Effects of intraperitoneal injection of allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on bronchiolitis obliterans in mice model

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can ameliorate a variety of lung diseases such as asthma, lung fibrosis, and acute lung injury by its anti-inflammatory and immunmodulatory effects. In this study, we developed a mouse model of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) and evaluated the effects of the intraperitoneal administration of BMSCs on lung histopathology and cytokine levels. 25 BALB/c mice were divided into four groups; control group (Group I), BO developed and 1x106 BMSCs-injected group (Group II), non-BO, 1x106 BMSCs-injected group (Group III), and BO developed and saline-injected group (Group IV). Histological and immunohistochemical findings of the lung tissue and the migration of BMSCs to the lung were evaluated using light and confocal microscopy techniques. Confocal microscopy evaluations showed that there was no noteworthy amount of BMSCs in the lung tissue of group III while significant amount of BMSCs was detected in group II. Wall thicknesses of terminal bronchiole and periterminal bronchiolar collagen deposition were significantly lower in group II compared to the group IV (p<0.05). Furthermore, according to the immunohistochemical staining results, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD68 and neutrophil elastase positive immune cells of group II were stained more positive than group IV cells (p<0.05). IFN-ã IL-2 and TNF-á levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were significantly lower in group II compared to group IV (p<0.05). The findings of this study indicate that intraperitoneally administered BMSCs have potent effects on histopatological changes of the lung tissue and cytokine levels in the murine model of BO.Scientific and Technological Council of Turkey (112S148

Investigation of relationship between IL-6 gene variants and hypertension in Turkish population

Hypertension (HT) is a common and life threating health problem worldwide leading to stroke, heart attack and renal failure. It is characterized by elevated blood pressure forced heart load. Human interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C- reactive protein (CRP) are known to be involved in inflammatory processes. IL-6 gene is a polymorphic gene which -174 G/C is a common and -572 G/C is a rare polymorphisms identified in promoter region. Publications on IL-6 gene polymorphisms raised the question whether this gene polymorphisms lead to susceptibility to HT or not. To investigate the effects of IL-6 gene -174 G/C (rs 1800795) and -572 G/C (rs1800796) polymorphisms on plasma IL-6 and CRP levels and their associations with hypertension disease in Turkish population we analyzed -174 G/C and -572 G/C polymorphisms and plasma IL-6 and CRP levels in 111 healthy controls and 108 hypertension patients from Adyaman, Turkey. We determined the genotypes using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and analyzed plasma levels of IL-6 by ELISA and CRP by automated standard biochemical methods. We have found no statistically significant differences between IL-6 gene -174 G/C and -572 G/C genotypes and allelic frequencies and IL-6 and CRP plasma levels and HT (p > 0.05). No CC genotype was found in control subjects for -572 G/C polymorphism. In conclusion, we found relation to -174 G/C and -572 G/C gene variants between neither IL-6 and CRP levels nor hypertension. The -572 G allele and GG genotype are predominant in Turkish population in Adyaman, Turkey whereas the CC genotype is very rare.This study was supported by a grant of the Research Foundation of Adiyaman University (FEFYL/2012-0002), Turkey

Discoidin domain receptor 1 as a promising biomarker for high-grade gliomas

Background: Two fundamental challenges in the current therapeutic approach for central nervous system tumors are the tumor heterogeneity and the absence of specific treatments and biomarkers that selectively target the tumor tissue. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential relationship between discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) expression and the prognosis and characteristics of glioma patients. Materials and Methods: Tissue and serum samples from 34 brain tumor patients were evaluated for DDR1 messenger ribonucleic acid levels in comparison to 10 samples from the control group, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis has performed. Results: DDR1 expression was observed in both tissue and serum samples of the patient and control groups. DDR1 expression levels in tissue and serum samples from patients were higher in comparison to the control group, although not statistically significant (P > 0.05). A significant correlation between tumor size and DDR1 serum measurements at the level of 0.370 was reported (r = 0.370; P = 0.034). The levels of DDR1 in serum showed a positive correlation with the increasing size of tumor. The results of the 5-year survival analysis depending on the DDR1 tissue levels showed a significantly higher survival rate (P = 0.041) for patients who have DDR1 tissue levels above cutoff value. Conclusions: DDR1 expression was significantly higher among brain tumor tissues and serum samples and its levels showed a positive correlation with the increased size of tumor. This study can be a starting point, since it investigated and indicated, for the first time, that DDR1 can be a novel therapeutic and prognostic target for aggressive high-grade gliomas

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ABSTRACT Context Heterotopic pancreas is defined as the presence of pancreatic tissue, outside its usual location, which lacks anatomical and vascular continuity with the pancreas proper. Despite the development of modern diagnostic procedures, it is still difficult to differentiate heterotopic pancreas from benign or malignant tumors and other tumor-like lesions. Frozen examination of mucinous lesions arising from heterotopic pancreas may represent a diagnostic problem. A decision may be very difficult and it is sometimes impossible to decide on the basis of the frozen sections whether a lesion is benign or malignant. Case report We report a tumor-like lesion mimicking a mucinous (colloid) carcinoma arising in heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the prepyloric antrum of a 56-year-old woman which was found incidentally during an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. The tumor was treated by wedge resection and, in the frozen section examination, there were pancreatic ducts in the proper muscle layer, pancreatic acini with islets of Langerhans under the serosal surface and mucinous lakes close to the heterotopic pancreatic tissue and to a peripheral nerve. Conclusion The significance of this unusual lesion is its potential confusion with mucinous (colloid) carcinoma or other mucous tumors. Such confusion is more likely to occur if the tissue sample is selective or limited, and the presence of pancreatic tissue cannot be verified. Therefore, we believe that a choice of local excision, wedge resection or more extensive eradication be determined only after intraoperative, pathological confirmation of the complete and accurate diagnosis

Vaccination in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis – Part I

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It is a chronic disease, and in the evaluation of all other health and vital processes, decisions should be made by considering the disease process and the drugs used by the patient. Since vaccination can be performed at every stage of life, from childhood to adulthood, immune system activity, except where it is characteristic of the vaccine, should be reviewed in patients with MS. In this review, the applications of different vaccines in individuals with MS are discussed in two separate sections

Microbiological Standardization in Small Laboratory Animals and Recommendations for the Monitoring

Microbiological standardization in laboratory animal breeding is based on the classification according to the microorganisms that the animals host and consequently their upbringing environment, as well as the certification of their microbiological status and the protection of their properties. Although there are many different classifications for microbiological standardization of laboratory animals, they can be basically classified as; gnotobiotic animals, animals bred with a complete barrier system (Germ free, GF, with Colonization-Resistant Flora; CRF), animals bred with a partial barrier system (Specified Pathogen Free, SPF), and animals bred by conventional methods in units without barriers (Conventional; CV). Monitoring of microbiological standardization is carried out in two ways. One is controlling barrier systems (process control) and the other is controlling laboratory animals (product control). In controlling barrier systems samples are taken routinely from ambient air, surfaces, base plate materials of animals, foods and waters, and microbiological tests are carried out. FELASA guidelines are frequently used in monitoring laboratory animals. These guidelines where the monitoring frequency, sample size, micro-organisms to be tested, vary according to the microbiological quality of the animals, and test methods and are frequently updated by FELASA and shared in their web pages. In our country, in general, laboratory animals used for experimental studies present no microbiological standardization, and follow-up protocols are not implemented. Therefore, construction of facilities for the production of microbiologically standard animals and establishment of backup laboratories testing microbiological quality should be established