Ayse Basaran

Effects of various agents on DNA fragmentation and telomerase enzyme activities in adenocarcinoma cell lines

Natural compounds such as resveratrol, tannic acid, and quercetin may help to treat cancer. Tamoxifen is a non-steroidal anti-estrogen drug widely used in the treatment of patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of these natural compounds and tamoxifen in colon adenocarcinoma (CaCo-2) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell lines, on telomerase enzyme activity, cell viability, number of cells and DNA fragmentation. In this study to determine telomerase enzyme activity was used PCR–ELISA kit. To determine cell viability and number of cells were used tripan blue stain. DNA fragmentation was determined by DNA ladder isolation kit. Tannic acid was more effective than resveratrol, with respect to reduction in telomerase activity, cell viability and cell count in breast adenocarcinoma. Tannic acid and tamoxifen was more effective than resveratrol and quercetin telomerase activity, cell viability and cell count in colon adenocarcinoma. Flavonoids such as resveratrol, tannic acid and quercetin which was studied on, has benefical effects on cancer therapy. These effects such as decreasing telomerase enzyme activity, cell viability and number of cells and inducing DNA fragmentation (apoptosis) must be studied for assist to develop new therapeutic pathways. There should be much more sudies in order to discover resveratrol, tannic acid and quercetin and other potential medicines.

Investigation of Association Between Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism Frequency in Turkish Patients with Schizophrenia

AIM the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is of increasing interest in etiology and treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders. The present study aimed at detecting the incidence of ACE gene I/D polymorphism in patients with schizophrenia living in the Eskisehir region (Turkey) and also at determining whether this illness could be associated to ACE gene I/D polymorphism and serum ACE concentrations. METHODS in our study, genomic DNA was studied in a total of 237 individuals, 132 of them having been diagnosed as patients with schizophrenia and 105 of them being used as control subjects. In addition, sera from 31 patients with schizophrenia and 26 healthy subjects were used to compare serum ACE concentrations. By using polymerase chain reaction, we determined the frequency of ACE gene I/D polymorphism and measured the serum ACE concentrations by ELISA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION distribution of ACE gene I/D polymorphism and allele frequencies between the control group genotype proportions (II 19%, ID 44%, DD 37%) and the patient group (II 19%, ID 45%, DD 36%) were not significantly different. Serum ACE concentrations were 293.15 ± 23.29 ng/mL in the control group and 362.61 ± 19.96 ng/mL in the patients. It was observed that serum ACE concentrations significantly increased in patients with schizophrenia compared with those of the control group (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference could be observed according to genotypes in serum ACE concentration.

Are the angiotensin-converting enzime gene and acticity risk factors for stroke?

Stroke is a multifactorial disease in which genetic factors play an important role. This study was carried out to determine angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in Turkish acute stroke patients and to establish whether there is an association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene I/D polymorphism with clinical parameters. In this study 185 patients and 50 controls were recruited. We have investigated the association among the allelic distribution of the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene identified by polymerase chain reaction. Distribution of ACE gene I/D genotypes and allele frequencies in patients were not significantly different from controls. D allele frequencies were 57.8% in patients versus 53.0% in controls and I allele 42.2% versus 47% respectively. History of hypertension, stroke, renal, heart and vessel diseases incidence and age, gender, systolic-diastolic blood pressures and creatinine levels were significantly high in patients. But these results and ACE activities had no significant differences among the ACE genotypes in patients and controls. Our results suggest that the ACE gene polymorphism is not associated with the pathogenesis of stroke in Turkish stroke patients.

Dopamine D2 receptor gene −141C Insertion/Deletion polymorphism in Turkish schizophrenic patients

Schizophrenia is a chronic and neuropsychiatric disease that affects about 0.5–1% of the world’s population. An increase in dopamine and dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene products has been well described in schizophrenic patients. Several groups have studied the relationship between dopaminergic hyperactivity and cellular communications have obtained discordant results. Studies searching for the relationship between the schizophrenia and DRD2 gene have gained more interest. Our objective was to determine the relationships among schizophrenic symptoms in schizophrenia subtypes and severity of symptoms in terms of DRD2 gene −141C Insertion/Deletion [Ins/Del; I/D] polymorphism by PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) assay method. Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood by using salt extraction method. After amplification of genomic DNA, PCR products were digested with BstNI restriction enzyme for the detection of DRD2 gene −141C Ins/Del polymorphism in 73 schizophrenic patients and 60 healthy control subjects. The allelic frequencies of the DRD2 gene −141C Ins/Del polymorphism in case and control groups were 79.5 and 77.5% for I allele; 20.5 and 22.5% for D allele respectively. There was no significant difference in frequencies of genotypes and alleles between the two groups. In schizophrenic and control subjects, there were no significant relationship in severity of the disease and schizophrenia types among the −141C Ins/Del genotypes and alleles.

Role of phenolic compounds in nitric oxide synthase activity in colon and breast adenocarcinoma.

Cancer chemopreventive agents are designed to reduce the incidence of tumorigenesis by intervening at one or more stages of carcinogenesis. This study aimed to determine the effects of resveratrol (RES) and tannic acid (TA), which are chemopreventive agents, on the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels that are effective for development of cancer in colon and breast cancer cell lines. The CaCo-2 (human colon carcinoma cell line) and MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7; human breast adenocarcinoma cell line) cells were grown in the laboratory. RES and TA were used to treat CaCo-2 and MCF-7 cells. Nitric Oxide Synthase Assay Kit was used to determine the NOS enzyme activity of CaCo-2 and MCF-7. Statistical differences between control and RES- and TA-treated cells were calculated using the Students t-test for double comparison. It was observed that NO activity was generally decreased in CaCo-2 and MCF-7 cells, in which RES and TA were applied. Results suggest that the phenolic compounds RES and TA have different effects on NOS enzyme activity of the colon and breast cancer cells.

The effect of doxorubicin on rats that received toxic and carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene.

Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon with carcinogenic and toxic effects. Doxorubicin is a DNA-interacting drug widely used in chemotherapy. In the present study we investigated the effects of doxorubicin on rats that received benzo(a)pyrene. Sprague-Dawley male rats, 3-4 months old, were divided into 5 groups (n=9 per group). Group 1 (controls) received normal saline intraperitoneally (i.p.) and intragastrically (i.g.), Group 2 (controls) similarly received corn oil i.p. and i.g., Group 3 received corn oil soluble benzo(a)pyrene (10mg/kg b.wt every 10 days for 40 days), Group 4 received doxorubicin (4 mg i.p. on 3 consecutive days), Group 5 received doxorubicin for 3 days (as in group 4) followed by benzo(a)pyrene as in group 3. After twenty-four hours urine samples were collected, heart blood, liver and kidney tissue samples were obtained. Biochemical data were evaluated on urine and blood; liver and kidney tissue samples were investigated histologically. Uric acid, urine creatinine, creatine clearance, urea nitrogen, serum creatinine values, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT, AST), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT, ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP, AP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly different in the 3rd group compared with control groups. Most of the parameters group 5 were statistically similar to control values. Histological appearance of the liver and the kidney tissue samples supported the improvement in the 5th group. The result of our study indicated that liver and kidney functions impaired with benzo(a)pyrene may be partially restored by doxorubicin.

Effects of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Extract and N-Nitro-l-Arginine on Renal Function and Ultrastructure of Kidney Cells in Experimental Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic renal failure. Our purpose was to determine the effects of N-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA) and an extract of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) (SrB) leaves on renal function in streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA)-induced diabetic rats. Rats were divided into seven groups. Three of these groups were controls. Diabetes was induced by STZ-NA in the other four. Diabetic rats were treated with SrB (200 mg/kg), L-NNA (100 mg/kg), or SrB + L-NNA for 15 days after 5-8 weeks of diabetes. At the end of the experiments, urine and blood samples were collected from the rats, and kidney tissue samples were collected with the animals under ether anesthesia. Renal filtration changes were determined by measuring urine pH, urine volume, and serum and urine creatinine. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was measured in kidney homogenates. Alterations in kidney ultrastructure were determined by electron microscopy, and histological changes were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. No statistical differences were observed in urine creatinine or creatinine clearance. Even so, we observed higher NOS activity in SrB-treated diabetic rats. SrB-treated diabetic rats had less mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization in thin kidney sections than other diabetic groups. The control groups showed normal histological structure, whereas in the diabetic groups, membrane thickening, tubular epithelial cells, and cellular degeneration were observed. Thus, SrB has beneficial effects on diabetes compared with l-NNA. Our results support the validity of SrB for the management of diabetes as well as diabetes-induced renal disorders.

Tannik asit uygulanan meme kanseri hücrelerinde Bax proteinin değerlendirilmesi

Objectives: To compare endothelial changes after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) in clear corneal graft. Methods: In this study, fifty six eyes undergone DALK (DALK Group) and eighty two eyes undergone PK (PK Group) due to various reasons are included. After operation at 1st, 12th, 24th and 36th month central corneal endothelial cell density (CD) and variability coefficient(CV) value examined by specular microscopy of clear graft which have not had additional surgery, greft rejection or glaucoma during follow up period were compared. Results: Endothelial cell density in DALK group were 2426p587 cell/mms 2289p579 cell/mms, 2222p541 cell/mms, 2175p521 cell/mms, in PK group were 2595p589 cell/mms, 2064p583 cell/mms, 1759p510 cell/mms 1509p494 cell/mms at 1st, 12th, 24th and 36th month respectively. Decrease in CD values were 5.9% at 12th month, 7.5% at 24th month and 9.4% at 36th month comparing with first month in DALK group. Decrease in CD values were 18.4% at 12th month, 30.2% at 24th month and 40.3% at 36th month comparing with first month in PK group. Variability coefficient (CV) values in group DALK were 23.3p6.2, 24.2p6.4, 24.2p6.1 and 24.5p5.6 at 1st,12th, 24th and 36th month respectively. Variability coefficient (CV) values in group PK were 19.6p3.4, 23.2p5.4, 25.9p6.2 and 27.5p5.7 at 1st,12th, 24th, and 36th months respectively. Conclusion: More polymegatism and more decrease in endothelial cell density with time were assessed in grafts undergone PK compared with grafts undergone DALK.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of fracture type and angular deterioration on the outcome of calcaneal fractures. Materials and methods: Thirty-two patients (23 males, 9 females; mean age 45 years) with calcaneus fractures retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-four fractures were closed, and eight fractures were open. Bohler and Gissane angles were measured using patient’s before, and after reduction X-ray films. According to the EssexLopresti classification there were three type I, 14 type II, and 15 type III fractures. Five patients were treated with casting (Group I), 19 patients with closed reduction K-wire application (Group II), and 8 patients with plate fixation. Final clinical outcome were assessed by Maryland Foot Score. Mean follow-up period was 109 weeks.Amac: Bu calismada kalsipotriol-betametazon dipropionat ile tedavi edilen plak psoriazisli olgularda doku duzeyinde hucresel immunitenin ve serumda sitokin duzeylerinin rolunun arastirilmasi amaclandi. Gerec ve yontem: Calismaya plak tip psoriazisli 20 olgu alindi. Hastalarin tedavi oncesi ve sonrasi psoriatik lezyonlari ile saglam deriden biyopsi ve periferik kan ornekleri alindi. Bulgular: Immunohistokimyasal incelemede, CD4+, CD8+ ve CD25+ T lenfositler, tedavi oncesi lezyonlu dokuda saglam doku ve tedavi sonrasi doku ile kiyaslandiginda anlamli bir sekilde yuksekti (sirasiyla, p0.05). Sonuc: Calismamizda lezyonlu deride CD4+ ve CD8+ hucre birikimi oldugunu ve CD4+ T lenfositlerin daha hâkim hucre grubu oldugu gosterildi. Uygulanan topikal tedavinin etkinligine paralel olarak lezyonlarda duzelme olmasi ve lezyonlu bolgelerde CD4+ ve CD8+ T hucrelerinde anlamli bir azalma meydana gelmesi, Th lenfositlerin hastaligin immunopatogenezinde onemli rolunun oldugu tezini desteklemektedir. Ancak, sonuclarimiz, hastaligin kronik ozelligi ile uyumlu olarak T hucrelerin dokuda yine de yeterince kaldigini ve topikal tedavinin hastaligin aktivasyonunu engelleyemedigini gostermektedir.