Enterolactone reduces telomerase activity and the level of its catalytic subunit in breast cancer cells

Objective: There is a positive correlation between higher serum phytoestrogen concentrations and lower risk of breast cancer. The activation of telomerase is crucial for the growth of cancer cells; therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of enterolactone [ENL] and enterodiol [END] on this enzyme

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we performed the viability assay to determine the effects of different concentrations of ENL and END on cell viability, and the effective concentrations of these two compounds on cell growth. We used western blot analysis to evaluate human telomerase reverse transcriptase catalytic subunit [hTERT] expression and polymerase chain reaction [PCR]-ELISA based on the telomeric repeat amplification protocol [TRAP] assay for telomerase activity

Results: Both ENL and END, at 100 micro M concentrations, significantly [P<0.05] reduced cell viability. However, only the 100 micro M concentration of ENL significantly [P<0.05] decreased hTERT protein levels and telomerase activity. Lower concentrations of ENL did not have any significant effects on telomerase activity and hTERT protein levels

Conclusion: High concentration of ENL decreased the viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and inhibited the expression and activity of telomerase in these cells. Although END could reduce breast cancer cell viability, it did not have any effect on telomerase expression and activity

Relationship between prooxidant-antioxidant balance and severity of coronary artery disease in patients of Imam Khomeini hospital of Tehran, Iran

The balance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant activity has an important role in oxidative stress associated diseases including coronary artery disease. In this study, the prooxidant-antioxidant balance [PAB] and its correlations with serum lipid levels, uric acid levels, and severity of coronary artery involvement were examined. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of PAB as a predictor in coronary artery disease [CAD]. Seventy two patients and 68 healthy subjects were selected. PAB was determined using standard solutions and ELISA. Triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and uric acid levels were measured by enzymatic method. Mean PAB was 66.4 +/- 2.84 [HK units] in healthy people, 77.37 +/- 33.51 [HK units] in patients with one vessel CAD, 63.76 +/- 29.47 [HK units] in patients with two vessel CAD and 68.59 +/- 24.51 [HK units] in patients with three or more vessel CAD. There was no significant difference between PAB values in different severity groups [P=0.41]. PAB significantly and indirectly correlated with uric acid level in two vessels CAD. The study shows that PAB can be a predictor of CAD associated with other risk factors, but not alone

Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on the expression of ABCG1 gene in the human monocyte THP-1 cells

Cardiovascular disease [CVD] is the leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. Atherosclerosis is the major cause of CVD, accounting for about half of the attributed deaths. Cholesterol homeostasis is one of the most important factors in atherosclerosis. ATP-Binding cassette transporters cholesterol. Omega [omega] 3 fatty acids are important ligands for regulation of ABC transporters such as ABCG1. Concern has been raised that the low absolute intakes of EPA and high ratios of omega -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids [omega-6 PUFA] to EPA may predispose some individuals to CVD. Eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] is the most abundant omega 3 fatty acid in the diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of EPA on the expression of ABCG1 gene in the human monocyte THP-1 cells. In this study, THP-1 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium, THP-1 monocytes were then differentiated to macrophages with PMA [phorbol myristic acid] and stimulated with 50, 75 and 100 micro M of EPA for 24 h at 37°C. We examined the effects of EPA treatment on the expression of ABCG1 gene using Quantitative Real time RT-PCR [qRT-PCR]. Our results, indicate that ABCG1 mRNA expression was significantly reduced by 50, 75 and 100 micro M EPA fatty acid treatments as compared to the control cells [p = 0.009, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively]. These results suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs] such as EPA have an effect on the cholesterol homeostasis in macrophages, and they can change the expression of ABCG1 gene. It seems that EPA has different effects on gene expression and lipid metabolism

Survey of serum procalcitonin in cirrhotic patients

Procalcitonin [PCT] is a prohormone that has been used as a marker for the diagnosis of bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to survey PCT levels in patients with cirrhosis. Sixty-four patients with hepatic cirrhosis and 32 healthy blood donors were enrolled in this study. Serum PCT levels was detected using immunoluminometric assay. The rate of positive PCT was higher in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis [92.8%] than the other groups. Among other cirrhotic patients, positive PCT levels were 77% for hepatitis B, 70% for cancer and 53.3% for unknown groups respectively. Serum procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients with bacterial infection [2.65 +/- 1.11 ng/ml] than those without infection [0.59 +/- 0.16 ng/ml, P=0.0001]. PCT assay in cirrhotic patients may help diagnosis of sepsis and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use

Significance of albumin and C-reactive protein variations in 300 end stage renal disease patients in Tehran university of medical sciences hospitals during year 2010

Protein-energy malnutrition, wasting and inflammation are frequent complication among patients with end-stage renal disease [ESRD]. Malnutrition is associated with cardiac co-morbidity, inflammation and poor survival in ESRD patients. Serum albumin is a well-known marker of nutrition in ESRD patients. Serum albumin is still the most commonly used nutritional marker in ESRD patients. C-reactive protein [CRP], the major acute phase response [APR] protein is elevated in these patients. High CRP levels are linked to the degree of atherosclerosis in coronary, peripheral, and extracranial brain arteries. The aim of the present study was to investigate nutritional factor [albumin] and CRP levels in ESRD patients. In this cross-sectional study a total of 300 patients who had ESRD and had been on hemodialysis treatment for at least 6 months were selected. The laboratory tests consisted of measurement of CRP and albumin using high sensitive ELISA kits. The study patients included 157 males [52.3%] and 143 females [47.7%] with average age of 41.5 +/- 14.3 years. Mean CRP level was 7.96 mg/ dl [+/- 1.52], mean serum albumin was 4.07 g/dl [+/- 0.19].Of 300 patients, 21 died [7%]. These were patients with serum albumin<4 g/dl and CRP>9.5 mg/dl. This study showed that low albumin and high CRP levels are the main predictors for death. There was a significant difference between CRP and albumin levels in ESRD patients [P<0.0001]. Measuring CRP as a marker of inflammation can be helpful in managing these patients

Neonatal hypoglycemia: prevalence and clinical manifestations in tehran children's hospital

To measure the prevalence of hypoglycemia among newborn infants in Children Hospital using a standard laboratory glucose method and to evaluate the evidence of clinical manifestations of hypoglycemia, designing appropriate strategies for prevention and treatment. The study population consisted of 673 neonates in Tehran Children's Hospital and was conducted between June 2004 and March 2005. The incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia in the present study group was 15.15% live births. The clinical features which remained significantly associated with the hypoglycemic neonates were refusal of feeding [45%], hyporeflexia [36.2%], irritability [30%], cyanosis [28.4%], tackypnea [24.5%], seizure [16.6%], weak cry [15.8], apneic spels [9.8%], pallor [1.9%], cardiac arrest [9.1%] and sweating [1%]. Hypoglycemia does occur frequently in newborn infants and requires careful monitoring and therapy of serum glucose

Study of dermatologyhic patterns of hands in women with breast cancer

Study the relationship of digital dermatogletphic patterns of hands in women with breast cancer and or at risk for developing breast cancer. Fingerprints were studied in 616 women in three groups: [1] 154 breast cancer patients, [2] 154 females at increased risk for developing breast cancer and [3] 308 control females for the purpose of finding patterns that would identify those women with breast cancer or those who are predisposed to its development. A pattern of 6 or more digital Whorls was identified more frequently in women with breast cancer [48.7%] as compared in the control group to [27.5%] [P < 0.05]. It was also more frequent in women with known risk factors for breast cancer [47.4%] as compared in the control group to [27.5%] [P < 0.05]. No obvious differences were noted in women at increased risk for developing breast cancer [47.4%] when compared with women who had breast cancer [48.7%]. Digital dermatoglyphics may play an important role in identifying women either with or at increased risk for breast cancer so that either risk reduction measures or earlier therapy may be instituted