Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 Polymorphism in Patients With Myeloproliferative Diseases: A STROBE-Compliant Observational Study

Chronic myeloproliferative disorders such as polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocytosis (ET), and idiopathic myelofibrosis arise from clonal proliferation of neoplastic stem cells in the bone marrow. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that have potential to degrade all types of extracellular matrix (ECM) and also play a role in remodeling of the ECM. It is known that MMPs play a role in bone marrow remodeling.The primary goal of our study is to explore the relationship between chronic myeloproliferative diseases and some of MMP gene polymorphisms. The demonstration of a relationship will help to understand whether these polymorphisms may be a potential early diagnosis marker of the diseases.Patients were selected from outpatient clinics of Turgut Ozal University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, between December 2010 and May 2011. Twenty-eight patients that previously diagnosed and followed-up with PV, 17 with secondary polycythemia (SP), and 12 with ET were enrolled in the study, along with a control group of 22 healthy people.DNA was isolated from peripheral blood. Using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism method, MMP2 and MMP9 gene polymorphisms were analyzed with agarose gel electrophoresis. There was a statistically significant difference between the study groups and the control group in terms of Gln279Arg polymorphisms rates of MMP9. The highest MMP9 Gln279Arg polymorphism rate was observed in the ET group. But nobody from the control group had polymorphic MMP9. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of MMP2-735 C > T polymorphism rates.In conclusion, MMP9 gene Gln279Arg polymorphism was associated with ET, SP, and PV diseases. Hence, we believe that these gene polymorphisms may play a role in the mechanism of bone marrow fibrosis and may be a factor that increases the risk of thrombosis. Illumination of the molecular basis of the relationship between MMP-thrombosis and MMP-fibrosis provides a better understanding of the pathophysiology of PV and ET diseases and will allow new approaches to diagnosis and treatment.     

Acute vitreomacular traction syndrome after uneventful phacoemulsification

We prospectively evaluated 59 eyes following uneventful phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation with optic coherence tomography at one and seven postoperative days (POD). Acute vitreomacular traction was observed in two eyes (3.3%) at the first POD. Spontaneous resolution occurred in both eyes within one week. The temporary visual loss associated with acute vitreomacular traction syndrome may go unnoticed as visual acuity rapidly improves.     

Relationship between skin resistance level and static balance in type II diabetic subjects

Diabetes mellitus is major cause leading to pathological changes in skin foot plantar area (SFPA) and affected the static standing balance duration (SSBD). Skin resistance level (SRL) is related to skin conductance which changes in the presence of sweat. This study aims to find out the relationship between the SRL and SSBD in type II diabetic patients. Sixty-eight voluntary students, 30 type II diabetic patients and 30 healthy non-diabetic subjects, were participated to the study. The SSBD was measured on dominant and non-dominant legs. SRLs were recorded with two surface electrodes over the metatarsus heads and heel. The SSBD of the healthy young group was found to be higher than the other groups (P<0.001). The SRL values of the non-dominant leg in the diabetic group was found to be lower than the others (P=0.014). For dominant and non-dominant legs within each group, only the healthy young group has statistically difference (P=0.012). A significant correlation was seen to be between the SRL and SSBD for only healthy non-diabetic group for the non-dominant leg. The relation between the SRL and SSBD is poor but very promising. Measurement of the SRL can be used in evaluating the inflammation of the diabetic foot.     

The genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of tannic acid in human lymphocytes

The genotoxicity of tannic acid (TA, tannin) were investigated using chromosome aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), and micronucleus (MN) test systems in human peripheral lymphocytes. Also, the antigenotoxicity of TA against known mutagen EMS was also examined. The lymphocytes were treated with 1.74?×?10(-5), 3.49?×?10(-5), and 6.98?×?10(-5) μM of TA for 24- and 48-hour treatment periods. For the antigenotoxicity of TA, the lymphocytes were treated with three different concentrations of TA and 2.71 μM of EMS. TA synergically induced the CA alone and with the mixture of EMS. However, TA did not induce the SCE alone, whereas TA and EMS as a mixture also synergically induced SCE. TA alone showed no clear effect on micronucleus formation, and it did not induce the MN when used with EMS as a mixture. In addition, TA showed a synergistic cytotoxic effect by decreasing the mitotic and nuclear division indices. The replication index was decreased at all concentrations for 48 hours of treatment time by TA and EMS as a mixture.     

Aspirin resistance in patients with type II diabetes mellitus

Background. Diabetic patients exhibit platelet hyperreactivity, which renders them resistant to antithrombotic treatments. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of aspirin resistance in diabetic patients.

Material and methods. A total of 93 diabetic and 37 non-diabetic participants were included into the study. Aspirin resistance was measured with a whole-blood desktop platelet function analyzer (PFA-100) with an epinephrine agonist.

Results. Altogether 41.9% patients with DM were aspirin non-responders. Aspirin resistance was observed in 43.2% of non-diabetic patients (p = 0.89). Presence of diabetes mellitus had no effect on aspirin response (RR 0.95 (95% CI 0.44–2.05), p = 0.89) in the whole study population. Hypercholesterolemia was the only predictor of aspirin resistance in multivariate analysis in diabetic patients (RR 3.09 (95% CI 1.17–8.16), p = 0.023).

Conclusion. The prevalence of aspirin resistance is comparable in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Hypercholesterolemia is the only independent predictor of aspirin resistance in diabetic patients.     

The effects of thymol on sister chromatid exchange,chromosome aberration and micronucleus in human lymphocytes

The genotoxic effects of thymol were investigated in human peripheral lymphocytes treated with 25, 50, 75, and 100 μg/ml concentrations of thymol for 24 and 48 h treatment periods by using sister chromatid exchange (SCE), chromosome aberration (CA), and micronucleus (MN) tests. Nuclear division index (NDI), replication index (RI), and mitotic index (MI) were also calculated in order to determine the cytotoxicity of thymol. Thymol significantly increased the SCE, especially at the lower concentrations. Thymol also increased the SCE at the highest concentrations without statistical significance. Thymol induced both the structural CA and frequency of MN at all concentrations. Thymol dose-dependently decreased the NDI for two treatment periods. Thymol decreased the RI for the 24 h treatment time without any statistical significance. However, thymol decreased the RI for the 48 h treatment time in a dose-dependent manner. Thymol also decreased the MI at the higher concentration without dose-dependent effect.     

Advances in understanding gender difference in cardiometabolic disease risk

Gender differences exist in cardiovascular or metabolic disease risk, beyond the protective effect of estrogens, mostly burdening the postmenopausal female. We aimed to review herein sex differences in pro-inflammatory states, the independence of inflammation from insulin resistance, differences in high-density lipoprotein dysfunction, in gene-environment interactions, and in the influence of current and former smoking on cardiometabolic risk. Sex differences in absorption of long-chain fatty acids are highlighted. Differences exist in the first manifestation of cardiovascular disease, men being more likely to develop coronary heart disease as a first event, compared to women who have cerebrovascular disease or heart failure as a first event. Autoimmune activation resulting from pro-inflammatory states, a fundamental mechanism for numerous chronic diseases in people prone to metabolic syndrome, is much more common in women, and these constitute major determinants. Therapeutic approaches to aspects related to sex difference are briefly reviewed.