Effect of six weeks aerobic training upon blood trace metals levels

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of 6-week aerobic exercise program upon blood Zn and Cu levels. There were 12 male university students with an average age of 21.67+/-0.89 years and no regular training habits participated in the study. The participants were subjected three days a week 1 hour a day continuous running program on treadmill with an intensity of 60-70% for a period of six weeks. They were fed with zinc and copper free diet throughout the study and it was made sure that they were not using copper or zinc containing vitamin tablets. The difference between the pre and post study period were found to be statistically significant as regards to both resting and maximal loading conditions (p<0.01). The pre and post training maxVO2 values were also found to be positively correlated with the copper and zinc levels in blood. Both the copper and zinc blood levels were found decreased after the training period p<0.05.     

Clastogenicity of the fungicide afugan in cultured human lymphocytes

The genotoxic effects of the fungicide afugan were analysed by measuring chromosomal aberrations (CAs), sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronuclei (MN) in cultured human peripheral lymphocytes. Concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 microg/ml of afugan were used during 24 and 48 h. Afugan significantly increased the frequency of CAs at 5, 10 and 20 microg/ml concentrations during a 48 h treatment period. A significant increase was observed for induction of SCE and MN at all treatments compared with the negative control. A significant dose-response correlation was found in all tests. Afugan did not affect the replicative index (RI), however it significantly decreased the mitotic index (MI) at all treatment concentrations except 2.5 microg/ml, and at both treatment times. The present results indicate that afugan is clastogenic and cytotoxic to cultured human lymphocytes.     

Insulin-like growth factor I (Igf-1) gene polymorphism in patients with non-metastatic breast cancer

We aimed to assess the association between IGF-I gene (CA repeats) polymorphism in breast cancer patients and their clinicopathological features, as well as disease recurrence and survival. Seventy-six non-metastatic breast cancer patients were enrolled in the present study. The IGF-I (CA) repeats were studied with polymerase chain reaction by using proper primers belonging to these gene areas from DNA samples. Results show that the non 19- non 19 homozygote were more common in patients without lymph node involvement (p=0.04), with low histological grade (p=0.04), with positive hormone receptor status (p=0.01), and in patients without recurrence (p=0.06). These results suggest that the non 19-non 19 carriers have some favorable prognostic factors, and IGF-I gene polymorphism (CA repeats) may affect disease recurrence and overall survival.     

A versatile method for functionalization and grafting of 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) via Click chemistry

This article describes a versatile method for the modification of 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) involving azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction to impart neutral (ester) and ionic (carboxylic acid and 1(ry) amine) functionalities. The synthetic approach involved, first the introduction of the azide functionality to HEC and then followed by its cycloaddition reaction with several alkyne terminated compounds: namely ethyl propiolate, 5-hexynoic acid and propargyl amine. Sequential Click reactions were also demonstrated to be feasible by the successful synthesis of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) grafted HEC containing neutral (ester) and ionic (carboxylic acid and 1(ry) amine) functionalities. The Click chemistry was then further utilized similarly to graft poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) segments to HEC to access its hydrophobic and hydrophilic analogs, respectively. AFM analysis revealed that while HEC itself formed uniform oval features, the PLA grafted HEC exhibited a brushlike architecture. The formation of these brushlike structures suggested that the HEC backbone exhibits an extended conformation with the side chains stretched out. The resulting polymeric materials were characterized by solution and solid state (13)C NMR and FTIR spectroscopy.     

Pharmacogenomic determination of genes associated with sensitivity or resistance of tumor cells to curcumin and curcumin derivatives

Curcuma longa L. has long been used as a medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine against abdominal disorders. Its active constituent curcumin has anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive and cytotoxic properties. In the present investigation, we have analyzed the cytotoxic activity of curcumin and four derivatives. Among these compounds, ethoxycurcumintrithiadiazolaminomethylcarbonate was the most cytotoxic one. The curcumin-type compounds were not cross-resistant to standard anticancer drugs and were not involved in ATP-binding cassette transporter-mediated multidrug resistance. A combined approach of messenger RNA-based microarray profiling, COMPARE analyses and signaling pathway analyses identified genes as determinants of sensitivity and resistance to curcumin and specific signaling routes involved in cellular response to curcumin. These genes may be useful as biomarkers to develop individualized treatment options in the future. From a nutritional point of view, it is a thriving perspective to further investigate whether C. longa may be used as a spice to improve cancer therapy.     

Local delivery of chitosan/VEGF siRNA nanoplexes reduces angiogenesis and growth of breast cancer in vivo

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the important angiogenic factor associated with tumor growth and metastasis in a wide variety of solid tumors. The aim of this study is to investigate the tumor suppressive effect of chitosan/small interfering RNA (siRNA)-VEGF nanoplexes in the rat breast cancer model. Chitosan/siRNA nanoplexes (siVEGF-A, siVEGFR-1, siVEGFR-2) and NRP-1 were prepared in a 15 to1 ratio and injected (intratumorally) into the breast-tumor-bearing Sprague-Dawley rats. Tumor volumes were measured during 21 days. To investigate the effect of chitosan/siRNA nanoplexes on VEGF expression in tumors, VEGF was analyzed with immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The mRNA levels of VEGF in tumor samples were determined with real-time PCR (RT-PCR). After siRNA treatment, a marked reduction in tumor volumes was measured in complex-injected rats (97%). Free siRNA injection showed lower tumor inhibition. Reduction of VEGF protein was also shown with western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Similar results were obtained with RT-PCR also. These results indicate that the chitosan/siRNA targeting to VEGF nanoplexes have a remarkably suppressive effect on VEGF expression and tumor volume in breast cancer model of rats.     

Comparison of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels using mass spectrometer and urine albumin creatinine ratio as a predictor of development of diabetic nephropathy

Abstract Background. Measurement of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) has recently become more popular as a means of assessing oxidative stress in the human body. The aim of this study is to compare the levels of urine 8-OHdG in patients with type 2 diabetes with and without nephropathy and to evaluate its role as a biochemical marker for distinguishing these patients from healthy and patients without complications. Methods. For this purpose, 52 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (32 with nephropathy (DMN), 20 without nephropathy (DM)) and 20 healthy control subjects (C) were included in this study. The urine concentrations of 8-OHdG were measured by modified LC-MS/MS method and compared with the first morning voiding urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) and HbA1c values of the same patients. Results. The concentrations of urine 8-OHdG in DMN and DM patients were higher than those of the control subjects (3.47?±?0.94, 2.92?±?1.73, 2.1?±?0.93 nmol/mol creatinine, respectively). But there was no statistical difference between DMN and DM (p =?0.115). There is significant correlation between urinary 8-OHdG and UACR (r =?0.501, p 相似文献   

Effects of sugammadex on immunoreactivity of calcineurin in rat testes cells after neuromuscular block: a pilot study

Reversal of neuromuscular blockage induced by steroidal neuromuscular blocking agents such as rocuronium can be achieved using normal dose of sugammadex, which has been shown to be very effective for such reversal. In this study, we determined the effects of sugammadex on calcineurin immunoreactivity by examining the histopathological and histochemical structure of rat testis cells after neuromuscular blockage. Moreover, the regional distribution levels of calcineurin immunopositive testes cells were investigated. Eighteen adult male, Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into one control and two study groups. Study groups 1 and 2 rats received sugammadex at doses of 16 and 96 mg kg⁻¹ i.v., respectively, after rocuronium treatment (mg kg⁻¹ i.v.). The control group received intravenous 0.9% NaCl 1 ml. i.v without any drug. Our study demonstrates that sugammadex is safe and effective for reversal of rocuronium effects in rats, as well as in other animals and humans. Furthermore, histopathological examination indicates that high levels of sugammadex–rocuronium complexes accumulate a little in testis tissue. We found that rocuronium-sugammadex complexes were remained in circulation for a long time resulting in a decrease in interstitial space, testis size, germ cell numbers and Leydig cell numbers. Calcineurin immunoreactivity was higher in the experimental groups than the control group due to increase of calcium level. The results suggest that sugammadex–rocuronium complexes are cause histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in testis interstitial tissues, as well as changes in sperm density and germ cell number.