Spice-Derived Phenolic Compounds: Potential for Skin Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Skin cancer is a condition characterized by the abnormal growth of skin cells, primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Different types of skin cancer include melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Despite the advancements in targeted therapies, there is still a need for a safer, highly efficient approach to preventing and treating cutaneous malignancies. Spices have a rich history dating back thousands of years and are renowned for their ability to enhance the flavor, taste, and color of food. Derived from various plant parts like seeds, fruits, bark, roots, or flowers, spices are important culinary ingredients. However, their value extends beyond the culinary realm. Some spices contain bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, which are known for their significant biological effects. These compounds have attracted attention in scientific research due to their potential health benefits, including their possible role in disease prevention and treatment, such as cancer. This review focuses on examining the potential of spice-derived phenolic compounds as preventive or therapeutic agents for managing skin cancers. By compiling and analyzing the available knowledge, this review aims to provide insights that can guide future research in identifying new anticancer phytochemicals and uncovering additional mechanisms for combating skin cancer.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with psoriasis

OBJECTIVES

The main goal of the study was to describe the demographic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of a monitored group of patients with psoriasis to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities and to define the cardiovascular risk profile.

METHODS

One hundred and ninety outpatients aged over 18 were included in the prospective observational cross-sectional study. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from patients. The severity of psoriasis was evaluated using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The results of laboratory testing were identified based on patient health records.

RESULTS

Based on an evaluation of psoriasis phenotypes, 150 patients (78.95%) suffered from plaque psoriasis, 18 (9.5%) from palmoplantar psoriasis, 11 (5.8%) from guttate psoriasis, 6 (3.2%) from generalized pustular psoriasis, and 5 (2.6%) from erythrodermic psoriasis. The personal medical history discovered the occurrence of arterial hypertension in 83 patients (43.7%), the occurrence of depression in 49 patients (25.8%), type 2 diabetes in 29 patients (15.3%), and dyslipidaemia in 48 patients (25.3%).

CONCLUSION

It is noteworthy that psoriasis may be demonstrated as a multi-system disease which does not only affect the skin and its adnexa. The association of psoriasis with comorbidities may significantly increase morbidity and total mortality as well as the demands for health care provision.

Syntheses, Structures, and Spectroscopic Properties of 1,10-Phenanthroline-Based Macrocycles Threaded by PtC8 Pt, PtC12 Pt, and PtC16 Pt Axles: Metal-Capped Rotaxanes as Insulated Molecular Wires

The platinum polyynyl complexes trans-(C₆ F₅ )(p-tol₃ P)₂ Pt(C≡C)_n/2 H undergo oxidative homocoupling (O₂ , CuCl/TMEDA) to diplatinum polyynediyl complexes trans, trans-(C₆ F₅ )(p-tol₃ P)₂ Pt(C≡C)_n Pt(Pp-tol₃ )₂ (C₆ F₅ ) (n=4, 2; 6, 5; 8, 8; 92-97 %) as reported previously. When related reactions are conducted in the presence of CuI adducts of the 1,10-phenanthroline-based macrocycles 2,9-(1,10-phenanthrolinediyl)(p-C₆ H₄ O(CH₂ )₆ O)₂ (1,3-C₆ H₄ ) (10, 33-membered) or 2,9-(1,10-phenanthrolinediyl)(p-C₆ H₄ O(CH₂ )₆ O)₂ (2,7-naphthalenediyl) (11, 35-membered), excess K₂ CO₃ , and I₂ (oxidant), rotaxanes are isolated that feature a Pt(C≡C)_n Pt axle that has been threaded through the macrocycle (2⋅10, 9 %; 5⋅10, 41 %; 5⋅11, 28 %; 8⋅10, 12 %; 8⋅11, 9 %). Their crystal structures are determined and analyzed in detail, particularly with respect to geometric perturbations and the degree of steric sp carbon chain insulation. NMR spectra show a number of shielding effects. UV/Vis spectra do not indicate significant electronic interactions between the Pt(C≡C)_n Pt axles and macrocycles, although cyclic voltammetry data suggest rapid reactions following oxidation.

Syntheses, Structural Studies, and Copper Iodide Complexes of Macrocycles Derived from Williamson Ether Syntheses Involving 2,9-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline, α,ω-Dibromides, and Resorcinol or 2,7-Dihydroxynaphthalene

1,3-Bis(6-bromohexyloxy)benzene, 2,7-bis(6-bromohexyloxy)naphthalene, 1,3-bis(4-bromomethylbenzyloxy)benzene, and 1,3-bis(3-bromomethylbenzyloxy)benzene were prepared via Williamson ether synthesis using resorcinol or 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene and 1,6-dibromohexane, 1,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzene, or 1,3-bis(bromomethyl)benzene (21–47 % yield). These dibromides were condensed with 2,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,10-phenanthroline in the presence of K2CO3 to give the corresponding 31- to 35-membered macrocycles (3a–d, 22–63 % yield). When 3a–d were treated with CuI, mononuclear 1 : 1 complexes formed, in which the CuI chelates to the nitrogen donor atoms of the phenanthroline moiety (4a–d, 40–80 % yield). The crystal structures of 3a–c and 4a–c were determined and analyzed using density functional theory calculations and in the context of rotaxanes that could be formed by treatment of 4a–d with terminal alkynes (e.g. macrocycle dimensions, void volumes). The copper and iodide atoms in 4a–c significantly protrude from the least-squares plane of the phenanthroline moiety (0.46–0.63 Å and 1.65–2.07 Å).

Steric control of the in/out sense of bridgehead substituents in macrobicyclic compounds: isolation of new “crossed chain” variants of in/out isomers

When an in,out isomer of a macrobicyclic dibridgehead diphosphine is combined with two equiv. of a gold(i) Lewis acid of sufficient bulk, the resulting adduct is obtained as a topologically novel out,out isomer with “crossed chains”.

Diabetes mellitus and candidiases

Patients in various clinical states of diabetes mellitus (according to the recommendation of the American Diabetes Association) as a primary diagnosis were examined for fungal infections by Candida species. Candida spp. were detected in urine, in the material taken from the mouth cavity, nails, skin lesions, ears and eyes, by cultivation on the Sabouraud agar, CHROMagar Candida, and by saccharide assimilation. In the group of diabetics with symptoms of oral candidiasis and denture stomatitis C. albicans was identified in 8 cases, C. tropicalis in 3, C. parapsilosis in 2; 1 strain of C. guilliermondii was also isolated. In patients with urinary tract infections the presence of C. albicans was shown in 12 cases; C. parapsilosis was detected in 6 cases and two strains of each C. tropicalis and C. krusei were also isolated. In patients with leg ulcers C. albicans (25 cases), C. parapsilosis (5), C. tropicalis (3) and one strain of each C. krusei and C. robusta were isolated. Otomycosis was associated with one strain of C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and C. guilliermondii. C. albicans was most frequently associated with onychomycosis, paronychia and endophthalmitis; C. parapsilosis was the second most rated yeast.

[Immunohistologic determination of extracellular matrix components in granuloma annulare]

BACKGROUND

The histological diagnosis of granuloma annulare is based on assessment of a palisade-like granuloma and necrobiosis. The authors attempt to make a more accurate diagnosis of the disease based on immunohistological assessment of components of the extracellular matrix.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a group of 15 patients with granuloma annulare the authors assessed, using the immunoperoxidase method, collagens type I, III and V and fibronectin. An increased amount of collagens type III and V was found within the palisade-like granuloma and its neighbourhood resp. In the area of the necrobiosis the findings of the mentioned collagens depended on the degree of necrobiotic changes (12 of 15 patients). An increased occurrence of collagen type I was only indicated in the vicinity of granulomas or within the palisade-like granuloma in 7 of 15 patients. Larger amounts of fibronectin were found in the area of the necrobiosis and in the area of the granulomatous palisade-like infiltrate resp. (12 of 15 patients).

CONCLUSIONS

In the author's opinion the higher incidence of collagens types III and V in the neighbourhood of the palisade-like granulomatous infiltrate and its size resp, as well as the finding of fibronectin in the area of necrobiosis and the granulomatous infiltrate justify the use of immunohistological assessment of the above constituents of the extracellular matrix as a supplementary examination in the diagnosis of the above disease.

[Fibronectin, interstitial collagens and type IV collagen in dermatitis herpetiformis]

BACKGROUND

In the pathogenesis of dermatitis herpetiformis the participation of some proteins of the extracellular matrix has not been elucidated so far. They are found more amply in the papillary derma where they are manifested most markedly as the mentioned type of dermatosis. The objective of the present work was to assess the participation of components of the extracellular matrix in the pathogenesis of diseases and the possibility of their detection to make a more accurate diagnosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a group of 11 patients (mean age 39 +/- 17 years) with dermatitis herpetiformis the diagnosis was established on the basis of the clinical and histological finding. Fibronectin and collagens type I, III, IV, V were assessed in the skin using rabbit antisera (INPHARM Co. Moscow). An elevated level of collagen type III and V was found in the affected papillae and on the floor of the blisters in the papillary derma, collagen type IV on the vault of the blister and fibronectin deposits in the affected papillae which had a netlike structure.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the above findings assessment of fibronectin, collagens type III, IV and V in the affected skin can be considered an important supplementary examination in the histological diagnosis of dermatitis herpetiformis.

[Electron microscopy immunolocalization of ribosomal ribonucleoproteins using autoantibodies from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]

Serum of patients against rRNP was tested by Western blot method. Four ribonucleoproteins (15, 16, 36 and 38 kDa) specifically reacted with the antiserum used. The autoantibodies were used for immunolocalization of antigenic structures by immunogold method on ultrathin cryosections of hepatocytes, cumulus cells of antral follicle and spermatocytes. Mice and hamsters were used. The cytoplasm appeared to be labelled most intensively. Gold particles were loosely arranged in the cytoplasm (cumulus cells) or they were associated with endoplasmatic reticulum (hepatocytes). Nucleoli were labelled by a lower incidence of the marker. Gold particles were found over the dense fibrillar component bordering on the granular component. In the cytoplasm individual gold particles were observed. (Fig. 7, Ref. 31.).