The importance of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and LRP5 protein in bone metabolism of postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease among women. The Wnt signaling pathway has been known to be the critical regulator of osteoblastogenesis. Alterations in this mechanism may have consequences for bone remodeling in humans. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of genotypes and alleles of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs4988321 and rs312009 of LRP5 in Polish postmenopausal women with osteopenia (n = 109) and osteoporosis (n = 333). Potential correlations between genetic polymorphisms, bone mineral density (BMD), risk for bone fractures, and other clinical parameters were analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples and the sequence polymorphisms of LRP5 gene were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods with melting curve analysis. We also calculated the odds ratio (OR) for the LRP5 genotypes and the alleles. Then, we evaluated the effect of the LRP5 polymorphism on T-score, Z-score, L2L4AM, L2L4YA, L2L4BMD, body mass index (BMI), and other clinical parameters. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in the distribution of LRP5 rs312009 genotypes between the groups were observed. Furthermore, our findings indicate that there is no correlation between LRP5 genotypes and the clinical characteristics of women with osteopenia/osteoporosis. In contrast, there was an increased value of OR in heterozygotes for rs4988321, both in patients with osteopenia (OR = 1.47) and in those with osteoporosis (OR = 1.33). In our study, we were not able to calculate the OR parameter for the AA genotype due to its low prevalence in the population. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the Val667Met LRP5 (rs312009) polymorphism may contribute to an elevated risk for fractures in postmenopausal Polish women.

The diagnostic potential of glutathione S-transferase (GST) polymorphisms in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in the world. Despite improvements in screening for early diagnosis, CRC is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine a potential association between the frequency of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes and the risk of CRC in the Polish population. Moreover, we analyzed the clinical parameters with the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms in patients with CRC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 512 Caucasians, including 279 patients (105 women and 174 men) with CRC. DNA from peripheral blood was extracted and the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used for glutathione S-transferase theta (GSTT1) and mu (GSTM1) gene deletion genotyping. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant differences in the frequency of the GST gene polymorphisms in patients with CRC and controls. The prevalence of the GSTM1*0 variant in the test subjects was higher than in controls (45.9% vs 42.9%; p > 0.05). The frequency of the GSTT1*0 variant was also higher in patients with CRC compared to the control population (21.1% vs 18.9%; p > 0.05). In addition, the effect of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms on the incidence of CRC was also analyzed. There was a slight, but not statistically significant, increase of the risk of colon cancer for the GSTM1*0 and GSTT1*0 variants. Moreover, we examined the GST genotype due to the cancer TNM classification and the location of the primary tumor. Statistically significant differences in the distribution of the GSTT1*0 and GSTT1*1 genotypes in both the stage and the location of the primary tumor were observed. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the GSTT1 polymorphism may have an impact on the severity of the tumor and its location.

Analysis of the gene polymorphism of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in women with preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of mortality of mothers, fetuses and newborns around the world. The etiology of preeclampsia has not yet been clarified, but many studies indicate a multifactorial basis of PE. Aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) is responsible for synthesis of aldosterone responsible for regulating blood pressure. Similarly, natriuretic peptide (ANP) regulates blood pressure through a variety of mechanisms affecting the sodium concentration and the amount of extracellular fluid. Currently, attention is paid to the role of the polymorphisms in the expression level of these genes. The aim of the study was to determine the frequencies of genotypes and alleles for polymorphisms of -344C>T CYP11B2 gene and 2238T>C ANP gene in women with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women from the Caucasian population. STUDY DESIGN: The study included a group of 165 pregnant women (59 women with preeclampsia and 109 healthy pregnant women). DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. Determination of the polymorphism of -344C>T CYP11B2 gene and 2238T>C ANP gene was performed by PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: The results showed that the frequencies of the TC and CC genotypes of 2238T>C polymorphism in ANP gene were significantly higher in patients with PE compared to control group. For -344C>T polymorphism of CYP11B2 gene, the frequency of TT genotype was significantly higher in patients with hypertension than in controls (32.2% vs. 23.58%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that gene polymorphism of CYP11B2 (-344C>T) and ANP (2238T>C) may be associated with developing PE during pregnancy.

Survivin in ovary tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family which are selectively overexpressed in human neoplasms, and its expression has been shown to be connected with cell proliferation. We analyzed survivin expression in ovarian epithelial neoplasms to evaluate its role in the development of ovarian tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Immunohistochemistry assays were conducted in 137 cases (48 ovarian carcinoma, 43 borderline ovarian carcinoma, 46 benign ovarian tumor and 20 samples of normal ovarian tissue of ovarian epithelial neoplasms. Histological types included serous (n = 68) and mucinous (n = 69) tumors. All tumors were reviewed histopathologically and classified according to the WHO criteria. RESULTS: Survivin expression in the group of serous neoplasms was detected in 24.0% (6 of 25) of benign cases, in 60.0% (12 of 20) of borderline tumors, and 91.0% (24 of 47) of ovarian carcinomas. In the group of mucinous tumors, survivin expression was found in 33.5% (7 of 21) of benign cases, 43.5% (10 of 23) of borderline tumors, and 80.0% (20 of 25) of malignant tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that survivin overexpression may play a crucial role in the development of epithelial ovarian neoplasms and be an important prognostic factor for the influence of survivin expression on epithelial ovarian cancers.

The influence of certain plant substances and their chemopreventive activity in ovarian cancer.

A steadily growing number of studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of plant-derived substances (preparations) on the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy for ovarian cancer. A prior or parallel application of plant-derived substances and chemotherapy could be the way to strengthen the classic pharmacological treatment. Our paper presents several plant-derived substances with proven antiproliferative activities, in which phenolic and flavonoid bioactive compounds dominate, with particular emphasis on ovarian cancer cells. We are of the opinion that our paper will contribute to better understanding of the molecular basis for the positive interaction effect of concomitant application of the abovementioned plant substances with certain cytostatics. Also, this work may increase the number of preclinical in vivo experiments using these and other phenolic, flavonoid-rich plant substances to better understand their efficacy and safety and, in the future, to initiate clinical trials in this field.

[Attachment patterns and anxiety in adolescents suffering from mixed disorders of conduct and emotions]. / Wzory przywiazania i lek u adolescentów z diagnoza zaburzen zachowania i emocji.

AIM: The paper presents results of research concerning attachment patterns and anxiety in adolescents suffering from mixed disorders of conduct and emotions. METHOD: Both clinical and control group completed the Parental Bonding Instrument and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The first questionnaire measures parental style as perceived by the child, it consists of two scales: care and control. The second one the temporary condition of "state anxiety" and the more general and long-standing quality of "trait anxiety". RESULTS: The study revealed that adolescents from the clinical group perceive their parents as less protective than the control. Adolescents from the clinical group revealed also a higher level of anxiety, both as a state and as a trait. CONCLUSIONS: The basic conclusion is that there are differences between groups in family functioning--adolescents from the clinical group received less protection from parents, which may influence their behaviours aimed at providing them more safety.

[Attachment patterns and aggressive behaviours in adolescents suffering from mixed disorders of conduct and emotions]. / Wzory przywiazania i zachowania agresywne wsród mlodziezy z diagnoza zaburzen zachowania i emocji.

AIM: The paper presents results of research concerning attachment patterns and aggressive behaviours in adolescents suffering from mixed disorders of conduct and emotions. METHOD: Both the clinical and the control group completed Parental Bonding Instrument and Polish version of Buss-Durkee Inventory. The first questionnaire measures parental style as perceived by the child, it consists of two scales: care and control. The second one measures some dimensions of aggression. RESULTS: The study revealed that adolescents from the clinical group perceive their parents as less protective than the control. It showed very weak relations between relations with the parents and expression of aggression. These results are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The basic conclusion is that there are differences between groups in family functioning--adolescents from the clinical group received less protection from their parents what may influence their behaviours aimed at providing them more safety. Results concerning the relation between family relations and aggression indicate that future research must take into consideration other social relations of adolescents.