Protective Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation on DNA Damage Induced by Cigarette Smoking

The study examined the influence of fish oil (FO) supplementation on serum 8-hydroxy-2\u2019-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels as indicated by DNA damage markers and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) among male cigarette smokers. This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study was conducted among healthy cigarette smokers (n=40) who were part of a larger prospective cohort study. Twenty smokers were randomly selected to receive FO for 3 months (1 g/day), and another 20 smokers received a placebo for 3 months; 8-OHdG and TAC levels were measured in blood samples before and after the intervention. Serum 8-OHdG significantly decreased (p=0.001) and TAC increased (p<0.001) after 3 months of treatment with FO. Between baseline and endline, the difference in 8-OHdG significantly correlated with the difference in TAC among smokers who received FO (r=-0.540, p=0.014). The study provides evidence that FO supplementation can modify decreased antioxidants and increased oxidative DNA damage in cigarette smokers

Effect of hemodialysis on pulmonary function tests and plasma endothelin levels

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a complex illness that involves different organs including the lungs. We studied the pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases (ABG) and plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels to check whether there is any change in their levels after hemodialysis (HD) in patients with ESRD. In this cross-sectional study (from July 2009 to April 2010), 20 patients with ESRD were evaluated. ABG, spirometric parameters and plasma ET-1 were measured before and after HD in these patients. Student′s t-test was performed to clarify the differences and Pearson′s test was used for correlations. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Significant reduction was seen in oxygen saturation (O 2 sat), partial pressure of carbon-dioxide (PaCO 2 ) and oxygen (PaO 2 ) after a HD session (P <0.001). Also, improvement was seen in all spirometric parameters except forced expiratory volume (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) after HD. Plasma ET-1 levels decreased signi-ficantly after HD. Mean ET-1 before HD was 6.88 + 5.81 pg/mL while it was 3.91 + 2.76 pg/mL after HD (P = 0.009). Based on the plasma levels of ET-1, the patients were divided into two groups. The mean level of ET-1 was higher in the first group. Significant increase was seen in spirometric parameters in the second group. Our study suggests that, in patients with ESRD, plasma ET-1 level is higher than in the normal population, and this is closely related to deterioration of pulmonary function tests. Significant reduction of plasma ET-1 may be an important factor in the improvement of spiro-metry parameters after HD

Fetuin-A and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in hemodialysis patients

Introduction: Vascular calcification is a common complication in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this patient. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible correlation between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene FokI and ApaI polymorphisms with the expression of calcification biomarkers such as Fetuin-A and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, serums were obtained from 46 stable chronic HD patients. The serum levels of iPTH, Fetuin-A, vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and VDR genotyping were determined by standard methods. Results: Serum levels of Fetuin-A, calcium, and phosphorus did not differ between males and females, but significant differences in iPTH and vitamin D levels was found in the study patients [(336.8 ± 139.0 pg/dl) vs. (414.7 ± 111.8 pg/dl), P = 0.040 and (24.5 ± 7.6 ng/ml) vs. (19.9 ± 4.8 ng/ml), P = 0.020 respectively]. A significant correlations were found between serum phosphorus and levels of serum calcium (r = –0.4; P = 0.002), vitamin D (r = –0.5; P = 0.001) and iPTH (r = 0.4; P = 0.001). iPTH level in FokI polymorphism, were different between genotype groups in study patient (P = 0.020). There was a significant positive correlation between vitamin D and iPTH levels in patients with aa genotype (P = 0.020, r = 0.4). Conclusion: These findings suggest that FokI (rs2228570) polymorphism in exon-2 of the VDR gene may play a role in iPTH levels. Fetuin-A deficiency or high level of iPTH and its association with VDR gene polymorphisms may be useful to identify the high-risk group susceptible to renal failure and atherosclerosis. Although VDR gene FokI and ApaI polymorphisms could affect the levels of Fetuin-A and vitamin D, their direct role on atherosclerosis needs further studies in the future

The comparison Losartan and medical combination of Losartan and pyridoxamine on reducing proteinuria in patients with diabetes type II

Abstract: Background and purpose: The diabetic nephropathy is one of final stage causes of renal disease. The angiotensin II locally increases because of hyperglycemia in kidney and causes renal lesions induction especially, glomerular lesions. Thus, in the present research, we try to treat patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy by Losartan, pyridoxamine, and study useful effects of these drugs on disease progression process. Methodology: In the present clinical experimental study, 44 patients with diabetic type II were selected without regard to sex sequentially and categorized in two groups randomly. First group (n = 22) were treated with Losartan by dose 25 mg every 12h for 2 months solely and tests controlled while start of drug and next two months. The second group (n = 22) were under treatment with conjoint Losartan (25mg/12h) and pyridoxamine (25mg) and tests controlled before and after 2 months treatment. Results: In case group, the average measured sodium before and after treatment were 146139.95±4.17 and 138.33±2.28, the mean triglyceride measured before and after treatment were 231.28±106.05 and 179.66±116.06, mean lipid -peroxide measured before and after treatment 3.39±1.57 and 1.79±0.84, the mean 24-h urine protein measured before and after treatment were 3157.38±2330.47 and 1587.52±1695m 91 and finally the mean uric acid measured before and after treatment were 8.46±2.13 and 6.69±2.28 respectively. In control group the mean sodium measured before and after treatment were 138.85±6 and 136.9±4.74, the mean triglyceride measured before and after treatment were 181.5±95.14 and 172.85±56.81, the mean lipid peroxide measured before and after treatment were 2.88±1,34 and 2.02±0.83, the mean uric protein 24h measured before and after treatment were 1087.18±1021.81 and 425.52±447.97 and finally the mean uric acid were 8.03±1.75 and 6.08±1.95 respectively. Conclusion: In the group treated by Losartan, there were meaningful difference between before and after treatment in the cases of cholesterol, blood sugar, uric acid, 24-h urine protein and lipid peroxide. In the group under treatment by combination of Losartan and pyridoxamine, there were meaningful difference between pre and pro treatment in the cases of triglycerides, blood suger, uric acid, 24-h urea protein and lipid peroxide. It is noticeable to say that there was more meaningful difference between pre and pro treatment in the group under treatment by combination of Losartan and pyridoxamine than group treated by Losartan. Thus, with attention to ontained results, it is recommended use of Losartan in combination with pyridoxamine

Predictive Role of EGFR, IGF-1R, VEGFR2 and HIF-1? Expression on Survival of Patients with Triple-negative Breast Cancer

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) carries a poor prognosis and therapeutic options are limited to date. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1?) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) are expressed in TNBC and to determine if these expressions have a predictive role. Methods: Of 923 breast cancer patients who were treated and followed in Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR) from 2006-2010, 104 of them had TNBC. Immunohistochemistry analyses were performed on tissue microarray blocks with antibodies for EGFR, VEGFR2, HIF-1? and IGF-1R. Results: We analyzed tumor samples from 104 patients with classic primary invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Fifteen patients (14%) were in stage I, 46.6% in stage II, 30.1% in stage III and 5.8% in a metastatic stage (stage IV). The median overall survival (OS) was 48 months. EGFR was expressed in 15 (14%), VEGFR2 in 63 (61%), IGF-1R in 81 (78%) and HIF-1? in 57 (55%) samples. EGFR expression was significantly associated with poor outcome in terms of OS (P = 0.021, OR = 3.9). Conclusions: Among the four investigated tumor markers, only EGFR was significantly associated with survival of patients with TNBC

The Effects of Different Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Protocols on Cortical Gene Expression in a Rat Model of Cerebral Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury.

Although repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in treatment of stroke in humans has been explored over the past decade the data remain controversial in terms of optimal stimulation parameters and the mechanisms of rTMS long-term effects. This study aimed to explore the potential of different rTMS protocols to induce changes in gene expression in rat cortices after acute ischemic-reperfusion brain injury. The stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with subsequent reperfusion. Changes in the expression of 96 genes were examined using low-density expression arrays after MCAO alone and after MCAO combined with 1Hz, 5Hz, continuous (cTBS) and intermittent (iTBS) theta-burst rTMS. rTMS over the lesioned hemisphere was given for two weeks (with a 2-day pause) in a single daily session and a total of 2400 pulses. MCAO alone induced significant upregulation in the expression of 44 genes and downregulation in 10. Two weeks of iTBS induced significant increase in the expression of 52 genes. There were no downregulated genes. 1Hz and 5Hz had no significant effects on gene expression, while cTBS effects were negligible. Upregulated genes included those involved in angiogenesis, inflammation, injury response and cellular repair, structural remodeling, neuroprotection, neurotransmission and neuronal plasticity. The results show that long-term rTMS in acute ischemic-reperfusion brain injury induces complex changes in gene expression that span multiple pathways, which generally promote the recovery. They also demonstrate that induced changes primarily depend on the rTMS frequency (1Hz and 5Hz vs. iTBS) and pattern (cTBS vs. iTBS). The results further underlines the premise that one of the benefits of rTMS application in stroke may be to prime the brain, enhancing its potential to cope with the injury and to rewire. This could further augment its potential to favorably respond to rehabilitation, and to restore some of the loss functions

Protective Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation on DNA Damage Induced by Cigarette Smoking

The study examined the influence of fish oil (FO) supplementation on serum 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels as indicated by DNA damage markers and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) among male cigarette smokers. This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study was conducted among healthy cigarette smokers (n=40) who were part of a larger prospective cohort study. Twenty smokers were randomly selected to receive FO for 3 months (1 g/day), and another 20 smokers received a placebo for 3 months; 8-OHdG and TAC levels were measured in blood samples before and after the intervention. Serum 8-OHdG significantly decreased (p=0.001) and TAC increased (p<0.001) after 3 months of treatment with FO. Between baseline and endline, the difference in 8-OHdG significantly correlated with the difference in TAC among smokers who received FO (r=-0.540, p=0.014). The study provides evidence that FO supplementation can modify decreased antioxidants and increased oxidative DNA damage in cigarette smokers

Fold-changes in mRNAs (RQs) of all genes that showed significant changes in expression after MCAO using the control group (CON) as a calibrator (A) and of all genes that showed significant changes in expression after two weeks of rTMS using the MCAO group as a calibrator (B).

<p>Fold-changes in mRNAs (RQs) of all genes that showed significant changes in expression after MCAO using the control group (CON) as a calibrator (A) and of all genes that showed significant changes in expression after two weeks of rTMS using the MCAO group as a calibrator (B).</p

Fold-changes in mRNAs (RQs) of all genes that showed expression on the microarray after two weeks of rTMS using the MCAO group as a calibrator.

<p>MCAO, 1, 5, and Sh in the group significance column indicate significant difference to MCAO, 1Hz, 5 Hz, and ShSTIM groups, respectively.</p