Zingerone protects liver and kidney tissues by preventing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in methotrexate-treated rats

The clinical use of drugs used in the treatment of diseases is limited due to the toxic side effects, and many studies have been conducted to benefit from herbal adjuvant therapies recently to eliminate these effects. In this study, the protective effect of zingerone against liver and kidney damage generated in rats through methotrexate (MTX). Histopathological investigations were performed to determine tissue damage caused by MTX and the healing effect of zingone and liver function markers such as serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and renal function markers such as urea, creatine, and aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) were measured. The effects of MTX and protective properties of zingerone on oxidative stress were investigated through the measurement of malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme activities. The anti-inflammatory effect of zingerone was determined by measuring the cytokine levels causing inflammation such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and its effects on apoptosis were determined by immunohistochemical analysis of caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expression levels. According to the results obtained within the scope of the study, it was determined that zingerone treatment prevented the increase in MTX-induced liver and kidney function markers, showed healing effects on antioxidant parameters degraded in both tissues, and decreased the inflammation parameters. It was determined that it also prevented apoptosis and possessed a protective effect on disrupted tissue architecture by decreasing the increased caspase-3 expression and increasing the decreased Bcl-2 level.

Is SCUBE1 helpful to predict the arterial thrombotic risk in patients with multi-ple myeloma: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE1) is expressed in vascular endothelium and human platelets. SCUBE1 levels are increased in acute arterial thrombosis. Multiple myeloma patients are also at increased risk of arterial thrombotic events. This study aimed to measure SCUBE1 levels in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and to define whether SCUBE1 could be a useful marker determining the arterial thrombotic risk.

METHODS

  SCUBE1 levels of 32 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and 41 healthy control subjects were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Plasma SCUBE1 levels of multiple myeloma patients and control subjects were 6.22 ± 0.9 and 7.95 ± 1.1 ng/ml, respectively. In the patient group, SCUBE1 levels were significantly lower compared to control subjects (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

SCUBE1 level measuring does not help to predict the arterial thrombotic risk in multiple myeloma patients. The significantly lower levels of SCUBE1 in multiple myeloma patients are likely to be due to defective platelets and/or increased TNF-α cytokines and is another proof of platelet dysfunction seen in these patients. HIPPOKRATIA 2019, 23(1): 21-24.

Prevalence and screening for risk factors of type 2 diabetes in Rize, Nourtheast Turkey: findings from a population-based study

AIMS

We aimed to determine the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes, risk factors affecting the healthy population, and factors that increase diabetes risk in the adult northeast Turkish population.

METHODS

Using population proportional cluster sampling, 930 adults were selected. After excluding people with diabetes, risk screening was conducted in the healthy population (n: 825) using the Information Form and FINDRISK questionnaire. Fasting venous blood and biochemical parameters were measured.

RESULTS

Prevalence of diabetes was 13.6% (new % 2.3), translating to approximately 44 thousand adults. Among the healthy population, 37.5% had high risk. Prevalence of not exercising (78.2%), obesity (36.1%), and hypertension (24.5%) were high. Predictors of risk of diabetes were aging (OR 1.09), low education (OR 0.51), familial diabetes history (OR 15.27), not exercising (OR 0.41), obesity (OR 5.17), high waist circumference (OR 1.05), heart disease (OR 4.81), and hypertension (OR 2.60).

CONCLUSIONS

This study can stimulate early screening for cardiovascular diseases and hypertension and initiating aggressive treatments in people with high diabetes risk. In primary health services, number of doctors and nurses trained in diabetes should be increased and dieticians should be involved. People with high risk should receive lifestyle regulations training.