Background:This study examined the protective effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) and their possible underlying mechanisms. Methods:48 male rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=8): the sham group that received intraperitoneal normal saline solution (Sham), the HIRI group, the control groups pre-treated with 5 and 10 mg/kg ZnO-NPs for 3 consecutive days without surgery (ZnO5) and (ZnO10), the HIRI group pre-treated with 5 mg/kg ZnO-NPs for 3 consecutive days before surgery (HIRI+ZnO5), and the HIRI group pre-treated with 10 mg/kg ZnO-NPs for 3 consecutive days before surgery (HIRI+ZnO10). One hour after reperfusion, serum and tissue samples were collected for biochemical, molecular and histopathological evaluation. Results:Administration of ZnO-NPs caused significant improvement in the elevated serum concentrations of ALT, AST, TOS and MDA, improved liver histopathology, and increased TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB levels in liver tissue compared to HIRI group. In addition, administration of ZnO-NPs increased the expression of miR-125 in liver tissue compared than in the HIRI group. Conclusions:The administration of ZnO-NPs improved the effect on HIRI by enhancing miR-125b expression and suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines.
Background:Hashimoto thyroiditis is a chronic autoimmune disorder influenced by genetic and environmental factors. DNA methylation, regulated by DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), may play a critical role in its pathogenesis. This study investigated the association between DNMT1 polymorphism, particularly rs2228611, and gene expression in Hashimoto thyroiditis patients and also compared serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies in both affected individuals and controls. Methods:A case-control study of 100 participants (50 Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients and 50 controls) was conducted. TSH and anti-TPO levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). DNMT1 expression was analyzed via quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while DNMT1 (rs2228611 C/T) polymorphism was assessed by high-resolution melting-polymerase chain reaction (HRM-PCR). Results:The results revealed that Hashimoto thyroiditis patients exhibited significantly elevated serum TSH and anti-TPO levels compared to healthy controls (p < 0.0001). DNMT1 gene expression was upregulated by 1.7-fold in patients relative to controls (p = 0.04), suggesting a potential role in disease pathogenesis. Genotyping of DNMT1 rs2228611 polymorphism revealed no significant differences in allelic or genotypic frequencies between groups. However, the TT genotype showed a non-significant trend toward increased disease risk (p = 0.07). The CT genotype appeared to confer a protective effect. Conclusions:The study's findings suggest that elevated DNMT1 expression and thyroid dysfunction are characteristic of Hashimoto thyroiditis, while the DNMT1 rs2228611 polymorphism may have a limited but possible influence, warranting further study with larger cohorts.
Background:Oral and lip squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) are malignancies among head and neck cancers. OSCC is characterized by aggressive behavior and poorer prognosis compared to other squamous cell carcinomas. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a multifunctional protein involved in processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. This study aims to evaluate and compare Gal-3 expression among groups to investigate its role in the biological behaviors of lip and oral SCCs. Methods:Immunohistochemical analysis of Gal-3 was performed on OSCC and lip SCC samples, with oral and lip marginal tissues obtained as the control group. The clinicopathological parameters, including the invasive front (IF), depth of invasion (DOI), and muscular, neural, and vascular invasions, were assessed. The staining percentage, intensity, and cellular location of Gal-3 were compared between the study groups. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Gal-3 staining percentages were significantly higher in the SCC groups compared to control groups (P< 0.001 for each). Staining intensity and nuclear staining were higher in OSCC than in lip SCC (P< 0.001, P< 0.010, respectively). Nuclear Gal-3 was notably associated with the presence of muscle invasion in OSCC (P=0.030). High IF status was correlated with Gal-3 expression in lip SCC (P=0.010). Staining intensity was significantly higher in OSCC samples with vascular invasion compared to those without (P= 0.016). Conclusions:The higher Gal-3 expression and nuclear staining in OSCC may explain its aggressive nature. Gal-3 could be a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker due to its increased expression in cancerous tissues compared to normal samples.
Background:Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, often progressing silently until advanced stages. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of serum visfatin levels and Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) among CKD patients, along with their correlation with disease severity and lipid profile. Methods:A case-control study included 30 CKD patients, divided into two subgroups: 15 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and 15 non-dialysis patients. These patients were matched by age and body mass index (BMI) with 30 healthy subjects (HS). Serum visfatin, lipid profile, electrolytes, NAMPT gene expression, and other biochemical markers were measured. Results:This study showed significantly higher visfatin levels in CKD patients compared to HS, with the highest levels observed in the ESRD group undergoing HD (5.6±1.63 ng/mL compared with 3.5±1.4 ng/mL in CKD without HD, and 2.7±1.1 ng/mL in HS; p≤0.001). Similarly, NAMPT gene expression was significantly upregulated in CKD patients, with the highest expression in the HD group, correlating strongly with serum visfatin levels (r = 0.76, p≤0.001) and lipid profile markers, including triglycerides (r = 0.67, p=0.002) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL; r = 0.61, p=0.004). In CKD patients undergoing HD, visfatin levels showed a positive correlation with triglycerides and LDL levels, suggesting a link with dyslipidemia. No significant correlation was found between visfatin and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), urea, creatinine, or very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Conclusions:These findings indicate that serum visfatin and NAMPT gene expression could serve as novel biomarkers for assessing CKD severity, particularly in patients undergoing hemodialysis, with potential implications for managing inflammation and cardiovascular risk in CKD.
Background:Esophageal cancer (EC) is an aggressive gastrointestinal tumor necessitating novel prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies. It is essential to identify important markers for diagnosing malignancy and predicting outcomes. Understanding gene functions in signaling pathways and early cancer detection are vital for reducing EC mortality. CD44 upregulation is linked to cancer stem cells (CSC), metastasis, poor prognosis, and treatment response. CD44v6, a variant of CD44, plays a pivotal role in tumor invasion and metastasis by influencing the extracellular matrix, promoting cell motility, and suppressing cancer cell apoptosis. Methods:This study investigated CD44v6 expression in tumor and tumor-free tissues of the esophagus in 50 esophageal squamous cells carcinomas (ESCC) patients using real-time PCR. The aim was to assess its prognostic value and its correlation with tumor invasion. Results:Significant overexpression of CD44v6 mRNA was detected in 9 out of 50 tumor specimens (18%, p = 0.0001). CD44v6 expression showed an inverse correlation with tumor cell metastasis to lymph nodes (p = 0.047). Among the 21 patients with lymph node metastasis, 5 (23%) exhibited CD44v6 overexpression. Additionally, CD44v6 expression was linked to the tumor stage (p = 0.008). Specifically, 2 out of 9 patients with stage I tumors (22.2%), 4 out of 9 with stage II tumors (44.4%), and 3 out of 9 with stage III tumors (33.3%) showed CD44v6 overexpression. Conclusions:Our findings suggest that lower CD44v6 expression at the RNA level correlates with increased tumor invasion and more advanced stages in ESCC.
