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Objectives: The Six Sigma methodology is also frequently used by clinical laboratories as an objective and quantitative way to measure quality. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the analytical performance of 80 tests using the Six Sigma methodology according to the CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) 2019, RICOS BV (Dr. Carmen RI-COS Biological Variation) Desirable, and EFLM BV (European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Biological Variation) Desirable criteria. Methods: The sigma values of 80 tests were calculated according to the TEa (Total Allowable Error) limits allowed by all three references using internal quality control and external quality control data. They were calculated monthly for 12 months, and the annual average was taken. Sigma values were calculated with the Six Sigma formula. Results: Considering the total number of goals reached, the highest success rate of 60% was achieved according to the CLIA goals, while the lowest success rate of 36% was obtained according to the EFLM BV Desirable criteria. Although exactly the same laboratory data are used, this gap between the sigma values obtained according to the selected reference is especially noticeable in tests such as Na (Sodium), K (Potassium), Cl (Chloride), Calcium, HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c), and Troponin T. Conclusion: The Six Sigma protocol is one of the effective and universal tools for evaluating the performance of clinical laboratories. However, one of its biggest limitations is the lack of standardization in tolerance limits. The obtained performance varies according to the preferred reference. Therefore, we think that in the Six Sigma methodology, it is more feasible to select Total Allowable Error criteria from different references according to their suitability for the test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: An automated complete blood cell count (hematology) analyzer cannot measure the white blood cell (WBC) differential of some patient sample, notably those of chemotherapy patients. This is often due to the presence of atypical cells in the sample or matrix changes caused by drugs. A technique to use isotonic sodium chloride solution (0.9% saline) as a replacement for plasma has previously been described. The aim of this study was to evaluate to use of saline replacement as a means to resolve the matrix interference effect and achieve a reliable WBC differential count for chemotherapy patients. Methods: Samples of 29 chemotherapy patients whose WBC differential count could not be calculated using a Beckman Coulter LH-780 hematology autoanalyzer (Beckman Coulter, Inc., Brea, CA, USA) were evaluated. A peripheral blood smear was performed and the saline replacement technique was applied and the samples were then re-analyzed using the same autoanalyzer. The WBC count and differential count of WBC of a peripheral smear and a saline-replacement sample were compared. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the peripheral blood smear and saline replacement autoanalyzer measurements of the WBC differential count and percent of WBC. Strong relationships in WBC (r=0.99), neutrophil (r=0.98), lymphocyte (r=0.98), monocyte (r=0.91), and eosinophil (r=0.77) counts were observed in a comparison of the peripheral blood smear and saline replacement measurements. Conclusion: A saline replacement technique may be a practical solution to resolve the difficulty of the matrix interference effect seen in chemotherapy patient samples and provide a WBC differential count. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Of Study: Propolis is a resinous bee product, rich of polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids. It is known that in different geographic zones its chemical composition varies due to the different plant sources. Many biological properties including antimicrobial, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antigenotoxic, antimutagenic, cytostatic activities have been ascribed to propolis. These biological effects are predominantly attributed to its content of polyphenols. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the radioprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Turkish propolis. (EETP) against γ-ray-induced DNA damage on fibroblast cells using comet assay for the first time.Materials and Methods: Fibroblast cells were pretreated 15 and 30 min with concentrations of 100, 200 and 300 μg/mL EETP then they were exposed to 3 Gy γ-rays. Amifostine (synthetic aminothiol compound) was used as a positive control.Results: The results showed a significant decrease in γ-ray-induced DNA damage on cells treated with EETP and amifostine when compared to only irradiated cells. (P < 001).Conclusion: It was concluded that EETP prevent γ-ray-induced DNA damage in fibroblast cells and might have radioprotective activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nephrotoxicity mechanisms caused by cisplatin (CP), which is used in the treatment of different types of cancer, include several processes, such as DNA damage, apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. This study investigated the protective effects of Rhododendron luteum leaf extract (RLE) in a rat model of CPinduced nephrotoxicity. Dimethyl sulfoxide extract of RLE was prepared, and its contents were clarified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS). Thirty female Wistar Albino rats were divided into five different groups and sacrificed on the seventh day. Biochemical and histopathological analyses were then performed. The presence of quercitrin, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, protocatechic acid, isoquercitrin, and quercetin was detected in the RLE. While CP significantly increased the levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis markers in the rat kidney tissue and blood samples, treatment with RLE significantly reversed the levels of these parameters in a dose-dependent manner. Total antioxidant status (TAS) values and glutathione (GSH) levels increased significantly in the serum samples from the treatment group compared to the CP group, while blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, oxidative stress index (OSI), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) values decreased significantly. GSH levels increased significantly in the treatment group compared to the CP group, while TNF-α, caspase-3 (Casp-3), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), OSI, TOS, MDA levels, and damage scores decreased significantly at histopathological examination. In conclusion, RLE exhibited strong protective effects against nephrotoxicity and oxidative damage caused by CP in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antigenotoxic properties of the aqueous extract of Dianthus carmelitarum for the first time. The phenolic and volatile compounds, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antigenotoxic activities of the extract were determined by HPLC and SPME-GC-FID/MS, spectrophotometric, agar well diffusion methods and comet assay, respectively. The polyphenolic content and ferric reducing power values of the extract were found 12.6 ± 0.27 mg gallic acid and 238 ± 2.89 μM trolox equivalents per g sample, respectively. Syringaldehyde and chlorogenic acid were detected as major phenolic compounds, while terpenes were determined as major volatile compound. Dianthus carmelitarum extract especially exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis. Extract reduced H2O2-induced DNA damage in a concentration dependent manner in fibroblast cells compared to positive control (only 20 μM H2O2 treatment). Dianthus carmelitarum can be considered in the food, cosmetic, and drug industries due to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antigenotoxic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant power and cytotoxic activity of ethanol extracts of Turkish propolis (EEP). Methods: The total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents of EEP were determined by spectrometric methods. Antioxidant power and cytotoxic activity of EEP were evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and MTT assays, respectively. Results: The total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents, and FRAP value of EEP were 124.6 ± 1.5 mg gallic acid/g sample dry weight, 42.0 ± 0.8 mg quercetin/g sample dry weight and 311.0 ± 2.5 mg trolox/g sample dry weight, respectively. EEP exhibited powerful cytotoxic effects against the five human cancer cell lines. The highest cytotoxic activity of Turkish EEP was demonstrated on PC-3 cell line (IC50 = 20.7±3.4 μg/mL). Conclusion: The results demonstrate that EEP is a good source of antioxidant and a natural antitumor agent capable of reducing cancer cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia (LAML) is one of the most prevalent hematological malignancies. In recent years, while targeted approaches have shown promise in the fight against cancer, the treatability and prognosis of patients remain inadequate due to the shortage of drugs. Noncoding RNAs, especially circular RNA (circRNA) and microRNA (miRNA), have been shown to play a unique role in tumor development. This study aims to identify the disease-associated circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network by bioinformatic analysis and investigate the mechanisms in the development and progression of LAML. Additionally, it reveals the promising roles of these molecules as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for LAML treatment. Using various bioinformatics approaches, we identified the hsa&#95;circ&#95;0058058/miR-324-5p axis in LAML and its possible functions in LAML development. According to our results, hsa circ-0058058 can regulate the expression of AP1G1 and SP1 through miR-324-5p to support angiogenesis, the cell cycle, and DNA replication processes. Downregulation of hsa circ-0058058 may contribute to the anticancer functions of miR-324-5p on LAML tumorigenesis, and upregulation of miR-324-5p can abolish the oncogenic effects of AP1G1 and SP1 on LAML tumorigenesis. Additionally, highly enriched pathways indicated possible interactions between molecules underlying LAML pathology. Targeted molecules within this network may be able to function as therapeutic and diagnostic biomarkers for disease, while more research and clinical confirmation are needed.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common heterogeneous disease in women and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone, and targeted therapy are the gold standards for BC treatment. One of the significant challenges during the treatment of BC represents resistance to chemotherapeutics, resistance that severely limits the use and effectiveness of the drugs used for BC treatment. Therefore, it is essential to develop new strategies to improve therapeutic efficacy. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large group of non-coding RNAs that covalently form closed circular loops by joining their 5', and 3'; ends. Accumulating evidence suggests that circRNAs have a vital role in cancer development, progression, and BC resistance to chemotherapy. The purpose of this review is to discuss the biological properties of circRNAs, and how circRNAs induce resistance to conventional therapeutic anti-cancer drugs used in BC treatment, by emphasizing and summarizing the potential roles of circRNAs in mechanisms of drug resistance, such as drug efflux, apoptosis dysfunction, autophagy, and DNA damage repair. CircRNAs are associated with drug resistance via ATP-binding cassette (ABC) efflux transporters, while some others by inhibition of cell apoptosis, thus leading to resistance to tamoxifen in BC cells. In contrast, others are involved in the promotion of BC cells chemoresistance by doxorubicin-induced autophagy. CircRNAs may have clinical significance in regulating or overcoming BC drug resistance and may give directions towards a novel approach to personalized BC treatment. CircRNAs may significantly contribute to the identification of new therapeutic targets for the prevention of BC chemoresistance., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report regarding the present study., (© 2022 Misir et al.)

Purpose: The genus Rhododendron is distributed entirely in the world with the exception of South and Central America and Africa, growing in a large diversity of climatic conditions. This genus is a rich source of phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, essential oils, chromones, terpenoids, and steroids. It has many biological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, cardioprotective and hepatoprotective among others due to their polyphenolic constituents. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the antioxidant properties and cytotoxic activity of dimethyl sulfoxide extract of flowers of Rhododendron luteum (DEFR) for the first time., Methods: The total polyphenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the extract were evaluated using spectrophotometric procedures. The cytotoxic activity of the extract on three cancers (human breast, colon and liver carcinoma) and human foreskin fibroblast cells was determined using the MTT assay., Results: TPC and FRAP values were found 54.2±0.38 mg gallic acid equivalents and 164.2±1.77 mg trolox equivalents per to g sample, respectively. R.luteum extract exhibited selective cytotoxicity against colon and liver cancer cells compared to normal fibroblast cells, while this selective cytotoxicity was not observed in breast cancer cells., Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the Rhododendron luteum may be a great source of antioxidant and antitumor natural agents due to their capability of decreasing cancer cells proliferation.

We report on a rare hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach producing alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in five cases. Definitive features included an aggressive, invasive, and rapidly progressing neoplasm showing areas morphologically comparable to those of hepatocellular carcinomas. All patients had multiple metastases to lymph nodes and/or liver. The serum AFP level of the patients was between 83-87.900 ng/ml. Two subtotal and one palliative gastrectomy was performed. A short duration of chemotherapy was administered only in two patients. The length of survival averaged 4.7 months. Our experience together with what has been reported in literature suggest that the course of hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach is more aggressive than an ordinary adenocarcinoma and that from a diagnostic point of view distinction from an adenocarcinoma may be accomplished histochemically and by measuring serum AFP levels.