Evaluation of the role of mitofusin-1 and mitofusin-2 in periodontal disease.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are key cellular organelles and create contact sites (mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact [MERC]), which plays a major role in calcium metabolism, apoptotic processes, and inflammation. Previously, proteins that have been associated with these MERC contact sites mitofusin-1 (MFN1) and mitofusin-2 (MFN2) have been found to be downregulated in periodontal disease in vitro. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate MFN1 and MFN2 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with periodontal disease compared with healthy controls clinically. METHODS: A total of 48 participants were divided into three groups including periodontally healthy (n = 16), patients with gingivitis (n = 16), and patients with stage 3 grade B periodontitis (n = 16). GCF levels of MFN1, MFN2, calcium (Ca), caspase-1, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results were calculated as total amount and concentration. RESULTS: MFN1 levels (total amount) were significantly higher in patients with periodontitis and gingivitis when compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). However, concentration levels of MFN1, MFN2, Ca, caspase-1, TNF-α significantly decreased in periodontal disease groups compared with healthy controls (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was detected among all evaluated markers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The MERC protein MFN1 may have a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease due to its increase in GCF of patients with periodontitis and gingivitis.

Analysis of long-term antibody response in COVID-19 patients by symptoms grade, gender, age, BMI, and medication.

The first aim of the study was to analyze the change in antibody titer at 15-day intervals until 60 days postsymptom onset (PSO). The second aim was to analyze the relationship between antibody titer and symptom grade, gender, age, body mass index (BMI), medications, vitamin supplements, and herbal therapies. Blood samples were collected from 43 patients (5 mild, 21 moderate, 17 severe diseases), 18 women (41.9%), and 25 men (58.1%), on 15, 30, 45, and 60 days PSO after COVID-19 infection. The serum antibody titers were determined by measuring the COVID-19 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Associations between the duration of symptoms, demographic and clinical parameters, medications and vitamins used, and herbal therapies were evaluated by interviewing the participants. Within the first 15 days of illness, 81.4% of the patients were positive. From Day 45 PSO, seropositivity was 89.5%. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were statistically higher in men than women at all times (p < 0.01). Antibody titer was higher in older participants compared to younger participants (p < 0.02). Plaquenil or favipiravir use did not affect antibody response (p > 0.05). Men had a higher fever (p = 0.006), shortness of breath (p = 0.004), and chest pain (p = 0.03) than women. We found powerful antibody response by 60 days PSO, as well as higher antibody response and severity of symptoms in the men gender. Data also showed that SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are higher in individuals with older age, whereas BMI, concomitant chronic disease, and medications had no effect on antibody titers.

The isolation of secondary metabolites from Rheum ribes L. and the synthesis of new semi-synthetic anthraquinones: Isolation, synthesis and biological activity.

Rheum ribes L. (Rhubarb) is one of the most important edible medicinal plants in the Eastern Anatolia region and is called "Iskin" by local people. Resveratrol and 6-O-methylalaternin were isolated from the Rhubarb for the first time in addition to well-known secondary metabolites including emodin, aloe-emodin, ß-sitosterol and rutin. The new semi-synthetic anthraquinone derivatives with the NαFmoc-l-Lys and ethynyl group were synthesized from the isolated anthraquinones emodin and aloe-emodin of Rhubarb to increase the bioactivities. Aloe-emodin derivative with NαFmoc-l-Lys shows the highest inhibition values by 94.11 ± 0.12 and 82.38 ± 0.00% against HT-29 and HeLa cell lines, respectively, at 25 µg/mL. Further, modification of the aloe-emodin with both the ethynyl and the NαFmoc-l-Lys groups showed an antioxidant activity-enhancing effect. From molecular docking studies, the relative binding energies of the emodin and aloe-emodin derivatives to human serum albumin ranged from -7.30 and -10.62 kcal/mol.