Search Results (2)

Echocardiographic myocardial strain is crucial for early detection of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, particularly in patients at moderate or high risk. Background/Objectives: This study investigates changes in global longitudinal strain (GLS) in breast cancer patients with low baseline risk for cardiotoxicity during cancer therapy. We also examined the relationship between echocardiographic strain, structural myocardial changes, and microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation associated with cancer treatment using an animal model. Methods: Echocardiography and blood tests were examined in 33 breast cancer patients with low baseline risk for cardiotoxicity during anthracycline treatment, with a follow-up at 12 months. Additionally, 16 Wistar rats received epirubicin (20 mg/kg over 4 weeks) to examine cardiac strain and structural changes. Moreover, circulating miRNA levels were assessed in patients’ serum using microarray at the end of the treatment and further analyzed in peripheral blood from the animal model. Results: Pathological GLS values were observed in 27.27% of patients after four cycles, with 15.15% showing reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after 12 months. In the animal model, epirubicin-induced circumferential strain (CS) decrease correlates with myocardial fibrosis assessed histologically and by a significant increase in COL1 and TGFB2 expression. Furthermore, we found a significant decrease in aquaporin1 expression associated with the presence of vacuoles in treated rats. Furthermore, dysregulation in the expression of miRNAs was observed in patients with cardiotoxicity. Among them, hsa-miR-122-5p is increased in both patient and rat serum post-treatment. Conclusions: A notable percentage of low-risk patients exhibited cardiac strain reduction due to cardiotoxicity. Epirubicin treatment caused structural heart changes in rats, highlighting miR-122-5p as a potential fibrosis marker that correlated with echocardiographic parameters. Full article

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are clusters of units of oxoanions of transition metals, such as Mo, W, V and Nb, that can be formed upon acidification of neutral solutions. Once formed, some POMs have shown to persist in solution, even in the neutral and basic pH range. These inorganic clusters, amenable of a variety of structures, have been studied in environmental, chemical, and industrial fields, having applications in catalysis and macromolecular crystallography, as well as applications in biomedicine, such as cancer, bacterial and viral infections, among others. Herein, we connect recent POMs environmental applications in the decomposition of emergent pollutants with POMs’ biomedical activities and effects against cancer, bacteria, and viruses. With recent insights in POMs being pure, organic/inorganic hybrid materials, POM-based ionic liquid crystals and POM-ILs, and their applications in emergent pollutants degradation, including microplastics, are referred. It is perceived that the majority of the POMs studies against cancer, bacteria, and viruses were performed in the last ten years. POMs’ biological effects include apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, interference with the ions transport system, inhibition of mRNA synthesis, cell morphology changes, formation of reaction oxygen species, inhibition of virus binding to the host cell, and interaction with virus protein cages, among others. We additionally refer to POMs’ interactions with various proteins, including P-type ATPases, aquoporins, cinases, phosphatases, among others. Finally, POMs’ stability and speciation at physiological conditions are addressed. Full article