Comparison of the Effects of 13-cis Retinoic Acid and Melatonin on the Viabilities of SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cell Line

OBJECTIVE: Neuroblastoma is one of common childhood tumors. Although its mortality is very high, there is no effective treatment yet. The aim of this project is to evaluate cytotoxic effects of melatonin (MLT) an endogen hormone and 13-cis retinoic acid (13-cis-RA) also named as isotretinoin an analogue of vitamin A on neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. METHODS: In this study, SH-SY5Y cell line was used. After cell culture, the cells were exposed to different doses of MLT and 13-cis-RA. 24 and 48 hours later. While the viabilities was estimated with MTT cell viability assay test, apoptotic indexes were calculated after staining with TUNEL based apoptosis kit. RESULTS: It was observed that MLT has very effective cytotoxic potential than 13-cis-RA on neuroblastoma cell line. At the same time, when MLT and 13-cis-RA were combined, this effect was potentiated. On the other hand, it was found that the effect of 13-cis-RA individually on neuroblastoma cells was very slight. CONCLUSION: We suggest that in the treatment of patient with neuroblastoma, MLT is very effective and also this effect can be augmented by combination with 13-cis-RA.

Morphometric analysis of hemicerebellar asymmetryn with central vertigo cases: a stereological study / Análisis morfométrico de la asimetría hemicerebelar en casos de vértigo central: un estudio estereológico

We aimed to evaluate the relevant methods of stereology to estimate hemicerebellar asymmetry according to sex in both adult right handed vertigo cases and comparing with healthy cases. The study included 14 adult control subjects and 18 patients with vertigo. The volumes of the cerebellar hemispheres were determined by MRI using the point-counting approach of stereological methods. The mean ( +/- SD) of the right cerebellar hemispheres in the patients with vertigo were 52.49 +/-5.42 cm3 in males, 50.11 +/- 4.02 cm3 in females. The mean ( +/- SD) of the left cerebellar hemispheres in the patients with vertigo were 53.11 +/- 3.70 cm3 in males, 49.73 +/- 4.69 cm3 in females. There was not significant quantitative evidence detected in terms of cerebella asymmetry between sagittal plane estimates in the cases with vertigo in both genders (p>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences according to the genders between both vertigo and control subjects (p>0.05). There was only statistical significance between right and left hemispheres in male control subjects (p=0.039). There was no cerebella asymmetry between control and vertigo cases according to genders. The stereological evaluation of cerebella asymmetry or atrophy in humans correlate with gender is of importance for both clinicians and anatomists. The technique is simple, reliable, inexpensive and unbiased.

Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar los métodos relevantes de estereología para estimar la asimetría hemicerebellar según el género, tanto en adultos diestros, casos de vértigo y al compararlos con casos control. El estudio incluyó a 14 sujetos adultos como control y 18 pacientes con vértigo. Los volúmenes de los hemisferios del cerebelo se determinaron en la RM utilizando el recuento de los puntos del método de estereología. La media ( +/- DE) de los hemisferios derecho del cerebelo en los pacientes con vértigo fueron 52,49 +/- 5,42 cm3 en los hombres, 50,11 +/- 4,02 cm3 en las mujeres. La media ( +/- DE) de los hemisferios izquierdo del cerebelo en los pacientes con vértigo fueron 53,11 +/- 3,70 cm3 en los hombres, 49,73 +/- 4,69 cm3 en las mujeres. No hubo evidencia cuantitativa importante detectada en cuanto a la asimetría entre las estimaciones del cerebelo entre plano sagital en los casos con vértigo en ambos sexos (p> 0,05). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas según los géneros entre ambos el vértigo y los sujetos control (p> 0,05). Sólo hubo significancia estadística entre los hemisferios derecho e izquierdo en los sujetos control masculino (p = 0,039). No hubo asimetría entre el cerebelo control y de los casos el vértigo de acuerdo a los géneros. La evaluación de la asimetría estereológica o atrofia del cerebelo en el ser humano se correlaciona con el género es de importancia para los clínicos y anatómicos. La técnica es simple, confiable, de bajo costo e imparcial.