Fatty acid synthase: A key driver of ovarian cancer metastasis and a promising therapeutic target.

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is a critical enzyme essential for the production of fats in the body. The abnormal expression of FASN is associated with different types of malignancies, including ovarian cancer. FASN plays a crucial role in cell growth and survival as a metabolic oncogene, although the specific processes that cause its dysregulation are still unknown. FASN interacts with signaling pathways linked to the progression of cancer. Pharmacologically inhibiting or inactivating the FASN gene has shown potential in causing the death of cancer cells, offering a possible treatment approach. This review examines the function of FASN in ovarian cancer, namely its level of expression, influence on the advancement of the disease, and its potential as a target for therapeutic interventions.

Anticancer Potential and Molecular Targets of Pristimerin in Human Malignancies.

The growing global burden of malignant tumors with increasing incidence and mortality rates underscores the urgent need for more effective and less toxic therapeutic options. Herbal compounds are being increasingly studied for their potential to meet these needs due to their reduced side effects and significant efficacy. Pristimerin (PS), a triterpenoid from the quinone formamide class derived from the Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae families, has emerged as a potent anticancer agent. It exhibits broad-spectrum anti-tumor activity across various cancers such as breast, pancreatic, prostate, glioblastoma, colorectal, cervical, and lung cancers. PS modulates several key cellular processes, including apoptosis, autophagy, cell migration and invasion, angiogenesis, and resistance to chemotherapy, targeting crucial signaling pathways such as those involving NF-κB, p53, and STAT3, among others. The main objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the current literature on PS, emphasizing its mechanisms of action and molecular targets with the utmost clarity. It discusses the comparative advantages of PS over current cancer therapies and explores the implications for future research and clinical applications. By delineating the specific pathways and targets affected by PS, this review seeks to offer valuable insights and directions for future research in this field. The information gathered in this review could pave the way for the successful development of PS into a clinically applicable anticancer therapy.

H2AX: A key player in DNA damage response and a promising target for cancer therapy.

Cancer is caused by a complex interaction of factors that interrupt the normal growth and division of cells. At the center of this process is the intricate relationship between DNA damage and the cellular mechanisms responsible for maintaining genomic stability. When DNA damage is not repaired, it can cause genetic mutations that contribute to the initiation and progression of cancer. On the other hand, the DNA damage response system, which involves the phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX (γH2AX), is crucial in preserving genomic integrity by signaling and facilitating the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. This review provides an explanation of the molecular dynamics of H2AX in the context of DNA damage response. It emphasizes the crucial role of H2AX in recruiting and localizing repair machinery at sites of chromatin damage. The review explains how H2AX phosphorylation, facilitated by the master kinases ATM and ATR, acts as a signal for DNA damage, triggering downstream pathways that govern cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, and the cellular fate decision between repair and cell death. The phosphorylation of H2AX is a critical regulatory point, ensuring cell survival by promoting repair or steering cells towards apoptosis in cases of catastrophic genomic damage. Moreover, we explore the therapeutic potential of targeting H2AX in cancer treatment, leveraging its dual function as a biomarker of DNA integrity and a therapeutic target. By delineating the pathways that lead to H2AX phosphorylation and its roles in apoptosis and cell cycle control, we highlight the significance of H2AX as both a prognostic tool and a focal point for therapeutic intervention, offering insights into its utility in enhancing the efficacy of cancer treatments.

Obstructive sleep apnea in association with periodontitis: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: Periodontitis is associated with several cardio-metabolic disorders that are co-morbid with sleep-disordered breathing. A relationship between periodontitis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is plausible, but has received little attention. This study investigated the strength of association between periodontitis and risk for OSA. METHODS: In this case-control study, cases had moderate or severe periodontitis (n = 50, 32.5%) and controls had gingivitis or slight periodontitis (n = 104, 67.5%). Sixty-one males (39.6%) and 93 females (60.4%) with a mean age of 61 years were sampled from the dental hygiene preventive care clinic in the School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill between February and April 2011. Patients received a full mouth periodontal examination that included probing pocket depths and clinical attachment levels at 6 sites per tooth. The case definition for moderate or severe periodontitis was that of the American Dental Association (ADA). Risk for OSA was determined by the 4 item "STOP" OSA screening questionnaire, which assesses self-reported snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, witnessed apnea during sleep and history of hypertension. Demographic, general health and orofacial characteristics were recorded that were considered putative predictors of either periodontitis or OSA. A multivariate binary logistic regression assessed odds of moderate or severe periodontitis according to OSA risk with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: In all, 59 patients (38.3%) screened at high risk for OSA by providing 2 or more affirmative responses on the STOP questionnaire. Sixty percent of periodontitis cases (n = 30) screened high risk of OSA compared with only 28% of controls (n = 29). Cases were 4.1 times more likely (95% CI: 1.9, 11.4) to be at high risk for OSA than controls (p = 0.007) after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: A significant association was observed between moderate or severe periodontitis and risk for OSA.