Resveratrol in the Treatment of Gynecological Cancer: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential.

Gynecological cancers, encompassing endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer, pose significant challenges in clinical practice, often marked by high mortality rates and treatment resistance. Despite advances in standard therapies, including chemoradiation and surgery, tumor recurrence and metastasis remain formidable obstacles. In this context, there is a pressing need to explore novel therapeutic strategies that offer improved efficacy and reduced side effects. Herbal medicine, particularly compounds like resveratrol, has garnered attention for its diverse biological properties, including anticancer effects. Resveratrol, a multipotential nutraceutical, holds promise in gynecological cancer therapy through its modulation of key cellular and molecular processes. This review aims to provide an overview of the current status, challenges, and opportunities in utilizing resveratrol for gynecological cancer treatment. We discuss its role in miRNA regulation, clinical trial findings, and the development of effective formulations. By elucidating the underlying mechanisms of resveratrol's anticancer effects and exploring innovative delivery systems, we aim to shed light on the potential avenues for optimizing its therapeutic benefits in gynecological cancers.

Blood lead concentrations in children with iron deficiency anemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder detrimental to the behavior, cognitive performance, immune system, and physical growth of infants and preschool- and school-age children. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) increases children's susceptibility to some metals, including the highly toxic lead (Pb), but the character of this relationship is still disputed. Thus, this study aimed to review and meta-analyze the association between the IDA and blood lead levels (BLL) among children, based on papers indexed by international scientific databases and published up to September 2021. A search was performed of the literature in several databases including the ISI Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. The final papers were assessed concerning their quality based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cross-sectional studies. Moreover, analyses were performed using R statistical software with the "meta" package. Of the 1528 articles found, only 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were considered in the meta-analysis. Significantly higher BLL in IDA children (SMD = 2.40; CI 95%, 0.93-3.87 µg/L; p = 0.0014) was seen when compared to non-IDA children. Moreover, the pooled OR is equal to 2.75 (CI 95%, 1.10-6.85 µg/L; p = 0.0303) suggesting a higher risk of IDA development among children with BLL > 10 µg/dL. Thus, we recommend systematic monitoring of Fe and Pb levels among children, especially in countries with limited sources of nutritious food. Since only a few studies were available for this meta-analysis, further studies are necessary to examine the association between IDA and BLL in detail.

Evaluation of Antidiabetic Activity of Carnosol (Phenolic Diterpene in Rosemary) in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

BACKGROUND: Carnosol (CS) is an ortho-diphenolic diterpene in rosemary with great antioxidant potential. This study was designed to investigate the hypolipidemic, anti-oxidant, and anti-diabetic activities of CS. METHODS: In our experiment, the rats were divided into the following groups of 8 animals each: control, untreated diabetic, three CS (1, 5, 10 mg/kg/day)-treated diabetic groups. On the first day of the study, the diabetic groups were given streptozotocin (STZ) in a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection at a dose of 60 mg/kg for induction of diabetes. CS was injected (i.p.) to the treatment groups from 3 days after STZ administration during a period of 4 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, we assessed the serum levels of glucose, IL-6, TNF-α, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione-s transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C). RESULTS: The results indicated that STZ caused an elevation of serum glucose, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, TG, TC, LDL-C, and it also made a reduction of serum GST, SOD, CAT, and HDL-C (p<0.001). The findings showed amelioration in the serum glucose, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, TG, TC, LDL-C, GST, SOD, CAT, and HDL-C in the CS-treated diabetic groups versus the untreated group, in a dose dependent manner (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the present investigation proposes that CS may be improved diabetes and its complications by modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.

Inhaled lead exposure affects tracheal responsiveness and lung inflammation in guinea pigs during sensitization.

Total and differential white blood cells (WBC), and cytokines, levels in serum were examined in guinea pigs exposed to inhaled lead acetate. Different groups of guinea pigs including: control (group C), sensitized group (group S), and exposed animals to aerosol of three lead concentrations during sensitization (n = 6 for each group) were studied. Total and differential WBC counts of lung lavage, serum cytokine (IFNγ and IL-4), levels and tracheal responsiveness to methacholine and ovalbumin were measured. All measured values were significantly increased except for IFNγ/IL-4 ratio which was significantly decreased in nonexposed sensitized and those exposed to all lead concentrations compared to control group (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Most measured values in animals exposed to higher lead concentration were also significantly higher than group S except for tracheal responsiveness to methacholine and lymphocyte count. Lead concentration significantly increased in lung tissues of animals exposed to all three lead concentrations (p < 0.001 for all cases). These results showed that lead exposure during sensitization can induce greater increase in tracheal responsiveness, total WBC, eosinophil, neutrophil, and basophil counts as well as serum level of IL-4. It can also cause a decrease in lymphocyte count, IFNγ level, and IFNγ/IL-4 ratio especially in its high concentration. Therefore inhaled lead exposure may cause increased severity of asthma during development of the disease.

The effect of lead exposure on selected blood inflammatory biomarkers in guinea pigs.

This study was aimed to examine the effect of lead acetate on inflammatory biomarkers in blood of guinea pigs in comparison with sensitized animals. Thirty guinea pigs were randomly allocated into control (group C), sensitized (group S), and three Pb-exposed (groups 0.1M Pb, 0.2M Pb and 0.4M Pb). Animal sensitized after aerosolized-ovalbumin (OA) challenge. Pb-exposed groups inhaled 0.1M, 0.2M and 0.4M lead acetate for 1 h, three times a week for two weeks. Total and differential WBC counts, PLA2 activity and total protein levels were evaluated in blood of all animal groups. Serum PLA2 activity, total protein and total WBC number in sensitized and animal exposed to lead were significantly higher as compared to control group (p <0.05). When compared to control group, the percentages of eosinophil, nuetrophil and basophiles were also increased in sensitized guinea pigs (p <0.01). The percentage of eosinophil and basophile in animals exposed to high level of lead and that of basophile in animals exposed to middle lead concentration versus to control group significantly increased (p <0.05). In addition, the significant difference between the lymphocyte percentages of Pb-exposed groups and control group were decreased in concentration dependent manner. The findings of the present study indicated that exposure to inhaled lead acetate may lead to asthma-like disease.

Tracheal responsiveness to methacholine and ovalbumin; and lung inflammation in guinea pigs exposed to inhaled lead after sensitization.

The association between lead exposure and asthma is controversial. The effect of inhaled lead acetate on lung inflammation, tracheal responsiveness and immune components in guinea pigs after sensitization was examined in this study. Five groups of guinea pigs were randomly allocated to control (group C), sensitized (group S), and three test groups exposed to inhaled lead concentrations 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4M Pb after sensitization (n=6 for each group). The measured variables included tracheal responsiveness to methacholine and ovalbumin (OA); total and differential white blood cells (WBC) counts of lung lavage; serum cytokine levels (IFN-γ and IL-4); and lead concentration in lung tissue. Tracheal responsiveness to methacholine and OA; total and differential WBC counts; IL-4 and IFN-γ were significantly increased in sensitized animals compared to control group (p<0.05 to p<0.001). However, the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 were significantly decreased in group S (p<0.05). In addition, all measured parameters in animals exposed to highest lead concentration and most of them in animals exposed to medium lead concentration were significantly higher than group S, except for the IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio, which were significantly decreased (p<0.05 to p<0.001). The lead concentration in lung tissues of all test animals was significantly higher than that of group C (p<0.001 for all groups). These results showed that lead acetate exposure can cause further increase in tracheal responsiveness to methacholine and OA, total and differential WBC count and IL-4, IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio. Therefore, environmental exposure to lead may aggravate the severity of asthma.