Neuroprotective Effect of Intrastriatal Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Treatment in 6-OH Dopamine Model of Parkinson's Disease in Rats.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, and the main cause of PD is still not known. Until now, no cure for Parkinson's disease is yet in sight. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a polyphenolic component of the propolis, which can be derived from honeybee hive propolis.

CD133+/CD44+ prostate cancer stem cells exhibit embryo-like behavior patterns.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), which act as an important bridge between cancer formation and embryonic development, represent a small population associated with tumor initiation, drug resistance, metastasis and recurrence. CSCs have the ability to form spheroids in three-dimensional culture systems. Tumor spheroids derived from CSCs with symmetric and asymmetric division patterns were found to contain highly heterogeneous cell groups.

Enhanced G2/M Arrest, Caspase Related Apoptosis and Reduced E-Cadherin Dependent Intercellular Adhesion by Trabectedin in Prostate Cancer Stem Cells.

Trabectedin (Yondelis, ET-743) is a marine-derived tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid. It is originally derived from the Caribbean marine tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata and currently produced synthetically. Trabectedin is active against a variety of tumor cell lines growing in culture.

Protective effects of Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) extract against digoxin-induced arrhythmias in rats.

Objective: Digitalis preparations are commonly used by children and adults with heart diseases worldwide, although excessive doses may cause cardiac effects. The aim of the study is to evaluate the antiarrhythmic effect of Crataegus oxyacantha extract on digoxin-induced arrhythmias in anesthetized Wistar rats.

Methods: Control and experimental groups were evaluated for arrhythmias induced by digoxin.

Infralimbic cortex Rho-kinase inhibition causes antidepressant-like activity in rats.

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the world; however, its mechanisms remain unclear. Recently, a new signal-transduction pathway, namely Rho/Rho-kinase signalling, has been suggested to be involved in diverse cellular events in the central nervous system; such as epilepsy, anxiety-related behaviors, regulation of dendritic and axonal morphology, antinociception, subarachnoid haemorrhage, spinal cord injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However there is no evidence showing the involvement of Rho-kinase pathway in depression.

Cardiovascular effects of resveratrol and atorvastatin treatments in an HO-induced stress model.

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several types of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Statins are widely used to inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis and reduce the incidence of CVD. Certain over-the-counter products, including resveratrol, show similar effects to statins and may thus be used in conjunction with statins for the treatment of the majority of patients with CVD.

Induced growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in CD133+/CD44+ prostate cancer stem cells by flavopiridol.

Flavopiridol is a flavone that inhibits several cyclin‑dependent kinases and exhibits potent growth‑inhibitory activity, apoptosis and G1‑phase arrest in a number of human tumor cell lines. Flavopiridol is currently undergoing investigation in human clinical trials. The present study focused on the effect of flavopiridol in cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and apoptosis in prostate cancer stem cells (CSCs).

Stem cell and extracellular matrix-related molecules increase following melatonin treatment in the skin of postmenopausal rats.

The menopause has a negative effect in the skin. Melatonin affects skin functions and structures through actions mediated by cell-surface and putative-nuclear receptors expressed in skin cell. We have therefore determined the effects of melatonin treatment on stem cell in the epidermis and extracellular matrix related molecules in the dermis the skin of postmenopausal rats.

Notch signaling-related therapeutic strategies with novel drugs in neuroblastoma spheroids.

Neuroblastoma is a severe pediatric tumor characterized by poor prognosis. Identification of novel molecular targets and diversion of investigations on new drug trials is mandatory for cancer therapy. In this study, vinorelbine tartrate, lithium chloride, clomipramine, and medroxyprogesterone acetate are used for the possible new treatment modalities in neuroblastoma cells.

The histopathologic, pharmacologic and urodynamic results of mesenchymal stem cell's injection into the decompensated rabbit's bladder.

Objectives: We researched the survival of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the results of MSCs' injected into decompensated bladders in a rabbit model.

Methods: Partial bladder neck obstruction (PBNO) and subsequent decompensation of the bladder was achieved by wrapping the bladder neck with autologous rectus fascia. In the first aspect of the experiment 18 rabbits underwent MSC injection into the decompensated bladder to prove the survivability of injected MSCs.

Acute effects of hypercholesterolemic diet on erectile responses in rats.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of a high cholesterol diet (HCD) on erectile and endothelial functions in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Materials And Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups as control and HCD groups. The control group was fed on a normal diet and the hypercholesterolemia group was fed a 1% cholesterol-enriched diet daily for 2 weeks.

Contractility of diabetic human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in response to serotonin mediated via Rho-kinase.

Background/aims: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)-induced contraction and the involvement of RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in the 5-HT-induced contraction was investigated isometrically in vitro in both diabetic and nondiabetic human corpus cavernosum (HCC) tissues.

Methods: HCC tissues were obtained from 12 patients. The response to 5-HT (10(-9) to 10(-5) mol/l) was studied in isolated HCC tissues in the absence and in the presence of a Rho-kinase inhibitor (Y-27632).

Restraint stress impairs erectile responses in rats.

It has been established that various forms of physical and psychological stress reduce sexual functions. However, there is no study yet evaluating the functional changes over cavernosal pressure in rats exposed to restraint stress. In this study, we aimed to investigate the convenience of the restraint stress model that may be used to determine the disruptive effects of stress on erectile function.

Renal and hepatic injury with elevated cardiac enzymes in Amanita phalloides poisoning: a case report.

Amatoxins are one of the most potent toxins that cause hepatic and renal failure. However, this is the first report demonstrating an elevation of cardiac enzymes in a patient with Amanita phalloides poisoning. A 56-year-old male was admitted to the emergency department (ED) 42 h after an unknown type of mushroom ingestion.