Type 2 diabetes is a worldwide increasing disease resulting from the interaction between a subject’s genetic makeup and lifestyle. In genetically predisposed subjects, the combination of excess caloric intake and reduced physical activity induces a state of insulin resistance. When beta cells are no longer able to compensate for insulin resistance by adequately increasing insulin production, impaired glucose tolerance appears, characterized by excessive postprandial hyperglycemia. Impaired glucose tolerance may evolve into overt diabetes. These 3 conditions, ie, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and overt diabetes, are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Because all these conditions are also accompanied by the presence of an oxidative stress, this article proposes oxidative stress as the pathogenic mechanism linking insulin resistance with dysfunction of both beta cells and endothelium, eventually leading to overt diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This hypothesis,...

Is Oxidative Stress the Pathogenic Mechanism Underlying Insulin Resistance, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease? The Common Soil Hypothesis Revisited

Betulin, a pentacyclic triterpene and a plant pentacyclic triterpene metabolite, can be found in large quantities in the outer bark of the birches (Betula, Betulaceae). Betulinic acid, obtained by betulin oxidation, is also abundantly present in nature. Both compounds show a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological properties, such as anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, and, considered the most important, anti-cancer. Although the specific mechanism of action of betulin against malignant cells is still a subject of detailed research, the activity of betulin acid has been linked to the induction of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. As this process occurs with the sparing of non-cancer cells, and the induction of apoptosis can occur under conditions in which standard therapies fail, both substances seem as promising experimental anti-cancer drugs. The aim of this review is to comprehensively summarise the potential of betulin and betulinic acid, both in vitro and in vivo. The discovery, structure, organic synthesis and derivatives forming were shortly described. Also, the potential molecular mechanisms of action and numerous medical applications of betulin and betulinic acid were presented, including previous studies of anti-cancer activity of the compounds, with listed cancer cell types susceptible to therapy.

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Betulin and betulinic acid: triterpenoids derivatives with a powerful biological potential

Effects of selenium-lead interaction on the gene expression of inflammatory factors and selenoproteins in chicken neutrophils.

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Oxidative Stress and Chronic Degenerative Diseases - A Role for Antioxidants

Effect of current mode on PEO treatment of magnesium in Ca- and P-containing electrolyte and resulting coatings

Umbilical cord blood collected from the postpartum placenta and cord is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and is an alternative to bone marrow transplantation. In this review we wanted to describe the differences (in phenotype, cytokine production, quantity and quality of cells) between stem cells from umbilical cord blood, bone marrow and peripheral blood. HSCs present in cord blood are more primitive than their counterparts in bone marrow or peripheral blood, and have several advantages including high proliferation. With using proper cytokine combination, HSCs can be effectively developed into different cell lines. This process is used in medicine, especially in hematology.

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Characteristics of hematopoietic stem cells of umbilical cord blood

Magnesium is essential for biochemical functions of cells. Since Mg 2+ has a relatively low ionic radius in proportion to the size of the nucleus (0.86 versus 1.14 f A for Ca 2+ ), it shows exceptional biochemical activity. Due to its physicochemical properties, intracellular magnesium can bind to the nucleus, ribosomes, cell membranes or macromolecules occurring in the cell’s cytosol. It is indispensable for the nucleus to function as a whole and for the maintenance of physical stability as well as aggregation of rybosomes into polysomes able to initiate protein synthesis. Mg 2+ can also act as a cofactor for ribonucleic acid enzymes (ribozymes) capable of specifically recognizing and cleaving the target mRNA. As an essential cofactor in NER, BER, MMR processes, Mg2+ is required for the removal of DNA damage. An activator of over 300 different enzymes, magnesium participates in many metabolic processes, such as glycolysis, Krebs cycle, β-oxidation or ion transport across cell membranes. Mg 2+ plays a key role in the regulation of functions of mitochondria, inclu

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Biochemistry of magnesium

Introduction. Terpenes are the largest known class of organic compounds, widely distributed in plants. They are grouped considering the number of isoprene units in their structure; hence, the group consisting of 30 carbon atoms is called triterpenes. These compounds have a wide range of biological features. Objective. The aim of this review was to comprehensively discuss the role of betulin and betulinic acid as potent anticancer agents, including various studies determining their efficiency in cancer treatment and enumerating the types of cancer susceptible to this kind of therapy. State of knowledge. Betulin is a naturally occurring lupane-type pentacyclic triterpene, wildly distributed in plants, especially Betulinaceae. One of its derivatives, formed by oxidation, is betulinic acid. Both compounds are abundantly present in the outer bark of white birch, with betulin forming up to 34% its dry mass and are known for their valuable biological properties, including anti-cancer effect. By inducing the internal apoptosis pathway in cancer cells while sparing normal cells, they are a great help in the treatment of most malignancies, alone or in combination with radioor chemotherapy. Summary. Compounds that have a direct effect on mitochondria are promising experimental anticancer drugs, since they are able to cause cell death in conditions in which conventional therapies, including chemotherapeutics, usually fail. Therefore, mitochondrial targeting agents such as betulin and betulinic acid are a promise of a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of human tumours.

http://www.jpccr.eu/pdf-92743-26952?filename=Betulin and betulinic.pdf

Betulin and betulinic acid in cancer research

Postmenopausal women more often suffered from knee osteoarthritis and its pathogenesis still remains unclear. Calcium and silicon are significant elements involved in bone and joint metabolism, especially in older people. Cardiovascular diseases are common worldwide and simvastatin is the most prescribed drug in such population of patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of simvastatin administration on calcium and silicon concentration in the plasma of postmenopausal women with osteoarthritis. Sixty postmenopausal mild hypercholesterolemic women (mean age 61.4 years, range 54–68) were enrolled. Thirty patients received simvastatin (20 or 40 mg/day) for at least 1 year before being enrolled (simvastatin “+” group). Control group consists of remaining 30 women (simvastatin “−“group). Silicon and calcium concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically. Plasma simvastatin level was determined 3 h after the drug administration using HPLC-UV-Vis. Calcium but not silicon level was significantly lower in patients receiving simvastatin in comparison with non-statin group (1.91 ± 0.32 vs. 2.33 ± 0.19 mmol/l, p < 0.05). A weak but significant positive correlation between plasma silicon and simvastatin levels (r = 0.3, p < 0.05) was observed; this may be due to the fact that simvastatin contains silicon dioxide as an inactive ingredient. The mean simvastatin concentration was 9.02 ng/ml. All hypotheses were verified at the significance level of p < 0.05. A statistically significant decrease in the plasma calcium concentration of postmenopausal women, treated with simvastatin suggests that simvastatin may play a role in calcium metabolism in postmenopausal women with osteoarthritis. Positive correlation of simvastatin concentration with silicon level in the plasma suggests that both might prompt the positive effect of osteoarthritis treatment.

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Anna Horecka

Papers

Betulin and betulinic acid: triterpenoids derivatives with a powerful biological potential

Characteristics of hematopoietic stem cells of umbilical cord blood

Biochemistry of magnesium

Betulin and betulinic acid in cancer research

Simvastatin Effect on Calcium and Silicon Plasma Levels in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoarthritis