Anti- and pro-oxidant potential of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) biofortified with iodine by KIO3, 5-iodo- and 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid in human gastrointestinal cancer cell lines

Vegetables are particularly rich sources of micronutrients and phytochemicals such as polyphenols and vitamins. These plant-derived bioactive compounds provide antitumor and antioxidant properties due to their capacity to interact with reactive oxygen species (ROS). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of iodine biofortification (potassium iodate/KIO₃/, 5-iodosalicylic acid/5-ISA/, and 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid/3,5-diISA/) on the antioxidant activity of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. capitata) cv. ‘Melodion’. In this work, HPLC analysis was used to identify polyphenolic compounds while the antioxidant activity of iodine-enriched vegetables was determined by using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. The content of the water-soluble vitamins was analyzed by using the LC-MS/MS technique. The impact of extracts from iodine-biofortified lettuce on production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in gastrointestinal cancer cells was also evaluated. The results from this research indicate that application of iodine compounds improves the antioxidant potential of lettuce by increasing the concentration of some vitamins, antioxidant enzymes and polyphenolic compounds in the enriched plants. Moreover, the study has shown that iodine-biofortified lettuce induces production of ROS in cancer cells, resulting in an anticancer effect by the induction of programmed cancer cell death.

Vegetables are particularly rich sources of micronutrients and phytochemicals such as polyphenols and vitamins.     

Leptin levels in serum depending on Body Mass Index in patients with endometrial hyperplasia and cancer

Leptin levels in serum depending on Body Mass Index (BMI) in patients with endometrial hyperplasia and cancer. OBJECTIVES: Concentrations of leptin, a hormone secreted by white adipose tissue, correlate strongly with body mass. Leptin interacts with several other hormones, modifies the activities of some enzymes and proinflammatory cytokines, participates in hematopoiesis, thermogenesis, and angiogenesis, and is involved in the control of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. This study was undertaken to determine whether serum concentrations of leptin in obese patients with endometrial hyperplasia and cancer deviate from values in patients with normal endometrium. STUDY DESIGN: We enrolled 86 obese postmenopausal women, including 40 with endometrial cancer and hyperplasia and 46 with normal endometrium. Depending on BMI, three subgroups were formed: I<30; II = 30-40; III > 40. Leptin concentrations were measured with immunoenzymatic test kits from IBL. Statistical comparison was done with the chi square (chi(2)) test and Statistica software package. RESULTS: Mean serum concentration of leptin in endometrial cancer and hyperplasia was 16737.1 pg/ml as opposed to 9048.7 pg/ml in patients without endometrial pathology (p<0.0001). Significantly, higher concentrations of leptin were noted in every BMI subgroup of patients with endometrial pathology in comparison to controls (p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Leptin appears to participate in proliferative processes of the endometrium. Obesity is an important risk factor in endometrial cancer.     

Evaluation of selected serum protein markers as early detectors of ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE: an attempt to determine the value of the simultaneous quantization of osteopontin (OPN), insulin-growth factor II (IGF II), leptin, prolactin and CA 125 for early detection of ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study of 69 women including: 15 females with ovarian cancer; 33 females with benign ovarian neoplasm; 21 disease-free females; The levels of IGF II, prolactin, leptin and CA 125 were determined in serum, while the level of OPN was checked in plasma. RESULTS: The concentrations of IGF II, leptin and prolactin do not let us distinguish among disease-free females, females with ovarian cancer and those with benign ovarian neoplasms on the basis of biochemical markers. The comparison of OPN and CA 125 levels showed significant differences in the concentrations of the biomarkers between disease-free females and females with ovarian cancer, as well as between females with benign ovarian neoplasms and females with ovarian cancer. The ROC curves for two groups: disease-free females and females with ovarian cancer, proved the diagnostic value of OPN and CA 125. CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous quantization of OPN, IGF II leptin and prolactin has not been proved useful for the early detection of ovarian cancer. Statistically significant increase of OPN & CA 125 levels was noted in case of women with ovarian cancer diagnosed through microscopic examination. The analysis of ROC curves showed comparable diagnostic usefulness of both markers. Quantization of OPN may have an additional value for treatment monitoring of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer but with concentration of CA 125 within the reference value.     

Rho kinase--a new target for pharmacological treatment of an overactive bladder

Rho kinase plays a key role in the regulation of smooth muscles contraction, including those of the urinary bladder detrusor. Rho kinase pathway modulates the level of phosphorylation of the myosin light chain, mainly through the inhibition of myosin phosphatase. Recent experimental data indicate that its role might be exacerbated in local and systemic pathological conditions which affect the bladder. It seems that Rho kinase inhibitors, such as Y27632, may turn out to be an effective group of drugs in pharmacotheraphy of an overactive bladder (OAB), which will influence the storage phase of the micturition cycle, without interfering with the physiological voiding.     

Oral mucosa in children with Prader–Willi syndrome

J Oral Pathol Med (2011) 40 : 778–784 Prader–Willi syndrome is a genetic disorder. Abnormal saliva secretion, emotional and behaviour problems, may affect the health status of the oral mucousa. Objectives: To assess the impact of self‐destructive behaviour and abnormal saliva secretion on the oral mucosa in children with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS). Materials and methods: Fifteen PWS’s children (mean age 9.8 ± 4.4 years) and 15 healthy children (mean age 11.5 ± 3.5 years) were assessed for self‐destructive behaviours, such as picking at the skin, physical and chemical saliva characteristics, mycology, and the clinical status of the oral mucosa. Results: Picking at the skin was only in children with PWS (n = 12). In contrast to the control group, the moistening rate of the lower lip mucosa was slower, and the mean pH of the resting saliva was reduced in the affected subjects. Sticky frothy or frothy saliva, decreased secretion rate of the stimulated saliva, and a reduced buffer capacity were more frequently in PWS’s children; Candida spp. and oral candidiasis were also more common. Injurious lesions in the oral mucosa were found in one control child, and in eight PWS’s subjects. In affected children, the lesions were concurrent with picking at the skin. A statistical correlation was noted between the presence of Candida spp. and oral candidiasis, and unfavourable saliva properties, and between injurious lesions and a slow moistening rate of the lower lip mucosa, and oral candidiasis. Conclusions: Abnormal saliva secretion and self‐destructive behaviours in children with Prader–Willi syndrome predispose them to injurious lesions in the oral mucosa, and possibly, to oral candidiosis.     

Autochthonic and allochthonic plant detritus as zoobenthos habitat in anthropogenic woodland ponds

Regardless of origin, all water bodies situated inside forests form a unique habitat for many freshwater animals due to the allochthonous detritus covering the bottom, composed mostly of leaves from waterside trees. For many years these woodland ponds have been considered to be advantageous to regional biodiversity. Investigations were carried out in eight anthropogenic woodland ponds, formed as a consequence of coal mining activities, situated in forest complexes in Upper Silesia (Southern Poland), to evaluate the impact of allochthonic and autochthonic plant detritus on the formation of zoobenthic communities, together with insolation intensity. In sites covered by a layer of allochthonic plant matter, zoobenthos were more abundant compared to places covered by autochthonic detritus. The density of zoobenthos in sun-exposed sites was two to three times greater than in shaded sites.     

Chosen environmental factors and their effect on the incidence of overweight and obesity in the population of Podlasie Region

The study was conducted to evaluate chosen environmental factors that may contribute to overweight or obesity among the population of Podlasie. Socio-economic status, physical activity and the use of condiments and medications were assessed. The investigations, treated as preliminary, used questionnaire technique and involved 150 volunteers (132 women and 18 men), aged 18-69 years (women; mean 37.4 +/- 12.50) and 18-62 (men; mean 30.0 +/- 11.03). In the majority of subjects the first symptoms of obesity appeared in childhood and puberty. Overweight was familial in 69.6% of women and in 77.7% of men (statistically significant risk factor), which could reflect genetic load or similar lifestyle. Frequency and type of recreational and sports activity were evaluated. Over 77% of the subjects examined declared little and inadequately matched physical activity. The knowledge of health state was unsatisfactory and obesity was considered only in cosmetic terms. Prophylactic actions should intend to educate the whole society, propagate healthy lifestyle and to increase physical activity. People with overweight and obesity should tend to normalise body mass and thus to improve metabolic parameters and general feeling.