The role of AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in anticancer activity of metformin

Metformin (MTF) is a widely used drug for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) and frequently used as an adjuvant therapy for polycystic ovarian syndrome, metabolic syndrome, and in some cases also tuberculosis. Its protective effect on the cardiovascular system has also been described. Recently, MTF was subjected to various analyzes and studies that showed its beneficial effects in cancer treatment such as reducing cancer cell proliferation, reducing tumor growth, inducing apoptosis, reducing cancer risk in diabetic patients, or reducing likelihood of relapse. One of the MTF's mechanisms of action is the activation of adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Several studies have shown that AMPK/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has anticancer effect in vivo and in vitro. The aim of this review is to present the anticancer activity of MTF highlighting the importance of the AMPK/mTOR pathway in the cancer process.

The PI3k/Akt pathway is associated with angiogenesis, oxidative stress and survival of mesenchymal stem cells in pathophysiologic condition in ischemia

Ischemic diseases are characterized by reduced blood supply to a tissue or an organ due to obstruction of blood vessels. The most serious and most common ischemic diseases include ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and critical limb ischemia. Revascularization is the first choice of therapy, but the cell therapy is being introduced as a possible way of treatment for no-option patients. One of the possibilities of cell therapy is the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are easily isolated from bone marrow and can be defined as non-hematopoietic multipotent adult stem cells population with a defined capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into cell types of all three germ layers depending on their origin. Since 1974, when Friedenstein and coworkers (Friedenstein et al. 1974) first time isolated and characterized MSCs, MSC-based therapy has been shown to be safe and effective. Nevertheless, many scientists and clinical researchers want to improve the success of MSCs in regenerative therapy. The secret of successful cell therapy may lie, along with the homing, in secretion of biologically active molecules including cytokines, growth factors, and chemokines known as MSCs secretome. One of the intracellular signalling mechanism includes the activity of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) (PI3K) - protein kinase B (serine-threonine protein kinase Akt) (Akt) pathway. This PI3K/Akt pathway plays key roles in many cell types in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration. Pre-conditioning of MSCs could improve efficacy of signalling mechanism.

Clinical utility of miRNA-1, miRNA-29g and miRNA-133s plasma levels in prostate cancer patients with high-intensity training after androgen-deprivation therapy

The randomized trials showed that the addition of training resistance program to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) had many beneficial effects for prostate cancer (PC) patients (significant protective effect on the volume of muscle mass) and the studies have revealed a panel of miRNAs, which are deregulate in PC and may serve as promising biomarkers of PC risk. The primary aim of our present study was to investigate the effect of exercise training to changes in body composition (muscle strength) and the secondary endpoint was to investigate the impact of an exercise training program on plasma levels of selected myogenic microRNAs (miRNAs) (miRNA-1, miRNA-29b, and miRNA-133) in PC patients undergoing the ADT. Effect of ADT and exercise intervention showed significant increase (experimental group vs. control group) the changes in body composition, free testosterone levels, IL-6 and plasma levels of myogenic miRNAs and significant reduced insulin serum levels. In conclusion, resistance training with ADT in the treatment of PC significantly changed the physical and metabolic function and the plasma levels of specific myogenic miRNAs. Our data support with the other publicized results.

Drug usage analysis in pregnant women

BACKGROUND

Drug usage in pregnant women is associated with a problem of possible negative influence on prenatal development. It is always necessary to judge the need for drug administration during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of presented study was to analyse data about pregnant women hospitalized in the postpartum period.

METHODS

The study was designed as a retrospective observational study including 300 women hospitalized at the 2nd Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Bratislava. Data were obtained through questionnaires in form of an interview.

RESULTS

The average age of women was 30.79 ± 4.40 years. Risk pregnancy occured in 20.59 % of women. Chronic disorders before pregnancy required regular pharmacotherapy in 29.24 %. Drug usage analysis: I. trimester, 31 % used at least one drug, 52 % nutritional supplements, 63.3 % drug and/or nutritional supplement; II. trimester, 23 % used at least one drug, 45 % nutritional supplements, 58.3 % drug and/or nutritional supplement; III. trimester, 32 % used at least one drug, 67 % nutritional supplements, 75.3 % drug and/or nutritional supplement.

CONCLUSION

Drug usage during pregnancy requires great precaution at choosing pharmacotherapy. The benefit of pharmacotherapy should always outweight the potential risk of administered drug (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 37).

Increased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and caveolin-1 in the aorta of rats with isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy

Isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy is associated with increased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the aorta but without signs of improved endothelial function. The aim was to examine the hypothesis that increased expression of eNOS allosteric inhibitor caveolin-1 could be associated with unimproved endothelium-dependent relaxations. Rats received isoproterenol (5 mg/kg body mass, i.p., n = 13) or its vehicle (n = 14) during 1 week. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured by the tail-cuff method. Expression of eNOS and caveolin-1 was measured using immunoblotting analysis. Relaxations of isolated aorta to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were evaluated ex vivo. After 1 week of isoproterenol administration, basal SBP and HR were decreased (SBP 110 +/- 3 vs. 126 +/- 3 mmHg, p < 0.05; HR 342 +/- 8 vs. 366 +/- 6 beats/min, p < 0.05). Isoproterenol increased the mass of the left ventricle (+33% +/- 4% vs. control; p < 0.05) and right ventricle (+40% +/- 9%; p < 0.05). Isoproterenol administration increased the expression of eNOS (+53% +/- 12%; p < 0.05) and caveolin-1 (+54% +/- 20%, p < 0.05) in the aorta. Relaxation of isolated aorta to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside showed a trend towards a worsened endothelial function and a lower sensitivity to exogenous NO. Thus, 1 week of isoproterenol administration led to increased eNOS expression in the aorta without amelioration of endothelial vasorelaxation function. Concomitant increase in caveolin-1 expression may be responsible for this paradox.

The Slovak Drug Information (Druginfo) Centre during the period 1997-2004

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the presented study was to evaluate the profile of users, the number and character of questions which were received during the period May 1997-December 2004.

BACKGROUND

The drug information centre (Druginfo) has been established in Slovak Republic at the Department of Pharmacology in May 1997. Since 2002 Druginfo is a member of International Register of Drug Information Services of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia. Druginfo provides voluntarily free of charge drug information for healthcare professionals.

METHOD

Druginfo receives questions addressed via phone, fax and e-mail. The questions were replied by consulting pharmacologists on duty. The data for this study were obtained from records which include list the received questions and the basic information about the questioners.

RESULTS

The Druginfo received 495 questions during the period May 1997-December 2004. Questions were mostly from hospital physicians, followed by outpatient physicians and employees of the Faculty of Medicine. The most frequent specializations of the asking physicians were internal medicine, gynaecology-obstetrics, clinical pharmacology and general medicine. The most common topic was basic information about drugs, followed by questions concerning the use of drugs in pregnancy and lactation. According to the ATC classification the questions were most often related to antiinfective drugs, cardiovascular drugs and psychiatric drugs.

CONCLUSION

The existence of Druginfo in Slovak Republic represents a possibility of an open access to independent drug information. (Fig. 3, Ref. 11.)