Decreased circulating microRNA-21 and microRNA-143 are associated to pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by maladaptation of pulmonary vasculature which is leading to right ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure. miRNAs play a crucial role in the regulation of many diseases such as viral infection, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and pulmonary hypertension (PH). In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern of eight human plasma miRNAs (hsa-miR-21-3p, hsa-miR-143- 3p, hsa-miR-138-5p, hsa-miR-145-3p, hsa-miR-190a, hsa-miR-204-3p, hsamiR-206, hsa-miR-210-3p) in mild-to-severe PH patients and healthy controls.

Molecular dynamic simulation and functional analysis of pathogenic PTEN mutations in glioblastoma.

PTEN, a dual-phosphatase and scaffold protein, is one of the most commonly mutated tumour suppressor gene across various cancer types in human. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate the stability, structural and functional effects, and pathogenicity of 12 missense mutations (R15S, E18G, G36R, N49I, Y68H, I101T, C105F, D109N, V133I, C136Y, R173C and N276S) found by next generation sequencing of the gene in tissue samples obtained from glioblastoma patients. Computational tools and molecular dynamic simulation programs were used to identify the deleterious effects of these mutations.

The effects of PIKfyve inhibitor YM201636 on claudins and malignancy potential of nonsmall cell cancer cells.

PIKfyve is an evolutionarily conserved lipid and protein kinase enzyme that has pleiotropic cellular functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate 5-kinase (PIKfyve) inhibitor, YM201636, on nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells growth, tumorigenicity, and claudin (CLDN) expressions. Three NSCLC cell lines (Calu-1, H1299 and HCC827) were used to compare the effects of YM201636.

Genetic and epigenetic factors associated with increased severity of Covid-19.

Since December 2019, a new form of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) from a novel strain of coronavirus (SARS coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) has been spreading worldwide. The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 was named Covid-19 and declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Clinical symptoms of Covid-19 range from common cold to more severe disease defined as pneumonia, hypoxia, and severe respiratory distress.

Effect of SIRT1 activators and inhibitors on CD44+/CD133+‑enriched non‑small cell lung cancer cells.

Lung cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and it is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Metastasis and relapse of the tumor depend on the survival and proliferation of lung cancer stem cells (LCSCs). The ability to identify CSCs may prevent recurrence and lead to more effective treatments.

Effects of New Generation All-Ceramic and Provisional Materials on Fibroblast Cells.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of seven new-generation all-ceramic materials for CAD/CAM (Lava Ultimate [LU], VITA Mark II [VM], InCoris TZI [IC], IPS e.max CAD [EM], VITA Suprinity [VS], Cerasmart [CS], IPS Empress CAD [EC]) and six provisional materials (Protemp 4 [PT], Telio CAD [TC], CAD-Temp [CT], Telio Lab [TL], Temdent Classic [TD], Telio CS C&B [TS]) on L929 mouse fibroblast cells.

Materials And Methods: 24 disc-shaped specimens (∅ = 5 mm, h = 2 mm) were prepared from each test material.

Case-control study on PCSK9 R496W (rs374603772) and D374Y (rs137852912) mutations in Turkish patients with primary dyslipidemia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between F216L (rs28942112), R496W (rs374603772), S127R (rs28942111), and D374Y (rs137852912) PCSK9 gain-of-function (GOF) mutations and primary dyslipidemia and serum lipid levels in patients with primary dyslipidemia.

Methods: In this case-control study, DNA was isolated from blood samples collected from patients diagnosed with primary dyslipidemia in cardiology outpatient clinic of Ege University (n=200) and healthy individuals (n=201). F216L, R496W, S127R, and D374Y GOF mutations in the PCSK9 gene were evaluated and genotyped according to the results of melting curve analysis performed in a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 480 instrument using specific primers for each mutation.

Cytotoxicity of Dental Implants: The Effects of Ultrastructural Elements.

Purpose: In this in vitro study, the purpose was to assess the cytotoxicity profiles of seven commercial dental implant materials by using cell culture methods on an osteoblastic cell line.

Materials And Methods: The microstructure of seven commercial dental implants (each given a letter code) was investigated via scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis. Medium extracts were collected on the first and fifth days for each group and tested using MC3T3-E1 cell line.

Matrine induced G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in human acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells.

Matrine, a natural product extracted from the root of Sophora flavescens, is a promising alternative drug in different types of cancer. Here, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of matrine on human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line, CCRF-CEM. Cell viability and IC50 values were determined by WST-1 cell cytotoxicity assay.

Current updates on microRNAs as regulators of chemoresistance.

Resistance to chemotherapeutics including platinum agents, nucleoside analogues, topoisomerase and microtubule inhibitors is the most important problem in the treatment of many cancer. Several resistance mechanisms has been described for each group and researchers have been trying to develop new approaches to overcome chemoresistance. miRNAs are the regulators of gene transcription at the post-transcriptional level.

Preparation and characterization of lipid nanoparticle/pDNA complexes for STAT3 downregulation and overcoming chemotherapy resistance in lung cancer cells.

Developments in the field of molecular oncology have revealed that resistance to chemotherapeutics is acqured through several mechanisms including overexpression of common oncogenic proteins. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) is one of these oncogenes that is overexpressed in many cancer types. RNA interference (RNAi) is proven powerful tool for downregulating STAT3, allowing re-sensitization of resistant cancer cells.

Polymorphisms of lipid metabolism enzyme-coding genes in patients with diabetic dyslipidemia.

Objective: The polymorphisms/mutations of genes encoding proteins and enzymes involved in lipoprotein metabolism play important roles in the development of diabetic dyslipidemia. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of LPL (rs320), LIPC (rs2070895), SCARB1 (rs5888), LCAT (rs2292318), CETP (rs708272), ADIPOQ (rs1501299), RETN (rs3745367), PON1 (rs662), and MNSOD (rs4880) gene polymorphisms on lipid metabolism and diabetic dyslipidemia.

Methods: This case-control study included 217 patients with diabetic dyslipidemia and 212 healthy age- and gender-matched individuals.

Effects of flavopiridol on critical regulation pathways of CD133high/CD44high lung cancer stem cells.

Background: Flavopiridol a semisynthetic flavone that inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and has growth-inhibitory activity and induces a blockade of cell-cycle progression at G1-phase and apoptosis in numerous human tumor cell lines and is currently under investigation in phase II clinical trials. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are comprised of subpopulation of cells in tumors that have been proposed to be responsible for recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of flavopiridol in cancer stem cell cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in CSCs.

Comparison of cell cycle components, apoptosis and cytoskeleton-related molecules and therapeutic effects of flavopiridol and geldanamycin on the mouse fibroblast, lung cancer and embryonic stem cells.

Similarities and differences in the cell cycle components, apoptosis and cytoskeleton-related molecules among mouse skin fibroblast cells (MSFs), mouse squamous cell lung carcinomas (SqCLCs) and mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are important determinants of the behaviour and differentiation capacity of these cells. To reveal apoptotic pathways and to examine the distribution and the role of cell cycle-cell skeleton comparatively would necessitate tumour biology and stem cell biology to be assessed together in terms of oncogenesis and embryogenesis. The primary objectives of this study are to investigate the effects of flavopiridol, a cell cycle inhibitor, and geldanamycin, a heat shock protein inhibitor on mouse somatic, tumour and embryonic stem cells, by specifically focusing on alterations in cytoskeletal proteins, cell polarity and motility as well as cell cycle regulators.

Extracellular Vesicles as Natural Nanosized Delivery Systems for Small-Molecule Drugs and Genetic Material: Steps towards the Future Nanomedicines.

A new platform for drug, gene and peptide-protein delivery is emerging, under the common name of "extracellular vesicles". Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are 30-1000 nm-sized cell-derived, liposome-like vesicles. Current research on EVs as nano-delivery systems for small-molecule drugs and genetic material, reveal that these tiny, biologically-derived vesicles carry a great potential to boost the efficacy of many therapeutic protocols.

miR-15a enhances the anticancer effects of cisplatin in the resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Platinum-based chemotherapies have long been used as a standard treatment in non-small cell lung cancer. However, cisplatin resistance is a major problem that restricts the use of cisplatin. Deregulated cell death mechanisms including apoptosis and autophagy could be responsible for the development of cisplatin resistance and miRNAs are the key regulators of these mechanisms.

An Association Study Between Gene Polymorphisms of Folic Acid Metabolism Enzymes and Biochemical and Hormonal Parameters in Acromegaly.

Aim: Folate metabolism is fundamental to several biological functions and required for cell replication, division, and survival. The mammalian folic acid cycle is highly complex and the enzymes, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), methionine synthase (MTR), and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR), have crucial roles in this metabolic pathway. The common polymorphisms of the MTHFR (C677T and A1298C), MTRR (A66G), and MTR (A2756G) enzymes are well documented as folate deficiency-related disorders, but their roles have not been examined in acromegalic patients.

Revealing genome-wide mRNA and microRNA expression patterns in leukemic cells highlighted "hsa-miR-2278" as a tumor suppressor for regain of chemotherapeutic imatinib response due to targeting STAT5A.

BCR-ABL oncoprotein stimulates cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). For cure, imatinib is a widely used tyrosine kinase inhibitor, but developing chemotherapeutic resistance has to be overcome. In this study, we aimed to determine differing genome-wide microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles in imatinib resistant (K562/IMA-3 μM) and parental cells by targeting STAT5A via small interfering RNA (siRNA) applications.

The effects of mesenchymal stem cells on lymphoblastic leukemia cell proliferation.

Purpose: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a new approach to the treatment of several neoplastic or non-neoplastic disorders. Their potential to repair damaged tissues through trans differentiation in conjunction with their immunomodulatory ability made them promising candidates for cell-based immunotherapy and regenerative medicine. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of MSCs on proliferation, apoptosis and gene expression profile of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line CCRF-CEM.

Cytotoxicity of dentin bonding agents.

This study sought to evaluate the cytotoxicity of 5 dentin bonding agents (Admira Bond, Adper Single Bond Plus, Clearfil SE Bond, Clearfil S3 Bond, and Heliobond) by XTT assay using human gingival fibroblast cells. Samples of dentin bonding agents were prepared on a black 96-well microplate, and the cytotoxicity of each bonding material was measured every 24 hours for 7 days, then on Days 14, 21, and 28. One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used for statistical analyses.

MicroRNA-520a-5p displays a therapeutic effect upon chronic myelogenous leukemia cells by targeting STAT3 and enhances the anticarcinogenic role of capsaicin.

Aberrant expression profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been previously demonstrated for having essential roles in a wide range of cancer types including leukemia. Antiproliferative or proapoptotic effects of capsaicin have been reported in several cancers. We aimed to study miRNAs involved in the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway in chronic myeloid leukemia cell model and the effects of the capsaicin treatment on cell proliferation and miRNA regulation.

Capsaicin induced apoptosis and gene expression dysregulation of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia CCRF-CEM cells.

Purpose: Capsaicin, an ingredient of red chili pepper, has possible tumorigenicity/genotoxicity properties. We aimed to determine the effects of capsaicin on the proliferation and gene expression profiles of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) CCRF-CEM cell line.

Methods: Cell viability and IC50 dose was determined by WST cytotoxicity assay.

Suppression of STAT3 by chemically modified siRNAs increases the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of parental and cisplatin-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Purpose: Increased activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway is frequently observed in several primary cancers as well as cancer cell lines. Thus, targeting JAK-STAT pathway components by different molecular-biologic approaches in the search for new anticancer therapies has become widespread and resulted in encouraging outcomes. In this study, the effects of chemically modified anti-STAT3 small interfering (si)RNAs on cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis of parental and cisplatin resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells were investigated with the aim to provide a new therapeutic strategy for overcoming cisplatin resistance in lung cancer.