Carcinogenic Parasite Secretes Growth Factor That Accelerates Wound Healing and Potentially Promotes Neoplasia

Infection with the human liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini induces cancer of the bile ducts, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Injury from feeding activities of this parasite within the human biliary tree causes extensive lesions, wounds that undergo protracted cycles of healing, and re-injury over years of chronic infection. We show that O. viverrini secreted proteins accelerated wound resolution in human cholangiocytes, an outcome that was compromised following silencing of expression of the fluke-derived gene encoding the granulin-like growth factor, Ov-GRN-1. Recombinant Ov-GRN-1 induced angiogenesis and accelerated mouse wound healing. Ov-GRN-1 was internalized by human cholangiocytes and induced gene and protein expression changes associated with wound healing and cancer pathways. Given the notable but seemingly paradoxical properties of liver fluke granulin in promoting not only wound healing but also a carcinogenic microenvironment, Ov-GRN-1 likely holds marked potential as a therapeutic wound-healing agent and as a vaccine against an infection-induced cancer of major public health significance in the developing world.     

Effects of a porphyrazine derivative on some developmental characteristics of Drosophila melanogaster

In this study, the effects of a porphyrazine derivative, [octakis (2-trimethylammoniumethyl thio) porphyrazinatocobalt] octaiodide (CoPzq), were explored on the developmental characteristics, sex ratio and egg fertility of Drosophila melanogaster. CoPzq was preferred in the study due to its probability to be used as a chemotherapeutic agent in medicine. As a result of the application of CoPzq, a phenotypic abnormality was revealed within the individuals of F1 and F2 generation of Drosophila. Although individuals of F2 generation did not directly come into contact with the chemical, the rate of abnormality is high. An increase was observed within both generations in terms of the egg fertility. Besides, a deviation emerged in the sex-ratio in some concentrations.     

Evaluation of the Rho A/Rho-kinase pathway in the uterus of the rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of RhoA/Rho-kinase in the uterus and the effect of Rho-kinase inhibitors on uterine contractions of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) rats. Forty-four female Sprague-Dawley (21 days old) rats divided into three groups: The control group (n?=?14, any procedure was not performed), vehicle group (n?=?14, 0.2?ml of sesame oil, subcutaneous injection, 20 days) and PCOS group (n?=?16, DHEA 6?mg/100?g in 0.2?ml of sesame oil, subcutaneous injection, 20 days). The myometrium thickness and uterine wet weight were assessed. The mRNA and protein expressions of Rho A, the effect of Rho-kinase inhibitors (fasudil and Y-27632) on KCl, carbachol, and PGF2α induced contractions were evaluated in the uterus. In the PCOS group, the myometrium thickness and uterine wet weight significantly increased compared to the control group and vehicle group. The mRNA expression level and the immunoreactive score of Rho A, ROCK 1, ROCK 2 were similar in all groups. In the PCOS group, KCl, carbachol, and PGF2α induced uterine contractions significantly increased compared to the control group and vehicle group. Fasudil and Y-27632 significantly inhibited KCl, carbachol, and PGF2α induced uterine contractions in all groups. In conclusion, the expression of Rho A, ROCK 1, ROCK 2 not changed although myometrium thickness, uterine wet weight and the contractile responses of uterus increased in the PCOS group. The results suggest that the Rho-kinase inhibitors effectively suppressed increased contractions in the PCOS group they might be potential therapeutic agents.     

Oleanolic acid,a natural triterpenoid improves blood glucose tolerance in normal mice and ameliorates visceral obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet

Excess visceral adiposity may predispose to chronic diseases like hypertension and type 2 diabetes with a high risk for coronary artery disease. Adipose tissue secreted cytokines and oxidative stress play an important role in chronic disease progression. To combat adiposity, plant-derived triterpenes are currently receiving much attention as they possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. In the search for potential antiobese compounds from natural sources, this study evaluated the effects of oleanolic acid (OA), a pentacyclic triterpene commonly present in fruits and vegetables, in glucose tolerance test and on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice. Adult male Swiss mice treated or not with OA (10 mg/kg) were fed a HFD during 15 weeks. Sibutramine (SIB) treated group (10 mg/kg) was included for comparison. Weekly body weights, food and water consumption were measured, and at the end of study period, the levels of blood glucose and lipids, plasma hormone levels of insulin, ghrelin and leptin, and the visceral abdominal fat content were analysed. Mice treated with OA and fed a HFD showed significantly (p < 0.05) improved glucose tolerance, decreased body weights, visceral adiposity, blood glucose, plasma lipids relative to their respective controls fed no OA. Additionally, OA treatment, while significantly elevating the plasma hormone level of leptin, decreased the level of ghrelin. However, it caused a greater decrease in plasma amylase activity than lipase. Sibutramine-treated group also manifested similar effects like OA except for blood glucose level that was not different from HFD control. These findings suggest that OA ameliorates visceral adiposity and improves glucose tolerance in mice and thus has an antiobese potential through modulation of carbohydrate and fat metabolism.     

Application of Freundlich and Langmuir models to multistage purification process to remove heavy metal ions by using Schizomeris leibleinii

The adsorption of iron(III), lead(II) and cadmium(II) ions onto Schizomeris leibleinii, a green alga, was studied with respect to initial pH, temperature, initial metal ion and biomass concentration to determine the optimum adsorption conditions. Optimum initial pH for iron(III), lead(II) and cadmium(II) ions were 2.5, 4.5 and 5.0 at optimum temperature 30°C, respectively. The initial adsorption rates increased with increasing initial iron(III), lead(II) and cadmium(II) ion concentrations up to 100, 100 and 150 mg l⁻¹, respectively. The Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms were developed at various initial pH and temperature values. The adsorption of these metal ions to S. leibleinii was investigated in a two-stage mixed batch reactor. The residual metal ion concentrations (C_eq) at equilibrium at each stage for a given ‘quantity of dried algae (X₀)/volume of solution containing heavy metal ion (V₀)’ ratio were calculated using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm constants. The experimental biosorption equilibrium data for iron(III), lead(II) and cadmium(II) ions were in good agreement with those calculated by both Freundlich and Langmuir models. The adsorbed iron(III), lead(II) and cadmium(II) ion concentrations increased with increasing X₀/V₀ ratios while the adsorbed metal quantities per unit mass of dried algae decreased.     

Severe hypothyroidism caused by hepatic hemangioendothelioma in an infant of a diabetic mother

Hemangioendotheliomas can express type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase and cause severe hypothyroidism. The risk of congenital malformations such as vertebral and cardiac abnormalities in infants of diabetic mothers is higher than in babies of healthy women. Here we report an infant of a diabetic mother with hypothyroidism caused by liver hemangioendothelioma. Consumptive hypothyroidism should be an indicator to search for a vascular tumor in infants. Supranormal doses of L-thyroxine might be required for normalization of thyroid function until the tumor involutes or is resected.     

The frequencies of the serum amyloid A2 alleles in healthy (Turkish, Azerbaijan and Kazakh) populations

The Amyloid A1 (AA1) and A2 (AA2) proteins, which result from proteolytic cleavage of the Serum Amyloid A1 (SAA1) and A2 (SAA2) proteins, are major protein components of the Amyloid A deposits found in secondary amyloidosis. This study determines frequency of serum amyloid A2 alleles (alpha, beta) in healthy Turkish, Azerbaijan and Kazakh subjects. Two hundred Turkish, sixty five Azerbaijan and sixty five Kazakh healthy individuals were studied by previously described the PCR-RFLP methods. Our data revealed that the frequencies of the alpha and beta alleles at the SAA2 locus in the Turkish healthy population were different when compared to those in Azerbaijan and Kazakh healthy populations (p = 0.014 and p = 0.02), respectively. In contrast, the difference between alpha and beta alleles at the SAA2 locus was not different in both Kazakh and Azerbaijan healthy populations (p = 0.882).