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Background/Objectives: The Mediterranean diet has been widely suggested to exert significant beneficial effects on endothelial oxidative status and cardiometabolic health. Greek Orthodox monasteries, due to their specific nutritional and sartorial habits, comprise a population thatstrictly adheres to nutritional patterns with restricted eating and a plant-based subset of the Mediterranean diet, often accompanied by profound hypovitaminosis D. Time-restricted eating (TRE) is also adopted bya large part of the general lay Greek population for health-promoting reasons, without restrictions on animal product consumption, as imposed by Orthodox religious fasting. However, the comparative effects of these nutritional patterns on oxidative stress markers remain scarce. Methods: The present study attempted to evaluate the effects of Christian Orthodox fasting (COF) in a group of vitamin D-deficient and overweight Orthodox nuns from Central and Northern Greece compared to the implementation of TRE, a 16:8 dietary regimen (16 h of food abstinence and 8 h of feeding) in a cohort of adult women from the general population from the same region with regard to markers of endothelial oxidative status. A group of 50 women from two Orthodox monasteries in Northern Greece and one group of 50 healthy lay women were included. During the enrollment, a detailed recording of their dietary habits was performed, along with a scientific registry of their demographic and anthropometric characteristics (via bioimpedance). The Orthodox nuns followed a typical Orthodox fasting regimen [daily feeding window (8 a.m.–4 p.m.)], whereas the lay women followed a TRE 16:8 regimen with the same feeding time-window with a recommendation to follow a low-fat diet, without characteristics of the Mediterranean diet. We included a complete biochemical analysis, as well as calciotropic profiles [calcium—Ca, albumin, parathyroid hormone—PTH, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D—25(OH)D] and markers of TAC (total antioxidant capacity), GSH (glutathione),and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) concentrations as markers of oxidative status. Results: All the groups were compared at the baseline regarding their calcium, PTH, and 25(OH)D concentrations, with no statistically significant differences between the groups apart from higher PTH levels in the nuns due to lower 25(OH)D levels. The Orthodox nuns manifested a lower median GSH compared to the controls (6.0 vs. 7.2, p 0.04) and a higher median TAC (0.92 vs. 0.77, p < 0.001). The TBARS comparisons showed no significant difference between the two groups. No significant associations of oxidative status with 25(OH)D, PTH, and the markers of glucose homeostasis were evident. Conclusions: The results of this small pilot study indicate that both dietary regimens have advantages over the oxidative markers compared to each other, with increased TAC in the group of Orthodox nuns after a 16-week period of COF compared to a 16:8 TRE and increased GSH concentrations in the lay women group. Future randomized trials are required to investigate the superiority or non-inferiority between these dietary patterns in the daily clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Apart from the well-established skeletal effects, vitamin D has been explored as a secretagogue influencing various adipokines, including adiponectin and irisin. Recent evidence suggests that specific forms of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OHD), such as free and bioavailable 25(OH)D, may provide more accurate measurements of vitamin D status. The relationship between vitamin D status and serum irisin and adiponectin concentrations remains largely unexplored, particularly during pregnancy. Methods: We analyzed data from 67 healthy maternal-neonatal pairs from Northern Greece at birth. Biochemical and hormonal tests were conducted on each maternal-neonatal pair. The vitamin D forms were estimated using validated mathematical models. Subsequently, regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between the vitamin D forms and adipokine levels. Results: Bioavailable maternal 25(OH)D was inversely associated with neonatal irisin concentrations [b=-73.46 (-140.573 to -6.341), p=0.034]. No other associations were observed between maternal vitamin D status and neonatal adipokine concentrations. Conclusion: In conclusion, maternal bioavailable vitamin D concentrations are inversely associated with neonatal serum irisin concentrations, warranting further studies to evaluate the underlying mechanisms for this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) protein-specific affinity chromatography and mass spectrometry, we have isolated the protein product of the oncogene znf217, which is a transcription factor and a component [...]

Simple Summary: Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is mainly defined as breast cancer diagnosed during the gestational period or in the first year after birth. Significant differences are detected between PABC and non-pregnancy-associated breast cancer, in terms of epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic and therapeutic management, and, most importantly, in biological behavior and pathophysiological basis. Hormonal and immune changes during pregnancy, breast involution and altered gene expression are recognized as potential contributors to the pathogenesis of PABC. There is considerable scientific interest in the prognosis of PABC, since various reported adverse maternal and fetal outcomes are induced by PABC, such as reduced maternal survival compared to non-pregnant patients with breast cancer, as well as obstetrical complications (predominately preterm delivery), fetal complications (mainly prematurity-induced neonatal diseases) and fetal malformations as a result of treatment administered during gestational period. Currently, there are no long-term adverse outcomes reported for children born from women with PABC who received treatment during pregnancy. The longitudinal observation of PABC survivors and their children may reveal new, currently undocumented short- and long-term complications and adverse outcomes. Breast cancer is a common type of cancer diagnosed during pregnancy, with increasing incidence over the last years, as more women choose to delay childbearing. Compared to breast cancer in general population, pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is significantly different in its terms of epidemiology, diagnostic and therapeutic management, while it exhibits particularly aggressive behavior, deriving from its unique molecular and biological profile. Although not fully elucidated, the pathophysiological basis of PABC can be traced back to a combination of hormonal and immune changes during pregnancy, breast involution and altered gene expression. There is considerable controversy in the existing literature about the influence of PABC on pregnancy outcomes, regarding both short- and long-term effects on maternal and fetal/neonatal health. The majority of PABC patients have advanced-stage disease at initial diagnosis and face a significantly poorer prognosis, with decreased survival rates. The most commonly reported adverse obstetrical–fetal events are preterm delivery and prematurity-associated neonatal morbidity, while other neonatal treatment-associated complications might also occur, even when safe therapeutic options are applied during pregnancy. The objective of the present comprehensive review was to summarize current knowledge and up-to-date evidence about the pathophysiological, molecular and biological basis of PABC, as well as its association with adverse maternal, obstetrical, fetal and neonatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: Τo assess the endometrial expression of progesterone receptors in various subgroups of infertile women during implantation window. Μethods: A prospective observational study was performed during March 2013‐February 2017. Infertile women were categorized to those with tubal factor, ovarian failure, endometriosis or unexplained infertility. Endometrial biopsy was obtained on 7th‐8th postovulatory day. Total progesterone receptors’ PR(A + B) and type‐B receptors’ (PR‐B) expression were compared between all categories of infertile and fruitful controls. Results: There were overall 30 patients with tubal factor infertility (group 1), 30 with ovarian failure (group 2), 20 with endometriosis (group 3) and 20 with unexplained infertility (group 4). The control group consisted of 30 fertile patients. Patients with unexplained infertility presented the lowest levels of epithelial endometrial expression both regarding PR(A + B) and PR‐B receptors. PgR(A + B) h‐score in luminal epithelial cells was 106.4 ± 14.7 for cases with unexplained infertility vs 219.7 ± 15.8 for controls (P < .001). Similarly, PgR(A + B) h‐score in glandular epithelial cells was 109.7 ± 13.9 vs 220.1 ± 17.2 (P < .001). Relative remarks were made for type‐B progesterone receptors. Conclusion: Εndometrial expression of progesterone receptors is impaired in women with unexplained infertility. Therapeutic strategies targeting on improving progesterone receptors’ expression may significantly affect final reproductive outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modification of p53 expression levels and its principle apoptosis and cell cycle regulatory partners, mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM-2) and p21, has been previously reported in various types of cancer. In the current study, the expression of Δ133p53 isoforms was investigated in lung carcinomas with respect to the expression of the aforementioned genes. The expression of p53 full-length transcript and Δ133p53 isoforms α, β and γ transcripts, MDM-2 and p21 transcripts were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, in total RNA isolated from 17 lung carcinoma specimens and 17 corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissues. RNA expression analysis was performed according to the Pfaffl equation and Rest tool using β-actin as a reference gene. Detection of the above proteins was additionally performed by western blotting. Significant overexpression of the Δ133p53 mRNAs was observed in cancerous as compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues (3.94-fold), whereas full-length p53 and MDM-2 expression exhibited a smaller, however significant, increase. The expression of the p21 transcript was significantly reduced in cancerous specimens. Δ133p53 and p21 expression levels varied in parallel, however were not significantly correlated. p53 full-length protein expression observed by western blot analysis strongly varied from the Δ133p53 isoforms, however MDM-2 protein isoforms were not detectable and p21 protein was more abundant in non-cancerous tissues. In conclusion, Δ133p53 mRNA levels is suggested as a potentially useful marker of malignancy in lung cancer. The absence of Δ133p53 protein in lung carcinomas, which overexpress Δ133p53 transcripts, may indicate the role of the latter in post-transcriptional regulation through RNA interference in the cell cycle and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background/Aims: Increasing amounts of the neurotransmitter glutamate are associated with excitotoxicity, a phenomenon related both to homeostatic processes and neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Methods: PC12 cells (rat pheochromocytoma) were treated with various concentrations of the non-essential amino acid glutamate for 0.5-24 hours. The effect of glutamate on cell morphology was monitored with electron microscopy and haematoxylin-eosin staining. Cell survival was calculated with the MTT assay. Expression analysis of chaperones associated with the observed phenotype was performed using either Western Blotting at the protein level or qRT-PCR at the mRNA level. Results: Administration of glutamate in PC12 cells in doses as low as 10 μM causes an up-regulation of GRP78, GRP94 and HSC70 protein levels, while their mRNA levels show the opposite kinetics. At the same time, GAPDH and GRP75 show reduced protein levels, irrespective of their transcriptional rate. On a cellular level, low concentrations of glutamate induce an autophagy-mediated pro-survival phenotype, which is further supported by induction of the autophagic marker LC3. Conclusion: The findings in the present study underline a discrete effect of glutamate on neuronal cell fate depending on its concentration. It was also shown that a low dose of glutamate orchestrates a unique expression signature of various chaperones and induces cell autophagy, which acts in a neuroprotective fashion. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. One of the principle symptoms of lead poisoning is the development of neurological disorders. Neuronal response is closely related to DNA methylation changes. Aim. In this study, we estimated p16 methylation in nine individuals exposed to lead using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction followed by analysis of the methylated cytosine content of the product by thermal denaturation. Results. We found that, based on lead blood concentration, lead-exposed individuals were divided into two groups. Among highly exposed individuals (blood Pb2+ concentration = 51–100 μg/dL), we observed complete CpG methylation, whereas for low Pb2+ concentrations (blood Pb2+ concentration = 6–11 μg/dL), we observed partial methylation. Conclusion. Our results show that among lead-overexposed individuals, p16 methylation is frequent and extensive, and suggest that DNA methylation could be involved in the mechanism by which lead induces neurotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sufficient vitamin D status is crucial for successful pregnancy and fetal development. The assessment of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations is commonly used to evaluate vitamin D status. Our objective was to examine the interrelated biodynamics of maternal and neonatal total, free and bioavailable 25(OH)D in maternal-neonatal dyads at birth and their associations with homeostasis and neonatal birth anthropometry. We analysed a cohort of seventy full-term mother-child pairs. We found positive associations between all neonatal measures of vitamin D status. Maternal forms exhibited a similar pattern of association, except for the bioavailable maternal form. In multivariate analysis, both total and free maternal 25(OH)D concentrations were correlated with all neonatal forms (neonatal total 25(OH)D: 1·29 (95 % CI, 1·12, 1·46) for maternal total 25(OH)D, 10·89 (8·16, 13·63) for maternal free 25(OH)D), (neonatal free 25(OH)D: 0·15 for maternal total 25(OH)D, 1·28 (95 % CI, 0·89, 1·68) for maternal free 25(OH)D) and (0·13 (95 % CI, 0·10, 0·16), 1·06 (95 % CI, 0·68, 1·43) for maternal free 25(OH)D), respectively, with the exclusion of the bioavailable maternal form. We observed no significant interactions within or between groups regarding maternal and neonatal vitamin D parameters and maternal calcium and parathyroid hormone concentrations, and neonatal birth anthropometry. Our study indicates that bioavailable maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D have no significant effects on vitamin D equilibrium, Ca homeostasis and neonatal anthropometry at birth. However, we observed an interaction between maternal and neonatal total and free 25(OH)D concentrations at the maternal-neonatal interface, with no associations observed with other calciotropic or anthropometric outcomes.