Serpil Ünver Saraydin

Antitumoral effects of Melissa officinalis on breast cancer in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND There is a long standing interest in the identification of medicinal plants and derived natural products for developing cancer therapeutics. Here we investigated the antiproliferative properties of Melissa officinalis (MO) from Turkey on breast cancer. METHODS MO extracts were studied for cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231). In vitro apoptosis studies were performed by annexin V staining and flow cytometry analyses. Immunohistochemistry for Ki-67 and caspase 7 in the tumoral tissue sections of DMBA-induced mammary tumors in rats was also performed, along with TUNEL assays to detect apoptotic cells. In vivo anticancer activity testing was carried out with reference to inhibition of growth of DMBA induced mammary tumors in rats. RESULTS MO showed cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines, inducing increase in Annexin-positive cells. Expression of caspase-7 protein and TUNEL positive cells were much higher in rats treated by MO, compared with the untreated control group, while expression of Ki-67 was decreased. Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that mean tumor volume inhibition ratio in MO treated group was 40% compared with the untreated rats. CONCLUSION These results indicated that MO extrcts have antitumoral potential against breast cancer.

Altered contractile responsiveness in ileal longitudinal muscle after total gastrectomy in a rat model.

PurposeTo test the hypothesis that the changes in ileal smooth muscle contractility accompanying postgastrectomy syndromes are agonist-specific, we investigated the effects of potassium chloride (KCl), carbachol, substance P (SP), and serotonin on ileal smooth muscle contractility after total gastrectomy in rats.MethodsWe performed total gastrectomy in ten rats and a sham operation in another ten rats as a control. All of the rats were killed and their ileums excised 4 weeks postoperatively. The concentration–response relationships for KCl, SP, and serotonin were obtained by adding each agent cumulatively to the organ bath. Morphological changes in the ileum were also examined by light microscopy.ResultsThere was no significant difference between the responsiveness of gastrectomized and control tissues to KCl. Maximum responses (Emax) to carbachol and SP were less in the gastrectomized ileal segments than in the control ileal segments. Emax to serotonin was higher in the gastrectomized ileal segments than in the control ileal segments. The pD2value, i.e., the negative logarithm of the concentration for the half-maximal response, EC50, for carbachol, SP, and serotonin was unchanged in the gastroctomized ileal segments and the control segments. Total gastrectomy also caused morphological changes in the ileum.ConclusionsThese data indicate that the contractile response to various agents is altered after total gastrectomy and that receptor-mediated mechanisms may cause these changes.

Chemopreventive effects of hydatid disease on experimental breast cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the most common and letal cancers in all over the world. Since there have been significant improvements in treatment of breast cancer, there is still a big need for alternative approaches. In this study, we aimed to investigate protective role of hydatid disease against breast cancer. Twenty Wistar rats were divided into two groups of 10 rats each Group I (control) and Group II. In Group II intraperitoneal hydatidosis was performed. Then DMBA was applied to mammary tissues of all rats. Immunohistochemistry studies for Ki-67 and S-100 in the tumoral tissue sections of DMBA induced mammary tumor in rats were performed. TUNEL Assay was used to detect apoptotic cells of tumoral tissue. In vivo anticancer activity testing was carried out by preventing the tumorigenesis by DMBA in mammary tissue of rats. The expressions of the Ki-67 and S-100 protein decreased in rats who had Hydatid Disease (HD) (Group II), compared with the control rats (Group I). TUNEL positive cells were higher in rats with HD (Group II), compared with the control rats (Group I). In vivo studies showed that HD prevented the tumorigenesis by DMBA in mammary tissue of rats with 50 percent.In the light of the evidence the present study showed that HD may have chemopreventive effects on DMBA induced breast cancer.

The Effects of Monomers Used in Polymeric Biomaterials on Renal Tissue

Biomaterials are mostly polymers and are used in artificial organ production in contemporary medicine. They are prepared by the polymerization reaction of many monomers. There are many monomers used in biomaterial production. In this study , we investigated whether acrylamide (AAm), methacrylamide (MAAm), N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) and acrylic acid (AAc) used in polymeric biomaterial production had histopathological effects on renal tissue. In the present study, Wistar albino rats wei ghing ~ 250-300 g were used. Following the intramuscular injections of 1 mL aqueous monomer solutions at 50 mg/kg concentrations, acryl mide group animals were sacrificed at 1 , 2 and 3 weeks, the other monomer group animals were sacrificed at 1 , 2, 4 and 6 weeks. One mL serum physiologic were injected intramuscularly to the control group animals at the same time intervals with the experimenta l group animals. After histological follow-up, serial sections were prepared for evaluation under light microscope. In addition, the di ameters of glomeruli and glomeruli space (Bowman’s space) are measured, and the changes of the values of all groups with the exposure time were investigated. Acrylamide and its derivatives cause glomerular, arteriolar and tubule interstitial damage in the renal tissue. T he narrowing glomeruli space, increasing diffuse mesangial matrix and tubular dilation was observed in some groups. In addition, dilatation, dissociation of tubular epithelium, thickening basement membranes and glycogenic vacuolization was also noted. These adverse results may be d e to residual monomer. There should be no monomer residue in the polymer used as biomaterials.

Morphology of the esophago–duodenal anastomotic region after total gastrectomy: early changes

Total gastrectomy is considered to be a major treatment for gastric cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible effects of total gastrectomy on the esophago–duodenal anastomotic region morphology along with the determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) immunoreactivity during the early period. A series of rats underwent total gastrectomy via esophago–duodenostomy. Thirty days postoperatively, the morphology of the esophago–duodenal anastomotic region was determined at the light and electron microscopical levels. Esophago-duodenal anastomotic region samples were stained with hematoxylin–eosin and colloidal iron-PAS. In addition, CEA immunolocalization was also investigated. In the duodenal site of the anastomotic region, there were intervillous fusions along with a decrease in villous height and goblet cell secretory activity. There were neoplastic glands in the submucosa of esophagus and duodenum and their secretions were PAS positive. CEA immunoreactivity was observed widely in the cellular membrane surface surrounding the neoplastic glands, in their products, and in the connective tissue of the glands. It is likely that total gastrectomy causes adverse morphological changes throughout the esophago–duodenal anastomotic region. Strong CEA immunoreactivity may be a relevant marker for potential anastomotic region cancer in the early postoperative period after total gastrectomy.