Halogenated boroxine K2[B3O3F4OH] (HB), an inorganic derivative of cyclic anhydride of boronic acid, is patented as a boron-containing compound with potential for the treatment of both benign and malignant skin changes. HB has effectively inhibited the growth of several carcinoma cell lines. Because of the growing interest in autophagy induction as a therapeutic approach in bladder carcinoma (BC), we aimed to assess the effects of HB on metabolic phenotype and autophagy levels in 5637 human bladder carcinoma cells (BC). Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the alamar blue assay, and the degree of autophagy was determined microscopically. Mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis were measured simultaneously. The relative expression of autophagy-related genes BECN1, P62, BCL-2, and DRAM1 was determined by real-time PCR. HB affected cell growth, while starvation significantly increased the level of autophagy in the positive control compared to the basal level of autophagy in the untreated negative control. In HB-treated cultures, the degree of autophagy was higher compared to the basal level, and metabolic phenotypes were altered; both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) were decreased by HB at 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL. Gene expression was deregulated towards autophagy induction and expansion. In conclusion, HB disrupted the bioenergetic metabolism and reduced the intracellular survival potential of BC cells. Further molecular studies are needed to confirm these findings and investigate their applicative potential.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in the female population globally. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal BC, BC recurrence, and mortality. Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene polymorphisms have attracted the most attention due to several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may have an impact on obesity and different types of cancer. The primary goal of our work was to assess the association of the SNP rs17817449 FTO, physical status/metabolic changes, and dietary habits with the occurrence of BC. Methods: We conducted research as a population-genetic study including 93 women with a diagnosis of BC during their lifetime. Genomic DNA was extracted from the swabs of the buccal mucosa. Genotyping was achieved by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The IBM SPSS Statistics program v. 23.0 was used for statistical analysis. All values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The risk genotype of the FTO gene (rs17817449) GG was detected in 16 subjects (17.2%), the heterozygous TG in 46 subjects (49.5%), while the normal genotype TT was recorded in 29 subjects (31.2%). We found no statistically significant difference in the body mass index values of the three genotype groups, p = 0.72, χ2 = 2.1 and no significant relationship between the allelic or genotypic frequencies of the rs17817449 FTO gene polymorphism and other variables examined in our study. Analysis of the distribution of hereditary diseases in the family according to the molecular subtype of BC showed statistically significant p-values, p = 0.02. Conclusion: While previous research has suggested a potential link between FTO gene polymorphism, obesity, and BC, our study did not find a statistically significant association between the aforementioned variables. Future studies with a larger number of subjects in different populations should confirm the role of the FTO genotype in the risk of BC.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions from routine life habits had a tremendous impact on psychological and physical health of youth. It is known that stress, anxiety and depression can be associated with the development of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and known to exacerbate present GI symptoms. The pandemic has forced many changes in the behavior of student population such as the studying in an asocial environment. The aim of this study was to examine and quantify the influence of stress onto the quality of life and GI symptoms in the student population in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), before and during the pandemic lockdown. Methods: A total of 279 students from B&H were assessed for their GI and emotional status in pre-COVID period and during the COVID period using validated instruments: GI symptom rating scale (GSRS), Visceral Sensitivity Index, and the Patient Health Questionnaire 15-item Somatic Symptom Severity Scale. Results: The results showed that moderate and severe GI symptoms were more frequently present among student population at the time of the pandemic than in period before pandemic. The most pronounced symptoms were bloating syndrome and abdominal pain syndrome according to the GSRS. Conclusions: We concluded that concern for one’s health and changed way of life are directly related to a worsening of the symptoms of GI disorders in the student population. Further research should go in the direction of early prevention of GI disorders that take root in early youth and later develop into chronic forms.

Abstract Anti-proliferative effects of halogenated boroxine – K2(B3O3F4OH) (HB) – have been confirmed in multiple cancer cell lines, including melanoma, but the exact mechanism of action is still unknown. This study aimed to determine its cytotoxic effects on human Caucasian melanoma (GR-M) cell growth in vitro as well as on the expression of cell death-related genes BCL-2, BECN1, DRAM1, and SQSTM1. GR-M and peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells were treated with different HB concentrations and their growth inhibition and relative gene expression profiles were determined using the Alamar blue assay and real-time PCR. HB significantly inhibited cell growth of both GR-M and PBM cells but was even more effective in GR-M melanoma cells, as significant inhibition occurred at a lower HB concentration of 0.2 mg/mL. GR-M BCL-2 expression was significantly downregulated (P=0.001) at HB concentration of 0.4 mg/mL, which suggests that HB is a potent tumour growth inhibitor. At the same time, it upregulated BCL-2 expression in normal (PBM) cells, probably by activating protective mechanisms against induced cytotoxicity. In addition, all but the lowest HB concentrations significantly upregulated SQSTM1 (P=0.001) in GR-M cells. Upregulated BECN1 expression suggests early activation of autophagy at the lowest HB concentration in SQSTM1 cells and at all HB concentrations in PBM cells. Our findings clearly show HB-associated cell death and, along with previous cytotoxicity studies, reveal its promising anti-tumour potential.

A hallmark of the development of solid and hematological malignancies is the dysregulation of apoptosis, which leads to an imbalance between cell proliferation, cell survival and death. Halogenated boroxine [K2(B3O3F4OH)] (HB) is a derivative of cyclic anhydride of boronic acid, with reproducible anti‐tumor and anti‐proliferative effects in different cell models. Notably, these changes are observed to be more profound in tumor cells than in normal cells. Here, we investigated the underlying mechanisms through an extensive evaluation of (a) deregulated target genes and (b) their interactions and links with main apoptotic pathway genes upon treatment with an optimized concentration of HB. To provide deeper insights into the mechanism of action of HB, we performed identification, visualization, and pathway association of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in regulation of apoptosis among tumor and non‐tumor cells upon HB treatment. We report that HB at a concentration of 0.2 mg·mL−1 drives tumor cells to apoptosis, whereas non‐tumor cells are not affected. Comparison of DEG profiles, gene interactions and pathway associations suggests that the HB effect and tumor‐‘selectivity’ can be explained by Bax/Bak‐independent mitochondrial depolarization by ROS generation and TRAIL‐like activation, followed by permanent inhibition of NFκB signaling pathway specifically in tumor cells.