Is human kallikrein-11 in gastric cancer treated with surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy associated with survival?

Human kallikreins (hKs) have been reported to be involved in human cancers, and several hKs are promising biomarkers of various cancers, such as prostate, ovarian, breast, and testicular cancer. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of immunohistochemical expression of hK11 in patients with gastric cancer. The study included 55 (36 men and 19 women; 58 ± 10 years of mean age) patients with gastric cancer treated with surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Tissue sections were evaluated immunohistochemically with a monoclonal anti-hK11 antibody. Of the 55 patients, 35 (63.6%) were hK11-positive and 20 (36.4%) were hK11-negative. Disease-free and overall survival rates were significantly higher in patients with hK11 positive than in those with hK-11 negative expression (24 months vs. 11 months, p: 0.043; 29 months vs. 13 months, p: 0.038, respectively). In conclusion, hK11 expression in gastric cancer appears to be associated with a better prognosis. hK11 may be a prognostic biomarker of gastric cancer. On the other hand, it is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the regulation of hK11 expression in gastric cancer.     

Applying Health Belief Model to Unveil Employees’ Workplace COVID-19 Protective Behaviors: Insights for the Hospitality Industry

The overwhelming majority of the countries around the globe have witnessed severe cases of the COVID-19 outbreak. Unfortunately, many countries are still beset with such an infectious disease. Despite the fact that there is currently no specific approved cure for this deadly infection, restrictions (e.g., lockdown and border closing) are gradually eased. Meanwhile, businesses are reopening and outdoor leisure activities are about to start again based on strict health, social distancing, and hygiene rules. However, as we still have a long way to reach an ultimate treatment for such deadly virus, changing human behavior sounds the best defense in tackling this challenge till a vaccine is developed for protection against COVID-19. With this realization, using Health Belief Model as the theoretical underpinning, our study endeavors to unveil employees’ adherence to protective health behaviors (PHBs) in the hospitality industry, which is known as a people-focused, labor-intensive, and service-oriented business. This is so crucial since there is a high degree of (frequent) interaction between employees and customers in hotels. Moreover, such establishments are known as areas where customers engage in a variety of activities that make health concerns even more crucial. To achieve the objectives of this research, we used secondary data obtained from one of the largest hotel-related online communities in the world: the ‘Tales from the front desk’. Using template analysis approach, 1680 employees’ comments were examined. The results revealed that hotel employees found themselves at high risk of being infected and several obstacles that impeded their PHBs in the workplace were identified. Our study will provide momentous implications about PHBs against COVID-19 for the hospitality industry.     

No alteration in the PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time induced by the Ginkgo biloba special extract, EGb 761, in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment.

EGb 761 is widely used in the management of mild cognitive impairment in the elderly population. Elucidation of the effects of EGb 761 on primary haemostasis via PFA-100 could represent an important step for better understanding of the haemostatic safety of EGb 761. The purpose of this prospective study is to assess the effects of Ginkgo biloba special extract, EGb 761, on PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. A total of 40 elderly patients aged 65-79 years who were referred for geriatric assessment and who were diagnosed as having mild cognitive impairment were included. Patients were started on 80 mg EGb-761 three times daily. The complete set of PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time and coagulation parameters including prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and International Normalized Ratio were assessed before and on the seventh day of treatment with EGb 761. There was no statistically significant prolongation in PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time or coagulation parameters in patients receiving EGb 761 after 7 days. The data about the safety of EGb 761 from the point of primary haemostasis in our elderly patient population with mild cognitive impairment casts hope for the future management of this 'difficult-to-treat' population with the promising Ginkgo extracts.     

Human herpesvirus 6 is associated with status epilepticus and hyponatremia after umbilical cord blood transplantation

Status epilepticus after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is rare. The authors report a case involving a 65-year-old man with nonconvulsive status epilepticus 34 days after umbilical cord blood transplantion for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum were positive for human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6). Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed symmetric T2 hyper-intensity bilaterally in the mesial temporal lobes, and T2 hyperintensi-ties and restricted diffusion of bilateral putamina. Despite aggressive anticonvulsive therapy, his seizures only abated with initiation of ganciclovir therapy. The patient completed six weeks of combination antiviral therapy (ganciclovir and foscarnet). His cognitive function gradually improved and, after prolonged rehabilitation, the patient was discharged home with residual intermittent memory loss but otherwise functional. HHV6 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nonconvulsive status epilepticus after alloHCT, especially in patients with hyponatremia. Empirical antiviral therapy targeting HHV6 should be administered to these patients.     

Paraoxonase Activity in Glomerulonephritic Patients

Background. Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic renal failure. Glomerulonephritic patients have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, but its etiology is unclear. It is known that an increase in oxidizability of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins has a key role in the initiation of atherosclerosis, and paraoxonase enzyme activity particularly has a preventive role against atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the oxidizability of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, serum, and urinary paraoxonase/arylesterase activities in glomerulonephritis patients who had normal lipid parameters and creatinine levels. Methods. Thirty-two patients with glomerulonephritis and 22 healthy controls were included in this study. A total of 32 patients (including nine with membranous GN, eight with immunoglobulin A nephropathy, eight with mesangial proliferative GN, five with focal-segmental glomerulosclerosis, one with diffuse proliferative GN, and one with minimal chance disease having biopsy proven GN) were enrolled into the study. We compared serum and urinary paraoxonase, arylesterase, serum lipids, urea, creatinine, hemoglobin, total protein and albumin values between groups. Results. Serum urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, uric acid, hemoglobin, and lipid parameters were similar in the glomerulonephritis and control groups (p > 0.05). PON1 activity was significantly lower in GN group than controls, but there was no statistically significant difference on arylesterase activity between groups. Oxidizability of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins was significantly higher in GN group than controls. Conclusion. Our study shows that the findings of normal serum levels of creatinine, lipids, and proteins increased the oxidizability of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, and any decrease in PON1 activity in patients diagnosed with GN should be considered important. Hence, the immediate commencement of preventive as well as curative treatment in other to avoid the risk of cardiovascular and renal problems would be a correct approach.     

Spectroscopic,antiproliferative and antiradical properties of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) complexes with amino acid based Schiff bases

Novel six Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) complexes with Schiff bases derived from 4-aminobenzoic acid with terephtaldehyde and amino acids (glycine, β-alanine). Structures have been proposed from elemental analysis, UV–Vis, IR, NMR, TGA, DTA, and magnetic measurements. Spectroscopic studies suggest that coordination occurs through azomethine nitrogen, hydroxyl group, and carbonyl oxygen of the ligands to the metal ions. The elemental analyses of the complexes where L is Schiff base ligands, are confined to the stoichiometry of the type M₂L₂(CH₃COO)₂ [M = Cu(II)]; and M₂L(CH₃COO)₂ [M = Ni(II) and Zn(II)]. The cytotoxicity activities of the compounds against human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cell line have been studied. Ligands and their Zn(II) compounds inhibited cell proliferation of MCF-7 cancer cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The free radical scavenging activity was measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil. Our results show that the synthesized compounds induced oxidative damage by increasing the lipid peroxidation in yeast since MDA formation was increased, and it could be concluded that the synthesized compounds caused oxidative stress. In addition, the antioxidant activities of the synthesized compounds were very much lower than those of standard antioxidants.