Exploring the combined anti-cancer effects of sodium butyrate and celastrol in glioblastoma cell lines: a novel therapeutic approach.

Glioblastoma, a highly aggressive and lethal brain cancer, lacks effective treatment options and has a poor prognosis. In our study, we explored the potential anti-cancer effects of sodium butyrate (SB) and celastrol (CEL) in two glioblastoma cell lines. SB, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, and CEL, derived from the tripterygium wilfordii plant, act as mTOR and proteasome inhibitors.

Genistein Enhances TRAIL-Mediated Apoptosis Through the Inhibition of and in Colon Carcinoma Cells Treated with 5-Fluorouracil.

Objectives: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. However, surgical intervention and chemotherapy provide only limited benefits for the recovery and survival of patients. The anticarcinogenic effect of genistein has attracted attention because epidemiological studies have shown that soybean consumption is associated with a decrease in the incidence of cancer.

Pitavastatin induces caspase-mediated apoptotic death through oxidative stress and DNA damage in combined with cisplatin in human cervical cancer cell line.

Pitavastatin (PITA) is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor to treat hypercholesterolemia and in recent studies is focused that its potential anti-cancer effect. This study was aimed to elucidate the effect of PITA alone and in combination with cisplatin on cervical cancer cells (HeLa) in vitro. Cytotoxicity of PITA (5-200 μM) was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and neutral red uptake (NRU) assays for 24, 48, and 72 h.

Radiosensitising Effects of Metformin Added to Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy with Cisplatin in Cervical Cancer.

Aims: The role of metformin on the radiosensitising effect of cisplatin is not clear. Here we investigated the radiosensitising effect of metformin alone and combined with cisplatin in HeLa cells, as well as the implications of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway on the radiosensitising effect.

Materials And Methods: HeLa cells were treated with ionising radiation, metformin, cisplatin, A769662 (AMPK activator) and dorsomorphin (AMPK inhibitor) or in combination.

Ritonavir nanosuspensions prepared by microfluidization with enhanced solubility and desirable immunological properties.

The objective of this study was to develop ritonavir (RTV) nanosuspensions (NSs) by microfluidization method. Particle size (PS) measurements were performed by photon correlation spectroscopy. Amorphous properties of the particles were evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Perfluorooctanoic acid affects mouse brain and liver tissue through oxidative stress.

The aim of this study was to investigate oxidative stress induced by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the brain and liver tissues of Balb/c mice as well as protective effects of taurine and coenzyme Q (CoQ) in both organs. For this purpose, animals were treated with PFOA (15 and 30 mg/kg) orally and their lipid peroxidation, total glutathione levels (GSH), and antioxidant enzyme activities measured and both tissues analysed for histopathological changes. Our results showed a dose-dependent decrease in body weight and increase in relative brain and liver weights, PFOA-induced lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the brain tissue, and changes in GSH levels, GPx, superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities in the liver tissue.

A new nanosuspension prepared with wet milling method for oral delivery of highly variable drug Cyclosporine A: development, optimization and in vivo evaluation.

Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a cyclic polypeptide, that has been widely used for immunosuppression. This study aims to develop nanosuspension for oral administration of CsA using the wet milling (WM) method one of the top-down technologies. The WM method was optimized by studying the effects of critical process parameters for WM on the particle size (PS), particle size distribution (PDI), and zeta potential (ZP) of nanosuspensions using the Design of Experiment (DoE) approach.

Methionine affects the expression of pluripotency genes and protein levels associated with methionine metabolism in adult, fetal, and cancer stem cells.

Intracellular and extracellular regulatory factors promote the potency and self-renewal property of stem cells. Methionine is fundamental for protein synthesis and regulation of methylation reactions. Specifically, methionine metabolism in embryonic and fetal development processes regulates gene expression profile/epigenetic identity of stem cells to achieve pluripotency and cellular functions.

Cholesterol efflux promoting function of high-density lipoproteins in calcific aortic valve stenosis.

Background And Aims: Cholesterol efflux capacity is a functional property of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) reflecting the efficiency of the atheroprotective reverse cholesterol transport process in humans. Its relationship with calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) has not been fully assessed yet.

Methods: We evaluated HDL-CEC in a patient population with varying degrees of aortic valvular calcific disease, assessed using echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography.

Assessment of the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic potential of flurbiprofen in HeLa and HepG2 cell lines.

In the literature, the anticancer potential of flurbiprofen isn't fully understood. In this study, the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects of flurbiprofen were evaluated in human cervical and liver cancer cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and it was observed that cytotoxicity increased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.

Association of dietary and gut microbiota-related metabolites with calcific aortic stenosis.

Background: Histopathological changes in calcific aortic stenosis (CAS) resemble changes in coronary atherosclerosis. Concerning recent evidence on dietary and gut microbiota-related metabolites representing players in atherosclerosis, we aimed to investigate the link between dietary and gut microbiota-derived metabolites and CAS.

Methods: We consecutively recruited eligible subjects with moderate-severe CAS ( = 60), aortic sclerosis (ASc) ( = 49) and age and gender-matched control subjects ( = 48) in May 2016-December 2016.

Investigation of the Possible Protective Effects of Ketamine and Dantrolene on the Hippocampal Apoptosis and Spatial Learning in Rats Exposed to Repeated Electroconvulsive Seizures as a Model of Status Epilepticus.

Aim: To evaluate the possible neuroprotective effects of ketamine and dantrolene on the hippocampal apoptosis and spatial learning in rats exposed to repeated electroconvulsive seizures (ECS) as a model of status epilepticus (SE).

Material And Methods: Twenty-four rats were assigned to 4 groups. 1st Group was Sham.

Serum galectin-3 level predicts early recurrence following successful direct-current cardioversion in persistent atrial fibrillation patients.

Objective: Atrial structural remodeling has been suggested to contribute to atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following direct-current cardioversion (DCCV). The role of several inflammatory and extracellular matrix turnover markers in AF recurrence following DCCV has been investigated. However, data on the impact of galectin-3, which is known to play a role in various fibrotic conditions, including cardiac fibrosis are lacking.

The association between serum angiogenin and osteopontin levels and coronary collateral circulation in patients with chronic total occlusion.

Objective: A well-developed coronary collateral circulation lowers both in-hospital and long-term morbidity and mortality limiting the infarct. Angiogenin (AGN) and osteopontin (OPN) are known to be potent inducers of angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between serum ANG and OPN levels and collateral filling grade in subjects with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD).

Dual actions of the antioxidant chlorophyllin, a glutathione transferase P1-1 inhibitor, in tumorigenesis and tumor progression.

Glutathione (GSH) and enzymes related to this antioxidant molecule are often overexpressed in tumor cells and may contribute to drug resistance. Blockade of glutathione transferases (GSTs) has been proposed to potentiate the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chlorophyllin that has antioxidant properties, and also interferes with the activity of GST P1-1, on breast cancers in vitro and in vivo.

Synthesis of novel imidazopyridines and their biological evaluation as potent anticancer agents: A promising candidate for glioblastoma.

Novel imidazopyridine derivatives were synthesized according to a very simple protocol and then subjected to cytotoxicity testing against LN-405 cells. Two of the compounds exhibited antiproliferative effects on LN-405 cells at 10 and 75 µM and were selected as lead compounds for further study. Safety experiment for lead compounds on WS1 was carried out and IC values were calculated as 480 and 844 µM.

Vitamin D replacement ameliorates serum lipoprotein functions, adipokine profile and subclinical atherosclerosis in pre-menopausal women.

Background And Aims: Low vitamin D (vitD) has been linked to increased cardiovascular (CV) risk, but the effects of vitD supplementation are not clarified. We evaluated the impact of vitD normalization on HDL cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), which inversely correlates with CV risk, the proatherogenic serum cholesterol loading capacity (CLC), adipokine profile and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods And Results: Healthy premenopausal women with vitD deficiency (n = 31) underwent supplementation.

Platelet Toll-like receptor and its ligand HMGB-1 expression is increased in the left atrium of atrial fibrillation patients.

Background: Atrial fibrillation(AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Its most feared sequelae are stroke and peripheral thromboembolism due to atrial thrombi formation. Mechanisms underlying the relationship between platelet activation and left atrial thrombi have not been clearly elucidated yet.

Serum galectin-3 level as a marker of thrombogenicity in atrial fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial appendage flow velocity (LAAFV) and presence of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) have been reported to be predictors of thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Galectin-3 is a biomarker reflecting pro-inflammatory status, whose role in AF has recently drawn attention, particularly in persistent AF population.

Aim: In this study we aimed to investigate the association between serum galectin-3 levels and echocardiographic predictors of thromboembolism in persistent AF patients.

Investigation of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in severe sepsis patients.

Purpose: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening condition characterized by uncontrolled inflammation and has common clinical and laboratory features with sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate patients treated with severe sepsis who had bicytopenia for the presence of HLH.

Materials And Methods: Patients with severe sepsis who were non-responsive to treatment and developed at least bicytopenia were included.

Monocyte Toll-Like Receptor Expression in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Inflammation has been suggested to play a vital role in the pathogenesis. Previous studies have investigated expression of inflammatory markers in AF.

Enhanced Platelet Toll-like Receptor 2 and 4 Expression in Acute Coronary Syndrome and Stable Angina Pectoris.

Evidence is accumulating that toll-like receptors (TLR) are involved in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular disease. Enhanced expression of these receptors on monocytes has been shown in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, expression on platelets in this group of patients has not been evaluated yet.

The Association of Serum Galectin-3 Levels with Atrial Electrical and Structural Remodeling.

Introduction: Left atrial (LA) interstitial fibrosis is known to have a role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). The role of galectin-3 in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis has been demonstrated in previous studies. We aimed to determine whether serum galectin-3 level is associated with markers of atrial remodeling, including the extent of LA fibrosis detected by delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) and atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) in paroxysmal AF patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) functions.

Effects of persistent atrial fibrillation on serum galectin-3 levels.

Galectin-3 is known to play an important role in a number of fibrotic conditions, including cardiac fibrosis. Many studies have focused on the association between galectin-3 levels and cardiac fibrosis in heart failure. However, the role of galectin-3 in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been evaluated thoroughly yet.