Endometrial cancer is the most common gynaecological malignancy in developed countries, and its increasing incidence is strongly associated with obesity. In most cases, the disease is driven by prolonged oestrogen exposure without adequate progesterone — a hormonal imbalance that is often linked to excess adipose tissue. Obesity contributes to more than half of all cases and is considered the leading modifiable risk factor. Dietary patterns can affect the risk of developing endometrial cancer not only through their impact on body weight, but also by modulating hormone levels, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation. Lifestyle interventions that promote healthy nutrition and regular physical activity, and that prevent obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders, are essential components of prevention strategies. An appropriate diet may also improve prognosis, alleviate symptoms and reduce adverse effects of treatment. Future research should focus on tailored dietary approaches for specific histological and molecular subtypes, as well as high-risk populations. Current evidence suggests that a healthy diet is particularly important for women with obesity as part of endometrial cancer prevention.
Disulfiram, originally developed for the treatment of alcohol dependence, has recently gained attention for its potential applications in oncology and infectious diseases. In breast and pancreatic cancers, disulfiram forms copper complexes that inhibit tumor growth, induce oxidative stress, and enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It targets cancer stem cells and modulates key enzymes such as aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), thereby increasing tumor sensitivity to agents such as gemcitabine and temozolomide. In glioblastoma, disulfiram also inhibits polo-like kinase 1 and proteasome activity, promoting apoptosis. In HIV therapy, disulfiram contributes to the “shock-and-kill” strategy by reactivating latent viral reservoirs without significant immune activation. In COVID-19, it may inhibit viral proteases (Mpro, PLpro) and reduce neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, potentially mitigating disease severity. Observational studies suggest a reduced risk of infection and symptom development among disulfiram users. Beyond these areas, disulfiram has demonstrated in vitro activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi, vancomycin-resistant bacteria, hepatitis C virus, and various parasites. It has also been explored as an adjunct in the treatment of cocaine dependence. Although most findings remain preclinical, the breadth of disulfiram’s biological activity supports continued investigation into its therapeutic potential across diverse medical domains.
Mesalamine, a Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) Class IV drug, exhibits poor solubility and low permeability, posing considerable challenges for accurate quantification. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a robust, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable UV-visible spectrophotometric method for the precise quantification of mesalamine in ethanol and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4), in accordance with International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) Q2(R1) guidelines. The method was optimized at a maximum absorption wavelength of 300 nm and validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, specificity, and sensitivity through the determination of the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ). Calibration curves were constructed over a concentration range of 10–100 µg/mL. The proposed method demonstrated excellent linearity, with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.99. Relative standard deviation (%RSD) values remained below 0.5%, indicating good repeatability and reproducibility. Accuracy was confirmed by recovery values ranging from 99.3% to 101.9%. The calculated LOD and LOQ values for mesalamine in ethanol (10.0 and 21.1 µg/mL, respectively) and PBS (6.8 and 20.6 µg/mL, respectively) were within acceptable limits according to ICH recommendations, confirming the sensitivity and reliability of the analytical method. The validated UV-visible spectrophotometric method provides a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective approach for the routine quantification of mesalamine during formulation development and pharmaceutical quality control. Owing to its simplicity and resource-efficient nature, the method represents a practical alternative to more complex chromatographic techniques. Further studies may broaden its applicability through integration with advanced analytical approaches in pharmaceutical sciences.
Patients receiving antithrombotic therapy are at increased risk of bleeding. In some cases, bleeding may be the first manifestation of an underlying malignancy. We investigated newly diagnosed cancers associated with gastrointestinal or genitourinary bleeding among patients enrolled in the Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies (COMPASS) trial and assessed the risk of recent cancer diagnoses following bleeding at these sites. During a 23-month follow-up of 27,395 patients (mean age: 68 years; 21% female), 2,678 patients (9.8%) experienced any bleeding, 713 (2.6%) experienced major bleeding, and 1,084 (4.0%) were diagnosed with cancer. Among the 2,678 patients with bleeding, 257 (9.9%) were subsequently diagnosed with cancer. Gastrointestinal bleeding was 20-fold more common in patients with newly diagnosed gastrointestinal cancers (7.4% vs. 0.5%; HR 20.6, 95% CI: 15.2-27.8) and 1.7-fold more common in those with non-gastrointestinal cancers (3.8% vs. 3.1%; HR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.20-2.40). Genitourinary bleeding was associated with a 32-fold increased risk of newly diagnosed genitourinary malignancy (15.8% vs. 0.8%; HR 32.5, 95% CI: 24.7-42.9), while urinary bleeding was linked to a 98-fold higher risk of newly diagnosed urinary cancer (14.2% vs. 0.2%; HR 98.5, 95% CI: 68.0-142.7). Non-gastrointestinal, non-genitourinary bleeding was associated with a threefold higher risk of non-gastrointestinal, non-genitourinary cancers (4.4% vs. 1.9%; HR 3.02, 95% CI: 2.32-3.91). Among patients with atherosclerosis receiving antithrombotic therapy, gastrointestinal or genitourinary bleeding was associated with an increased incidence of cancer diagnosis. Any gastrointestinal or genitourinary bleeding should prompt evaluation for possible malignancy at these sites.
This study presents the formulation and evaluation of orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) containing high concentrations of micronized lurasidone hydrochloride, an atypical antipsychotic agent. The research focuses on optimizing two key material attributes: particle size distribution (PSD) and specific surface area (SSA). These optimizations enhance granulation performance and tablet quality. Fluidized-bed granulation was employed alongside dry coating techniques and various glidants to improve powder flowability and reduce cohesion. Comprehensive characterization included pre- and post-compression parameters such as visual evaluation, sieve analysis, weight variation, hardness, tensile strength, friability, disintegration, and dissolution testing. The results demonstrated that API batches with D50 > 3.5 µm achieved 85% drug release within 15 minutes. No significant differences were observed between formulations containing different glidants, indicating flexibility in excipient selection. These results underscore the importance of controlling PSD and SSA and employing effective dry coating and fluidization strategies to produce robust and reproducible ODTs. The developed tablets improve patient compliance and therapeutic efficacy for psychotic disorders and provide valuable insights for the future development of patient-friendly dosage forms.
