and Variants of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Increase the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in a Saudi Population.

Background: Polymorphisms in the gene encoding the vitamin D receptor (VDR) affect the protective role of vitamin D against many types of cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC).

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of four major polymorphisms of the gene (, , and ) on the risk of CRC in a Saudi population.

Materials And Methods: This case-control study recruited 132 CRC patients from the oncology clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and 124 healthy controls from the blood bank at King Fahad General Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between September 2017 and August 2018.

Antiglycation Activities and Common Mechanisms Mediating Vasculoprotective Effect of Quercetin and Chrysin in Metabolic Syndrome.

Multiple risk factors combine to increase the risk of vascular dysfunction in patients suffering from metabolic syndrome (MetS). The current study investigates the extent to which quercetin (Q) and chrysin (CH) protect against vascular dysfunction in MetS rats. MetS was induced by feeding rats a high-salt diet (3%) and fructose-enriched water (10%) for 12 weeks.

Serum vitamin D receptor (VDR) levels as a potential diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and there has been a significant increase in the incidence of CRC in recent decades. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify blood biomarkers that can be used for early diagnosis. It is not yet clear whether the level of vitamin D and its receptor, vitamin D receptor (VDR), in the blood are helpful factors in the diagnosis of CRC.

Relationship between Serum Vitamin D and Calcium Levels and Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Many epidemiological studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with various types of human cancers. The biological action of vitamin D and its metabolites is mediated by the transcription factor vitamin D receptor (VDR). The gene is highly expressed in the colon and is involved in many biological functions.

Synthesis and in vitro antitumor activity of novel acylspermidine derivative N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-(3-aminopropyl)-8-hydroxy-dodecanamide (AAHD) against HepG2 cells.

Naturally occurring polyamines like Putrescine, Spermidine, and Spermine are polycations which bind to the DNA, hence stabilizing it and promoting the essential cellular processes. Many synthetic polyamine analogues have been synthesized in the past few years, which have shown cytotoxic effects on different tumours. In the present study, we evaluated the antiproliferative effect of a novel, acylspermidine derivative, (N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-(3-aminopropyl)-8-hydroxy-dodecanamide) (AAHD) on HepG2 cells.

Comparative Biochemical and Histopathological Studies on the Efficacy of Metformin and Virgin Olive Oil against Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Treatment of diabetic patients with antioxidant, such as extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), may be beneficial in numerous debilitating complexities. This study was aimed at assessing the protective role of virgin olive oil in reducing hyperglycemia in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats. Thirty-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups (6 rats per group) including nondiabetic control (NC), diabetic control (DC), and animals treated with metformin, olive oil, and a combination of olive oil and metformin, respectively.

-Coumaric acid attenuates non-catalytic protein glycosylation in the retinas of diabetic rats.

In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of -coumaric acid on the glycosylation of proteins in the retinas of diabetic rats. Male rats were divided into two main groups, Group I (normal control) and Group II (diabetic); Group II was further divided into four subgroups: Group IIa (diabetic control), Group IIb (diabetic rats were given -coumaric acid orally [150 mg/kg, body weight (bw)/day]), Group IIc (diabetic rats were given HCA -coumaric acid orally [300 mg/kg bw/day]), and Group IId (diabetic rats were given insulin [10 units/kg bw/day]) as a positive control). The treatment lasted for six weeks, and the data obtained suggested that -coumaric acid reduced glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels, which further decreased the formation of glucose-derived advanced glycation end products.

Strigolactones-a novel class of phytohormones as anti-cancer agents.

Chemotherapy shows some promising results in the inhibition of cancer, but resistance to chemotherapy and its severe side effects may occur in due course, resulting in only restricted and narrow benefits. Therefore, there is a pressing need to find alternative chemotherapeutic drugs for combating cancers. Plants have been used since ages in medicine, and by the dawn of 19th century, various potent and promising anti-cancer products have been derived from plants.

Changes in erythrocyte ATPase activity under different pathological conditions.

Background: Studies have shown that Na-K ATPase activity was altered in disrupted red blood cell membranes and this enzyme is believed to be the site of active transport of Na and K in intact red blood cells. The enzyme is often referred to as Na-K pump because it pumps Na out and K into the cell against gradients with the concomitant hydrolysis of intracellular ATP.

Objective: The aim of this study was to find out the possibility of using Na-K-ATPase activity as a biomarker for the diagnosis of individuals with different physiological conditions.

Analysis of SNPs of MC4R, GNB3 and FTO gene polymorphism in obese Saudi subjects.

Background: The goal of this study was to analyze the association between the FTO rs17817449 (G>T), G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) C825T and Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) A822G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with obesity in Saudi subjects.

Methods: The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to BMI: Obese (BMI> 29.9) and non- obese control (BMI<24.

Arginase overexpression and NADPH oxidase stimulation underlie impaired vasodilation induced by advanced glycation end products.

Background: Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) play a major role in the development of many vascular complications that are mediated by endothelial dysfunction. The present work aimed to investigate the mechanism by which AGEs impair vasodilation.

Methods: The effect of AGEs on vasodilation induced by acetylcholine or D NONOate was examined by incubating isolated rat aortae with different AGEs concentrations.

Associations of Vitamin D Levels and Vitamin D Receptor Genotypes with Patient-Reported Outcome/Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin-D insufficiency and vitamin-D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and its association with disease activity and patient reported outcomes (PROs).

Methods: Eighty-two individuals were included in a cross-sectional study (41 RA patients, 41 controls). Prior to assessment, each patient completed a PRO questionnaire.

Association of Paraoxonase 1 Polymorphism and Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D with the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have significantly increased cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality that are not accounted for by traditional risk factors alone. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of CV diseases. Objective: This study aimed to investigate PON1 gene polymorphism and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in RA patients, and to determine their association with CV risk in RA.

Geraniol alleviates diabetic cardiac complications: Effect on cardiac ischemia and oxidative stress.

The present study was planned to assess the possible protective effect of geraniol on cardiovascular complications in an animal model with diabetes. Diabetes was induced in rats by a single streptozotocin injection. In the treated group, geraniol (150mgkgday) was administered orally starting from the 15th day after induction of diabetes, and ending after 7 weeks; diabetic control rats were given vehicle for the same period.

Antimicrobial Activity of Biocompatible Microemulsions Against and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2.

Background: Microemulsions (MEs), which consist of oil, water, surfactants, and cosurfactants, have recently generated considerable interest as antimicrobial agents.

Objectives: To determine the antifungal and antiviral activities of three ME formulations (MEa, MEb, and MEc) that differ in their hydrophilicity.

Methods: The ME formulas were produced by mixing different fractions of Tween 80, Span 20, ethanol, oil, isopropyl myristate, and distilled water.