Expression profiling of SCN8A and NDUFC2 genes in colorectal carcinoma

The expression differences of SCN8A (which encodes type VIII alpha subunit of voltage gated sodium channel) and NDUFC2 (which encodes C2 subunit of Complex I enzyme in oxidative phosphorylation) genes were evaluated in paired colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues which was relied on our partial transcriptome analysis data in cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: A total of 62 paired tissues of CRC patients (34 male, 28 female) were included in the study. The mRNA levels of SCN8A and NDUFC2 genes were determined by using real-time PCR (qRT-PCR and semiquantitative PCR). Results: SCN8A gene expression level was significantly lower in tumor tissues (p = 0.0128) and in the patients with the age below 45 years (p = 0.0049). There were also meaningful relationships between the gender, grade of CRC, tumor location, histopathological classification, and SCN8A expression. There was no NDUFC2 differential expression. However, the tumors taken from right colon had significantly lower NDUFC2 expression. Conclusion: Although the voltage gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and Complex I (CI) were associated to a number of diseases including different types of cancers, the different subunits of CI and individual members of VGSCs seem to be cancer type-specific in varying proportions. Key Words: colorectal carcinoma, SCN8A, NDUFC2, Complex I, voltage gated sodium channels, gene expression

Reduced gene expression of bikunin as a prognostic marker for renal cell carcinoma

Aim: Experimental and clinical studies showed that bikunin, a Kunitz-type protease inhibitor, found in urine and amniotic fluid has a role in spread of tumor cells by providing a significant reduction in the levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its specific receptor urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). The aim of this study was to investigate expression of bikunin at the mRNA level and screen for mutations in exon sequence in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissues. Materials and Methods: Total RNA and DNA were extracted from paired normal and tumor tissues of total 50 RCC (11 papillary, 8 chromophobe, 26 clear cell, and 5 other types) patients (23 females, mean age: 53.55 ± 14.17; 27 males mean age: 62.1 ± 7.92). Bikunin mRNA levels were detected using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Mutational screening was performed by using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) method and nucleotide sequence analysis. Results: There was a statistically significant decrease in the 25 (50%) of tumor tissues comparing to normal tissues in terms of mRNA levels of bikunin (Wilcoxon signed rank test, p = 0.0337). According to the classification based on subtypes of RCC; clear cell RCC samples displayed a reduced gene expression (p = 0.0148). Additionally, the patients with the age above 50 had low bikunin expression. The SNP rs80057939 spanning 4th exon of bikunin was detected in 13 tumor tissues. However, it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Decreased bikunin mRNA level in renal cells might be associated with poor prognosis of renal carcinoma. Therefore, gene constructs or exogenous administration of bikunin might be a potential adjuvant therapy for RCC treatment. Key Words: Bikunin, nucleotide sequence analysis, prognostic marker, renal cell carcinoma, semi-quantitative RT-PCR

Phosphine Oxide Derivative as a Passivating Agent to Enhance the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells

Defects of metal-halide perovskites detrimentally influence the optoelectronic properties of the thin film and, ultimately, the photovoltaic performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Especially, defect-mediated nonradiative recombination that occurs at the perovskite interface significantly limits the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs. In this regard, interfacial engineering or surface treatment of perovskites has become a viable strategy for reducing the density of surface defects, thereby improving the PCE of PSCs. Here, an organic molecule, tris(5-((tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)pentyl)phosphine oxide (THPPO), is synthesized and introduced as a defect passivation agent in PSCs. The P=O terminal group of THPPO, a Lewis base, can passivate perovskite surface defects such as undercoordinated Pb2+. Consequently, improvement of PCEs from 19.87 to 20.70% and from 5.84 to 13.31% are achieved in n−i−p PSCs and hole-transporting layer (HTL)-free PSCs, respectively

Modern venomics – Current insights, novel methods and future perspectives in biological and applied animal venom research

Venoms have evolved >100 times in all major animal groups, and their components, known as toxins, have been fine-tuned over millions of years into highly effective biochemical weapons. There are many outstanding questions on the evolution of toxin arsenals, such as how venom genes originate, how venom contributes to the fitness of venomous species, and which modifications at the genomic, transcriptomic, and protein level drive their evolution. These questions have received particularly little attention outside of snakes, cone snails, spiders, and scorpions. Venom compounds have further become a source of inspiration for translational research using their diverse bioactivities for various applications. We highlight here recent advances and new strategies in modern venomics and discuss how recent technological innovations and multi-omic methods dramatically improve research on venomous animals. The study of genomes and their modifications through CRISPR and knockdown technologies will increase our understanding of how toxins evolve and which functions they have in the different ontogenetic stages during the development of venomous animals. Mass spectrometry imaging combined with spatial transcriptomics, in situ hybridization techniques, and modern computer tomography gives us further insights into the spatial distribution of toxins in the venom system and the function of the venom apparatus. All these evolutionary and biological insights contribute to more efficiently identify venom compounds, which can then be synthesized or produced in adapted expression systems to test their bioactivity. Finally, we critically discuss recent agrochemical, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic (so-called translational) aspects of venoms from which humans benefit

EXPRESSION PROFILING OF SCN8A AND NDUFC2 GENES IN COLORECTAL CARCINOMA

The expression differences of SCN8A (which encodes type VIII alpha subunit of voltage gated sodium channel) and NDUFC2 (which encodes C2 subunit of Complex I enzyme in oxidative phosphorylation) genes were evaluated in paired colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues which was relied on our partial transcriptome analysis data in cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: A total of 62 paired tissues of CRC patients (34 male, 28 female) were included in the study. The mRNA levels of SCN8A and NDUFC2 genes were determined by using real-time PCR (qRT-PCR and semiquantitative PCR). Results: SCN8A gene expression level was significantly lower in tumor tissues (p = 0.0128) and in the patients with the age below 45 years (p = 0.0049). There were also meaningful relationships between the gender, grade of CRC, tumor location, histopathological classification, and SCN8A expression. There was no NDUFC2 differential expression. However, the tumors taken from right colon had significantly lower NDUFC2 expression. Conclusion: Although the voltage gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and Complex I (CI) were associated to a number of diseases including different types of cancers, the different subunits of CI and individual members of VGSCs seem to be cancer type-specific in varying proportions. Key Words: colorectal carcinoma, SCN8A, NDUFC2, Complex I, voltage gated sodium channels, gene expression

Lipoma of the pancreas: MRI findings

Lipomas of the pancreas are very rare. Focal fatty infiltration of the pancreas is an entity that should be differentiated from a pancreatic lipoma. In this report the MRI findings of an incidentally found pancreatic lipoma are presented and the role of MRI in the differentiation of pancreatic lipoma and focal fatty infiltration of the pancreas is discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

LINGUAL THYROID - THE DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Lingual thyroid is an uncommon developmental aberration of embryogenesis. It may present as a mid-line, non-tender, painless, reddish appearing swelling in the throat. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a relatively new diagnostic method for this condition. Two cases of lingual thyroid are reviewed with their MRI's and surgical results

Esophageal duplication cyst coexisting with Bochdalek's hernia and polysplenia

Esophageal duplication cyst, Bochdalek's hernia and polysplenia are uncommon congenital anomalies which have not been reported to be associated with each other. We present the radiological aspects of an unusual coexistence of these three congenital anomalies in a 4-month-old girl

Ectopic spleen and left-sided vena cava in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a congenital overgrowth syndrome characterized by anterior abdominal wall defects, macroglossia, and gigantism. A variety of other abnormalities have been described, however association with ectopic spleen and left-sided vena cava has not been reported previously. We report ectopic spleen, left-sided vena cava and the other abdominal imaging findings of an adult BWS case who came up to date without any follow-up from the early childhood. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved