Brain, liver, and serum salusin-alpha and -beta alterations in Sprague-Dawley rats with or without metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: This metabolic syndrome (MetS) study was designed to investigate changes in expression of the neuropeptides salusin-α (Sal-α) and salusin-ß (Sal-ß) in brain and liver tissue in response to obesity and related changes induced by high-fructose diet and explored how these changes were reflected in the circulating levels of Sal-α and Sal-b, as well as revealing how the lipid profile and concentrations of glucose and uric acid were altered. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study included 14 Sprague-Dawley rats. The control group was fed ad libitum on standard rat pellets, while the intervention group was given water with 10% fructose in addition to the standard rat pellet for 3 months. Sal-α and Sal-ß concentrations in the serum and tissue supernatants were measured by ELISA, and immunohistochemical staining was used to demonstrate expression of the hormones in brain and liver. RESULTS: Sal-α and Sal-ß levels in both the serum and the brain and liver tissue supernatants were lower in the MetS group than the control group. Sal-α and Sal-ß were shown by immunohistochemistry to be produced in the brain epithelium, the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus, and the liver hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in Sal-α and Sal-ß might be involved in the etiopathology of the metabolic syndrome induced by fructose.

Lack of association of 1513 A/C polymorphism in P2X7 gene with susceptibility to pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis, is one of the a leading causes of death worldwide, is characterized by different clinical forms including: latent, localized pulmonary infection and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Candidate gene association studies have implicated common polymophisms in genes that may influence the development of tuberculosis. This study, aimed to elucidate the role of P2X7 gene in 1513A/C polymorphism the etiopathogenesis of tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 160 patients with tuberculosis (71 pulmonary and 89 extrapulmonary tuberculosis) and 160 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was isolated and 1513A/C polymorphism in P2X(7) gene was genotyped by PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: Frequency of P2X7 AA genotype was 47.5% in controls and 56.87% in patients, AC frequency was 39.37% controls and 32.5% in patients, CC genotype was 13.12% in controls and 10.62% in patients. No significant difference in allele and genotype frequencies (1513A/C polymorphism) between tuberculosis patients and controls was found. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that 1513A/C polymorphism of P2X7 gene is not associated with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis in the Eastern Turkey.

[Investigation of CCL1 rs159294 T/A gene polymorphism in pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients]. / Pulmoner ve ekstrapulmoner tüberküloz hastalarinda CCL1 rs159294 T/A gen polimorfizminin arastirilmasi

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to reveal whether CCL1 rs159294 T/A polymorphism in pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients pose a risk to catch tuberculosis or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the study, peripheral blood samples from the control group, which includes 160 patients, who consulted to Firat University Faculty of Medicine, Pulmonology Policlinic in Elazig province and who were diagnosed with tuberculosis; and 160 healthy individuals, were taken and put into tubes containing EDTA. Each tube contained 2 cc blood samples. DNA isolation was made from these blood samples and CCL1 rs159294 T/A polymorphism was defined with PCR-RFLP analysis. RESULTS: For CCL1 rs159294 T/A polymorphism, TT genotype was found in 98 (61.3%) patients, TA genotype was found in 58 (36.3%) patients, AA genotype was found in 4 (2.5%) patients among 160 patients with tuberculosis; and TT genotype was found in 50 (70.4%) patients, TA genotype in 20 (28.2%) patients, AA genotype was found in 1 (1.4%) patient among 71 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis; TT genotype was found in 48 (53.9%) patients TA genotype was found in 38 (42.7%) patients and AA genotype was found in 3 (3.4%) patients among 89 extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients. And in control group, among 160 healthy individuals, TT genotype was found in 100 (62.5%) individuals, TA genotype was found in 58 (36.3%) individuals, AA genotype was found in 2 (1.3%) individuals and no statistically significant difference was found. CONCLUSION: CCL1 rs159294 T/A polymorphism do not form an inclination to tuberculosis in our population.

Effects of selenium with vitamin E and melatonin on cadmium-induced oxidative damage in rat liver and kidneys.

The present study was performed to determine the protective effects of melatonin alone and vitamin E with selenium combination against cadmium-induced oxidative damage in rat liver. A total of 60 male rats were equally divided into five groups, one of which acted as control receiving subcutaneous injections of physiological saline. The remaining four groups were treated with subcutaneous injections of cadmium chloride at a dose of 1 mg/kg weight. The first study group received no treatment. The second group was treated with a combination of 60 mg/kg vitamin E and 1 mg/kg sodium selenite. Group 3 was treated with 10 mg/kg melatonin, and the four group received a combination of vitamin E, sodium selenite, and melatonin at the doses mentioned above. After 1 month, the animals were killed, and liver and kidneys were excised for histopathological inspection and determination of tissue malondialdehyde and the activity of superoxide dismutase. The animals receiving no treatment showed significantly higher malondialdehyde levels and reduced activity of superoxide dismutase (p < 0.05). Treatment with antioxidants resulted in a significant reduction in malondialdehyde when compared to nontreated animals (p < 0.05) and increase in the enzyme activity that was almost the same as the controls. The pathological findings were also in parallel with the results of the biochemical analysis. In conclusion, all the agents tested had protective effects against cadmium-induced oxidative damage.

Protective effects of antioxidants against cadmium-induced oxidative damage in rat testes.

The protective effects of melatonin, vitamin E, and selenium alone or in combination were tested against cadmium-induced oxidative damage in rat testes. A total of 60 male rats were equally divided into five study groups, one of which acted as control receiving subcutaneous injections of physiological saline. The remaining four groups were treated with subcutaneous injections of cadmium chloride at a dose of 1 mg/kg weight. The first study group received no treatment. The second group was treated with a combination of 60 mg/kg vitamin E and 1 mg/kg sodium selenite. Group 3 was treated with 10 mg/kg melatonin, and the fourth group received a combination of vitamin E, sodium selenite, and melatonin at the doses mentioned above. After 1 month, the animals were killed, and the testes were excised for histological inspection and determination of tissue malondialdehyde and the activity of superoxide dismutase. The animals receiving no treatment showed significantly higher malondialdehyde levels and reduced activity of the enzyme (p < 0.05). Treatment with antioxidants resulted in a significant reduction in malondialdehyde when compared to the nontreated animals (p < 0.05) and an increase in the superoxide dismutase activity that was almost the same as the controls. The combination of melatonin, vitamin E, and selenium appears to have the more profound effect against cadmium-induced testicular injury.

Effects of selenium and vitamin E, in addition to melatonin, against oxidative stress caused by cadmium in rats.

The present study was carried to evaluate the protective effects of melatonin alone and vitamin E with selenium combination against high dose cadmium-induced oxidative stress in rats. The control group received subcutaneous physiological saline. The first study group administered cadmium chloride (CdCl2) by subcutaneous injection of dose of 1 mg/kg. The second study group administered cadmium plus vitamin E with selenium (1 mg/kg sodium selenite with 60 mg/kg vitamin E); the third study group administered cadmium plus 10 mg/kg melatonin (MLT); the fourth study group administered CdCl2 plus a combination of melatonin in addition to vitamin E and selenium for a month. Determination levels of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), creatinine alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and urea were measured in serum. In only CdCl2 administered group, the MDA, creatinine, ALT, AST, ALP, and urea levels in the serum were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Whereas in all other groups, this values were significantly lower than the only CdCl2 administered group (p < 0.05). Erythrocytes GSH-Px, serum SOD activities of only CdCl2 received group were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, vitamin E + Se, melatonin and vitamin E, and Se, in addition to MLT combinations, had protective effects against high dose cadmium-induced oxidative damage.