The role of the PTEN/mTOR axis in clinical response of rectal cancer patients.

Background: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy has long been accepted as a method to improve survival and lifetime quality of rectal cancer patients. However, physiologic effects of these therapies largely depend on the resistance of cells to the radiation, type of chemotherapeutic agents and individual responses. As one of the signaling cascades involved in chemo- or radiation- resistance, the present study focused on several proteins involved in pTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway to explore their prognostic significance.

Biological effects of whole Z.Officinale extract on chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562.

The anticancer activity of Zingiber officinalis (ginger) is an area of active research. However, data is quite limited regarding its action and mechanism, especially in hematologic cancer types. Here, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of whole extract of the rhizome of Zingiber officinalis (ZOWE), was investigated in K562 cell line derived from a chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patient.

Evaluation of the protective effect of Myrtus communis in scopolamine-induced Alzheimer model through cholinergic receptors.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder causing common health problem with increasing age. Evidences show that the key symptoms of AD are mainly caused by cholinergic system dysfunction which has a role in cognitive disorders. Cholinergic pathways especially muscarinic receptors like M subtype also have a major role in learning, memory, cognitive functions and emotional state.

Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on morphine analgesia and tolerance in rats.

Several studies have demonstrated that the electromagnetic fields produce analgesic activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) on morphine analgesia and tolerance in rats. In the study, 78 adult male Wistar albino rats (approximately 240 ± 12 g) were used.

Prognostic role of sensitive-to-apoptosis gene expression in rectal cancer.

Aim: To investigate the association between prognosis of rectal cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and expression of sensitive-to-apoptosis (SAG), B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-X(L)) and Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer (Bak).

Methods: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression of proteins of interest, namely SAG, Bcl-X(L), Bak and β-actin, in rectal carcinoma patients who had a follow-up period of 3 years after CRT. Biopsy specimens were excised from the rectal tumor preceding CRT.