No abstract

According to this study, mAMH level was lower in preeclamptic patients than in normal pregnants, and is found to be a discriminative factor with low sensitivity and specificity. There was no relationship between mAMH and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Further randomized controlled studies with more participants are needed to evaluate the accurate effects of mAMH levels on preeclampsia and should increase the power of mAMH levels in predicting the preeclampsia.

Extracts of Aesculus hippocastanum L. (horse chestnut) seed have been used in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, edema and hemorrhoids. Most of the beneficial effects of horse chestnut are attributed to its principal component β-escin or escin. We have evaluated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of escin in the H-Ras 5RP7 cell line by analyzing cell growth inhibition, apoptosis and caspase-3 dependent activity. We have also shown structural and ultrastructural changes in these cell using confocal and transmission electron microscopy. The results indicated that escin has significant inhibitory effects on cell growth and the percentage of apoptotic cells increased after treatment with escin, and the micrographs confirmed that escin damaged these cells and induced apoptosis.

Introduction The aim of this study was to compare serum vitamin D and osteocalcin levels in non-osteoporotic postmenopausal women with and without metabolic syndrome and to analyze the relationship between serum vitamin D and osteocalcin levels and the relationships between these two factors and other clinical/biochemical parameters. Material and Method This cross-sectional study was carried out in 191 postmenopausal non-osteoporotic (T-score > − 2.5) women. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome. Blood samples were obtained and evaluated for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, osteocalcin, insulin resistance (using a homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), calcium, phosphorus, deoxypyridinoline, thyroid-stimulating hormone, lipid profile, fasting insulin, fasting glucose and HbA1c levels. Demographic and laboratory parameters were recorded for each woman. Results Vitamin D was found to be lower in women with metabolic syndrome compared to controls (16.1 ± 11.2 vs. 20.4 ± 13.1 mg/dL; p = 0.013). Similarly, osteocalcin was found to be significantly lower in the metabolic syndrome group compared to the control group (4.2 ± 2.1 vs. 5.5 ± 3.0; p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was observed between vitamin D and osteocalcin levels (r = 0.198; p = 0.008). There was an inverse correlation between vitamin D and some of the lipid parameters. However, osteocalcin levels were negatively correlated with C-reactive protein, insulin resistance, and HbA1c in both groups (p = 0.003, p = 0.001 and p = 0.048, respectively). Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency is common in postmenopausal women, even in women who are non-osteoporotic. Serum levels of vitamin D are significantly decreased in cases with metabolic syndrome. Vitamin D may directly improve serum lipid profiles and may indirectly decrease insulin resistance and subclinical systemic inflammation through the impact on the metabolic functions of osteocalcin.

Many anticancer drugs that are currently used in cancer treatment are natural products or their analogues by structural modification. Caffeic acid (3, 4-dihydroxycinnamic acid; CA) is classified as hydroxycinnamic acid and has a variety of potential pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. As a drug carrier, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) introduced to improve stability, provide controlled drug release, avoid organic solvents and are obtained in small sizes. In this study, we developed solid lipid nanoparticles incorporating with caffeic acid using hot homogenization method. Caffeic acid loaded solid lipid nanoparticles were characterized regarding particle size, zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency, drug release, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FT-IR. The effects of caffeic acid loaded solid lipid nanoparticles on MCF-7 cells were determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-dimethyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and Annexin V-PI analysis. As a result, solid lipid nanoparticles could potentially be used for the delivery of caffeic acid and solid lipid nanoparticles formulation enhanced the effects of caffeic acid on MCF-7 cells. Some relevant patents are also referred in this article.

Quercetin, Surgicel and quercetin + Surgicel treatment may be useful for preventing pelvic adhesions.

Nanostructure-mediated drug delivery, a key technology for the realization of nanomedicine, has the potential to improve drug bioavailability, ameliorate release deviation of drug molecules and enable precision drug targeting. Due to their multifunctional properties, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have received great attention of scientists to find a solution to cancer. Vitamin supplements may contribute to a reduction in the risk of cancer. Vitamin B12 has several characteristics that make it an attractive entity for cancer treatment and possible therapeutic applications. The aim of this study was to produce B12-loaded SLNs (B12-SLNs) and determine the cytotoxic effects of B12-SLNs on H-Ras 5RP7 and NIH/3T3 control cell line. Results obtained by MTT assay, transmission electron and confocal microscopy showed that B12-loaded SLNs are more effective than free vitamin B12 on cancer cells. In addition, characterization studies indicate that while the average diameter of the B12 was about 650 nm, B12-SLNs were about 200 nm and the drug release efficiency of vit. B12 by means of SLNs increased up to 3 h. These observations point to the fact that B12-SLNs could be used as carrier systems due to the therapeutic effects on cancer.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome is known to be the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age. Current evidence shows that regulatory proteins secreted from the adipose tissue called adipokines may have a role in polycystic ovary syndrome. We planned to investigate the role of endotrophin that has never been researched in polycystic ovary syndrome before and its correlation with other metabolic parameters and adipokines such as adiponectin and ghrelin in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: Forty-three women ( n: 43) with polycystic ovary syndrome and 43 ( n: 43) women as a control group were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Serum levels of endotrophin, adiponectin, and ghrelin levels were measured with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol levels, luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, total testosterone, and triglyceride levels were measured. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index, body mass index, Ferriman Gallwey Score, and waist-to-hip ratio were also evaluated. Results: Total testosterone, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, C-reactive protein, luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio, and triglyceride levels were higher in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome ( p < 0.01). No difference was detected between the groups in terms of body mass index, Ferriman Gallwey Score, waist-to-hip ratio, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein levels ( p > 0.05). We did not observe any significant difference in adiponectin and ghrelin levels between the groups ( p > 0.05). Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome had significantly higher endotrophin levels ( p < 0.01). According to our regression analyses [area under the curve: 0.973 (0.935–1.000), 95% confidence interval, 95.2% sensitivity, and 100% specificity], it was shown that endotrophin greater than 92 ng/ml and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance greater than 2.5 might be good predictors for polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis. Conclusion: We demonstrated that endotrophin level is higher in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and may have predicted polycystic ovary syndrome with increased homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index. There was no significant difference in adiponectin and ghrelin levels in the polycystic ovary syndrome group. Endotrophin may have a role in polycystic ovary syndrome etiology rather than other adipokines.