BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate apoptotic (Bcl-2, Bax expression, caspase-3 activity, and cytochrome-c) and angiogenic (MMP-9 levels and VEGF expression) markers in operable rectal cancer patients who were treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME). Understanding these factors will facilitate the identification of potential pathological responders before treatment, leading to better local control and survival rates.MethodsBetween March 2006 and March 2008, 29 patients withTNM Stage III (cT3 N+) mid or low rectal cancer were included in this study. Our sample consisted of 17 males (58.6%) and 12 females (41.4%). The median age was 60 years (range 24-88 years). Biopsy samples were taken from different portions of the tumors using flexible endoscopy before neoadjuvant CRT. Preoperatively, all patients received radiation (45-50.4 gray (Gy) in 25 cycles with concurrent 5-florouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy.ResultsA complete response was observed in 7 of 29 patients (24%). Bax staining was negative in 1 of the 7 patients (14%) in the pathological complete response (PCR) group and in 18 of the 22 patients (82%) in the no pathological complete response (noPCR) group (p = 0.001). MMP-9 and VEGF levels were higher in the noPCR group than the PCR group (p = 0.04, p = 0.05 respectively). No statistically significant differences were found between VEGF and MMP-9 levels in nodal downstaging. No statistically significant relationships were found between the other apoptotic factors (Bcl 2, cytochrome-c, and caspase-3 activity) and pathological response rate (p > 0.05).ConclusionIn neoadjuvant CRT patients, high levels of Bax expression and low levels of VEGF and MMP-9 expression on preoperative biopsies indicate that the patient will potentially be a good pathological responder.

Human adipose tissue is involved in fat storage and also plays a role in the immune response. Curcumin (CUR), a natural polyphenol is suggested to supress adipocyte differentiation in the early stage by inhibiting secretion of some regulators and the inflammatory cytokines and by activating the secretion of antiinflammatory cytokines. Our aim in this research was to examine the molecular pathways of the inhibitory effects of different doses of curcumin (0.5 µM, 5 µM, 10 µM, 20 µM, 50 µM) on the preadipocyte-adipocyte differentiation and the anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin for preventing adipocyte related oxidative and inflammatory status. Differentiation of cells was performed using Oil red O, mRNA expression levels of adiponectin, CCAAT/enhancer binding proteinα (C/EBPα), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leptin, Nuclear Factor kappa B1 (NFκB1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor1 (TRPV1), uncoupling protein2 (UCP2), vasculer endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor I (VEGF-RI), VEGF-RII were evaluated in preadipocytes and adipocytes. Curcumin suppressed the differentiation of preadipocyte to adipocytes, decreased the release of proinflammatory cytokines, but it did this by regulating C/EBPα and PPARγ gene expressions outside the NF-κB pathway. Curcumin effectively suppressed adipogenic transcription factors and also adipocyte differentiation at all doses between 0.5–50 µM, but showed its anti-inflammatory effect especially in the application of curcumin of 50 µM.

Yüksek yağlı diyetin (YYD) neden olduğu oksidatif stresin testis fonksiyonlarını olumsuz yönde etkilediği bilinmektedir. Zerdeçal baharatının aktif bileşeni olan kurkuminin oksidan-antioksidan denge üzerine olumlu etkileri olduğu gösterilmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı; YYD birlikte alınan kurkuminin testiste oksidan-antioksidan denge üzerine olan etkisini incelemektir.

A AB BS ST TR RA AC CT T O Ob bj je ec ct ti iv ve e: : Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) was suggested to lower the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) by preventing high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) oxidation during atherosclerotic process. The relation between PON1 activity and CAD has been attributed to polymorphisms in the gene coding for this enzyme. The PON1 gene has two common polymorphisms, which lead to a leucine→methionine substitution at position 55 (PON55) and a glutamine→arginine substitution at position 192 (PON192), have been defined as the molecular basis of interindividual variability in PON activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of PON55 and PON192 polymorphisms in Turkish patients with CAD and to determine whether this polymorphism was effective on plasma lipid levels. M Ma at te er ri ia al l a an nd d M Me et th h--o od ds s: : One hundred and thirty-five angiographically-defined CAD patients and 110 healthy controls were screened for the PON55 and PON192 genotypes and plasma lipids. R Re es su ul lt ts s: : The frequency of PON55 MM genotype was significantly higher in the CAD patients than in the controls. The frequencies of PON192 genotypes were similar among CAD patients and controls. Both for PON55 and PON192 genotypes the HDL-C levels of CAD patients were significantly lower than in the corresponding controls. The severity of CAD was not associated with either the PON55 or the PON192 genotype. C Co on nc cl lu us si io on n: : PON55 and PON192 genotypes are not useful markers for the estimation of either cardiovascular risk or the severity of coronary artery disease in the Turkish population.K Ke ey y W Wo or rd ds s: : Coronary disease; cholesterol, HDL; pon1 protein, human; polymorphism, genetic; aryldialkylphosphatase Ö ÖZ ZE ET T A Am ma aç ç: : Paraoksonaz 1'in (PON1) yüksek yoğunluklu lipoprotein-kolesterol (HDL-K) ve düşük yoğunluklu lipoprotein kolesterol (LDL-K)'leri oksidasyondan koruyarak koroner arter hastalığı (KAH) görülme sıklığını azalttığı ileri sürülmektedir. PON1 aktivitesi ile KAH arasındaki ilişki, bu enzimi kodlayan genin polimorfizmlerine atfedilmektedir. Bireyler arasındaki PON aktivitesi farklığına moleküler temel oluşturan, genin 55. pozisyonundaki lösin→metiyonin değişimi (PON55) ile 192. pozisiyonundaki glutamin→arginin değişimi şeklinde iki polimorfizm tanımlanmıştır. Çal-ışmamızda, koroner arter hastalığı olan Türk hastalarda PON55 and PON192 polimorfizmlerinin frekansları ile bu polimorfizmlerin plazma lipit düzeylerine etkilerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. G Ge er re eç ç v ve e Y Yö ön nt te em ml le er r: : KAH tanısı anjiyografik olarak konulmuş 135 hastada ve 110 sağlıklı kişide PON55 and PON192 genotipleri ve plazma lipitleri incelendi. B Bu ul lg gu ul la ar r: : Hastalarda PON55 MM genotipinin frekansının kontrollere göre anlamlı olarak daha fazla olduğu saptandı. Hasta ve kontrol grubu arasında PON192 genotiplerinin dağılımı açısından anlamlı bir fark bulunmadı. Hem PON55...