Przeprowadzona z wykorzystaniem zależnej od ligacji multipleksowej amplifikacji sond analiza genów KAL1, GNRH1, GNRHR, PROK2 i PROKR2 u pacjentów płci męskiej z idiopatycznym hipogonadyzmem hipogonadotropowym

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of KAL1, GNRH1, GNRHR, PROK2, and PROKR2 copy numbervariations in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH).Material and methods: 86 hypogonadal males (76 diagnosed with normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism [nIHH] andten with Kallmann syndrome [KS]) and 95 healthy control individuals were studied for the presence of aforementioned genomic rearrangements,using multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA).Results: We detected that of the 86 patients, three with KS had a deletion of the KAL1 gene in exon 9, one of whom also carried a duplicationin exon 11; and three with nIHH had a duplication of the PROK2 gene in exon 3; a deletion of the GNRHR gene in exon 1; anda duplication of the same gene in exon 2, respectively. No abnormalities were found in the patient group for the PROKR2 and GNRH1genes. In addition, no genomic rearrangements were identified in the healthy control individuals for the described genes.Conclusions: Defining the genetic basis of disease is essential to improve our understanding of this complex disorder, and could be usefulfor genetic counselling and for directing therapy. In addition, discovering the association between genetic mutations and disease isimportant for our better understanding of normal reproductive functions.Wstęp: Celem badania było ustalenie rozpowszechnienia zmienności liczby kopii genów KAL1, GNRH1, GNRHR, PROK2 i PROKR2u pacjentów z idiopatycznym hipogonadyzmem hipogonadotropowym (IHH, idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism).Materiał i metody: Obecność wymienionych wyżej rearanżacji genomowych zbadano metodą zależnej od ligacji multipleksowej amplifikacjisond (MLPA, multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification) u 86 mężczyzn z hipogonadyzmem — w tym u 76 z rozpoznaniemIHH przebiegającego bez zaburzeń węchu (nIHH, normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism) i u 10 z rozpoznaniem zespołuKallmanna (KS, Kallmann syndrome) — oraz u 95 zdrowych osobników kontrolnych.Wyniki: U 3 pacjentów z KS stwierdzono delecję w obrębie genu KAL1 w egzonie 9, przy czym u jednego z nich występowała też duplikacjaw egzonie 11. Z kolei łącznie u 3 pacjentów z nIHH stwierdzono: duplikację w obrębie genu PROK2 w egzonie 3 u jednego pacjenta,delecję w obrębie genu GNRHR w egzonie 1 u drugiego pacjenta oraz duplikację obrębie tego samego genu w egzonie 2. Jeśli zaś chodzi ogeny PROKR2 i GNRH1, to w grupie pacjentów nie stwierdzono żadnych nieprawidłowości w tym zakresie. Nie stwierdzono też żadnychrearanżacji genomowych w zakresie wymienionych genów u zdrowych osobników kontrolnych.Wnioski: Określanie podłoża genetycznego ma ogromne znaczenie dla pogłębiania wiedzy na temat tej złożonej choroby i możebyć przydatne w poradnictwie genetycznym i ustalaniu leczenia. Ponadto odkrywanie powiązań pomiędzy mutacjami genetycznymia omawianą chorobą ma duże znaczenie dla pogłębiania wiedzy na temat prawidłowego funkcjonowania układu rozrodczego

Evaluation of the effects of different treatment modalities on angiogenesis in heart failure patients with reduced/midrange ejection fraction via VEGF and sVEGFR-1

Objectives: To investigate the clinical significance of VEGF, sVEGFR-1 in heart failure reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) patients

Sodium Nitrite Provides Angiogenic And Proliferative Effects In Vivo And In Vitro

Background Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. Many factors and substances may stimulate angiogenesis and exhibit proliferative effect. In this study, we aimed to investigate the angiogenic and proliferative effects of sodium nitrite. Material/Methods The angiogenic activity of sodium nitrite was examined in vivo in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model and in vitro in tube formation assay of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The proliferative activity of sodium nitrite was also determined through MTT assay on HUVECs. Results In CAM assay, sodium nitrite had an angiogenic effect especially at high concentrations compared with the control group and this was statistically significant. There was a proliferative effect on HUVECs in the presence of sodium nitrite for 24 and 48 h, and this was statistically significant (p<0.05). Comparing the tube length/area ratio values, there was statistically significant increase in the sodium nitrite group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions The results provide evidence that sodium nitrite induces angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo

Angiogenic Heparin-Mimetic Peptide Nanofiber Gel Improves Regenerative Healing of Acute Wounds

Wound repair in adult mammals typically ends with the formation of a scar, which prevents full restoration of the function of the healthy tissue, although most of the wounded skin heals. Rapid and functional recovery of major wound injuries requires therapeutic approaches that can enhance the healing process via overcoming mechanical and biochemical problems. In this study, we showed that self-assembled heparin-mimetic peptide nanofiber gel was an effective bioactive wound dressing for the rapid and functional repair of full-thickness excisional wounds in the rat model. The bioactive gel-treated wounds exhibited increased angiogenesis (<i>p</i> < 0.05), re-epithelization (<i>p</i> < 0.05), skin appendage formation, and granulation tissue organization (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to sucrose-treated samples. Increased blood vessel numbers in the gel-treated wounds on day 7 suggest that angiogenesis played a key role in improvement of tissue healing in bioactive gel-treated wounds. Overall, the angiogenic heparin-mimetic peptide nanofiber gel is a promising platform for enhancing the scar-free recovery of acute wounds

Palladium Metal Nanocomposites Based on PEI-Functionalized Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Characterization, Density Functional Theory Modeling, and Cell Cycle Arrest Effects on Human Ovarian Cancer Cells

In this study, the synthesis, characterization, density functional theory calculations (DFT), and effect of polyethylenimine (PEI)-functionalized nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (PEI N-GQDs) and their palladium metal nanoparticles nanocomposites (PdNPs/PEI N-GQDs) on cancer cells were extensively investigated. The focus also includes investigating their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on ovarian cancer cells, which pose a serious risk to women’s health and have high death rates from delayed diagnosis, inadequate response to treatment, and decreased survival. Graphene quantum dots and their palladium nanocomposites were differentially effective against ovarian cancer cell lines. In particular, the smaller particle size and morphology of PdNPs/PEI N-GQDs nanocomposites compared with PEI N-GQDs probably enhance their activity through highly improved uptake by cells. These findings emphasize the importance of particle size in composite drugs for efficient cancer treatment. DFT results revealed that the Pd-containing nanocomposite, with a smaller highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap, exhibited higher reactivity and anticancer effects in human ovarian cancer cell line, OVCAR-3. Significantly, the application of nanocomposites to ovarian cancer cells initiated apoptosis, offering valuable insights into the intricate interplay between nanomaterials and cancer biology

Tryptase mast cell density, protease-activated receptor-2 microvascular density, and classical microvascular density evaluation in gastric cancer patients undergoing surgery: Possible translational relevance

Background: Mast cells (MCs) can stimulate angiogenesis, releasing several proangiogenic cytokines stored in their cytoplasm. In particular, MCs can release tryptase, a potent in vivo and in vitro proangiogenic factor via protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) activation and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Nevertheless, no data are available concerning the relationship among tryptase MC density (TMCD), endothelial cells (ECs) positive to PAR-2 microvascular density (PAR-2-MVD) and classical MVD (C-MVD) in gastric cancer (GC) angiogenesis. Methods: In this study, we analyzed the correlation of TMCD, PAR-2-MVD, C-MVD with each other and with the main clinicopathological features in GC patients who underwent surgery. A series of 77 GC patients with stage T2-3N2-3M0 (classified by the American Joint Committee on Cancer for Gastric Cancer, 7th edition) were selected and then underwent surgery. Results: Tumour tissue samples were evaluated by mean of immunohistochemistry and image analysis methods in terms of numbers of TMCD, PAR-2-MVD and C-MVD. A significant correlation between the TMCD, PAR-2-MVD and C-MVD groups with each other was found by Pearson t-test analysis (r ranged from 0.64 to 0.76; p value ranged from 0.02 to 0.03). There was no other significant correlation between the above parameters and clinicopathological features. Conclusions: Our in vivo preliminary data suggest that TMCD and PAR-2-MVD may play a role in GC angiogenesis and they could be further evaluated as a target of antiangiogenic therapy

Targeting Critical Steps of Cancer Metastasis and Recurrence Using Telomerase Template Antagonists

Metastasis, tumor relapse, and drug resistance remain major obstacles in the treatment of cancer. Therefore, more research on the mechanisms of these processes in disease is warranted for improved treatment options. Recent evidence suggests that the capability to sustain tumor growth and metastasis resides in a subpopulation of cells, termed cancer stem cells or tumor-initiating cells. Continuous proliferation and self-renewal are characteristics of stem/progenitor cells. Telomerase and the maintenance of telomeres are key players in the ability of stem and cancer cells to bypass senescence and be immortal. Therefore, telomerase inhibitors have the therapeutic potential for reducing tumor relapse by targeting cancer stem cells and other processes involved in metastasis. Herein we review the role of telomerase in the immortal phenotype of cancer and cancer stem cells, targeting telomerase in cancer, and discuss other opportunities for telomerase inhibitors to target critical steps in cancer metastasis and recurrence. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.WoSScopu