Spice-Derived Phenolic Compounds: Potential for Skin Cancer Prevention and Therapy.

Skin cancer is a condition characterized by the abnormal growth of skin cells, primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Different types of skin cancer include melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Despite the advancements in targeted therapies, there is still a need for a safer, highly efficient approach to preventing and treating cutaneous malignancies. Spices have a rich history dating back thousands of years and are renowned for their ability to enhance the flavor, taste, and color of food. Derived from various plant parts like seeds, fruits, bark, roots, or flowers, spices are important culinary ingredients. However, their value extends beyond the culinary realm. Some spices contain bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, which are known for their significant biological effects. These compounds have attracted attention in scientific research due to their potential health benefits, including their possible role in disease prevention and treatment, such as cancer. This review focuses on examining the potential of spice-derived phenolic compounds as preventive or therapeutic agents for managing skin cancers. By compiling and analyzing the available knowledge, this review aims to provide insights that can guide future research in identifying new anticancer phytochemicals and uncovering additional mechanisms for combating skin cancer.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriasis.

OBJECTIVES: The main goal of the study was to describe the demographic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of a monitored group of patients with psoriasis to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities and to define the cardiovascular risk profile. METHODS: One hundred and ninety outpatients aged over 18 were included in the prospective observational cross-sectional study. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from patients. The severity of psoriasis was evaluated using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The results of laboratory testing were identified based on patient health records. RESULTS: Based on an evaluation of psoriasis phenotypes, 150 patients (78.95%) suffered from plaque psoriasis, 18 (9.5%) from palmoplantar psoriasis, 11 (5.8%) from guttate psoriasis, 6 (3.2%) from generalized pustular psoriasis, and 5 (2.6%) from erythrodermic psoriasis. The personal medical history discovered the occurrence of arterial hypertension in 83 patients (43.7%), the occurrence of depression in 49 patients (25.8%), type 2 diabetes in 29 patients (15.3%), and dyslipidaemia in 48 patients (25.3%). CONCLUSION: It is noteworthy that psoriasis may be demonstrated as a multi-system disease which does not only affect the skin and its adnexa. The association of psoriasis with comorbidities may significantly increase morbidity and total mortality as well as the demands for health care provision.

Syntheses, Structures, and Spectroscopic Properties of 1,10-Phenanthroline-Based Macrocycles Threaded by PtC8 Pt, PtC12 Pt, and PtC16 Pt Axles: Metal-Capped Rotaxanes as Insulated Molecular Wires.

The platinum polyynyl complexes trans-(C6 F5 )(p-tol3 P)2 Pt(C≡C)n/2 H undergo oxidative homocoupling (O2 , CuCl/TMEDA) to diplatinum polyynediyl complexes trans, trans-(C6 F5 )(p-tol3 P)2 Pt(C≡C)n Pt(Pp-tol3 )2 (C6 F5 ) (n=4, 2; 6, 5; 8, 8; 92-97 %) as reported previously. When related reactions are conducted in the presence of CuI adducts of the 1,10-phenanthroline-based macrocycles 2,9-(1,10-phenanthrolinediyl)(p-C6 H4 O(CH2 )6 O)2 (1,3-C6 H4 ) (10, 33-membered) or 2,9-(1,10-phenanthrolinediyl)(p-C6 H4 O(CH2 )6 O)2 (2,7-naphthalenediyl) (11, 35-membered), excess K2 CO3 , and I2 (oxidant), rotaxanes are isolated that feature a Pt(C≡C)n Pt axle that has been threaded through the macrocycle (2⋅10, 9 %; 5⋅10, 41 %; 5⋅11, 28 %; 8⋅10, 12 %; 8⋅11, 9 %). Their crystal structures are determined and analyzed in detail, particularly with respect to geometric perturbations and the degree of steric sp carbon chain insulation. NMR spectra show a number of shielding effects. UV/Vis spectra do not indicate significant electronic interactions between the Pt(C≡C)n Pt axles and macrocycles, although cyclic voltammetry data suggest rapid reactions following oxidation.

Seroprevalence of Lyme disease in Eastern Slovakia.

OBJECTIVE: Lyme disease (LD) is chronic, multi-system zoonosis transmitted by ticks, and LD aetiological agents are spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. The aim of the cross-sectional study was to analyze the LD incidence on the basis of the presence of specific antibodies in the serum of patients in Eastern Slovakia, and to compare the results of serological ELISA and immunoblot assays. METHODS: Venous blood with questionnaires was obtained by field sampling of respondents from Eastern Slovakia. Overall, we examined 537 human sera by the ELISA and for confirmation we tested all positive IgG antibodies against the Borrelia immunoblot assay. RESULTS: Our results confirmed the high serum prevalence of anti-Borrelia antibodies (17.9% for IgG), while the immunoblot seropositive test was confirmed in 69.8% of responders from ELISA IgG positive sera. Positive antibodies of the IgM class were found in 7.6% of the population under study. Most commonly found were antibodies against VlsE (80.2%), p41 (66.7%), p18 (56.3%), p100 (41.7%), p58 (31.3%), and p39 (30.2%). CONCLUSION: It should be noted that detection of antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l. is only an indirect evidence of the presence of this bacterium in the development of clinical signs of LD in humans. Laboratory LD tests should be performed in accordance with valid standards, positive and uncertain results must be confirmed by the Western Blot/Immunoblot assay.

Epidemiological and clinical aspects of dermatophytoses in Eastern Slovakia: a retrospective three-year study.

OBJECTIVE: A three-year retrospective study of fungi isolated from samples of patients with suspected fungal skin infections in Eastern Slovakia is presented. METHODS: A total of 11,989 samples were collected and investigated with direct microscopic examination using 20% KOH and cultivated in Sabouraud and Mycosel medium. Identification was based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. RESULTS: Of the total samples, 61.76% (7,405/11,989) were completely negative and 38.24% positive (4,584/11,989). Dermatophytes accounted for 45.88% of isolates (2,103/4,584), yeasts for 26.79% (1,228/4,584), non-dermatophytes for 15.29% (701/4,584), and Malassezia sp. for 12.4% (552/4,584). Trichophyton rubrum was the most prevalent causative agent (79.08%) implicated in fungal skin infections, followed by Trichophyton interdigitale (10.60%). Less frequent isolates included Trichophyton tonsurans (5.13%), and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (3.14%). Other dermatophytes (Microsporum audouinii, Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton violaceum, Trichophyton verrucosum, and Epidermophyton floccosum) were very rarely identified (each in less than 1% of all samples). The main clinical form of dermatophytosis in the sample was tinea unguium (42.61%), followed by tinea pedis (30.86%), tinea inguinalis (11.65%), tinea corporis (8.04%), and tinea manus (4.76%). Tinea capitis et faciei (2.08%) was more common among children and adolescents. CONCLUSION: The assessment of data has showed the predominance of tinea unguium among adult patients, tinea capitis et faciei among children, and the prevalent aetiological role of Trichophyton rubrum in fungal skin infections; findings that are in agreement with recent European studies.

Steric control of the in/out sense of bridgehead substituents in macrobicyclic compounds: isolation of new "crossed chain" variants of in/out isomers.

Isomers of the cage like dibridgehead diphosphine P((CH2)14)3P (1) are treated with Ph3PAu(2,6-C6H3(Trip)2) (2 equiv.; Trip = 2,4,6-C6H2(iPr)3). With out,out-1, workup gives out,out-1·(Au(2,6-C6H3(Trip)2))2 (46%), as confirmed by a crystal structure. With in,out-1, crystallization affords not in,out-1·(Au(2,6-C6H3(Trip)2))2, but rather an out,out isomer in which one of the (CH2)14 segments threads through the macrocycle formed by the other two. Implications for mechanisms of interconversion of in,out isomers are analyzed.

A new type of insulated molecular wire: a rotaxane derived from a metal-capped conjugated tetrayne.

The platinum butadiynyl complex trans-(C(6)F(5))(p-tol(3)P)(2)Pt(C≡C)(2)H and a CuI adduct of a 1,10-phenanthroline based 33-membered macrocycle react in the presence of K(2)CO(3) and I(2) or O(2) to give a rotaxane (ca. 9%) in which the macrocycle is threaded by the sp carbon chain of trans,trans-(C(6)F(5))(p-tol(3)P)(2)Pt(C≡C)(4)Pt(Pp-tol(3))(2)(C(6)F(5)). The crystal structure and macrocycle/axle electronic interactions are analyzed in detail.