The aim of this research is to examine the potential anticancer properties of thymoquinone (TQ)-encapsulated selenium nanoparticles (TQ-SeNPs) in HEC1B endometrial carcinoma cells. TQ-SeNPs were synthesized, and their size, morphology, and elemental analysis were characterized. Morphological changes were examined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cytotoxicity and viability of nanothymoquinone were assessed by the XTT (2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5 carboxanilide) assay. Gene expressions and protein levels of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway were analyzed by real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The decrease in the viability of HEC1B endometrial carcinoma cells was observed in a time- and dose-dependent manner. HEC-1B cells were treated with TQ-SeNP at 40-640 μg/mL concentrations and time intervals, and their viability was assessed by XTT assay. IC₅₀ doses of TQ-SeNP in HEC1B cells were detected as 526.45 μg/mL at 48th hour. ELISA indicated that TQ-SeNP treatment reduced the level of p38 MAPK. ERK2, MEK2, and NFKB (p65) mRNA expressions were decreased in the dose group administered TQ-SeNP at the 48th hour compared to that in the control group. However, it was not significant. The novel nanoparticle showed an antiproliferative effect in endometrial cancer cells. However, further studies are needed to increase the anticancer activity of the cell in the TQ-SeNP interaction.

Background: PCOS was reported to arise from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Some studies reported that women with PCOS have DNA damage and chromosome breakage. Such studies bring to mind the genes that are involved in DNA repairing. At present, several DNA repair genes and, as products of these genes, certain polymorphisms that alter the activity of proteins are known in the literature. The aim of this dissertation is to study the genomic instability that have been reported in PCOS cases along with the relationship between XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC1 Arg399Gln, APE1 Asp148Glu, and XPD Lys751Gln polymorphisms in order to contribute to the pathogenesis of PCOS. Methods: Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes have been associated with the increased risk of various diseases and could also be related to the etiology of PCOS. Therefore, we conducted a study including 114 women with PCOS and 91 controls. These polymorphisms were determined by quantitative real time PCR and melting curve analysis using LightCycler. Results: Comparing the control groups at the end of the study, the results have not shown any statistically significant difference as far as XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC1 Arg399Gln, and XPD Lys751Gln polymorphisms are concerned. However, there were notable differences between the groups in terms of APE1 Asp148Glu polymorphism. Associated with this condition, it has been noted that both mutant allele (Glu) frequency (37.72 % in the study group; 19.23% in the control group, p=0.0001) and homozygous mutant genotype (Glu/Glu) frequency (%12.28 in the study group; %6.60 in the control group, p=0.015) have been higher in the study group.

Background and Objectives: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. In most cases, lung cancer is diagnosed at an advanced stage. For advanced-stage disease, treatment options are generally systemic and while novel treatment approaches offer hope, they may also lead to significant adverse effects. Therefore, alternative therapeutic strategies have been investigated for many years. Thymoquinone (TQ) is one such candidate. Previous studies have demonstrated its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the roles of TQ in the progression of H1650 lung adenocarcinoma cells. Materials and Methods: In this study, the antiproliferative effect of TQ on H1650 lung cancer cells was evaluated using MTT assay, its effect on oxidative damage was determined using 8-OHdG, and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and its effect on apoptosis were demonstrated using caspase-3 ELISA method. In addition, total RNA was extracted from both control and treatment groups, cDNA was synthesized, and mRNA expression changes of Toll-like receptor related genes (TLR) were analyzed using RT-PCR. Results: The decrease in the viability of H1650 lung cancer cells was observed in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ dose of TQ in the H1650 lung cancer cell line at 48 h was 26.59 µM. TQ treatment decreased the level of TOS and increased the level of TAS in H1650 lung cancer cells. Oxidative stress index decreased in the TQ-treated dose group in H1650 lung cancer cells. Elisa 8-OHdG and caspase-3 levels were not statistically significant. Compared to the control group, no statistically significant changes were observed in TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 gene expressions in the treatment group treated with 26.59 µM TQ for 48 h. Conclusions: TQ shows potential as an anticancer agent and may contribute to the development of therapeutic approaches for lung cancers.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to see oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG), its relationship with inflammatory mediators (IL6 and TNFA), and its reflections on laboratory findings in patients who had COVID-19 infection at different intensities. Materials and Methods: Serum interleukin-6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFA), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were measured using kits based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) principle. Results: In COVID-19 positive patients treated in intensive care 8-OHdG marker level is at the highest level and statistically significant. In patients receiving inpatient treatment in the hospitalized, the 8-OHdG marker level is higher than the control and outpatient groups. IL6 values were at the highest level in the patient group treated in the intensive care unit and were higher than the outpatient and control groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the control and patient groups in terms of TNFA values. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was lower in the control group than in all patient groups. C-reactive protein (CRP) is higher in hospitalized patients than in the control group. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was found to be statistically significantly higher in hospitalized patients than outpatients. Conclusion: As the severity of COVID-19 increases, serum 8-OHdG and IL6 levels also increase. These parameters can guide the diagnosis of COVID-19 patients in the early stages of the disease course.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of thymoquinone on cell proliferation, 8-hydroxy-2' -deoxyguanosine level and expression changes of oxidative stress and DNA repair-related genes in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Material methods: Cell proliferation in MCF-7 cells after thymoquinone exposure was determined by MTT assay. 8-hydroxy-2' -deoxyguanosine protein concentration was measured by ELISA assay. Total RNA isolation from control and thymoquinone treated cell was performed by Trizol and cDNA was synthesized. mRNA expression changes of OGG1, NEIL-1, CRCC1 SOD2, CAT and NRF-2 were also determined in RT-PCR using SYBER Green method. Results: In this study, the IC50 dose of thymoquinone in MCF-7 cells was determined as 7.867 μM at 24th hour. It was investigated that thymoquinone inhibited 8-hydroxy-2' -deoxyguanosine level in breast cancer cells according to RT-PCR results, thymoquinone increased XRRC1 expression 4.71-fold and catalase expression 6.68-fold in breast cancer cells. Conclusion: In conclusion, TQ inhibits MCF-7 cell proliferation under in vitro conditions. It also alters the expression of genes associated with DNA repair and oxidative stress and acts through this oxidative stress mechanism. This study contributes to the existing literature and provides preliminary data for more comprehensive studies.