Characterization of serum extracellular vesicles and their differential level of miR-197-3p in familial Mediterranean fever patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the existence of miRNAs derived from serum extracellular vesicles (EVs) in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients. Our group has previously shown the association of certain miRNAs with FMF.

Methods: Serum samples of adult and pediatric FMF patients and their age matched controls were used in the study.

Taurine Protects Doxorubicin-Induced Hepatotoxicity via Its Membrane-Stabilizing Effect in Rats.

Background: Doxorubicin (dox) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used against various tumors. However, the clinical use of this agent is limited due to various organ toxicities. Taurine is an intracellular free β-amino acid with antioxidant properties.

Prognostic role of metabolic 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters and hematological prognostic indicators in patients with colorectal cancer.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of preoperative 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), hematologic prognostic indicators in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in terms of predicting prognosis.

Methods: One hundred and one patients who had undergone 18F-FDG PET/CT for initial staging were evaluated retrospectively. Patient data including pathologic stage at presentation, histology, tumor location, and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.

Effects of single or combined exposure to bisphenol A and mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate on oxidant/antioxidant status, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis in HepG2 cell line.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may affect many biological processes like growth and stress response. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a plasticizer that is used to harden plastics and polycarbonates. Phthalates are used to add flexibility to polyvinyl chloride containing plastics.

The prognostic importance of glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio and uric acid in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with Cdk 4/6 inhibitors.

To demonstrate the prognostic importance of glucose-to-lymphocyte ratio (GLR) and uric acid (UA) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) receiving Cdk 4/6 inhibitors. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, GLR, UA and CA15-3 were analyzed to assess their prognostic value using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis in 101 patients with MBC, retrospectively. Importantly, both progression-free survival and overall survival were shorter in the group with high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), GLR and UA.

Prognostic significance of novel inflammatory markers in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer.

Objective: Novel hematological inflammation-based parameters, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), and hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio (HRR), have been determined to be linked to prognosis of various cancer types, although the predictive impact of these parameters on extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is not exactly known. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the prognostic significance of these novel parameters.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 162 patients who were under follow-up with a diagnosis of extensive-stage SCLC.

Mesenchymal stem cells promote spermatogonial stem/progenitor cell pool and spermatogenesis in neonatal mice in vitro.

Prepubertal cancer treatment leads to irreversible infertility in half of the male patients. Current in vitro spermatogenesis protocols and cryopreservation techniques are inadequate to expand spermatogonial stem/progenitor cells (SSPC) from testicles. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) bearing a close resemblance to Sertoli cells, improved spermatogenesis in animal models.

The effects of prenatal and lactational bisphenol A and/or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure on female reproductive system.

Bisphenol A (BPA) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are abundantly used in polyvinyl chloride plastics, polycarbonates and epoxy resins. Prenatal and early postnatal exposures to EDCs are suggested to be more critical. Such exposures can lead to reprotoxic effects, hormonal and metabolic consequences in adulthood.

Role of telocytes in the pathogenesis of ectopic pregnancy.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of telocytes on tubal motility in ectopic pregnancies.

Patients And Methods: This study included patients with ectopic pregnancy (EP) (n=10) and control patients (n=10) (partial salpingectomy for contraception). Immunohistochemical staining for c-Kit, vimentin, CD34 and S100A was performed to quantify telocytes in the mucosa, muscular layer and serosa of fallopian tubes of control and EP group.

Neuroendocrine disruption by bisphenol A and/or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate after prenatal, early postnatal and lactational exposure.

Bisphenol A (BPA) and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) are abundant endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). In recent years, studies showed that EDCs may lead to neurodevelopmental diseases. The effects of prenatal exposure to these chemicals may have serious consequences.

Leptin promotes proliferation of neonatal mouse stem/progenitor spermatogonia.

Purpose: To keep and increase spermatogonial stem cell number (SSC) is the only available option for pediatric cancer survivors to maintain fertility. Leptin is secreted by the epididymal white adipose tissue and has receptors on stem/progenitor spermatogonia. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate dose- and time-dependent proliferative effect of leptin on stem/progenitor spermatogonia cultures from prepubertal mice testes.

Effects of prenatal and lactational bisphenol a and/or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure on male reproductive system.

Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are abundantly used endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of single and combined exposures to BPA and/or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in prenatal and lactational period on rat male reproductive system in later stages of life. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly to four groups ( = 3/group): Control (corn oil); DEHP (30 mg/kg/day); BPA (50 mg/kg/day); and BPA+ DEHP (30 mg/kg/day DEHP and 50 mg/kg/day BPA).

Histopathologic, apoptotic and autophagic, effects of prenatal bisphenol A and/or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure on prepubertal rat testis.

Bisphenol A (BPA) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) used in a wide variety of industrial products as plasticizers. Exposure to EDCs, particularly in mixtures, in prenatal and early postnatal periods may lead to unwanted effects and can cause both developmental and reproductive problems. In this study, we aimed to determine the individual and combined effects of prenatal and lactational exposure to BPA and/or DEHP on testicular histology, apoptosis, and autophagic proteins.

Protective effect of taurine against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats: echocardiographical and histological findings.

Doxorubicin (DOXO) may cause serious cardiotoxic effects that limit its use as an antineoplastic agent. We aimed to evaluate the protective role of taurine (TAU), a beta amino acid with antioxidant activity, against DOXO-induced cardiotoxicity in a rat model. Thirty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-400 g) were randomized into four groups: control (n = 7, intraperitoneal [ip] saline for 14 days), TAU (n = 8, 150 mg/kg body weight TAU ip for 14 days), DOXO (n = 8, 25 mg/kg body weight DOXO ip on 12th, 13th, and 14th days), and DOXO + TAU (n = 8, TAU for 14 days and DOXO on 12th, 13th, and 14th days).

Molecular subtypes are prognostic for N3 breast cancer patients in the modern therapeutic era.

Nodal (N) status and molecular subtypes are well-known prognostic factors for breast cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether there was a prognostic role of molecular subtypes for pN3a breast cancer patients in the modern therapeutic era. The present study retrospectively evaluated a total of 521 breast cancer patients who had 10 or more metastatic lymph nodes and received adjuvant systemic therapy at the Oncology Department of four different centers in Turkey between 2000-2015.

Magnetic-Based Cell Isolation Technique for the Selection of Stem Cells.

Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) is the technology that is recently used as a magnetic-based cell isolation/purification technique. This technique enables the isolation and selection of germ, hematopoietic, and somatic stem cells including skin stem cells (SkSCs). Here, we have tried to describe the isolation of stem cells by MACS using CD34 antigen for SkSCs, again CD34 for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and Thy-1 for spermatogonial stem cells (SpSCs).

Prognostic significance of pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumour in adults. Identification of accessible and cost-effective prognostic factors may better guide adjuvant treatment-related decisions. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are markers of host inflammatory response, and their increase has recently been shown to be a poor prognostic factor in several malignancies.

Comparison of Hematopoietic and Spermatogonial Stem Cell Niches from the Regenerative Medicine Aspect.

Recent advances require a dual evaluation of germ and somatic stem cell niches with a regenerative medicine perspective. For a better point of view of the niche concept, it is needed to compare the microenvironments of those niches in respect to several components. The cellular environment of spermatogonial stem cells' niche consists of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, vascular endothelial cells, epididymal fat cells, peritubular myoid cells while hematopoietic stem cells have mesenchymal stem cells, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, megacaryocytes, macrophages, vascular endothelial cells, pericytes and adipocytes in their microenvironment.

Arterial Stiffness in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Anthracycline and Trastuzumab-Based Regimens.

Aims: Cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of premature morbidity and mortality in early breast cancer patients after treatment with cardiotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. Arterial stiffness is an independent risk factor for future cardiovascular diseases and can be used as a predictive marker of subclinical cardiac damage. The aim of this study is to analyze the arterial stiffness in breast cancer patients who are in the follow-up period after receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens with trastuzumab.

Generation of human umbilical cord vein CD146+ perivascular cell origined three-dimensional vascular construct.

Small-diameter vascular grafts are needed for the treatment of coronary artery diseases in the case of limited accessibility of the autologous vessels. Synthetic scaffolds have many disadvantages so in recent years vascular constructs (VCs) made from cellularized natural scaffolds was seen to be very promising but number of studies comprising this area is very limited. In our study, our aim is to generate fully natural triple-layered VC that constitutes all the layers of blood vessel with vascular cells.

Role of the β-adrenergic receptor subtype in catecholamine-induced myocardial remodeling.

β-Adrenoceptors (AR) stimulate cardiac Na/K pump in healthy hearts. β-ARs are upregulated by persistent sympathetic hyperactivity; however, their effect on Na/K ATPase activity and ventricular function in this condition is still unknown. Here, we investigate preventive effects of additional β-AR activation (BRL) on Na/K ATPase activity and in vivo hemodynamics in a model of noradrenaline-induced hypertrophy.

Effect of intermedin/adrenomedullin on the pulmonary vascular bed in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of action of intermedin/adrenomedullin (IMD/AM) on the pulmonary vascular bed in pulmonary hypertensive rats.

Materials And Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia for 3 weeks to induce pulmonary hypertension (PHT). The development of PHT was confirmed by histopathological analyses and measurement of hematocrit, basal perfusion pressure, and right ventricle hypertrophy.

Neutrophil/Lymphocyte and Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratios are Not Different among Breast Cancer Subtypes.

Background: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous complex of diseases comprising different subtypes that have different treatment responses and clinical outcomes. Systemic inflammation is known to be associated with poor prognosis in many types of cancer. The neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet / lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are factors used as indicators of inflammation.