Involvement of Sec71 and Ubp2 in tunicamycin-induced ER stress response in the fission yeast.

Background Accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the cellular environment result in ER stress and activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR alleviates ER stress and restores homeostasis, but it triggers cell death under prolonged stress. Here, we aimed to investigate the involvement of Sec71, an Arf-GEF involved in vesicular transport, in the tunicamycin-induced ER stress response. Since deubiquitinases and ER stress are known to be closely linked, we investigated this response by evaluating the potential role of Ubp2, a deubiquitinase, in the ER stress response in fission yeast. Methods and results Tunicamycin-induced ER stress responses were assessed by analyzing cell viability, apoptosis, intracellular oxidation levels, and proteasomal activities in sec71 and ubp2-deficient cells. The cell viability of Delta sec71 and Delta ubp2 decreased after exposure to 0.5 mu g/mL tunicamycin. Deleting either ubp2 or sec71 genes significantly decreased proteasomal activity and sensitized cells to ER stress, resulting in increased apoptosis compared with wild-type cells after tunicamycin treatment. DCFDA (2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate) reduction increased in correlation with apoptosis observed in the mutant cells, indicating higher levels of reactive oxygen species. Conclusions The results highlight the involvement of S. pombe Ubp2 in the known role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the ER stress response. We hypothesise that Sec71 is associated with ER homeostasis, and our findings on Sec71 provide new insight into the regulation of cell death mechanisms arising from the ER stress

Determinants and perceptions of tobacco use habits of university students: An example from health services school students in Istanbul

Amaç: Sağlık Meslek Yüksekokulu öğrencilerinin tütün ve tütün ürünleri kullanma davranışlarını incelemek ve bu davranış üzerinde belirleyicifaktörleri ortaya koymaktır.Yöntem: Bu araştırma, Medipol Üniversitesi Sağlık Hizmetleri Meslek Yüksekokulu’nda gerçekleştirilmiştir. Toplam 26 soruluk olarakhazırlanan, yapılandırılmış bir anket, 307 öğrenciye yüz yüze uygulanmıştır. Veriler, SPSS 23 programı kullanılarak Pearson ki-karekorelasyon testi ve binary lojistik regresyon modeli ile analiz edilmiştir. Çalışma öncesi İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Girişimsel OlmayanAraştırmalar Etik Kurulu’ndan onay alınmıştır.Bulgular: Anket verileri öğrencilerin %32.6’sının tütün ürünleri (sıklıkla sigara) kullandığını, erkek öğrencilerin sigara kullanma alışkanlığısıklığının daha yüksek olduğunu, daha erken yaşlarda sigara kullanmaya başladıklarını ve günlük tüketim miktarının (adedinin) daha fazlaolduğunu göstermiştir. Sigara kullanma davranışının gelişmesinde “sigara sağlığa zararlıdır” düşüncesine sahip olmanın azaltıcı, bunakarşılık sık görüşülen arkadaşların sigara kullanmasının artırıcı etkisi olduğu görülmüştür. Üniversite eğitiminin ilk ve son yıllarıkarşılaştırıldığında, sigara kullanan öğrenci sayısının zamanla arttığı saptanmıştır.Sonuç: Önceki yıllara göre, toplumumuzda Sağlık Meslek Yüksekokulu öğrencileri arasında sigara ve nargile kullanımı artmaktadır. Bu artıştacinsiyet, arkadaş etkisi, merak, özenti, stres ve kültürel özellikler ön plana çıkmaktadır. Bu nedenle tütün ürünleri ile mücadele politikalarındabu hususların dikkate alınması önem arz etmektedir.Aim: To examine tobacco and tobacco use behaviors of the students of Health Vocational School and to reveal the determining factors on this behavior. Methods: This research was carried out in Medipol University Health Services Vocational School. A structured questionnaire with a total of 26 questions was applied to 307 students face to face. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 23 program by Pearson chi-square test and binary logistic regression model. Before the study, approval was obtained from the Medipol University Non-Invasive Research Ethics Committee. Results: The survey data showed that 32.6% of the students used tobacco products (mainly cigarettes), the frequency of smoking habit of male students was higher, they started smoking at an earlier age and the amount of daily consumption was higher. In the development of smoking behavior, it has been observed that having the belief of “smoking is harmful for health” has a decreasing effect, whereas smoking of frequently seen friends has an increasing effect. When the first and last years of university education are compared, it is found that the number of students who smoke increases over time. Conclusion: Compared to previous studies, smoking and waterpipe use are increased among Health Vocational School students in our society. In this increase, gender, peer influence, curiosity, interest, stress, and cultural characteristics come to the front. For this reason, it is important to consider these issues in policies to combat tobacco products

Data_Sheet_2_Obstacles and expectations of rare disease patients and their families in Türkiye: ISTisNA project survey results.PDF

Rare disease patients constitute a significant part of the healthcare system of all countries. However, the information on the experiences during disease processes and daily life of rare disease patients is still limited. So far, there is a small number of studies conducted in Türkiye, and they mainly cover specific issues like education or anxiety. Here we present a comprehensive survey analysis conducted among the patients and their families within the scope of the Istanbul Solution Platform for Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases-ISTisNA project. A total of 498 individuals responded to the survey, and 58% of the participants answered all questions. The majority of the patients were in the age range of 1–10 years (44.7%), and 91% of all the patients had a precise diagnosis. The diagnosis rate in the first 6 months was 69%, and almost 10% of the patients remained undiagnosed. The mothers were the primary caregivers (72%). Nearly 30% of the caregivers had to quit their jobs and 25% of the patients (0–18 years) had to leave school. Accessing physicians with relevant specialization and reaching treatments/medications/supplements were the two main obstacles the participants mentioned, with a frequency of 81% and 73%, respectively. Around 50% of participants noted that they commonly faced difficulties at work/school and in their social lives. The highest expectation or priority was the establishment of rare disease-specific diagnosis and treatment centers, accurate and detailed information on diseases in the Turkish language, and easy access to physicians, treatments, and supportive therapies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive survey conducted on the rare disease community in Türkiye. These results show that regardless of the country, the individuals affected by rare diseases and their families have similar problems and expectations. On the other hand, regional and country-specific issues are still in the line to be solved. These studies can provide a deeper insight into rare diseases and guide the activities of Türkiye's national rare disease action plan.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Obstacles and expectations of rare disease patients and their families in Türkiye: ISTisNA project survey results.PDF

Rare disease patients constitute a significant part of the healthcare system of all countries. However, the information on the experiences during disease processes and daily life of rare disease patients is still limited. So far, there is a small number of studies conducted in Türkiye, and they mainly cover specific issues like education or anxiety. Here we present a comprehensive survey analysis conducted among the patients and their families within the scope of the Istanbul Solution Platform for Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases-ISTisNA project. A total of 498 individuals responded to the survey, and 58% of the participants answered all questions. The majority of the patients were in the age range of 1–10 years (44.7%), and 91% of all the patients had a precise diagnosis. The diagnosis rate in the first 6 months was 69%, and almost 10% of the patients remained undiagnosed. The mothers were the primary caregivers (72%). Nearly 30% of the caregivers had to quit their jobs and 25% of the patients (0–18 years) had to leave school. Accessing physicians with relevant specialization and reaching treatments/medications/supplements were the two main obstacles the participants mentioned, with a frequency of 81% and 73%, respectively. Around 50% of participants noted that they commonly faced difficulties at work/school and in their social lives. The highest expectation or priority was the establishment of rare disease-specific diagnosis and treatment centers, accurate and detailed information on diseases in the Turkish language, and easy access to physicians, treatments, and supportive therapies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive survey conducted on the rare disease community in Türkiye. These results show that regardless of the country, the individuals affected by rare diseases and their families have similar problems and expectations. On the other hand, regional and country-specific issues are still in the line to be solved. These studies can provide a deeper insight into rare diseases and guide the activities of Türkiye's national rare disease action plan.</p