https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/69954 2026-04-16T06:11:43Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/73381 Title: Effects of extracts from regenerating organisms on differentiation of the human myeloid leukaemia HL-60 cell line Abstract: Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukaemia in adults, constituting about 80% of cases. Although remarkable progress has been made in the therapeutic scenario for patients with AML, research and development of new and effective anticancer agents to improve patient outcome and minimize toxicity are needed. In this study, the antitumour activity of crude extracts from two regenerative organisms, a fresh water planarian species-Malta (PSM) and the axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum (AXO) were assessed in vitro on the human AML HL-60 cell line. The anticancer activity was evaluated in terms of ability to influence proliferative activity, cell viability, cell cycle arrest, and differentiation. Moreover, gene expression analysis was performed to evaluate the genes involved in the regulation of these processes. The PSM extract exhibited a selective cytotoxic effect on HL-60 cells when compared to normal lymphocytes. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis and Annexin V/PI assay showed that the PSM extract induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. AXO crude extract exhibited antiproliferative but not cytotoxic activities on HL-60 cells, with cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. Both PSM and AXO extract clearly decreased the nucleo/cytoplasmic ratio of the HL-60 cells, with an increase in nitroblue tetrazolium-positive cells. Furthermore, PSM treated cells showed an increase in CD11b- and CD14-positive cells, whilst AXO-treated HL-60 cells showed an increase in the expression of CD11b, suggesting that the extracts were able to stimulate myeloid differentiation. Finally, PSM and AXO extracts caused upregulation of CEBPA, CEBPB, CEBPE, SPI1, and downregulation of c-MYC, with PSM extract showing an increased expression of CDKN2C and reduction of CDKN1A. The data clearly show the potential anticancer activity of PSM and AXO on HL-60 cells and sug Description: PH.D. ANATOMY 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/73372 Title: Cytokine gene polymorphism analysis in females with a history of recurrent miscarriages Abstract: Introduction: Recurrent miscarriage is defined as two or more recurrent pregnancy losses before the twenty-second week of gestation. Genetic, haematological and anatomical abnormalities are diagnosed in only 50% of miscarriage cases leaving the other 50% as miscarriage with an unknown cause. Various studies showed a possible association between specific immunological factors and a successful pregnancy. The aim of present study was to investigate the relationship between recurrent miscarriages and polymorphisms of cytokine genes coding for IL6-174, IL6-634, TNFα-238, TNF-β+252, TNFα-308, IFN-γ+874, IL10-592, IL10-819, IL10-1082. Methodology: A total of 100 recurrent miscarriage females and 100 control females with at least two successful pregnancies and no history of miscarriage were recruited in the study. Genotyping was achieved by polymerase chain reaction and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction together with restriction fragment length polymorphism.III Results: Results showed that IL10-592C/A and IL10-819C/T polymorphisms gave statistically significant differences between the recurrent miscarriage patients and controls both giving a p <0.0011 using the chi-square test. Haplotype analysis on the IL-10 group of promoter polymorphisms identified that the G1082C819C592 haplotype was the most common haplotype amongst the recurrent miscarriage group with 32% of the this population showing this genotype. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that genotyping for IL-10 promoter polymorphisms, particularly IL10-592C/A and IL10-819C/T, could be used as an important indicator for determining the risk for recurrent miscarriages. Description: M.SC.ANATOMY 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z