Using dual polarities of transcranial direct current stimulation in global cerebral ischemia and its following reperfusion period attenuates neuronal injury

Metabolic Brain Disease - Multiple neuronal injury pathways are activated during cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). This study was designed to decrease potential neuronal injuries by using...     

Oxidative stress markers in seminal plasma of idiopathic infertile men may be associated with glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 null genotypes

This study aimed to investigate the association between glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1 and T1 null genotypes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in male infertility. For this purpose, semen samples were collected from fertile and infertile subjects, and then they were genotyped for GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes using multiplex-PCR. The TBARS, TAC and NO levels in seminal plasma were then measured via the ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). A significant association was observed between GSTT1 null genotype and oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. But, the GSTM1 null genotype was merely associated with teratozoospermia. Moreover, the GSTT1−/GSTM1+ combined genotype was associated with all subgroups of male infertility. Besides, an association was observed between GSTT1−/GSTM1− genotype and asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. Further analysis showed that the GSTT1 null genotype was associated with increased NO in asthenozoospermia. Also, the GSTT1 null genotype was associated with increased TBARS in oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. As well, GSTM1 null genotype was associated with decreased TAC and increased NO in asthenozoospermia respectively. As a preliminary conclusion, the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes could be considered as genetic risk factors for male infertility, interfering with some oxidative stress markers in infertile men.     

Toll‐like receptors as novel therapeutic targets for herpes simplex virus infection

Seropositivity for HSV reaches more than 70% within the world population, and yet no approved vaccine exists. While HSV1 is responsible for keratitis, encephalitis, and labialis, HSV2 carriers have a high susceptibility to other STD infections, such as HIV. Induction of antiviral innate immune responses upon infection depends on a family of pattern recognition receptors called Toll‐like receptors (TLR). TLRs bridge innate and adaptive immunity by sensing virus infection and activating antiviral immune responses. HSV adopts smart tricks to evade innate immunity and can also manipulate TLR signaling to evade the immune system or even confer destructive effects in favor of virus replication. Here, we review mechanisms by which HSV can trick TLR signaling to impair innate immunity. Then, we analyze the role of HSV‐mediated molecular cues, in particular, NF‐κB signaling, in promoting protective versus destructive effects of TLRs. Finally, TLR‐based therapeutic opportunities with the goal of preventing or treating HSV infection will be discussed.     

Relationship of seminal reactive nitrogen and oxygen species and total antioxidant capacity with sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile couples with normal and abnormal sperm parameters

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the amount of superoxide anion, peroxynitrite as oxidative stress (OS) markers and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) with sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men with abnormal semen parameters. Semen samples were obtained from 102 infertile couples and divided into groups with normal and abnormal semen parameters according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Peroxynitrite and superoxide anions were detected using spectrofluorometric assays combined with 2,7 dicholorofluorescein (DCF)‐DA and 4‐chloro‐7‐nitrobenzo‐2‐oxa ‐1, 3‐diazole (NBD‐CL). Colorimetric assay was used for evaluation of TAC, while DNA fragmentation was studied by using sperm chromatin dispersion test. Superoxide anion, peroxynitrite and DNA fragmentation were significantly higher in infertile couples with abnormal semen parameters as compared to infertile couples with normal semen (P < 0.01). TAC was significantly lower in infertile men with abnormal semen parameters (P < 0.01). There was also a significant positive correlation between OS markers with sperm DNA fragmentation (r = 0.59, P < 0.01 and r = 0.67, P < 0.01, respectively). We have found that imbalance between superoxide anion and peroxynitrite with antioxidant capacity in infertile men with abnormal sperm parameters is associated with higher sperm DNA fragmentation.     

Significance of Platelet Count in Esophageal Carcinomas

Background/Aim:

Thrombocytosis is found to be associated with unfavorable prognosis in esophageal carcinoma. Platelets produce thymidine phosphorylase which is a platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor with angiogenic activity. Increased platelet count may be translated into enhanced tumor growth. We examined the relation between platelet count and several prognostic variables in patients with esophageal cancer.

Patients and Methods:

Three hundred and eighty-one cases with esophageal cancer that underwent esophagectomy in a referral cancer institute during a 5-year period were studied retrospectively. The relation between preoperative platelet count and patient age, gender, site of tumor, presence of multiple cancers and clinicopathological characteristics including histological type, tumor size, depth of penetration (T), lymph node involvement (N), distant metastasis (M), degree of differentiation, presence of vascular, lymphatic and perineural invasion was examined.

Results:

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) constituted 93% and adenocarcinoma 7% of cases. Most of patients were in stage III, followed by stage II. The mean platelet count was 245±76 (× 10⁹ /L). There was no statistically significant correlation between platelet counts with prognostic factors except a weak linear correlation between platelet count and and tumor size (P= 0.03, Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.16). Patients with adenocarcinoma had a higher platelet count than those with SCC (P= 0.003).

Conclusion:

Platelet count does not correlate with prognostic factors in esophageal cancer. However, it is significantly different between SCC and adenocarcinoma of esophagus.     

Combined effects of HIV and marijuana use on neurocognitive functioning and immune status

The current study examined the independent and combined effects of HIV and marijuana (MJ) use (no use, light use, and moderate-to-heavy use) on neurocognitive functioning among a convenience sample of HIV-positive (HIV+) and HIV-negative (HIV–) individuals recruited from HIV community care clinics and advertisements in the Greater Los Angeles area. MJ users consisted of individuals who reported regular use of MJ for at least 12 months, with last reported use within the past month. Participants included 89 HIV+ (n?=?55) and HIV– (n?=?34) individuals who were grouped into non-users, light users, and moderate-to-heavy users based on self-reported MJ use. Participants were administered a brief cognitive test battery and underwent laboratory testing for CD4 count and viral load. HIV+ individuals demonstrated lower performance on neurocognitive testing than controls, and moderate-to-heavy MJ users performed more poorly on neurocognitive testing than light users or non-users. Moderate-to-heavy HIV+ users performed significantly lower on learning/memory than HIV– moderate-to-heavy users (M_D?=??8.34; 95% CI: ?16.11 to ?0.56) as well as all other comparison groups. In the domain of verbal fluency, HIV+ light users outperformed HIV– light users (M_D?=?7.28; 95% CI: 1.62–12.39), but no HIV group differences were observed at other MJ use levels. HIV+ MJ users demonstrated lower viral load (M_D?=??0.58; 95% CI: ?1.30 to 0.14) and higher CD4 count than non-users (M_D?=?137.67; 95% CI: 9.48–265.85). The current study findings extend the literature by demonstrating the complex relationship between HIV status and MJ use on neurocognitive and clinical outcomes.