Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between missed abortion and serum trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO) levels.Methods: A total of 129 patients with 56 missed abortions and 73 healthy pregnancies were included in our study. Patients who had more than one pregnancy loss, had systemic disease (hypertension, diabetes, rheumatologic disease, hematologic disease, and so forth) and did not accept to participate in the study were excluded. Pregnant women who did not have a fetal heartbeat in the first 20th week of pregnancy were considered as missed abortion. Demographic characteristics of the patients were recorded. The serum TMAO levels of these patients were compared with the serum TMAO levels of healthy pregnant women with the same gestational week between the two groups.Results: The median (IQR) serum level of TMAO was significantly higher in woman with missed abortus compared to the healthy controls (201.5 [IQR, 129.75–345] vs 150 [IQR, 86.9–273], U = 1534, P = 0.015, r_rb = 0.25 [95% CI: 0.05–0.43]). We observed a positive and significant relationship between serum TMAO levels and age of the patients (Spearman's rho = 0.272 [95% CI: 0.01–0.50], P = 0.043). However, no significant relationship was found between serum TMAO levels and BMI (Spearman's rho = 0.093 [95% CI: −0.18 to 0.35], P = 0.496).Conclusion: In our study, we found that the serum TMAO level was higher in patients with missed abortion compared to healthy pregnancies. Serum TMAO levels measured at early gestational weeks can provide information about the course of pregnancy.

Objective: In this study, the antioxidant and chemotherapy-modulating effects of shilajit, a natural humic substance, on the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) were investigated. Material-Method: Shilajit extracts (water and DMEM solvent) were applied to A549 cells alone and in combination with etoposide (IC₅₀ = 42.54 µg/mL) and cisplatin (IC₅₀ = 6.44 µg/mL). Cell viability was measured by the MTT method, and the antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Results: As a result of the MTT test, shilajit alone was found to significantly increase cell viability, while in combination with etoposide and cisplatin it reduced the cytotoxic effects of these agents. This may be related to the mitochondrial activity enhancing and oxidative stress suppressing properties of shilajit. The IC₅₀ value for antioxidant activity was calculated as 1.10 mg/ml for the water extract and 1.32 mg/ml for the methanol extract of shilajit. The IC₅₀ values for the positive controls BHA and BHT were 0.023 and 1.88 mg/mL, respectively. Both extract forms of shilajit showed a dose-dependent antioxidant effect, but exhibited lower activity compared to synthetic antioxidants. Conclusion: The results suggest that shilajit has cell-protective and antioxidant properties, but caution is advised when used in combination with chemotherapeutic agents. There is a possibility that in some cases shilajit activates cellular resistance mechanisms to chemotherapy.

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms and peripheral artery disease pose significant health risks, ranking third after heart attacks and cerebral strokes. Surgical interventions often involve temporary aortic clamping, leading to ischemia–reperfusion injury and tissue damage. Colchicine and mesenchymal stem cells have shown promise, individually, in mitigating ischemia–reperfusion injury, but their combined effects remain understudied. Methods: This study utilized 42 male Wistar rats, divided into six groups: Control, Sham, Ischemia–Reperfusion, Colchicine, Mesenchymal stem cell, and Mix (colchicine and mesenchymal stem cell). The ischemia–reperfusion model involved clamping the abdominal aorta for 60 min, followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Colchicine and mesenchymal stem cell treatments were administered as pre- and post-ischemia interventions, respectively. Mesenchymal stem cells were cultured, characterized by flow cytometry, and verified for specific surface antigens. Blood and tissue samples were analyzed for oxidative stress markers, nitric oxide metabolites, and apoptosis using TUNEL. Results: There were significant differences between the groups in terms of the serum total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.001) and inflammation markers (ischemia-modified albumin, p = 0.020). The combined therapy group (Mix) exhibited the lowest inflammation levels. Arginine levels also showed significant variation (p = 0.028), confirming the ischemia–reperfusion injury model. In muscle tissues, the total antioxidant capacity (p = 0.022), symmetric dimethylarginine, and citrulline levels (p < 0.05) indicated nitric oxide metabolism. Apoptosis was notably high in the ischemia–reperfusion injury group as anticipated. It appeared to be reduced by colchicine, mesenchymal stem cells, and their combination, with the most significant decrease observed in the Mix group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the potential of using combined colchicine and mesenchymal stem cell therapy to reduce muscle damage caused by ischemia–reperfusion injury. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and confirm the clinical significance of this approach in treating extremity ischemia–reperfusion injuries.

Cryptorchidism, a common congenital condition in male children, has been associated with impaired testicular function and increased risk of infertility. Recent evidence suggests that gut microbiota-derived metabolites, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), may influence reproductive health via systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate serum levels of TMAO, insulin-like 3 factor (INSL3), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in patients with undescended testes. Serum TMAO was quantified by LC-MS/MS and INSL3 and hCG by ELISA in 30 patients and 30 healthy age-matched controls. Results showed significantly elevated TMAO and reduced INSL3 levels in the patient group ( p < 0.01 and p = 0.025, respectively), whereas hCG levels showed no significant difference. These findings support the hypothesis that metabolic and hormonal alterations may play a role in the pathophysiology of cryptorchidism. TMAO may reflect systemic dysbiosis or inflammation potentially associated with impaired testicular function. Further studies are warranted to explore the gut–testis axis and asses the potential clinical relevance of TMAO and INSL3 as biomarkers in male reproductive health.

Aim:The aim of our study is to determine the reference range of serum TMAO levels in individuals aged 18-65 using the LC-MS/MS method.Methods:TMAO levels in serum samples from 185 healthy individuals aged 18-65 were determined using the LC-MS/MS method. Statistical analysis classified the data by gender and age. The lower and upper limits with a 90% confidence interval were estimated using the robust method. Outliers were identified and excluded from the log-transformed data using the Tukey criterion. Skewness and kurtosis estimates were based on log-transformed data.Results:TMAO levels were similar between men and women, with median values of 180 ng/mL and 200 ng/mL, respectively (Z = –0.476, p=0.633). Additionally, no significant difference was observed in TMAO levels between women under 30 years of age and those aged 30 and above (median: 178 ng/mL vs. 186 ng/mL; Z = –0.739, p = 0.460). However, men aged 30 and above had significantly higher TMAO levels compared to men under 30 (median: 215 ng/mL vs. 191 ng/mL; Z = –2.225, p = 0.026). The reference interval for serum TMAO was determined as follows: 27–974 ng/mL in men under 30 years, 52–942 ng/mL in men aged 30 and above, 45–655 ng/mL in women under 30 years, and 33–539 ng/mL in women aged 30 and above.Conclusions:This study determined age- and gender-specific reference intervals for serum TMAO levels using the LC-MS/MS method. To our knowledge, this is the first study to establish such reference intervals using this analytical technique. The findings are expected to provide valuable data for future clinical and epidemiological studies involving TMAO as a biomarker.