Program and book of abstracts 1st conference

October 17 th – 20 th , 2022, Congress Centre of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Smolenice castle, Slovakia

Pavelkova Patricia

Is currently starting her PhD. studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava in the studyprogramAnimal Physiology. She isworkingonher PhD. thesis at the Institute for Heart Research, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences (CEM SAS) focusing on molecular hydrogen and it’s effect on various cardiovascular diseases. She previously finished her master degree in the Department of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University.

THE EFFECT OF MOLECULAR HYDROGEN ON RADIATION INDUCED HEART DISEASE P. Pavelkova 1,2 , B. Kalocayova 1 , J. Slezak 1 , B. Kura 1 1 Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia 2 Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia Radiotherapy in the chest area is widely used for the treatment of oncological diseases like Hodgkin´s lymphoma, breast cancer, or lung cancer. Unfortunately, this has a negative effect not only on tumor cells but also on the surrounding cells of healthy tissues. In this case, it has a harmful effect on the cardiovascular system, arising complications that occur as a side effect of irradiation are referred to as radiation induced heart disease (RIHD). The mechanisms by which the damage occurs are still not fully understood. Endothelial damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and damage to the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria are among the main mechanisms causing RIHD. Radiation can act directly by biomacromolecule disruption, or indirectly through the photolysis of water. The intensity of the damage also depends on the dose, the speed with which the dose is delivered, the size of the irradiated body, as well as on the individual tissue sensitivity to radiation, age, general state of health, and genetic abnormalities. The indirect process produces free radicals which lead to an imbalance between free radicals, such as reactive oxygen or reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), and the endogenous antioxidant defense system. Free radicals induce transcription factors such as NF-κB, which affect the expression of inflammatory genes. It has also been shown that radiation initiates the release of other inflammatory factors such as cytokines, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukins. Molecular hydrogen paid attention as a molecule with many beneficial biological effects. Till now, it is well known that it is a strong and selective antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory or anti-apoptotic effects. H2 has been used in more than 160 disease experimental models and the exact mechanism of its action is still not known. These were studied in various heart diseases and their pathological conditions where free radicals are also involved. Excessive production of free radicals also plays a role in ischemia and subsequent reperfusion of the heart, where molecular hydrogen helps mitigate their negative impact. The wide range of forms of administration of molecular hydrogen is another advantage of its use.

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