Influence of genetic variants in asparaginase pathway on the susceptibility to asparaginase-related toxicity and patients' outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Asparaginase (ASNase) is a key component in the treatment protocols of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and the basic region leucine zipper activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) mediate the anti-leukemic effect of ASNase. Only a few reports studied the association between polymorphisms in these genes and treatment-related toxicity and response.

Grape seed extract Vitis vinifera protects against radiation-induced oxidative damage and metabolic disorders in rats.

Whole body exposure to ionizing radiation induces the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in different tissues provoking oxidative damage, organ dysfunction and metabolic disturbances. The present study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of grape seed extract (GSE), rich in proanthocyanidins against gamma-radiation-induced oxidative stress in heart and pancreas tissues associated with serum metabolic disturbances. Irradiated rats were whole body exposed to 5 Gy gamma-radiation.