Magdalena Borowska

Homocysteine as a non-classical risk factor for atherosclerosis in relation to pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS The aim of our study was to evaluate which of the pharmacotherapeutic methods that are frequently used to treat type 2 diabetes is associated with the most beneficial profile in relation to pro-atherogenic homocysteine levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS We measured the serum homocysteine level in 182 patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin (89), treated with insulin in combination with metformin (31), receiving sulfonylureas (31) and treated conventionally with insulin (31). The total homocysteine levels in the serum were assayed. To exclude the influence of selected metabolic and anthropometric factors on the differences between the examined groups, multivariate analysis of covariance was used (ANCOVA). In this analysis, serum homocysteine concentration was the dependent variable, while diabetes duration, waist circumference, HbA1c, 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, fasting glycaemia and peptide C were used as covariates. RESULTS The serum homocysteine levels in patients treated with insulin in monotherapy were significantly higher than what was observed in the metformin treated subjects and in the patients receiving insulin combined with metformin. The analysis of covariance also confirmed that the differences between the therapeutic groups were affected by waist circumference and the C-peptide levels. CONCLUSION We conclude that conventional insulin therapy may have a negative effect on pro-atherogenic homocysteine levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study revealed that pro-atherogenic homocysteine levels may not only be modified by pharmacotherapy of type 2 diabetes, but also by beta cell secretory function and abdominal obesity.

The Impact of Pharmacotherapy of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 Secretion

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of pharmacotherapy of diabetes on atherosclerosis, as reflected in interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels. Methods: We studied patients with type 2 diabetes, treated with metformin, insulin combined with metformin and conventional insulin. IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels were assayed using BD™ Cytometric Bead Array. Multivariate analysis of covariance was performed to exclude the impact of some metabolic and anthropometric factors on differences in cytokines concentrations among the participants receiving different pharmacotherapy. Results: The serum concentrations of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly higher and IL-10 serum levels were significantly lower in the insulin-treated group than in other therapeutic groups. Covariance analysis confirmed that differences in IL-1β and IL-6 levels were determined by pharmacotherapy and fasting plasma glucose, whereas in IL-10 levels by the therapy only. Additionally, peptide C modified differences in IL-1β levels and HbA1c in IL-6 concentrations. Conclusion: This study revealed that both pharmacotherapy and glycemic control may modify some pro-atherogenic factors, such as IL-1β and IL-6. The therapy with metformin and insulin combined with metformin seems to be much more beneficial in terms of their impact on pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion in comparison to conventional insulinotherapy.

Basic Studies on Chemopreventive Properties of Quercetin and Curcumin and Other Plant-origin Compounds in Ovarian Cancer Cells-A Mini-review

Despite the increasing number of studies on the molecular actions of quercetin and curcumin, their anticancer efficacy, safety and molecular aspects of chemopreventive action in the ovarian cancer prophylaxis or treatment and also their potential in the sensitization to cytostatics used in the clinical practice remains still not clearly understood. Based on basic studies we have summarized evidences for inhibitory activities of several often studied plantorigin bio-active compounds (mostly quercetin and curcumin) against ovarian cancer cells proliferation, their mechanisms of action as well as their strong potential to sensitization of ovarian cancer cells to the presence of several platinum-based cytostatics - cisplatin and oxaliplatin. Up to date only several dietary, clinical (cohort and case–control) studies evaluating the association of some flavonoids (mostly nonisoflavones) and its subgroup components consumption and ovarian cancer risk were already performed. According to the researchers, there has been no association between ovarian cancer risk and total nonisoflavone flavonoids intake. There is a still an insufficient amount of data designed to explain the effect of quercetin or curcumin (alone or together) on ovarian cancer development and/or its chemotherapy. Obtained results provide limited support for an association between nonisoflavone flavonoids intake and ovarian cancer risk, therefore there is a need for further and more accurate studies to be confirmed. We are of the opinion that this paper will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular basis for positive interactions between concomitant usage of quercetin or curcumin with above-mentioned cytostatics and other bio-active agents. This work may also contribute to an increase in the number of preclinical studies or other clinical, dietary trials using these or other phenolic / alkaloid, plant-origin constituents in order to investigate efficiency and safety of pharmacotherapy of ovarian cancer patients.