The alteration of apoptosis-related genes in female pelvic supportive tissues with regard to menopausal status.

PURPOSE: We aimed to compare the expression levels of anti-apoptotic and proapoptotic genes in the parametrium, sacrouterine and round ligaments with respect to menopausal status in women presenting without any indication of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). We hypothesized that apoptosis related gene expressions in female pelvic tissues may be altered during menopause. METHODS: The study groups consisted of pre-menopausal (n = 10) and menopausal (n = 10) females who did not have POP symptoms. Three different types of tissue samples (Parametrium, Round Ligament and Sacrouterine Ligament) were obtained and RNA was isolated from these tissues. After purifying and quantifying RNA samples, qPCR was used to determine the expression levels of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic genes. RESULTS: BCL-2 gene expression levels were significantly lower in all the tissues of menopausal patients compared to those of premenopausal patients. In comparison to premenopausal patients, the sacrouterine ligament tissue BAD expression level was significantly high (p = 0.035), and the BCL-2/BAD ratio was significantly lower in menopausal patients (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Apoptosis-related protein levels change during menopause; pro-apoptotic gene expressions decrease and anti-apoptotic gene expressions increase. The significant alteration of BCL-2 and BAD expression in sacrouterine ligament with respect to menopausal status was observed and this suggested that when compared to other pelvic tissues, the sacrouterine ligament, which plays a crucial role for genital organs in restoring normal pelvic anatomy and providing support, could be affected more by menopause.

Cardiac failure in a child with tuberculous meningitis as a complication of Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) is a disorder due to the loss of regulation of autonomic activity. The most common condition predisposing to the development of PSH is traumatic brain injury (TBI), followed by anoxic brain injury, stroke, tumors, and infections. Awareness about the condition and early recognition is important to avoid life threatening complications. CASE: We report a 4-year-old child with tuberculous meningitis with symptoms of PSH who developed cardiac failure. PSH episodes were treated with beta blocker, benzodiazepine, morphine, dexmedetomidine, baclofen, and tizanidine. Three weeks after readmission PSH episodes decreased and the patient was transferred to the general ward. CONCLUSIONS: PSH assessment tool has benefits such as monitoring the patient, evaluating response to treatment and early diagnosing PSH patients.

Altered Expression of Long Non-coding RNAs in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in many neurological conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD) regulate gene expression at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic levels. However, the roles of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of AD remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the expression of lncRNAs and also mRNAs in AD which may alter expression and contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from patients admitted to the Neurology Department of Pamukkale University Medical Faculty (23 patients with AD, 33 control groups). Total RNA obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of subjects with probable AD (n = 4) and healthy control groups (n = 4) was examined to determine the altered expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs in AD were evaluated by microarray analysis. Five lncRNAs with the highest end-to-end fold change (fc ≥ 2.0, p < 0.05) were identified and confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In our study, the profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs that may be associated with Alzheimer's disease were determined. A total of 14 lncRNAs and 35 mRNAs were determined as upregulated, and 20 lncRNAs and 73 mRNAs determined as downregulated as a result of microarray analysis in patients with AD compared with control groups (fold change ≥ 2.0, p < 0.05). From lncRNAs, expression of lncRNA TTC39C-AS1, lnc-AL445989.1-2, LINC01420, lnc-CSTB-1, and LOC401557 was confirmed by qRT-PCR. When assessed by KEGG analysis of AD PBMC lncRNA and mRNA profiles, TNF signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT, Ras, and MAPK pathways; glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and cholinergic synapses; GABA, and neurotrophin signaling pathways are found to be significant. This is the first known study to investigate lncRNA profiles in AD PBMCs. We think that these results may open a door to the understanding of AD pathogenesis targeted by lncRNAs.

MYC-driven regulation of long non-coding RNA profiles in breast cancer cells.

AIM: MYC deregulation contributes to breast cancer development and progression. Deregulated expression levels of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) have been demonstrated to be critical players in development and/or maintenance of breast cancer. In this study we aimed to evaluate lncRNA expressions depending on MYC overexpression and knockdown in breast cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells were infected with lentiviral vectors by either knockdown or overexpression of c-MYC. LncRNA cDNA was transcribed from total RNA samples and lncRNAs were evaluated by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Our results indicated that some of the lncRNAs having tumor suppressor (GAS5, MEG3, lincRNA-p21) and oncogenic roles (HOTAIR) are regulated by c-MYC. CONCLUSION: We observed that c-MYC regulates lncRNAs that have important roles on proliferation, cell cycle and etc. Further studies will give us a light to identify molecular mechanisms related to MYC-lncRNA regulatory pathways in breast cancer.

Improvement of early detection of breast cancer through collaborative multi-country efforts: Medical physics component.

PURPOSE: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) through a Coordinated Research Project on "Enhancing Capacity for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer through Imaging", brought together a group of mammography radiologists, medical physicists and radiographers; to investigate current practices and improve procedures for the early detection of breast cancer by strengthening both the clinical and medical physics components. This paper addresses the medical physics component. METHODS: The countries that participated in the CRP were Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Egypt, India, Kenya, the Frmr. Yug. Rep. of Macedonia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Slovenia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and Zambia. Ten institutions participated using IAEA quality control protocols in 9 digital and 3 analogue mammography equipment. A spreadsheet for data collection was generated and distributed. Evaluation of image quality was done using TOR MAX and DMAM2 Gold phantoms. RESULTS: QC results for analogue equipment showed satisfactory results. QC tests performed on digital systems showed that improvements needed to be implemented, especially in thickness accuracy, signal difference to noise ratio (SDNR) values for achievable levels, uniformity and modulation transfer function (MTF). Mean glandular dose (MGD) was below international recommended levels for patient radiation protection. Evaluation of image quality by phantoms also indicated the need for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Common activities facilitated improvement in mammography practice, including training of medical physicists in QC programs and infrastructure was improved and strengthened; networking among medical physicists and radiologists took place and was maintained over time. IAEA QC protocols provided a uniformed approach to QC measurements.