MEETING HIGHLIGHTS: THE THIRD MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE SYMPOSIUM ON CANCER RESEARCH AND CARE AT ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER, BUFFALO, NY, SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2023

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Symposia on Cancer Research and Care (MSCS-CRC) promote collaborations between cancer researchers and care providers in the United States, Canada and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), to accelerate the development of new cancer therapies, advance early detection and prevention, increase cancer awareness, and improve cancer care and the quality of life of patients and their families. The third edition of MSCS-CRC, held at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, in September 2023, brought together 137 participants from 20 academic institutions in the US, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Croatia and Hungary, together with 16 biotech and pharma entities. The key areas of collaborative opportunity identified during the meeting are a) creating of a database of available collaborative projects in the areas of early-phase clinical trials, preclinical development, and identification of early biomarkers; b) promoting awareness of cancer risks and efforts at cancer prevention; c) laboratory and clinical training; and d) sharing experience in cost-effective delivery of cancer care and improving the quality of life of cancer patients and their families. Examples of ongoing international collaborations in the above areas were discussed. Participation of the representatives of the Warsaw-based Medical Research Agency, National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the United States, National Cancer Research Institutes of Poland and Lithuania, New York State Empire State Development, Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Translational Research Cancer Center Consortium of 13 cancer centers from the US and Canada, facilitated the discussion of available governmental and non-governmental funding initiatives in the above areas.

Knowledge and Application of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Guidelines among Family Physicians: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Family physicians (FPs) play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). AIM: This study aims to assess the determinants of FPs’ knowledge and application of cardiovascular preventive management guidelines at primary health-care setting in Ukraine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study conducted among the 226 FPs in Kharkiv Region, Ukraine. A self-administrated questionnaire was administered, exploring demographic, job characteristics, knowledge of CVD prevention guidelines, and application of CVD guidelines’ questions about the essential items related to diagnosis and management of CVD according to the international/local guidelines. RESULTS: The results show a very low level of knowledge of guidelines among FPs with 85.8% scoring below the acceptable knowledge level. The guidelines were applied below the acceptable level with 51.3% scoring below the cutoff point. The results indicate that both average scores were below the minimum acceptable level. Lack of knowledge of the CVD preventive care was considered the biggest barrier (62.8%). Lack of counseling skills was the second major barrier (37.9%). Subjectivity of the questions was considered to be the third barrier (32.6%). Lack of counseling skills was the second major barrier (37.9%). Subjectivity of the questions was considered to be the third barrier (32.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Recognizing the low level of knowledge and application of guidelines among primary care providers and working toward minimizing this problem can be through education, training, and monitoring of the application. This can potentially improve CVD preventive management among patients.

The The Circulating Visfatin Level Relation to the Severity of Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND: Adipokines have been associated with atherosclerotic heart disease, which has plenty of common risk factors with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but their association with CKD has not been well characterized. AIM: We investigated the association between the serum visfatin level and CKD. METHODS: The serum visfatin levels in 101 CKD patients and 101 controls were compared. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 or presence of albuminuria (≥30 mg/24 h). RESULTS: After adjustment for established CKD risk factors, the median (interquartile range) of the serum visfatin was 3.65 ng/ml (2.31–4.59) in patients with CKD and 1.66 ng/ml (0.90–2.45) in controls without CKD (p < 0.0001 for group difference). Serum visfatin was significantly and inversely correlated with eGFR (r = –0.79, p < 0.0001) and positively correlated with urine albumin (r = 0.71, p < 0.0001) in the study participants. There was a strong dose-response and the significant relationship between serum visfatin level and CKD severity, assessed by GFR and albuminuria, regardless of established risk factors for CKD, including hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: Our results show that circulating visfatin is associated with the risk and severity of CKD. These results suggest that longitudinal studies and clinical trials should be conducted to investigate if adipocytokines play a role in the development and progression of CKD independent of body mass index or waist circumference. These important findings may advance our further understanding of CKD risk factors.

CONTENT OF CATECHOLAMINES IN BLOOD SERUM OF RATS UNDER FLUORIDE INTOXICATION

The aim of the research was to determine in the experiment the content of catecholamines in serum of rats exposed to sodium fluoride. The studies were conducted on adult Wistar rats, subjected to oral exposure by means of a probe with aqueous solutions of sodium fluoride (SF) once daily, for 60 days at doses of 1/10, 1/100 and 1/1000 DL50, which correspondingly amounts to 20 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg of body weight. Toxification of rats at a dose of 1/100 DL50 for 60 days and at a dose of 1/10 DL50 for 50 days was accompanied by an increase in blood levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine, indicating the hyperactivation of the mediator and hormonal parts of the sympathoadrenal system, and tension of the protective and adaptive reactions of the organism. Prolonged hypercatecholemia may become a pathogenic factor due to intensification of the quinidine route of oxidation of norepinephrine and epinephrine with the formation of reactive radicals and active forms of oxygen. Reduced serum content of catecholamines on the 60th day of oral administration at a dose of 1/10 DL50 reflects, on the one hand, a decrease in their tissue deposit, and, on the other, a decrease in the activity and reserve capacities of the sympathoadrenal system.

NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHESIS INTENSITY ASSESSMENT BY THE CONTENT OF ITS TERMINAL STABLE METABOLITES IN THE BLOOD OF RATS UNDER FLUORIDE INTOXICATION

The aim of the research was to evaluate the intensity of nitric oxide synthesis in the experiment by the content of its terminal stable metabolites in the blood of rats exposed to sodium fluoride. The studies were conducted on adult Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g, subjected to oral exposure by means of a probe with aqueous solutions of sodium fluoride (SF) daily for 60 days at a dose of 1/10, 1/100 and 1/1000 DL50, respectively, of 20 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg body weight. Oral administration of SF to rats at doses of 1/10 and 1/100 of DL50 leads to an increase in blood plasma levels of nitrite and nitrate anions during the first 30 days, indirectly indicating the excessive production of nitric oxide, which in the initial period of intoxication can perform compensatory role, but in the future can cause pathological reactions associated with the activation of oxidative stress. The reduction of nitrite and nitrate anions at the end of the long-term effects of SF indirectly indicates a decrease in the generation of nitric oxide, which may be due, in particular, to the increase in the concentration of peroxynitrite as a result of the use of nitric oxide in reaction with a superoxide anion radical and a deficiency of antioxidant enzymes.