A systematic review of basal cell carcinoma on the scrotum-reviewing presentation and identifying challenges in management.

Since the scrotum is rarely exposed to sunlight, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) development in this area is an uncommon occurrence. As result, there is a scarcity of research covering this particular presentation, which poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. The objective of this systematic review is to provide a thorough overview of scrotal BCC, including a summary of its clinical characteristics, and microscopic subtypes. It also seeks to discuss the many techniques used in the management of this uncommon clinical presentation. Utilizing data from 1957 to October 2023, a systematic review of PubMed and Wiley Online Library was conducted to identify all cases of scrotal BCC with various presentations and managements. A total of 73 patients were included. The median patient age was 65.9 years (range 42 to 87). All studies were either case reports or case series. Our review shows that treatment with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS), leads to a superior patient outcome based on anecdotal evidence in select cases. To deepen our understanding of Mohs surgery's efficacy in treating scrotal BCC, it is imperative to conduct more robust research in the form of randomized clinical trials.

Cerebrolysin provides effective protection on high glucose-induced neuropathy in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Cerebrolysin, an endogenous peptide with neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties, indicated to be beneficial on diabetic neuropathy by preliminary clinical and experimental studies but without evidence on central or peripheral action. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, based on involvement of pain sensation in both health and disease as first relay centers for transmission and processing of peripheral nociceptive sensory signals, was used to investigate possible effects of Cerebrolysin on high glucose-induced neuropathy, as model. DRG's were obtained from adult rats and the isolated neurons were seeded on E-Plate®'s equipped with gold microelectrodes, and incubated in culture media in a CO2 incubator at 37 C. DRGs were exposed to high glucose (50 mM) in the absence and presence of different concentrations of Cerebrolysin ® (2-40 mg/ml). Cell index (derived from cell viability and neurite outgrowth) was recorded with Real-Time Cell Analyzer and was used as primary outcome measure. High glucose-induced cellular neuropathy and neuroprotective effects of Cerebrolysin was evaluated from area under the curve (AUC) of cell index-time graphs. Exposure of DRG neurons to high glucose caused a rapid and persistent decrease in the mean AUC values compared to normoglycemic controls. Co-treatment with Cerebrolysin (40 mg/ml) attenuated this high glucose-induced effect in a concentration-dependent manner. In normoglycemic conditions, treatment with Cerebrolysin caused a dose-dependent increase in the mean AUC values. Cerebrolysin treatment resulted in maintenance of the functional integrity, survival, and promotion of neurite outgrowth of the cultured DRG neurons exposed to high glucose, indicating involvement of peripheral sensory neurons.

Sclerostin and TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis: can they be important in the patients with glomerulonephritis?

OBJECTIVE: Sclerostin is a protein produced by osteocytes, kidneys, and vascular cells and has many effects on kidney and vascular structures. Soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis is a proinflammatory cytokine that may cause glomerular and tubular injury and increase sclerostin expression. This study aimed to investigate serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis levels in patients with glomerulonephritis and the effects they may be associated with. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 93 patients, 63 of whom were glomerulonephritis and 30 were healthy controls. Serum sclerostin, soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis, and 24-h urinary protein excretion were measured, and pulse wave velocity was calculated for arterial stiffness. RESULTS: Serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis were higher in glomerulonephritis patients than in the control group, and serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis levels were correlated with both proteinuria and pulse wave velocity. In addition, in the regression analysis, serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis levels were found to be independent predictors of proteinuria in patients with glomerulonephritis. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis are elevated in glomerulonephritis patients, and these two markers correlate with arterial stiffness and proteinuria in these patients. Considering the effects of sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis in patients with glomerulonephritis, we think these mechanisms will be the target of both diagnosis and new therapies.

Sclerostin and TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis: can they be important in the patients with glomerulonephritis?

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Sclerostin is a protein produced by osteocytes, kidneys, and vascular cells and has many effects on kidney and vascular structures. Soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis is a proinflammatory cytokine that may cause glomerular and tubular injury and increase sclerostin expression. This study aimed to investigate serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis levels in patients with glomerulonephritis and the effects they may be associated with. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 93 patients, 63 of whom were glomerulonephritis and 30 were healthy controls. Serum sclerostin, soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis, and 24-h urinary protein excretion were measured, and pulse wave velocity was calculated for arterial stiffness. RESULTS: Serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis were higher in glomerulonephritis patients than in the control group, and serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis levels were correlated with both proteinuria and pulse wave velocity. In addition, in the regression analysis, serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis levels were found to be independent predictors of proteinuria in patients with glomerulonephritis. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that serum sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis are elevated in glomerulonephritis patients, and these two markers correlate with arterial stiffness and proteinuria in these patients. Considering the effects of sclerostin and soluble TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis in patients with glomerulonephritis, we think these mechanisms will be the target of both diagnosis and new therapies.

Extraction, isolation of heat-resistance phenolic compounds, antioxidant properties, characterization and purification of 5-hydroxymaltol from Turkish apple pulps.

Apple pulps (AP) were obtained as a side product in fruit juice factories and contains valuable phenolic compounds. The dried AP was subjected to extraction with water, ethyl acetate (APEA) and n-butanol (APBU), respectively. 5-Hydroxymaltol (5-HM) was isolated and confirmed by NMR techniques. The HPLC-TOF/MS analysis revealed the presence of 16 components including major components of morine, gentisic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and fumaric acid. The antioxidant activities were evaluated with total antioxidant activity, reducing power, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, metal chelating, free radical and H2O2 scavenging activities. 5-HM, APEA and APBU exhibited the in vitro antioxidant activities in a concentration-dependent and moderate manner. The IC50 values were effective for free radical scavenging activity of 5-HM (8.22 µg mL-1), H2O2 scavenging activity for APEA (8.12 µg mL-1) and inhibition of lipid peroxidation for APEA (0.93 µg mL-1). The 5-HM and APEA have antioxidant capacities and also feasible to apply variety in vivo tests.

Phytochemical Screening, Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Properties of Various Extracts from Endemic Origanum acutidens.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Origanum acutidens (Hand.-Mazz.) Ietsw. is an endemic and perennial plant grown mainly in East Anatolia. Recently, natural plant products have attracted interest due to their safety and therapeutic effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate phytochemical contents and biological effects of Origanum acutidens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aerial parts of O. acutidens were extracted with water, ethyl acetate, nbutanol, and methanol/chloroform solvents. Phenolic compounds and other constituents of the extracts were analyzed by HPLC/TOF-MS. The Ethyl Acetate extract (EA) was fractionated by flash chromatography. The extracts and fractions were investigated for their antiproliferative activities on human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cell line by using BrdU ELISA assay. Antioxidant activities of the extracts and fractions were evaluated by complementary test systems, namely determination of total phenolic contents, metal chelating ability and DPPH radical scavenging assay. RESULTS: Among the extracts, Ethyl Acetate extract (EA) exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity (IC50 = 15.71 ± 0.04 µg/mL) on HeLa cells. It was therefore fractionated by flash chromatography to obtain 10 fractions which were investigated for their phenolic compounds and bioactivities. Rosmarinic acid was determined as the major component of EA and its fractions. EA exhibited higher antiproliferative activity against HeLa cell line than its fractions and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at the concentration of 100 µg/mL. EA and its fractions (F10, F6, F4, F7, F3, and F2) displayed higher radical scavenging activity compared to Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT). These effects may be attributed to the presence of rosmarinic acid in EA and its active fractions. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that O. acutidens is an essential natural source of polyphenols and a potent natural antioxidant and antiproliferative agent for food and pharmaceutical industries.

Phytochemical screening, anticancer and antioxidant activities of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. viride (Boiss.) Hayek, a plant of traditional usage.

BACKGROUND: A detailed phytochemical analysis of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. viride (Boiss.) Hayek was carried out and the antioxidant activities of five different crude extracts were determined. The antiproliferative activities of the extracts were determined using the xCELLigence system (Real Time Cell Analyzer). RESULTS: Differences between the essential oil and volatile organic compound profiles of the plant were shown. The main component of the essential oil was caryophyllene oxide, while the main volatile organic compounds were sabinene and eucalyptol as determined by HS-GC/MS. Phenolic contents of the extracts were determined qualitatively and quantitatively by HPLC/TOF-MS. Ten phenolic compounds were found in the extracts from O. vulgare and Origanum acutidens: rosmarinic acid (in highest abundance), chicoric acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, quercetin, apigenin-7-glucoside, kaempferol, naringenin and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. CONCLUSION: This study provides first results on the antiproliferative and antioxidant properties and detailed phytochemical screening of O. vulgare ssp. viride (Boiss.) Hayek.