Arch Med Sci
-
Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women. Treatments for ovarian cancer include surgery followed by chemotherapy. However, the survival rate for ovarian cancer is still not satisfactory. Moreover, the current chemotherapy has numerous associated side effects. Therefore there is an urgent need to look for novel and more viable treatment options. Against this backdrop the present study was designed to evaluate the anticancer activity of sugiol against ovarian cancer cells. ⋯ The results of the present study indicate that sugiol exerts potent anticancer effects on SKOV3 cells via induction of cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial apoptosis and inhibition of the RAF/MEK/ERK signalling pathway.
-
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) describes heart rate (HR) changes in synchrony with respiration. It is relevant for exercise capacity and mechanistically linked with the cardiac autonomic nervous system. After pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), the current therapy of choice for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), the cardiac vagal tone is often diminished. We hypothesized that RSA is modulated by PVI in patients with paroxysmal AF. ⋯ Respiratory sinus arrhythmia is reduced after PVI in patients with paroxysmal AF. Our findings suggest that this is related to a decrease in cardiac vagal tone. Whether and how this affects the clinical outcome including exercise capacity need to be determined.
-
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are considered as crucial modulators in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. The present study aimed to investigate the expression and biological functions of miR-214-5p via targeting Fas ligand (FASLG) in I/R injury. ⋯ We found that miR-214-5p exerted a protective role in I/R injured cardiac cells by direct targeting FASLG in vitro and in vivo.
-
Nowadays, depression is conceptualized as an immune-inflammatory and oxidative stress disorder associated with neuroprogressive changes as a consequence of peripherally activated immune-inflammatory pathways, including peripheral cytokines and immune cells which penetrate into the brain via the blood barrier, as well as nitro-oxidative stress and antioxidant imbalances. The aim of this study was to investigate whether personality traits predisposing to a depressive episode (hypochondria, dysthymic, hysteria) are associated with changes in peripheral gene expression for selected indicators of inflammation and oxidative balance. ⋯ The scales specified for the neurotic triad of the MMPI-2 test correspond substantially with the expression of MnSOD, MPO and metalloproteinases 2 and 9 at the mRNA and protein levels in the group of patients suffering from depression.
-
The most widely accepted theory for the development of preeclampsia is the "two-stage theory". An imbalance between antiangiogenic and proangiogenic factors is considered the link between the two stages. ⋯ The aim of this review is to present the current use of different biochemical tests in the prediction, diagnosis and management of preeclampsia. Development of these diagnostic methods in recent years and a belief in their ground-breaking role in modern management of preeclampsia make this review especially important.