DEGENERATION.

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DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to the use of a composition as a drug for rapidly combating the tissue degeneration; in particular, the drug is particularly useful in cases of degenerative diseases caused by particular conditions of stress, such as, for example, the exposure to ionizing radiations (gamma rays and X-rays), exposure to UV, or cellular damage caused by toxic molecules, etc...

It is known that radiations in general, as well as other endogenous and exogenous factors, produce damages at the cellular level forming free radicals, highly reactive molecules which produce chemical oxidations of lipids and proteins, resulting in oxidative stress. The general effects thus produced in the organism are mainly the following: a weakening of the immune system; a stepped-up physiological organic deterioration; the production of degenerative forms.

A particularly significant example relates to the cancer induction by the radiations, mainly the ionizing radiations (X and γ rays for the electromagnetic radiation, a e β rays for the material particles), as was indeed highlighted by the researchers who first worked with radio-emitting materials and as has been documented by a huge amount of scientific works of the last seventy years.

A dramatic and particular example of this causal relationship between radiation exposure and increased incidence of cancer is related to the effects of radiation on healthy cells. It is known that the radiation is intended to stop the growth of a tumor, but since it is not possible to discriminate with absolute precision, in the treatment plan, the cells to be treated from the nearby healthy ones, it is necessary that the absorbed dose the system does not exceed a given value (usually indicated in 2 Gy, corresponding to 200 Rad) to prevent the irradiation of healthy tissue causes a rapid new carcinogenesis.

In oncologic radiation it is known the possibility that a new cancer can develop in tissues that were directly exposed to the treatment (radiogenic pathogenesis), but it is also possible that an indirect process causes a second tumor in a different place of occurrence. It is therefore important and essential to prevent and reduce the effects of the exposure to healthy tissue during radiation therapy.

CONFIRMATION COPY

1 Among the effects of exposure to radiation or, in general, to oxidative stress, are to be considered the bio-physical and chemical changes that can result in damage to cell membranes and to the DNA. In fact, in the presence of an oxidizing stress, the NA+ - K+ pumps do not perform its task correctly and there occurs an imbalance of the four fundamental cations for a well-balanced cellular functioning, namely Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium. Especially in presence of degenerative diseases and in particular neoplastic forms, Sodium NA + (a prevalent cation in extracellular fluids) tends to substitute Potassium + inside the cell, with a resulting serious cytoplasmic imbalance, which can conduct to a significant alteration of the intra and extra cellular acid-base conditions, to a modification of the enzyme and protein function by alteration of the binding sites for the electrolyte and a significant change of their shape. In addition, a significant decrease in the cytoplasmic concentration of Potassium can cause instability in the double helix structure of DNA and, especially, in the action of the telomerase enzyme, because the Potassium is strongly implicated in the correct structure of the G-Quadruplex (sequence of Guanine-rich nucleic acids and stabilized by K + cation), thus prompting mutagenic phenomena. It must also be taken into particular consideration the existence of a Sodium-Glucose symport (known in the literature since the 60s of last century) and recently further confirmed by MRI based on sodium (Na ) and performed on cancer "in vivo" compared with PET on the same tumors, completely overlapping.

Aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks providing with a composition to be used in very rapid treatment of the cellular degeneration, especially in oncologic field, according to the characteristics of claim 1. The invention relates to the use of a composition of Potassium Bicarbonate and D-Ribose for forming a drug, in particular an injectable drug, to be used in the very rapid treatment of the cellular degeneration, especially in oncologic field. Other characteristics are described in dependent claims.

Among the advantages of the present invention, which represents in this sense a novelty in the therapeutic field, there is that the drug carries out a main action for a rapid decrease not only of the effects caused by free radicals but, above all, in the development of transformed cells in tumoral way. The speed of action of the drug and the subsequent rapid decrease in tumor cell proliferation was seen "in vitro" on cell line A72 (canine cancer), with a slowing of proliferation for concentrations of D-Ribose and KHC0 ₃ aqueous solution of 0,5 mM and a growth arrest for concentrations of 5 mM only after 48 hours of treatment.

The aspect to emphasize with decision is the novelty of the combination, which is not an obvious extension of a food supplement called Potassium Ascorbate with Ribose and administered orally, either as antioxidant agent and as a regulator of cellular metabolism. In fact, while until now it was considered that L-Ascorbic acid was the fundamental carrier of Potassium and that the D-Ribose acted in the compound as a catalyst of the process, in this case the total absence of L- Ascorbic acid and the use the only D-Ribose, to combine with Potassium Bicarbonate (KHC0 ₃ ), represents an absolute novelty in therapy. Up to this point has never been taken into account the idea that this monosaccharide could salify an alkali metal such as Potassium to form the compound Potassium Ribosate. It also presents characteristics of specificity, and also this is a crucial issue in the therapeutic context, as it acts on cells that have undergone degenerative changes especially in oncology sense, while leaving healthy cells unaffected.

This drug binds together the functional characteristics of its components resulting in extremely fast results, not comparable with respect to the use of components used individually (e.g., an injectable drug made from potassium chloride and another, even injectable, ribose based, administered separately, did not produce the same effect); it doesn't cause toxicity (at prescribed doses) and can be used for long periods (months and even years) without damage.

Every technician who works in this field will better understand these advantages and features and further advantages and features of the present invention thanks to the enclosed figures relating to preliminary results of the effects of the drug in question on human cells; in the figures:

Fig. 1 relates to a photo of a control sample;

Fig. 2 relates to a photo of a control sample irradiated with X-ray;

Fig. 3 relates to a photo of a sample treated with the drug of the present invention and irradiated with X-ray;

Fig. 4 relates to a photo of a sample treated with the drug of the present invention and not irradiated;

Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 relate to configurations of D-Ribose.

The following description illustrates the preliminary results of the effects of D-ribose and KHCO3 in an aqueous solution on HTB125 irradiated with X-ray. In particular, the study was directed to the effects of D-Ribose and KHC0 ₃ in an aqueous solution on normal human breast cells HTB125 irradiated with X-ray.

As mentioned above, the radiotherapy can generate secondary tumors (radiogenic pathogenesis) in the same radiation seat or in other seats. It is therefore important and essential prevent and reduce the effects of exposure to healthy tissue during radiation therapy.

Materials and Methods.

HTB125 cells of mammary gland not tumoral were purchased from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) - Manassas, VA, USA. The cells were maintained in DMEM (Dulbeccos's Modified Eagle's Medium) purchased from Lonza to which are added 10% fetal calf serum (Lonza), 1% L-glutamine (Sigma Aldrich), 1% Penicillin-Streptomycin (Sigma Aldrich) and 30 μg/ml of epidermal growth factor (Gibco). The cells were incubated at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere with 5% C0 ₂ .

The D-ribose was purchased from Sigma- Aldrich and potassium bicarbonate from BDH Prolabo. A stock solution (K:D-Rib) 250mM was prepared by dissolving 0.15mg of D- Ribose and 0.3mg of KHCO ₃ , the whole being stirred until the C0 ₂ is completely released into the air.

The cells were maintained changing the culture media every 48 hours.

The cell population was splitted when it reaches 90-100% of confluence. To split the cell cultures that reached confluence, was uses trypsin (Sigma Aldrich). This enzyme acts as a protease capable of separating both the links between cell and substrate as cell-cell.

Treatment and irradiation of cell cultures.

The day before irradiation, cells are seeded 8000/ml and treated with a solution of 5mM ( : D-Rib). The solution was obtained by diluting the stock 250mM (K: D-Rib) in DMEM. The day after seeding cells were irradiated.

In particular, four samples were prepared: control (C, shown in Fig.l), irradiated control (C irr, shown in Fig.2), treated non-irradiated (Krib, shown in Fig.4) and treated irradiated (Krib_irr, shown in Fig.3). The irradiation was performed with an X-ray tube (Faxitron cabinet 43855D) by placing the Petri dish on a rotating plate for ensuring uniformity of dose. The X-ray tube was set to 106kV and 3mA. The dose was equivalent to 1.OlGy/min and the radiation occurred for a time of 2 min. The evaluation of the absorbed dose was carried out via the system Victoreen NERO mAx Model 8000. In addition, the dose was measured by simulating the Petri system covering the sensor with the cover of the same Petri dish. The day after irradiation have changed the means of treated and untreated samples. The treatment was carried out until the end of the experiment.

Results - Discussion.

To study cell growth and the effect of treatment, the cell growth was controlled and in particular the time between irradiation and the first split, i.e. the attainment of confluence. Samples C, Krib and Krib irr have reached 90% confluence after 7 days after sowing while the sample C irr 10 days after sowing. In addition, the use of trypsin was much less effective in the samples C, Krib and Krib irr, compared to the sample C_irr.

These results show that the samples C, Krib and Krib irr have the same growth kinetics. The kinetics in Krib irr treated with 5mM (K: D-Rib) was not altered by the radiation; on the contrary the sample C irr has reached the confluence with a significant delay of 3 days. Considering the difference in efficacy of trypsin, it can be assumed a protective effect of the solution (K:D-Rib) on not tumoral cells HTB125 treated before irradiation and subsequently the same.

The drug of the invention, which in its form of administration is injectable, consists of a mixture of Potassium Bicarbonate (KHCO ₃ ) and an aldopentose that includes D-ribose (C ₅ Hio0 ₅ ). The compound obtained from these two molecules, which is called Potassium Ribosate, is water soluble and it is administered by injection.

There are no known other trials in which it was administered intramuscularly or intravenously the composition which constitutes the drug of the present invention, nor are known other trials that suggest the use of a drug injection in which the components of Potassium Bicarbonate and D - Ribose provide results so surprising and rapid in the prevention and treatment of degenerative diseases.

It is known that D - Ribose is a pentose sugar which plays a key role in energy metabolism of the cell (primary component for the production of ATP - adenosine triphosphate) and as a precursor in the biosynthesis of RNA (ribonucleic acid) and, in the form of deoxyribose, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The D - Ribose is thus simple but it is a compound of fundamental importance in metabolic and functional pathways of the cell (especially at the level of production, conversion and use of energy). Precisely in this sense, the mechanisms involved in the Krebs cycle acquire a particular importance. The D - Ribose reveals an active role in some organic co-factors and its wide distribution in the forms of life on our planet suggests that it may have been involved in prebiotic chemistry on Earth.

The D - Ribose, in addition to the open-chain form (Fig. 5) has other four isomeric configurations: a and β D - ribopyranose (Fig. 6 and 7), a and β D - ribofuranose (Fig. 8 and 9). In living systems ribose is present in the form β D - ribofuranose, and the open- chain form is able to mediate between the other three closed-chain structures for converting such structures and promoting the dextrorotatory isomeric β ribofuranose structure.

D - Ribose and the Potassium Bicarbonate of the present invention are in pure

microcrystalline form, readily soluble in water for forming injectable solutions; the compound is very unstable because of its easy oxidizability and must be stored in suitable protected mono-dose containers.

D - Ribose salifies with Potassium Bicarbonate in cold aqueous solution forming the compound called Potassium Ribosate. Until now this aspect, i.e. the ability of the D - Ribose to form a salt, has been completely overlooked by the scientific community because it was considered a marginal issue. This effect is made possible thanks to the action of the molecule in the form of open-chain which in aqueous solution, linking two potassium ions, with his rotation to close the ring, gives stability and continuity to the β D - ribofuranose form.

Its action has no toxicity (at prescribed doses) and can be used for indeterminate time. It acts rapidly to contrast the uncontrolled proliferation of cells that have undergone neoplastic degeneration, acting on the mechanisms related to the energy metabolism of these cells, reducing the effect of oxidative stress, enhancing the activity of the immune system and maintaining or restoring the concentration of intracellular potassium to the correct values.

To better understand these statements it is necessary to remember that it is known in scientific literature, both in chemical and bio-medical field, since the end of 1800 and until the early decades of last century (thanks to the works of Italian Luigi Giacomo Ciamician, born in Trieste in 1857 and died in Bologna in 1922) the importance of the pyrrole rings for plant and animal life, so that in the 40s of last century Niels Troensegaard developed a hypothesis (improperly called "Pyrrole Troensegaard's Hypothesis," as reported in the appendix by the author of "On the Structure of the Protein Molecule", Acta Chemica Scandinavica, 1 [1947]: 672-682), which is still controversial, hypothesis according to which it would be precisely the presence of heterocyclic units of pyrrolic type to constitute the ideal ground for the structure of proteins. This is also true in the structure of ribonucleic acid (RNA), in which the presence of pyrrolic rings in the helical structure is highlighted by Purines (Adenine and Guanine).

The heme groups of hemoglobin and chlorophyll contain an iron ion and a magnesium ion bound in a heterocyclic structure known as porphyrin, which consists of four pyrrolic rings linked together and with the ion (iron or magnesium) in the center of the structure. Also some amino acids (histidine, proline, tryptophan, pyrrolysine) contain a pyrrolic ring in their structure. It is also important to note that the black pigments, skin, hair, moles, etc., are in close relationship with the blacks of Pyrrole and this allows to formulate the hypothesis that these compounds are oxidized and poly-condensed pigments with pyrrolic structure.

It is important to note that the imidic Hydrogen present in the structure of Pyrrole is easily replaced by the potassium cation (salification process) but not by the sodium cation

(Ciamician effect, which occurs in a slightly acidic environment), although these elements are similar in physico-chemical terms. But, when the local environment undergoes a change in pH, from neutral or slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, the sodium can bind to the nitrogen of NH group thus triggering the distortion and the opening of the ring. When the process of carcinogenesis begins, the pyrrolic groups seem to be inactivated precisely by an imbalance Sodium / Potassium with changes in acid-base conditions. Furthermore, the mechanisms that underlie the transformation of the cells with carcinogenic effect find in the polymerization of RNA a key to open the pyrrole rings of Purines.

It is to consider also that Pyrrole, Thiophene and Furan are similar to each other; in the formation of their compounds, all three follow the rule of the similarities of Angeli. It is therefore logical to think that during the process of biologic synthesis of protein derivates of such compounds, similar physico-chemical reactions take place and that, in particular conditions, a pyrrolic group can be replaced by a tiofene or furanose group.

Potassium Ribosate contains in its molecule a furanose group that can, by analogy, replace one of the pyrrole groups in Potassiun Hemoglobinate or Potassium Proteinate.

Thus Potassium Ribosate, reactivating by analogy the Pyrrole group, restores the phenomena of cell auto-synthesis structuring to physiologic normality. This is even more important at RNA level because it can limit its uncontrolled polymerization (it's known that neoplastic cells have a gene overexpression and are often multinucleated). Are therefore these bio-chemical-physical mechanisms, activated by the compound of the present invention and which occur in the cell cytoskeleton, to play a key role in inhibiting the uncontrolled proliferation mechanisms; also this interpretive key linked to the action of D - Ribose is an absolute novelty.

Moreover, since the salification is a reversible process, the Potassium Ribosate carried by hemoglobin, by entering the cell restores the balance between the intermolecular forces of peptide groups present within the cell and restores the concentration of intracellular Potassium to the correct values.

This compound has therefore functions provided with characteristics of specificity, since it is able to act on cancer cells to counter their uncontrolled replication, but at the same acts of normal cells to maintain their proper electrolyte and electrochemical balance, without creating to the latter any kind of injury in the mechanisms of metabolic regulation, but rather correcting functional imbalances. The inhibiting of the development of degenerative processes show results which are quickly and surprisingly satisfying. It is therefore a very valuable and very strong cellular antioxidant, which binds together the features of the D - Ribose and Potassium, proving much more active of the two constituents taken separately. It is evident the synergistic effect of the composition of the invention in its use as an injectable drug.

It emerges from stoichiometric calculations that the proportion between Potassium

Bicarbonate and Ribose must be of a 2:1 ratio, but it is possible a 3: 1 relation.

Regarding the storage and the dosage, the compound of Potassium Ribosate must be protected from humidity and the sun's rays and dosed in injectable vials or other suitable separated containers for preparing an extemporary solution of very pure D-Ribose and Bicarbonate of Potassium according to the following preferable proportions. The proportions provide to use an injectable vial of Potassium Bicarbonate and D-Ribose containing two doses of first component and a dose of the second component. It is also possible to use three doses of Potassium Bicarbonate and a dose of D-Ribose. Furthermore, it is possible to use an injectable vial of Potassium Bicarbonate containing two doses of this component and an injectable vial of D-Ribose containing a dose of the same. It is also possible to use four doses of Potassium Bicarbonate and a dose of D-Ribose. In practice, the details may still vary in an equivalent amount, percentage, type of components used, without going beyond the scope of the idea of the solution adopted and therefore remaining within the limits of the protection afforded by this patent.

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