Explore the vast range of titles available.

In the present study, toxic effects, both alone and combined, of bisphenol A (BPA), lead (Pb) and endosulfan (ES) in the low doses were investigated in rat liver and kidney functions. In the study, bisphenol A (BPA), lead (Pb) and endosulfan (ES) were chosen because although they are the chemicals people are most frequently exposed to, no combined toxic effect studies were conducted with these chemicals. Sixty-four male Wistar albino rats were used in the study, and they were randomly divided into eight groups ( n = 8 per group); control, BPA (5 mg/kg), Pb (100 ppm), ES (0.61 mg/kg), BPA+Pb, BPA+ES, Pb+ES and BPA+P+ES. The rats were sacrificed after 65 days of treatment. Severe histopathological changes in the liver and kidney tissues were observed in the rats exposed to BPA+Pb+ES combination. Elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver and decreased superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) in the kidney tissue were detected in the BPA+Pb+ES group compared to those of the control group. It was found that serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CREA) levels were higher in the BPA+Pb+ES combination group than the control group. Also, combined exposure of BPA, Pb and ES caused apoptotic cell numbers and inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) to increase in the liver and kidney tissues. The results of the present study suggested that the BPA, Pb and ES caused more dramatic changes to both histological architecture and cell apoptosis in the liver and kidney tissues when there was a combined exposure.

Background Childhood obesity leads to an increased inflammatory response, which in the long term can lead to serious health problems such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease, and may also increase the risk of obesity in adulthood. Our aim was to evaluate inflammatory markers associated with pediatric obesity in 30 healthy children (BMI between the 15th–85th percentiles) and 30 obese children (BMI > 95th percentile) and to determine the possible associations of these markers. Methods Anthropometric measurements of the children were obtained. The serum preptin, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels of thirty children with obesity and thirty healthy children were determined using ELISA. Results NLPR3, preptin, and PPARγ levels were greater obese children than in healthy children ( p  < 0.05). We have shown that high PPARγ levels may have an inhibitory effect on the inflammatory activation of NLRP3. Conclusions In our study, the changes observed in preptin, NLRP3 and PPARγ parameters were found to be closely associated with pediatric obesity. These molecules may play an important role in understanding the relationship between pediatric obesity and inflammation and may be used as biomarkers in determining obesity treatment and complications in future studies.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules that serve as regulators following gene expression transcription. While studies have investigated the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension (HT), very few have considered their place in the pathogenesis of resistant hypertension (RH). The purpose of this study was to investigate levels of miRNA 21 and miRNA 155 in RH and their relationships with aldosterone. Thirty-two normotensive patients, 30 newly diagnosed HT patients, and 20 RH patients were included in the study. Patients' demographic data were recorded, and office blood pressure measurement and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24-h ABPM) were performed. Blood specimens were collected for miRNA 21, miRNA 155 and aldosterone measurement. MiRNA 21 and miRNA 155 levels in the control and patient groups and their relations with other demographic and biochemical parameters were then subjected to analysis. No difference was determined in miRNA 155 levels between the groups, but miRNA 21 and aldosterone levels were significantly higher in the RH group (p < 0.001 and <0.05, respectively). At correlation analysis, miRNA 21 exhibited positive correlation with aldosterone, age, office SBP, 24-h ABPM all-day SBP. A 9.6 copy/uL level for miRNA 21 predicted presence or absence of RH with 95% sensitivity and 71% specificity (AUC:0.823, 95% CI (0.72-0.92). The study results revealed significantly higher miRNA 21 and aldosterone in RH patients than in healthy individuals and newly diagnosed hypertensives.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a genetically complex cancer type having treatment difficulties due to affecting multiple organs in complex anatomical sites. Radiotherapy resistance, chemotoxicity, post-surgery disability makes HNC treatment more complicated. Therefore, there is need to developed new treatment approaches. Nanoparticle-based therapies especially cerium oxide nanoparticles with its anti-cancer features, high catalytic activity, anti- or pro-oxidant and radio-protective properties give a boon for HNC treatment. In the current study, two dextran-coated cerium oxide nanoparticles (Dex-CeNPs) namely SD1 and SD2 were synthesized and characterized by using two types of dextran (D1 and D2) having distinct molecular weights and branching characteristics to understand their potential as a new HNC treatment strategy while evaluating the role of dextran type. The effectivity of the SD1 and SD2 on the HNC cell lines (A253, SCC-25, FaDu) were investigated by analyzing their cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation properties. Low IC 50 value, high ROS generation and stability profiling of SD2 compared to SD1 indicates the distinct function of dextran type on Dex-CeNPs effectivity on HNC. To better elucidate the effectivity of SD2, flow cytometry analysis and pro-apoptotic (TP53, CASP3, BAX) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) gene expression profiling were investigated in detail. The findings indicate that SD2 exhibits an influence on head and neck cancer cells via the apoptotic pathway. Our research sets the framework for the development of Dex-CeNPs as remarkable nanotherapeutic candidates for treatment of head and neck cancer.

Experimental studies indicate that sepsis causes remote organ injury although the molecular mechanism has not been clearly defined. In this report, the role of oxidative damage, and inflammation on lung injury, following sepsis model by cecal ligation and puncture, and the effects of quercetin, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory flavonoid, in the lung tissue were investigated. In the present study, we found that administration of single-dose quercetin before cecal ligation and puncture procedure, while markedly diminishing the levels of YKL-40 and oxidant molecules (xanthine oxidase (XO), nitric oxide (NO), and malondialdehyde (MDA)), increases the antioxidant enzymes levels. Quercetin is beneficial to acute lung injury by decreasing the levels of oxidative stress markers and increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities. Quercetin also causes a decrease in the serum levels of YKL-40 and periostin in the oxidative lung injury induced by the experimental sepsis model.

The progression of bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression, mania, and hypomania, thus affecting the daily functionality of individuals. Previous studies have shown that a large proportion of patients diagnosed with BD who are in clinical remission experience significant functional disorders. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between cognitive impairment and serum progesterone, allopregnanolone and BDNF levels in male bipolar disorder patients who are in the euthymic period. Our study included 41 euthymic male patients with bipolar disorder and 40 age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and smoking-matched male healthy control subjects. Neuropsychiatric tests such as the Stroop Test TBAG Form, Auditory Verbal Digit Span Test- Form B (VADS-B) and Cancellation Test were administered to all participants, and 5–7 ml of peripheral venous blood sample was taken from all participants. Serum allopregnanolone, progesterone and BDNF levels were also measured in all participants. Serum allopregnanolone and progesterone levels were found to be lower in bipolar patients, and it was observed that the serum level of allopregnanolone decreased as the disease duration increased. The serum BDNF levels were similar between groups. The cognitive functions assessed using the Stroop, VADS-B and cancellation tests were found to be better in healthy subjects. The neurocognitive test performances of all participants were strongly positively correlated with allopregnanolone levels. The present study supports the hypothesis that allopregnanolone acts as an endogenous mood stabilizer.

Background Childhood obesity leads to an increased inflammatory response, which in the long term can lead to serious health problems such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease, and may also increase the risk of obesity in adulthood. Our aim was to evaluate inflammatory markers associated with pediatric obesity in 30 healthy children (BMI between the 15th-85th percentiles) and 30 obese children (BMI > 95th percentile) and to determine the possible associations of these markers. Methods Anthropometric measurements of the children were obtained. The serum preptin, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR[gamma]), nod-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) levels of thirty children with obesity and thirty healthy children were determined using ELISA. Results NLPR3, preptin, and PPAR[gamma] levels were greater obese children than in healthy children (p < 0.05). We have shown that high PPAR[gamma] levels may have an inhibitory effect on the inflammatory activation of NLRP3. Conclusions In our study, the changes observed in preptin, NLRP3 and PPAR[gamma] parameters were found to be closely associated with pediatric obesity. These molecules may play an important role in understanding the relationship between pediatric obesity and inflammation and may be used as biomarkers in determining obesity treatment and complications in future studies. Keywords: Child, Obesity, Preptin, NLRP3, PPAR[gamma]

Background. Hypertension is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality. Although the pathogenetic process involved is not yet fully understood, the disease involves endothelial damage and inflammation. Calprotectin is an inflammatory marker that rises in parallel with disease activity in conditions such as systemic inflammatory diseases, infection, and atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate inflammation through serum calprotectin levels in newly diagnosed primary hypertension patients. Methods. Forty-nine newly diagnosed hypertensive patients and 38 healthy adults were included in the study. Patients’ office blood pressure values, biochemical findings, and demographic characteristics were recorded. Serum calprotectin levels were measured using ELISA. Parameters affecting serum calprotectin levels and determinants of hypertension were evaluated. Results. Serum calprotectin levels were 242.8 (72.4–524) ng/mL in the control group and 112.6 (67.4–389.8) ng/mL in the hypertensive patient group, the difference being statistically significant (p=0.001). There was no correlation between serum calprotectin levels and other parameters (blood pressure values, age, gender, serum creatinine, uric acid, and calcium levels) in the hypertensive group. A lower serum calprotectin level was found to be independently related to hypertension (β = −0.009, p=0.005). Serum calprotectin at a cutoff level of 128.6 ng/mL differentiated hypertensives from healthy controls with a sensitivity of 69.4% and specificity of 68.4% (AUC = 0.767). Conclusions. The results of this study were the opposite of our hypothesis that a higher calprotectin level may reflect subclinical endothelial damage in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. Further comparative studies involving patients at different stages of hypertension may contribute to clarifying the relationship between calprotectin and hypertension. We conclude that molecular studies seem essential for understanding the place of calprotectin in hypertension-associated inflammation, a complex process.

ABSTRACT Background Although high‐dose biotin interference in automated immunoassays is now considered, there are very few studies showing biotin interference in manually operated research kits, especially with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The aims of our study were to determine the effects of biotin interference on various parameters, including leptin, leptin receptor (LEPR), ghrelin, acylated ghrelin, deacylated ghrelin, ghrelin receptor (GHSR), kisspeptin (KISS1), kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R), preptin, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), nod‐like receptor pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) and interleukin‐18 (IL‐18), which contribute to energy homeostasis in healthy and obese children. Methods Serum pools were prepared from healthy and obese individuals, and biotin concentrations in samples containing different amounts of biotin were measured via sandwich and competitive ELISA methods. In addition, possible biotin interactions were investigated by determining the concentrations of all the study parameters in serum pools containing different amounts of biotin. Results We found that the biotin‐competitive, ghrelin‐competitive, KISS1‐competitive, GHSR, leptin and LEPR ELISA kits were less affected by biotin interference and the results of these assay kits were more reliable. Unexpectedly, high levels were also measured in the biotin sandwich ELISA kit, indicating that biotin interference can also occur in manually operated assay kits. Conclusions Biotin exhibited an interference effect even in well‐functioning, qualified kits, and this negative effect was less common in competitive kits. Biotin interference was closely associated with the quality of the research kit, the parameters studied, and the presence of high biotin concentrations in the blood. In this study, we aimed for the first time to demonstrate biotin interference in ELISA research kits used in the analysis of pediatric obesity parameters other than routine testing. Our study revealed that biotin interaction may occur in manual ELISA kits and may cause erroneous test results. It will raise awareness among health professionals, researchers, and medical companies on this issue. By encouraging manufacturers developing medical products to take measures to reduce the effect of biotin interaction, it will prevent erroneous results in scientific studies and contribute to more precise measurements.