The levels of potassium and sodium ions and their ratio (Na+/K+) were assessed in the blood serum of 54 healthy donors, as well as 31 patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) using the capillary zone electrophoresis. Comparison of the obtained results on the content of analytes with the literature data has shown that the observed values for potassium and sodium ions in healthy donors and patients are within the normal range. However, the K+ content was statistically significantly higher in patients (4.4 ± 0.6 mМ) compared to the group of healthy donors (3.9 ± 0.5 mM; p = 0.0001), which may indicate a tendency towards impaired Na+/K+-exchanging ATPase, electrolyte balance, and metabolic processes in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases (LPD). As a result, the ratio of these cations was statistically significantly lower in patients (32 ± 5; p = 0.0013) compared to the control group (36 ± 4). The analysis of the homogeneity of variance between the group of healthy donors and patients showed that the variances were not homogeneous for the sodium cation (p = 0.0153). The average concentrations of Na+ and K+ ions did not differ significantly between the age groups of 18–50 and 51–85 years in healthy people and patients. The analysis of the homogeneity of variance between the age groups also revealed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05), with the exception of sodium cation in the age group of 18–50 years, where the variances were nonhomogeneous (p = 0.046). There were no statistically significant differences in the content of potassium, sodium ions and their ratio depending on the type of lymphoproliferative disease: HL and NHL, within the sample under study. This suggests that the content of these analytes does not depend on the type of LPD in this population.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths globally. In HCC, metabolic reprogramming leads to increased methionine synthesis, from homocysteine, which promotes tumor cell growth. Hyperhomocysteinemia often cause folate depletion. The present preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic significance of MTR gene, homocysteine and 5-MTHF levels in HCC patients. A total of 40 participants were recruited in this study. HCC patients had higher homocysteine and reduced 5-MTHF levels as determined by enzyme cycling assay. mRNA expression of MTR gene was 5.6-fold higher in HCC patients relative to the control. A positive but moderate correlation (r = 0.61) was found between MTR gene and homocysteine levels while negative correlation (r = –0.67) was noted between MTR gene and 5-MTHF levels. Docking studies identified ALA442.A, GLY465.A and CYS463.A as potential amino acid residues of MTR protein interacting with homocysteine. Similarly, GLY38.A and ASP68.A of MTR protein were found to be potentially involved in hydrogen bond formation with 5-MTHF. The association of MTR gene with age and sex was not statistically significant. The study also reported that in HCC patients, homocysteine level, MTR gene expression, and prothrombin time were all upregulated while 5‑MTHF and albumin levels were reduced. Overall, the study provided complex interplay between the metabolites of one carbon metabolism (OCM) and their diagnostic and therapeutic potential. The results suggested that serum homocysteine, 5-MTHF levels, and MTR gene expression may serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers and may predict patient outcome in HCC.
Lichens are producers of a number of unique secondary metabolites. The most numerous and structurally diverse group of compounds characteristic of lichens are depsidones. To date, approximately 237 compounds belonging to the depsidones group have been described in lichens. At the same time, one or another biological activity has been described only for less than 10
Plant extracts can be great substitutes to the infections instigated by multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbes due to the presence of naturally occurring phytochemical compounds enclosed within them. In this study the antimicrobial potential of eight different medicinal plants was tested against Escherichia coli (BTCB02), Staphylococcus aureus (BTCB03), and Bacillus subtilis (BTCB12) using disc diffusion method. Additionally, the cytotoxic activity via MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay against MDA-MD-231(MD Anderson) breast cancer cell lines was also conducted to examine their toxicity. Three crude extracts—aqueous, methanol, and ethanol—were prepared through maceration extraction. Amongst all the medicinal plants, Anogeissus latifolia disclosed the highest antimicrobial activity against E. coli, i.e., 28 ± 0.58 mm, whereas Viola odorata displayed 17 ± 0.78 mm, while aqueous Nardostachys jatamansi ethanol extracts revealed 14 ± 0.87 mm. Furthermore, B. subtilis revealed the highest antimicrobial activity with Aristolochia rotunda (methanol) (32 ± 1.23 mm), and Anogeissus latifolia exposed 22 ± 0.57 mm (ethanol) together with Rheum webbianum (ethanol) at 21 ± 0.23 mm. Moreover, S. aureus showed highest antimicrobial activity with Aristolochia rotunda aqueous extract (35 ± 1.02 mm) followed by Pistacia chinensis (32 ± 1.02 mm) and Anogeissus latifolia methanol extracts (23 ± 0.57 mm). After conducting series of experiments, plant samples Viola odorata (aqueous extract) and Acacia nilotica (ethanol extract) possessed highest cytotoxic activity against MDA-MD-231 cell line from 1 to 6
A study was conducted on the regulatory effect of N-eicosapentaenoylethanolamine (EPEA) on the modification of the fatty acid (FA) composition of leukocytes in patients with asthma, in comparison with the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPEE). The FA composition of leukocytes was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, both with and without the addition of experimental compounds. It was found that under the influence of EPEA, the FA composition of leukocytes undergoes more substantial changes: compared to the effect of EPEE, the total level of saturated FAs was 10
