Angiopoietin-Like Proteins 2 and 3 in Children and Adolescents with Obesity and Their Relationship with Hypertension and Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) is one of the adipocyte-derived inflammatory factors which connects obesity to insulin resistance. ANGPTL3 has a direct role in regulation of lipid metabolism. The objective of this study was to evaluate ANGPTL2 and ANGPTL3 in childhood obesity and their relationship with metabolic syndrome.

Extracellular NAMPT/visfatin causes p53 deacetylation via NAD production and SIRT1 activation in breast cancer cells.

Visfatin, which is secreted as an adipokine and cytokine, has been implicated in cancer development and progression. In this study, we investigated the NAD-producing ability of visfatin and its relationship with SIRT1 (silent information regulator 2) and p53 to clarify the role of visfatin in breast cancer. MCF-7 breast cancer cells were cultured and treated with visfatin.

Enterolactone Reduces Telomerase Activity and The Level of Its Catalytic Subunit in Breast Cancer Cells.

Objective: There is a positive correlation between higher serum phytoestrogen concentrations and lower risk of breast cancer. The activation of telomerase is crucial for the growth of cancer cells; therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of enterolactone (ENL) and enterodiol (END) on this enzyme.

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, we performed the viability assay to determine the effects of different concentrations of ENL and END on cell viability, and the effective concentrations of these two compounds on cell growth.

Inhibition of Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Induces Apoptosis in Estrogen Receptor-Positive MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells.

Purpose: Tumor cells have increased turnover of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), the main coenzyme in processes including adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation, deacetylation, and calcium mobilization. NAD is predominantly synthesized in human cells via the salvage pathway, with the first component being nicotinamide. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is the key enzyme in this pathway, and its chemical inhibition by FK866 has elicited antitumor effects in several preclinical models of solid and hematologic cancers.

Biotinidase deficiency: a reversible neurometabolic disorder (an Iranian pediatric case series).

Objective: Biotinidase deficiency is one of the rare congenital metabolic disorders with autosomal recessive inheritance. If this disorder is diagnosed in newborn period, could be prevented well from mental and physical developmental delay and most of clinical manifestations.

Materials & Methods: The patients were diagnosed as biotinidase deficiency in Neurology Department of Mofid Children's Hospital in Tehran, Iran, between 2009 and 2012 were included in this study.

Digital and dental malformation and short stature in a patient with neurological problems: a variant of the oculodentodigital dysplasia syndrome or a new syndrome?

Several syndromes have been recognized with digital abnormality and CNS involvement such as oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD), Mohr syndrome and Joubert syndrome. We report a patient who was referred to us because of the neurological signs suspicious of metabolic disorders. This case was a 22-year-old woman whose problems began 4 years ago with shortening of memory, ataxia, abnormal gait and diplopia which progressed slowly.

The Association between EEG Abnormality and Behavioral Disorder: Developmental Delay in Phenylketonuria.

Background. Brain defect leading to developmental delay is one of the clinical manifestations of phenylketonuria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between EEG abnormality and developmental delay/behavioral disorders in phenylketonuria.