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Background: Resistin is known as a potential mediator of obesity-associated insulin resistance. The high resistin level disrupts nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation which is also important in erectile function. An antioxidant alkaloid, Boldine, is known as anti-diabetic and protects endothelial functions. Objectives: We aimed to investigate resistin expression in penile tissue in the presence of insulin resistance (IR) and the effect of Boldine treatment on erectile functions in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) rat model. Materials and methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control, MetS, and boldine treated MetS group. MetS parameters were assessed by serum triglycerides (TG), uric acid (UA), glucose, insulin levels, HOMA index, and waist circumference (WC)/tibia length (TL) ratio. To evaluate erectile functions, intracavernous pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP) ratio was performed during cavernous nerve stimulation. Protein expressions of resistin, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), p(S1177) eNOS, and insulin receptor-? were evaluated by Western blotting. Results: TG, glucose, insulin levels, weight, WC/TL ratio, HOMA index and resistin expression in penile tissue were significantly increased and ICP/MAP values, and p (S1177) eNOS expression in penile tissue were decreased in MetS group. Boldine treatment enhanced ICP/MAP values, insulin receptor-? and p(S1177) eNOS expressions compared with the MetS group. Discussion and Conclusion: MetS caused a deterioration in erectile function accompanied by an increase in resistin expression and a reduction in eNOS enzyme activation in the rat penile tissues. Boldine treatment resulted in an improvement in erectile function, independent of resistin expression. © 2020 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology, Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu, TÜBITAK: 114S792, This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (114S792).

In this study,we aimed to evaluate the habits of all tobacco products,age of onset of smoking,duration of use,knowledge and awareness about tobacco products9 harm,level of addiction,health problems and desire to quit of Ege University Faculty of Health Sciences students. A cross-sectional,face-to-face survey with students studying in all classes of Ege University Faculty of Health Sciences students in 2018-2019 academic year.Of the 1137 (72.1% female) students,64.2% were never used tobacco products. Among the responders,14% of them were regular users,11.2% of occasional users,10.7% of them were quitters at the ages of 16-20(77%). The type of tobacco product was mostly filtered cigarettes (73.6%), 14.1% unfiltered cigarettes,8.2% hookah,3.1% cigar-pipe,1.0% electronic cigarettes. 60.9% of the students reported that they wanted to quit and 52.3% of them tried at least once.Nicotine addiction levels of students were very low (67.7%) and low (17.7%),and the dependency rate of male students was found to be significantly higher(p = 0.002).It was observed that 22.4% of them were moderate to severely depressed. The students stated that exposure to tobacco smoke was most frequently in cafes and secondly in the school canteens.85.4% of our students have very low/low level nicotine addiction and male students have a significantly higher dependency rate than female students.As a very important result, it is thought that all universities should be pioneer institutions to protect our youth from the epidemic of tobacco use with the goal of 9Smoke-Free University9.

WOS: 000451760200006, PubMed ID: 30123923, Cotton, a staple fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plants (Gossypium), is produced throughout the world, and its by products, such as cotton fibers, cotton-seed oil, and cottonseed proteins, have a variety of applications. Cotton-seed contains gossypol, a natural phenol compound. (+/-)-Gossypol is a yellowish polyphenol that is derived from different parts of the cotton plant and contains potent anticancer properties. Tumor growth and metastasis are mainly related to angiogenesis; therefore, anti-angiogenic therapy targets the new blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to actively proliferating tumor cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-angiogenic potential of (+/-)-gossypol in vitro. (+/-)-Gossypol has anti-proliferative effects on cancer cell lines; however, its anti-angiogenic effects on normal cells have not been studied. Anti-proliferative activities of gossypol assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, anti-angiogenic activities using tube formation assay, and cell migration inhibition capability using a wound-healing assay on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were revealed. (+/-)-Gossypol displayed the following potent anti-angiogenic activities in vitro: it inhibited the cell viability of HUVECs, it inhibited the migration of HUVECs, and disrupted endothelial tube formation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the anti-angiogenic effects of (+/-)-gossypol were investigated in ovo in a model using a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Decreases in capillary density were assessed and scored. (+/-)-Gossypol showed dose-dependent anti-angiogenic effects on CAM. These findings suggest that (+/-)-gossypol can be used as a new anti-angiogenic agent., Scientific Research Council of Ege University [2011-FEN-006], This study was supported by the Scientific Research Council of Ege University (Project No: 2011-FEN-006).

Objective: Statins mayexert effects that are independent of LDL-cholesterol lowering on manycomponents of atherosclerosis including endothelial function, calledpleiotropic effects. In this study we aimed to investigate effects offluvastatin on intimal thickening in normocholesterolemic rabbits.Materials &Method: New Zeelandrabbits were treated with fluvastatin (8 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and placebo for 3weeks. On the 8th day, a non-occlusive silicon collar was positioned around theleft carotid artery for 14 days and then both carotid arteries were isolated.Intimal, medial, lumen and external elastic lamina cross sectional areas weremeasured by computer based morphometric analysis and index (intima/media),residual luminal ratio (RLR) values were calculated.Results: Collarcaused significant increase in intimal area, index values and decrease in RLRvalues. Fluvastatin treatment significantly inhibit collar-induced intimalthickening.Conclusion: Thesefindings indicate that fluvastatin may have beneficial effects on the earlystages of normocholesterolemic atherosclerosis., Amaç: StatinlerinLDL-kolesterol düşürücü etkilerinden bağımsız endotel fonksiyonu gibi aterosklerozunpek çok bileşeni üzerinde de etkileri mevcuttur. Bu etkileri pleiotropiketkileri olarak da bilinmektedir. Bu çalışmada fluvastatinin normokolesterolemiktavşanlarda intimal kalınlaşma üzerine etkisinin araştırılması planlanmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmada Yeni Zelanda tavşanlarına 3 hafta boyuncafluvastatin (8 mg/kg/gün oral) ve plasebo tedavi uygulandı. Tedavinin sekizincigününde okluzif olmayan silikon bir yaka sol karotid arterinin çevresineyerleştirilerek on dört gün daha tedaviye devam edildi. Deney sonunda sağ vesol karotid arterler çıkarıldı. Çıkarılan karotid arterlerden alınan kesitlerdemorfometrik ölçümler gerçekleştirildi. İntima, medya, lümen ve eksternalelastik lamina alanları ölçülerek indeks, rezidüel lümen oranı değerlerihesaplandı.Bulgular: Yaka intimalalan ve indeks değerinde belirgin bir artışa ve RLO değerinde azalmaya nedenolurken fluvastatin yakanın neden olduğu intimal kalınlaşmayı inhibe etti.Sonuç: Bulgularımızfluvastatinin kolesterol düşürücü etkisinden bağımsız aterosklerozun erkendöneminde de yararlı etkileri olabileceğini göstermektedir.

WOS: 000430370600006, Objective: Placement of a soft silicone collar around the carotid arteries of rabbits induces intimal thickening which is considered as one of the crucial steps in the development of atherosclerosis. In this study we aimed to investigate vWF expression levels on days 7 and 14 after collar placement.& para;& para;Methods: A soft inert silicon collar was placed around the left carotid artery for 7 and 14 days. vWF expression was investigated by quantitave RT-PCR. In each artery (collar or sham) cross-sectional areas of intima, media were measured and intima/ media ratio was calculated.& para;& para;Results: Intimal thickening was more pronounced on day 14 compared to day 7. However the collar caused increase in vWF expression which was found to be at the same level on days 7 and 14.& para;& para;Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the importance of vWF in collar-induced intimal thickening.

Prostate cancer studies focus on identification of androgen receptor (AR) regulated genes that are also highly expressed in the prostate. As a promising candidate, STAMP family genes STAMP1/STEAP2, STAMP2/STEAP4 and STEAP3 are involved in apoptosisand the cell cycle in metastatic prostate cancer. Vascular NADPH oxidase generates superoxide and other ROS, which stimulates IkappaB degradation and NF-kB activation by subunits of NADPH oxidases, namely p47phox and p67phox induced by different stimuli such as hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide increased the expression levels of p67phox. They also have a role in redox-sensitive genes such as STAMP gene family. Flow cytometry analysis of LNCaP cells was performed using Annexin V staining and apoptotic index charts were drawn. STAMP1 and STAMP2 showed total anti-oxidant capacity versus control with hydrogen peroxide incubation. Using siRNA technology in LNCaP cells expressing mutant p53 silencing of p53 showed significant increase in MDM2 and decrease of caspase 9 mRNA levels at RT-PCR. Silencing of STAMP2, a significant decrease in p47phox was shown but STAMP1 silencing counteracted this effect on Cu/ZnSOD expression.As a conclusion, STAMP proteins have effects on oxidative stress-induced genes with significant and opposite changes.

WOS: 000284731000001, PubMed ID: 20709189, The antiatherosclerotic effect of lacidipine has been attributed to its actions on cholesterol levels, lipid metabolism or oxidant stress in advanced disease. The purpose of the present experiments was to examine whether lacidipine is protective of intimal thickening and vascular dysfunction in early atherosclerosis in the absence of the hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. A second goal was to determine whether and to what extent MMP-9 and oxidant stress are involved in possible beneficial effects of lacidipine. Lacidipine treatment (5 mg/kg/day, p.o. for 3 weeks) significantly prevented the collar-induced intimal thickening. MMP-9 expressions were increased by collar but not effected by lacidipine treatment Nitrotyrosine staining, a marker for oxidant stress was not changed neither by collar nor lacidipine treatment in early atherosclerosis. The enhanced sensitivity to serotonine and diminished sensitivity to acetylcholine in collared arteries were restored to normal levels with treatment. These results demonstrate that the lacidipine treatment prevents the collar-induced intimal thickening and accompanying vascular dysfunction in early atherosclerosis without cholesterol loading. These beneficial effects of lacidipine were not associated with changes in either MMP-9 expression or oxidant stress. However, enhanced endothelium-dependent relaxations by lacidipine, suggest that vascular protective effects of nitric oxide may be at least partly, responsible from antiatherosclerotic effects of lacidipine. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved., Turkish Academy of SciencesTurkish Academy of Sciences [G.Y.A/TUBA-GEBIP/2010-7]; Ege UniversityEge University [1995/ECZ/01]; NIHUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA [DK074385], We would like to thank Dr. Arnold Herman (University of Antwerp, Belgium) for his help in providing lacidipine. A part of this work was supported by grants from the Turkish Academy of Sciences (G.Y.A/TUBA-GEBIP/2010-7), the Ege University Scientific Research Fund, 1995/ECZ/01 (G.Y.A), and from the NIH DK074385 (A.E.).

Objective - Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are among the most frequently prescribed cardiovascular drugs. It has been shown that these drugs have antiatherosclerotic effects in both experimental and clinical settings. However, calcium channel blockers have markedly different chemical structures and different effects on the cardiovascular system.We investigated the effect of CD-832, a Ca + 2 channel antagonist, on collar-induced intimal thickening, as well as accompanied reactivity changes in rabbit carotid artery. Methods and results - Rabbits received 5 mg/kg/day CD-832 or vehicle (polyethylene glycol, 0.5 mlikg/day) intramuscularly for a week before and 2 weeks after the collar application. Histological and isometric force measurements were performed in segments from sham and collared carotid arteries. A three-week treatment with CD-832 did not inhibit the intimal thickening caused by perivascular application of a silicone collar. Potassium chloride (KCI), phenylephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) and histamine induced concentration-dependent contractions in both sham-operated (sham) and collared arteries. Collar-induced attenuations in maximum KCI, histamine, phenylephrine and 5-HT contractions were not affected by CD-832. Collaring caused an increase in pD 2 values of 5-HT and a decrease in those of phenylephrine, histamine and acetylcholine. CD-832 did not affect the altered sensitivity to these agonists. Conclusions - These results demonstrate that, in rabbit carotid artery, CD-832 did not inhibit the collar-induced intimal thickening and did not affect the accompanying changes in vascular reactivity.