BACKGROUND In this study, we evaluated the incidence of apoptosis at the ultrastructural levels and expression of some apoptosis-related genes in vitrified human ovarian tissue just after warming. METHODS Human ovarian tissue biopsies from 23 women after caesarean section were transported to the laboratory within 2 hours, and then they were cut into small pieces. Some pieces were vitrified an...

There are several forms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the precursor of BDNF, mature BDNF, and BDNF propeptide. They exert different effects through different transmembrane receptor signaling systems. Precursor of BDNF is enzymatically cleaved, either by intracellular or by extracellular proteases, to generate mature BDNF and its propeptide (BDNF propeptide). The aim of this study...

BACKGROUND Maspin, a non-inhibitory member of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily, has been characterized as a tumor suppressor gene in multiple cancer types. Chemotherapeutic insensitivity is one of major obstacles to effectively treating muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). This study was conducted to investigate the role and probable mechanism of Maspin enhancing cisplatin chemosensi...

Background: Areas of microvascular proliferation have been observed in a subpopulation of symptomatic congenital vascular malformations later in life. We investigated whether this angiogenic response is followed by a stage of maturation. Methods: Resections of vascular malformations (n=15), infantile hemangiomas (n=8) and pyogenic granulomas (n=5) were studied. Histopathologically, all lesions ...

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) are two parts of neuronal reward circuit involved in motivated and goal-directed behaviors. Some data suggest that morphine is toxic to neurons and induces apoptosis, while other evidence shows that morphine could have beneficial effects against cell death. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of morphine on apoptosis by measurin...

Bioactive compounds extracted from leaves and twigs of Goniothalamus griffithii include pinocembrin (PCN) and goniothalamin (GTN). The objectives of this study were to investigate the cytotoxic activities of PCN and GTN and their influence on molecular signaling for cell death in several human cancer cell lines compared to normal murine fibroblast NIH3T3 cells. GTN exhibited the most potent cyt...

The objective of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms behind the radiation-sensitising effects of the antennapedia proteins (ANTP)-smacN7 fusion protein on tumour cells. ANTP-SmacN7 fusion proteins were synthesised, and the ability of this fusion protein to penetrate cells was observed. Effects of radiation on the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) w...

BACKGROUND To investigate the expression levels of importin13 (IPO13), c-kit, CD146, telomerase, caspase-3, bcl-2 and bax in endometrial polyps (EPs). MATERIAL/METHODS We detected the mRNA expression levels of IPO13, c-kit, bcl-2 and bax in endometrial polyps (EPs) using real-time PCR. We detected the protein expression levels of IPO13, telomerase, CD146, caspase-3, bcl-2 and bax in EPs using...

The serine protease HtrA2/Omi, a regulator of apoptosis, is localized in mitochondria and is released into the cytosol after apoptotic stimuli. Previous studies demonstrate that Omi/HtrA2 is associated with a variety of malignancies. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of Omi/HtrA2 in 52 epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) tissues and paired corresponding adjacent non-tumor tissues ...

One of the most detrimental hallmarks of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is cellular invasiveness, which is considered a potential cause of tumor recurrence. Infiltrated GBM cells are difficult to completely eradicate surgically and with local therapeutic modalities. Although much effort has focused on understanding the various mechanisms controlling GBM invasiveness, its nature remains poorly un...