Resveratrol Triggers Apoptosis Through Regulating Ceramide Metabolizing Genes in Human K562 Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Cancer is a major worldwide health problem and one of the leading causes of death either in developed or developing countries. Plant extracts and derivatives have always been used for various disease treatments and many anticancer agents issued from plants and vegetables are clinically recognized and used all over the world. Lycium europaeum (Solanaceae) also called “wolfberry” was known since ancient times in the Mediterranean area as a medicinal plant and used in several traditional remedies. The Lycium species capacity of reducing the incidence of cancer and also of halting or reserving the growth of cancer was reported by traditional healers. In this study, the antiproliferative capacity, protective properties, and antioxidant activity of the hydro-alcoholic fruit extract of Lycium europaeum were investigated. Results showed that Lycium extract exhibits the ability to reduce cancer cell viability, inhibits proliferation, and induces apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells and PC12 rat adrenal medulla cancer cells, in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Cytotoxic effect on normal rat cerebellum granule cells was assessed to be nonsignificant. Results also showed that Lycium fruit extract protected lipids, proteins, and DNA against oxidative stress damages induced by H₂O₂ via scavenging reactive oxygen species.     

Poor coronary collateral circulation is associated with higher concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with single-vessel disease

OBJECTIVE: As the endothelium and inflammatory cells play a crucial role in the development of collaterals after a sudden or slowly progressing stenosis of coronary arteries, the levels of soluble endothelial adhesion molecules (CAMs) including vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin were compared between patients with poor coronary collaterals and patients with well-developed collaterals. METHODS: In the study, 97 non-diabetic subjects with single-vessel disease were included. Collateral supply to the stenotic coronary artery was determined by angiographic grading system of 0-3 (Rentrop et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 1985; 5:587-592). Serum levels of adhesion molecules were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups according to the collateral degree (group A: 50 patients with grade 0 and 1; group B: 47 patients with grade 2 and 3 collaterals). The groups were well matched with respect to baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics. Levels of soluble VCAM-1 (mean+/-SEM; 875+/-26.6 versus 742.7+/-35.1 ng/ml; P=0.004), ICAM-1 (322.4+/-12.4 versus 269.4+/-13.3 ng/ml; P=0.005), and E-selectin (43.6+/-2.6 versus 33+/-2.4 ng/ml; P=0.004) were found to be significantly higher in group A in comparison with group B. In addition, when patients were divided into four groups according to the collateral degree, patients with grade 0 collaterals had the highest values and those with grade 3 collaterals had the lowest values for all these molecules. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that poor collateral circulation is associated with increased levels of soluble CAMs in patients with obstructive coronary artery disease. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the exact role of these inflammatory markers in the setting of poor collateral circulation.     

Cone-beam computed tomography evaluation of impacted and transmigrated mandibular canines: a retrospective study

Oral Radiology - The purpose of this study is to evaluate CBCT images of impacted mandibular canines in detail and to discuss implications for diagnosis and treatment. CBCT images of dental...     

Low plasma renin activity and high aldosterone/renin ratio are associated with untreated isolated systolic hypertension

Abstract Objective. Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is generally encountered in elderly patients and there are scarce data regarding the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity in patients with ISH. We aimed to determine the plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone levels (PAL) and aldosterone/PRA ratio (PAL/PRA) in patients (age >50 years) with ISH and to compare these values with patients with essential hypertension (EH) as well as subjects with normal blood pressure values (control) who have similar age and cardiovascular risk profile. Methods. Consecutively, 42 untreated ISH patients, 30 patients with EH and 29 normal subjects were included in the study. Parameters were presented as median (interquartile range). Results. There were no significant differences regarding age, gender and other cardiovascular risk factors among groups. As expected, systolic, diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure values were significantly different among groups. Besides, PRA values were found to be significantly lower in patients with ISH (0.4 [0.2-1.1] ng/ml/h) compared with the EH (0.95 [0.5-2.6] ng/ml/h, p =0.024) and control (1.3 [0.7-2.1] ng/ml/h, p =0.001) groups. Although, PAL were similar among groups, PAL/PRA ratio was significantly higher in ISH group (134.1 [73-224]) compared with those with EH (42.2 [35-84], p <0.001) and the control group (53.3 [30-106], p =0.001). No significant difference was present with respect to PAL/PRA ratio between EH and control groups. Conclusions. Our findings suggested that in patients with ISH, despite lower PRA levels, PAL/PRA ratio is significantly higher compared with the patients with EH and subjects with normal blood pressure. Since higher PAL/PRA levels is an indicator of relative aldosterone excess, medications blocking RAAS activity including aldosterone antagonists may have useful cardiovascular consequences in addition to their antihypertensive effects in ISH.     

Resonance frequency analysis of orthodontic miniscrews subjected to light-emitting diode photobiomodulation therapy

The aim of this prospective experimental study was to evaluate the effect of light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation therapy (LPT) on the stability of immediately loaded miniscrews under different force levels, as assessed by resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Sixty titanium orthodontic miniscrews with a length of 8 mm and a diameter of 1.4 mm were implanted into cortical bone by closed flap technique in each proximal tibia of 15 New Zealand white adult male rabbits (n = 30). The animals were randomly divided into irradiated and control groups under different force levels (0, 150, and 300 cN). OsseoPulse? LED device (Biolux Research Ltd.) 618 nm wavelength and 20 mW/cm(2) output power irradiation (20 minutes/day) was applied to the miniscrews for 10 days. The RFA records were performed at miniscrew insertion session (T1) and 21 days after surgery (T2). Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used for statistical evaluation at P < 0.005 level. It was found that initial primer stability of all miniscrews was similar in all groups at the start of the experimental procedure. Statistically significant differences were found for changes in implant stability quotient (ISQ) values between LED-photobiomodulated group and the control (0 cN, P = 0.001; 150 cN, P < 0.001; and 300 cN, P < 0.001). Significant increase was found in ISQ values of LPT applied miniscrews under 0 cN (+11.63 ISQ), 150 cN (+10.50 ISQ), and 300 cN (+7.00 ISQ) force during observation period. By the increase of force levels, it was determined that ISQ values decreased in non-irradiated control miniscrews. Within the limits of this in vivo study, the present RFA findings suggest that LPT might have a favourable effect on healing and attachment of titanium orthodontic miniscrews.