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Methotrexate (MTX) is a cytotoxic immunosuppressant that is widely used in the treatment of tumours, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. This study aims to evaluate the effects of whey proteins on MTX-induced liver and kidney damage by focusing on oxidant–antioxidant systems and eating habits. The study was conducted in four groups of thirty Sprague–Dawley rats (control, control + whey protein concentrate (WPC), MTX, MTX + WPC). A single dose of 20 mg/kg MTX was administered intraperitoneally to the MTX groups. Control and MTX groups were given 2 g/kg WPC by oral gavage every day for 10 d. At the end of day 10, blood samples were drawn and liver and kidney tissues were removed. MTX administration increased the lipid peroxidation level and decreased glutathione level, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase activities in the liver and kidney. Administration of WPC significantly reduced the damage caused by MTX in the liver and kidney. While a decrease in serum urea level and an increase in serum creatinine level were detected in the MTX group, WPC administration reversed these results up to control group levels. Administration of WPC to the MTX group significantly reversed the histopathological damage scores of the liver and kidney. WPC administration ameliorated the MTX-induced oxidative damage in the liver and kidney tissues due to its antioxidant properties. Liver and kidney damage can be prevented by using whey proteins as a nutraceutical in MTX therapy. In conclusion, whey proteins demonstrated a protective effect against MTX-induced liver and kidney damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to test the toxicity of silk fibroin (SF) / gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-based nanofiber by using zebrafish embryos as an alternative animal model. Materials and Methods: Nanofiber was fabricated via electrospinning. The zebrafish embryos were divided into four groups as control, 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) treated, one day SF/AuNPs treated (1D), and seven days SF/AuNPs treated (7D) group. The SF/AuNPs nanofiber was incubated in the medium for one day and seven days. Following incubation, the embryos were placed in the mediums and their development was monitored 72 hours post-fertilization. In the zebrafish embryos, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were detected. Results: Compared to the control group, there was no change in the hatching and mortality rates in the 1D and 7D groups. In the DCA group, the mortality rate was higher than the controls. In the 1D and 7D groups, MDA and NO were higher than the control but lower than the DCA group. SOD and GST activities decreased compared to the control. Conclusion: SF/AuNPs-based nanofiber did not affect the hatchability and mortality of embryos but increased oxidant damage, therefore it is thought that this oxidant effect of SF/AuNPs-based nanofibers may provide antibacterial properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of whey proteins on methotrexate (MTX)-induced brain and small intestine damage. Materials and Methods: 30 Sprague Dawley rats (200-300 g) were divided into four groups: Control, control + whey, MTX, and MTX+whey. MTX was administered at 20 mg/kg (single dose) intraperitoneally to the MTX group rats, and 2 mg/kg of whey protein were administered by oral gavage for 10 days to the whey groups. Lipid peroxidation, glutathione, and nitric oxide (NO) levels, as well as glutathione-Stransferase and superoxide dismutase activities were measured in the brain and small intestine. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the brain and intestine tissues were also carried out. Results: While MTX treatment caused oxidative damage in the brain and small intestine, whey protein administration ameliorated MTXinduced oxidative stress. MTX administration did not change the brain’s NO level, while an increase in intestinal NO level was detected. Conclusion: MTX induced oxidative stress in the brain and small intestine changed the protein metabolism in these tissues regardless of reduced food intake. Consecutive 10-day administration of whey proteins has shown its therapeutic effect on MTX-induced brain and small intestine oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the effects of whey proteins on SARS CoV‐2 in methotrexate‐induced lung tissue damage in rats. To determine the possible effects, rats were divided into four groups as control, control + whey, methotrexate (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and methotrexate + whey. Whey protein concentrate (2 g/kg, oral gavage) was administered for 10 days. Cytokine levels were measured and protein electrophoresis was carried out in serum samples. Lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide and glutathione level, and superoxide dismutase and glutathione S transferase activities were determined in lung samples. Inhibition of SARS CoV‐2‐targeted lung furin activity and SARS CoV‐2 spike protein‐angiotensin converting enzyme binding with whey protein concentrate were also measured in each group. In conclusion, whey protein concentrate improved methotrexate‐induced lung damage and inhibited lung furin activity targeting SARS‐CoV‐2 S1/S2 site cleavage and SARS CoV‐2 spike protein‐angiotensin converting enzyme binding. Whey proteins are potential protective candidates that inhibit SARS CoV‐2‐related interactions, even in methotrexate‐induced lung injury. Practical applications: Whey proteins have anticarcinogenic, antihypertensive, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulating properties due to the protein, bioactive peptide, and essential amino acid content. Methotrexate is a folate antagonist and inhibits cell proliferation and purine synthesis. The combined use of whey protein concentrate and methotrexate may be an alternative in the development of new strategies to the treatment approaches against COVID‐19. In addition, according to the results of this study, it is thought that the protective effect of whey proteins in healthy conditions before encountering the SARS CoV‐2 may be higher than those who have never used it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amaç: Behçet hastalığı (BH) mukokütan, oküler, kas-iskelet sistemi, vasküler ve nörolojik tutulumlarla karakterize kronik, sistemik enflamatuvar bir hastalıktır. Kronik enflamatuvar hastalıklar nörolojik, vasküler, endokrinolojik ve sosyal sebeplerden seksüel disfonksiyon (SD) sebebi olabilir. Literatürde bu konuda kısıtlı veri bulunduğundan, bu çalışmada, BH'de SD sıklığının sağlıklı kontrollerle (SK) kıyaslanarak değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışmaya yaş ve cinsiyet uyumlu, cinsel açıdan aktif 59 BH ve 36 SK dahil edildi. BH'nin 41'inde (%69,5) majör organ tutulumu (MOT) mevcuttu [5 (%12,2) göz, 15 (%36,6) damar, 18 (%43,9) nörolojik, 2 (%4,9) göz ve damar, 1 (%2,4) hasta gastrointestinal]. Tüm katılımcılara SF-36 yaşam kalitesi ölçeği, Beck depresyon envanteri (BDI), Golombok-Rust cinsel doyum ölçeği (GRISS), kadın cinsel fonksiyon indeksi (FSFI), Uluslararası Erektil Fonksiyon İndeksi (IIEF-5) anketleri dolduruldu ve BH, aktivite açısından Behçet hastalığı güncel aktivite formu (BDCAF) ile değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan BH ve SK'ların yaş ortalaması (BH: 36,8±8,6, SK: 34±11,1) ve cinsiyet dağılımları (Şekil 1) benzerdi. BH'de SD oranı (%44,2) SK'ya (%14,2) göre daha yüksekti (p=0,003). Erkek BH, erkek SK'ya kıyasla daha düşük cinsel işlev skorlarına sahipti. Üç GRISS parametre skoru (erken boşalma, iletişimsizlik, sıklık) erkek BH'de, erkek SK'ya kıyasla daha yüksek gözlendi (tümü için p<0,05) (Tablo 1, 2). Kadın BH ve SK'ların SD oranları benzerdi. MOT olan ve olmayan BH arasında, SD sıklığı açısından fark saptanmadı (%40 vs. %52,9, p=0,37). Nörolojik tutulumu olan ve olmayan BH'de SD oranları benzerdi (%42,8 vs. %44,2, p>0,05). BDCAF, erkek BH'nin IIEF-5 skorlarıyla negatif, (r=-0,43) kadın BH'nin GRISS skorlarıyla pozitif korelasyon (r=0,74) gösterdi (p<0,05). BH'de SD ile depresyon arasında ilişki saptanmadı (p=0,28). Sonuç: BH'de SK'ya göre SD sıklığı artmıştır ve erkekleri daha sık etkiler. Erken boşalma, seyreklik ve iletişimsizlik erkek BH'de sık görülen sorunlardır. BH'nin cinsellik üzerine olumsuz etkisi gözardı edilmemeli, hastalar izlem sırasında SD açısından değerlendirilmelidir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]