Cysteine cathepsin B and its endogenous inhibitor play an important role in tumor progression. Increase in cathepsin B expression and reduced levels of its inhibitors were associated with tumor malignancy in breast cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a new therapy combining vitamin E and placental inhibitor on the level of endogenous protease inhibitor in sera and tumor tissues with mammary cancer. The inhibitor was used in doses of 100 and 200 micrograms per animal for 8 days. Vitamin E was added after the last treatment with inhibitor and was injected daily in doses of 10 and 20 mg per animal for one mouth. The size and survival time of treated animals as well as cathepsin B and the inhibitor activity in tumor and sera before and after treatment in comparison with the control groups were determined. The activity of cathepsin B significantly decreased both in tumor tissues and in sera (P < or = 0.0001). Cathepsin B activity in tumor tissue homogenates and in sera decreased two-fold and three-fold, respectively, after the animals were treated with vitamin E at a dose of 20 mg, and decreased five-fold and 15-fold, respectively, when treated with vitamin E plus inhibitor in comparison with untreated animals. Endogenous inhibitor activity increased six-fold and 12-fold in the sera and tissue homogenates, respectively, after the animals were treated with 200 micrograms of cysteine protease inhibitor plus 20 mg of vitamin E, in comparison with untreated animals. The total cure responses were higher in eight of 10 rats, as compared with untreated animals. The combination of placental inhibitor and vitamin E resulted in a significant reduction in breast metastasis and might provide a therapeutic basis for anti-metastasis therapy.

Patau syndrome was first described in 1960 as a group of birth defects caused by trisomy of chromosome 13 (T13). Providing accurate information and relevant reproductive genetic counseling that would allow parents to make informed decisions is not easily accomplished because of the limited information available prenatally. Only 1/3 of all cases of T13 are diagnosed prenatally, which means it cannot be expected that most cases will be detected early in pregnancy, that the parents will decide to terminate the pregnancy, and that difficulties will be avoided. There is no good prenatal screening for T13, and there are many kinds and degrees of anomalies. About 60% of cases are first detected in the second trimester, and life expectancy is difficult to predict. When patients choose not to terminate pregnancy, or when the pregnancy has progressed to a viable gestational age, pregnancy termination is no longer an option. Also, nowadays 12% of couples choose to continue pregnancy following chromosomal confirmation of a suspected T13. The aim of this work is to eludicate for health care providers what problems they are likely to face in the care of children with T13 and in contact with their parents. It is crucial for the management of each case to discuss neonatal procedures of resuscitation, alternatives to aggressive resuscitation, the possibilities for correcting some of the defects, and to be prepared to guide the parents through the trauma of having a child with a lethal defect (Adv Clin Exp Med 2015, 24, 5, 911-921).

HELLP syndrome in early pregnancy may indicate the presence of aPL antibodies. It may also be a clinical symptom of APS. A surge in blood pressure is a clinical forerunner of the coming HELLP syndrome. HELLP syndrome in women with APS is characterized by low level of platelets.

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