Occupational Acne

Occupational and environmental acne is a dermatological disorder associated with industrial exposure. Polyhalogenated hydrocarbons, coal tar and products, petrol, and other physical, chemical, and environmental agents are suggested to play a role in the etiology of occupational acne. The people working in the field of machine, chemistry, and electrical industry are at high risk. The various occupational acne includes chloracne, coal tar, and oil acne. The most common type in clinic is the comedones, and it is also seen as papule, pustule, and cystic lesions. Histopathological examination shows epidermal hyperplasia, while follicular and sebaceous glands are replaced by keratinized epidermal cells. Topical or oral retinoic acids and oral antibiotics could be used in treatment. The improvement in working conditions, taking preventive measures, and education of the workers could eliminate occupational acne as a problem

Leprosy Reactions

Sudden changes in immune-mediated response to Mycobacterium leprae antigen are referred to as leprosy reactions. The reactions manifest as acute inflammatory episodes rather than chronic infectious course. There are mainly two types of leprosy reactions. Type 1 reaction is associated with cellular immunity and particularly with the reaction of T helper 1 (Th1) cells to mycobacterial antigens. This reaction involves exacerbation of old lesions leading to the erythematous appearance. Type 2 reaction or erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is associated with humoral immunity. It is characterized by systemic symptoms along with new erythematous subcutaneous nodules

Activity Criteria in Behçet’s Disease

Behçet’s disease is a complex disease characterized by remission and activation periods of unknown duration. It has an unpredictable course. Behçet’s disease shows a heterogeneous pattern of organ involvement that occurs in recurrent episodes of acute inflammation throughout the course of the disease. Disease activity in Behçet’s disease is difficult to define because of its fluctuating course, lack of laboratory tests reflecting overall disease activity, absence of a standardized form to report the severity of Behcet’s disease manifestations and also trying to develop new diagnostic criteria. This led to the development of standardized disease activity index. To be useful, a measurement of disease activity must be valid, reliable, and simple enough to use in routine clinical practice. We will try to explain what the situation is in terms of Behçet’s disease activity index

The Protective Effects of a Combination of an Arginine Silicate Complex and Magnesium Biotinate Against UV-Induced Skin Damage in Rats

The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of a novel combination of inositol-stabilized arginine silicate complex (ASI) and magnesium biotinate (MgB) on the prevention of skin damage after UVB exposure in rats. Forty-nine Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into one of the following groups: (1) NC, normal control, (2) SC, shaved control, (3) UVB (exposed to UVB radiation), (4) ASI+MgB-L (Low Dose), (5) ASI+MgB-H (High Dose), (6) ASI+MgB-L+MgB cream, (7) ASI+MgB-H+MgB cream. The results showed that ASI+MgB treatment alleviated the macroscopic and histopathological damages in the skin of rats caused by UVB exposure. Skin elasticity evaluation showed a similar trend. ASI+MgB increased serum Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Si, biotin, and arginine concentrations and skin hydroxyproline and biotinidase levels while decreasing skin elastase activity (p < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration (p < 0.001). Moreover, ASI+MgB treatment increased skin levels of biotin-dependent carboxylases (ACC1, ACC2, PC, PCC, MCC) and decreased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways and matrix metalloproteinase protein levels by the regulation of the activator protein 1 (AP-1), and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways. In addition, ASI+MgB caused lower levels of inflammatory factors, including TNF-α, NFκB, IL-6, IL-8, and COX-2 in the skin samples (p < 0.05). The levels of Bax and caspase-3 were increased, while anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was decreased by UVB exposure, which was reversed by ASI+MgB treatment. These results show that treatment with ASI and MgB protects against skin damage by improving skin appearance, elasticity, inflammation, apoptosis, and overall health

Momordica and Pycnogenol Can Tolerate Imazamox Induced Toxicity in L929 Cells Line: In Vitro Study

Undesirable side effects that result from the random use of herbicides in developing countries are widespread. Imazamox is a widely used herbicide and has toxic effect on humans. Momordica charantia has been reported to possess many benefits and medicinal properties. Pycnogenol (PYC) is a natural plant extract from the bark of Pinus pinaster Aiton and has potent antioxidant activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of pycnogenol and momardica on induced imazamox toxicity effects on L929 fibroblast cell line. L929 fibroblast cells were cultured in the appropriate culture medium. Toxic concentration of imazamox 250 μM, were administered 30 min prior to momordica and pycnogenol (10−1–10−5 concentration) on L929 fibroblast cell line for 24 h. The cell viability assay was determined by using MTT test. TAC-TOS analysis were used to evaluate antioxidant and oxidant status. According to our study pycnogenol high dose showned protective effect whereas momordica low dose showned protective effect p < 0.05. In current study pycnogenol increased TAC capacity in high dose but in lower dose pycnogenol did not show any promise (p < 0.05). Momordica results showed correlation with MTT result. According to this analyse momordica only in low dose increased anti oxidant capacity and in addition, only in low dose TOS level were decreased (p > 0.05). In conclusion momordica and pycnogenol showed promise to reduced imazamox toxicity

The Effects Of Oligofructose And Polydextrose On Metabolic Control Parameters In Type-2 Diabetes

Objective: This study investigated the effects of oligofructose and polydextrose on metabolic control in Type-2 diabetes. Methodology: Twenty voluntary, postmenopausal, total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratios >4.5, female, Type-2 diabetes patients were included. The study was performed in four periods, with the baseline as the period one. In periods two and four, the patients consumed individual diabetic diets for eight weeks. In period three, they consumed 20g of oligofructose and potydextrose mixture in 40g sweetener (in powdered form), added to their diets for six weeks. Results: Prebiotic soluble fiber sources (oligofructose and polydextrose) significantly decreased fasting and postprandial (2-hour) blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, TC, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios, triglyceride, VLDL-cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p0.05) compared to the initial values, respectively. Conclusion: Individual diabetic diets supplemented with prebiotics improved metabolic control in Type-2 diabetes.Wo

Is Oxytocin Proper for Cancer Adjuvant Therapy?

Neuroblastomas are solid tumors and mostly seen in the adrenal medulla and sympathetic ganglia. It is known that neuroblastoma cell proliferation is inhibited by cisplatin and vincristine. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of oxytocin on cell viability in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line and primary cerebral cortex cell culture exposed to cisplatin and vincristine. In this direction, SH-SY5Y cell line and cortex neurons were obtained from the medical pharmacology department, Ataturk University. Both cells were grown in the appropriate cell culture media. Cisplatin (5, 10, 15 μg), vincristine (0.5, 1 and 2 ng) and oxytocin (1 μM) were applied to SH-SY5Y cell line and primary cortex cell culture for 24 h. MTT and TAC-TOS tests were performed 24 h after the application. As a result of the MTT assay, the combination of cisplatin and vincristine reduced cell viability in both cultures approximately 25% and 22%, respectively, compared to the control group. It appears that oxytocin increases neuroblastoma and cortex neuron viability, 112% and 95%, respectively. In this relation, we need to investigate why oxytocin increases cell viability and what are the possible implications in women in lactation stage

Regulation of Molecular Targets in Osteosarcoma Treatment

The most prevalent malignant bone tumor, osteosarcoma, affects the growth plates of long bones in adolescents and young adults. Standard chemotherapeutic methods showed poor response rates in patients with recurrent and metastatic phases. Therefore, it is critical to develop novel and efficient targeted therapies to address relapse cases. In this regard, RNA interference technologies are encouraging options in cancer treatment, in which small interfering RNAs regulate the gene expression following RNA interference pathways. The determination of target tissue is as important as the selection of tissue-specific promoters. Moreover, small interfering RNAs should be delivered effectively into the cytoplasm. Lentiviral vectors could encapsulate and deliver the desired gene into the cell and integrate it into the genome, providing long-term regulation of targeted genes. Silencing overexpressed genes promote the tumor cells to lose invasiveness, prevents their proliferation, and triggers their apoptosis. The uniqueness of cancer cells among patients requires novel therapeutic methods that treat patients based on their unique mutations. Several studies showed the effectiveness of different approaches such as microRNA, drug- or chemotherapy-related methods in treating the disease; however, identifying various targets was challenging to understanding disease progression. In this regard, the patient-specific abnormal gene might be targeted using genomics and molecular advancements such as RNA interference approaches. Here, we review potential therapeutic targets for the RNA interference approach, which is applicable as a therapeutic option for osteosarcoma patients, and we point out how the small interfering RNA method becomes a promising approach for the unmet challenge

Evaluation of Objective Test Techniques in Cochlear Implant Users With Inner Ear Malformations

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare results of objective test techniques in cochlear implant users with inner ear malformations and incomplete partition anomalies with types I and II and to show which techniques should be used in the evaluation and fitting of cochlear implant users with inner ear malformations