Antitumor Activity of NMS-P937 Specific Small-Molecule Polo-Like Kinase 1 Inhibitor, in PC3 Human Prostate Cancer, Hela Cervical Cancer, and SKOV-3 Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the antitumor activity of NMS-P937, a specific small-molecule polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitor, in PC3 human prostate cancer, HeLa cervical cancer, and SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell lines. Materials and methods: PC3, HeLa, and SKOV-3 cells were treated with NMS-P937 for 48 h. The viability was analyzed by XTT colorimetric assay. Since PC3 was found to be the most sensitive cell line, total oxidant status (TOS) values were evaluated in NMS-P937-treated and non-treated PC3 cells via TOS assay. Results: The proliferation of cancer cell lines was moderately inhibited by NMS-P937 in conjunction with the increase in concentration. The IC50 values of NMS-P937 in PC3, HeLa, and SKOV-3 cells were recorded as 27.3, 69.7, and 79.3 μM, respectively, for 48 h. TOS was measured in control and NMS-P937-treated PC3 cells and calculated as 3.15±0.36 and 4.49±0.64 μmol H2O2 Equiv./L, respectively, indicating the increased oxidative stress under the influence of the study compound (p=0.035). Conclusion: The PLK1 inhibitor NMS-P937 reduces the activity of cancer cell lines consisting of PC3 human prostate cancer, HeLa cervical cancer, and SKOV-3 ovarian cancer in a dose-dependent manner. This compound increases oxidative stress, which may play a pivotal role in the cytotoxic activity of the compound in PC3 cells. However, there is still a need to carry out both in vitro and in vivo studies, including different cancer cell lines and tumor models, and to reveal the adverse effects that may develop

Perinatal and neonatal outcomes of adolescent pregnancies over a 10-year period

Objectives: Poor overall neonatal outcomes, small neonatal head circumference, neonatal hypoglycemia, need for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and late-onset neonatal sepsis are more common in adolescents. The aim of this study is to draw attention to the outcomes of adolescent pregnancies. Material and methods: This retrospective study was conducted in adolescent singleton pregnancies with maternal age < 15 years (n = 20, group 1), 16–19 years (n = 1929, group 2), and 20 years (n = 866, group 3). Age, gravidity, parity, and body mass index (BMI) measurements of mothers; mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated and compared. Results: The rate of preterm birth, postpartum hemorrhage, asymmetrical intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR, as 3% percentile), macrosomia, and height of newborn of Group 3 was significantly higher. The rate of asymmetrical IUGR (as 10% percentile) was significantly lower in Group 3. The rate of severe preeclampsia and cesarean section was significantly higher in Group 3. The rate of Small for Gestational Age newborn, neonatal hypoglycemia, and late-onset neonatal sepsis was significantly higher in Group 1. Conclusions: Neonatal problems with poor obstetric outcomes are common in adolescent pregnant women, so that a family planning and baby care social trainings are important in achieving good long-term maternal and neonatal outcomes

Anticancer activity of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) Inhibitor, JG-98, against human cervical cancer HeLa and ovarian cancer SKOV-3 cells

Cervical and ovarian cancer are two aggressive neoplasms for women, still with high mortality and morbidity. Among the molecules and compounds that have anticancer activity, it was studied the JG-98, a heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) inhibitor. It demonstrated inhibitory effects on the growth of neoplastic cells, mediated by the induction of apoptosis, with anti-proliferation activity on neoplastic cells via the apoptotic pathway. The authors investigated the antiproliferative effects of JG-98 on human cervical cancer HeLa and ovarian cancer SKOV-3, examined by a standard XTT assay. Apoptotic effects and oxidative status were also evaluated by flow cytometry, ELISA, and total oxidant status assays in HeLa cells, respectively. The IC50 values of JG-98 in HeLa and SKOV-3 cells were recorded as 1.79 and 2.96 μM, respectively. Flow cytometry results showed that JG-98 treatment remarkably increased the proportion of apoptotic cells at IC50 concentration. The JG-98 treatment significantly increased the proteins Bax, cleaved caspase 3, cleaved PARP, and 8-oxo-dG levels, all indicators of cellular apoptosis. These findings show that JG-98 significantly decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in HeLa cells, suggesting that JG-98 has a promising anti-tumor effect in cervical and ovarian cancers. [Med-Science 2023; 12(1.000): 20-5

Predictive and Diagnostic Value of Serum Adipokines in Pregnant Women with Intrahepatic Cholestasis

The objective of this study was to assess the value of serum leptin, adiponectin, apelin, and ghrelin as biomarkers for the prediction and diagnosis of intra-hepatic cholestasis (ICP). This prospective study included pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy: 63 with ICP, 48 and 15 of whom had mild and severe disease, respectively, and 32 as controls. ICP women had increased median levels of serum leptin, adiponectin, apelin, and ghrelin compared to the controls (p < 0.05). These biomarkers meaningfully changed regarding the severity of ICP: While leptin was reduced, apelin and ghrelin were increased, and adiponectin was increased somewhat. To predict and diagnose ICP, the predictive values of serum leptin, adiponectin, and apelin need to be accepted as comparable, with moderate to high sensitivity and specificity; however, the predictive value of serum ghrelin was somewhat lower. More research is needed to clarify the potential properties of adipokines to gain acceptance as a predictive or diagnostic biomarker for ICP

Derangements of vaginal and cervical canal microbiota determined with real-time PCR in women with recurrent miscarriages

Balanced vaginal microbiota and, as a continuum, cervical canal microbiota help prevent reproductive disorders, including recurrent miscarriage (RM). In a significant proportion of couples with RM, routine diagnostic workup cannot find any manageable cause, leading to a requirement for new diagnostic tools. In the present study, we determined the quantitative composition of the microbiota of the vagina and cervical canal, assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction, in women with RM. It also evaluated their derangements related to the pathogenesis of RM, and thus the suitability of this test as a diagnostic tool for managing RM. Vaginal and cervical canal specimens of 25 women with RM and 25 healthy volunteers were collected. The test results revealed information about the total vaginal bacterial biomass by measuring the abundance of Lactobacillus spp.; other bacteria; and pathogens, including Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma (urealyticum + parvum), and Candida spp. Overall, the findings of this study implied the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. decreased in women with RM with an increase in the abundance of other microorganisms in accordance with the reduction in the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. due to aerobic vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal and cervical canal microbiota need to be considered during the diagnostic workup of women with RM.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is a well-known reproductive disorder. Its diagnostic workup is not successful in determining the underlying problem in many cases. Hence, novel diagnostic tools based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are needed for evaluating reproductive microbiota, which are considerably reliable, to satisfy the expectations of women with RM. What do the results of this study add? Overall, the decrease in the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. was found to be related to RM, and the patterns of the presence of other microorganisms were in accordance with the reduction in the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. These findings suggested an important role of vaginal and cervical canal microbiota in the pathogenesis of RM. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Additional research is warranted to elucidate the functional impact of altered components of the microbiota of vaginal and cervical canals on the physiology of the local cervical canal and its participation in the microbiota of the endometrial cavity, especially regarding unsuccessful pregnancies as a result of the disturbed physiology of the local endometrial microenvironment. However, possible applications of real-time PCR-based tests for the screening of subclinical infections in clinical practice require the performance of further investigations in patients with RM