Serum Copper and Zinc Levels Among Iranian Vitiligo Patients.

Introduction: Vitiligo is a chronic skin disease, which its etiopathogenesis is not fully understood. Numerous studies have suggested that oxidative stress may play a role in the pathophysiology of vitiligo. There are controversial reports as to the changes of serum trace elements, copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels in vitiligo patients.

Drug utilization study of antiepileptic drugs in the pediatric department, tertiary care hospital, Bangalore, India.

Objective: The main objective of the present study is to find out the loose links between prescription of medication and its utilization in the pediatric department, especially with drugs that belong to the antiepileptic medication category.

Methodology: This prospective observational study was carried out for 6 months in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, Tertiary Care Hospital, Bangalore. The study was conducted on 100 patients receiving antiepileptic medication.

Overexpression of TIGAR and HO-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.

Introduction: Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the primary treatment choices for breast cancer. In reaction to RT, many metabolic processes in the body are triggered, some of which have a role in counteracting free radicals in cancer cells. As a result, it is important to comprehend the effects of RT on multiple genes, biomarkers and enzymes in the body.

Adrenomedullin increases cAMP accumulation and BDNF expression in rat DRG and spinal motor neurons.

Objectives: Adrenomedullin (AM) has high expression in the spinal cord. In this study, we investigated the expression of AM and its receptor components, including calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) and receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPs) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal motor (SM) neurons. Furthermore, the effects of AM on cAMP/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), AKT/glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) signaling pathways, and expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) were evaluated.

Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Telomerase Effects of Blackberry Juice and Berry- Derived Polyphenols on HepG2 Liver Cancer Cells and Normal Human Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Background: Previous studies have provided strong evidence for the anticancer activity of berry fruits.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the effects of blackberry juice and three berry- polyphenolic compounds on cell proliferation and telomerase activity in human hepatoma HepG2 and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Methods: The cell viability and telomerase activity were measured by MTT and TRAP assay, respectively.

Adrenomedullin protects rat dorsal root ganglion neurons against doxorubicin-induced toxicity by ameliorating oxidative stress.

Objectives: Despite effective anticancer effects, the use of doxorubicin (DOX) is hindered due to its cardio and neurotoxicity. The neuroprotective effect of adrenomedullin (AM) was shown in several studies. The present study aimed to evaluate the possible protective effects of AM against DOX-induced toxicity in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) neurons.

The role of radiation induced oxidative stress as a regulator of radio-adaptive responses.

Various sources of radiation including radiofrequency, electromagnetic radiation (EMR), low- dose X-radiation, low-level microwave radiation and ionizing radiation (IR) are indispensable parts of modern life. In the current review, we discussed the adaptive responses of biological systems to radiation with a focus on the impacts of radiation-induced oxidative stress (RIOS) and its molecular downstream signaling pathways. A comprehensive search was conducted in Web of Sciences, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Embase, and Cochrane Library.

The BDNF Protein and its Cognate mRNAs in the Rat Spinal Cord during Amylin-induced Reversal of Morphine Tolerance.

The pancreatic peptide, Amylin (AMY), reportedly affects nociception in rodents. Here, we investigated the potential effect of AMY on the tolerance to morphine and on the expression of BDNF at both levels of protein and RNA in the lumbar spinal cord of morphine tolerant rats. Animals in both groups of control and test received a single daily dose of intrathecal (i.

Expression Levels of the Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene and Histone Modifications Around its Promoter in the Locus Coeruleus and Ventral Tegmental Area of Rats during Forced Abstinence from Morphine.

Background: Epigenetic mechanisms such as histone modifications may be involved in the structural and behavioral changes associated with addiction. We studied whether morphine-induced changes in mRNA levels of the catecholamine biosynthesis enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), are associated with histone modifications around the promoter of this gene in the locus coeruleus (LC) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of rats.

Methods: Dependence was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injections of morphine for 11 days.

Differential Effects of Resveratrol on the Expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Transcripts and Protein in the Hippocampus of Rat Brain.

Background: The induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the hippocampus has shown to play a role in the beneficial effects of resveratrol (RSV) on the learning and memory. The BDNF gene has a complicated structure with eight 5' noncoding exons (I-IXa), each of which can splice to a common coding exon (IX) to form a functional transcript. Estrogens increase levels of BDNF transcripts in the hippocampus of rats.

Effects of intrathecal amylin on formalin-induced nociception and on cAMP accumulation in the rat embryonic spinal cells.

Amylin (AMY) is a member of calcitonin family of peptides. In this study, the effects of intrathecal (i.t) injection of AMY on the inflammatory pain and on the cAMP accumulation in the rat spinal cells were investigated.

Serum Copper and Zinc Levels Among Iranian Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Alterations of trace element concentrations adversely affect biological processes and could promote carcinogenesis. Only a few studies have investigated the degree of changes in copper and zinc levels in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the present study was to compare the serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in patients with CRC from Iran with those of healthy subjects.

Intrathecal Amylin and Salmon Calcitonin Affect Formalin Induced c-Fos Expression in the Spinal Cord of Rats.

Background: Amylin and Salmon Calcitonin belong to the calcitonin family of peptides and have high affinity binding sites in the rat spinal cord. The aim of this study was to characterize receptors for Amylin and Salmon Calcitonin functionally in the spinal cord of rats. We assessed the expression of c-Fos in response to intraplantar formalin in the lumbar regions of the spinal cord in conscious rats.

Comparison of zn, cu, and fe content in hair and serum in alopecia areata patients with normal group.

Background. Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition, in which hair is lost from some areas of the body. Though its etiopathogenesis is not fully understood, there are claims that imbalance of trace elements may trigger the onset of AA, by distorting immune functions.

The effect of an iron (III) chelator, silybin, on the proliferation and cell cycle of Jurkat cells: a comparison with desferrioxamine.

Silybin is a flavonoid with antioxidant and free radical scavenging abilities. Silybin also acts as an iron chelator by binding Fe (III). The present study was undertaken to assess the biological effects of silybin on T leukemia cells in the presence or absence of iron and compare its effects with a well-known iron chelator; desferrioxamine.