Objectives This study aims to compare the serum calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and CGRP receptor protein levels between patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) and healthy control subjects. Patients and methods The study included 88 patients (7 males, 81 females; mean age 44.5±9.1 years; range, 20 to 72 years) newly-diagnosed with FM according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology criteria and 88 healthy volunteers (6 males, 82 females; mean age 43.0±6.1 years; range, 20 to 57 years). Venous blood samples were collected from both groups for the measurement of the levels of serum CGRP and CGRP receptor proteins (receptor component protein [RCP], receptor activity modifying protein 1 [RAMP 1] and calcitonin receptor-like receptor [CLR]). Results A comparison of the serum CGRP, CLR and RCP levels of the FM and control groups revealed a statistically significant difference (p=0.001, p=0.005, p=0.001, respectively). The difference between the groups in respect of the serum RAMP 1 levels was not statistically significant (p=0.107). Conclusion The serum CGRP, CLR and RCP levels were found to be higher in the FM patients, but no difference was determined between the FM patients and the healthy control group in respect of the RAMP 1 level. These results can be of guidance for further clinical studies of the etiopathogenesis and treatment of FM.

Although there is not yet full clarity of the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM), central sensitization is considered to be responsible. The purpose of this study was to measure the plasma levels of potassium ion channel proteins (human KCNH2, KCNH6 and KCNH7) in FM patients and healthy control subjects. The study sample includes 76 newly diagnosed FM patients and 79 healthy individuals. Venous blood samples were taken to measure the plasma levels of KCNH2, KCNH6 and KCNH7. Pain severity in FM patients was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Bioinformatics analysis was performed using the STRING v 11 Protein interaction tool. Age, gender and body mass index were seen to be similar in both groups. In comparisons between FM and control groups, KCNH2 plasma levels was found to be significantly lower in the FM group. No significant correlation was found between plasma levels of KCNH2, KCNH6 and KCNH7 protein levels and VAS score of patients with FM. The KCNH2 protein had a high homology score with 9 proteins. The plasma levels of KCNH2 FM patients were found to be lower than those of the healthy control subjects, no difference was determined in respect of the plasma levels of KCNH6 and KCNH7. These results may be of use in guiding future studies on the pathogenesis of FM.

Objective: The study was aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of acetone extract of leaves, flower and body of Euphorbia macroclada boiss on human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Material: The cells were plated at a cell density of 1x10 5 cells in 96-well plates and grown with DMEM medium containing supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% penicillin. The cells were treated by different concentrations of acetone extract of Euphorbia macroclada boiss (10-1000 µg/mL) during 24, 48 and 72 h. The cytotoxic activities of the tested compounds were determined by cell proliferation analysis using standard (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: After the evaluation of cytotoxicity assay results, it is determined that flower and body parts have a significant cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The values that obtained reading at 570 nm spectrophotometrically, were analyzed with GraphPad Prism7 and IC 50 growth inhibition values was determined. Conclusion: The results of MTT assay showed that leaves, flower and body significantly reduced % cell viability comparative to the control. It was also shown that body had more growth inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cell compared to the leaves part.

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Objectives In the current study, we synergistically evaluated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression levels and signal peptide-CUB-EGF domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE1) gene expression levels in diabetic patients without retinopathy, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods 94 blood samples from 26 healthy controls, 29 non-DR, 22 NPDR, and 17 PDR patients were collected in sterile EDTA tubes. Total RNA was obtained from these samples without waiting and then converted to cDNA. The expression levels of the VEGF and SCUBE1 genes were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results SCUBE1 gene expression levels were 2.15 (p=0.015), 1.75 (p=0.799), 2.37 (p=0.037) times higher, and VEGF gene expression levels were 1.71 (p=0.023), 1.75 (p=0.012), 1.85 (p=0.031) times higher in the non-DR, NPDR, and PDR groups compared to the control group, respectively. VEGF gene expression levels were significantly higher in participants with HbA1c levels ≥5.7% compared to those with <5.7. SCUBE1 and VEGF gene expression levels were significantly higher in participants with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels ≥126 mg/dL than those with <126 mg/dL. Conclusions As a result, SCUBE1 gene expression levels are higher than VEGF gene expression levels, especially in the PDR group. Therefore, SCUBE1 may contribute to the pathology of DR just like VEGF by generating angiogenesis. However, we believe there is a need for experimental animal model studies with DR examining SCUBE1 gene expression levels in tissue samples.