Ursolic Acid's Alluring Journey: One Triterpenoid vs. Cancer Hallmarks.

Cancer is a multifactorial disease characterized by various hallmarks, including uncontrolled cell growth, evasion of apoptosis, sustained angiogenesis, tissue invasion, and metastasis, among others. Traditional cancer therapies often target specific hallmarks, leading to limited efficacy and the development of resistance. Thus, there is a growing need for alternative strategies that can address multiple hallmarks concomitantly.

Association of calcium density in the thoracic aorta with risk factors and clinical events.

Objectives: In the ascending aorta, calcification density was independently and inversely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction. Until now, the density of thoracic aorta calcium (TAC) was estimated as the Agatston score divided by the calcium area (D). We thought to analyze TAC density in a full Hounsfield unit (HU) range and to study its association with TAC volume, traditional risk factors, and CVD events.

Antitumoral activity of Ficus carica L. on colorectal cancer cell lines.

In traditional medicine, Ficus carica (also known as fig) latex is recognized as a remedy with various therapeutic effects. In the present study we investigated the antitumor activity of Ficus carica extracts and latex. We evaluated the effects of increasing concentrations of Ficus carica extracts and latex on HCT-116 and HT-29 human colorectal cell proliferation using MTT assay and apoptosis induction by evaluating PARP cleavage by Western blot analysis.

Chemical composition and biological potential of Boiss. & Reut. essential oil.

The fresh aerial parts of Boiss. & Reut. (syn.

Age-related changes of thoracic aorta geometry used to predict the risk for acute type B dissection.

Aims: Risk models that use a single aortic diameter threshold have failed to successfully predict acute type B aortic dissection (TBAD). We sought to identify meaningful age-indexed anatomical variables to predict TBAD risk.

Methods And Results: A geometric deformable model, consisting of virtual elastic balloons that inflate inside a vessel lumen, was developed to quantify thoracic aorta geometry.

Resistance to ursolic acid-induced apoptosis through involvement of melanogenesis and COX-2/PGE2 pathways in human M4Beu melanoma cancer cells.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer with a continuously growing incidence worldwide and is usually resistant to chemotherapy agents, which is due in part to a strong resistance to apoptosis. Previously, we had showed that B16-F0 murine melanoma cells undergoing apoptosis are able to delay their own death induced by ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid compound. We had demonstrated that tyrosinase and TRP-1 up-regulation in apoptotic cells and the subsequent production of melanin were implicated in an apoptosis resistance mechanism.

Resistance to 3-HTMC-Induced Apoptosis Through Activation of PI3K/Akt, MEK/ERK, and p38/COX-2/PGE Pathways in Human HT-29 and HCT116 Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Increasing incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer brings the necessity to uncover new possibilities in its prevention and treatment. Chalcones have been identified as interesting compounds having chemopreventive and antitumor properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of the synthetic chalcone derivative 3-hydroxy-3',4,4',5'-tetra-methoxy-chalcone (3-HTMC) on proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and its mechanism of action in human colorectal HT-29 (COX-2 sufficient) and HCT116 (COX-2 deficient) cancer cells.

Association Between Thoracic Aorta Calcium and Thoracic Aorta Geometry in a Cohort of Asymptomatic Participants at Increased Cardiovascular Risk.

Introduction And Objectives: Thoracic aorta calcium detection is known to improve cardiovascular risk prediction for cardiac and noncardiac events beyond traditional risk factors. We investigated the influence of thoracic aorta morphometry on the presence and extent of aortic calcifications.

Methods: Nonenhanced computed tomography heart scans were performed in 970 asymptomatic participants at increased cardiovascular risk.

Association of thoracic aorta calcium and non cardiac vascular events in cardiac disease-free individuals.

Objective: Thoracic aorta calcium (TAC) is measurable on the same computed tomography (CT) scan as coronary artery calcium (CAC) but has still unclear clinical value. We assessed TAC and CAC relations with non-cardiac vascular events history in a cohort of subjects at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 1000 consecutive subjects having undergone CAC detection by non-contrast multi-slice CT with measurement field longer than usual in order to measure total TAC including aortic arch calcium.

Crataegus azarolus Leaves Induce Antiproliferative Activity, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Apoptosis in Human HT-29 and HCT-116 Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Limited success has been achieved in extending the survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). There is a strong need for novel agents in the treatment and prevention of CRC. Therefore, in the present study we evaluated the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic potential of Crataegus azarolus ethyl acetate extract in HCT-116 and HT-29 human colorectal cancer cell lines.

Deformable Surface Model for the Evaluation of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Treated with an Endovascular Sealing System.

Rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is responsible for 1-3% of all deaths among the elderly population in developed countries. A novel endograft proposes an endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) system that isolates the aneurysm wall from blood flow using a polymer-filled endobag that surrounds two balloon-expandable stents. The volume of injected polymer is determined by monitoring the endobag pressure but the final AAA expansion remains unknown.

Calcifications of the thoracic aorta on extended non-contrast-enhanced cardiac CT.

Background: The presence of calcified atherosclerosis in different vascular beds has been associated with a higher risk of mortality. Thoracic aorta calcium (TAC) can be assessed from computed tomography (CT) scans, originally aimed at coronary artery calcium (CAC) assessment. CAC screening improves cardiovascular risk prediction, beyond standard risk assessment, whereas TAC performance remains controversial.

Factors associated with major cardiovascular events in patients with systemic necrotizing vasculitides: results of a longterm followup study.

Objective: Systemic necrotizing vasculitides (SNV) are associated with more frequent subclinical atherosclerosis, suggesting that SNV might be associated with a higher risk of major cardiovascular events (MCVE). We aimed to identify factors predictive of MCVE in patients with SNV.

Methods: Patients in remission from SNV were assessed for CV risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Identifying the principal modes of variation in human thoracic aorta morphology.

Purpose: Diagnosis and management of thoracic aorta (TA) disease demand the assessment of accurate quantitative information of the aortic anatomy. We investigated the principal modes of variation in aortic 3-dimensional geometry paying particular attention to the curvilinear portion.

Materials And Methods: Images were obtained from extended noncontrast multislice computed tomography scans, originally intended for coronary calcium assessment.

Triterpene saponins of Genista ulicina Spach.

From the n-BuOH extract of the aerial parts of Genista ulicina, six triterpene saponins, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-3β,27,28,30-tetraol, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-3β,27,28,29-tetraol, 3,29-di-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-3β,27,28,29-tetraol, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-3β,28,29-triol-27-oic acid, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-olean-12-ene-3β,27,28-triol-29-oic acid, and 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-14-H-27-nor-olean-12-ene-3β,28,29-triol, were isolated together with eight known triterpene saponins and six flavonoids. Their structures were established mainly by means of spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D-NMR as well as HR-ESI-MS). The n-BuOH extract, investigated for its antitumor growth inhibition of human colon cancer HT-29 cells, presented no significant activity (IC50>100 μg).

[A new strategy for evaluating coronary risk in primary prevention].

Prevention of coronary heart disease is a priority for cardiovascular prevention, as coronary deaths account for half of all cardiovascular deaths. About 20% of coronary events occur in high-risk but asymptomatic and apparently healthy subjects. Such patients can be identified by using a novel two-step strategy to evaluate the coronary risk.

Effects of aging on thoracic aorta size and shape: a non-contrast CT study.

Measures of atherosclerosis burden like coronary artery calcification are performed using non-contrast heart CT. However, additional information can be derived from these studies, looking beyond the coronary arteries without exposing the patients to further radiation. We present a semi-automated method to assess ascending, arch and descending aorta geometry from non-contrast CT datasets in 250 normotensive patients.

Phytochemical potential of Daphne gnidium in inhibiting growth of melanoma cells and enhancing melanogenesis of B16-F0 melanoma.

In this study, we have investigated inhibitory capacity of ethyl acetate, total oligomer flavonoid (TOF), aqueous extracts and beta amyrin acetate, a triterpene isolated from ethyl acetate extract obtained from leaves of Daphne gnidium, on mouse melanoma (B16-F0 and B16-F10 cells) proliferation. Influence of these products on percentage cell distribution in cycle phases and melanogenesis was also studied. Cell viability was determined using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and flow cytometry was used to analyse effects of tested compounds on progression through the cell cycle.

Carotid circumferential wall stress homeostasis in early remodeling: theoretical approach and clinical application.

Purpose: To assess the influence of cardiovascular risk factors on arterial wall growth and the remodeling process.

Methods: In a theoretical part, we used a well-established relationship linking the rate of thickening of the arterial wall to the circumferential wall stress (CWS) increase. In a clinical part, we measured the intima-media thickness (IMT) in 166 subjects with increased cardiovascular risk score but no treatment for hypertension or hypercholesterolemia, no diabetes, and no cardiovascular disease.

[Distribution of coronary risk in the population].

Of all cardiovascular deaths, those from coronary origin are preponderant. Therefore the reduction of cardiovascular mortality requires improving substantially coronary prevention. Three categories of coronary risk (probability of hard coronary event at 10 years; low <10%, intermediate 10 to 20%, high > 20%) are identifiable via scoring procedure integrating multiple traditional risk factors.

The P2Y2/Src/p38/COX-2 pathway is involved in the resistance to ursolic acid-induced apoptosis in colorectal and prostate cancer cells.

One of the hallmarks of cancer is resistance to apoptosis. Elucidating the mechanisms of how cancer cells evade or delay apoptosis should lead to novel therapeutic strategies. Previously, we showed that HT-29 colorectal cancer cells undergoing apoptosis overexpressed cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), in a p38 dependent pathway, to delay ursolic acid-induced apoptosis.

Aging impact on thoracic aorta 3D morphometry in intermediate-risk subjects: looking beyond coronary arteries with non-contrast cardiac CT.

An increasing number of intermediate risk asymptomatic subjects benefit from measures of atherosclerosis burden like coronary artery calcification studies with non-contrast heart computed tomography (CT). However, additional information can be derived from these studies, looking beyond the coronary arteries and without exposing the patients to further radiation. We report a semi-automatic method that objectively assesses ascending, arch and descending aorta dimension and shape from non-contrast CT datasets to investigate the effect of aging on thoracic aorta geometry.