Novel 13α-estrone derivatives have been synthesized via direct arylation of the phenolic hydroxy function. Chan–Lam couplings of arylboronic acids with 13α-estrone as a nucleophilic partner were carried out under copper catalysis. The antiproliferative activities of the newly synthesized diaryl ethers against a panel of human cancer cell lines (A2780, MCF-7, MDA-MB 231, HeLa, SiHa) were investigated by means of MTT assays. The quinoline derivative displayed substantial antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines with low micromolar IC₅₀ values. Disturbance of tubulin polymerization has been confirmed by microplate-based photometric assay. Computational calculations reveal significant interactions of the quinoline derivative with the taxoid binding site of tubulin.

Cervical carcinoma is one of the most frequent malignant gynecological cancers in women of reproductive age. Because of the poor tolerability of currently available chemotherapeutic agents, efforts have been focused on developing innovative molecules, including steroids, that exert antineoplastic effects with a better safety profile. In addition to their endocrine properties, certain estrogens exhibit additional biological activities, such as antiangiogenic and anticancer effects. Based on previous studies, the antineoplastic properties of 13α-estrone sulfamate derivatives (13AES1-3) were investigated, and the mechanism of action for the most promising compound 13AES3 was explored. Based on their effects on the viability of different human adherent gynecological cancer cells, the SiHa cervical cell line was used for mechanistic experiments. The most active analog 13AES3 was shown to exert considerable proapoptotic effects, as evidenced by a colorimetric caspase-3 assay and fluorescent double staining. It also elicited antimigratory and anti-invasive effects in a concentration-dependent manner, as evidenced by wound healing and Boyden chamber assays, respectively. Regarding their mechanism of action, 13AES derivatives were shown to inhibit tubulin polymerization, and computer simulations provided a possible explanation for the importance of the presence of the chlorophenyl ring on the estrane skeleton. 13AES3 is considered to be the first 13α-estrone derivative with a significant antineoplastic potency against SiHa cancer cells. Therefore, it might serve as a valuable lead molecule for the design of anticancer agents targeting cervical carcinomas.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Despite a thorough understanding of its biology, etiology, and epidemiology, an estimated 1.8 million new cases are diagnosed each year, and 900000 people die as a result of malignancy. The current study aims to investigate the expression pattern of S100A4 and S100A14 proteins in CRC tissue specimens and a panel of cell lines. Furthermore, to explore the metastatic potential of the aforementioned proteins in relation to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and their possible association with the clinical features of CRC. The present study involved 80 patients diagnosed with CRC. Upon identification of the sociodemographic and clinicopathological features of the participants, immunohistochemical studies were conducted to measure the expression pattern of the S100 proteins in CRC tissues. In addition to qPCR and western blot studies, a series of in vitro experiments were conducted in a panel of CRC cell lines to assess the effects of S100 protein expression in cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. The number of CRC patients with high S100A4 expression levels was considerably higher than those with low expression (p In vitro studies demonstrated that S100A14 knockdown induced EMT and resulted in a substantial increase in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in HT29 cells. Moreover, S100A4 knockdown substantially inhibited migration, invasion, and proliferation in LoVo cells. The findings collectively suggest that both S100A4 and S100A14 play a pivotal role in colorectal cancer progression. Overexpression of S100A4 consistently with S100A14 downregulation is associated with the activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which in turn enhances cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Background The consumption of energy drinks (EDs) among university students has become a prevalent trend, raising concerns about potential health risks. EDs are beverages containing various ingredients, most notably caffeine, taurine, and vitamins, that are consumed by the general public and athletes to reduce exhaustion, boost energy, and improve performance. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of ED consumption and evaluate the effects of ED use on cardiovascular health and behavioral patterns in a sample of students at the University of Zakho. Methods This cross-sectional study involved a sample of 438 medical students aged 18-25 at the University of Zakho. Data were collected using a closed-ended questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, ED consumption habits, awareness of ED-related health risks, and cardiovascular measures such as blood pressure, pulse rate, presence of chest pain, and palpitation. Results The prevalence of consuming caffeine-content EDs was surprisingly high (70%, n=307) among the University of Zakho's medical students. Further categorization revealed that the prevalence was 42% (n=187) among low-frequency drinkers, 22.2% (n=95) among those who drank once a day, and 5.8% (n=25) among the frequent group. A higher percentage of ED drinkers (30%, n=92) developed tachycardia compared to students with a normal pulse (19.2%, n=59). Additionally, ED drinkers had significantly higher rates of elevated blood pressure (56.4%, n=173), palpitations (63.1%, n=194), and chest discomfort (73.2%, n=225) compared to non-drinkers (p <0.0001). Concerning behavioral characteristics, ED drinkers had a significantly higher rate of fatigability (79.3%, n=243) compared to non-drinkers (p <0.0001). They were more likely to experience somnolence (60.8%, n=187) compared to non-drinkers (p <0.05). Furthermore, the percentage of students with aggressive behavior was substantially higher (p <0.001) among ED drinkers (86.2%, n=265). Conclusion The findings collectively highlight the significant negative impact of energy drink consumption on health in general and cardiovascular and behavioral variables in particular. It also underscores the need for public health strategies and campus interventions to reduce ED consumption and raise awareness about their potential risks.

Obesity has emerged as a global epidemic and is a major risk factor for various chronic conditions, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate the validity of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), high sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as potential biomarkers for low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress in obese individuals. Moreover, to explore their association with metabolic dysfunctions. A recruited cohort of 90 subjects of both genders were categorized as obese (BMI BMI > 30 kg/m²). In addition to the glycemic and lipid profile, a panel of inflammatory (sST2 and hs-CRP) and oxidative stress biomarkers (DMA and 8-OHdG) were assessed using ELISA. Body Mass Index (BMI) and the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were significantly higher in the obese subjects than in controls (p = 0.0001 and 0.03, respectively). Fasting blood sugar (FBS) and triglyceride (TG) were significantly higher in the study group (p = 0.01 and 0.001) compared to the control group. LDL showed substantial elevation in obese subjects (p = 0.001), but HDL was remarkably reduced (p = 0.02). The hs-CRP and sST2 levels were significantly elevated (p = 0.001) in obese individuals, and both MDA and 8-OHdG indicated a similar pattern (p = 0.001 and 0.000). BMI exhibited a positive correlation with all assessed inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers. In contrast, FBS and triglyceride (TG) demonstrated a significant association with hs-CRP, 8-OHdG, and MDA, but not with sST2. Furthermore, LDL, VLDL, and LDL/HDL showed a statistically significant positive correlation with hs-CRP and MDA. The elevated levels of all mediators were closely associated with metabolic dysfunction, emphasizing the interplay between obesity and low-grade chronic inflammation. This also highlights the potential for increased cardiovascular risk over time.

The current study examined the in vitro antineoplastic potentials of centrapalus coumarin F (CCF) obtained from aerial parts of Centrapalus pauciflorus (Willd.) H.Rob. (Asteraceae). Cytotoxic activity was tested against a panel of human adherent cancer cell lines, including breast, cervical, and oropharyngeal cancer and glioblastoma. Cell cycle analyses using flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258-propidium iodide (HOPI) fluorescent double staining were used to describe the proapoptotic property of CCF. Wound healing assessment and the Boyden chamber assay were performed to characterize the antimetastatic action of the compound. The firefly luciferase assay was applied to clarify the action of CCF on estrogenic receptors. CCF demonstrated remarkable selective growth inhibition against the HPV-18-positive human cervical cancer cell line HeLa (IC50 = 2.28 µM). The compound elicited crucial markers of apoptosis, inhibited the migration and invasion capacity of HeLa cells, and demonstrated an antiestrogenic property. Our current data indicate that the meroterpenoid scaffold presented here displays remarkable antiproliferative and antimetastatic effects on HeLa cells and can be considered a valuable model for designing further analogs targeting cervical carcinoma.