Galectin-1 as a potential diagnostic biomarker in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at comparing the routine laboratory parameters and Galectin-1 levels of control and polycystic ovarian syndrome patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 88 patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and 88 healthy controls were considered for the study. Age groups of the patients ranged from 18 to 40. Serum TSH, Beta HCG, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, Hb1A1c, triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL FSH, LH, E2, prolactin, testosterone, SHBG, DHESO4, HDL, Gal-1 levels were analyzed for each subject. RESULTS: FSH, LH, LH/FSH, E2, prolactin, testosterone, SHBG, DHESO4, HDL and Gal-1 values of the subjects included in the study were statistically significantly different between the groups (p<0.05). Gal-1 and DHESO4 showed a strong positive connection (p=0.05). The sensitivity of Gal-1 level in PCOS patients was calculated as 0.997 and specificity as 0.716. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of Gal-1 in PCOS patients suggest that it increases due to overexpression in response to inflammation.

Oxidant and antioxidant activity in rabbit livers treated with zoledronic acid.

Zoledronic acid (ZA), a nitrogen-bearing bisphosphonate, is used to treat the hypercalcemia associated with cancer. In addition to its antiumor effects, it acts as an osteoclast inhibitor. To investigate the effects of ZA on oxidative stress and antioxidants, we studied reduced glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant gamma glutamate cysteine, including nitrite and nitrate, which are endproducts of nitric oxide (NO) as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) in rabbit liver tissue. In the study ZA (100 µg/kg) was administered to 7 rabbits that were fed ad libitum for comparison with untreated controls. MDA was studied using Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance reduction, NO using cadmium reduction, GSH using an enzymatic method yielding dithinitrobenzene yellow substance. We observed significantly higher MDA and NO levels in the ZA group (P < .0001), whereas GSH levels were significantly lower (P < .0001). Tissues were examined histopathologically. According to our results we find ZA induced rabbit liver oxidative stress and decreases with antioxidant levels in liver tissue. Further studies are needed to explore the safe use of this agent.

Reduction of peritoneal adhesions by sustained and local administration of epidermal growth factor.

Previous studies have shown epidermal growth factor (EGF) facilitate peritoneal membrane healing by augmenting cell adhesion and migration. The objective of this study was to show the effect of sustained and local administration of EGF on peritoneal adhesion. Fourty-two rats were divided into six groups: control 7 and 14, gelatin 7 and 14, and EGF 7 and 14. Adhesions were created by scraping the cecum with mesh gause followed by application of absolute alcohol and placement of silk suture in the parietal peritoneum. The anterior walls of the intestines were covered with 5 x 5 cm unloaded, and EGF loaded gelatin films in the gelatin and EGF groups, respectively. The rats were killed on days 7 and 14 to assess the adhesion occurring, and for biochemical examination. The mean adhesion grades of EGF groups were significantly lower than in the other groups (P < 0.008). The mean adenosine deaminase (ADA) measurements of EGF 7 group were lower than in the gelatin 7 and control 7 groups but the difference was not significant (P > 0.008). The mean ADA measurements in the 14 days groups were as follows: control 14 < EGF 14 < gelatin 14 groups. The mean ADA measurements between 14 days groups did not significantly differ from each other (P > 0.008). The mean hydroxyproline measurements did not differ among the groups (P > 0.008). EGF decreased intestinal adhesion in our study. EGF has important roles in DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Further studies are required to determine the exact mechanism by which EGF lowers the efficiency of intestinal adhesion.