The effect of astaxanthin and cadmium on rat erythrocyte G6PD, 6PGD,GR, and TrxR enzymes activities in vivo and on rat erythrocyte 6PGD enzyme activity in vitro

In this study, the effects of astaxanthin (AST) that belongs to carotenoid family and cadmium (Cd), which is an important heavy metal, on rat erythrocyte G6PD, 6PGD, GR, and TrxR enzyme activities in vivo and on rat erythrocyte 6PGD enzyme activity in vitro were studied. In in vitro studies, 6PGD enzyme was purified from rat erythrocytes with 2′,5′‐ADP Sepharose4B affinity chromatography. Results showed inhibition of enzyme by Cd at IC₅₀; 346.5 μM value and increase of 6PGD enzyme activity by AST. In vivo studies showed an increase in G6PD, 6PGD, and GR enzyme activities (P ? 0.05) and no chance in TrxR enzyme activity by AST. Cd ion inhibited G6PD, 6PGD, and GR enzyme activities (P ? 0.05) and also decreased TrxR enzyme activity (P ? 0.05). AST + Cd group G6PD enzyme activity was statistically low compared with control group (P ? 0.05). 6PGD and TrxR enzyme activities decreased without statistical significance (P ? 0.05); however, GR enzyme activity increased statistically significantly (P ? 0.05).     

Zoledronic Acid,Bevacizumab and Dexamethasone-Induced Apoptosis,Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress,and Calcium Signaling Are Decreased in Human Osteoblast-Like Cell Line by Selenium Treatment

Increased intracellular free calcium ion (Ca²⁺) concentration induces excessive oxidative stress and apoptosis. Medical procedures such as zoledronic acid (Zol), bevacizumab (Bev), and dexamethasone (Dex) are usually used in the treatment of bone diseases (osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, etc.) and to prevent metastasis in the bone although the procedures induce osteonecrosis of the jaw through excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Recently, we observed regulator roles of selenium (Se) on apoptosis and Ca²⁺ entry through transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels in the cancer cell lines. Therefore, Se may modulate Zol, Bev, and Dex-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis through regulation of TRPV1 channel. In the current study, we investigated the protective effects of Se on apoptosis and oxidative stress through TRPV1 in Zol, Bev, and Dex-induced osteoblast-like cell line. We used human osteoblast-like cell line (Saos-2), and the cells were divided into 12 groups as control, Zol, Bev, Dex, Se, Zol+Se, Bev+Se, Dex+Se, Zol+Dex, Zol+Dex+Se, Zol+Bev, and Zol+Bev+Se which were incubated with drugs (Zol, Bev, Dex, and Se) for 24 h. The cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentration was increased by Zol, Bev, Dex, Zol+Bev, and Zol+Dex, although it was reduced by Se treatment. However, Zol, Bev, and Dex-induced increase in apoptosis, caspase 3, caspase 9, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 expression levels, and intracellular ROS production values in the cells were decreased by Se treatments. In conclusion, we observed that Zol, Bev, and Dex-induced apoptosis, mitochondrial oxidative stress, and calcium signaling are decreased in human osteoblast-like cell line by the Se treatment. Our findings may be relevant to the etiology and treatment of Zol, Bev, and Dex-induced osteonecrosis by Se.     

Low serum insulin-like growth factor-1 in patients with erectile dysfunction

Objective

Endothelial dysfunction and microvascular damage play a crurical role in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED). Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is one of the growth factors that have a wide range of biologic effects. IGF-1 is an important mediator of cell growth, differentiation and transformation in various tissues. The purpose of the current study was to determine the association between IGF-1 levels and ED.

Materials and methods

All men were evaluated for ED and divided into two groups: 80 patients suffering from ED for >?1 year and 80 subjects without ED were enrolled as a control group in this study. Diagnosis of ED was based on the International Index of Erectile Function Score-5. IGF-1 levels were measured in serum by an automated chemiluminescence immunoassay. The relationship between IGF-1 levels and ED scores in patients was statistically evaluated.

Results

The mean age of patients in ED group was 60.4?±?11.3 years and 55.4?±?9.6 in control group. The plasma IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in ED than in control group (96.5?±?38.3 and 132.5?±?53.3 ng/ mL, respectively, P?<?0.001). The IGF-1 levels were positively correlated with ED score (r?=?0.623, P?<?0.01).

Conclusion

In this study serum IGF-1 levels were found to be associated with endothelial dysfunction that predicts ED. Serum IGF-1 level appears to be a specific predictor of ED, and it might be used in early prediction of ED in male population.

     

New biodegradable thermogelling copolymers having very low gelation concentrations

New biodegradable multiblock amphiphilic and thermosensitive poly(ether ester urethane)s consisting of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) blocks were synthesized, and their aqueous solutions were found to undergo a reversible sol-gel transition upon temperature change at very low copolymer concentrations. The multiblock poly(ether ester urethane)s were synthesized from diols of PHB, PEG, and PPG using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate as a coupling reagent. The chemical structures and molecular characteristics of the copolymers were studied by GPC, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and FTIR. The thermal stability of the poly(PEG/PPG/PHB urethane)s was studied by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), and the PHB contents were calculated based on the thermal degradation profile. The results were in good agreement with those obtained from the 1H NMR measurements. The poly(PEG/PPG/ PHB urethane)s presented better thermal stability than the PHB precursors. The water soluble poly(ether ester urethane)s had very low critical micellization concentration (CMC). Aqueous solutions of the new poly(ether ester urethane)s underwent a sol-gel-sol transition as the temperature increased from 4 to 80 degrees C, and showed a very low critical gelation concentration (CGC) ranging from 2 to 5 wt %. As a result of its multiblock architecture, a novel associated micelle packing model can be proposed for the sol-gel transition for the copolymer gels of this system. The new material is thought to be a promising candidate for injectable drug systems that can be formulated at low temperatures and forms a gel depot in situ upon subcutaneous injection.     

Vitamin E supplementation modulates gingival crevicular fluid lipid peroxidation and antioxidant levels in patients with orthodontic tooth movement

The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of the oxidant and antioxidant changes in orthodontic tooth movement and the effects of vitamin E on these parameters. For this purpose, 50 orthodontic patients (aged 13-18 years) required non-extracted treatment were divided randomly into the following groups: Control and Vitamin E. Same pre-adjusted appliances were applied to all patients, and vitamin E (300 mg day(-1)) was given during 1 month in vitamin E group. Gingival crevicular fluid was collected and periodontal indexes were recorded at the baseline and after 1 month. Lipid peroxidation (LP) levels as malonyldialdehyde, reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), vitamin C and E levels were measured in the anterior and posterior regions of the dentition. After 1 month, orthodontic treatment LP levels increased in control group in both anterior and posterior regions in vitamin E group. LP levels also increased in vitamin E group in only posterior region. The level of GSH and vitamin C did not change statistically in control and vitamin E groups. Periodontal indexes did not show any differences in comparison with the groups. In conclusion, we observed protective role of vitamin E on LP levels in anterior region of patients with orthodontic tooth movement.     

Indole and 7‐hydroxyindole diminish Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence

Indole is an extracellular biofilm signal for Escherichia coli, and many bacterial oxygenases readily convert indole to various oxidized compounds including 7‐hydroxyindole (7HI). Here we investigate the impact of indole and 7HI on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 virulence and quorum sensing (QS)‐regulated phenotypes; this strain does not synthesize these compounds but degrades them rapidly. Indole and 7HI both altered extensively gene expression in a manner opposite that of acylhomoserine lactones; the most repressed genes encode the mexGHI‐opmD multidrug efflux pump and genes involved in the synthesis of QS‐regulated virulence factors including pyocyanin (phz operon), 2‐heptyl‐3‐hydroxy‐4(1H)‐quinolone (PQS) signal (pqs operon), pyochelin (pch operon) and pyoverdine (pvd operon). Corroborating these microarray results, indole and 7HI decreased production of pyocyanin, rhamnolipid, PQS and pyoverdine and enhanced antibiotic resistance. In addition, indole affected the utilization of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, and 7HI abolished swarming motility. Furthermore, 7HI reduced pulmonary colonization of P. aeruginosa in guinea pigs and increased clearance in lungs. Hence, indole‐related compounds have potential as a novel antivirulence approach for the recalcitrant pathogen P. aeruginosa.     

Acamprosate Modulates Alcohol-Induced Hippocampal NMDA Receptors and Brain Microsomal Ca2+-ATPase but Induces Oxidative Stress in Rat

We investigated the effects of acamprosate on alcohol-induced oxidative toxicity, microsomal membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase (MMCA) activity and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits in rat brain. Forty male rats were equally divided into four groups. The first group was used as control, and the second group received ethanol. Acamprosate and acamprosate plus ethanol each day were administered to rats constituting the third and fourth groups for 21 days, respectively. Brain cortical and hippocampal samples were taken from the four groups after 21 days. Brain cortical lipid peroxidation (LP) levels and MMCA activity were higher in the alcohol group than in control, although glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), vitamin C, vitamin E and β-carotene values were lower in the alcohol group than in control. LP levels were further increased in the acamprosate and alcohol + acamprosate groups compared with the alcohol group. GSH-Px, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and β-carotene in the acamprosate and alcohol + acamprosate groups were further decreased compared with the alcohol group. Hippocampal NMDAR 2A and 2B subunit concentrations were lower in the alcohol group than in control, although they were increased by acamprosate and alcohol + acamprosate. Brain cortical MMCA activity was higher in the acamprosate group than in the alcohol-treated rats, although its activity was lower in the alcohol + acamprosate group than in the acamprosate group. Brain cortical reduced glutathione levels were not found to be statistically different in any of the groups. Oxidative stress has been proposed to explain the biological side effects of experimental alcohol intake. Acamprosate and alcohol-induced oxidative stress decreased brain antioxidant vitamins in the alcoholic rats.     

Levels of Selected Trace Elements, Phytohormones, and Sugars in Pseudomonas-Infected Lycopersicum esculantum Mill Plants

The present study investigated the levels of trace elements (Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Cd), major elements (Ca and K), phytohormones (trans-Zeatin [t-Z] and gibberellic acid [GA]), and sugars (sucrose and glucose) following inoculation with Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain. The results of the trace elements analysis showed that Fe (in the first, fourth, eighth, and tenth study days), Cd (in the fourth, eighth, and tenth study days), Cu (in the fourth and eighth study days), and Zn (in the eighth and tenth study days) increased in bacterium-infected tomato plants, compared to healthy plants. The levels of Pb, Ca, and K did not meaningfully determine a change after inoculation with pathogen. In this vein, the increase accumulation rates of Cu, Zn, and Fe in the injured plants can be an important indicator for the plant defense processes towards pathogen attack. Furthermore, in the first, fourth, eighth, and tenth study days, the glucose and sucrose contents crucially decreased in bacterium-infected plants compared to the control groups. The lowest level of sucrose in bacterium-infected plants was observed on the first day. The findings displayed that, when endogenous t-Z levels did not change after inoculation with virulent bacterium strain, there was a reduction in the first, fourth, eighth, and tenth days in the level of GA when compared with the control group levels. Therefore, there may be a link between lower GA level and enhancement in the expression of defense-related genes. The results of this study showed that there are complex relationships among levels of sugar, trace element, and endogenous phytohormone in the regulation of defense mechanisms against bacterial pathogen attacks.