cardiac surgical techniques. Some preventive perfusion methods to avoid transfusions are described, such as acute normovolemic hemodilution, retrograde autologous priming, and usage of integrated arterial filter oxygenator.

Aims: We combined these three techniques (triple combination technique) to evaluate whether it is possible to avoid blood transfusions in adult patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Targeting Cancer Cell Metabolism with Metformin, Dichloroacetate and Memantine in Glioblastoma (GBM).

Aim: To investigate the effects of metformin, dichloroacetate (DCA), and memantine on T98G and U87-MG human glioblastoma (GBM) cells to target tumor cell metabolism in a multi-directional manner.

Material And Methods: IC50 levels for metformin, DCA, metformin+DCA and memantine were determined by MTT assay in T98G and U87-MG cells in vitro. Casp3, Bcl-2, Bax, c-Myc and GSK-3B protein expressions were investigated post treatments.

Antitumorigenic Effect of Memantine via Interfering Glutamate Metabolism in Mouse 4T1 Breast Tumor Model.

Background: Repurposing drug is an efficient strategy as the drug discovery process is timeconsuming, laborious and costly. Memantine is already used in Alzheimer's disease to prevent neurons from excess glutamate toxicity. As cancer cells benefit from higher amounts of cellular energetics like glucose and glutamine, we used memantine to interfere with the glutamate metabolism in order to restrict cancer cells' glutamine as a source for their growth.

Alzheimer's drug Memantine inhibits metastasis and p-Erk protein expression on 4T1 breast cancer cells.

Objectives: Drug repurposing studies enable shorter routes to the clinic by skipping the steps like in vitro  in vivo screening, chemical optimization and toxicological studies. In our study, we investigated the potent anti-cancer effect of Alzheimer's drug Memantine on 4T1 breast cancer cells.

Methods: Memantine's effect on proliferation of 4T1 cells was evaluated by using the MTT assay.

The Importance of Cancer Stem Cells in Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide. Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are still an important cause of tumor-related deaths. Conventional therapeutic approaches like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are indispensable but insufficient.

The outcomes of an impaired powerhouse in KRAS mutant lung adenocarcinoma cells by Elesclomol.

Objectives: Lung cancer stands out as the most common cancer type worldwide. The most common genetic alteration detected in adenocarcinoma patients is KRAS. KRAS mutated patients still cannot get benefit from precision medicine approaches and lack a targeted therapy.