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Background Endothelial dysfunction (ED) has a well-known role in promoting vascular inflammation in Behçet disease (BD). α-klotho is involved in regulation of endothelial function, and its reduction has been reported to be associated with ED.  Objective To assess serum α-klotho in patients with BD, compared with healthy control individuals. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 55 patients with BD and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled, and their serum levels of α-klotho were measured. Results Common clinical symptoms in patients with BD were oral aphthous ulcers, uveitis, and genital ulcers. Median (IQR) serum α-klotho levels in the BD and control groups were 0.30 (0.20–0.70) and 1.00 (0.70–2.52) ng/mL, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P  = .005). No significant correlation was observed between serum α-klotho and age (r  = 0.194; P  = .14). Serum α-klotho levels in patients with uveitis were significantly lower. Conclusion α-klotho may have a role in the pathogenesis of ED and is a potential biomarker for uveitis in BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dose‐dependent adverse effects of anticancer agents need new methods with lesser toxicity. The objective of the current research was to evaluate the efficacy of GLUT1 inhibitor, as an inhibitor of glucose consumption in cancer cells, in augmenting the efficiency of docetaxel with respect to cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Cell cytotoxicity was assessed by using methylthiazolyldiphenyl‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Annexin V/PI double staining was employed to evaluate apoptosis percentage. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis was accomplished to detect the expression of genes involved in the apoptosis pathway. The IC50 values for docetaxel and BAY‐876 were 3.7 ± 0.81 and 34.1 ± 3.4 nM, respectively. The severity of synergistic mutual effects of these agents on each other was calculated by synergy finder application. It showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells following co‐administration of docetaxel and BAY‐876 increased to 48.1 ± 2.8%. In comparison without GLUT1 co‐administration, the combined therapy decreased significantly the transcriptome levels of the Bcl‐2 and Ki‐67 and a remarkable increase in the level of the Bax as proapoptotic protein(p < 0.05). Co‐treatment of BAY‐876 and docetaxel depicted a synergistic effect which was calculated using the synergy finder highest single agent (HSA) method (HSA synergy score: 28.055). These findings recommend that the combination of GLUT‐1 inhibitor and docetaxel can be considered as a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of patients with lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory condition with unknown etiology. This condition has been associated with Helicobacter pylori. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the treatment of H. pylori infection and improvements in OLP lesions. Methods. In this cohort study, 42 patients with erosive or ulcerative OLP lesions were evaluated in terms of H. pylori infection using the H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test. The patients were divided into three groups. The first group consisted of 12 H. pylori-negative patients. The second group consisted of 21 H. pylori-positive patients receiving antibacterial treatment. The third group included nine H. pylori-positive patients not willing to receive treatment. All the three groups underwent the usual OLP treatment. Patients in the second and third groups were re-evaluated by the HpSA test after two months. The efficacy indexes and visual analog scale were used to evaluate clinical improvements. Results. The efficiency index and pain scores were affected by the intervention (P < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis showed that the severity index before treatment was significantly effective (OR = 0.745 (95% CI: 0.602-0.923; P = 0.007). No statistical significance for factors affecting other variables (P > 0.05) was obtained. Conclusion. Pain intensity was higher in patients with H. pylori than in those without H. pylori before treatment. Also, in patients with H. pylori, the treatment affects the complete recovery rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of onion juice on sodium-selenite induced cataract formation. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two 10-day-old Wistar-albino rat pups were divided into four equal groups. Group 1 received only subcutaneous saline injection. In Group 2, sodium-selenite (30 nmol / g body weight) was injected subcutaneously. In Group 3, subcutaneous sodium-selenite was injected and one drop 50% diluted fresh juice of crude onion was instilled every 8 h into the right eye for 14 days; the left eye received no treatment. Group 4 rats were similar to those of Group 3, the only difference being that of undiluted fresh juice of crude onion. The development of cataract was assessed. Rat lenses were analyzed for total antioxidant (TA) level, and for activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Results: Both eyes of all rats in Group 1 did not exhibit cataract formation . In Group 2, all rats developed Grade 3 cataract in the lenses of both eyes. The difference in exhibited cataract in the lens of the right eyes in all rats between Group 2 and any eyes of groups 3 or 4 were significant ( P = 0.001). The mean TA level and mean activities of SOD and GPX in Group 2 rat lenses were significantly lower than the values in lenses of all rats in Group 1 ( P = 0.001, 0.003, 0.001), and in the lenses of the right eyes of rats in Groups 3 and 4 ( P = 0.001, 0.020, 0.001). Conclusion: Instillation of onion juice into the rat eyes can effectively prevent selenite-induced cataract formation. This effect was associated with increased TA level, SOD and GPX activities in the lens.

Background. Lichen planus is considered a potentially malignant condition with an unknown etiology. This study aimed to determine the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and IgG serum levels in different oral lichenoid lesions before and after treatment with local corticosteroids. Methods. Two groups of 23 individuals, including oral ulcerative lichenoid lesions patients and healthy ones, were evaluated. Toluidine blue staining and biopsy examinations were carried out while visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate symptoms. By applying corticosteroids, CEA and IgG serum levels were determined before and three weeks after intervention and at the end of the study (9 weeks) with ELISA and turbidimetry methods, respectively. Results. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in CEA serum levels between the control and case groups (P = 0.19). Moreover, the CEA serum levels indicated no significant difference before and after treatment in the case group (P = 0.30). While IgG serum level was significantly higher before the intervention (P = 0.01), it decreased significantly in the case group after treatment (P = 0.02). In addition, pain intensity reduced significantly in the case group (P = 0.05). According to statistics, 8.2% out of 21.7% of patients with positive staining results exhibited dysplasia signs. Conclusion. However, neither CEA nor IgG serum levels were different in patients diagnosed with or without dysplasia and positive or negative staining results (P > 0.05). IgG serum levels and pain severity effectively decreased in the oral ulcerative lichenoid lesions patients treated with local corticosteroids. Therefore, this treatment can be considered an effective and low-complication treatment modality for lichenoid lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]