Sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone treatment is not affected by OPRM1 A118G and BDNF Va66Met polymorphisms, but alters the plasma beta-endorphin and BDNF levels in individuals with opioid use disorder

The study aimed to examine the genetic contribution to buprenorphine (BUP) treatment in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), with a specific focus on BDNF and OPRM1 genes. A total of 113 controls and 111 OUD patients receiving sublingual BUP/naloxone were enrolled. OPRM1 A118G and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms were investigated by PCR-FRLP. Plasma BDNF and beta-endorphin levels were assessed by ELISA kits in both groups. Blood BUP levels were measured by LC-MS/MS and normalized with daily BUP dose (BUP/D). OPRM1 A118G and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms didn't have an effect on plasma beta-endorphin and BDNF levels in OUD patients, respectively. Interestingly, OUD patients had significantly higher plasma BDNF and lower beta-endorphin levels compared to the controls (p < 0.001). A negative and significant correlation between plasma BUP/D and BDNF levels was found. Age onset of first use was associated with OPRM1 A118G polymorphism. The findings indicated that sublingual BUP/naloxone may increase plasma BDNF levels, but may decrease beta-endorphin levels in individuals with OUD. Plasma BDNF level seemed to be decreased in a BUP/D concentration-dependent manner. © 2022 Elsevier B.V

Psychological Well-Being, Health, and Stress Sources in Turkish Dental Students

This study investigated the psychological well-being and overall health of a group of Turkish dental students and their sources of stress. Two hundred and seventy-seven students (57 percent female) from Gazi University Dental Faculty completed the Dental Environment Stress (DES) questionnaire, the Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) index, and the SF-36 Health Survey. The results showed that the DES scores increased over the five-year period. Pressure to perform, faculty and administration, workload, and students' perceptions of their self-efficacy were the most stress-provoking factors. Students whose first choice was dentistry experienced less stress and fewer health problems (p<0.05) than students whose first choice had not been dentistry. Psychological well-being and overall health were significantly associated with year of study. Statistically significant gender differences were observed on depressed mood and anxiety dimension scores of PGWB. Female students experienced greater stress than males, while male students had better overall health than females (p<0.01). Students who lived with their parents had lower PGWB scores (p<0.05). Age was significantly related with the DES and PGWB scores. These results found that stress among these Turkish dental students was influenced by gender, year of study, social background, and lifestyle. Based on the results of this study, recommendations can be made for changes in the dental education system in order to reduce stress among dental students especially during the last two years of study

Dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis as a novel indicator of oxidative stress in obese children and its relationship with inflammatory-cardiovascular markers

Conclusion: The impairment in thiol/disulphide homeostasis, which is indicative of oxidative stress, is associated with inflammation in obesity. In addition, cardiovascular involvement may also contribute to this impairment

Comparison of the immunoassay method with the commercial and in-house LC-MS/MS methods for substance abuse in urine

The aim of this study was to compare the analytical performance of the KIMS (kinetic interaction of microparticles in solution) immunochemical method with a validated in-house and a commercial LC-MS/MS method

OPRD1 rs569356 polymorphism has an effect on plasma norbuprenorphine levels and dose/kg-normalized norbuprenorphine values in individuals with opioid use disorder

This study aimed to determine the effects of nine OPRM1, OPRD1 and OPRK1 polymorphisms on plasma BUP and norbuprenorphine (norBUP) concentrations and various treatment responses in a sample of 122 patients receiving BUP/naloxone. Plasma concentrations of BUP and norBUP were detected by LC–MS/MS. PCR-RFLP method was used to genotype polymorphisms. OPRD1 rs569356 GG had significantly lower plasma norBUP concentration (p = 0.018), dose- (p = 0.049) and dose/kg-normalized norBUP values (p = 0.036) compared with AA. Craving and withdrawal symptoms were significantly higher in OPRD1 rs569356 AG+GG relative to AA. There was a statistically significant difference between the OPRD1 rs678849 genotypes in the intensity of anxiety (13.5 for CT+TT and 7.5 for TT). OPRM1 rs648893 TT (18.8 ± 10.8) was significantly different to CC+CT (14.82 ± 11.3; p = 0.049) in view of the intensity of depression. This current study provides the first data on a prominent effect of the OPRD1 rs569356 variation on BUP pharmacology due to its metabolite norBUP. © 2023 Elsevier B.V

Effects of UGT2B7 rs7662029 and rs7439366 polymorphisms on sublingual buprenorphine metabolism in heroin addicts: An improved PCR-RFLP assay for the detection of rs7662029 polymorphism

This study aimed to determine the effects of UGT2B7 rs7662029 and rs7439366 polymorphisms on plasma buprenorphine (BUP) concentration and different treatment responses in a sample of 109 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) treated with sublingual BUP/naloxone. Polymorphisms were analysed by PCR-RFLP. Plasma concentrations of BUP and its metabolite norbuprenorphine were detected by LC-MS/MS. Craving, withdrawal, depression and anxiety were measured by appropriate scales. OUD patients with rs7439366 CC or rs7662029 GG genotypes had significantly lower dose-normalized (BUP/D) and dose/kg-normalized BUP (BUP/D.kg(-1)) levels than those who were CT or AA carriers. Significant associations between UGT2B7 rs7662029 and increased craving (p = 0.037) and withdrawal symptoms (p = 0.029) were detected. Our findings were pointing to an important role of UGT2B7 in the metabolism of sublingual BUP/naloxone in the heroin addicts for the first time. A novel PCR-RFLP assay was developed for the determination of UGT2B7 rs7662029 polymorphism, based on utilizing novel restriction enzyme

Arsenic related hearing loss in miners

Kesici, Gulin/0000-0003-0409-6225WOS: 000367280400002PubMed: 26700251Purpose: Arsenic is a toxic metalloid that carries number of potential risks to human health, although there is little evidence of the ototoxic effect of arsenic. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between arsenic exposure and hearing loss by measuring blood arsenic concentrations and hearing among miners. Materials and methods: This research is a retrospective case control study. Included in the study were miners employed in a single silver mine whose blood arsenic concentrations were high. A comparison was made on the pure tone audiometry measurements taken from miners exposed only to arsenic (Group 1), those exposed to both arsenic and noise (Group 2) and a control group exposed to neither arsenic nor noise (Group 3). Results: It was found that for both ears at all frequencies, the hearing level of Group 3 was better than the hearing levels of both Group 1 and Group 2. There was no correlation between the blood arsenic levels and hearing levels in both ears. Conclusion: This study has revealed the ototoxic effects of arsenic. As blood arsenic concentrations do not reflect long-term exposure, no correlation was identified between blood arsenic concentrations and hearing levels. Further studies will be needed to clarify the mechanisms involved in the effect of arsenic on hearing. This paper represents the largest study to date focusing on the isolated effects of arsenic on hearing through the use of a clinical auditory test. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Assessment of Serum Ischemia-modified albumin, Prolidase and Thiol-Disulphide Levels in Subjects With Breast Cancer

Background: Oxidative damage is of great importance for patients with breast cancer. Thus, studies were performed to identify the relationship between breast cancer and oxidative stress biomarkers

EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN POTTERY AND CERAMIC WORKERS

During the last decade, the production and hence, the amount and the types of exposure of hazardous chemicals have been increased in the occupationally exposed workers. Most of these chemicals have deterious effects in the living systems. The level of chemical exposure in the occupational settings and the biomonitoring of workers and also establishing the regulatory endpoints are very important. The exposures of chemicals in the workplaces have been associated with the increase in allergy, organ and system disorders and cancer. Therefore, the removal of these hazardous substances or the substitutions of them with non-toxic ones are necessary for the protection of workers’ health. In a large variety of occupations such as pottery and ceramic industry, workers may be exposed to the many chemicals mainly to crystalline silica. Occupational exposure to crystalline silica dust is related to an increased risk for pulmonary diseases such as silicosis, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer. The genotoxic changes as assessed by comet assay in foundry and ceramic workers will be given. In the presentation, the effects of age, smoking, alcohol and protective equipment usage on the genotoxicity parameters will also be discussed